The Song Post of 2024 - Minimalism Edition

 The last time, there was a song post (posts with 'songs' label) on this blog was back in 2012.  12 years and no song post, that is almost a crime. The reality is that my song exploration indeed has slowed down, but it is not zero either. Most of my song discovery happens via movies/TV-shows. My favorite genre is minimalism. In this post, let me share some songs that I have played discovered/re-discovered. 

Ludwig Göransson's score of Oppenheimer was amazing. In this song 'Can you hear the music', as the song starts, there is a feeling of joy, lighness about it but then it transforms into some epic scale out of the world kind of vibe. And when you layer it with the movie Oppenheimer, you feel the excitement of scientific research in the making of the bomb, and then the impact that it can have to this world and now, we know what it was. 

Max Richter - Max Richeter is a god. He belongs to Saare gunah maaf category. 

Here are a few songs to get hooked - 

• On the Nature of Daylight
• November 
• The Departure
• Dona Nobis Pacem 3 - gives me goose bumps 
• Also, this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwXUhaklVs
• And hear this music here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhHuXcvD1EE
• Watch the whole movie Sleep 
• Max Richter's on Vivaldi's four seasons is awesome
• 
  

The Landing by Justin Huruwitz - Became my ringotne after listening to this. The recursion is awesome. The song has a sense of energy, momentum to it. 

The Winner is by DeVotchKa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZsqe2w5AY

A song that is meant to make you optimistic. Cheers me up everytime I hear it. No matter what I am doing. World becomes bearable, things will get better and life will go on. 

Arvo Pärt- Spiegel im Spiegel 

I seem to discover Arvo part and then loose it, only to discover again. The last time I got this was while watching Ted Lasso Season 3.  It is such a beautiful composition. 

Hans Zimmer is also a god. Iske be saare gunaah maaf hain

• Intersteller theme music is mind blowing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpz8lpoLvrA
• Inception Time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswRnJgX1_s
• Dark Knight theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGx5a1ifSDs 

Nitin Sawhney's score of Namesake is awesome. It is so soothing to listen to this. Time slows down. It is full of nostalgia, makes you a small kid. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U1siICQV38

Also, Reprise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7TTvWgXfwA and maybe the full album here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMZAerdMHjU&list=PLFiP2KLOpjPK9NwStoYeqZf8ty2wyt_MX 

Alexander Desplat - Satutues and Lily's theme

Jon Brion - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind

Indian indie music

The last post with a tag of songs is dated late November last year. This does not mean that music has been lacking. In order to justify, here is a post dedicated solely to music, awesome music that i have been listening -

1. Swarthama - I have attended two of their concerts so far. Both of them have been awesome. Their songs have a mix of strong message and a diversity of instruments all under a reasonably melodious tune to make it come together. Their concerts are very lively and entertaining. My fav songs so far are Pyaasi, Khul ja re, Aaj ki taaza fikr, Bhoomi and devotional atyachar. Devotional atyachar is one of the best spoof names that i have seen recently. Here is pyaasi's video -



2. Depths of the ocean - This solo album by Shusmit Sen (of Indian ocean fame) has quite melodious songs. My favourite is called City Lights which also features Shubha Mudgal. Here is a small preview -


3. Gulaal - Well Gulaal's music was a recent discovery. Gulaal's music captures the angst, the helplessness and the sense of revolution all at the same time. Piyush Mishra's voice suits the mood very well. There are two songs that just blew me away - Duniya and Raat ke musafir. Duniya is a new take on the classic Guru Dutt song which also features the famous line - "Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye toh kya hai?" Piyush Mishra's take is refreshingly different and brings a new interpretation altogether  -


Raat ke Musafir is sung by Rahul Ram(Again indian ocean fame) . The lyrics are so depressing that had it  not been the slow singing of Rahul, upon just reading them, i would have never liked to read them again. But the slow singing with pauses in between brings some sort of humanity to the song. Lyrics even though they are depressing are very well written.


4. I got the new album by Rabbi, Rabbi III listened to it for some time but need to listen more before commenting on it.

5. Going to a concert tonight by Laal, a Pakistani band. So in order to get a feel, started listening to them and so far they are quite good, atleast in terms of choosing their songs. THey mostly sing political songs written by poets et al. Here is a one of their songs -


6. And it seemed that i had not posted about the Indian ocean album - Khajoor road. It is a cult album, i like all the songs in it, best one being zindagi se darte ho. But these two are very close seconds -


And this one is -

Its amazing that sometimes the best things are never talked about here, it is just assumed that this is part of my life and does not need to be documented :)

Anyways, music spirit is very high these days!!!!

