Who says I can’t be stoned?

I have recently been delving into John Mayer. Once touted as the next Sting [dunno about that, big shoes to fill those]…his music is very appealing…easy on the years..deep ..meaningful and melodic. One of favourites is “Who Says I can’t be stoned”…Take a peak if you haven’t already.

Who says I can’t get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me in my house alone
Who says I can’t get stoned

Who says I can’t be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Rewrite my history
Who says I can’t be free

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

Who says I can’t get stoned
Call up a girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can’t get stoned

Who says I can’t take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can’t take time

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long night in Austin too
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

Who says I can’t get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn’t matter if I even go
Who says I can’t get stoned

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long time since 22
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

Wake up Jeet !

A few people [largely my Dad] have been complaining about me having given up on blogging. He even sent me a few links so that I could get “inspired”..Nice one Dad…Having already used up the “writer’s block” excuse, I am tempted to look elsewhere. I also boasted that writing a blog post has never been a “big deal” for me…I do stand by it of course..discounting when I write poetry [if you can call it that] … that can take its time..and toll

Right…excuses…umm….the first one out of the bag is that “I have been busy”. Well although cliched and used to shreds with pretty much everything; this “excuse” does summarize my life for the past 2-3 months.

To be very honest I have a lot of time…and I am fairly efficient…however, I don’t have any spare time The time on my hands gets used up to complete work assignments and the remnant get used up by “you-must-do-this-now” chores [laundry, groceries, ironing...yadi yada]. But then..I do find the time to play the Ricky Pontings [2005] Cricket game on the PS2…..I know just a soon as I said that a lot of people may start wondering…so you have time for your “PS2″ and not for me/us? This is where a large percentage of the problem lies.

Someone once said, if you love what you do, you will never work for a single day of your life. True…well mostly . The underlying idea/concept/words beg/s to be discovered…if “you love what you do”. That’s the one thing about anything and everything that falls under the umbrella “chores”. We don’t like doing these activities and thus they tend to bore the hell out of us. Agree?

This is an argument I have had with many people [again largely my Mom]. I am watching the telly…well watching can be an understatement..I am “flipping” through the channels on the telly. I see an episode of a sitcom playing…I stop…briefly…keep flipping through…my Mom goes…”hmph”…number 1. After running through the channels, I come back to the channel which was playing that sitcom…advertisement…damn…so I start flipping…well no one can hold a gun to my head if an advert “I didn’t not want to watch” was playing? So I start flipping through again…”hmph”…number 2. Probably…just as long as the episode to get over [thats if I am having a bad day]. Sometimes, I used to get through…and then…would start watching a show…which Ma “does not want to watch”…”hmph”…number 3, 4, 5 and 6. To add to her irritation, I now start mouthing the dialogues..and am not even bothered about looking at the screen…having of course seen it a million times…”hmph”…number 7, probably the loudest . Advert…I start flipping…”Stop that..you are not even watching TV…its that same episode of Friends (or Seinfeld, or Family Guy, or a movie or highlights from a game..whatever; oh yeah I can mouth a few of them…how do you mouth a game? well..Duh…I would know what the commentators would say ….told you ); let me watch the ETV/Alpha TV Marathi [used to be Abhalmaya earlier..dunno what gets her all worked up these days]“. Its interesting to note that Dad was lucky when it came to the Telly. Being the man of the house, he had the first rights to the magic wand [the remote/s]. As soon as he walked in…he would stick his hand out..smile…and well..you had to find a different time/re-run and continue with your memorizing …that was that. Actually, if it stopped at that…it was ok..really…Pa didn’t have “too” much time…what did hurt is that when for the one time it was a “new” episode/movie you had not seen…well…too bad..still not a bad arrangement. What followed was the worst bit…they..oh yeah, Ma never minded Pa weaving “magic”… wanted you to sit with them..as family..and endure . The news…Ramdev baba yapping about…you name it…With the obvious association of “whatever-they-watch-is-boring” … I could never [well 90% of the time] enjoy it . Big Bro expected the same…and actually when he came back from Switzerland…he stuck out his hand..and I handed over EVERYTHING [mobile, car keys, bike keys, farm house keys, cheque book and money ]. I think he would have done well as a extortionist LOL

About the PS2. Well its uncanny…how I always tend to play the challenge in the Ricky Ponting 2005 PS2 game…I try hard to rewrite history by helping India win the 2003 World Cup; and well … sort of sustain history with India winning over Pakistan . Games and why people play them can be a question which baffles many…I just do so to vent the frustrations..and just sort of…escape .

