Song of the day

Song: Promises
Singer: Eric Clapton
Lyrics

I like this song and its lyrics. Now it reminds me of my first year in Ithaca. I used to listen to Eric Clapton a lot walking back from Phillips Hall to Summerhill, after working till late into night well past midnight, in the cold cold dear old Ithaca.

>>read more...

Songs of the day

Check out M.S.Subbulakshmi's and Balamurali Krishna's rendition of Endaro Mahanubhavulu. In one of them, I can write down lyrics on one hearing. In the other, not even after hearing it after multiple times. But both are amazing pieces.

MSS - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/carnatic_vocal/s/artist.14/
BK - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/carnatic_vocal/s/artist.1408/

>>read more...

Song of the day/month

Title: Bhale Thatha Mana Bapuji
Movie: Donga Ramudu (Gult movie from 1955)
Lyricist: Samudrala


Lyrics in this song are amazing. These lines struck me at many levels. They go -

[Gandhi] readied himself and got up
He stepped forward with determination
Marching with him, the whole country moved,
The [British] Empire shivered, and we got our freedom!

These lyrics refer to the Dandi March, which to me is quite a moving incident in the freedom struggle. Especially due to the brutal suppression that followed.

This song is for kids. It refers to Gandhi as Thatha. So we definitely can pardon some simplification of history for the sake of easy comprehension.

But I wonder if this innocent song also contributed to our coloured view of history. Obviously, a lot happened between Dandi March in 1930 and 1947. And Dandi March was not the final step in our struggle. Not even Quit India in 1942.

I also do not believe that the lyricist (respected Samudrala) had political intentions behind penning this song. The lyrics probably should be viewed as a part of the cultural ethos of India to respect and idolise historic personalities.

Sooo, I conclude that this song should be used as research material for studies in Indian historiography.

>>read more...

Song of the Day, July 30, 2007

Hi all ... back after a long hiatus again. This is one of the best instrumental pieces I have heard. It is the main theme for the movie "In the Mood for Love". The piece is sad and reflects the what happens in the movie but at the same time feels like a lullaby ...

Song: Yumeji's Theme (listen/see)
Artist: Shrigeru Umebayashi

The movie is very good ... however I can not give it a fair rating since i do not know if I liked it for its soundtrack or for the movie itself.

>>read more...

Song of the Day, May 29, 2007

Song: Signal Fire (listen/see)
Artist: Snow Patrol


OK song, but a very nice video .. a must watch.

>>read more...

Song of the Day, May 25, 2007

Song: Cry for you (listen)
Artist: September

Not a great vocal (ok i am sounding like simon ;-) ) ... but i loved the musical arrangement with the cello and the violin. The original song of course is a dinchak song ... (listen to original)

>>read more...

Song for the Day, May 24, 2007

Song: Somewhere only we know (listen)
Artist: Keane
Album: Hopes and Fears

>>read more...