Tribute to Mohammad Rafi by various artists – Super Records
This article is by extenok@HF.
This ten song compilation was released in late 2005 under Super Records and advertised on various television channels with video clippings of the artists performing in a musical night.
The CD cover or sleeve does not give any information regarding the recording facilities used and the music producers involved in this record’s production. The track selection seems to be based on the artists own selection of their favourite songs by the legend. The artists performing here are no big-name acts that would be known to many of our readers from India or even Pakistani listeners, unless they take an interest in the younger generation of singers.
The impression one gets is that this CD was only created for the local masses who could be duped into listening to Mohammad Rafi cover songs by the not-so-promising young lot of Pakistani singers. We have enough remixes & vomit-inducing latest songs from Bollywood being released in the Pakistani market to guarantee a real fan of Mohammad Rafi sticking to the originals. Nevertheless, even a fan can sometimes make mistakes. For now, I stand by the album.
The disc takes a start with the Qawwal Amjad Sabri’s rendition of the hit qawwali ‘Parda Hae Parda’. This is a departure from his religious qawwalis broadcast on ARY’s religious channel. The use of the digital synthesizer, the ‘Allah’ & ‘haahahaa’ could be considered sacrilegious by some devout fans of Rafi; I on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed this number. I just like to imagine how this would have sounded if done in a traditional qawwali style by Sabri & party. Fans of Sonu Nigam might recall Sabri from the concert Sonu Nigam held in Karachi. Amjad Sabri & party joined Nigam for the finale ‘Tumse Milke Dil Ka Hae Jo Haal Kya Kahain’.
Next up is the tribute ‘Chaahonga Mein Tujhe’ by Faisal Latif. The original song is a powerful number with Rafi’s singing. Faisal Latif has a good voice but is it mature enough to convey the emotions Rafi’s voice did? Unfortunately no, he fails on this count as do other singers on this compilation. Vocally, Faisal Latif might have been on the mark in almost all portions of the song, but if the feeling isn’t there, the song doesn’t carry well. Latif being popular for his soft numbers lets his listeners & the legend down.
This is a common problem with all cover songs performed. The original singer in his rendition aims to convey emotions on-screen through his voice alone, while the new singer is only trying to replicate that voice.
Third on the list of tracks is ‘Gulabi Aankhein’, the blunder by the current teenage-idol & former lead-singer of Jal band, Atif Aslam. My personal opinion of Atif Aslam’s singing abilities and his habit of munching the last word of every ‘shaer’ aside, this was a wrong choice of song for him. Even if you for a moment accept that he can sing, he should have chosen an easier song, where it didn’t feel like someone was torturing him when he sings. Atif Aslam fans assure me that his voice has a lot of hidden treasures that I have yet to discover, so I shall accept that I might be biased having listened to better singers.
Next is one of my favourite ‘shararti’ & ‘enchanting’ numbers, ‘Badan Pe Sitaray’ by Faakhir. For those of you who might have heard Pakistani Pop of the early 90s will know that Faakhir used to be in the now defunct band Awaz. His solo singing career has proved mildly successful but here this rendition can be counted as a good one, by his standards. Why do I rate it as a good one, consider first that Faakhir isn’t a singer; secondly, his voice conveys the ‘sharaarat’ emotion very well here. Overall, it stands out from the rest of the numbers, along with the first qawwali.
Farah Hassan is another not-so-prominent singer from the Pakistani music business. The choice of song here is good, but again the life that was enthused into this song by Rafi & Lata cannot be replicated. Also, with the tabla this sounds more like a ghazal sung in a monotonous tone instead of the melodic original. Maybe I’m being biased, comparing Farah Hassan to Lata, obviously she doesn’t stand a chance.
Ustad Hamid Ali is comparatively a well-known singer, belting out ‘Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re’ with the unknown Raaga Boys accompanying him. This song alone could stand out as being thoroughly entertaining while also not forgetting the original. A good song performed well by Ustad Hamid Ali & the Raaga Boys, remaining true to the spirit of the original. What they have failed in recreating is the lively & competitive vocal jostling that went on in the original.
