Gurdas Maan Forum

It's been a while...and I'm not just talking about the much-awaited album. For those who don't know, I'm from the earlier forum; "the good old days" some will say. Time, writing, and more time has seen me spend less on this forum. But I'm here, not for long, just to post a quick review of Jogiya, and off I'll go again! Most are doing a fine job here mind you. Before I do, a quick greeting to the old guys, and as cliche as this may sound, you all "know who you are".

Back to business...

Jogiya. My honest opinion?
Brilliant.
I'm not just saying that because I'm a fellow fan. Perhaps! And in defence, I don't think GM is great because I like him, I like him because he's great. Simples. No bias here in this review. It's honest, I pinky promise.

Normally 'title songs' are commercially viable, but not neccessarily the 'best' on an album. It's different here. Much different. Jogiya is, for me, the heart of the album, and for once a Punjabi album title is a reflection of the mood of the whole songlist. Jogiya (album) is sufi in every sense, and Jogiya (song) is melodically magical and sentimentally seducing. It flows up and down, but heads in one direction throughout. A wave if you will. A wave of detached divinity. Going back to the album title, Jogiya really captures the mood of the album. It's as if GM said "right, I know what I am, and I don't care about what 'will work' now, I want to put out an album about my love for divine attachment, and secular detachment". So he did. Go through the album and you'll find that the mention of a Sai is never far away, and who cares what 'some might say'; audhi (GM) jithe laggi...laggi rehende. Maan's his own man. That's why we always feel connected to his work. We 'hear him'.

In fact, GM is no stranger to releasing albums of collective common themes. In the West it happens quite often. Singer/songwriter John Mayer released his "Battle Studies" album and all his songs were a collection of his expressions of 'fighting love'. Eminem released "Recovery" with songs about his desire to put certain things right. Let's go back to GM's "Heer". If you were to brainstorm words (like back in school!) around the word HEER, you would come up with "Kudiye", "Akhiyan", "Je Tu Bin Daseya". How about "Punjeeri"? Not much changes. Brainstorm around that and we get "Pind (diya galliyan)", "Boliyan", "Veezey", "Jagga (of tradition)". Whether this is a concious decision or not, the fact of the matter is, his artistry and ability to create diverse songs, which all come back to the 'essence' is unrivalled in Punjabi music.

Enough with the waffling, and more with the work. "Saddi Jithe Laggi", is in simple terms, inspiring. Although dominantly sufi in lyrics, it has a "I don't give a damn what you think" nuance. You be what you are, and I'll be me. Kindly tough. He's paid homage to his late Sai, and delivered a few of social-filled verses in "Gal Tere Matlab Di" and "Paindey Door Pichoran De".

Above all, here's the song that grew on me quicker than a Sukhshinder Shinda song release (and that's fast) - "Tere Bhajon". I'll be honest, I was skeptical. I heard a snippet and was afraid it might be to Jogiya, what "Taare Gawaa Ne" was to Boot Polishan - a 'filler' song. I'll hold my hands up, I was wrong. The song surprised me; it was beautiful, and strangley I could not dismiss the sufi touch to this aswell (note the Kalaam line). "Taare Gawaa Ne", though filmed, and hugely public, for me was 'too easy' for GM, and pretty 'draggy'. Not a compositional highlight.

The lyrics throughout Jogiya are spiritual, meaningful and quite simply important. The only downside, and I mean slight, is the music. I was weary of this before buying the album, but I feel that Jaidev Kumar, who in his right is a legend of the game, needs to play it better with GM. I sometimes feel the justice is not done to his lyrical demands. I felt there could have been the impactful, 'start/stop', to "Saddi Jithe Laggi", or even an over emphasis on "Gal Tere Matlab Di." However, this is GM, he often bypasses all rules on his route to success. The album is one of his more 'complete'. The amount of times I hear 'artistes' say "In my album, I have love songs, sad songs, duet songs, wedding songs, donkey songs, king kongs" WHAT?! You don't have to cater for all our senses, just be real, and the audience will listen. GM does this. GM did this. Jogiya is lyrically supreme and in one word, the album is 'beautiful'.

NOTE - The UK album inlay card contains details of the forthcoming UK BOX OFFICE TOUR DATES, including two dates at THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, and the LG Arena Finale.

Normally UK fans attend GM concerts in anticipation of new material. At least now we get to sing along.
That's it. Done. Three years in waiting and it's arrived. But it hasn't ended, for GM songs never do. You'll be humming Jogiya til his 2015 Tour!

- Sukhi

Thanx sukhi ji SO true

Nice review sukhi very true mate.

GREAT REVIEW SUKHI WELCOME BACK AND PLEASE KEEP POSTING MORE REGULAR

Thanks guys...
And it's great to see the Jogiya music video released on t.v stations this weekend. In fact the Jogiya music video proves that simplicity can really work; it totally suits the song. Great colours, and a fantastic performance by GM. As long as the performance is wathcable, the simple but effective video doesn't matter. That is something the British Asian industry lacks - watchability!
- Sukhi

The album is great. Not as good as you said but to each his own. I think 4 songs are amazing and rest are just fillers.

