Rahman shows the Tamil way to Hollywood

If the entire globe is looking out for his musical score, the western world expects a lot more from him after the success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Our Oscar Nayagan has given a romantic Tamil song that goes like “Kuru Kuru Kangaliley Ennai Aval Vendraley” for his Hollywood project ‘Couples Retreat’.

The man, who made Indians proud by his Oscar, has now made Tamils proud by inserting a Tamil song for a Hollywood project. Enjoy the sound track of the film and experience listening to a Tamil song with Hollywood’s sound quality. It’s sure to win peoples’ heart across the globe with its freshness…

Rahman strongly admits, “Though it’s a Hollywood movie, it will carry the Indianized touch in it”. For that reason, not just this song, but the entire album will have the desi touch.

So the world can get ready for many more ‘Roja’ and ‘Uyire’.

Courtesy:indiaglitz.com

AR Rahman to put up grand musical show in Los Angeles

After Hrs has learnt that AR Rahman is putting up a grand musical show in Los Angeles before the premiere of his forthcoming Hollywood venture.

It promises to be a first-of-its-kind event in Hollywood and the guest list includes Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Owen Wilson and Sean Penn, besides David and Victoria Beckham, among others. Incidentally, they are all friends of actor Vince Vaugh, who has written the script of the film.

A source close to the development says, "For this grand musical night, Rahman will belt out numbers from his English movie Couples Retreat. Atlanta Soul singer PJ Morton has sung one track in the movie and will also feature in this event alongside Rahman. This will be very different from the usual formal premiere nights in Hollywood. Since the movie has an Indian collaboration, the idea was to add a lot of vibrancy, colour and music."

Rahman's special aide confirmed the news saying, "A big event is being planned in Los Angeles where the who's who of America will be present. The movie's premiere is definitely going to be a star-studded affair but we cannot share the complete guest list."

Courtesy: dnaindia.com

Couples Retreat Music Review

Couples Retreat – Wordlessly mind-boggling

If A.R. Rahman had proved off his extraordinary adeptness on Indian touch with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, he strikes marvelously with complete Hollywood-fangled melodies. The tunes are stunningly melodic and indeed aptly sound in accordance with film’s title ‘Couples Retreat’. The original soundtrack of ‘Couples Retreat’ has 15 melodies with uniquely spelled attributes.

SAJNA… SAJNA Re

Just heed to the fortepianos and mild-strike of chord with crystal-chimes accompanying them. Rahman adds to the Indianized touch by adding the Hindi word ‘Sajna Sajna Re…’ The English lyrics are mesmerizingly touching and perhaps, the western people wouldn’t have listened to such an appealing melody.

KURU KURU…

Vocal: A.R. Rahman

Fine! After uttering ‘Ellam Pugazhum Iraivan Oruvanukke’ – it’s one more turn to express his gratitude for his TAMIL. The song starts off with slow-rhythms of 6/8 March on soft-guitars later with slow-stringed running notes. The Tamil lyrics tuned in complete Hollywood style happen to be the best flavors. Totting up to the best panoramas is the unique-patterned rhythm on scissors. Sound engineering has been marvelously performed… Doubtlessly, KURU KURU is the best pick of soundtrack.

Jason and Cynthia Suite

Realms of stringed instruments as it keep playing on various octaves. The melodic notes are played on solo guitar and Cello joins the instrumentation in latter part. Merely after couple of minutes, the song is shifted to higher scales and it goes on with same notes. Trombones and oboes are played in final part. Moreover, it’s the best song that sweeps all on your senses.

NANA

It’s a Spanish-styled hip-hop with Blaaze’s specific vocalisms on rap lines. The beats over the synchronized drum pads keeps repeating while fill-ins over Brasses and trumpets over synthesizers does takes you straight into those ambiences.

TOUR OF THE VILAS

If you ever spellbound listening to ‘SAJNA SAJNA’, Rahman delivers the same tune over instrumentals. All through the track, the scales are raised and lowered. Beats over Congo-drums with vibes mingled in makes it sound yet more embellished. More than all, Rahman has utilized more instruments on various parts, say, like cymbals, solo violin, flute and pan flutes.

