Simply Sonu: Live in Concert

what a show....simply mindblowing....10 times better than AR Rahman show....not because Sonu is a great singer but because he is the best entertainer....he not just enthralls the crowd with his renditions but keeps them involved and involves them in each of the songs....he is truly the living legend of Indian Music industry....

2 weeks back I saw an ad in Sulekha that GOD is going to perform in NY on 8th Sept at the same venue where Rahman had performed....quickly called up my friend Shobhit and asked him whether he would like to join for the concert...he concurred and we booked 4 ticks...the show was abt to start at 8 PM...we reached the venue well in advance...since we had some time we decided to fill our tummy with yummy Chipotle burritos....we entered the stadium at 7:45...the Nassau coliseum was not as packed as that for Rahman's show (south Indian crowd was missing)....

the show kickstarted with the Lord Ganesh chant of Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Samaprabha....this was following by the Sonu band (minus Sonu) singing Roobaroo from Rang de Basanti....this was followed by introduction of the band by stunning Mansi Verma (compere of the evening)...then Gunjan (who has sung in Bend It Like Beckham) sang Aao na gale lagao na and Beedi Jalayle....

Sonu then made his entry with his most popular song Kal Ho na Ho (sad version)...he just sang 2 lines from this song and then moved over to the ever hummable romantic Suraj hua maddham number....the best part abt each of the songs he sung was he didnt sing in the usual filmi manner but added his own alaaps/surs...each of the songs he sang sounded different from the original track....so sometimes it was really difficult to sing along with him.....for all songs he would prompt the audience to sing alongwith him...for example for the number Just Chill he sang the mukhda and prompted the audience to sing Just Chill Chill Just Chill....

He sang a number of songs from his now famous filmi/pop repertoire and also sang some of the Rafi numbers....heres the list

1. Kal Ho Na Ho sad version
2. Suraj hua Maddham
3. Saathiya title song : Rendition was perfect
4. Main Hoon Na: Best song of the evening..just check the prelude of this song (video below)...each line of the song was followed by another song from the old era..something like Kiska hai ye tumko intezaar Main hoon na
   Aati rahegi baharein
   jaati rahegi baaharein
   dekhlo idhar to ek baar
   Main hoon na
   mere tere liye hi saat rang ke sapne chune
5. Just Chill
6. Aaja Soniye...another great performance....he mixed this song with one of the other songs (cant remember the song)...
7. Staying alive from Bee Gees in girl's voice...a truly versatile rendition
8. Mera Rang de Basanti Chola...he mentioned that this is his favourite song and he makes sure that he sings it in each of his concerts...
9. Tumse Milke Dil ka hai jo haal
10. Lagaa Chunari mein daag
11. Chaudvi ka chand ho
12. Yeh dil deewana...mindblowing number and so beautifully sung
13. Bijuriya
14. Tenu Leke
15. Salaam e Ishq title song
16. Baawri piya ki
17. Mere Haath mein
18. Do Pal Ruka
19. Gumshuda
20. Kal Ho Na Ho
21. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna....2nd best number of the evening
    

his dad Agam Nigam also sang 2-3 numbers...but the audience were least interested in it...Sonu sang for close to 3 hrs with just one break...this show was truly a one man show...no other performer is needed alongwith Sonu...he can simply carry off the entire concert on this own shoulders...and he never seems to lose energy....

he also shared some of his experiences from early singing days and that was truly hilarious...he even did some mimicry of Anu Malik, Kumar Sanu, Sanjeev Kumar and Udit Narayan..

he was so full of life that he came down from the stage, called a woman from the audience and asked her to sing Bijuriya along with him and also requested her to urge the crowd to sing with them...towards the end of his performance also he came down from the stage, gave hi-5s to the VVIP ticket holders for 10-15 mins....he even held a 6-7 month baby from the crowd and sang Kal Ho Na ho with the baby..the show got over at almost 12 in the night....

wish Sonu keeps on coming to North east every yr and I get to see his live performance everytime he is here....

well here are some of the videos from the show (click on the song)

Main Hoon Na Prelude...ultimate
Kabhi Alvida na kehna
Kabhi Alvida na kehna (contd)
Main Hoon Na
Saathiya
Suraj Hua Maddham
Kal ho na ho
Kal ho na ho slow
Audience choice
Dil deewana
Sonu Nigam entry
Interaction with a lady
Tumse milke
Salaam-e-Ishq
Roobaroo
Beedi

Some more blogs on Sonu
Living legend
Baawri piya ki
Interesting blog on Sonu
Behka diya