But for the video I have to disagree. No creativity at all. He needs to move on to today's age. That video was cool about 10 yrs ago. Look at any Sartaj videos and you will know what I mean. Video has to convey the message of the song and that video fails big time. Dancing on a beach is not a great video. Disappointed.

one singer you cant compare with anyone is GURDAS MAAN , HE STANDS ALONE AT THE TOP FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS NOW , He is still top in todays times lol. VIDEO is good , it goes with the song and his image, His videos have always been simple not flashy , complicated , always big hits like videos of pind di gallian ,heer,ishq di mari, even if GURDAS MAAN was to jus stand there and sing in a video it will still be great , he is only singer who has got different expressions , movement, years of acting experience. Todays times videos he does not need to join or copy lol , HE is the one to follow like always . Two more videos are still to come from album so even you might like something from them. Manjeet maan is doing good job as directer, ALBUM IS ONE OF LEGENDS BEST , LOVE ALL THE SONGS ,Which one is there not to like , you can learn something from all of them.

Punjabimunda, I take your view. Fair play, despite being huge GM fans, it's not necessary that we have to like every song. That's a given. But it is really rare nowadays to have absolute 'great' albums, without talking about fillers. Albums that come out these days are mainly one good song, and the rest 'repetitive'. However, you yourself said you found FOUR SONGS AMAZING (that's half the album). So you found 50% of it 'amazing' not just 'good', but 'amazing'; therefore that shows that the album is way beyond average. But, I do take your point that you personally don't like all songs. Not too long ago, I felt the same about a previous album, felt there were way too many 'fillers',but still enough 'great' songs to deem it successful.

As to the video, I'll have to reiterate; flashy videos with big locations sometimes add gloss to a 'poor' song. They compensate for the lack of quality (Shinda, Jazzy B on occassions, half of the British Asian industry!). Yes, maybe the editing of the video Jogiya could have been tweaked, by no means is it flawless, but it really suits the song to a tee, and all the different 'colours' and shades of a Jogi come out of each other. That's what is shown. The shot of GM on a yacht signifies that the "Jogi GM" has left 'the material' world, "aus pathan ki bethna, jis pathan ni Yaar", therefore he has come to shore (note, use of beach) in a spiritual sense. Yes it's basic, but it's appropriate. I personally enjoy the video, especially GM's performance (as always) It actually makes me 'happy'. Simples. Just give the video another go, and see how you feel about it, looking at it from a different angle.

I'm not sure about the Sartaj video comparison. I am a fan too of Sartaj, as is GM himself (which is a further reflection of GM's humility!), but apart from his very new 'Cheerey Waaliya', (big budget), the rest have been fairly flash. Good videos, don't get me wrong, but not necessarily over-flash. Which is a good thing.

I think Mrs Manjeet Maan is trying very hard, and making a great effort in trying to compensate for Manoj Punj's loss. I've said it before but Sai Productions really is missing that talent; since Waris Shah, we are all awaiting another 'technically flawless' movie from Sai. And I'm sure Sai miss him aswell. And with time, and another movie or two, we'll get there, I'm sure.

Also, let's not forget as Jagdeep mentioned, videos of not too long ago, "Heer", "Ishqe Di Maari", "Sarbans Daniya Ve". Maybe it's Punj that's missing, or maybe GM's standards are so high that every little flaw is visible. Either way, keep the faith....the album will be a hit I'm sure, and every so often GM writes a 'legendary' song, and THAT is not in everyone's DNA.

sahi jagdeep, chahe gm sirf khare ho k v ga den, te ta v ba kamaal hai, uhna de expressions note karo . tu tu bole wala moment natkhatpuna dasda hai gm ji da. album de kise v geet da video saukha nahi banana, har stanza da takriban vakhra concept and meaning hai.shayad tere baajon jaan wali video v single gm ji te bani hove except the group of girls. baki har geet rab wal ishara karda hai kite na kite. sai productions misses manoj punj, and gm ji misses sai ji. dekhlo har geet vich sai ji present. also sadi jaan kehre kam di is not romantic song, eh sare bane lagda hai, jidda vekhange. ik gal hor, koi bada lamba geet nahi 7 min or above, album da playback time agge naalo thora ghat hai. agge 60 min da v huna riha,par is waar 40 min da. par kuje ch samundar hai.

I don't argue with anyone that the album is great. But blindly saying everything is great is like saying A R Rahman can't have a bad album Sure he can. Same thing here. I said what i thought about the video and everyone has full right to tell me I am wrong.

But I still think the video could have been better like you said with Sartaj's videos.

And I am his biggest fan. I bet I have seen GM live than probably anyone on this forum.

ALbum IS GREAT ......is to ute ta rab da naam e hai

Great reading everyone , GURDAS MAAN dressed as jogi , people have loved ever since he dressed as one singing CHALLA to HEER and ISHQ DE MARI , people are loving the way he is dressed in JOGIYA video as well , The colours , the thyme , the pace , the acting , the dancing, the location, i have got to rate it as one of his best ,it grows on you the more you watch it ,