Usha Uthup: not your average playback singer

May 2, 2016 12:34 PM

Celebrated Indian recording artist and playback singer Usha Uthup, AKA Usha Iyer, has performed many different musical styles during her 47-year career: smokey jazz and pop on the 1968 album Scotch and Soda, funk and disco on 1978's Usha in Nairobi (song: Fever), disco and new wave for numerous films, and across the spectrum in this scene from the 1972 comedy Bombay to Goa. (Yes, that's Amitabh Bachchan in his first leading role.) Uthup is also not afraid to embrace the unusual, as shown on her weirdly wonderful 1984 album, Blast-Off.

Additional amazing tracks from early in her career:

Her first two hits: Green Back Dollar and Jambalaya.

The Lambretta Story, with the Ronnie Menezes Quartet, who also backed her on Scotch and Soda.

Conkani, with Chris Perry

Good Times & Bad Times

With The Flintstones:
The Trip
Blues Train/Summertime
Dizzy

posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide (7 comments total)

Phew! Was worried this was an obit. I saw her sing for mom's younger brother's 60th birthday party a few years ago. She's a rockstar in a silk saree!
posted by infini at 2:13 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]

Whoops, apologies infini! I added the "nobit" tag. Hopefully that will help. :)
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 2:18 PM on May 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

Thank for you this. There's no culturally sensitive way for me to adopt 'Hari Om Hari' (first one in the "disco and new wave"link) as the theme song that plays whenever I enter a room, but trust me, that's what will be happening in my head for the next few days.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:35 PM on May 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

One of my favorite fun track to just bounce around to while I'm driving is One Two Cha Cha Cha. Thanks for giving me more suggestions of her music!
posted by numaner at 3:39 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Thank for you this. There's no culturally sensitive way for me to adopt 'Hari Om Hari' (first one in the "disco and new wave"link) as the theme song that plays whenever I enter a room, but trust me, that's what will be happening in my head for the next few days.

Don't worry, the song is mostly about taking in dum, a toke, so you'd be mostly appropriating hippie 'culture'. :)
posted by the cydonian at 6:41 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]

Usha Uthup! She's the best! My favorite playback singer!

My favorite:
Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache Koii Wahan from Disco Dancer

But that scene from Bombay to Goa! Awesome. I never get tired of her singing.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:49 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]

Ok maybe the theme for Shaan is my favorite. I love them all I can't choose!
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:57 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]