MEETING MARCEL

Sounds quite unique from previous numbers… It offers the touch of meditational relaxation music with the style of percussions inherited from Tai Chi. the melodiously refreshing tune suddenly transforms into an emotional genre with flutes, cellos, violins and other stringed instruments coalesced on the parts. We get to hear orchestral-hits here and there.

ITINERARY

Starts off with overpowering instrumentations over percussions, keyboards and stringed ones… Rahman has to thank his music supervisor John O’Brien for having engineered the entire group with such grandeur. Finally, after the fast-rushing instrumentals, you’ve Rahman’s vocalism echoing on higher tone.

UNDRESS

Wow! This is the prettiest work that any music lover would’ve heard. On the beginning note, we have Mridangam, veena taking off with predominance later with sync-bass. A perfect ‘Jugalbandhi’ treat for everyone.

SHARKS

The track has some traces of previous number MEETING MARCEL and the notes are almost the same. Precisely, it would be more appealing with the visuals on screens.

LUAU by John O’Brien

Making it blissfully done over the sound supervising, John O’Brien scores on his show with country music with 12-string acoustic guitars. The running beats on Congo-drums make an impressive sound.

SALVADORE

The song sounds much similar to Tamil song ‘Jumbhalaka’ that has the prelude starting off with Arabic intonation. The song has guitars and beats played on similar touch. As well, it has similarities with Rahman’s previous score for ‘Mein Alabeli’ in ‘Zubeida’.

INTERVENTION

The maestro roars again! Of course, put your best verdicts for the brilliant orchestration of symphony based track. Rahman’s vocalism on higher pitch emblazons it stunningly. If our guesses are right, the track should precisely be inserted somewhere during emotional sequences.

The Waterfall

Sounds to be a romantic track with guitars and slow-stringed instruments on show with dominance of flute in initial parts….

JASON AND CYNTHIA – PIANO THEME

The track doesn’t differ from the previous version in any vistas. Rahman trenchantly brings the mix of various soft instruments of piano, guitar and violin. The slow stringed chords do accompany right throughout the song.

ANIMAL SPIRITS

The musical track of ‘Couples Retreat’ winds-up with ‘Animal Spirits’ that has astoundingly marvelous score. It’s a track brimmed with full of high-spirited delight. So are the beats and instruments with perfect blend. The middle part has slow-running orchestrated stringed instruments while, again the last 20 seconds get back to the same cheerful touch.

Final Take:

Trust us! if ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ was Rahman’s ticket to Hollywood, ‘Couples Retreat’ has more probabilities of making it big for more fetes again. Especially the songs, ‘Sajna Sajna’ and ‘Kuru Kuru’ are sure to create sensational ripples all over the global market.

Cast & Crew:

Produced: John Isbell, Micah Mason, Udi Nedivi, Guy Riedel, Sandra J. Smith, Scott Stuber, Victoria Vaughn, Vince Vaughn

Music: A.R. Rahman

Cinematography: Eric Alan Edwards

Cast: Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Ken Jeong, Kristin Davis, Jean Reno, John Michael Higgins, Faizon Love

