Fast Paced vs. Slow Songs

Fast Paced vs. Slow Songs

Get your reading glasses on Bahar - the essays are one their way 😆

Fast paced songs are difficult because it takes energy and stamina to keep up with a fast tempo and maintain a good throw whilst having to mouth so many words. A song like Breathless by Shankar Mahadevan probably has three times as many syllables as an average song!

Slow songs are difficult too, because it takes a lot of practise to hold notes unwaveringly for a long duration. Any flaws in a slow performance will come to light immediately, because each word/note can be heard and sinks into the listener. Whereas with a fast song, minor glitches might pass over the heads of people and not really reduce the impact of the singing.

So they are both difficult and each performance should be evaluated on its own merits.

What's harder to perform?
Both are in their own areas.
in fast songs, you have to worry about tempo, stamina, energy. make sure you don't get out of breath. In fast songs, i think its easier to judge for the 'rocking performance' because its which performance got the audience rocking. was the performer able to transfer their energy to audience.
Slow songs you have to worry about the sur a lot more (according to me at least). Also, you have those long notes (alap, i think), which everyone can't hold.
Both of them are difficult to perform, it would be unfair to say that one of them is easier, because both of them look at different things.

Yet Which side gets the most appreciation?
I think its both. It could,however, depend on who's judging. Sometimes fast song do come off as being easier to sing, (even though they might not be) rather than slow songs.

The last question - i don't really remember everyone's performance, so it wouldn't be fair. 😊

(i like both - fast and slow, and both and all genres of music are unique to their own and are amazing)

I recall more judges telling finalists to work on their low notes. I think slow songs are harder to perform

Nice topic,
Samoo

I think both are difficult to perform. In fast songs, you have to keep up with the tempo and give expressions at the same time retaining your sur. In slow songs, your slightest mistake can be easily discovered and maintenance of a good throw is also important.

I think it varies from song to song. We cannot just compare in general that slow songs are easier or more difficult than fast-paces songs. Obviously the choice varies depending on the song.

Having said that, in the case of totally besuri singers like Tia and Bhoomi, I think fast-paced songs help them. When Tia sings Aaja Nachle and Bhoomi sings any of those idiotic English-lyrics Bollywood songs, they get the crowd moving because of the fast-pace of the song. Every one is enjoying the song, singing along, dancing to the beat, and it keeps the crowd going. Some people mistake that as a good performance. When it reality, it is just the song that's causing the uproar.

I bet Rakesh can't sing fast paced songs slow well as he does with the slow songs. Rakesh is the king of slow songs.

My Xo bhai has read my mind.............