I have this book by Nick Hornby, Its called 31 Songs. Its about about 31 songs that he loves and why he loves them. When I bought this book I was excited has hell because this book has generally got good reviews and I've read some excerpts of Hornby's other book, Long way down and it was rather funny. But I couldn't get past the 1st page of 31 songs. Not because it wasn't well written, but because I couldn't relate to it. I couldn't relate to all the songs he talks about because I haven't heard any and its difficult to trawl through all that enthusiasm when you have no clue as to what he's talking about. Ok may be its just me because lots of people seemed to have loved that book.anyhoo 31 songs gave me an Idea, I shall write about my some of fav songs and why I love them and bore everyone. Well on the bright side I'm sure most people wouldn't have heard some of the songs mentioned and mebbe my exhortions will make you want to listen to them (which I suspect what hornby was aiming at too, albeit through a book deal). Without further ado, here goes:
Cello Song - Nick Drake
I got introduced to Nick Drake by someone whom I had a beeeeg crush on and women who'll empathise will agree that your crush's recommendations pretty much become gospel truth. Cello Song was the first song of Nick Drake's that I heard and I was BLOWN by it. and I mean absolutely, spine tingly, goose bumpy BLOWN. Cello Song begins with the strumming of the Cello and then slowly the entire songs builds up and in the middle of it all Nick Drake's voice steps in and at that moment you want to die and beamed straight to heaven, because you feel absolutely redeemed and live no more. All of Nick Drake's songs are laced with pathos, innocence and orchestral grandeur. Its a weird combination, but when you read the man's story and listen to his music, you know it is the way it is because his music was him. Nick Drake's music makes me cry, gives me hope, makes me childishly happy and I really miss that he's no more.
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Everybody loves this song and I do too especially the amazing Violin Rif. Ok I'll come clean, I'm a sucker for String music, You will notice that most of my songs will feature strings instruments. I love the Violin and the Cello and No Intrument can convey emotions better than these two. Anyhoo back to bitter sweet...I love simply because it stirs soo much hope and defiance, and ofcourse Richard Ashcroft's brilliant voice makes the whole song soar. Bitter sweet is so special.. I remember way back in standard 12, One day when it was rather late in the evening, 8'o clock I think, I was riding back home and It started pouring. I stuck in a big traffic jam, I was drenched, I was in 12th standard doing science and I hated my life right then, absolutely hated it and I questioned the ineffable plan. Is this what's in store for me? and then right then bitter sweet wafted out of some car like a divine message and everything felt right again.
Ave Maria - Andrea Bocelli
This song is really special. the sort that highlights the real-best-friends-have-cosmic-connection thing. I first heard about Bocelli on Oprah and how she loved him yada yada and that very afternoon I go to my best bud, Alyesha's house to hang out and she goes, "there's this really great soprano... Andrea Bocelli.." . She gave me "Sacred Arias" for my birthday and till date its my favourite birthday gift. You have to,have to listen to Ave Maria, its in Italian and I really don't understand a thing but the music just tingles the skin, its divine.
Light my fire - The Doors.
The Doors were my initiation into college culture - Weird hairstyles, dope, che guevara affiliation and the whole "liberation" ding. Pink Floyd and the Doors represent college the best to me.Everybody either listened to Pink Floyd or the Doors or both and if you didn't listen to either, you were a loser. Having an older brother helped in this regard, and by the time I entered college, Floyd had put another brick in the wall a million times over. The Doors were a different story. My brother gave the best of doors CD as a B'day present in my first year and I fell right in love with Jim Morrison. I mean he had all the right mix, Sexy, Impulsive, brooding - resistance was futile. C'mon baby light my fire is an out an out mating call, no song I 've heard is as sexy as this. This one calls out to the primal self. It also reminds me of pecos and halcyon days of afternoon spent tucking in Tacos and listening to awesome music. aah that was life!
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
This one features in the OST of Vanilla Sky and this one I love because this one song on a relationship over, that you can actually turn up the volume to. The lyrics are sad but its got so much electric guitars and such a rock feel to it that far from weeping with a box of tissues you actually want to keep jumping on a springy couch. Sadly though Jeff Buckley died in 1997 in a drowning accident. Gosh why did all these guys who made such good music die so early?
I think the Vanilla Sky OST has one of the best compilation of indie songs. Cameron Crowe is a genius and I read somewhere that he personally picks all the songs for his movies, I'm not sure how true that is but get the Vanilla Sky OST right now!
hmmm I just realized I could go on with this, lotsa songs with lotsa memories attached to them. One of my fav ads right now is the world space ad where A R Rehman says "There's so much to hear".
Amen to that!
