Wouldn't It Be Nice?

One of my dreams in this lifetime is to find someone who enjoys Rahman's music as much as I do, if not more. By this, I mean someone in my direct life. Sure, in today's day and age, any two people can discuss just about any topic through various mediums like the internet or through mobile phone. I'm not talking about that. I am talking about a one-on-one human connection; face-to-face.

When a new album releases, I would take my album and visit the friend's house and we would listen to it together. How beautiful would that be?

We would look forward to his local concert so eagerly together. We would purchase our tickets and revel in our accomplishment. How great would that be?

We would discuss on and on about the use of instruments, tones, melodies, and their Godly connections but would not make any sense as any words for him fail to fully capture true feelings. How amazing would that be?

God, if you are listening up there (which I am sure you are), please help me find that person. Now, if it's the best thing for me, I don't know. Obviously you know better, God. So, if it is possible, help a sister out!

Let's Swim Into the Blue

Mehekte gulzaron mein hum, chamakte sitaaron mein hum, behekte angaaron mein hum, lehekte hawaaon mein hum. Why? Because the music of Blue has released.

It seems as if ages have passed since something new by A R Rahman. No worries though, I have so many old gems to dwell on.

Regardless, this is no review for Blue. I haven't even heard all of the songs yet. But what a gift! Eid is coming up so soon and it has been one busy and tiring Ramadan. Nothing better to reward myself with than purchasing the album. I guess I will wait for Ramadan to end as the fruit of my sacrifice will be much sweeter.

Until later, enjoy the music of life my friends. Have a great rest of Ramadan and Eid mubarak.

You Don't Need Ears To Hear A Melody

Time and time again I find myself left mesmerized by his tune. I can hear it deep in the corners of silence. I follow the flute as it plays a game of hide and seek with me.  Down the dark brick-walled alley, I follow the turns in the dirt path splashing puddles as I go. 

Silence----- I stop, and then the beat starts again. 

My instinct tells me to speed up as the tune, along with me, decides to quicken. With my eyebrows arching and my sight sharpening, I remind myself that I can find it; I will find it.  Now, almost running, I turn only to arrive at a choice of two different paths; one left and one right. I hear it, I know I do. But which direction is it coming from? Which direction do I go? Quick, I must choose! I hear it ringing ever so slightly from the left, no, wait, from the right. Wanting to give up, I close my eyes and raise my head toward the sky. With arms wide open, I take in a deep breath to find myself surrounded by light, bright light. Wait, I've found it! I've found the tune, I hear it blasting, I see it sparking.  It is getting louder and even louder. The thumps are matching my heartbeat?  The strings are flowing with my breath.  It's in me! It's in my heart. It is spilling out of my heart.

(Looking left and right, we should never forget the only way is forward; the only way to go is up.)

God creates ways and paths for us to understand life. For each and every person the path and time is different. For some, it does not even exist.  For them, life is meant to continue astray. Many a time, the right mixture of events create a sort of combustion or a sudden chain reaction  in which the answers reveal themselves in front of our naked eyes.  What does it mean to understand life? Is there a definite answer to understanding it let alone a definite answer to life itself? To understand life is to feel it. It is to feel the grandeur all the way from birth to death and even after and even everything in between. Life is in the smallest of all happiness, in the largest of all tragedy. To feel it is to live it and love it. And it is to take care of it, protect it and to give it. To understand life you have to find it.  How you do, well, that is up to you.

The tune of Saathiya, along with a number of events in my time, helps me continuosly find life.

Can't Get You Outta My Head

Hey, I'm still alive?!? It has been such a long time since I posted last and so much has happened!

1. Yuvvraaj was released

2. Ghajini was released

3. Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack was released

4. Connections released

5. ARR nominated for and wins first Critic's Choice Award

6. Delhi-6 was released

7. Nominated for and won first Golden Globe Award

8. Nominated for and won first BAFTA Award

9. Nominated for two Academy Awards

10. Performs on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

11. ARR article in Rolling Stone magazine
12. Performs his two nominated songs at the Oscars ceremony

13. ARR wins two Oscars !

14. Performs on the Oprah Winfrey Show

15. Pussycat Dolls do a remix of the Oscar-winning song Jai Ho

16. ARR appears in an Akon music video titled Beautiful

The possibilities are unlimited! (I hope I did not miss anything in the list.)

