R.I.P S. P. Balasubrahmanyam - 10/10 Song Review: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Lata Mangeshkar - Aate Jaate Haste Gaate
R.I.P S. P. Balasubrahmanyam - 10/10 Song Review: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Lata Mangeshkar - Aate Jaate Haste Gaate
Year Released: 1989
In memory of SP Balasubrahmanyam (1946 - 2020), a recent casualty of COVID-19
I actually had another 10/10 song written down for the weekend, but the unexpected passing of music legend S.P Balu (as he is called) made me change plans. S.P. Balu was one of the many singers I grew up with. He has a tremendous legacy in the Bollywood and Tollywood music scene, and I really wanted to write a piece in his memory, but which song to choose? 'Aate Jaate Haste Gaate' may not be the most artistic song ever performed by the legend, but it is my favorite. It is my most played song on Itunes and a dominant song over my life. My parents loved it as children, so do I. Thus, it is the song I will review in his memory, can when I remember his voice, this is how I will remember it.
Aate Jaate is a semi-remake of Stevie Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you', but just like with the classic 'Respect' by Otis Redding, the remake improved on the theme of the original. It is also hard to deny the impact Aate Jaate held over the Bollywood industry. When it was released in 1989, the Bollywood music industry was in the middle of a disco dance or folk party trend, both were beginning to get audiences weary, and Aate Jaate's dreamlike synths and strings led to a list of several Bollywood classics that continued this track's legacy.
The song opens with some brass, accompanied with an electric piano, this cinematic opening would usually lead to something over the top, but Aate Jaate's greatest strength lies in its restraint. A dreamlike section arrives led by synths and the electric piano.
S.P. Balu then sings two verses in a call and response format with a singular violin. There is not much complex stuff going on here, a soulful voice and instrument supporting each other. It is these perfect verses that make sure the track is better than the Stevie Wonder song it was inspired by. In fact, the verses in this track are some of the best verses ever.
The chorus is simple, but there still is much to unpack. The synths turn into an inquisitive staccato, the violin is replaced with a mini-orchestra that fulfilling-ly supports S.P. Balus vocals, which now is calmer than the youthful vibe in the verses. This is followed by a nice solo section for a trumpet to close the chorus like a dream.
This is followed by another set of verses with the same structure, this time sang by legend Lata Mangeshkar (she has over a hundred singles of Bollywood recorded, some say up to 25,000). Lata's vocals work well too. Unlike S.P's verse, the violin is less prominent, making its comeback in the chorus double in impact. Rather than play another trumpet, the song ends with a soulful violin-led orchestra.
There is not much to unpack in Aate Jaate, it is simple. But it is so cohesive and dreamlike that it is one of the most impactful songs of all time. You will be missed S.P. Balu.
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