One of my housemates, who is a great cook..always cooks better..when he is hungry. With me..it could sometimes be detrimental as I get impatient and try to rush things…when I am starving

A lot of people…try very hard to curb their temptations [like eating out, partying, travelling or holidaying even..] to save money…people have two tags for them…”boring loser” or “cheap”…or some variant of the same. And at other times…people who work hard..or HAVE to work hard and are simply too tired to do anything else…get labelled the same .

Don’t you think that its weird when people say…”where the hell have you been? I was so worried about you? How come you didn’t call … its been like…3 months”….why I appreciate their concern…I always find myself wondering…why the hell didn’t you call ..even if it was to just ask me this question ?? LOL

Where the hell was I ? I was talking about not having time…and people doing what they liked…and managing to do it without a fuss . Whatever was the point I was trying to make???

Oh yeah…whay have I not been blogging and been antisocial for the past few months…well answers to both these questions lie in the conversations and scenarios listed above…there have been negative connotations associated with these activities…while that may sound strange..just as my escapist tendencies of playing PS2 …. If you start everything..with “I don’t feel like it mate”…nothing is going to come your way…unfortunately…looking at a screen [which is not 36 inches big = my TV]; just has too many negative connotations….WORK, WORK EMAIL, CLIENTS and PAYING BILLS.

This probably is one of the most incoherent blog posts…ahh…some positive connotations are coming back

Bottom line..I am over worked..stressed and have been very busy..honest…I have been. If you feel as though I have been neglecting my blog…you are partly right..it just has not been on my list…which can barely accommodate Work, Food, TV and Sleep.

Note:
Title inspired from the movie “Wake up Sid” [2009]. Any other resemblance is purely circumstantial…as I have not seen the movie.

“Ranjish hi sahi”

I have gone from Pop, Country, Hindi, Indian Folk, Rock, Ghazal, Soul, Hip Hop….quite a strange progression of music genres. Every now and then..I go back to the favourites of each. If I look back on the Ghazal era of my life [also read as 2nd and 3rd year of Engg; for obvious reasons], a few ghazals still flood back a lot of memories…pent up emotions…and a myriad of feelings. One such unforgettable Ghazal is Mehdi Hasan’s “Ranjish hi sahi”.

I played with the idea of [attempting] a translation, but quickly dismissed the thought. It simply cannot be done justice. A few other people have attempted it and these can easily be found using Google Search .

While rendition of a ghazal [and there have been a few of this particular one] holds its true meaning and feeling, it is important to understand the “bol” [lyrics] of a Ghazal as it is the core or the heart of the same. So as you listen to the ghazal [courtesy Youtube]; here are the ‘bol’ [lyrics].

Ranjish Hi Sahi…Dil Hi Dukhanay Kay…Liye Aa
Ranjish Hi Sahi…aaa phir se…Mujhe Chhod Ke jaane ke liye aa…

Pehle se…marasim na sahi…phir bhi kabhi to
Pehle se…marasim na sahi…phir bhi kabhi to
Rasm-e-rah-e-duniya hi nibhane ke liye aa

Ab tak..dil-e-khush feham ko…tujh se hain..umeedein…
Ye aakhri shamain bhi bujhane ke liye Aa
Ranjish hi sahi

Kis kis ko…batayein judai ka sabab hum
Tu mujhse khafa hai to zamanein ke liye aa

Ek umar se hoon…lazzat-e-girya..say bhi mehroom
Aye raahat-e-jaan..mujhko rulane ke liye aa

Kuchh to…mere pindaare mohabbat ka bharam rakh
Tu bhi to kabhi mujh ko manane ke liye aa..

Maana ke mohabbat ka…chhupaana hai mohabbat
Chup ke se…kisi roz jataane ke liye aa

Jaise tumhein aate hai…na aane ke bahane…
Aise hi kisi roz na jaane ke liye aa..

The lyrics are not just powerful, they are meaningful, blatantly true, and tantalizingly full of pain and angst. I have a kinship with this ghazal as there was a point in my life, when I had these exact feelings towards a certain someone .

I remember a very touching anecdote, which makes this ghazal even dearer. I remember my cousin, [who I reckon is one of the best ghazal singers I have had the privilege of knowing], singing it out to me and brother in his Mumbai home. It was late, on a rare cool Mumbai night; we were in true “spirit” of ghazals and we even had accompaniment [from the ceiling fan of the flat below!!]. It was near perfect; as for the first time, I understood what a ghazal is all about, how it is composed, rendered and presented. I am glad that we had that session; without which I would have never ventured into the Hariharan-Ghulam Ali-Mehdi Hasan-Talat Aziz phase of my life.

