Another serenader

#30 - Your favourite song at this time last year

That would be some time before my obsession with The Beatles was to begin. I believe Billy Joel, who I was introduced to by Rangooski, was my favourite then (apart from the all-timers, that is). So here's one of his best.

"The Entertainer", by Billy Joel.
(Not to be confused with the piano piece.)

Also like his "Uptown Girl" and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant".

That about wraps up the 30 days, but I have songs for about a couple more categories that are not on the list. Will put those up soon.

Rowing the old boat

#29 - A song from your childhood

I do not say much, as I have no wish to "put senti", other than that Arvind Swamy was a fine actor.

"Ottakkara Marimuthu", from Indira, composed by A.R.Rahman, sung by S.P.B and Seerkazhi Siva Chidambaram.

Singin' skittilee rink-a-doodle

#28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

The Text is plural. Which is not simply to say that it has several meanings, but that it accomplishes the very plural of meaning: an irreducible (and not merely an acceptable) plural.

-Roland Barthes, From Work to Text

This song makes me feel guilty of not having known about this group earlier - I discovered them today while looking for The Dubliners' cover of "Rocky Road to Dublin". I've heard some unpleasant things about the climate in Ireland, but the music they make should more than make up for it.

"The Little Beggarman", as sung by The High Kings.

And here is the same song by Buddy Greene, the harmonica guy from yesterday. If you thought his performance at Carnegie Hall was mighty impressive, you haven't seen this one yet.

Why does there need to be a title anyway?

#27 - A song that you wish you could play

First, these are the reasons for my starting with the harmonica:

1. It fits in my pocket. Why, I even have a harmonica that's shorter than my little finger. Also, somewhere in the world, there exist key-chains that are functional harmonicas.
2. This guy. (That the first song he plays was on yesterday's list is not a co-incidence.)

But when it comes to playing, my greatest wish is, more than to emulate Buddy Greene (which would be too lofty), to be able to play the theme from Padaiyappa. Composed by A.R.Rahman, this brilliant piece is as good as the harmonica has ever gotten in the country, and while the movie may have been memorable to Rajini fans for various other reasons (such as it being a Rajini movie), this is what it held for me.

Fiddling on the roof (and off it)

#26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

I play the harmonica; not very well. (If you're picturing a box with a keyboard and bellows, that's a harmonium. I just insulted your knowledge of musical instruments.)

I started off a long time back somewhat like this guy. Much later, I got to something that's supposed to sound like this, but is not very close. I can also sort of play "The Downfall of Paris", which was mentioned in an earlier post, and this. But the one that I shall be most proud of with lots more practice is "The Irish Washerwoman", an Irish traditional jig, which I can now barely play.

Come here, my banana fry (and other such things)

#25 - A song that makes you laugh

This one here has no competition. A well-deserved tribute to one of the most capable actor-director-producer-writer-cinematographer-poet-...'s in the history of the Tamil film industry, nay, of all existent film industries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa. Don't believe me? Don't get emotion and irritation, you wait and see further action here and here. If you still do not agree, consider your views suppressed, oppressed and depressed.

"ReTRibution to AtTRibution: Our ConTRibution", by Parodesy Noise.

When you're finally free of the abdominal spasms that would have doubtlessly ensued after the above, go here and check out their other works of art, especially "Rucking Fules".

On a different note, go to this page on NhD's blog and see the Coke ad. I loved it.

No one dare disturb

#24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

(I wanted to say "The Death Punch", a classic Tamil folk piece, but couldn't find a good enough sample anywhere. Please do tell me if you do. For further information, see here.)

"The Sound of Silence", by Simon and Garfunkel.

And if you haven't seen Watchmen yet, watch it as soon as you can. It is perhaps the best superhero-based movie out there. If not for anything else, watch it atleast for the title sequence featuring one of Dylan's greatest songs and also for the Comedian's funeral with the above song in it. (And see if you can spot Rorschach in the latter.)

