Sitar Songs

Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let’s go into another Three Tune Tuesday post.

As always, thanks to @ablaze for making this series. Lots of people participate in it! Follow the tags to find a ton of good music recommendation.

Today… sitar songs!

I’m sure all of you know the sitar. It’s that traditional Indian instrument that has such a unique sound that it is instantly recognizable and gives that distinctively Indian feel. It was popularized by Ravi Shankar in the 60s, then borrowed by Indian music fan George Harrison for use with the Beatles. It then appeared in a great many songs by various bands who loved the sound.

These days it doesn’t appear quite as often, since the pop sound has taken over and music in general has become much safer, often sticking to familiar sounds and avoiding experimentation, but it still pops up now and again.

Anyway, I thought we’d look at 3 songs that use it really well. And no — Norwegian Wood is not among them.

Tom Petty - Don’t Come Around Here No More

Tom Petty may not have been the best lyricist in the world, but his music was iconic for many other reasons. On its surface, this is just a typical song with some good (if simple) lines about the end of a relationship, but add in this very creative video and the great melody and it becomes more memorable. Not only that, but the electric sitar is really good throughout.

This is one of those videos that MTV seemed to play at least a few times everyday for years.

Metallica - Wherever I May Roam

Jumping from Tom Petty to hard metal might seem like quite a change, but the sitar unites them!

B.J. Thomas - Hooked on a Feeling

Another jump, this time from metal to a silly little 60s love song. Yeah, well I had to end with a song from the decade when the sitar was at its peak popularity. This might be a silly song, but it has a relaxing sound — and the sitar is great in it!

So what’s your favorite?