What just hit me is that because I showered heaps of praise on my cuz [mostly deserved] and took a great fancy to this ghazal, he started referring to me as “ranjh”…well…if only it were “ranjeet hi sahi” I guess he equated “me” to “ranjh” which is pain/angst..amplified.Which..most people will agree is not that far off anyways

Today I just felt like re-living that ‘mehfil’ and remembering…
.
Footnote:
Mehdi Hasan [Khan sahib; Shehenshah e ghazal] was born in Rajasthan, India 1927. Belonging to a family of singers…Mehdi Hasan has won many a heart across the globe. He has sung for Pakistan Radio, and in Lollywood movies, but was mostly known and loved for his heart warming Ghazals and Urdu poetry.

The ‘attractive’ playlist

Music has always been one of the ‘must haves’ in my life. Even as I was growing up, music had a big influence in my life. Be it choir lessons [its not the 'choir' people come to think of in Indian schools is it? ] at school….strong influences of Indian and Western classical music at home, Pop, Rap, Hip Hop and what not on the telly; blaring radios [cars or otherwise]..Music was omnipresent. I think at times, it was so intrusive that you learned to turn a ‘deaf ear’ to it. Of course it also brought with it strong likes and dislikes.

Cut to my life in Australia…I have always had a MP3 player/iPod/iPhone in my pocket..and am always hooked on to Music whenever and wherever possible. Actually I always like it most when traveling/commuting. Recently, after a couple of years, there is some real good Hindi [Movie OST] music on show.

Gone are the days….
…with Music Directors ‘acting’ on the sets of a singing bee …
…with AR Rahman’s music being the best,
…with Sonu Nigam/Hari Haran/Udit Narayan/Shaan bagging all [vocally] ‘backing-up’ the honours…[the female scene is still dominated by Sunidhi & Shreya]
…with barely “one” song being the stand out….
…of fall…
Please welcome spring time in Hindi Music .

This sudden change is a result of multiple factors…lesser movies made in first quarter of 2009 [owing to IPL and other factors], immense competition in the Music Direction Industry in Bollywood…and all and all… better circulation of creative juices and talent on show .

In these times of change, one name definitely seems to have created a niche…Mohit Chauhan [Band: Silk Route]. I remember the time when Lucky Ali first burst on the to movie scene. A fairly limited singer, who used audio enhancements and gave a few hits. Mohit Chauhan, packs a better punch. But the rustic yet silken simplicity of his voice is what sets him apart. Over the last couple of years he has given many hit numbers…He deserves mention as he has fast become the ‘it’ singer and he sings at least one song for almost every movie [definitely the big banner music movies].

This artist definitely deserves the popularity and acclaim. To be honest, I also feel a sort of kinship with this singer, as I used to kid myself that I could [almost] perfectly mimic his voice and sing ‘Dooba Dooba’ exactly like him

The (attractive) Mohit Chauhan playlist:

- Dooba dooba, Boondein, Silk Route, 1997
- Khoon Chala, Rang De Basanti, AR Rahman, 2004
- Guncha Koi, Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Sanjay Jaipurwale, 2005
- Tum Se Hi, Jab We Met, Pritam, 2007
- Is This Love (Kahin Na Laage), Kismat Konnection, Pritam, 2008
- Ek meetha marz de ne, Welcome To Sajjanpur,Shantanu Moitra, 2008
- Kuch khaas, Fashion, Salim Suleiman, 2008
- Aankhon hi aankhon mein, EMI, Chirantan Bhatt, 2008
- Masakali, Delhi 6, AR Rahman, 2009
- Gulon Mein, Sikandar, Shankar Ehsan Loy, 2009
- Haafiz Khuda, 8 X 10 Tasveer, Salim-Suleiman, 2009
- Kuchh Is Tarah, 8 X 10 Tasveer, Salim-Suleiman, 2009
- Jaana Hai, Let’s Dance, Vipin Mishra & Tarali Sharma, 2009
- Tune Jo Na Kaha, New York, Pritam – Pankaj Awasthi – Julius Packiam, 2009
- Ye Dooriyan, Love Aaj Kal, Pritam, 2009
- Pehli Baar Mohabbat, Kaminey, Vishal Bharadwaj, 2009

Ref: Mohit means ‘attractive/mesmerizing’

Indians in 90 seconds

I came across a video called ‘Indians in 90 seconds‘….through the news feed on Facebook. One of my good mates, had this up on this profile. It is quite an interesting video. Take a peek…

Why do we do this?
We fight…to save a few cents [read paise]…
And also fight..to pay a big bill…

We say everything takes “one minute”
Even if it takes an hour

We store everything that is plastic..
And cover everything in plastic

We take Cricket seriously…
We take Cricket seriously very seriously…
And Movies, even more seriously…

We have to have pressure cookers…
And have to have smoke alarms..

We have more spice than food…
And more food than plate…

We nod to say ‘yes’
We nod the same to say ‘no’

That’s just the way we are..

Thanks, Pankaj for positing this video. Thanks AG [a.k.a Goti baba] for bringing it my notice !