MWC_Edition124

March 17_AM

Today's MWC is a Tribute to ARR by the Students of Berklee College of Music. The Evergreen, Mesmerizing & Incredibly Beautiful “Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera” From the Movie Swades has been so beautifully presented that it is sure to tug your heart strings. 

With not much of introduction needed for this popular song, Go ahead & watch this near perfect
version, You are sure to shed that Patriotic Tear!

Lyrics & Meaning:

yeh jo des hai tera swades hai tera
tujhe hai pukaara
ye wo bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahi sakta

This country of yours, your motherland
calls out to you..
this is a bond which can never break

mitti ki hai jo khushboo tu kaise bhulaayega
tu chaahe kahin jaaye tu laut ke aayega
nayi nayi raahon mein dabi dabi aahon mein
khoye khoye dil se tere koi ye kahega

how can you ever forget the scent of the earth (of your homeland)
wherever you go, you will come back.
in new paths (that you take), in quiet sighs
to your lost heart, someone will say
[the someone here is nothing but an inner voice of himself.]

ye jo des hai tera swades hai tera
tujhe hai pukaara....
ye wo bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahi sakta..

tujh se zindagi
hai ye kah rahi
sab to paa liya
ab hai kya kami

Your life is saying to you,
you have achieved everything,
what's there that is still missing then?

yoon to saare sukh hain barse
par door tu hai apne ghar se
aa laut chal tu ab deewane
jahaan koi to tujhe apna maane
aawaaz de tujhe bulaaye wahi des

as such, all comforts are there for you,
but you're far from your home
come, let's go back, O crazy one
where at least someone will call you their own
that country of yours calls you..

yeh jo des hai tera....

ye pal hai wahi,
jis mein hai chhupi
poori ek sadi
saari zindagi

It's this very moment,
in which there is hidden,
an complete century,
an entire lifetime.

tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
aaye hain is tarah doraahe
tu hi to hai raah sujhaaye
tu hi to hai ab jo ye bataaye
jaaye to kis disha mein jaaye, wahi des..

Don't you ask why there is
a two-way fork on the road..
[this represents a dilemma]
you are the one who should suggest the path
you are the one who would tell
in which direction to take, that country..

ye jo des hai tera....

Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GWWcwpGosw

MWC_Edition123

March 16_SDN

Schiller, is a trance electronic German band. I clearly remember how i bumped into this band. Around some 11years back i got introduced to this kind of music through some German acquaintances in the Himalayas and loved them instantly. It was on the banks of Ganges that i first listened to this around 2003. 

Its transcendental and soothing.i still listen to this band every time I'm out for a walk or when I'm cleaning the room.

Ein schöner Tag (English: A beautiful day) is the first single from the 2001 Schiller gold album Weltreise with vocals by German singer Isgaard.

https://youtu.be/BErqWHLTrEA

MWC_Edition122

March 15_SV

Last week, I met my Aunt, my mom’s cousin from Nagerkoil. It had been years since I met her last and she is a couple years shy of becoming a ‘senior citizen’. She and my mom were talking about their childhood and about how life had changed for each of them, they were also meeting after a long time.

Most people from my mother’s family appreciate, sing or play Carnatic music. So, it was no surprise for me when my Aunt kept singing along to all the songs my daughter sang to her. My mom did the same too, only she was beaming as she showed off her granddaughter’s musical prowess to her cousin. Typical grandmotherly pride smile emoticon

After my daughter finished singing, my Aunt asked me if I ever went to college to learn music. I said no. It was my mom’s dream for me to do a B.A in Music but I did not have it in me. My Aunt told me how she had really wanted to go to Trivandrum College to take Music as her degree but fate had something else in store for her.

She suddenly started singing “Que sara sara” and asked me if I knew it. I said, Yes and I joined in to sing it fully with her. It surprised me that a small town girl, my Aunt, knew the song and sang it very well. She went on to tell me how she sang this song on stage a few decades ago when some dignitary visited Nagerkoil. Apparently she heard an earful from the organizers for singing an English song smile emoticon.

I don’t know what prompted her to sing that song at that particular moment but I thought it was really poignant because, life does not always turn out the way we want it to. We can work towards making our life better but not by dwelling in the past but looking toward the future.