Kimya Dawson - Same Shit/Complicated

I love this song, specially the lyrics. The reason i like Kimya Dawson is because she writes poems just the way i would like to write and she rhymes them as well. Also, her poems are incredibly personal and she does things that i would like to do in my life.  This song is from her latest album - Thunder highs. I saw her perform this song live and it was simply awesome. 

You were looking down at them, they were looking down at you.
You were starched and press, they were all disheveled.
They were holding hands, they were ragamuffins and 
they said "I know we're not fancy, but we're on the same level.
We've got plans, big plans we're gonna change the world.
All you care about is dollars, that doesn't make sense.
All you do is hit snooze, watch the news, buy shoes, drink booze, make money, feel spent.
Day after day after day, it's the same shit.
Day after day after day after day after day."
Then you looked at them without batting an eye and said
"Hey little hippie, let your freak flag fly. 
Why don't you go smoke a bowl in your best tie dye,
get a tattoo of a dancing bear holding a peace sign.
You can talk the talk but when it comes to real change, 
aren't you and all your little friends exactly the same?
You sit around at potlucks pointing fingers, placing blame, 
drinking kombucha, and eating tempeh.
Day after day after day, it's the same shit.
Day after day after day after day after day."
If you are judging them while they are judging you,
and you think that makes them assholes, maybe you're an asshole too.
Do we argue with each other 'til we both turn blue,
or find similarities in what we like and what we do?
Yeah, just because someone does not look like me
doesn't mean that they are a clone or a sheep.
Maybe they like their job and they're living their dream, 
and they love their friends and their family.
Some people thrive between nine and five, 
and feel like they're choking if their neck's not tied.
And some people feel as if they're gonna die
if their seams aren't straight and their shoes aren't tied.
Some people like business, some people like numbers, 
some people grow organic heirloom cucumbers, 
and only feel free with their hands in the dirt
in a pair of old jeans and their favorite t-shirt.
Some people feel enslaved when they have a boss, 
some people without one feel totally lost.
To make this world work it takes all different kinds.
We have all different tastes, different strengths, different minds,
so it doesn't make sense to generalize
and it doesn't make sense to judge with our eyes.
We need more compassion, we need to be kind
if you open your heart you might like what you find.
'Cause there are some mean bus drivers, but there's some nice bus drivers
and there are some nice cops in Madison, Wisconsin.
And there's some nice teachers, and there's some mean teachers,
just because you have a mean teacher doesn't mean all teachers suck.
and no one is nice all the time, no one is mean all the time
think about what someone's going through that's making them be mean to you
maybe their pet gerbil died and they are really sad inside, 
or maybe they got in a fight with someone that they really like,
maybe they are really shy and don't know to socialize
they just want to run and hide, not saying that it's justified
but if we learn to empathize the resentments will vaporize
situations metamorphize before out very eyes.
then the need to stereotype will become outdated when we realize everyone is really complicated.
We are all so complicated.
I am also complicated.
I'm a black mama lactivist, a home-owning punk.
It's been over a decade since the last time I got drunk.
I drive a minivan, I've got junk in the trunk.
I think Danny Devito is a total hunk.
I like revisiting the shit my therapist helps me remember.
Being friends with someone for a long time, still not knowing their gender.
I fight for equal rights and I fight for inner peace.
I pray to the dead for the gratitude I need.
I've got chickens in my backyard and a little garden plot,
I really hate commercials but I got a slap-chop.
I'm a sucker for a remix, let me tell you what,
by the time that I am finished, you're gonna love these nuts.
I'm a little bit pop culture, a lot bit D.I.Y.,
I don't know the definition of T.M.I.
I write poems about my period, post pictures of my log,
if you don't like body functions then you shouldn't read my blog.
My husband's a musician from the mountains in France,
he wrote me a song, we did interpretive dance,
then he knocked me up, now we have the coolest kid,
yeah, hooking up with him's the smartest thing I ever did.
Now I feel like I can fly when I'm on roller skates,
I get a little high when I eat dried dates,

I feel like unloading when i'm loading up the car,

I feel like time exploding when holding my guitar.

I don't understand what numbers have to do with success.

or what sales have to do with happiness,

unless they're the kind of sails that will carry me to sea,

where my grandma and grandpa are waiting for me.