Under the uniting roof

#23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

When I was looking for something for today I came upon the following, which I thought I should put here, even though it is not in line with the topic. This was M.S.Subbulakshmi's rendering of a song written by Rajaji at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.

And what I was actually looking for was "English Note", a composition by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar. A Carnatic composer, he came up with this when someone asked him whether he could compose music like that of the West.

This was the best instrumental video that I could find of the song. I have a cassette tape of Chitti Babu playing this on the Veena in a manner that can only be described as 'heavenly'. See here for the scene with this song on the nadhaswaram from the Tamil movie Thillana Moganambal.

Don't worry about a thing

#22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad

I'm not being really honest on this one - I can't remember any song that would fit this description. The lyrics of the following would suit, that's all.

"Three Little Birds", by Bob Marley.
 

It used to be called Zaire

#21 - A song that you listen to when you're happy

Mose Fan Fan is a guitarist from the Democratic Republic of Congo who's been around since the late 60's. He performs a genre of dance music originating in Congo called Soukous.

The following song is, I believe, in the Lingala language local to Congo. This is as much as I was able to find out. As to what the song means, I have no idea. But, as you'll see if you listen to it, it doesn't really matter.


"Hello Hello", by Mose Fan Fan.

Seriously, I can't think of a name

#20 - A song that you listen to when you're angry

This one somehow cools my nerves. I don't know much about the song itself, or I'd tell you.

"The Downfall of Paris", played by The Dubliners.
(I believe its an Irish folk tune, as The Dubliners were indeed an Irish folk band.)

Don't pass this by

#19 - A song from your favourite album

 G.H.Hardy and John Littlewood formed what is considered to be perhaps the most fruitful collaboration in the history of mathematics. Central to this was a set of four "axioms" they imposed on themselves as long as they were to work together. These were as follow:

1. It did not matter whether what they wrote each other was right or wrong.
2. It was not necessary for either to read, let alone reply to, the other's letters.
3. While it may occur by circumstance, both should preferably not work on the same thing at the same time.
4. Any paper they published would be under both their names regardless of how much either had contributed to it, even if not at all.

It was the fourth, I believe, that was the most important, as was also demonstrated by the collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which worked on the same principle, and which is also held to be the greatest in its field. Most of the songs credited to Lennon/McCartney were, in fact, due in large part to only one or the other of them. This kind of collaboration is considered to be an important reason for The Beatles' success.

This continued in The Beatles (also known as The White Album), though the album is known for being indicative of the rift that had developed within the group by that time, so much that it was said to be more of a joint album by four artists than that of a single band. It did, though, bring out the best in all four of them, if you ask me. The White Album exhibits what The Beatles were really capable of, especially their versatility. (Think of songs like While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Ob La Di, Ob La Da, Rocky Raccoon and Helter Skelter all in one album.) Without more ado, here's today.

"Mother Nature's Son", from The Beatles, by The Beatles.

A really beautiful song written by McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney, of course), inspired by his time in India.

Listen to every single song on the album. They're all brilliant. And there are 30 of them.

What to name it?

#18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

While M.S.Viswanathan might be my favourite and A.R.Rahman might be known all over the world, it is my belief that no one has contributed more to Tamil music than Ilayaraja. He brought to an erstwhile hugely, though not entirely, Karnatic-based area the influence of various musical traditions from across the world. So I am told, for, unfortunately, I am not very familiar with most of his work - a mistake that I hope to correct soon enough.

If I was to be surprised on the radio or wherever with a song, I would like it to be the following, which has one of the best melodic lines I've ever heard.


"Poovil Vandu", from Kadhal Oviyam, by Ilayaraja, sung by S.P.Balasubramaniam.

Did you know that H2G2 was initially a radio show?

#17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

Radio? What radio?

Knocked down, yes

#16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

A false dilemma (also called false dichotomy, the either-or fallacy, fallacy of false choice, black-and-white thinking or the fallacy of exhaustive hypotheses) is a type of logical fallacy that involves a situation in which only two alternatives are considered, when in fact there are additional options.

