From Radio to Smartphone generation… An era of S.P. Balasubrahmanyam

Music communicates emotions, which one grasps, but does not actually feel; what one feels is a suggestion, a kind of distant, dissociated, depersonalized emotion—until and unless it unites with one’s own sense of life.

Between the ‘70s and ‘90s in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, if budding male singers had an inspiration, it was only SPB. Almost all the orchestras of those days had one singer who tried to sing SPB’s songs in his voice. So “his” voice was all over the air. For all of them, SPB was a role model not just for the music but also for the way he conducted himself with utmost humility. This probably came from the belief SPB had, that he was indeed blessed and gifted.

He came into the music industry so long ago that the only record of his Tamil debut (Hotel Ramba, 1969, never released) is his own memory, recounted in a conversation for Doordarshan Podhigai, decades later. Sripathi Panditharadhyula Balasubrahmanyam, or SPB, as millions of his fans across generations, know him, is no more. He did not pass away at the end of a long career trajectory that rose and waned; it only rose. He is among those unique artists who have left behind a body of work rich enough to eulogize, and still possessed a magical voice that could traverse emotions and octaves with ease and evoked wonder without a filter of nostalgia.

SPB’s voice may not have been very unique, but his voice quality was. His voice would never waver no matter what pitch he sang in. In live shows, SPB used to do his own improvisations at the end of the song to end with a flourish. In the beginning, I used to have my heart in my mouth when he, on his own, took the song to higher octaves, only to land safely back with the pitch intact, much to my awe. And I am certain that SPB was improvising spontaneously on stage as every time he would do it, he would do so differently even for the same song. Just listen to his different renditions of ‘Sundari Kannal Oru Seydhi’ in stage shows.

SPB could maintain his voice timbre intact for over five decades is a marvel! Even after crossing 70, he could sing romantic duets for stars a third of his age. If there was a silver lining in his passing, it is this. That till he breathed his last, his voice never gave way and remained one that was energetic, mellifluous, and more importantly, youthful.

Musicians are blessed. They don’t go away. They stay with us through their renderings. So will SPB, who will be with us through ‘Malare Mounama’, through ‘Sankara Nada Sareera’, through ‘Ithu Oru Pon Malai Poluthu’, through ‘Tere Mere Beech Mein’, through the many other hits he has belted.

To see SPB perform at concerts was especially joyful. He really let his hair down and showed us the kind of camaraderie, and mutual respect, and admiration he shared with his fellow singers and musicians. His concert Voice of Legends packs so many wonderful moments and memorable anecdotes, which sort of uplift our spirit on multiple fronts. The best way to celebrate his birthday is to watch this great musician doing what he does best.

If the soulful renditions of classic songs mend our heart and mind, his playfulness makes us smile and his grand stature deeply grounded in humility teaches us a very valuable lesson. Unerringly generous, supportive, and humble to a fault, SPB was also a known philanthropist and a mentor to many budding singers and composers.

Getting the essence of the emotion of the song and delivering it with a pitch-perfect voice consistently, that too cutting across genres, is what made SPB the versatile singer he was. That’s also why he endeared himself from the radio generation to today’s mobile phone generation.

 “your thousands of forms are like the infinite number of ragas that dispel the darkness of worldly bondage”.

Should we mourn SPB’s death? Maybe, we should just celebrate. Celebrate his music.  The forty thousand-plus long list means a celebration that goes on for long, for us and for many generations to come. For now, thank you SPB, from the bottom of our hearts. For the music and for being the human you were.

A polyglot, a polymath, a socialite, and a contemporary artist across generations – SPB is a unique cultural treasure that transcends comparison. This impressionist, who could imbibe the spirit of changing times, with a voice that refused to age is and forever will be inimitable.

happy 75th Birth anniversary SPB sir… you will be celebrated as long as the music is celebrated

The point is not about living, but it is about what the person contributed to other people’s lives when he was living.The physical entity of #SPBalasubrahmanyam ended, but his voice will live as long as music lives ✨🎉

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