I never thought I'd make it to 25, now I'm 37 and I'm glad that I'm alive.

If I ever need a tour bus I'm still gonna drive,

cause I looking out the windshield as the world goes by,

looking out the windshield as the world goes by.

Now I'm 37 and I'm glad that I'm alive

and I like looking out the windshield as the world goes by.

Music discovery

For lack of a better title - this post is titled music discovery.
Here is what happened. I have been feeling for quite some time that my music intake has reduced and i was feeling weak (music deficiency). So i started listening to some stuff that made me feel good but it told me how much weak i really was. This blog post just throws links that i have enjoyed or links that needs to be researched because there is whole world of things that i have to listen soon.


For NPR links, listen to the blog post as well as comments, there is a tone of info even in comments -

Songs that make you feel good - http://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/139679654/songs-that-make-you-feel-goodhttp://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/139679654/songs-that-make-you-feel-good

Songs that make you cry - http://www.npr.org/2011/07/19/138511911/cry-baby-cry-songs-that-make-you-weep

More songs that make you cry - http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/07/19/138513593/more-songs-that-make-you-cry

Kashmere stage band - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmere_Stage_Band : Basically this is a funk band, so lets see what is funk. Also included is James Brown - known as the originator of funk.

Kimya dawson albums - Alphabutt and Thunder thighs.


NPR - the decade's 50 most important recordings - http://www.npr.org/2009/11/16/120326033/the-decades-50-most-important-recordings

NPR - when new york was on fire - http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142550159/when-new-york-was-on-fire-a-mid-70s-musical-revolution This post talks about the origins of many music forms such as hip-hop, rap and repetitive music.

Money ball OST - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTHeZyOL0aw

Aik Alif - Coke studio3

There would be thousands of post on web on Aik Alif. This will be another one.

This is my fav coke studio song. It was my first coke studio and no song can beat this one.

The best part of this song is its lyrics(copied below). Listening to this song on any morning just makes the day. 




Parh parh ilm te faazil hoya
Te kaday apnay aap nu parhya ee na

(You read to become
all knowledgeable
But you never read yourself)

You read so many books
to know it all,
yet fail to ever read your
heart at all.

Bhaj bhaj warna ay mandir maseeti
Te kaday mann apnay wich warya ee na

(You run to enter temples and mosques
But you never entered your own heart)

You rush to holy shrines to play a part,
Would you dare enter the shrine of your heart

Larna ay roz shaitaan de naal
Te kadi nafs apnay naal larya ee na

(Everyday you fight Satan
But you never fight your own Ego)

You are quick to attack the evil one,
yet pride is a battle you have not won.

Bulleh Shah asmaani ud-deya pharonda ay
Te jera ghar betha unoon pharya ee na

(Bulleh Shah you try grabbing that which is in the sky
But you never get hold of What sits inside you)

You grab for a star you can control,
yet fail to grasp the light in your soul.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

Let the race end, my friend

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
Ik Alif teray darkaar

(Stop seeking all this knowledge my friend
Only an Alif is what you need)

Stop trying to be the one who knows,
for ‘God is One’ you need to know.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

End the race, my friend

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
(God is the Master, God is All)

God is All we need! God is All!

Nee main jaanaa Jogi de naal

(I shall follow the Yogi {ascetic/sufi})

Follow the wandering dervish!

Jo naa jaane, Haqq ki taaqat
Rabb naa devey us ko Himmat

(Those who deny the Strength of Truth
Lord does not give them courage)

If you deny the power of all that’s true,
God will not grant strength to you.

Hum Mann ke darya mein doobey
Kaisi nayya? Kya manjhdhaar?

(We have drowned in the river of Self
the boat and the flowing waters do not matter)

We are lost in this river of self,
no boat or streams are of any help.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

End the race, my friend

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
(Stop seeking all this knowledge my friend)

Stop trying to know it all, my friend.

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
(God is the Master, God is All)

God is All we need! God is All!

- English Translation and Lyrics originally in Punjabi | English in bracket is approximate literal translation. A more poetic rendering in bold by Naomi.



Lyrics taken from - http://www.koolmuzone.com/forum/music-infonews/bulleh-shah-aik-alif-%28lyrics-translation-history%29/

Scala & Kolacny Brothers

If i give you a song and ask you to listen to it and now compose it differently, what would you do?
Have you ever tried? I have and have found it to be very difficult.