Director: Peter Billingsley

Writers: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn

Genre: Comedy

Verdict: Stunning, spellbinding and beautiful

Courtesy:cinefundas.com

COUPLES RETREAT – MUSIC REVIEW

I didn’t quite like the vocals in Sajna (which I believe is done by Vince Vaughn, he is supposed to have recorded a song for the movie), mainly due to the corny lyrics, but Rahman’s mesmerizing arrangement is more than enough to have you hooked to the track. The big surprise comes in the next track. How often do you get to hear Tamil song playing in a Hollywood soundtrack? Well here is one for you, Rahman crooning a chirpy Kuru Kuru set to a mildly folksy orchestration. A really addictive track this one, as I am discovering at this precise moment (thanks to a close friend for deciphering the lyrics). Jason and Cynthia Suite on the other hand begins on a more solemn note, Rahman employing all his orchestral splendour to a gradual buildup over three minutes before springing a surprise mode change to a more folksy segment led by the flute for the next two minutes. Nana which comes next, has a lot of tribal sounding words interspersed with rap in a carnivalesque track. I couldn’t discern Blaaze’s voice among the rappers. And I think the kid’s voice belongs to Rahman’s son Alim who had reportedly recorded a song in this movie.
In spite of a slight resemblance to Jaage Hai’s orchestral sequence in its grand opening, Tour of the Villas is an absolute treat, an instrumental and more elaborately orchestrated version of Sajna. Strangely enough for a minute-long segment in between the song goes into a karaoke mode without a leading tune, just the backing instruments playing on. Of course that takes no credit off this short and sweet track. Meeting Marcel, the next track, is a spiritual song, albeit arranged in a sinister manner. While the first half with a folk tinge is dominated by the flute, the latter half taking on a darker tone belongs to the violins. Itinerary is typical background track material rather than something intended for a CD. It is made up of a sequence of different tunes which wouldn’t make much sense unless listened to while watching the movie. Undress sounds very Indian and very nicely so, thanks to the extensive use of ghatam, no negative connotation intended mind you. Lasting just over 1.5 minutes, this track would have been a perfect fit in a movie like Lagaan or Swades. It will be interesting to see how the picturisation of this happens (my interest has nothing to do with the title I assure you!).
Sharks is another mindblowing track albeit a totally classical-oriented one (Puriya Dhanasri/Panthuvarali the raga is I guess). With the violins playing at a frantic pace to an equally frenzied percussion, this song took me back to Rahman’s classic Hai Rama for a moment. Luau refers to a Hawaiian feast. And John O’Brien’s sole score for the movie is quite evocative of the party mood with its very native arrangement. Salvadore is superb fusion, Kailash Kher’s well executed Hindustani tarana (similar to thillana in Carnatic) mixed brilliantly with a Latin/Middle Eastern instrumentation. Intervention is another track marked by its orchestral opulence, and the combo with Rahman’s soulful humming is quite deadly! The result, another totally riveting track.
Similar to Itinerary, The Waterfall also features a collation of varied tunes which would be better viewed than listened to. Rahman produces an elegant reprise to Jason and Cynthia Suite with Jason and Cynthia Piano Theme, cutting down on the orchestral elements and making it more easy on the ear. Things are rounded off with another bouncy track, Animal Spirits, which starts off as a spruced up version of Jason and Cynthia theme but then moves on along a different line for about two minutes where things take a turn, with a revisit to the opening sequence of Tour of the Villas.
After a long hiatus post winning the Oscars suddenly there is a deluge of Rahman songs. While Blue was more commercialised and Passage at a more esoteric one, Couples Retreat combines a bit of both. Honestly I didn’t expect a Rahman soundtrack to displace Passage from the position of his best soundtrack this year, so soon! And now the million dollar question is, will the movie turn out to be worth such a brilliant effort. Hope it does. You can listen to the soundtrack here.
Music Aloud’s rating – 8.5/10
Recommended tracks – Kuru Kuru, Salvadore, Intervention, Tour of the villas, Undress


Courtesy: musicaloud.com

Listening 'Couples Retreat'

‘Couples Retreat’ is in a way the true entry of A.R.Rahman into Hollywood. He did some stage musicals, there were some Hollywood movies which used his Indian songs, he was a co-composer in ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ and also it was a movie by an Indian Director, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ was never meant to be such a huge success and even A.R.Rahman didn’t believe it was his ‘Ticket to Hollywood’ while working on that movie and moreover it was a movie set in India. But with ‘Couples Retreat’ is none of the above. The world knows who A.R.Rahman is and they expect him to go ‘Jai Ho’ again. Has he?