So, here is Doris Day singing ‘Que sara Sara’ for all of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc

MWC_Edition121

March 14_GS

Today being the Pi day, I dedicate this MWC post to Pi.

From Wiki: In the year 2015, Pi Day will have special significance on 3/14/15 at 9:26:53 a.m. and p.m., with the date and time representing the first 10 digits of π.

So having a special Pi day today, let's listen to what the magical sequence of Pi sounds like here: http://youtu.be/Bri_-x-ZMMA

Also, Life of Pi is a favorite book and movie for many. I want to include this wonderful Pi's lullaby sung by Bombay Jayashree, from the movie, which took her to Oscar nomination and got her an Academy award too.
Listen: http://youtu.be/8vbxdqCi_AQ

And, a quote from the book -
“You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.”
- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Have a Happy Pi day, enjoy it with a slice of your favorite Pie!

MWC_Edition120

March 13_AM

I had the opportunity to hear Pandit Shiv Kumar at Music Academy. Saw people with tears flowing down their eyes. Is this a state happiness, a state of peace or attaining enlightenment? I amm sure we can understand this only when we experience it. It was a moment I would cherish for life.

When I was back home went to this great performers website. Every word spoken looked like a commitment made and delivered.

"According to me Indian Classical Music is not only for Entertainment, it is much more beyond that. Spirituality and Indian Classical Music are two sides of the same coin. In India the origin of Indian Classical Music was in the spiritual traditions of the Country. Music that creates Spiritual Bliss, for the Performer and is shared by the Listeners is the essence of this Art Form even today. It was my life long dream to play such kind of music which will make the listeners forget to clap; which will make them silent. My dream came true, once, I played one raga, while the listeners immersed deep into meditation and I experienced a state of thoughtlessness. This silence was so nourishing, so fulfilling, there was no need to play anything else.” - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

This is so easily said but how it is achieved is still a mystery in my mind. Dedicate todays mwc to this great musician - Padmashri Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

https://youtu.be/1JJOAYwov_E

MWC_Edition119

March 11_MM

Ever felt like switching off the world and getting into a place deep into your head? Ever thought of those strange and beautiful places that exist only in our dreamscapes? To me, Vashti Bunyan's music is all that and more.Heralded the mother of freak folk her story is even more poignant than her music...she makes music in the 60s..albums bomb...she goes off the map riding a gypsy caravan to Ireland with her boyfriend. decades later, she does some idle googling of her name to see a cult following for all that music...

This track - you might've heard snatches of it in commercials ( Samsung LED tv) and some TV series. Here is the original-Haunting, Pure and highly hummable :-) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGD78mWcss

MWC_Edition118

March 11_PM

Music Composer Saint from Nerur Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra

Remember the song "Manasa Sancharare" which Vikram hums in the movie Anniyan and the whole train compartment starts to follow...
Here's the fascinating life story of the Advaithic Saint who composed the song among many others...
OVER 300 years ago, Somanath Avadhani and his wife Parvati Devi migrated from Andhra Pradesh and settled down in Madurai. Somanath was known as Yogi on account of his austere life. Though he married Parvati Devi in deference to his parental wish, his mind and heart were totally absorbed in yogic discipline. Parvati for her part did not want married life to be a distraction to his yogic way of life. At the same time, she expressed her desire to have a son. Yielding to her entreaty, Somanath initiated her into Rama Japa and advised her to repeat it to the tune of crores so that every cell in her body would be charged with divinity and she would be purified in body, mind and spirit. A child born of her then would be an extraordinary child and grow up to be a saviour of the world. Parvati accordingly threw herself heart and soul in the repetition of the sacred name. They went to Rameswaram where in a dream they were assured of an ideal son — a satputra — who would fill them with pride. The dream came true. They named the child Sivaramakrishnan in memory of their visit to Rameswaram where Sri Rama worshipped Lord Siva.

Even at an early age, Sivaramakrishnan mastered the scriptures. He was sent to Tiruvisanallur to study at the feet of Sridhara Venkatesa Aiyaval. As per the then prevailing custom, Sivaramakrishnan, a boy of twelve, married a girl of five. But he was not allured by wealth and the pleasures of married life. His phenomenal capacity for intuitive absorption of spiritual knowledge and wisdom astounded his Guru. Paramasivendral of Yogendra, a scholar and a man of wisdom was quick to recognise Sivaramakrishnan's depth of knowledge and spiritual experience.

