Bollywood music is going through a creative bankruptcy at the moment. It has been, for the last few years. And that seems to have coincided with the meteoric rise of T-Series’ YouTube channel, that is accumulating views faster than anyone else in the world.
The world’s top most YouTube channel, overtaking PewDiePie, it has now become the first YouTube channel to amass more than 100 million subscribers. The UK-based YouTube channel has clocked about 96 million subscribers, as of today. All the top 10 songs on the T-Series channel have 400+ million views, alone clocking an estimated five billion views (by conservative estimates).
Hence, we decided to take a closer look at these top 10 songs and not surprisingly, we discovered what has been wrong with Bollywood music over the past few years. So is the decline in the quality of Bollywood film songs and the rise of T-Series views related to each other? Maybe.
1. Guru Randhawa – Lahore – 731 million views
This song is a shining example of the way Bhushan Kumar has found a way to re-package the Punjabi hip-hop song, replete with expensive sports cars, attractive boys & girls and music fit for Delhi’s gyms/nightclubs.
2. Guru Randhawa – High Rated Gabru – 717 million views
Bhushan Kumar loves those views. Just give it to him, all you boys and girls working out or dancing to it!
3. Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya – Badri Ki Dulhaniya – 567 million views
Following two pop songs, this is the first Bollywood casualty. ‘Inspired’ from Manna Dey’s Chalata Musafir Moh Liya Re… it’s no surprise that the classic tune with contemporary beats turned out to be such a big hit.
4. Simmba – Aankh Marey – 550 million views
At the beginning of this song, Karan Johar makes a special appearance to bemoan the fact – “Oh God! One more remix?” Samn bruv, KJo. Rohit Shetty’s film borrows this ‘chartbuster’ from Arshad Warsi’s Tere Mere Sapne.
5. Satyamev Jayate – Dilbar Dilbar – 526 million views
ANOTHER REMIX. Sushmita Sen fans will never, ever be able to fully accept Norah Fatehi. Sirf Tum was the shizz yo!
6. Machine – Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast – 492 million views
The blasphemous song that ruined the classic song from our childhood, that peak-objectified women (quite literally too!). You will never get Raveena Tandon’s forgiveness.
7. Baaghi – Cham Cham – 485 million views
Is it weird that I gave this song my first view after it had been viewed almost 356 million times? Really appreciating my social circles for never coming across this song before.
8. Neha Kakkar & Jassi Gill – Nikle Currant – 484 million
The two perfectly popular singer/songwriters made their contribution to the playlist of Delhi gyms, with this foot-tapping number.
9. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety – Bom Diggy Diggy – 436 million views
A British producer repackaging his track in Hindi/Punjabi, so that he can be responsible for some good ol’ desi twerking. Bhushan Kumar is a revolutionary!
10. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – 386 million views
The title song from that godforsaken Bhai blockbuster, is catchy and irritating at the same time. Sonam Kapoor’s biggest hit, hands down.
Yes, we do realise that putting this list together is slightly counter-productive, considering we’re probably giving more views to Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series. But hey, he won’t mind some spite in exchange for some extra views.