I've been going through an emotional craze these past few months. There is simply too much to say and too much I have felt to document it all here. 

The album releases were great because every album introduced some awesome, unquestionable music but the greatest moment of all for me was watching the Critic's Choice Awards.  I believe my father, mother, and I had just finished watching one of my favorite television shows, The Office, when my mother asked me to change the channel because she wanted to just catch a glimpse of the award show. As soon as I changed the channel, the music award was being announced starting first with the announcement of the nominees. She looked at me as we learned it was the musical category and I said to her, "I don't think he's nominated." Actually, looking back, I have no idea why I thought that. When the presenters read off the nominees and announced ARR as the winner, my mother and I clapped like crazy people. I turned to look at her and said to her, "I don't think he's gonna be there." And then!! I don't know exactly what happened, not sure if this was a dream or reality but he started walking towards the stage to collect his award. What?!? Really?!? My reaction was limited to screaming and pointing at the television screen. I honestly could not believe what the hell was going on. I guess that's what being speechless is like. Whatever it was, I thought about that moment for the rest of the night and couldn't stop! I felt exactly like what ARR said during one of his award acceptance speeches, "Unbelievable."

I went into my room that night in simple amazement. I couldn't digest what had happened. I went straight to the video that had been posted capturing that moment. I watched it again. I cried. I began to cry thinking of the long journey; his long journey. I thought of my long journey which is nothing compared to his. The journey of listening to the music and evolving into a completely changed and grown person. When I see him, every moment, every single moment flashes across my eyes. The songs, the scenes, the performances, my feelings, they flash so fast that I cannot simply reach out my hand and grab one. There are too many and as I reach to grasp them, I cannot get a hold. Or is it that I grab too many? Whatever it is, I enjoy it. The feelings that I have and the emotion after emotion that I go through, witnessing and accounting his journey as well as mine, is one of the most beautiful experiences of my lifetime. If never anything else, no one can take this away from me. 

These past few months have been extremely exciting. I think I've felt a few heart attacks along the ride. I'm rather sure I've increased my blood pressure more than once. Most of all, I'm completely sure, regardless of other factors, I've prolonged my life because I have been so happy. All by the grace of God and everything else in life, I am so happy. Thank you so much for everything.

A R Rahman, wherever you are, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and wonder how God ever gifted you and your music to me.

                                                

My Zune, My Baby

So a few months back my brother bought me an early birthday present. I was rather surprised but rather happy. He bought me a Microsoft Zune 30GB. My SanDisk Sansa had broken down a couple of months prior and my brother knew I was looking for a new mp3 player but never got around to purchasing one. Little did I know, my worries were soon to be over.


I'm glad he bought me the Microsoft Zune because I was actually looking at various other SanDisk players in the market. I probably never would have thought of the Zune had this decision been left completely up to me. I am still a fan of SanDisk devices but now I am even a bigger fan of the Zune. My Zune, in particular, is one of the older versions, as it was some of the last few being sold but I have no problems with that, I love it dearly. I love the features, the colors, and the sound. It took a while to get used to the fact that I don't have a microphone on my device anymore and the fact that my 30GB player is much larger in size compared to the Sansa. I also increased my file capacity by 28GB! Damn!

One rather important detail I forgot to mention earlier is that there is a feature to name your device once one sets up the software. I named my device DUDE ARR, ahhah. I love the name or word, or whatever you want to call it, Dude and of course, my musical inspiration's name had to be included, hence ARR.

I must say, I love my Zune very much. I have never been a fan of the iPod except for its design and overall visual appeal. Do not misunderstand, I am not bashing it, to anyone who owns it, happy iPodding! I was actually looking into the SanDisk Fuze which is a rather new device but then I would be getting a much lower capacity for a higher price. If not the SanDisk, I was also looking at the new Samsung players as they have built-in speakers. They also had lovely designs. I have nothing to regret now, I find my Zune very lovely, :) .

