Saturday, August 28, 2010

Music and Lyrics

I love music and songs with great lyrics. Well, who doesn’t? I was always under an impression that all music lovers pay attention to the lyrics of a song when they listen to it. Little did I know that it is not always the case! Some people like music for its melody alone. They just listen to the song clue less of its meaning.

In fact, they can memorize the whole song but don’t really know what the song is about. This was a shocking revelation to me. No offence, but some tunes are really good if you listen to the instrumental but justice is not done as the lyrics ruin the song. But then melody alone without the right words is incomplete. Don’t you think?

I used to listen to the FM radio when I was young and write down the lyrics of the songs when they were played. I used to write really fast so that I don’t miss a single word of the song. You never know when it's going to be aired again. I then used to learn the song, sometimes adding my own melody to some of the lines enjoying the lyrics every single time I sang.

My mom bought this 400 page notebook with Nehru’s picture on the front cover and India Map at the back cover. That was the first year they introduced such fat note books. I made it my song book. It was so special to me. I filled every page with a song I liked. My brother used to blackmail me saying he would use it to do math rough work in it if I don’t give in to his demands (mostly give a share, sometimes all of the treats/snacks given to me).

It’s amazing how I never get bored of the songs I like. Every single time I sing a nice romantic song I get goose bumps. I feel very patriotic in my heart when I sing a patriotic song and understand life’s meaning all over again when I hear Kishore Kumar’s Zingadi songs in particular! If I haven’t seen the video of the song, I would direct my own little movie in my head :)

In fact, most of the songs I heard them first on radio or tape and got a chance to watch the video much later in life. For most of the songs, I must say, my directed version was much better than how the actual song was made :) yeah, I will make a much better director - some day!

What role do melody and lyrics play in a song anyways? Which one is more important? Can a song touch your heart if it has good lyrics and a lousy tune and vice versa. I don’t think so. You need to have a great tune to even be able to listen to it the very first time and like it to go to the next step of paying attention to the lyrics.

Here is my theory. Melody is like a precursor for the words that are later going to make it a memorable song. With out one the other does not make much sense. You cannot pick one over the other. It is their combination that delights your senses and nourishes your musical appetite.

Melody/tune is like the physical appearance. Love at first hearing can happen if the melody is good. But you really fall in love with the song only when it is paired with great lyrics. Lyrics are the soul of a song. They stick with you forever. You just cannot forget a nice song that has touched your soul.


Coming to the singer he/she adds a whole new dimension to the song with his/her signature nuances which makes it completely their own. Any other singer can sing the same song but it will not be the same. It is like two artists can paint a similar painting but it will never be exactly the same. A little stroke of the paint brush makes a whole lot of difference.

I listen to romantic melodies mostly. When it comes to romantic songs penned well, I think the lyrics seem wonderfully sensitive. They take you down the memory lane and make you relive the moments of the first time you met your spouse/boy friend, or if you would do it all over again how would you propose or go about your relationship.

I had couple of songs which I heard the first time when I was 12 I guess. I just thought, I would sing it for my guy and the best part is I did. It all worked out perfectly well, and I did sing the three top songs I had in mind for him in the same order. The songs had this meaning, which I really wanted to convey, and it was just perfect.

The best part is I had this one very romantic Telugu song – “Yeto vellipoyindi manasu” I always thought would be perfect if any guy sings for his gal. I used to sing it to myself and feel all special dreaming that someone was singing for me.

When we got married, the next day, we were surrounded by all relatives from his side, and they were obviously having fun scrutinizing me J they asked both of us to sing songs for each other. I sang the first song I wanted to sing to him, and he was a little hesitant to sing and nobody forced him, no fair!

And then next day we went out on a long drive and he said he was about to sing the same song (“Yeto vellipoyindi manasu”). My jaw dropped in shock J Though mine was an arranged marriage it felt like some shooting star, some sign telling me, this is the guy you have been waiting for ;-)

There are some songs for me which mean a lot as they are associated with some special people in my life. It’s like one of your friends introduces a song to you and you just love it so much. When ever you hear or sing that song you remember them, every single time. I actually judge people based on their taste in music J I know its mean, but hey who doesn’t!