Just as you start hearing ‘Aye Gulbadan’ sung by Babar, you start realizing that the singer has searched deep down inside on how to sing the starting line. The rest of the song is sung with a lot of heart, but the voice barely shows any maturity. Babar seems to be the select few who believe just a single name is enough for identifying them. Whatever the case may be, I certainly pass on this one.
Next is Saleem Jawed’s take at ‘Baar Baar Dekho’. The original had an enticing voice by Mohammad Rafi; Jawed might have been unable to recreate the magic, but he comes close to achieving something on his own terms, be it monotonous as it may be. The music in the original was minimal, but not in Jawed’s version, this is actually what brings back some feeling of the original into this cover.
Number nine on the list is the dance-number ‘O Hasina Zulfon Waali’ by Shariq Roomi & Rabi Peerzada. The song is a popular number among Shammi Kapoor & Helen fans. So, I’ll only consider the singers, Rabi Peerzada, the chubby & cute aspiring singer couldn’t sing if her life depended on it. But such is the lack of proper musical guidance in her career that she continues to challenge the musical gods. Shariq Roomi to his credit has had an album or two, but what he remains is a one-hit wonder, after singing the Munni Begum ‘Awaargi Mein Hadd Se Guzar Jana Chahye’. The song overall has a nice feel to it, but the singers disappoint giving a below average performance.
Last song on the list is the award-winning ‘Kya Hua Tera Waada’ sung by Sajjad Ali’s younger brother Waqar Ali. If there’s one place where Waqar could’ve asked his elder brother to sing for him, it would’ve been here. Waqar isn’t trained enough to convey the emotions. In the end, he only gives a bland rendition of an excellent song.
As CD filler, two medley tracks have been added, first one with duets of Lata-Rafi & the other, solo songs of Mohammad Rafi. This album could be a possible buy for Pakistani fans of Mohammad Rafi, if they aren’t bothered about spending a mere US$1.5 on an audio CD which could be an average addition to their collection.
Post 33, 37, post 30 and 31: Look. In mumbai mr. shabbir jetpurwale has the video recordings and some rare songs of RAFI SAAHEB and the sonu nigam DVD.
U may write to me at binus2000@hotmail.com. I could arrange it. thanks….
i know rafi sahab was a great singer and composer.
i truely likes his melodies and base voice which can touch any heart with tough throat
but to keep his songs alive young singers have to do all this.
i know any other singer can’t sing like him
but Mr.___ who so ever posted this
u have talked about atif.. man he has damn rocking and tough voice like no other have ever had and u won’t be listning this unique voice from anyone else…
and the thing you have called munching…its the only thing due to which now a dayz movies are getting hit…
bollywood industry is dependent over music and songs and the movies having atif’s song(s) are alwayz a musical hit…
atif’s tribute to reshma “lambi judai” was a great hit.
even “gulabi aankhein” tribute to rafi sahab was downloaded beyond expectations. so you should shut your hell mouth up n dun u dare speak agains atttif rockkkrr aslam x-(
can u share videos of this event…!
When recently visiting Kenya I came across a friend who possessed a dvd of sonu nigham tribute to mohd rafi concert in birmingham what a lovely dvd but I have tried in vain to get hold of this dvd but nobody seems to do. Can someone out there help me please to purchase this dvd or e-mail me. Thank you
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mohammad-Rafi/50477944195?ref=mf
reading through this earlier article today, i was thrilled first of all to see so many young singers who are singing the songs of rafi sahab in pakistan. not just pakistan, but here in india too many singers do that and do it for a living. while it is true that no one can ever sing like rafi sahab, it must go to the credit of these singers to cultivate the songs of rafi sahab. binu nairji has rightly commented that rafi sahab continues to inspire and look after generations and generations of upcoming singers and musicians to earn their livelyhood and that rafi sahab continues to be a ‘one man industry’. he has also given the email id of ghulam mujtaba from lahore, pakistan who is very active in organising such sessions etc. he has an alternate email id too which i am giving : mujtabarafian@hotmail.com and music lovers in pakistan can contact mujtaba sahab for a lot of information as far as rafi sahab is concerned.