-Wikipedia

Ask me, and I'll tell you whoever composed the list of themes for the 30 days probably faces the above. For 'love' and 'hate' are pretty extreme words to throw around so often unless you aren't aware of other milder verbs.

Also,

tubthump

–verb (used without object) Informal .

to promote something or express opinions vociferously.

-some dictionary on the internet

An aptly named song, while it seemed good at first, turned a bit irritating with time.

"Tubthumping", by Chumbawamba.

Younger than that now

#15 - A song that describes you

This was a tough one.

Initially, I thought I would name this one, but it wasn't too accurate.

Then I thought I could use this one, but I am most certainly not white.

I turned to this next, but then it has hardly anything to do with me.
(If you haven't recognised it yet, its about time you saw this (sorry, ye folks out there who aren't familiar with Tamil))

Finally I was hoping I could go with this before realising that it wasn't a song in the first place (but something you should definitely watch if you haven't already).

And then, after much deliberation, I settled upon the following, a song by Dylan regretting his past actions in the folk movement, realising how much he had changed since, something I do once a month or something.

"My Back Pages", by Bob Dylan

(And if you were wondering who was the best lyricist around, this one should give you a strong candidate.)

Again, just too many covers on Youtube to find the original. So here is Dylan himself at it and here is a super-awesome combination of him, George Harrison and Eric Clapton.

One flash of light

#14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

As I have said before, Freddie Mercury's voice is a favourite of mine. While this song doesn't show you why, it  certainly does show what Queen is capable of.

I cannot speak for others, but I wouldn't have expected myself to like this song too much had I not liked it so much, for I used to avoid electric instruments like the plague - they were just too loud. That was until I encountered Queen.

"One Vision", by Queen.

(I would say more, but I have a train to catch in a short while. Also, I won't be around tomorrow, so #15 is moved to Monday.)

'Chi' indeed

#13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

(Following Richard Lipton, I've decided to start atleast a majority of my posts with a picture and something about it.)

Alan M. Turing was one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century. Apart from creating the entire field of Computer Science, he also saved a few million lives by helping the Allies win the Second World War.

Thing is, Alan Turing was homosexual. Despite being among the greatest intellectuals of his time, he was greatly harassed by the British Government, leading to serious bouts of depression and his eventual suicide.

Today's song is one which I am definitely not proud of liking.

"Chi Chi Man", by T.O.K.

I liked it when I first heard it, for I could hardly make out the lyrics which are strongly accented (Jamaican, I believe). 'Chi chi man' is a Jamaican pejorative term for homosexuals, and this is more or less a hate song with the singers threatening to burn those involved in such activity and any that may be associated with them.

Much as I condemn the bigotry expressed in the lyrics, it is my belief that music can be considered for its own merit irrespective of the words laced into it, which is why I still listen to this once in a while. But am I wrong?

Please stand up (and perhaps leave)

#12 - A song from a band you hate

Hate? No one strapped me to a chair and played their songs into my ears, so I don't hate any band in any sense of the word. So here's the next best thing - a song by an artist I don't particularly appreciate.

"The Real Slim Shady", by Eminem.

I don't like rap too much.

And I want all the world to see

#11 - A song from your favourite band

The Beatles, of course. Everyone knows the most popular of their songs, so here's one that definitely deserves to be better known, written and sung by McCartney.

"I've Just Seen A Face", by The Beatles, from Help!.

The choice wasn't easy, I tell you. I would name over 20 as equals if you asked for my favourite Beatles song.

For when times get rough

#10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

 One of the many by these guys that would fit this theme.


"Bridge Over Troubled Water", by Simon and Garfunkel.

To name others, "Leaves That Are Green" and their covers of "Roving Gambler" and "The Boxer".