The Maharaja of Mysore invited Sivaramakrishnan to be the asthana vidwan. Scholars visited the court to display their knowledge and receive gifts. They were examined and worsted by Sivaramakrishnan in his argument.

The payment stipulated by him was paid to the scholars who lost in the argument. Invariably it fell short of what they expected and this left them embittered. One of them told Paramasivendral that Sivaramakrishnan suffered from a touch of intellectual pride and superiority. He had to be cured of it to promote his further evolution. Paramasivendral sent for him and admonished him. "You know how to silence others. But you have not learnt to hold your tongue under control." This was the turning point in his life. He considered his Guru's admonishment itself as `upadesa' and resolved to observe the vow of silence from that very moment. His Guru initiated him into sanyasa and gave him the deeksha name Sadasiva.

A new phase in his life started. We know from Srimad Bhagavatham that mystics like Suka Brahmam and Jata Bharata moved about without body consciousness. Palace or cottage, food or no food, cushioned bed or sand or stone made no difference to them. They transcended all human limitations and abided in the Self, enjoying eternal bliss. Sadasiva was cast in the same mould. He went from place to place and reached Nerur near the Cauvery and found it congenial for his yoga practice. Sadasiva used to sit on a rock in the middle of the Cauvery for meditation. On one occasion, the waters of the river swept him away when he was in deep trance. He got buried under the sand. After six months, when cart men dug the soil, their axe struck against Sadasiva's head, drawing out blood. It was brought to the notice of the village headman. Fruit juice and gruel were rubbed over his body. Sadasiva woke up from sleep and walked away. Since then he was called Sadasiva Brahmam.

Mahapurushas shed their grace in mysterious ways. Once while wandering in the forest in Tiruvarankulam in the former Pudukottai state, Sadasiva Brahmendra fell between two bundles of straw. Not noticing it, farmers piled more and more bundles. When after nearly a year, the bundles were cleared, Brahmendra got up and moved on as if nothing had happened.

Maharaja Vijaya Ragunatha Thondaiman, the then ruler (1730-68) hearing about this, rushed to bring Brahmendra to the palace to be honoured. Brahmendra did not break his silence.

The ruler pitched a camp in Tiruvarankulam and served the sage. Brahmendra answered his prayer by writing Sri Dakshinamoorthi Mantra on sand. Ragunatha Thondaiman gathered the sand in his angavastram and took it to his palace. Worship to the sanctified sand is offered to this day at Pudukottai.

A Muslim king, seeing Brahmendra without clothes, mistook him for a mad man and chopped off one of his hands. Brahmendra was unconcerned. The king repented and sought forgiveness. Brahmendra placed the severed hand near the shoulder and it was back in its position. The Muslim king underwent a transformation, and giving up his kingdom, went on a pilgrimage. Many such instances of Brahmendra's miracles, compassion and grace have come down.

Returning to Nerur, Brahmendra resolved to shed his body. By his yogic power, he communicated his decision to the rulers of Mysore, Thanjavur and Pudukottai. On their arrival, he gave directions as to how his Samadhi should be raised.

On the appointed day, he sat in the pit in he yogic posture. It was filled with sacred ash, camphor, salt, turmeric powder and powdered brick and covered. As per Brahmendra's prediction, a bilva shoot sprouted on the ninth day and a Banalinga arrived from Banaras on the twelfth day.

The linga, instead of being placed on the samadhi, was installed twelve feet away from it. The bilva tree was left exposed to the sky. It is said that, at the same time, two devotees, one a Muslim, and the other a Brahmin, saw Brahmendra entering the Samadhi in Karachi and Manamadurai respectively.

This year, the aradhana, a three-day celebration, is at Nerur on April 28th.

Brahmendra, like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana Maharishi was a living embodiment of transcendental experience.

The texts he composed include Brahma Tatva Prakasika, Yoga Sudhakaram, Atma Vidya Vilasam and Siva Manasa Puja. Sadasiva Brahmendra at once belongs to the avadhuta tradition that can be traced back to Dattathreya and which emphasises ghana and namasiddhanta tradition in which the focus is on bhakti, the chanting of the Lord's name. Jivan Muktas, though physically absent, are waiting to shed their grace and compassion on all those who invoke them with faith and devotion.