Muhammad Rafi was a great singer of the world. I am a fan of rafi saab for the last 5 years now my age is 24. plz now i have the 500 audio and 250 vidio songs collection of Rafi saab send me the the complete list of rafi saab’s songs and tell me that who is the great in mukesh , kishore and rafi saab
I WANT TO BUY A DVD OF MUKESH AND MOHD RAFI SONGS HOW CAN I GET ONE I AM IN MOMBASA KENYA EAST AFRICA TKS
Muhammad Rafi was a great singer of the world. Such as singer never could not be possible in the past nor in the future. Various singers try to copy Muhammad Rafi but no one has similarity. His songs are alive nowadays and will remains always in the world. So many new singers listen his songs and pick the tips of way of his songs. When ever I heard his songs anywere in the bazar I stopped to listen his song.
There is so many to write on Muhammad Rafi’s songs.
Tariq Mahmood Khan
Lahore
Pakistan
please share the videos of the above mention tribute show,i have real cravings for that.or tell me how can i get them.plz thanx
DEAR MR. BINU NAIR. THANKS. MY MOBILE NO. 03017840281 WITH COUNTRY CODE 92. ADRESS; DR SYED HABIB ULLAH GILANI VILLAGE AND P.O PIR CHATTAR, TEHSIL KAROR LAL ESAN, DISTRICT LAYYAH PAKISTAN
Rafi Lovers : in Pakistan
In Lahore Rafi foundation members are active . Please contact
Ghulam mujtaba : e.mail address is mujtaba@samintextile.com
U can also write to me with your tel. nos and address which I will
forward to mr.ghulam mujtaba.
binu nair. the rafi foundation Mumbai.
SPECIAL REQUEST TO MR.BINU NAIR OF M.RAFI FOUNDATION MUMBAI, INDIA. IN HELPING ME TO GET M.RAFI LIVE SINGING VEDEO,CD OR DVD,AND OBLIGE. E;MAIL, habib_gilani2002@yahoo.com DR HABIB ULLAH GILANI. PAKISTAN
I LOVE M. RAFI. I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE HIM SINGING LIVE IN CONCERT . I LIVE IN PAKISTAN.I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO GET M.RAFI VEDEO COLLECTION OF HIS LIVE SINGING, HERE IN EVERY MUSIC MARKET IN ALMOST ALL BIG CITIES. BUT I HAVE NOT FOUN IT, NOT AVAILABLE .TROUGH THIS WEBSITE, I REQUEST ,ANYBODY, ANYWHERE CAN HELP ME TO GET M.RAFI LIVE SINGING VEDEO,CD,DVD. SPECIAL REQUEST TO ANYBODY , ORGANIZATION AND ESPECIALY TO THE ORGANISERS OF THIS WEBSITE IN INDIA. I WILL BE EXTREMLY OBLIGED,AND THIS WILL BE THE GREATEST TRIBUTE TO M.RAFI. FOR REPLY MY E;MAIL IS habib_gilani2002@yahoo.com. thanks. DR. SYED HABIB ULLAH GILANI PAKISTAN
Dr. Habib saab..
U are right .. no one can sing like our rafi saab – the king and
emperor of melody (I can’t use the capital letters for Melody herein).
I am a fan of rafi saab since i was 14 years and the time was of
the seventies when kati patang, aan milo sajna, aradhana were
the cult films and KIshore kumar was peaking. But, our classroom
was filled with rafi bakhts and his songs from prince : badan pe sitare,
jeene ki raah, khilona, dosti , leader, mere humdam mere dost,
mere huzoor would fly from all sides.
after 1980, its was the end of melody and music for me . but no one
can escape rafi saabs magic for long. I am a fan of rafi saab for the
last 38 years. I become very happpy to meet bigger fans than me
who are lacs and lacs in numbers alone.
The rafi clones or rafi singers may be give 50% of what rafi could sing
but they all have rafi saabs “blessings”.
they are doing a neat job and most of them are keeping their
kitchen fire alive and looking after their families by singing rafi
songs.
Is he not a one man industry all by himself … Even after so many
years; he takes care of his faithful subjects. One more saintly qualities
and gods chosen one , I feel..