Recently i stumbled on Scala and Kolacny Brothers (Thanks to a link shared by Vishal Srivastav on Facebook). Wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scala_%26_Kolacny_Brothers

From the songs that i have heard, they have a uniq genre of their own, a very classic genre that is lost now a days - they take songs and compose them in an operatic manner. Scala and Kolcany bothers is a Beligian girls choir. Their music yet has not touched deeply but this post is just to remember their style, a very creative approach and it takes time to understand true creativity.

It is so great to listen to these artists, bands from different countries. Last post was about Bjork who is from Iceland, this band is from Belgium. Enjoy the song Creep by them. Lyrics and video is below. The song was originally composed by Radiohead, you can see the difference.


When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fucking special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice when I'm not around
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell I'm doing here?
I don't belong here

She's running out the door
She's running out
She runs runs runs

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here





Other songs to try out
Bitter Sweet symphony - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqsjl1wfDE&feature=related
California Dreamin' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXdqqCegZ-A&feature=related
Every breath you take (Very nicely done) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZICJ2ZPh63Y&feature=related
Smells like teen spirit (Interesting take) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui2a2KTx60s&feature=related

I've seen it all

Music, after a long time a post about music. There has been a lot of music in last month, i am going to write 3-4 posts about some of the music that has got me hooked.

It starts with I've seen it all. Got to know after watching the trailer of Dancer in the Dark, have not seen the movie yet but soon i will see it. My best source of music has been movie OSTs . Movies is such an amazing artform that can combine both visual and audio.

I've seen is sung my Bjork. I have not heard her other songs but i am going to soon. She has a very unique style of singing the song, quite creative. She makes the words stand out and the lyrics are very very good. Lyrics that make you hear the song again and again. Here is the video and lyrics :

"I've Seen It All"

I've seen it all, I have seen the trees,
I've seen the willow leaves dancing in the breeze
I've seen a man killed by his best friend,
And lives that were over before they were spent.
I've seen what I was - I know what I'll be
I've seen it all - there is no more to see!

You haven't seen elephants, kings or Peru!
I'm happy to say I had better to do
What about China? Have you seen the Great Wall?
All walls are great, if the roof doesn't fall!

And the man you will marry?
The home you will share?
To be honest, I really don't care...

You've never been to Niagara Falls?
I have seen water, its water, that's all...
The Eiffel Tower, the Empire State?
My pulse was as high on my very first date!
Your grandson's hand as he plays with your hair?
To be honest, I really don't care...

I've seen it all, I've seen the dark
I've seen the brightness in one little spark.
I've seen what I chose and I've seen what I need,
And that is enough, to want more would be greed.
I've seen what I was and I know what I'll be
I've seen it all - there is no more to see!

You've seen it all and all you have seen
You can always review on your own little screen
The light and the dark, the big and the small
Just keep in mind - you need no more at all
You've seen what you were and know what you'll be
You've seen it all - there is no more to see!







There are multiple renditions of this song by Bjork but i find the one used in the movie to be the best.

chhai chappa chhai

छई छप्पा छई छप्पा के छई
पानियों में छीटें उड़ाती हुई लड़की
देखी है हमने
आती हुई लहरों पे जाती हुई लड़की

छई छप्पा छई छप्पा के छई
कभी कभी बातें तेरी अच्छी लगती है
फिर से कहना
आती हुई लहरों पे जाती हुई लड़की

ढूंडा करेंगे तुम्हें सारी रोंतें हम
रेगते ही पैरों के मोहरे न छोड़ना
नहीं
ढूंडा करेंगे तुम्हें सारी रोंतें हम
रेगते ही पैरों के मोहरे न छोड़ना

सारा दिन लेटे लेटे सोचेगा समुन्दर
आते जाते लोगों से पूछेगा समुन्दर
साहिब रुकिए ज़रा
अरे देखी किसी ने
आती हुई लहरों पे जाती हुई लड़की

छई छप्पा छई छप्पा के छई
कभी कभी बातें तेरी अच्छी लगती है

लिखते रहें हैं तुम्हें रोज़ ही मगर
ख्वाइशों के ख़त कभी भेजे ही नहीं,
नहीं
लिखते रहें हैं तुम्हें रोज़ ही मगर
ख्वाइशों के ख़त कभी भेजे ही नहीं,

ऐनक लगा के कभी पढ़ना वोह छिटियाँ
आँखों के पानी में रखना वोह छिटियाँ
तैरती नज़र आएगी जनाब

