Singing in the rain


Express July 07, 2010

The monsoon season is a source of inspiration for novelists and composers alike in the subcontinent. Rain, like food, is often mentioned in novels published in Pakistan and India, and the number of songs composed about rain would fill several pages.

When asked why poets and singers in the east have stressed on the monsoon season, Arshad Mahmood laughingly says, “Rain brings happiness. This culture of celebrating rain is not new in our culture. People residing in other regions may not know the kind of relief from heat that the people of the subcontinent feel when the monsoon season begins.”

According to Mahmood there are two raags that are associated with this season - “Megh Malhar” and “Mian ki Malhar”.  Mahmood’s personal favourite song for the rainy season is “Baghon Mein Paray Jhoolay” by Ustad Barkat Ali Khan.

Musical monsoon

The rain playlist

Bob Dylan - “Hurricane”

Bob Dylan - “Shelter from the storm”

Neil Young - “Like a Hurricane”

The Scorpions - “Rock You Like a Hurricane”

The Beatles - “Rain”

The Beta Band - “Dry the Rain”

Travis - “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?”

REM -”I’ll Take the Rain”

Guns n Roses - “November Rain”

Madam Noorjehan - “Rim Jhim”

Hasan Jahangir - “Hawa Hawa”

Strings - “Koi Aanay Wala Hai”

Ali Azmat - “Garaj Baras”

OST Chaalbaaz - “Yeh Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si”

OST Afsana Pyar Ka - “Tip Tip Tip Baarish”

Garbage - “I’m Only Happy When It Rains”

Plumb - “Stranded”

Patrick Swayze - She’s like the Wind

Joe Purdy - “I Love The Rain The Most When It Stops”

Atif Aslam - “Bheegi Yaadein”

Madonna - “Rain”

OST Manzil - “Rim Jhim Giray Saawan”

OST Betaab - “Baadal Yoon Garajta Hae”

Ali Haider - “Baarish Ka Hai Mausam”

The Weather Girls - “It’s Raining Me”

Mohammad Rafi - “Aaj Mausam Bara Beimaan hai”

Nayyara Noor - “Phir Saawan Rut Ki Pavan Chalee”

Eddie Rabbit - “I Love a Rainy Night”

Barbra Streisand - “Kiss Me in the Rain”

Natasha Bedingfield - “Unwritten”

OST Lagaan - “Ghanan Ghanan”

OST 1942: A Love Story - “Rim Jhim”

OST Chandni - Lagi Aaj Saavan Ki

OST Lamhe - Megha Re Megha

Baabu Maan - “Saun Di Jhadi”

Belinda Carlyle - “Summer Rain”

OST Chori Chori - “Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi”

Junoon - “Baarish”

OST Sir - “Sun Sun Barsaat Ki Dhun”

Akhlaq Ahmed - “Sawan Aaye Saawan Jaye”

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - “Sawan Ki Bheegi Ratoon Mein”

Shubha Mugdal - “Ab Ke Sawan”

Dusk - “Steeling Thunder”

Slayer - “Raining Blood”

Mastodon - “Aqua Dementia”

Mastodon - “Blood and Thunder”

Alice in Chains - “Rain When I Die”

Black Oak Arkansas - “The Big One’s Still Coming”

Khanate - “Release”

Saint Vitus - “Burial at Sea”

Enya - “It’s in the Rain”

Led Zeppelin - “Rain Song”

(Compiled by the News Desk and from comments posted on The Express Tribune website)

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Raania Azam Khan Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply Stormy weather by Billie Holiday !!
H. | 13 years ago | Reply Kawa Kawa - OST Monsoon Wedding The ULTIMATE rain song.
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