Originally posted by: Ushaka
I find Alka biased as I think personally she is jealous of some of the female competitors. Lets admit it. Shreya Ghosal and Nihira and many others sound far better and sing far better than Alka Yagnik. Actually I still go by what i said earlier. Alkas voice sounds like a cat in pain. So squeaky and high pitched. No one BUT NO ONE SHOULD COMPARE THEMSELVES TO LATAJI. Her voice has not reduced in quality. I find her mesmerising even now. She will be the one and only TRUE NIGHTINGALE of India. Please take back that comment. Have you heard her in PUKAR AND VEER ZAARA AND MOHABATTEIN? These are recent movies to name a few. No one has and no one will hold a candle to the great Lataji even today. In SA her cds and Mohd. Rafi sells the most up to present day.
Ushaka ji,
If you read some of my comments on Latadidi in threads of the last few months you will easily appreciate that I adore and respect her genius with all my heart. I fully agree that no singer will ever reach the heights she managed. There is and will only be one NIGHTINGALE, Lata Mangeshkar. I am fortunate to be staying very close to her original house in Goa and that makes feel even luckier to be alive when she is too. IOW, Latadidi is a phenomenon and will always be.
But let me be realistic. Just listen to Latadidi singing
1. O Balma, barkha bahar aayi...
2. Na, jiya lage na, tere bina mera kahi...
3. Mose chhal kiye jay...
4. Piya tose naina lage re...
5. Agar muzse mohabbat hai...
and numerous other masterpieces and then listen to
1. Aye hawa mere sang sang chal..
2. Nindiya se jaagi bahar.... etc and other songs of the late eighties and later.
We have to admit that even latadidi is human and age has taken its toll on her voice. Here singing power (modulation, throw,expression etc.)is intact but certainly the voice has "thickened" if I may use the word.
So, it will be inappropriate for me to take back my comment about her voice quality. but yes, you have the right to have your opinion and I respect that. So please do not feel offended.
As far as Rafisahab is concerned, please look at my signature and AV
Paresh