ओह देखा
आती हुई लहरों पे जाती हुई लड़की

छई छप्पा छई छप्पा के छई
पानियों में छीटें उड़ाती हुई लड़की
देखी है हमने
आती हुई लहरों पे जाती हुई लड़की

छई छप्पा छई छप्पा के छई
कभी कभी बातें तेरी अच्छी लगती है






Its been a long time since Gulzaar sahab appeared on this blog. I was really missing him. And then yesterday while eating dinner at Chat House, they were playing chhai chappa chaai. And after that, it was humming in my ears for the entire night, even while sleeping. And so here i am, sitting at 6:20 am writing lyrics for this song. Music is by Vishal Bhardwaj and it is somehow very difficult to imagine this song without his music. aur us par lata ji ki shararat waali awaz, she is so playful in this song. And look how cleverly Vishal uses the pause at "nahin" in second and third stanzas. And in between the lyrics, there is the Rahman-ish use of non meaningful words such as lara lara lara.

par jitna bhi bol lo, gaane ke bol ki baat hi kuch aur hai. gaur farmaiye

lete lete sochega samundar
and after listening to this line, mind visualizes the sea and yes woh leta hua hai. and you smile.

aur khwaishon ke khat kabhi bheje hi nahin. kya baat hai! Again in a blog with title Hazarron khwaishien aisi, khwaishon ke khat makes so much sense and gives so much joy to read this line, to listen this line.


Bahut khoob Gulzar sahab!!

Hai pyar to musafir

Music! Yes, music was missing from this blog for a long time and what a way it has chosen to come back. Randomly, i started listening to Shubha mudgal and i came across this song - Hai Pyar to Musafir from the album ab ke saavan. And i was hooked. The lyrics, the way it is sung, the tempo increase. Kya baat hai! And the lyrics...... so many songs about love are there, yet this one finds a unique spot (well it is not ishtehaar level, ek kudi jiska naam muhabbat) but it is definitely at just one level down.

And Shubhaji ji awaaz....kya awaaz hai! FYI, she used to blog too. Her site is http://shubhamudgal.com/


Music can be downloaded from here - http://www.dishant.com/mailsong/8563.html

kab aaye kab jaaye kahan thehre kya khaye
Hai pyar to musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye
naraaz hota hai, ukta jaata hai
kaun jaane kiski baaton mein aata hai
bas uthta hai chala jaata hai
kitna koi roke, kitna samjhaye
Hai pyar to musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye


kab aaye kab jaaye kahan thehre kya khaaye
Hai pyar to musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye
naraaz hota hai ukta jaata hai
kaun jaane kiski baaton mein aata hai
bas uthta hai chala jaata hai
kitna koi roke, kitna samjhaye
Hai pyar to musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye


kabhi umar bhar intezaar karwaaye
kabhi darwaaze pe khada muskuraye
gali gali sheher sheher tehelta rehta hai
na kuch sunta hai, na kuch kehta hai
phir bhi baithe hain sab aas lagaye
kya pata kab kiski rah mein aa jaye
Hai pyar to musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye


Na rupya na paisa jo koi kamaye
na sharbat na paani jo koi bahaye
na dhoop na batti jo koi jalaye
na rekha na kundali jo koi padhaye
na mandir na masjid jo koi banaye
man se hi nikle aur man mein hi samaye
Hain pyar toh musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye
Hain pyar toh musafir, marzi se aaye jaaye

कब आये कब जाए कहाँ ठहरे क्या खाए
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए
नाराज़ होता है , उकता जाता है
कौन जाने किसकी बातों में आता है
बस उठता है चला जाता है
कितना कोई रोके , कितना समझाए
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए

कब आये कब जाए कहाँ ठहरे क्या खाए
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए
नाराज़ होता है उकता जाता है
कौन जाने किसकी बातों में आता है
बस उठता है चला जाता है
कितना कोई रोके , कितना समझाए
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए


कभी उमर भर इंतज़ार करवाए
कभी दरवाज़े पे खड़ा मुस्कुराये
गली गली शहर शहर ठहलता रहता है
न कुछ सुनता है , न कुछ कहता है
फिर भी बैठे हैं सब आस लगाये
क्या पता कब किसकी रह में आ जाये
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए


