Hell no.

Old Bollywood songs were just as shitty as the new ones. In other ways, the new songs are just as good as they were before.

Don’t throw chairs at me, calm down and hear.

We listen to only those old songs that were of good quality, that had meaning and hence stood the test of time. The bad ones from the past are not remembered by anybody and hence we never get to see the ‘poor’ face of the Olden times.

Currently, we are exposed to all types of songs in the New Age, with the digital media, we are consuming songs more rapidly than ever. We see both the good and the bad ones and hence on contrast to the only good old ones, the ‘New Age’ overall seems bad.

Let me illustrate.

Consider this song by Kishore Kumar from the movie Aasha(1980)

“Ina meena Dika, Daai, Daamo nika Maaka naaka naaka, chika pika rika Ina meena dika dika de daai daamo nika Maaka naaka maaka naaka chika pika rola rika Rumpum posh rumpum posh”

Here’s another gem from movie Tarazu(1997)
The song is literally just ‘I have the urge to urinate, what do I do?’

Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
O aa o aa e
Jaa ke ghar mein kar ke aa
O aa o aa e
Mujko pagal na bana
O aa o aa e
Jaa ke ghar mein kar ke aa
O aa o aa e
Mujko pagal na bana
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu
Su su su aa gaya mein kya karu hat

Here’s one more, from the movie Sanam Bewafa(1991)

Angoor Ka Dana Hoon, Sui Na Chubha Dena (x2)
Sui Jo Chubhai To Ras Tapkega
Jo Ras Tapakega To Kis Miss Kis Miss, Kismis Ban Jaaungi
Angoor Ka Dana Hoon, Sui Na Chubha Dena
Sui Jo Chubhai To Ras Tapkega
Jo Ras Tapakega To Kis Miss Kis Miss, Kismis Ban Jaaungi
Angoor Ka Dana Hoon . . . . . .

One final one, from Lata Mangeshkar herself, from movie Henna(1991)

Nar dana, anar dana
Asaaroomi topi waale naal jaana

Nar dana, anar dana
Asaaroomi topi waale naal jaana
Nar dana, anar dana, nar dana, anar dana
Asaaroomi topi waale naal jaana

And here are some songs from the ‘New Age’
From Jhoom Barabar Jhoom:

Dhaage tod laao chandani se noor ke
Ghoonghat hi banalo roshini se noor ke
Sharma gai to aagosh mein lo
Ho Saaaso se uljhi rahi meri saasein

I’ll get the threads of light from the moonlight, and from these threads I’ll make the veil for you. When you shy, I’ll embrace you and our breaths will be tied together.

This one is from Udaan:

“Subah ki kirno ko rokein jo salaakhein hai kahan
Jo khayalon pe pehre daale woh aankhein hai kahan
Par khulne ki deri hai parinde udh ke choomenge
Aasman aasman aasman”

Does there exist a cage that captures the sunlight? Where are the eyes that imprison the dreams? Its just a matter of opening of their wings, the birds will touch the sky, the sky, the sky.

And this is my favorite one till date:
From Break Ke Baad, song ‘Dhoop ke Makaan’

Kitni Unchi Shaakh Pe Khusiyon Ke Pal
Phir Bhi Khusboo Tod Li Humne Uchal
Haan Kanch Ka Saman The Aur Gir Gaye Hum
Jod Kar Khudko Banane Phir Gaye Hum

Door Dariya Ki Kinare
Zindagi Karti Ishare
Aasmaan Pe Hai Naye Taare

Dhooop Ke Makan Sa Yeh
Hai Safar Dhalan Sa Yeh
Mod Meharbaan Sa Yeh

The moments of happiness are placed so high up the branches, but we jumped and stole the aroma, nevertheless. Alas! We were made up of glass and we fell down, broken into the ground. We now go on to join our pieces together.

Far in the coast, life gives us hints, the sky seems to have new stars.

My point is, there were good songs then and also now. Its just that we only remember the good ones from the past and the good ones from the current age are lost in the overwhelming stupidity of Honey Singh.

Don’t worry, the good ones are timeless. Just like the past’s good ones are still remembered, the next generation will filter out the good ones from the present.