KK - The singer - Page 4

Krishna Kumar Menon alias KK

Seldom does an artist, who is virtually unknown in the Indipop scene, make such a whopping debut and grab his place in the volatile music industry. KK... the lad who not only dared to dream but also dared to fulfill his dreams with sheer grit and courage of conviction that has indeed paid the boy rich dividends. Krishan Kumar Menon (better known as KK) knew in school that he was born to be a singer when he went on to win accolades in every annual singing event he performed at. Like most kids of his generation, music meant Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Guns 'N' Roses for him too. After graduating from Delhi University, he worked for about six months, which was enough to realize that he was doing nothing with his life because he had his heart in music. So he eventually came to Mumbai to make it big in the music industry, thinking that's where he really belonged. Since he was confident about his voice (and the awards were there to prove his capabilities), his parents too lent their whole-hearted support to him. Once in Mumbai, he got a few early breaks, which he was able to exploit to the fullest, be it voice over or jingles. The ad world took no time to recognize his talent. If you listen closely enough to all those jingles buzzing on you TV sets, you'd know what we're talking about. Monte Carlo, Colgate Gel, Cinthol Ultimate, Yo Frooti, Yeh Dil Maange More - you name it, KK's done it. KK has recorded in 9 languages till date! Meeting with Leslie Lewis was the beginning of a new career for KK because it was Lezz who produced his album later on. While KK was at the peak with his advertising jingles, he sang the title track of the serials 'Hit Thi Hit Hai' and 'Just Mohabbat'. The music was composed by Vishal Bharadwaj, who then offered KK a song for Maachis. KK wasn't really thrilled as such on receiving the offer since he had no intention of becoming a playback singer or to join the film industry, but when AR Rahman called him to sing for him, he just couldn't refuse. KK also got lucky breaks with stalwarts like Gulzar, Shekar Kapur and so on. He has recorded some breathtaking tracks for films, some of which are yet to be released, But 'Tadap Tadap' from 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' comes to mind among the films that have. Although playback singing just happened all of a sudden, KK wasn't really keen to pursue it, because he pictured himself more as an indi-pop artist than a playback singer. This wish of his came true when Leslie Lewis decided to produce his maiden album, 'Pal'. Lezz, who KK considers to be his friend, philosopher and guide, has done a great job on the album, which portrays KK truly at his best. The energetic and melodic album has lyrics by Mehboob and the video of the title track is directed by Shamin Desai. The album is lively, energetic and very melodic with a special emotion that a music lover can identify with, and has some tracks that beautifully capture the range of KK's voice. After Pal, KK has also did the song, 'Josh of India', which was a part of the compilation album 'Cricket Meri Jaan' released by HMV that made KK a household name during the cricket world cup in 1999. Inspite of all the acclaim, the enthusiastic singer feels it's just the beginning. All he's achieved has all come to him naturally, without putting in much effort. The ad jingles kept him financially secure while playback singing was just offered to him so he did it. So what does he plan to do next? He wants to continue with it as and when it happens... Just like he's been doing it all this while.

Sheer talent marks him out

He put the fizz in the cola commercials with 'Yeh dil maangey more' and also sang the youth anthem 'Koi kahey' in 'Dil Chahta hai'. Meet the versatile singer KK who was in town recently.