‘Sajna’ is a breezy romantic ballad done on a template ripped straight out of ‘Dreams on Fire’ (a gem which is yet to get its due) with simple lyrics and a catchy Hindi hook phrase ‘Sajna Re’. Except for that hook, the melody of song sounds simple and too much worked upon as they have tried hard to fit in lyrics for Rahman’s tune. It gets better with vocal harmony countering the main melody and is truly elevated at the end with a soulful string section smoothing the rough edges of the melody. But overall, this song is a very underwhelming start to the soundtrack.

But wait, a full instrumental version of the song comes up in ‘Tour to the Villas’. The melody of the phrase ‘Sajna Re’ is almost the main theme of the movie. The sweeping grandeur of this theme as played on full throttled string section begins the track ‘Tour to the Villas’. I can imagine ‘Tour to the Villa’ being played when the couples enter the ‘Eden Resort’ in an Island and take a tour around the resort checking out what is in store for them. The music just follows them as they move through various sections. The track shifts from the main melody to another beautiful melody played on ‘Erhu’ (a Chinese Spa in the resort or a mediation or Yoga centre??), and to more ambient, soundscape music filled with ethnic percussions and exotic instruments that effectively puts the listeners right in the middle of the mood and space that it wants to create.

There is another main theme in the movie which first appears in the track ‘Jason and Cynitia Suite’. It is a simple, soothing melody oozing romanticism. The melody is introduced in the very beginning on a guitar solo, and then it turns into a guitar concerto with strings joining in and replying to the guitar phrase by phrase. The melody slowly ascends up and turns into a full throttled orchestral piece proving that A.R.Rahman

OST Couples Retreat

Music: A R Rahman
Rating 4.5/5
A first peek into the music of Couple's Retreat was revealed by A R Rahman yesterday through this official facebook post. "The music of my first Hollywood comedy is unveiled! What do you think of it?" he wrote. Since then, his post has been abuzz.
Though the album 'Couples Retreat' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack comprises of 15 tracks and is yet to be released officially (physical/ digital downloads), here's a lowdown on some of the appealing tracks from the album.
The music has a world music appeal to it, and most likely, if you understand it or not, you'll still love it. For instance, Sajna (No, it’s not a Hindi track!) is a soothing English number with beautiful string sections and a resonating chorus line. This is the main soundtrack of the film and one can hear the core melody of this track throughout out the album.
Another gem is Kuru Kuru Kan (Afro Nisha) which is based on good old reggae music and has Rahman singing in Tamil- it's 'chillax' music, easy and going. The track Nana also treads on the same path, but is a lot more common. The best, however, is Salvadore. In this song, Rahman finds a common thread in Hindustani alaaps and Spanish tap dance music through Kailash Kher’s voice – the result is unbelievable.
Among the tracks that instantly hook the listener is Animal Spirits – you might well get transferred to the Caribbean’s! while Luau by John O’Brien may throw you in Hawaii thanks to the fun African rhythms, ukulele and slide guitars.
Other tracks (relatively shorter) like Jason and Cynthia Suite, Tour of the Villa’s, Meeting Marcel, Itinerary, Sharks, Intervention, The Water Fall, Jason and Cynthia Suite Piano theme are equally interesting melodies and are set to an operatic mood – wait till you watch this on screen.
The album credits Rahman as a producer and composer of the 'OST Couples Retreat'. So, these are not songs to which actors ‘shake a leg’. Needless to say, 'soundtracks' offer much larger canvas for composers to play with and Rahman has quite likely made the most of this opportunity.
Music of Couples Retreat truly sets Rahman into the International league. The grand international feel and the impeccably playful sound of this film will definitely find a way to a matured listerners heart. For those into shake-a-leg bollywood songs, will have to go for a walk.
LAST WORD
'Couples Retreat' will certainly enchant Indians accustomed or open to western music. However, feedback from International listeners will give a larger perspective about the soundtracks popularity. Who knows, Rahman may just cast his second global spell!





