Songs of Laura Branigan, Modern Talking, Eruption and others!

I didn’t really know who "Laura Branigan" was.  Neither do I know her that well even now. But my queries on Google reveal it's Laura Branigan who sang the song "Self Control" that literally melt my heart. The tune got stuck so into my heart the moment I listen I am effortlessly shifted back in time to the early 80s. 

I was only a kid who could hardly decipher English words properly  when this song first struck me. I was dead. Travelled to other galaxies and starred as the hero and returned home to tell the story. Fantastic is a very low-key word to describe the high I enjoyed listening to this awesome song as a child. Every time, I hear this number inexpressible feelings flood my soul as I stand transfixed hoping for a bolt of lightning to hit me dead. Well, dead in a good way of course!    

Such feelings lend themselves to a couple of other mesmerizing numbers which hold similar galaxy-transportational capabilities. Among them are Modern Talking's "Cheri Cheri Lady" and "Brother Louise". Even to those Indians who haven't heard these songs before, the moment these songs roll out, there's bound  to be a twinkle of enlightenment in the eye and a familiar sign of recognition that's going to dawn on the mind. 

That's because  Bappi Lahiri, our regional Indian music director, unashamedly stole the tunes and introduced them as his own in Mithun Chakravarthy movies. The songs were super duper hits. Of course, the credit, along with the stolen tunes, were warmly received by the music director.  

Not that I don't like Bappi Lahiri. He is an amazing composer, but somehow, I hate it bitterly when guys of good caliber try to sneak in on western songs and without a hint to the composers steal their tunes. 

Throwing a blind eye to plagiarism once,  let's look at another song that dazed me into the same transcendental peak - Boy George's "Culture Club". The smooth silky voice sinks deeply into you as it leaves in totally blissful state. My likeness for Boy George's songs is purely musical and nothing else - lest one thinks otherwise. 

There are other numbers that have put a spring in my walk long back for that matter they do even now, but they belong to the largely well-known musical groups such as Boney M and ABBA. One from the team-  Eruption called "One way ticket" too. The timeless songs are memories that won't desert you even after you grow up! Well, there are hardly any who won't love the rhapsodies of yesteryear?! To be honest, music isn't made like that anymore!