SINGING SENSATION: Krishna Kumar IN A volatile and competitive background music scenario where Sonu Nigam, Shaan and other noted male pop artistes have doubled up as playback singers, one artiste to have made a definite mark and going strong is KK, who shows great promise in singing, from a peppy Bardasht nahi kar sakta (Humraaz) to a melancholic Tadap tadap (Hum dil de chuke sanam). His rendition Koi kahey (Dil Chahta Hai) has become the anthem among the youth, which in fact put a new energy in the 4500 strong crowd at Lalitha Kala Thoranam recently during the finale of MJCET Adsophos meet. The young crowd went berserk as he sang some of his popular background scores. A graduate from Delhi University, he mingled with the student community and struck a vibe instantly. "My first stage performance was ABBA's masterpiece Fernando, when I was in Class X. During my high school I was more inclined towards western music while Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi inspired me during childhood. For my early college days Uriah Heep and Deff Leppard formed an inspiration after which I toned down to Sting, Billy Joel and Bryan Adams. People ask me if I have any formal musical training. And I say that I have learnt from these artistes," says KK. Regarding his name, he said, "KK stands for Krishna Kumar. I come from Kerala. I was brought up in New Delhi and am now stationed in Mumbai," he adds. Do bands like 'Silk Route' and 'Parikrama' and his own stardom speak of an encouraging music culture prevailing in New Delhi? "Every city has a flourishing music scenario. I got my break in Mumbai since there is nothing bigger than films in the country," he says. Who would know better than an artiste whose every other number is a hit and is crooning for almost all the films released and in the offing? "I don't know when I turned professional singer," he adds. Many wouldn't know that he is the voice that brought the fizz in the cola campaigns with the Yehi hai right choice and Yeh dil maange more. With over 3000 commercials to his credit --"Colgate, Monte Carlo and Pepsi have been my favourite," he says.

STAR STRUCK: K.K poses with the students. And how can one forget the Pyar ke pal and Aap ki dua from his debut pop album 'Pal' from 1999, produced by none other than Leslie Lewis! Back then Pyar ke pal became the Valentine's Day score cutting across all age groups with its lilting tune, soothing vocals and an artistic video directed by Shamin Desai. His title track for the serial Just Mohabbat is yet another feather in the crown. But it is the big screen that got him the popularity and the deserved visibility. "I have worked with Gulzar, A.R. Rehman and other leading directors, some of the films for which I have done the playback are Taal, Maachis, Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Jism, Kuch to hai, Sapnay (Tamil and Hindi), and others. I have sung in 11 languages. It's great working for Tamil and Telugu films. There is no brouhaha here. It's all about music. Some of the Telugu films I have done playback for include Nuvvu Nenu, Jayam and Prema Desam. Now, I am working with R.P. Patnaik. We vibe very well," he says. About the twin cities, "I have been here several times and recently to receive the AP Film Journalists Award for my playback Tadap tadap. The city is beautiful. It is good to see so many parks here," he says. Is there a fresh pop album his fans in the twin cities could look forward to? "The shows and films don't leave much time to work on a private album. But I will be bringing out one this year. It will be like the first album with slow numbers. The numbers don't have to be racy to be popular, though the album will have a few fast numbers too," he says. Here's looking forward to some more as the dil mangey soothing notes. In the meantime you could get more of him in the film audios.

SYEDA FARIDA

couldn't hardly wait

Short, ugly and 28-that's how KK earnestly describes himself. And you think, oh, okay, great, you can forget the beauty-sheauty and let the music rock you. For here's a guy for whom music rules!

By Vatsala Kaul

It's a reflection on the times that nowadays you can actually find someone in your office who knows the latest singer on the block. Cool! You don't have to go through a Who's Who. Much after a telephonic interview with KK, whose album "Pal" has recently joined the sounds that surround us, all I had to do was run up the stairs to the TT office to find someone who had studied with KK at college.

Well, one thing was firmly established. KK is definitely not one of those guys who wake up one morning and decide to cut an album between a face wash and a shave. Sudeep, a friend of his back then when KK was plying on the U-special route, has smiley memories of the times when it was hot and sweaty and the route was circuitous. "We would make KK sing at the back of the U-special," he recalls, "and KK would sing "Billie Jean"... actually perform "Billie Jean". And I swear, the way he did it, you could hear the music, too!"

The music KK heard was the hot charters of the time, those synonymous with high-volume teenage angst and audacious ambition-Floyd, Extreme, Sting, Billy Joel, Guns 'N Roses, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull... Even now, he rattles off Sting, Police and Billy Joel in his list of top faves, adding Rehman's "Thiruda-Thiruda" to it. Rehman's "Chhaiya Chhaiya", KK thinks, is a classic-combining a strong melody with good lyrics that arouse strong emotion in the mind.

Most singers you find play the guitar, but KK was like, umm, Phil Collins. A drummer and a singer. And in his nascent college musical career, he was the lead vocalist in three different bands, which went by the imaginative names of Crisis, Blitzkreig, King Sloth and a puzzling, Aqua Regia-The Wall. Viva Pink! "There were some songs," says Sudeep, "that only KK could perform. He was very versatile..." Like what?