Courtesy: radioandmusic.com

Couples Retreat Music Soundtrack

www.couplesretreatsoundtrack.com/

Exclusive: ARR’s ‘Couples Retreat’ tracks unveiled

Come thou art diehard fans of A.R. Rahman. The ‘Madras Mozart’ has all made it with a stupendous musical score for his Hollywood project ‘Couples Retreat’. The musician had expressed his gratitude of uttering few lines in Hindi and Tamil on the dais of Academy Awards, has again rendered his act.

Yeah! Couple of songs in the musical album has a song ‘Sajna’ and a full-length Tamil song ‘Kuru Kuru’. The musical album has 15 tracks with stunning instrumentations of various genres.

1.    Sajna Re

2.    Kuru Kuru – A.R. Rahman

3.    Nana – Rap by Blaaze

4.    Tour of the Vilas

5.    Meeting Marcel

6.    Jason and Cynthia

7.    Itinerary

8.    Undress

9.    Sharks

10.  Luau – John O’Brien

11.  Salvadore

12.  Intervention

13.  The Waterfall

14.  Jason and Cynthia – Piano Theme

15.  Animal Spirits

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman takes Tamil to Hollywood

For the first time in the history of Hollywood, a full-length Tamil song would feature in 'Couples Retreat', thanks to 'Mozart of Madras' A R Rahman.

The number 'Kurukuru Kan....' has been sung by Afro Nisha, whose voice has a striking resemblence to that of Rahman.

The Oscar award winning music composer said a few days back that his music for 'Couples Retreat' would be completely Western but with a touch of Indianess.

"There's no point in doing something I've already done. I've reached a stage where I've to do new things. There're so many avenues to be explored. So Couples Retreat will be their kind of music with my touch, done in my way," Rahman said.

Directed by Peter Billingsley, the comedy revolves around four couples who settle into a tropical island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realise that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional. It stars actors like Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman and Kristen Bell.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman brings in Indianess without Indian sounds

Oscar winner AR Rahman is busy scoring the music for the Hollywood comedy Couple’s Retreat starring Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman and Kristen Bell. Speaking about this film, Rahman said that he would not use Indian sounds but would bring in the feel of Indianess in the album.

Rahman said in a recent interview, “I’ve reached a stage where I've to do new things. There are so many avenues to be explored. So Couples Retreat will be their kind of music with my touch, done in my way.”

The musician is also keen that there should be no traces of Slumdog Millionaire. According to sources close to Rahman, the musician feels that his best is yet to come.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rahman to compose world artiste album

AR Rahman is now busy with the compositions for Blue and Couples Retreat. His next assignment is composing an album for some internationally acclaimed artists.





Though, Rahman didn’t spill the beans yet, he says “It is one of my biggest international challenges.”


Rahman has taken two weeks break from his busy schedule to be with his family.


He is very proud of his son Ameen’s singing a song in Couples Retreat. But as a loving father, he leaves the choice of taking up singing as a career up to the little one’s choice.


Rahman is now dividing his time between Chennai to Mumbai to London to Los Angeles.


Courtesy: duniyalive.com

AR Rahman is lonely in LA

This Chennai-based music composer who has been dividing his time between Chennai, Mumbai, London and Los Angeles, has now begun to miss the time he used to spend at home with his wife and children. So Rahman took a totally unscheduled break from his assignments in LA and was back in Chennai on Friday for two weeks.

Confirming the news, Rahman said, “The kids were always there with me when I worked regularly from home in Chennai. Now I get to spend less time with them. Even now when I’m here in Chennai, work for my pending Hindi films like Blue has to be taken care of. I’ve come at a time when I cannot afford to take a break. My first Hollywood soundtrack for Couples Retreat has to be ready because the film is releasing on October 6.”