Story courtesy: the Hindu

Some of his compositions by rendered by M. Balamuralikrishna.

http://surasa.net/music/sadasiva/

MWC_Edition117

March 12_HS

This is a beautiful prayer song from the film "Guddi" sung by Vani Jayaram. Listen to it once or twice and you go around humming the tune the whole day!

May not be the exact translation but the song somewhat goes like this:

Give power and strength to win over our minds
Before we cheer the victory of others, let us win over.

Let our hearts be free from any kind of discrimination.
Let our hearts and mind be always be ready for forgiveness.
Let us be saved from the lies and untruth and let the truth prevail

If we find ourselves in difficulties, please do this much,
Help us not to forget the Dharma and follow Dharma,
Let self confidence remain with us and let us not fear evil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbchuCfqBls

MWC_Edition116

March 11_KV

Some tunes cheer us up in a jiffy, never failing to put that smile on every time we hear it.
Some tunes stick with us, no matter how many years pass by without having heard it a second time.
Some tunes immediately pop into our heads when we hear a specific word.

For me, today's song checks all the above boxes. Every single time i hear the word Rain or Raindrops. It has stayed with me from the moment I heard it first in the movie Forrest Gump. (How awesome this movie is, deserves a separate post altogether. So, I'm not getting myself started on it!)

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach originally for the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

http://youtu.be/uXifrNP6alc

Raindrops are falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet
Are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops are falling on my head
They keep falling.

So I just did me some
Talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Those raindrops are falling on my head
They keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me,
It won't be long till happiness
Steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes
Will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me 'cause,
I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining,
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying me

It won't be long till happiness
Steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes
Will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me. No.
I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining,
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying me

MWC_Edition115

March 10_AS

“Naan Yen Pirandein” - Why was I born? - That is the song for the day. The song is part of "Rasaayana Rojakkal", a K.M Musiq production on women empowerment.
The lyrics were written by the poet, Vaali. The song is about a girl shunned by society because of her dark skin and abject poverty. About her agony on being lonely and persecuted and how she redeems herself from these obstacles and oppression.
I had not heard of this song, until Rahman posted it on his page on Internaltional Women's Day.
This song is also used as a background score in the video "Possibilities" by "Akshaya Patra". The film was released on Children's Day and shows how a child can be forced to make wrong choices in life, in order to survive.

http://www.top10cinema.com/…/the-possibilities-featuring-a-…

While this song is in the context of a girl child, the basic theme on "Why am I born?" applies to all of us.
Well, all of us at some point of time question our existence. Why am I born? What is the purpose of my life? I am reminded of a book I read few years back - "Many Lives and Many Masters" by Brian L. Weiss. It is a true story of a psychiatrist, his learnings from past life therapy he conducted on a young patient. He writes, each of us are here to learn something, a specific thing, it could be patience, trust, love. And then we are reborn to learn something else. Each lifetime gives us a lesson and then we move on to another.

While we are on our never ending quest to understand the purpose of our life, let us slow down, stop and enjoy this beautiful song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2rGhnGuCy0

Lyrics and Translation

Pachcha karu yaavum paavakkaru alla
Neeyum naanum yaaru kuththam kora solla
Poththal ulla moongilla saththamulla paattu varum

Kannangaru megam thaan
uyir vaazha payir vaazha mazhai kottuthey
Oru ooril oru gudisai
Nadhiyoram pachcha maram pala varisai
Kallamillaa Vellanthiyaa
Oorusanam Irunthathayya

Aalangaaththu Oasaiyiley
Moththa sanam thookkaththiley
Boomi Romba Thoorathiley
Yaar Arivaar Kaaranaththa?
Yen Piranthaai? Yen Piranthaai? Yen Piranthaayo??

Aariro....Aariro...Aaraariro...(Lullaby)

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey

O! Iraiyoan padaippil
Yethuvum azhage
Un kann ariyaathey!

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey...

Pachcha karu yaavum paavakkaru alla
Neeyum naanum yaaru kuththam kora solla
Poththal ulla moongilla saththamulla paattu varum
Kannangaru megam thaan
uyir vaazha payir vaazha mazhai kottuthey

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey...