I get eyes rolled at me, like how will I ever know, I wasn't there. "He could sing anything.... right from Bryan Adams to Guns 'N Roses..."

Yeah, he did go to school (India must have some of the world's most qualified singers these days...). KK did his schooling at Mount St Mary's (where he was a prizey-type in singing) and college at Kirori Mal College, New Delhi. Soon after, in '94-'95, KK was bumming around, doing a regular sales job selling typewriters and singing a few jingles here and there. But you know, the syndrome-yeh dil maangey more? That's what happened to KK.

His dad and mom were supportive, so he came away to that El Dorado of many a talented treasure-seeker. "The first 6-7 months were bad," says KK of those days in a phoneless little pad in Mulund, when he spent a lot of time in the park thinking and rethinking his decision, stressing about whether he had done the right thing. But it all wound up at the same conclusion. He felt something would work out. He was not giving up.

To supplement the money he had saved up and brought from Delhi, he did jingles. "That's bread and butter," he says. "It's a very different line from doing live gigs, but in many, many ways, it sharpens your skills." His voice already precedes this introduction because you'll remember his jingles-Monte Carlo (It's the way you make me feeeeel...), Asian Paints, TVS Scooty, Bajaj Sunny, Colgate Gel, Close Up, Cinthol, Yo! Frooti, and yeah, Pepsi's 'Yeh Dil Maangey More'. Besides some playback for movies that would have stayed in your ears-"Chodh Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan" (Maachis) and "Strawberry Aankhen" (Sapnay). Remember? And "Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi" along with a few other unreleased tracks in films are just round the corner now.

It took four years for him to get the break he dreamt of-as the first debut Indian artiste for Sony Music.

'Pal' may translate into a 'moment' but there are many moments in its music that will stay in your mind. It's not one of those in-and-out-of disco station albums. You've got the haunting hopefulness of the beautifully sung "Pyaar Ke Pal". You've got the playful helplessness of "Aap Ki Dua". You've got the come-on chutzpah of "Ishaara". You've got the feel-goodness of "Yaaron". You've got the bass-driven head-banging "Dil Se Mat Khel." You've got the undulating regret of "Yeh Tanhai". You've got a lot, if not all!

There are all kinds of moods in the music that you will identify with and hum along with. With its solid, passionate, crystal-clear guitaring, emphasis on vocals, Kurt Peters's passionate drums and Karl Peters's rocking bass emerging the hero ever so often, this one's gonna sound much better on the second listen. What's more, while the music does not wail on unnecessarily, it has so many interesting winds and turns and bylanes off linearity, you won't come up in a rash when you hear it for the umpteenth time.

Not surprising that, considering that Lezz Lewis (Colonial Cousins) is behind the well-crafted, uncrowded music. KK kind of stacked up with lyricist Mehboob who has written the lyrics, which, let me warn you, lack the current affliction of meaninglessness. Widely speaking, the album has a pop-rock ballad feel to it and is undeniably a romantic album. "Yes," says KK, "it revolves around the aspect of love." And who can blame him-for a human being's first need (okay, after food.). The music is "what I felt," says

KK, "it has the Indian feel to it."

KK seemed to have saved all his youthful energy for music. His college friends don't remember him smoking or drinking. However, in case biased inferences are drawn, "He was a regular guy, but not boring, okay?" Sudeep recalls that on an impulse trip to Mussoorie, KK was dragged along. When they reached Mussoorie, they couldn't find anywhere to stay. When they decided to sleep in the car,

KK instantly developed a fever, "not from the cold, but from hearing that there was no accommodation available..."

Softie, you say? Naw. You don't get this far without having some stick-to-itness. A guy who likes sleeping, eating and swimming, in that order, KK is excited about performing on stage, a place where he is "very comfortable." His voice perks up by decibels... "There's body chemistry in performing live, how you render the song, how the audience responds, it's a transformation!"

His debut album is small-there are only eight tracks-but that doesn't matter, because as KK says, "This is what I wanted to do. Always. I have a lot left inside me..."

As they say, watch this space.