Not that Rahman is complaining. He is used to being rushed. “I always liked to work at my own pace and that hasn’t changed. But now the volume and profile of the workload is so eclectic that I need to find more time to focus on the individual assignments more carefully. Yeah, it’s a tough balancing act. But I’m enjoying myself. After I finish the soundtrack of Couples Retreat, which is 80 per cent complete, I’ve an artistes’ album coming up. It is one of my biggest international challenges. It’s too early to talk about it. But yes, it will involve musicians from all over the world and I’ll be composing the music. Recently, I also got to work with the John Williams Orchestra and that was a dream-come-true. I guess my dreams are coming true,” gushed Rahman.

Rahman wants all his children to be adept at music. In fact, Rahman’s son, Ameen, who has sung in Couples Retreat, attends Rahman’s music academy in Chennai. Commenting on Ameen’s early start, Rahman said, “It’s just a small part of a song in Couples Retreat. We found his voice to be suitable for it. And that’s it. My son is certainly not embarking on a singing career at that age. He’s just a child. He has so many things to do and achieve before he decides on a career. I think he should be allowed to do what he likes. The final call will be his. No peer pressure.”

Rahman returns to LA in the second week of August. Tease him about being Dr Rahman and he says, “You will have to say the ‘Doctor’ thrice,” referring to the three doctorates that he has received since the Oscar triumph.


Courtesy: indiatimes.com

Rahman’s son turns singer

He is, his dad was, and his nephew now is, all his sisters are. So, what’s the big surprise in AR Rahman’s son Alim turning singer now? But yes, the Academy Award winning musician’s son has sung for a complete song in Rahman’s Hollywood flick, 'Couples Retreat'.

The film, touted to be a romantic comedy, is Rahman’s first complete Hollywood venture, as all his previous works have been for crossover movies. And last week, Rahman’s son Alim had recorded a song in the film.

It has been said earlier that Rahman’s children lent their voice for the chorus sections of a few songs, most notably “Dhinam Dhinam Deepavali” in 'Varalaaru'. But the composer is known to be highly protective of his children, not exposing them to the public eye.

But with this song and his son, he surely has signaled the arrival of gen next.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Kailash Kher goes international

Singer Kailash Kher is all set to make his musical debut in Hollywood alongside Oscar-winner A R Rehman with the film 'Couples Retreat' even as he gears up for the worldwide release of his third album 'Kailaasa, Chaandan Mein'.

The singer, who will also begin his first international tour later this year said that he is excited about performing at coveted platforms like the Hollywood Ball in Los Angeles.

"I have been invited to perform at the Hollywood Ball and at the San Francisco and Brooklyn music festivals," Kher who was in the city to promote his third album said in an interview.

The 33-year-old musician has sung in the 'Couples Retreat' which is Rahman's first international project after 'Slumdog Millionaire' and stars Hollywood A-listers like Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman.

"I have sung a 'tarana' in the film for Rahman and working with him is always a unique experience," said the singer while adding that he is open to other offers from the west but will only accept work of quality.

"I will not accept a project just because it is coming from the west. It should be interesting work that gives me creative satisfaction," said the artiste.

Kher said that the deal for his third album's global release fell into place after a successful show in New York.

A.R. Rahman inks with UMPG

A.R. Rahman, the singer-composer who walked away with two Oscars for his song and score work in "Slumdog Millionaire," has inked an exclusive, worldwide publishing pact, excluding India, with Universal Music Publishing Group.

The deal with Rahman -- whose Indian credits exceed 100 films and whose pic scores and soundtracks have sold more than 100 millions units worldwide -- includes large portions of his catalog as well as new music. Rights to the "Slumdog" music will be included in the UMPG deal.

"That fact that he is a two-time Oscar winner has really elevated his visibility and notoriety globally," David Renzer, chairman and CEO of UMPG, told Daily Variety.

The Rahman deal, Renzer said, fits the company's strategy of film and television music being "one of the key areas that we are focused on."

Rahman, who previously did not have an overall publishing deal, is finishing the music for Universal's "Couples Retreat," starring Vince Vaughn, and will soon be going into the studio with producer Jimmy Iovine, chairman of UMG label Interscope Geffen A&M Records, to create the music for an album featuring guest vocalists.