Yaaro yaar arivaaro?
Yenna solvaaro sol...
Yaaro yaar arivaaro?
Yenna seiyvaaro sollu...sollu...sollu...

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey....

All those fetuses are not sinned
Who are you and I
to find a fault in?
A hole in the bamboo stick
Brings out a good song

Even the clouds turn dark and black
to bring the rain back
for survival of crops and
for survival of mankind!

A hut in a village
Green trees lined up by the river
And there lived people
that are Open and innocent...

In the sound of the banyan tree
Everyone in deep sleep
Earth is so far away
And who would know the reason?
Why are you born? Why are you born? Why are you born?

Why am I born?
Why did I open my eyes?
I do not know

In God’s creations
Anything is beautiful and
Your eyes won’t know that!

Why am I born?
Why did I open my eyes?
I do not know...

All those fetuses are not sinned
Who are you and I,
to find a fault in?
A hole in the bamboo stick
Brings out a good song

Even the clouds turn dark and black
But they bring the rain back
For survival of crops!
For survival of mankind!!

MWC_Edition114

March 09_SG

With The Goo Goo Dolls:)

Iris" is a song by American alternative rock band Goo Goo . It was written for the soundtrack for the film City of Angels and was later included in the band's sixth album Dizzy up the Girl. An unusual guitar tuning in which most of the strings are tuned to D , lends the guitar a choruslike effect.

The Song is of an angel in love (which could be a metaphor for anyone who is in love with someone that they see as 'from another world' and therefore unattainable) in which the angel is completely gaga over the woman and feeling things he's never felt before but at the same time wanting to keep it private because he's afraid that if it becomes of the material world then it will lose it's purity. It's a love song about the conflict between what your heart is urging you to do and what your head is telling you is the smart thing to do.
------------

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gi526-jnTuY

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris Lyrics
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gi526-jnTuY

MWC_Edition113

March 08_AnandM

I promised a "Titanic Overture" smile emoticon.... I am this poor Iyer lad raised in an Anglo-India Community… so you see…. music has a key role in my life.

I had an identity crisis both at home where the “mamas” and “mamis” hum a tune and ask for the ragam and on the streets where I not only needed to know that the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” was sung by “Iron Maiden” but was also that it was the longest poetry work in English, done by Sam Coleridge, and this chap was seeing Wordsworth’s sister!!! … yeah and no internet!!!!

I present my saviors of the time… three blokes called John, Viku and Zakir who probably were the pioneers of Fusion Music… but this one is the newer version which has in it this new (old) Kushti-Pehelwan from an "Akhada" in Ilahabad called Hariprasad Chaurisia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIrdeSEKb1k

MWC_Edition112

March 07_RJ

Certain songs need to grow on you. you need to listen to them many times and then you start liking them. But fortunately, it is not the same with all songs. With a few songs, it is love at first sight. The song covered in today's MusicWithCofee edition belongs to the 'love at first sight' category.

While there are many popular versions of this song, the version by Roberta Flack is the most popular.

Presenting 'Killing Me Softly With his Song' in today's Music with Coffee.

http://youtu.be/O1eOsMc2Fgg

For more information,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song

For the lyrics, refer this link - http://www.azlyrics.com/…/r…/killingmesoftlywithhissong.html

MWC_Edition111

March 06_DK

I am doing the Nelson edition on Holi, and the day India plays the Calypso Kings at the World Cup.tongue emoticonHappy Holi, ya'll! smile emoticon

Bachpan ke din bhulaa na paaon..

Bhopal ki Holi bhulaa naa paaon..

Holi was one festival that I looked forward to as a child! My brothers would go off with their friends to play, and I would go off with mine and just roam around E1 in Arera Colony, Bhopal. Catching hold of strangers, smearing all sorts of colour, including shaving cream, toothpaste, pelting people with water balloons, and even kidnapping rival gang's kids for a ransom of pichkaris, water balloons and colours.

