Three cheers!

Manpriya Singh

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If there’s one thing that ever gave a stiff competition to the heady feeling of love and aching emotion of heartbreak, it’s the high of a drink. From Bob Dylan’s deep reflection on his deprecating love affair with booze, “If whiskey don’t kill me, I don’t know what will”… to Sharry Mann’s Laake Tin Peg Baliye; everlasting odes to drinking and alcohol galore.

On World Whiskey Day, we revisit the booze list from the infamous to the iconic. Rest, as Arjun Kanungo has said, Baaki Baatein Peene Baad!

It’s a thin line

Lamberghini-singer Ragini Tandan feels it is okay to do a song on alcohol as long as it observes the fine line that separates the fun lyrics from those glorifying it. “As long as it’s not put together in a cheap way. The only decent song that I feel exists on the subject of alcohol would be Daru Badnaam by Kamal and Param.”

While now the perspectives on drinking might have changed but not the subject. What was shocking in the seventies, a lady with a glass, was aptly captured in Asha Bhosle’s voice Maine Hothon Se Lagayi To Hungama Ho Gya. The shock value doesn’t even hold any surprise element in 21st century, where the song Chhote Chhote Peg Maar Baby standing at a neat 172 million views.

The melodious ghazal

“Honestly, there are two genres typically suited to alcoholism, one is ghazals and the other full on party tracks,” shares a city-based Pollywood singer with reservations on coming on board. “See what happens at parties, drinking and dancing, so if there are songs on that, where’s the harm.” At the opposite end of the spectrum of party songs is the genre of ghazals and many a popular ones have come from Pankaj Udhas, from the private album culture defined by the mid-nineties, such as Phir Haath Main Shraab Hai to Maikhane Se Shraab Se.

Artist Akull recalls two of them that he really liked to listen while growing up, “One would be Bally Sagoo Bothlaan Sharaab Dityan Akhan Teriyan and the other would be Main Ho Gaya Shrabi Mainu Hor Na Pilao.” Well, which DJ at a wedding hasn’t been put in that request in Punjab at least. Personally, he came up with a song Daru Pee Kay Nachna about a year back. “It’s a reality. We are just ensuring people have a good time and not actually trying to make them drink irresponsibly. What are songs for, to be listened for fun sake.”

Party mode

There is the screaming, shouting and repeating all over again by Yo Yo Honey Singh in Main Sharaabi from the film Cocktail. For those a little less unapologetic, there’s no list that was ever complete without the ultimate song in defence of drinking – Thodi Si Jo Pee Li Hai… An anthem for the ones who’ve had far too many. As Rihanna says, cheers to that!