न रुपया न पैसा जो कोई कमाए
न शरबत न पानी जो कोई बहाए
न धुप न बत्ती जो कोई जलाये
न रेखा न कुंडली जो कोई पढाये
न मंदिर न मस्जिद जो कोई बनाये
मन से ही निकले और मन में ही समाये
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए
है प्यार तो मुसाफिर , मर्ज़ी से आये जाए

Hem (the band)

Myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/hem

How i discovered this band -

It started with this Liberty mutual ad -


And then i thought - geez! that was a good song. who is that ? Couple of google searches and i get that the band is Hem and the song is Half acre. The video is here -


Lyrics are -
I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
And folded in this scrap of paper
Is the land I grew in

Think of every town you've lived in
Every room you lay your head
And what is it that you remember

Do you carry every sadness with you
Every hour your heart was broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with you

A man is walking on the highway
A woman stares out at the sea
And light is only now just breaking

So we carry every sadness with us
Every hour our hearts were broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with us

But I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
I am carrying this scrap of paper

That can crack the darkest sky wide open
Every burden taken from me
Every night my heart unfolding


Hem's wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hem_%28band%29

Two songs

Two songs -

I end my today's blogging streak with these two songs. So many days, so many hrs, i have heard these tracks repeatedly. Gems! Wahan Kaun hai tera and Chalo Dildaar chalo

vahaan kaun hai tera, musaafir, jaayega kahaan
dam lele ghadi bhar, ye chhaiyaan, paayega kahaan
vahaan kaun hai tera, musaafir, jaayega kahaan
vahaan kaun hai tera.....................

beet gaye din, pyaar ke palchhin
sapna bani woh raaten
bhuul gaye woh, tu bhi bhula de
pyaar ki woh mulaaqaaten,
pyaar ki woh mulaaqaaten
sab door andhera, sab door andhera,
musaafir jaayega kahaan

koi bhi teri, raaha naa dekhe
nain bichhaaye naa koi
dard se tere, koi naa tadpa
aankh kisi ki naa royi,
aankh kisi ki naa royi
kahe kisko tu meraa, kahe kisko tu meraa,
musaafir jaayegaa kahaan
ho o  o  o, musaafir, tu jaaye gaa kahaan

kahate hai gyaani, duniya hai faani
paani pe likhi likhaayi
hai sabki dekhi, hai sabki jaani
haath kisike naa aayi
haath kisike naa aayi
kuchh teraa naa meraa, kuchh teraa naa meraa,
musaafir jaayegaa kahaan

chalo diladaar chalo chaa.Nd ke paar chalo
ham hai.n taiyaar chalo

(aao kho jaae.n sitaaro.n me.n kahii.n) \- 2
chho.D de.n aaj ye duniyaa ye zamii.n, duniyaa ye zamii.n
chalo diladaar...

(ham nashe me.n hai.n sambhaalo hame.n tum) \- (2)
nii.nd aatii hai jagaa lo hame.n tum, jagaa lo hame.n tum
chalo diladaar...

(zi.ndagii khatm bhii ho jaaye agar) \- (2)
na kabhii khatm ho ulfat kaa safar, ulfat kaa safar
chalo diladaar...

Kate and Anna McGarrigle

How do i find songs? Some people have asked me. My answer is very simple - I am always ready to try new songs. Through facebook/social networks, through freinds recommendation, radio, tv, movies and random surfing. But of all the above, i think movies stand out the most. Most of my fav songs are OSTs of some movies and i think everytime i hear them, it reminds me of the movie which gives me an extra layer of sub conscious association with the song.

In this case, i heard about Kate and Anna McGarrigle 3 days ago on NPR radio. And it was on NPR radio because Kate had died the day before. Sad but then they played one of their songs and i had to probe further. While i do not know which song they played, i think this youtube video/songs tells a lot about their genre.
The song is Hard Times Come Again no More

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YrfLnlrquo

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh Hard times come again no more.
Chorus:

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh hard times come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)

There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)

Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore
Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)

Bob Dylan - Blowing in the wind

While sharing songs on this blog, i have generally refrained from sharing songs that are extremely good but they are in common - the idea there has been why share something that everyone knows about. Example of this is Rahman's Roja, it is cult but everyone knows about it.