Binu Nair Mumbai binus2000hotmail.com
MOHAMMAD RAFI IS THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT SINGERS. NO ONE CAN MATCH AND COPY HIM. SINGERS SING HIM TO LEARN BEHIND THE DOOR BUT HAVE NO COURGE TO SING HIS SONGS IN CONCERTS. SONO NIGUM LOVES HIS SINGING.BUT MANY SONO NIGUM AT A TIME CANNOT TOUCH M. RAFI. EVERY SINGER HAS HIS TASTE. BUT TASTE OF M. RAFI SINGING IS DIVINE, CANNOT BE DIGESTED BY OTHER SINGER, THAT WHY THEY CANNOT COPY HIM. LATA AND ASHA IN THEIR CONCERTS ON SONY TV SOME YEAR BACK COULD NOT ADD A SINGLE SONG OF M. RAFI, BECAUSE NO SINGER HAD COURGE TO COPY M. RAFI IN CONCERT
love Rabi’s song for Mohammad Rafi. o haseena zulfoon wali
salam and namashkar to everybody
my greatest respect to rafi saab.everybody has different opinion about different things.here i have read the comment of everybody but sorry to say that except rajkumar akela i dont agree to anybody.anyway before commenting i would like to give my referrence that i m also a classical singer and have also participated in various programme as well as in e-tv urdu ghazal sara and am trained under my ustad. ghulam dastgir kahan of rampur sahaswani gharana and also a professor of finance. according to me and music theory there can be no two similar voice.again it is being mistaken that rafi saab compared to some singers like sonu nigam and mohd. aziz.see here let mohd. rafi saab status be with him dont mix them or put him in the category of sonu nigam or mohd. aziz. rafi saab voice was such that which was being created my the super power allah,god or bhagwan or whatever u say.his voice was not so cheap like today’s singer like himesh reshamiyya, or anybody else.i was once listening to a news interview of himesh reshamiyya and felt very bad that when he started to compare with me. am we all mad here to practice singing for 10 to 12 years.and like him just having no practice or having no hard work and started to sing for the first day.see here i m not again specific this is just an exaple i m siting so from my side i m sorry if anybody his very big fan.but i only agree that nobody had voice like rafi saab and even the coming artist will also not have like him.becoz that sonorous voice was created by the soul power for once and will never comeback.
may allah rest rafi saab soul in peace
aamin
khuda hafiz
Hi everyone !
I am again and again saying please do not compare an uncomparable.
Why are you making a blunder mistake of comparing the ‘sun’ with
anything else ? Nature has made only one ‘sun’ and it is the brightest of
all…..warmest of all…..hottest of all…..
rafi saab is a ‘sun’…..so please do not drag him again and again.
mehadi hasan and talat mehmood and ghulam ali and pankaj udhas
and anup jalota all are very good ghazal singers….but you will be
surprised to know that they all are rafi saab’s great fan.
in one of his enterviews Mohd. Aziz was asked “aap shohrat ki bullandi pe hain…log aapko rafi saab ki jagah dekhte hain…aapko kaisa lagta hai ?”
Mohd. Aziz very very politely replied, “Aap log bhakt ki tulna bhagwan
se kyon kar rahe hain ?”.
This is Mohammad Rafi !!!
Mehdi Hassan is ok in non film ghazals only, Rafi Saheb is far better in all fields.
I love the Voiice melodious Mehdi Hassan more than sweer Rafi.
Hi,
I am also a big fan of Mohammed Rafi n I am searching all list of songs snag by him.
Can you help me to get it.
Regards,
Junaid.
i am a rafi fan. great singer of all time. no one is born today who can beat his singing and never will be. I have around 2000 audio songs of Rafi Saab from 1945s to 1980. A cassette named Tere Bharose hai Nandalala (including Bhajans of 14 Songs), Marathi songs (Shodhishi Maanuva) 15 Songs & Haj Ka Maheena aagaya Music composed by Rafi saab and sung by Rafi saab (16 songs). If any one can provide me Bhajans 1) Kaanha toone peedu na jaane toone peedu na jaane. 2) Mere Shyam Tera naam Bole Man Subho shaam.3) yeh raat ho na baaki and rare songs pls.