And those sermons from mom about not eating any sweet that was offered to us! Thankfully, I hated sweets at that time, but my friends would drool over the laddoos and gujiyas they couldn't eat, as they may have been laced with bhang. But the best part was after all that playing, jumping into the water tanks and dancing. And those hilarious incidents of uncles and aunts high on bhang. One uncle kept crying about his childhood love while his wife felt like sinking underground, another kept laughing hysterically remembering his baraat, while another prim and proper Victorian aunt danced like there was no tomorrow! It was another thing that she couldn't dance for nuts! tongue emoticon

While zeroing on Holi numbers in Bollywood, I had three songs that came to mind. One was 'Rang Barse' from 'Silsila', 'Holi ke din dil Khil jaate hain' from 'Sholay'. But the song that truly captures the spirit of Holi is a new song. So I post that song today.

Song: Balam Pichkari
Movie: Yeh Jawaani hai Diwani
Singers: Shalmili Kholgade and Vishal Dadlani

http://youtu.be/0WtRNGubWGA
Balam Pichkari Lyrics

Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh bole re zamana kharabi ho gayi
Mere ang raja, jo tera rang laga
Toh seedhi-saadi chhori sharabi ho gayi

Itna maza, kyun aa raha hai
Tune hawa mein bhaang milaya

Itna maza, kyun aa raha hai
Tune hawa mein bhaang milaya
Dugna nasha, kyun ho raha hai
Aankhon se meetha tune khilaya

Ho teri malmal ki kurti gulabi ho gayi
Manchali chaal kaise nawaabi ho gayi, toh?

Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh seedhi saadi chhori sharaabi ho gayi
Haa Jeans pahen ke jo tune maara thumka
Toh lattoo padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi (x2)

Teri kalaai hai, haathon mein aayi hai
Maine maroda toh lagti malaai hai

Mehenga padega ye chaska malaai ka
Upvaas karne mein teri bhalaai hai

Ho bindiya teri mehtaabi ho gayi
Dil ke armaanon mein behisaabi ho gayi

Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh seedhi saadi chhori sharaabi ho gayi
Haa Jeans pahen ke jo tune maara thumka
Toh lattoo padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi (x2)

Kyun 'no-vacancy' ki, hothon pe gaali hai
Jabki tere dil ka kamra toh khaali hai
(kamra toh khaali hai...)

Mujhko pata hai re
Kya chahata hai tu
Boli bhajan teri
Neeyat Qawwali hai

Zulmi ye haazir-jawaabi ho gayi
Tu toh har taale ki aaj chaabi ho gayi, toh?

Balam pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh seedhi saadi chhori sharaabi ho gayi
Haa, Jeans pahen ke jo tune maara thumka
Toh lattoo padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi (x2)

Haan, bole re zamana kharabi ho gayi
Haan, bole re zamana kharabi ho gayi

MWC_Edition110

March 05_SV

Ganga, the most revered river in India is the topic of this song. Naan Kadavul, the movie is set in Varanasi and so this bhajan is apt as the title song for this movie. 

This song sung by Kunal Ganjawala is moving beyond words. His voice is little drops of water on parched land. 

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03vb9dkBAB4

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March 04_DN

Was listening to this beautiful song from the Malayalam movie Mr. Fraud (yes yes smile emoticon apt movie caption from whats happening here and in our sister forum - UBF no?) and thought i did share it with all of you here.

A beautiful sanskrit krithi originally composed by GNBalasubramaniam, popularly known as GNB, a vocalist in the Carnatic tradition.
Sada Palaya Sarasakshi / Raga -Mohanam/Tala- Adi/Sung- In praise of Shakthi

SadA pAlaya sArasAkshi samAnarahita mOhanAngi || Oh lotus-eyed goddess Parvati, protect me always. You are unrivalled in beauty.
APsudhA madhura vAgvilAsini sujanAgha mOchani suvAsini || Your sweet speech is like nectar. You dispel sins of good people. You are auspicious.

KV Krithika & DK Deepa - dedicating this to you both Yo! Lalettan fan wink emoti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8WyEbIAkI

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March 03_SDN

Celebrating 50 years of Sound of Music this March. Can never get enough of this track , even though DoReMi hit it above the notch, 'favourite things' is the first track that comes to my head when i think of this fabulous tuneful lively heartwarming, real life story of the Trapp family. 

Enjoy this one and sing it out loud and whole heartedly for your children today after dinner.

http://youtu.be/9wDj4gH10ak

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favourite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!