But why 2 Ks?

It must be for 2 kilowatts of music!

Just KKidding.

Great Qwst Ji..Can U Open a similar topic for Shaan for people who may want to know 😃
Must Appreciate your searching skills 👏 👏 👏

btw,Vishal Bharadwaj din't fo the lyrics for Pal.
It was Mehboob and composed by Leslie 😊

Originally posted by: arun_8687

Great Qwest Ji..Can U Open a similar topic for Shaan for people who may want to know 😃
Must Appreciate your searching skills 👏 👏 👏

I Love KK so what I love would be happy to extend my hand to them.

Hindi Song Lyrics by singer: K.K.

Hindi Movie Song Singer(s) Door Se Paas K.K. AND SHAMA Pyaar Ke Pal K.K. O Ajnabee (happy) K.K. & CHITRA Main khuda K.K. Socho Kya Karogi K.K. AND ASHA BHOSLE Mehki Hawaaon Mein SONU NIGAM AND K.K. Jab Bhi Koi Haseena K.K. Yaaron K.K. Chale jaise hawaayein K.K., VASUNDHARA DAS Meri jaan, meri jaan K.K. AND ALKA YAGNIK Doston Naam Karna Hai K.K., SHAAN, HEMA SARDESAI, AND SHRADDHA PANDIT Ding Dong K.K., SUNIDHI CHAUHAN Hai re Hai Re HEMA SARDESAI, K.K. Jab Kabhi K.K. AND MAHALAXMI Bardaasht nahin kar sakta K.K. AND SUNIDHI CHAUHAN Main Sada Hoon Waqt Hoon K.K. Sun Le Sara Jahan K.K. Dhan Dhan K.K. Jiyo jiyo, jiyo jiyo K.K. Dil Ki Aahen Kaun K.K. AND CHITRA Tu Aashiqui Hai K.K. Sanjana I Love You SUNIDHI CHAUHAN, K.K. & CHITRA Sach Keh Raha Hai K.K. Chhod Aaye Hum Vo Galiyaan HARIHARAN, K.K., SURESH WADKAR AND VINOD SEHGAL Teri Zindagi - Part III K.K. Naya naya, dhula dhula CHITRA AND K.K. Pyaar Re Dil Chahe Pyaar Re LUCKY ALI & K.K. O Soni Re O Sayyoni Re K.K., SAPNA MUKHERJEE O Humdum K.K. SHAAN, KUNAL AND PRAVIN MANI Jo Pyar Tumne CHITRA, K.K. Hum deewane pyaar ke K.K., SHAAN, AND HEMA SARDESAI Awaarapaan Banjarapaan K.K. O Ajnabee (happy) CHITRA, K.K. Deewangee (Duet) K.K. AND MAHALAXMI Prem Prem Prem Prem CHITRA, K.K. & SHAAN Rulaati Hain Mohabbatein K.K. Kaanha teri baasuri FALGUNI PATHAK, K.K., DEV CHOUDHARY, KARSAN SARGATHIA Teri Zindagi - Part I K.K., ALKA YAGNIK Gori Gori ANU MALIK, K.K., SHREYA GHOSHAL, SUNIDHI CHAUHAN Ladka Yeh Kehta Hai K.K. Aise Koi Jata Hai K.K. Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai (new) K.K. Fanah Fanaj Yeh Dil Huwa Fanah K.K., ANU MALIK Jo Aaye Ga Dekha Jayega K.K. & VISHAL DADLANI Tere is Jahan main e Khuda K.K. Ye dil tumpe aa gaya ALISHA, K.K. Bombay Town K.K. Aisaa Kyon Hota Hai K.K., SUNIDHI CHAUHAN Toofaan sa zor hai K.K., SUNIDHI CHAUHAN We Wish You A Great Life K.K., JACK, AND ALKA YAGNIK Kaash Ke Tujhse K.K. AND ALKA YAGNIK Yeh Hai Style ABHIJEET AND K.K.

After Indian Idol, Sony BMG is launching a new talent competition, Fame Gurukul.

The new serial, which goes on air on June 27, will be a nation-wide talent?hunt where contestants will display their singing talent.

