The Sultan of swing

Thread for disco and club songs in some dark underbelly of the city where the booze flows freely. Let me start by sharing this gem. Who is the actress btw? 

It is Jayamalini

So finally I know who the famous Jaya Malini was .

Nilavu Neram - Stunner of a song. It had me bowled over during my first listen. Simply love PS's rendition, don't think she has sung a lot of songs like this one. Pure electric stuff from the Maestro - drums, electric guitar, bass work, you can pile on and on.

A personal favorite. S Janaki rocks the living daylights out of this song:

 

DM, awesome pick! 

Who said Disco numbers are Cheesy and tacky!
In Ilayaraja's hands, dance numbers get classical!
Poppish Ilayaraja in ragam anandha bhairavi with S.P.B for Kamal!



  for me this cold Friday morning when I exercised!

Vinatha

Of all the Ashaji songs for Raja, this is the one, that suits her the most. Rock, swing, call it whatever, Raja simply freaks out with her voice, and she delivers... One of my all time Raja-Asha favorites.

^^^  Love that song too, though she still sounds past her best on that one but at least more apt, more energetic than O Butterfly.

Wow, all three songs posted by DM, Baroque and Ravinat I am hearing for the first time. Have I been living under a rock or what  .

The video for the song posted by Baroque just cracked me up because it just so completely fits the description in my OP. Old timer Chennaites, so tell me where exactly were these seedy, shady places located and what were they?  Like that foreigner commented on the Solla solla video, it is like a peek into some forbidden realm in the early 80s. I wonder how the director used to articulate to IR what he wanted, but he sure seems to have loved composing for these situations, er situation rather and go bonkers with the trumpet, bass guitar and synth, putting Viji Manuel's skill to full use.

I think these live music/dancing places did exist. I even heard live music coming out of a building while waiting for the bus on Anna Salai. My friends told me it is one of those "cabaret" places. After seeing these in the movies, I was never tempted to go to one :-) 
I hear from knowledgeable people :-) the quality/looks of the group dancers in tamil movies improved only after Shankar came. He apparently uses college going girls to moonlight in the dances, not the so-called "professionals"  !!!
And of course, the heroine's themselves do the "main' dancing these days and not the "bad girls" anymore.

Very fascinating Kiruji  . Who would've thunk - Chennai, 80s, cabarets.. And Anna Salai huh? Like they say, best place to hide is in the open. 

Some superb dancing in that Pazha vilagu video by the way.  Had never bothered to check out the picturisation until today.   Never got why IR didn't do MJ based songs for Prabhudeva (who virtually stole his licks from MJ  ) and came up with Chinna Rasave or Mastana instead.  Given how popular Mastana was in spite of Mouli and Bhava's  vocals, a proper MJ type dance track with Prabhu's steps would have been a rage.  But that's another discussion.

Can't possibly leave out this song. PAttu enge. I have never heard a club-based song with such an ominous undertone. It sounds so groovy, funky and creepy at once. The at times, discordant slap bass and synth definitely produce a disturbing effect to my ears. And looking at the picturisation, it does look like there's a lot of people up to no good in that den - for that's what it is - a den, and a scarier one (especially with this song playing in the background) than the opium dens shown in 'Once upon a time in America' or the TV adaptation of 'The man with the twisted lip'.

The best club rock erotica pop song evah? My vote is for artharaathiri oh maama Manama from urangaadha ninaivugal. That one deserves to be picturised with the real rambais menakais and thilotgamaid of heaven. Do listen to it and agree with me.. right from the electronic preludes to the swinging voice of sjanaki to uber coolest trumpet playing to drums to the heavenly second interlude movement with just election guitar and lilting male chorus.. this is the raunchiest song to send hyper charge down my central nervous system..

Right from the days of RDB [ remember Asha's sensuous crooning for Helen in "Aaa jAnE jaa" or "lEkar hum deewana dil" of "Yadon ki barat"] till Raja,
I used to enjoy the guilty pleasure of slurping these so called sleazy cabaret dance/night club dance songs, though as kids and even now, our reasons are solely for music only.
[naan edhukkum oru munjaagradhaikku indha  disclaimer pOttachu]
Then where else do you find  these MDs lavishly displaying all their wares in such a tantalizing manner?
I mean all those bass, brass , guitars, drums etc.. all going full throttle and giving us that pulsating, electrifying experience.
LRE was the seducing queen of 70's and Janaki played the  vamp  during Raja era.

OK, here is the young Raja of 70's who has gone absolutely berserk with his pet toys.Check out VAniji who is no less in sensuality quotient.
I am talking aboutthe song "mayakkamA" of "naan potta savaal"

http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001715

I am not sure if you have heard this rare song (will post it in rare thread too). My personal favorite :)Lot of synthesizer stuff along with guitar, violins and horns freaking out.
ponmaanai pOlaadum - maNamagaLe vaa vaa sung by Malaysia Vasudevan, Chitra and Chorus

totally improper  Raja!   Loving it!  

Nice job, Jai! 




Second interlude of kungumathu meni.......




Even in club dance numbers, melody drips!  My  favorite, Raja rani jackie....... Netrikkan

Chorus harmony, bass guitar & foot tapping drums for
rhythmic Janu's Roja poo aadi vandhadhu..... Agninatchathiram!
Superb violin backdrop & piano beats!
One of many upbeat compositions from my workout time at 6:00 am this morning.

My favorite Raaja kuthu song. Adiye manam nilluna nikkaadhadi. Terrific swing and pep too.

Real Sulthan swing..........

kinnathil then vadithu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB6_U2in_sY

Usha udhup

Silai silai dhan.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X0UyDnoorA

one more Usha Udhup......

Raathiriyil thookamillai

http://shakthi.fm/ta/album/show/b2d661e4

vadagai veedidhu   - Mano and VJ

http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0002853

Sorgam madhuvile - SPB - Sattam en Kaiyil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWw2yhqa7VI

Manadhil enna ninaivugalo - Poonthalir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOYZtPy98qI