April Showers Bring May Flowers

KABHI KABHI ADITI - RASHID ALI

There is a lot to be impressed by in this song. It's sheer simplicity is the aspect that carries it through. The singing is superb and so is the guitar. My two favorite parts: "Hey Aditi, hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde tu zara," and minutes 1:47-1:52, simply amazing. For some nonapparent reason I am reminded of the title song of Saathiya with this one. It is definitely not a bad thing and nor is it a comparison. Kabhi Kabhi is just simply great and fun loving.

JAANE TU MERA KYA HAI - RUNA RIZVI

"Jaana, dil jaane, kaise tuna na jaana, ke pyar yehi hai, yeh jaane tu ya jaane na." I absolutely love this part, classic.

PAPPU CAN'T DANCE - BLAZE, MOHD ASLAM, TANVI, ANUPAMA DESHPANDE, BENNY DAYAL, DARSHANA, SATISH SUBRAMANIUM

This Pappu guy sure does seem interesting. What is more interesting is the song about Pappu. I absolutely, horribly love this song. I love dancing to it, I love repeating the lines, "Pappu can't dance saala, haan Pappu naach nahi sakta." It is definitely an odd and very different song but it is extremely catchy. The remix version is even the more exciting. I feel that remixes usually are not as exciting but this one is a must listen. Nice pace and very danceable.

NAZREIN MILAANA NAZREIN CHURAANA - SWETHA BHARGAVE, NARESH IYER, DARSHANA, BENNY DAYAL, TANVI, SATHISH CHAKRAVARTHEY, ANUPAMA DESHPANDE

This song is definitely a feel good song. It would fit in perfectly with walking down the street or just sitting around with a group of friends and humming the song to a friend strumming the guitar. Very simple and nothing less than elegant. Very nice.

JAANE TU MERI KYA HAI - SUKHWINDER SINGH

The situation in this song is very deep as it is with the previous version. I admire deep and tragic songs very much just like I am totally feeling this one. I am not exactly a depressed sort of person but somehow I just feel like I can relate. That is exactly the magic of Rahman though. I feel like I can be this guy or the girl in the other version. When one's heart is put into the work, it will never go unrecognized or unfelt.

TU BOLE, MAIN BOLOON - A R RAHMAN

Yes, yes, yes, it is sung by the man himself. The jazz is simply amazing. When I listen to other composers, it feels as if I am listening to the same styles over and over again. BUT, when I hear songs like this, it makes me wonder and question, how does Rahman even know about this? I know, I know, it is very wrong to question him but he never fails to amaze me. Very, very nice.

KAHIN TO - VASUNDHARA DAS, RASHID ALI

The best for the last, eh? Of course. I am not sure how this song ends up in the playlist on the CD as I haven't purchased it yet, but I must say, if the other songs were great, this song is greater than the greatest great. It is too good. Hands down, I love singing this song (I am not too bad it either, *wink*). Hahaha, just for laughs. I am impressed with the longing that I sense in Ali's voice, it gives the song its desired tone. Das has merely a few lines still she impresses with such little.

My relationship with Rahman can be summed up with this one line : "Kahin to, kahin to, hai nasha, teri meri har mulaqaat mein." Not the literal mulaqaat, but I am sure you know what I mean.

So, jaane tu ya jaane na, yeh album bahaut changi hai yaar. Sunna zaroor!

sunke humne saari peelee haseen

Whenever in doubt regarding true love, close your eyes, spread your arms wide, and open your ears. If you can hear the flutes of Saathiya, love has captured. Love has grasped onto your mind, body, and soul. It will not let go, ever. As the notes fluctuate, it is as if rather the strings of the heart are doing so. Standing there still, with arms wide open, and breathing in the passionate air is as if someone is pouring colors over your very existence. Saathiya is the justification of love. Saathiya, eternal like love, will conquer. The unknowing ask for signs. This cadence is the ultimate sign, the intimate sign, for now, love isn't love anymore, it is better. It has progressed into heavier subsistence. Go ahead, try hard and strong, for this actuality with neither budge nor ever spare.