While the above is true, on another hand is that it takes time for one to appreciate the greatness behind a song or an artist. First timers may feel something good but it is not until you have listened 100s of times, you can understand the so called "cultness". Bob Dylan is one such example. I have known that he is a genius for some time now but it was only recently, after i bought the CD - The Best of Bob Dylan and listened to it over and over again, i now realize that his songs are truely beautiful. I am copying one of his most popular songs - Blowing in the wind. The lyrics carry the Gulzaar-ish kind of style :), One of the features of Bob Dylan is that in many of his songs, he is able to make them lines rhyme with each other. Quite interesting how he does it.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, n how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, n how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before theyre forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, n how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before its washed to the sea?
Yes, n how many years can some people exist
Before theyre allowed to be free?
Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesnt see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.

Songs

It may give an impression that music is fading away from my life but it is totally not true. My less frequency in writing about songs is because imeem (my fav social music network) was acquired my myspace. And all my playlists are gone now, and so are my songs.

But youtube still exists with their masterpiece idea of embedding music videos. So with this post and following ones, let me share some songs that i had been listening.

The first one in this series is a Christmas song - Do you hear what i hear.
There are many renditions of this song - I am copying the one by Carie Underwood. This song was here on radio 24x7 when Christmas time was going on. It was quite interesting to see how everything you see, hear,eat changes when chistmas time comes here.

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?

A star, a star,
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite.
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?

Ringing through the sky shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song,
High above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm mighty king,
Do you know what I know?

A child, a child,
Shivers in cold
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold.
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say.


The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light...

Music time

So, as i am simultaneously discussing this thought with Justin, i felt that i should write about it.

First listen to these tracks -

These are the tracks that i must have heard them many times since childhood but never stopped to listen them carefully. On last thursday morning, somehow i did and after that the last two consecutive days have been listening to these two tracks only. Simply wow!

It is only when i have no time on my hand that i realize the beauty of these songs. On free days, i tend to waste time listening randomly (well not a waste of time). But when i have lots of work to do then i find myself giving careful attention to these things such as reading my google reader list or commenting out arbit person's imeem music profile.

So, with this learning, i have now started to intentionally delay my works. I postpone them until i realize that there is too much on my plate now and then the magic happens. Some call it tension time, but its the best mode to be in.

Sweet at heart!

Sweet at heart!

While biking back from my work,
I see a woman everyday,
under the shades of a tree
next to her SUV
with radio turned at a loud volume
she dances, yes! she dances.

Alone she dances,
with no care for the world,
making a complete fool of herself
without any doubt in her mind,
sheer joy and carpe diem.


People like me,
stop, hear, watch,
smile,frown,laugh,
they react
surprised,happy, sad
sometimes
mocking,bewildered,
and then go away.
No one dares to give her any company.

I dont know if it makes any difference
to the picture in your mind
The music she hears is jazz.
And also her color is black.

Eleanor Rigby

Its been a long time since i posted a song. But this does not means that i am not listening to songs anymore. Infact, i have been trying out Pandora - the internet radio station that plays similar songs. And it is very good indeed. Here is my profile page - http://www.pandora.com/people/arvindbatra (in case you are interested)

So somehow Eleanor rigby came on Pandora and i was in enough attentive mood to give my proper attention to it. Or i think that the song was powerful enough to distract me from whatever i was doing and took me in.

It is a Beatles song - one of their first and it is truely a pshychedelic song. The lyrics are quite good. But the best thing is the the string music and how it pumps up this otherwise sad song. Amazing! Clearly Beatles didnt play the stringed instrument but still whoever came up with the music - my big thanks to you!


Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from ?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong ?

Father mckenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working. darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Eleanor rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father mckenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

M.I.A

What a way to kickstart April blog!

Its 11:28 am on a beautiful Saturday morning and my laptop is buzzing with MIA's music.

It all started yesterday night with me watching MIA's video of paper planes. I have heard Paper planes in Slumdog OST and had loved it. Awesome beats! I was under the impression that Rehman had composed the song as well. I was so wrong. Coming back to the video, it was not a great video except in the first and last scene when paper planes are flying over NY. But then in the related section, i saw some other songs by MIA. And thus began my journey yesterday night.

First some links
[Read about MIA at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I.A._(artist)]
Her myspace page http://www.myspace.com/mia]
Her website: http://www.miauk.com/
Her youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/worldtown
Kala: her second album playlist -

Now, about her music:
MIA's music is extremely experimental. Her myspace layout explains a lot about her music. Its very colorful, very vibrant and contains many layers. But her lyrics are political, about issues and direct. If Kimya Dawson was my find of 2008 with her experimental music, MIA is doing that in 2009. She is saying what she wants to say and music just remixes the content. She is like Rahman gone extreme with beats. She is Tamillian who has lived in Sri Lanka, India, UK and now US. The impact of bollywood music is present in many of her songs.

