Music and Me Part 1

There is usually that one topic that, when you start writing about, will not be able to complete because the very topic gets you carried away. Or you have too much to say, that you might fear you’re at loss of words. For example, you ask a passionate dancer to talk about his dance. You know, one might feel tongue tied, getting virtually entrapped in the memories of the same in the process of penning it down.

For me, that dreaded topic would be Music. So why am I writing this one? Just simply, to talk about my music. No strong intensions to impress you or what so ever. So yea, Music and me. You get the drift?

Read further then.

To kind of make it simpler for me and also you, I would classify this article into four parts:

Chapter 1 : A. R. Rahman

Chapter 2: Carnatic music

Chapter 3: Western/ English music. Transcending backwards. (Oxymoron yea?)

Chapter 4: Ilayaraja

Chapter 1:

I am a 90s kid. A.R.Rahman was the talk of the town then, in the Tamil music scene. Yielding one hit after the other, it was A.R.Rahman , I can quite confidently say, grew up listening to. (Confidently, because my memories of childhood is quite vague). I remember my first goose bumps moment happened with the solo saxophone piece by Kadri Gopalnath. On weekends, dad would play this A.R.Rahman's Collection CD. The first album on it was the movie Duet. SPB’s singing and the saxophone was an integral component. Marghazi Poove struck a chord with the lyrics. And I can say that these songs formed the initial impressions of music on my mind for I grew up watching these movies- the Prabu Deva ones, the Mani Ratnam ones, the Shankar ones.

Of course there were a lot of other movies I saw with Ilayaraja music, but I’ll get to them in chapter 4. So yea, getting back to A.R.Rahman, he did make some great creations. Actually, still is.

Chapter 2:

I started learning Carnatic music when I was in 1^st standard. So yea, Carnatic music became an integral part of my growing up.

When I started learning keerthanais, the favourite ones would invariably play in my mind.

A beautiful form of music. Something I realized later when I came quite away from it. But the love for it has been rekindled in the recent months.

Music and Me Part 2

Chapter 3:

If one can say the music you listen to while growing up has a lot of it reflected on you, I think the music that comes after that, with age has the same impact if not more. For me, the music since my late teens has come through exploring, listening to the radio and reading. It’s not usually from the charts or the ‘what’s-new’ category.

I somehow found it important to mention the above stated fact.

It typically started with 3 Doors Down, Green Day, Nickleback, Bon Jovi, Creed, Hinder. Yea my stint with Pop didn't go down well with me. Another Brick In The Wall, Winds Of Change is kinda fresh in my mind because we sang it in school and with YMCA respectively.

There was Maroon 5, The Rasmus, The Killers, Foo Fighters.

Thanks to a cousin of mine who shared his music collection. My first tryst with retro music was White Lion. Somehow I feel, it’s a band that is pretty under rated. And then, just like that, a brilliant event took place- my introduction to All India Radio- the Western Music Section.

Around the same time, I started my stint with poetry.

American Idol helped a lot too. You know, to understand vocals, the way an artist interprets a song. So yea, with time, I transcended from alternative rock to alternative metal, then grunge.

Yea, it was the time when you go gaga over Nirvana, Peal Jam, Korn, Evanescence.

And yea, there is this one band that a person, typically idolizes right? For me it was Evanescence.

Oh boy, what an impregnable influence the lady, Amy Lee left on me.

A few songs down the line I came across My Immortal. It did magic on me.

The lyrics, the video, the music, the vocals.

Everything about it, I feel, is flawless.

‘Lithium’,’ Lacrymosa’, ‘Like you’ are some other great works of theirs.

And then, the song Good Enough- ETHEREAL One must watch the video to get understand what I am trying to express.

And when you get to reading about the song, the stories, inspirations and details, you fathom more depth in the song.

Patti Smith was another interesting artist- with her vocals and interpretation of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Heart Shaped Box'.

And next to Amy Lee, there was a fixation for Kurt Cobain.

You know what am talking about? Don’t you?

His influence on people goes beyond the horizons of music.

You read about him, and he comes out to you as a character. A very basic order of human being, at that.

Then came Soundgarden, Alter Bridge and hence, Chris Cornell.

What a voice. Man!

Seriously. Him, Eddie Vedder, Scott Stapp to my eyes hold a high pedestal in the order of vocalists.

I guess from here, it was nothing but retrogression.

Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Doors.

There is a period when you are obsessed with 'Black' (Pearl Jam). There is a time when you are obsessed with 'Stairway to Heaven' (Led Zepplin).

And I am no exception.

Oh, how can I forget the crazy lady, Janis Joplin. Isn’t she just cool?

Then there was The Beatles mania.

Guess this was the genre turn for me.

The Beatles were followed by Dylan, Frankie, Aretha, Ella Flizgerald, Louis Armstrong and on the other side, Sting.  Few popular numbers by Eric Clapton, Dave Mathews Band, Norah Jones and plenty of others.

So yea, here I am. Totally drenched in classics.

Of course there are a lot of good current artists.

On one side there is music that seems to never fade away, and on the other side, creations that are invariably going to join the former in the future.

Note:

I wanted to write this before I end this chapter. There is a popular notion that drugs and this sort of music go very well or rather, one starts seeing new & diverse dimensions when you are high.

Believe me, I didn't need those drugs to feel the high and sense those crazy dimensions to this music. Yes, I DIDN'T!

Chapter 4:

Now let’s talk about the last chapter. The one I am meddling with currently. A beautiful chapter. The music of Ilayaraja.

Aha!

Of course, I've heard his music while growing up. The various Kamal and Rajini movies.

But the real Ilayaraja impact happened to me in college.

I would sound clichéd to someone who studied in college during the 80s 90s.

(Correct me if I am wrong).

So yea, this music can touch your heart and transport you to a new era all together.

And these amazing god sent singers like SPB and Yesudas, Mano and Chitra.

Take for that matter, the maestro him self’s voice. (I've always found it quite interesting when I realized that most of these musicians from MSV to GV Prakash have a great voice themselves.)

Most of his songs know no boundaries of language and age.

They just live, live on till eternity.

When beautiful words are set to a beautiful tune and assigned to brilliant artists, you've got your layman audience’s vote on your side.

Thiruvasagam used to play at my house each morning when the album was released. I would get ready to go to school with my ears focused on the music system.

It leaves you very calm and kind of introspective.

That was my first confrontation with his music.

The recently held Nee Thane En Pon Vasantham  movie’s audio release tried to kind of sum it up.  His music, the impact and the passion with which people pursue it.

So yea, that was a little bit about music and me.

I warned you! I wouldn't be able to do justice.

Ha ha!

Thanks for reading nonetheless. Do  leave your opinions for me to read.