At the still point, there the dance is

#9 - A song that you can dance to

I can't dance for nuts (perhaps because I'm too introverted for it and it's not really my cup of tea, as I have found out), but if I could, I would like this to be the song for today:

"Haste to The Wedding", by The Corrs.


Don't ask me how.

Also, I wish I could play the penny whistle like that.

Sky of blue and sea of green

#8 - A song that you know all the words to

This song was my introduction to The Beatles - to an obsession that I do not think is in any way likely to leave me any time soon. A major candidate for #3, this simple children's song (if you find references to LSD or an apocalypse in it, you are plain wrong) has been stuck in my head ever since. And I am glad it did.


"Yellow Submarine", by The Beatles.

After the secret area on Route 133

#7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Back when I was 13 or something, I used to be the authority, even if I do say so myself, on Pokemon in my school. I knew every single thing about every one of all (then) 150 pokemon that anyone around did and perhaps some things that they did not. So, you see, the removal of Cartoon Network from regular cable TV was a cause of great despair to me and the lot of us who followed it closer than an arrest does Tamilnadu state elections.

Once the cartoon series was gone, all we had were the video games. Hours and hours of button-pressing witnessed me playing Fire Red, Crystal, Emerald and a few other Pokemon games, mostly on a couple of Game Boy emulators on my computer. As this was around the time (in class 9) I also picked up a liking for old Tamil songs, many of which are among my all-time favourites even today, the electronically generated background scores of these games were often replaced by classics of A.M.Raja, P.B.Sreenivas and others of that time.

To make it short, the following song reminds me of searching for the Regi-pokemon across Hoenn in Pokemon Emerald, if you know what I mean.

"Vanna Thamizh Pennoruthi", from Paavai Vilakku, sung by C.S.Jayaraman (and some bits in the beginning by Sivaji Ganesan himself)

(The picture in the video is of C.S.Jayaraman.)

It was a summertime affair

#6 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere

"In The Summertime", Shaggy's cover of the song by Mungo Jerry.

I listened to this song incessantly towards the end of the summer of 2009, when I was attending the International Olympiad in Informatics in Bulgaria. As a result, whenever I hear this song, I am back on the pleasant bus ride from Sofia to Plovdiv on that wonderful bus (a bus that had, by Jove, a toilet in it) along a winding highway through a range of the greenest of hills.

Did the wind sweep you off your feet?

#5 - A song that reminds you of someone

This is my sister's favourite song.

"Drops of Jupiter", by Train

Sandcastles on the river-bed

#4 - A song that makes you sad

There are three vocalists whose voices hold me in great awe- Freddie Mercury (of course!), the legendary Balamuralikrishna and P.B.Sreenivas, of whom I have been ardent fan ever since I found somewhere a CD with a collection of many of his best songs some six years ago.


Perhaps you have not heard of P.B.Sreenivas. That would be sad, yes, but not surprising - not many are around who would claim to be familiar with Tamil film music of the 60's. Those who are would tell you of his enchanting and melodious voice bringing to life some of the greatest songs the Tamil film industry has ever produced.

The song for today, though, is perhaps not as representative of PBS' voice as it is of the lyrical talent of Kannadasan, the "king of poets", as he was and is referred to.

"Aathoram Manaleduthu", from the movie Vazhkai Vazhvatharke, sung by PBS and P.Susheela, directed by M.S.Viswanathan and T.K.Ramamoorthy, lyrics by Kannadasan, which can be found here.

If you understand Tamil, you should understand why this one fits today's theme.

Let me forget about today until tomorrow

#3 - A song that makes you happy

Easy choice.

"Mr. Tambourine Man", by Bob Dylan.

This song does for me what The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, when I first read it years ago, and later a number of R.K.Narayan's stories did - it turns me into a carefree 10-year old on the streets of a peaceful and dusty old town with nothing to do but run around the streets and swim in the river. Don't ask me how.

Also, this song has spawned so many cover versions that I am unable to find the original by Dylan himself on Youtube. Here is a live version. A cover by The Byrds is also pretty decent, while we're at it.