Thanking all Rafi fans.
manojrk.00@rediffmail.com
manojmuralib@yahoo.com.in
I love RAFI SAAB.
Views from the ABC.Net and remarks on his new releases(which are, however, not planned or marketed well, my view!)
The Rough Guide To Bollywood Legends – Mohd Rafi
Talent: Mohd Rafi
Date of release: 2004
Date of Review: Tuesday, 27 April 2004
One of the four great playback singers for Bollywood, Mohd Rafi was a man of good manners, impeccable phrasing and an unassailably pleasant voice.
Playback singers were/are the singing voices of the popular Indian film industry.
If you enjoy the exuberance of this form of music, Mohd Rafi is a good place to start. His voice although it does span three octaves, doesn’t have the strident high pitch wail of his female contemporaries, sisters Asha Bhosle, and Lata Mangeshkar.
Trademark outrageous arrangements soar about, with the magnificent Asha Bhosle also on call on the disc.
Mohd Rafi died in 1980 at the age of 56. He was well versed in classical forms of Indian and Pakistani music and although a Muslim warmly received within Hindi musical circles.
– Steve Baker
Music Genre: World Music
We rate it:
Please limit your reviews to 200 words max.
What Do You Think?
Some reviews from our listeners:
Remarks
Common, Rafi Saab was and is the best.People find his voice magical.People are mad abt him.even Lata mangeshkar doesn’t have such a fan following which rafi saab has.All the songs sung by both Rafi and Lata has only the rafi version alive till date.Lata’s versions r considered to b inferior than that of his.
he was a giant a magician of voice.
Listen to him and find out yourself.4 stars??? let me tel u its the bad luck of the fifth star!
Score 4
Remarks rafi was and always be the greatest.he is the most played singer on radio
Score 5
Remarks I have often sat down and wondered how it is possible for human being to have such an enchanting voice such was Rafi saabs voice – I have tried to sing like him all my life – no one can match him – there will be no one like him. God only sends people like him once to earth and never
Score 5
Remarks What to say Janab? There are no words to explan him & his voice. He made common people to remeber him till the last day of the whole world. I am totally inspired by him. Frankly I use to try to sing in his voice, if he is alive he may cick me from his heart. ha ha ha
Score 5
Remarks HE IS A BEST SINGER. HIS VOICE HAD A MAGICAL POWER THAT MESMARIZED EVERY ONE. I REALLY LOVE HIS SONG
Score 1
Remarks I love Rafi Saab.He was World’s best Singer ever I heard.No one can be compared with him,He was melodeous, great classical and was able to sung any kind of song.Thesong which he sung was touched every human heart
My whole family is a great fan of Rafi sahab. In fact, we used to listen to every radio/TV program, evry song that Rafi sahab sung and even celebrate his death anniversary on 31st July. He is truly uncomparable and I personally agree with MR.Reddy that even Lata can’t come close to his singing abilities. I think Asha can be better match for his masti mood songs but still not in other respect. He is truly one & only…Jo fir nahi ho sakta wo hai Rafi, the true legend.
Very Very good site for Mohd Rfi’s fans but some people want fully downlaoded songs
No one could sing like Rafi saab. Among comtemporary singers, except Lata Mangeshkar, no one could match his voice quality. Even lata sometimes failed to match Rafi. While Lata remained gramatically OK , but many times missed the “Masti” / Elasticity Rafi could produce in his singing. Among Male singers, I only find K L Saigal and Jagjit singh comparable to Rafi’s voice accuracy.
—-Anurag malhotra.
im a rafi fan. great singer of all time. no one is born today who can beat his singing and never will be. respect going to all the rafi fans aout there.
Mohammed Rafi Sahab’s voice was / and is divine. He was a blessed singer with tremendous range, versatility and supreme voice control. He carried emotions and feelings when rendering a song.
The renditions presented here are sub standard and mediocre. Some of the presentations are a mockery let alone being a tribute.
Particularly, Gulabi Ankhen, Kya hua Tera Waada, Badan Pe Sitare, Yeh Gulbadan, O hasina julfon wali , Baar Baar Dekho have been rendered in a very poor manner. Yeh dil Tum Bin note is outrageously low.
