To the City

This is an ode to what is arguably the greatest city in the world. Greatness in every respect: culture, art, history, diversity, money, power, beauty and life. From its great landscape to its blinding lights, from its history to its geography, it is the embodiment of greatness.

I've gotten a step closer to this dream city. Life really is incomplete without living here for a while. I have in the past, I wish to do so again, hopefully a little longer this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd01FObU3Q4

"The more you see, the less you know,

The less you find out as you go,

I knew much more then than I do now"

Reprise

A return to an original theme.

The world of music is filled with reprises. There's something really special about listening to a song you love, sung in a new way. Somehow when they call it a re-mix ,to pick up a quote from stochastic calculus, it is "almost surely" sub-standard.

Reprises, on the other hand, in my experience have been quite interesting. This particular one is sheer genius. I've come across such a fantastic melody after a really long time.

Reprises generally involve laying more emphasis on the twists and turns of the song, making the interesting instrument or beat more prominent, or the singer adding "alaaps" or other variety. This reprise is special and unique in that the singer has actually sung the song flat as compared to the original. The contrast this produces to what you expect to hear is what makes the song utterly beautiful. It also represents more truly the hopelessness, sweet sorrow and nostalgia which is the theme of the song.

Anyway, no more analysis. Just close your eyes and listen to this song honestly. You'll be either lying or too proud to admit that you don't feel something in the pit of your stomach when you hear this melody.

http://www.saavn.com/search/bin+tere+reprise

"I am here, you are there....one of us is in the wrong place.."

Song for all seasons

This is not only a romantic song. Its not only about love.

This song is also about warmth, faith, discovery, success, joy, satisfaction, fun, friendship, reassurance, anticipation, relief, appreciation, exploration, reconciliation, hope, about being loved and feeling it. Yes this song has it all.

Its been an amazing past few days and I've felt all of the above. The new year has begun with these emotions for me and for some of my closest friends. We're beginning to see the sunrise of the new eras of our lives. Two of them are getting married in the next two months and I pray for their happiness. And for everyone else happiness is just around the corner.

I know this song has been over-played and over-sung, but there's much more to it apart from its catchy beat and the singer's lovely voice. You might think that I'm resorting to the most popular songs for lack of other melodies. But no, I think this song is divine. This time when you hear it try and let it sink deep in your heart. Believe me there's more to it than what you've noticed so far. I hope you see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH_iGXaRqHk&feature=related

"Teri nigahen, paa gayi raahein

Par tu yeh soche, jaaoon na jaoon,

Yeh zindagi jo, hai naachti jo

Kyun bediyon mai hai tere paaon

Preet ki dhun par naach le paagal

Udta agar hai udne de aanchal

Kaahe koi apne ko aise tarsaaye"

Music and Lyrics

Today, I made use of the best technology I've come across for a while now. We'd gone for some Froyo (frozen yogurt) with some of my friends to our favorite place in Squirrel Hill, Razzy Fresh. As I entered the parlor I heard a familiar song. A song which I'd heard consciously and sub consciously on several occasions in places like coffee shops, ice cream parlors, malls, cafeterias....always faintly playing in the background.

I never really new what the song was, but I knew that I really liked it. So, I told this whole story to one of my friends. Also stating that I wish I had knew which song this was so that I could download it.

My friend, the proud owner of an i-phone said "I can help you there!". He just held the i-phone close to one of the speakers and triggered an application. Soon the application spat out the band, album and song name. To my delight of course. Now thats another reason to buy an i-pad :)

By the way, this is a really nice song. I'm glad I can hear it without falling to pieces in desperate search for it. Thanks to my friend and his i-phone.

http://www.vevo.com/watch/the-script/breakeven-falling-to-pieces/GB1100900335

And the lyrics

http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/the+script/Falling+To+Pieces/

Choti Si Baat

There are probably not more than a couple of movies I've seen more often than this one. Its one of the cutest movies ever made - simple, entertaining and insightful. I don't know who this actress is, but she's so right for the part! Amol Palekar, on the other hand, is at his usual best. Colonel Julius Nagrendranath Wilfred Singh has given my so many kicks and highs as a kid. I thank my mom for introducing me to this genre of cinema and Choti Si Baat is my favorite amongst the lot.

I hope this song had a piano version. I can even imagine it in my mind's ear. The song has a beautiful melody and is sung with casual brilliance. Maybe the next time I get my hands on the piano, I'll try this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h1Vc_ur0Dg

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow"

Leaving Home

I just spent my best few days in this country last week, visiting a friend in a part of the globe I hadn't even heard of before last year. Now that I'm back to Pittsburgh, I feel like I'm back to KGP after the winter break.

Amongst several things we did in those few days, was playing cards. Of course, with music in the background...great speakers too! We heard our favorite tracks, revisited some forgotten songs and traveled across the dimensions of time and space in music.

But for some very weird reason, this song stood out in my memory. It connected probably as a true representation of the house, rather home, that I visited. Just like the "gaon" in the song, there was love in the air and a feeling of being loved.

If you know me, you know what I'm talking about and whom this post is dedicated to.

http://new.saavn.com/search/virasat

Song: Ek Tha Raja

By the way...this was an awesome movie, with shockingly good music from Anu Malik.

Other songs from the film are also highly recommended.

Try,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAzmlFpDg7A

"Melody and rhythm find their way to the secret places of the soul"

An era

Every day here seems like a year. A mini like a decade. A semester like an era. And not in a bad way. Far from it. In a very very good way. My time feels well utilized. And thats a good feeling. I was just talking to my mom saying that "too much free time" is basically the root cause of most things that are wrong in the world.

So if anyone of you ever wondered whats causing stress/distress, just consider the lack of an interest or hobby as a possible cause. If you can't think of anything to do, do what I do : make random theories, link it to a song and share it. If nothing else, people will appreciate Rahman's music.

By the way, this song is extremely beautiful. Unfortunately, the screenplay has two cartoons in it. Please ignore them and the childish choreography and concentrate on Rahman's beautiful melody.

There is so much of music squeezed into this one song, much like so many things squeezed into this time in our life, making it seem like an era.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PQKBDhrXpE&feature=related

"Music is what feelings sound like.."