After thinking about the song “Meri Pyari Patang” (as I mentioned in my last comment to my last post), I started to think about other kite songs. Coincidentally, I then saw a notice from friends about a kite festival happening at the end of the month, and that really put me into a kite mood. (It’s been ages since I’ve tried to fly a kite, but I do find kites very interesting, and I know that they are prominently featured in songs, books, and even literature from the Subcontinent.) So, I immediately came up with a few of my favorite kite songs, and then, when I went searching on YouTube, I found a list of “Patang” audio clips. That list is a little flawed, because it contains songs that are definitely or probably not about kites. (There is a song with the word “patange” in it, which I like very much, but that’s about a moth. And then there is a great Punjabi song with the word “patang” in it, but I don’t think that involves a kite, either. Maybe a Punjabi speaker could help out with that?) Anyway, that other list gave me a couple of suggestions to fill up this list to the number I like most, which is seven, and, if I may say so, I think this is also a good song list in general.
I’ve listed the songs pretty much in order of preference, and for reasons of personal taste, the time period covered ends in 1970. (That might remind some of you of another blog out there…) This is simply a collection of clips – no extra text – but elaboration might happen in comments, as it sometimes does. And, of course, I will welcome further suggestions.
Happy kiting!
P.S. It’s interesting how often the kite is used for certain metaphors… Kite string as the bond of love, for instance? Hmm.
Dances on the Footpath 