Songs of Yore

1956 Best Songs: Wrap Up 4

AK — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:30:32 +0000

The SOY Award for the Best Duet of 1956 goes to? This year belongs to some everlasting duets with Manna Dey, such as: (with Lata Mangeshkar) Aa ja sanam madhur chandni mein hum; Ye raat bheegi bheegi; Panchhi banun udati phirun; Jahan main jaati hun wahin chale aate ho (Chori Chori); Nain mile nain kahan;READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Best songs of 1939: Wrap Up 3

AK — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 03:30:21 +0000

And the SOY Award for the Best Duet of 1939 goes to? After the Overview Post, Wrap Up 1 on Male Solos, and Wrap Up 2 on the Female Solos, now it is time for the Wrap Up 3 on the Duets. As the readers are aware, I am also concurrently doing the review ofREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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“Fair & Lovely” Songs

AK — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:30:35 +0000

There was a time, not long ago, when the biggest FMCG, Hindustan Lever/Unilever did not think twice on selling the “fairness” cream in India, as it would help girls in marriage. Our matrimonials were a sign of the times – they still are – they all wanted a convented, smart, gori girl. Sometimes, when theyREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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Best Songs of 1956: Wrap Up 3

AK — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:30:22 +0000

The SOY Award for the Best Solo by the ‘Other’ Female Singers for 1956 goes to? My Overview Post on the best songs of 1956 indicates ‘other’ female singers sang at least two and half times of solo songs than Lata Mangeshkar. Those songs include some everlasting songs; even a most biased Lata Mangeshkar-fan cannotREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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In memory of KS Bhatia

AK — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 03:30:41 +0000

Tributes to KS Bhatia on his 5th Remembrance Day In a group you come across some person, who soon impresses others, not for his or her status or accomplishments, but for his simplicity and knowledge. This is true of online platforms like Songs Of Yore too, where virtually no one knew each other when theREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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In Memoriam: Suman Kalyanpur, an epitome of talent, grace and dignity

AK — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:30:44 +0000

Guest article by Dr Rajesh Deshpande as a tribute to one of the last of doyens of playback singing of the Golden Era (When Suman Kalyanpur passed away recently, I suddenly felt that with her one of the last links with the Golden Era of playback singing is gone. She was a tragic figure, theREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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Songs of Yore completes 16 years

AK — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 03:30:23 +0000

It is customary to add ‘sweet’ before 16. That is how the hosts of the social game Tambola/Housie describe this number in their sing-song style. How sweet was SOY’s 16th year, or did it simply clock another year? The judgement rests with the readers, for me it was a pleasant experience. As the readers areREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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Best songs 1956: Wrap Up 2

AK — Wed, 27 May 2026 03:30:19 +0000

The SOY Award for 1956 for the Best Solo of Lata Mangeshkar goes to? SOY regulars are aware of the reasons why I am doing year-wise reviews of the best songs of a Vintage Era year going backwards, and a Golden Era year going forwards simultaneously. Vintage Years backwards, because of the joy of discoveringREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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Best songs of 1939: Wrap Up 2

AK — Sat, 16 May 2026 03:30:43 +0000

And the SOY Award for the Best Female Solo of 1939 goes to? One can make a general observation about the female solos of 1939. Following the long-term ratio, the female solos outnumber the male solos by a good margin in this year too. But in the era of dominance of KL Saigal and PankajREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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‘Afsana’, ‘Dastan’, ‘Kahani’ and ‘Fasana’ in songs

AK — Tue, 05 May 2026 03:30:38 +0000

Old Bollywood was our nursery for Urdu. Where else could you get Tamaam gawaahon ke bayanat and memberaan-e-jury ki sifaarish ke maddenazar? There were always fasadat, khayalat in our films. In between there were some exceptions like Khayalon mein kisi ke is tarah aaya nahin karte. But soon it was back to Ye meri khwahishREAD THE FULL ARTICLE

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