Long live Rafi Sahab, in the hearts of your ardent and die hard fans! It is 26 years after Rafi Sahab passed away, but there is no one in this whole wide world who can give us the pleasure of his voice, except the great Rafi Sahab himself!
I m from chennai.during those old days v never knew hindi language.Just by chance i heard the song kya huwa tera wada…the word kya huwaaa…impressed me to such an extent that i started digging the details of singer,,,started hunting 4 his songs…this is the time i strted 2 learn the language by merely listening 2 rafi saab’s songs….now i have a command over the language…thanx 2 rafi saab…
Its a hot n million dollar issue as 2 who is the best singer india has ever produced.V have 2 consider quality singing and control over it.Rafi and Lata is the only answer…RAFI SAAB has an edge over LATA ,,,,,I have closely listened 2 identical songs sung separtely by these 2 singers,,,,eg.ehsaan tera hoga mujh par,,,,teri aankhon ke siva duniya mein rakkha,,,mere mahboob tujhe,,,etc etc.,,,,clearly RAFI SAAB excels over LATA….
If people do agree 2 me ,,,,who is next 2 rafi as male singer?again its sheerly quality singing n control over it….in my opinion it has 2 be S P BALASUBRAMANIAM,followed by YESUDAS and then SURESH WADKAR.
Singers r many ,but quality singers??????ONLY RAFI,,,,FOLLWED BY THOSE THREE
Can anyone imagine indian music without RAFI….Well atleast Ican not
Please do reply
Hi,
No one can copy the all time greatest Mohd RAFI.The only human mind maybe can copy it by computer,
o my God wat a beautiful songs here totaly mad songs with atif aslam today someone told me that the this is very good and many songs here with the voice of atif aslam specailly Gulabi Ankhain Jo Tere this is the deadly and madly song i love it ()()()()()()()()()()
Hello,
I am fan ohttp://www.mohdrafi.com/meri-awaaz-suno/tribute-to-mohammad-rafi-by-various-artists-super-records-2.html#comment-106f Mohd.Rafi. songs. from long back we are searching a song teri Yaad Mein Gahu sargam Sing by Mohd.Rafi, Film:TERE DWAR KHADA BHAGWAN, will you co-erate me lisen this song to me we very grate to you.
With regards.
Noorjahan
yups i read others opinion. i join with their opinion. bcoz i think so smwhat sonu nigam or debashish can copy but i m the fan of sonu also so i hears his vice the most. but the main thing is Mohd Rafi , NO ONE CAN COPY HIM. HE WAS N HE IS THE GEM LIVE IN OUR HEART FOREVER. CONCERT MUST B THERE BUT THE WELL KNOWN SINGERS MUST B THERE. I REQUEST U , PLZ DONT INVITE SUCH SINGERS TO SING RAFI’S SONG BCOZ I FEEL HARD TO LISTEN PLZ, RAFI IS ONLY RAFI. SALAAM RAFI SAHAB. FROM WELLWISHER NOMAAN RAUF_(SHAHID).
GOD !! I Just heard ATIF ASLAM, that guy seriously needs to quit singing.
I thought I was worst, but nah we have plenty here.
None did justice to any song.
I don’t think anyone listening to these or other tributes given to Rafi sahab would expect them to come close to what he produced. Not that its any consolation, still its nice to know that the current crop of singers have heard a little bit of the Virtuoso.
I will just copty a sentence of Arif Rafi’s above comments about this
no one could sing even close to the way Rafi sahab sang,
safeer
i have listened all the songs.first of all i would advise Atif Aslam plz stop singing, u r not even a singer don’ t even try this at home nor in the bath room. secondly i ask those who let Atif Aslam sing Rafi sahab’ s song.now let’ s talk abt saleem Javed, he picked a song BAAR BAAR DEKHO, oh my God it’ s horroble,he is little better then Atif Aslam but still he is ”BE SURA” honestly speking no one could sing even close to the way Rafi sahab sang, but Faisal Latif and Hamid Ali Khan did better,specailly Faisal.rest are garbadge.