She made a remix of Jimmy from Disco Dancer. Now Jimmy is one of my favourite songs and it reminds me of that era of Bappi Lahiri. It is simply a great number. She takes that song, keeps its music but changes lyrics to this:
When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on ya genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go

Got static on ya satellite phone
Got to get you safe at home
Got to get you some where warm
So you get me all alone

Jimmy Aaja
Jimmy Aaja
Jimmy Aaja


But still that tune, if you can play it in your head is there. Jimmy is not MIA's best song but it tells a lot about the music she likes and it tells what she is trying to say in her songs.
Other good songs from the playlist are Boyz, Hussel, and Bamboo Banga. All are super cool.
Her videos again bore her stamp. People dancing, wearing colorful clothes, and a political/social message going in backdrop.

It is sad that it took Slumdog to bring MIA to me but its cool as well. May be this blogpost will take MIA to someone else :). Listen to her, she is showing a new different way.

Jai Ho Oscars 2009

Yes, i watched the whole oscars yesterday. I just had to watch it. 2 reasons : (1) Rahman was going to win and (2) Kate winslet was going to win.

I had no doubts in either case. Kate got her first win on her 6th nomination. But she really couldn't be ignored this year. I have seen The Reader and i have loved it. Her performance was brilliant and no one could have taken it away from her this time. As someone who had watched almost all her movies, the way she pulls out these complex characters with such ease, it makes each and every scene enjoyable. And she was introduced nicely by Marion Cotillard and her acceptance speech was also quite good.

And now coming back to Rahman, i can't believe he said "mere paas maa hai" at the oscars. It was so hilarious. He spoke hindi, tamil and english. But the biggest revealation to me was that the song Jai Ho was penned by none other than Gulzar sahab. So my first task of this morning was to read his lyrics. One thing that Rahaman does to me is that he often makes lyrics of a song go in background because of his music. There are so many songs composed by him for which i just remember the tune but no words. Examples include - Dil se, Chaiya chaiya, aye udi udi, and now jai ho. But there are also some songs whose lyrics are put in front only by his mucic, examples are Ae ajnabi, jaage rahe, bahrat humko etc.


Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho


Ratti Ratti Sachi Maine Jaan Gawayi Hai
Nach Nach Koylon Pe Raat Bitayi Hai
Akhiyon Ki Neend Maine Phoonko Se Uda Di
Neele Neele Tare Maine Ungli Jalayi Hai
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho


Baila! Baila!
(Dance! Dance!)

Ahora conmigo, tu baila para hoy
(Now with me, you dance for today)

Por nuestro dia de movidas,
(For our day of moves,)

los problemas los que sean
(whatever problems may be)

Salud!
(Cheers!)

Baila! Baila!
(Dance! Dance!)
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Chakh Le Ho Chakh Le Ye Raat Shahad Hai Chakh Le
Rakh Le Haan Dil Hai Dil Aakhri Had Hai Rakh Le
Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na

Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale, Jai Ho, Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho ....
Kab Se Ha Kab Se Jo Lab Pe Ruki Hai Keh De
Keh De Ha Keh De Ab Aankh Jhuki Hai.. Keh De

Aisi Aisi Roshan Aankhe Roshan Do Do Bhi Hai Hai Kya
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho


I have bold my fav lines. "Raat shehed(honey) hai, chakh le" ....that has Gulzar stamped all over it. This song also has some lines from foreign language. The music blends it so perfectly that it never got my attention.

PS: Paper planes by MIA is getting better with each listening :)

जागे हैं

जागे हैं देर तक
हमें कुछ देर सोने दो
थोडी सी रात और है
सुबह तो होने दो
आधे अधूरे ख्वाब जो पूरे ना हो सके
इक बार फिर से नींद में वो ख्वाब बोने दो
एक ख्वाब टूट जाने का एहसास ही तो है
थोडी सी रात और सेहर पास ही तो है


Written by Gulzaar sahab.
Consider for a moment that i come and ask you to take this poem and make a song out of it, aka add music to this poem. And in my wildest imagination, i can not come up with what A.R. Rahman came up with. And there is no point in even thinking which is better the poem or the song. In the you tube video, Gulzaar sahab recites this poem and the way he recites it, aha! And when you listen to Rahman's song, it seems that it is totally a different song altogether.