Music and Entertainment

Archive for May, 2009

The Bollywood craze has swept around the world, as fans of “Hindi Cinema” have fallen in love with the kietschy (and yet unusually addictive) high-pitched songs, exaggerated hand and eye movements, and tendency of characters to break into large-scale musical numbers at the oddest moments, and often against anachronistic settings like the Swiss Alps.

But music is an integral part of Bollywood films, so that even a dark and edgy drama has to have at least one catchy song and corresponding dance number woven into the script. In fact, in India, the sound track is released before the movie, so that everyone is humming the song as they enter the theatres.

Most Bollywood songs are actually lip-synched by the actors, the voices “borrowed” from professional playback singers. (The exceptions are Kishore Kumar K. L. Saigal, Suraiyya and Noor Jehan, who are known for both their acting and their singing). were also known as both singers and actors. Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan also sang in their movies. However, playback singers have their own following-like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Yesudas.

Today’s Bollywood songs are known for how they remix filmi songs with modern beats and rhythms, adding an interesting edge to the ancient folk dances and steps that make up a typical Bollywood number (although it is not uncommon to see current hits incorporating MTV or Broadway twists).

While some Bollywood songs are directly related to the plot, there are also item numbers where someone performs a catchy number-like a courtesan dancing for a rich client in a cabaret scene, or disco scenes, or dancing at celebrations.

Digital Piano Keyboards are usually small in size compared to the acoustic piano. Usually they have keys from 20 to 88 keys and 4-5 octaves to 8-9 octaves. Most people prefer to buy this as they are portable and they have different variations or can say modifications of sounds.

The keys are smaller compared to the acoustic piano which makes the handling of the keys easier. This insturment also occupies minimal space compared to the acoustic Piano and they also come in different sizes suitable for any individual person. Compared to the acoustic Piano the Digital Piano is cheap and it enables one to use a USB connection to connect to a computer and sometimes even the MIDI format to connect to the computer.

In a Digital Keyboard one has to see to certain things which are a necessity as it is costly. We should check the instrument thoroughly before paying for it. Things like the speaker, chords, sound control, external chords, the volume control, head phones. Should also check the functions of each keys as some keys may not function properly, so make sure you play and see all the keys and the necessary buttons. Some cheap quality Pianos tend to have lack of certain off notes, they might have even the tempo problem so see to that what you buy is worth the money you pay. There is no harm in paying some more for the best quality and a long lasted.

There are many manufactures in the market, namely Casio, Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Kawai, Suzuki, Ketron, Kurzweil, Gem, etc. The Casio is the first and economical, and the Roland Company is the best among the Digital Piano Keyboards. Yamaha is said to be the most popular. Korg is said to be on the higher end and are cheaper but do not have the quality of Yamaha or Roland. Kawai Keybaords are light weighted and has a fabulous sound effect. Gem Keyboards are very visibly good but they lack the quality and sound performance. Ketron Keyboards are much more costly but they are good. Suzuki does not have good quality. Kurzweil also has a good sound effect.