But that's about all that it has in common with the mega-hit reality show Indian Idol.

In Fame Gurukul -- based on a Spanish reality show called Operacion Triunfo -- 14 contestants have already been selected via auditions in Kolkata, Mumbai, Indore and Delhi.

The contestants will be kept on 24-hour vigil for 14 weeks, a la Lakme Fashion House. At the end of the show, two winners?-- or the Fame Jodi?-- will win a contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth Rs 10 million.

Singer Ila Arun will play?the 'headmistress' at the Fame Gurukul. When asked what the title meant, she replied, "My role as a headmistress is to bridge the gap between the students and the teachers, to motivate them to learn and help them deal with fame."

The teachers are Prashant Samadhar singer Suresh Wadkar's wife Padma. They will train the contestants.

There will also be a psychiatrist Anjali Chhabria who will take care of the contestants, as they will be watched continuously by 20 cameras on the sets of Gurukul. Mickey Mehta will teach them yoga.

"Being a singer myself, who has learned classical singing till BA (Bachelor of Arts) and having being in the show business for last 25 years, I know what it is all about," says Arun.?"I will be strict with them so that they won't waste time and fool around but at the same time, I will be sensitive. I will teach them how to be unique, things that I used for my own career."

"I will also see to it that the teachers reach out to the students. I know how it feels to be a student. Some times you are a great student but teachers do not understand you. And sometimes, the teachers are great but students are very careless," she adds.

The show will be telecast from Mondays to Fridays. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be about the training the contestants go through, and the remaining two days will be the eliminations, judged by lyricist Javed Akhtar and singers?K K and Shankar Mahadevan.

Two contestants will be dropped in the first week. From the next week onwards, there will be a change. Four contestants will be dropped by the judges. But three among them will be voted back into the show by the audience, the contestants themselves and the teaching faculty.

The show will also see celebrity guests.

Fame Gurukul will be telecast every Monday to Thursday at 8:30 pm and on Fridays, on 8 pm on Sony Entertainment Television.

Issue Date: Friday, April 14, 2006

MUSIC REVIEWS

GANGSTER Music: Pritam SaReGaMa; Stand up, folks, and honour the new six-monthly national anthem, Tu hi meri shab hai from Gangster. A food-for-the-soul song sung by KK, written by Sayeed Quadri. And the Bhatts and Pritam think so, too, or they wouldn't have another two versions (Euro Mix by Bunty, and a plain — sada dosa — Remix by Jatin Sharma). The Bhatt productions have one thing unique about their recent spate of films: not the usual Bollywood tracks, and at least one outstanding melody in each of the films, sometimes leading to a chartbuster as well. This time we have Pritam, after machaaoing Dhoom, Halla re, and other things recently, turning up with a score with an accent on melody rather than 'item' rhythm. Despite the so-called 'coup' of making a Bangla song (Prithibita naki chhoto hote hote) and a Bangladeshi singer (James) do a 'crossover' to Hindi as Bheegi bheegi (lyric: Mayur) — and KK spitting out "...kyun mujh se khaafaaaaaa" in the manner they growl "I love you" nowadays in the discs. Too much of 'bandwala' gaan, to be honest. Then there is another sweet and gentle Lamha lamha (lyric: Neelesh Mishra) sung by Abhijeet (sorry, not Sawant), and have we forgotten him, man! This one also has a second version where Sunidhi Chauhan joins Abhijeet. Quadri writes another, Ya Ali, sung by Zubeen, which isn't too bad, but sounds too much like today's 'genre song' — you know, Bhatt camp, KK/Kunal Ganjawala/ Shaan/Pak singer/Whoever. And shout out love, strong and loud. And don't miss the been strains of Dhoom machaale towards the end of Ya Ali! Finally, Mujhe mat roko, a Quadri lyric again, given sinewy timbre by Kavita Seth in the gypsy style of Reshma and others; very impressive. One of those laments, sung to minimal music. Overall, excellent work by Pritam again and rather good work in the words department, too, by Sayeed Quadri and Neelesh Mishra whose one lyric has this beautiful mukhda: Lamha lamha doori yoon pighalti hai,/Jaane kis aag mein yeh shabnam jalti hai