Black Eyed Peas stole from R.D. Burman in latest hit

First rule of Bollywood: Never ever cross Amitabh Bachchan.

In 1970’s spy-movie time, Bachchan shined in his role as Don, in the movie of the same name. Don is the badass smuggler who kills anyone who messes with him. He isn’t distracted by money or sexy vamps who throw themselves at him. He says “some other time baby!” And is off.


Everyone knows this rule. That is, everyone besides the Black Eyes Peas.



Earlier this week I stayed late after school after all the students and most of the teachers left. It was just me and some janitors blaring hip-hop on the stereo as they mopped the floors. All of a sudden I heard the beginning few notes of “Yeh Mera Dil Payar Ka Diwana” and thought “are they really playing R.D. Burman on Q102 (a fucking Clear Channel station)?”

Then instead of Asha Bhosle’s voice coming in, I hear Fergie singing “Oh no no no no, don’t mess with my heart.” I was outraged. I’m mad that “Don’t Phunk with my heart” is the 2nd highest download on iTunes now and I can guarantee the majority of people listening to the track think that its some hot original work…. When its totally not. Could it be anymore repetitive? Most people will tell you how great this album is and how the BEP are so "original" and “edgy” with their genre bending sound. Yes it’s true that music recycles itself, but I think it is unfair for artists to make money and not give credit to the original. And in a place like India, which has no concept of intellectual property (or doesn’t have laws to protect artistic work like in the States) it is easy to steal. And since most people who listen to current Top 40 don’t also listen to Bollywood music from the 70’s it is easy for artists to get away with sounding original and not recycled.

So I want to write a post to pay homage to the original song, Yeh Mera Dil Payar Ka Diwana, sung by Asha Bhosle (lip synced by actress Helen) and produced by her husband, the late R.D. Burman (hope you aren’t turning in your grave dude) exclusively for the 1978 movie Don.

You can hear the lame, yet popular, “Don’t Phunk with my Heart” on iTunes or played every hour on any cheesy Top 40 station. (But first, listen to the original, Hindi version that the BEP bit off of.)


In Don, Bachchan plays a Dirty Harry, Shaft-like cool dude smuggler who has men trying to catch him from all angles. Don is killed within the first quarter of the movie (the cops don’t know this). But, what the cops ALSO don’t know is that Don has a look alike. Some unsuspecting, goofball street performer. Sure the story line is cheesy, but I think it is one of Amitabh’s most complex roles. He MAKES the movie. You know what also makes the movie? The music. And the fact that some corny, gimmicky hip-pop group stole it saddens me. At least when Dan the Automator sampled from old Bollywood tracks in Bombay The Hard Way: Guns, Cars And Sitars, he does it with class and more importantly, he gives credit. He isn’t trying to “hide” the fact that he swiped the music.

In the scene leading up to the song, Helen tries to seduce Don by getting into a skimpy white outfit and singing “Yeh Mera Dil Payar Ka Diwana” which loosely translated, means “My heart is maddened with love.” But is Don impressed? No.

And either am I (with the Black Eyed Peas.)