Long live all the great musicians, lyricists, and singers who make the whole experience of listening to their songs simply divine!


Friday, August 27, 2010

The real motivators


These days I have a new friend. In fact an acquaintance before who is gradually becoming a great friend with all the similarities she finds with her in me, reading my posts and of course least to mention my frequent visits to their house these days:) She praises me a lot with her heart felt words appreciating how well I write, how creative I am, how much she identifies with me etc. Praise is always good right? Not quite.

Actually many are amply capable of appreciating another person's accomplishments. But it makes a lot of difference in striking the right chord, in converting the words into a genuine praise than a mere flattery. It feels really good when people say it from the heart. Its almost like, you forgot what you can really do and then you rediscover again how talented or gifted you are. At least there is one person who thinks you are good makes it a big deal. 

I just got off the phone with her. She read my blog and she quoted certain posts which really moved her. Felt really nice that someone could connect to my writing in that way. I usually get demotivated and question my skills if I take a break for a long time from what I do. Be it my professional work, or my hobbies. I went through a few of my posts and it felt nice. It made me feel - Wow! Did I really write all these. Not bad for a hobby.

I was thinking, I have been writing from 2007 on and off, and when ever I took a break, it was a new friend who triggered my spirits and increased my appetite for writing. I always came up with great posts when ever I met someone who really instilled that sense of confidence and self esteem in me all over again.

This one is for all the real motivators, among my friends, who made me a better writer. You know who you are, I won't mention your names. I guess the greatest motivational act any person could do to me is to understand where I am coming from, delve into my world and see that what I write really makes some sense.

I feel that every person is unique. But then some people share a certain wavelength that matches their thought process and thats where the spark comes and makes the relationship special. I am grateful to all my special friends who got the best out of me, you are my real motivators!

PS: ramblings, nothing specific!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Random things about me

Recently one of my friends tagged me in Facebook asking me to write 10 random things about me. I thought a little bit and was about to write them but then I did not like to broadcast. But it was at the back of my mind ever since. It has been over a month now I guess and I want to write.

Now you may ask, how this is not broadcasting :) If I post this at Sulekha, it would be I guess. People come here once in a while and its okay if the people that really mean something to me, know a little bit more about me, or if they read and think - Oh! I knew this about her :)

I have not thought about these before. I am going to write 10 things about me, whatever comes to my mind in the next few minutes and I am not going to edit them. Also, I think that it is purely based on the state of mind at a given moment. If I write the same post some other time, the 10 things would change. As of now, I am not in a very pleasant mood :)

Here are the 10 things:

1. I am not good when I have to do something in a specific amount of time. I perform really bad when I am timed. I play lot of word games. I improve consistently when I play a game with out a timer. If you give me a puzzle or a problem and stand before me, I might not do so well, but put it on paper, I will crack it in no time. Not sure why I have this problem, but I would like to overcome that.

2. I am too conscious of my weight. Sometimes, in fact most of the times it really effects my day.

3. I am not very serious about my job. I can do much better, but somehow I don't think I work to my full potential. I get distracted easily.

4. I cannot stick to one thing for long time. I am convinced I have commitment issues. My husband denies the fact saying that I am still married to him ;-)

5. I am good at singing. I want to learn music some day and sing before a large crowd.

6. I am good at puzzles. I want to learn how to solve Rubik's cube this month!

7. I am quite brave. I don't give in easily and I am real good at managing crisis situations.

8. I eat junk food ONLY when I am nervous, stressed out, depressed, sad.

9. I love Cappuccino Chocolate Crunch ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery. I ate it only once though :)

10. I am scared to dress well and look good. I feel guilty when I spend time in self grooming. I was raised with a philosophy that self grooming is a sin and waste of time. Looks like it has been imprinted in my brain so bad, how much ever I try, I cannot erase it.

I want to try this exercise later some day when I am really happy and see what I come up with.