'Marigold' music less than average

The music of the Salman Khan-starring Hollywood flick "Marigold" is quite a disappointment, especially when you know it has been composed by none other than Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the ruling kings of Bollywood music.

In their effort to mix Western-Indian musical arrangements with Hinglish lyrics, they nearly forget the demand of this millennium's music and end up with what could be called a less-than-average-album.

It starts off with "Listen to the music". Ali Larter lends her voice along with Shaan and Truth Hurts to the song. An all-in-all English number, it comprises major Indian musical arrangements with occasional Western inputs. A moderately paced track, Ali's husky voice isn't bad and the song would be best heard while watching the film.

Next is "Pagal si saare leheren". Rendered by Vikas Bhalla, the song is like a typical Bollywood number and in no way appealing. Penned by Javed Akhtar, the number reminds one of some Holi track that usually doesn't get the cash registers ringing.

A terribly slow-paced track awaits in "Sachha pyaar", crooned by Nikita Nigam. Yes the same Nikita who was last heard in "Pyaare Mohan" makes her comeback in "Marigold". This one should be given a miss.

Next comes another English track titled, "Seven stages of love" wherein Shaan and Truth Hurts go behind the mike. With a nice opera-style voice, Truth Hurts does most of the number allowing Shaan to come in intervals and support the track. Shaan's contribution too is commendable in the song written by Williard Carroll.

A 'give-it-a-miss' track is "Tan man". A torture to listen from the very start, the song has Vikas Bhalla, Alka Yagnik, Nihira Joshi and Sneha Pant behind the vocals.

"The meaning of love" sees the return of Truth Hurts who now has a song to herself. But she is unable to give the track any sort of momentum, as a result the song ends up being a very average track. Unimpressive again, it wouldn't find any fans, to say the least.

"Yeh pyaar hai" comes next and seems to be the main track of the album "Marigold". The only saving grace, Shaan, renders this track penned by Javed Akhtar.

A well-paced number, "Yeh pyaar hai" has melody going for it with a good deal of rhythm too making it a likeable track and yet is not the sing-along kinds. A sweet and nice number, the reins are completely in the hands of Shaan who handles it very well. Keeping just out of the boredom mark, the number is of the kind to be played in the background without giving it much thought.

There may have been an attempt to make all the tracks different from each other by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, yet one notices a common thread, which is why the album will not do well in the market. Plus, composing tracks of the 90s kind won't really work well with a generation that's a decade ahead.

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Marigold