Songs of My Soul

Somewhere deep within you is a song that plays softly, always… Music has always been  constant in my life. I’m not sure since when I’m listening to Music and became an addict. 

Music is the most powerful element that can drive you from moods and situations. But with Music, older I grew and feel younger. Music heals my soul and has all my life. It encourages me, motivates me and it pours energy in me.  I listen to music all the time, especially when I can't sleep. I just upload songs on my mobile and turn on my mobile player  and lay on my bed and let the music lure me to sleep. When I get very angry, sad or anxious....I find that the music can manage to calm me down and bring me back to core. . I am often surprised at how a simple tune or a few lines of words have the amazing ability to reach me emotionally, Music is my stress killer, heals my pain, takes away my boredom and keeps me happy .

I have listened to the songs of Noted artists of Carnatic Music like Balamuralikrishna, Maharajapuram Santhanam, Bombay Sisters, Priya Sisters, Unnikrishnan, TN Seshagopalan, KJ Yesudas, N Ramani, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Sanjay Subrahmanyan, Balaji Shankar, TM Krishna, Bombay Jayashri, Aruna Sairam. The nectar of carnatic lies in melting the hearts with beautifully composed lyrics blended with emotions, due to the raga and the feel donated by the singer. It concentrates on the meaning and thus the created emotion.

I love music of any kind of songs. Vocal /Instrumental/Bhajans absolutely anything classical (both western and Indian ) ,film songs and Ghazals. I Dont know much about Hindustani but I would love to hear them all..It’s great to hear a nice melody and harmony blend that soothes the soul and warms the heart.!!

Over the years, influences from around the world have traversed through the musical routes and developed something called the light classical music. Light classical or semi-classical music. Fusion music has a charm and beauty all its own.. Nowadays I started liking Fusion-songs.Experimenting with classical art forms is not wrong as the long as its sanctity and dignity is not violated

When I like a song, I try and listen to  many different people singing it as possible. Every singer has their own style, and I thoroughly enjoy individual interpretations of the same song. In carnatic music, it is more common for different singers to sing the same song, than in film music.

Some songs are in my heart and the melody within my soul, the song that holds me in the dark, It warms me when am cold, really touches my soul every time I listen to it. I am carnatic music illiterate; I don't know telugu too..! But  that "bhaavam"  overflowing throughout the entire song,  dilute the hard souls. Among so many krithi's, one song is My favourite carnatic krithi, that is "Nagumomu Ganaleni" (Ragam: Abheri) composed by Saint Thyagaraja. I was literally stuck to this song. I am listening (enjoying) this song almost daily

The fusion style composition of"Nagumomu is amazing.Athirai Dhanabalan;She sang brilliantly, did not contaminate the original style and Love the way mridangam and the drums don't interfere with eachother.  Taaye yeshoda’ from the movie ‘Morning Raaga’ is one of the best A spectacular classical fusion song that I have heard till now. The first fusion song I heard was ‘Krishna Nee Begane’ by Colonial Cousins. That was a brilliant fusion of western and classical. I seem to love music with a classical touch in them

My favorite Famous bands such as Agam is a Bangalore-based contemporary Carnatic progressive rock band who recently fused Tyagaraja’s Bantureethi Kolu in Hamsanadam with Rock music form.But I likeSinger Karthiks version.

Avial interestingly the band is named after the popular South Indian dish Avial. that reflects the one of a kind heritage of Kerala life. Folk song with alternative rock flavour . I Came to know through my son. we both enjoyed this band. Another favorite band ShrutiBox by Shankar Tucker , an American clarinetist and music composer. The ShrutiBox are a fusion of Indian classical music and jazz. Maatibaani is a World Music band combining elements of Hindustani Classical with various styles of Folk music. Bawariya  They simply create the sound that we love to hear with our different styles of music. . Chandrachooda song incredible composition.I absolutely loved this fusion, wished I could hear this more in completion.

So, if more fusion songs like the above are made, probably a lot of people could enjoy and carry forward the versatile musical tradition that we have developed and nurtured over centuries. But of late, I seem to love music with a classical touch in them – which makes me wonder if age/circumstances influence our musical tastes.

Apart from fusion I would like to explore Abaang, Ashtapathi, bhajan& composition of Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Annamachariya, Muthuswamy Deekshathar..,..endless list..

As Sergei Rachmaninov said “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music”.

Couplets of Kabir!

Recently I read Kabir's Amrita vani couplets of kabir- (Kabir dohas). In just two lines, There is profound wisdom hidden in each couplet and they reflect Love, Philosophy, Mysticism and his unbending love for the Supreme. His doha's are gem. His teachings are matchless It deals with human psychology. I Liked The Kabir's way of expressing the most profound thoughts in the simplest words.
Iam inspired by few dohas;

  kasturi kundali basai, mrig dhundhe ban mahi;
aise ghati ghati ram hi, duniya dekhai nahi.

Musk is in the navel of the musk deer, but the deer searches for its fragrance everywhere in the forest. It meant, that a deer keeps looking for a fragrance in the forest. Searching everywhere, and yet not able to locate it. The fragrance comes from himself, his naval.
In the same way, God dwells in every heart, but people Searching him everywhere, and do not find Him because of ignorance, people do not know it, and they search for bliss in worldly things. Instead of bliss, they get disappointment.
I have come to this point, "Realize that true happiness lies within us. We should not Waste time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the outside world.Where there is happiness lies within us. God will dwell in their heart!

Prem gali ati sankari, tamein dou na samai
Jab mein tha tab hari nahi, ab hari hai mein naahi
The street of love is very narrow, two can’t pass through it at the same time
When I was, there was no God(hari), now there is God but I am not
To attain true love, one has to give up his ego. When the ego disappears, God appears. So the devotee must give up his ego to realize God.

Jab Tun Aaya Jagat Mein, Log Hanse Tu Roye

Aise Karni Na Kari, Pache Hanse Sab Koye

When you were born in this world ,Everyone laughed while you cried; Don’t do such work, That they laugh when you are gone. I like this doha

 
Ek shabd dukhraas hai, ek shabd sukhraas.
Ek shabd bandhan kaTe, ek shabd galphaans.
One word can be the source of the pain and suffering and yet another word can be the source of joy and happiness. One word can cut all your chains and bondage, yet words are which can make you more bound and chained. . The audible words have the power to cause pain and misery or happiness.
Speak such words, words that mind relieve!