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March 02_AditiM

Today's MWC is A Song for Children & Equally enjoyed by Adults for its Melodious Music and great beats. A Timeless Classic that goes on repeat mode once heard. The simple pleasures of Nature are meant to savored, thus it says! So, Sing along, Have fun or Prance around like my lil one :):)

Lyrics :

I like the flowers
I like the daffodils
I like the mountains
I like the rolling hills
I like the fireside
When the lights are low

Boom de-ahh-da
Boom de-ahh-da
Boom de-ahh-da
Boom de-ahh-da

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6PKcnTGVX4

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March 01_GS

I wish you all a very happy month of March, with Spring Equinox coming sooner, bringing new beginnings.

One of the memories of pleasant mornings for me is spending time watching the golden sunrise from the terrace, breathing in the fresh cold air, listening to the beautiful voice of M.S. amma in the Walkman, getting lost trying to understand the philosophical, meaningful verses of the songs. One such favorite song is 'nanati baduku naatakamu'

Shakespeare wrote 'All the world's a stage' but before his time, the 15th century saint Annamacharya wrote the same thing in this Telugu song. He also adds the devotion to Lord as a way of liberation, to escape the drama of Life. This song is set in tunes of Raaga Revathi, though not a raaga of joy, it has it's own soothing characteristic that calms the mind.

Lyrics, meaning & song here: http://youtu.be/xtdDMC08Hz8

Hope you like listening to it.

MWC_Edition105

February 28_AM

Today is Mandolin Shrinivas' birthday. He would have been 46.

A genius who made all the graces of Carnatic music sound sublime on the Western mandolin, a simple and unassuming man, Shrinivas Sir's absence from this world is an indescribable loss.

Not many of us know about the Trust started by Shrinivas Sir - SIOWM (Shrinivas Institute of World Musique) - in 1999. Since then, till he was with us, he spent whole weekends, every weekend, teaching his students to play the mandolin without taking any fee whatsoever. What do you say of such a man..?

Today on the occasion of his birth anniversary, we are re-dedicating ourselves to his vision and his ideals, by wholeheartedly supporting SIOWM as it co-presents the 'Band of Friends' concert at Music Academy. SIOWM can be reached at www.siowm.org

May SIOWM's endeavour to bring music to all sections of society reach as great heights as Shrinivas Sir's music did......

Presenting a small sampling of Sir's music.....

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1v7Kk1IFRBc

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February 27_HS

Songs are a feature of every wedding. During olden days, child marriages were common and when a child got married at 10 or 11, fun and music were introduced probably to give them a relaxing break from the rituals. In South Indian weddings,

Kasi yaathrai, exchange of garlands, couples sitting on a decorated swing, nalangu are all fun parts along with rituals of the wedding. During these weddings,

Friends and relatives either sing all the existing songs with appropriate lyrics or compose a few songs with enthusiasm and perform. These days, music is given importance and sometimes choreographed and performed. Many songs are very famous in the marriages of Hindus in the southern part of India and are sung at various stages of the marriage

One such song is Maalai Maatrinaal which friends and relatives sing while the couple exchange their garlands. It is a joy to look at the coy looks on their faces. The song describes how elated Aandal (Kothai) feels when she exchanges garland with Ranganathar, the Lord Himself, with joy and full of love. No doubt all of us have our favourite wedding songs. Share your wedding song experience here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Fwn7Rf9NY

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February 26_KV

When all else fails, there's no better friend to turn to than yourself. One should learn to trust his own mind and find the strength within.

Today's song talks about finding the answer within yourself. Listening to that little voice inside you; which is always true to you.

A beautiful piano ballad, in the strong, mesmerising voice of Christina Aguillera,

"The Voice Within"
http://youtu.be/nA2k79EGHbc

Young girl, don't cry
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall
Young girl, it's all right
Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream
Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems
No one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Young girl, don't hide
You'll never change if you just run away
Young girl, just hold tight
And soon you're gonna see your brighter day

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed
It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you're lost outside look inside to your soul

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Yeah...
Life is a journey
It can take you anywhere you choose to go
As long as you're learning
You'll find all you'll ever need to know

You'll make it
You'll make it
Just don't go forsaking yourself
No one can stop you
You know that I'm talking to you

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Young girl don't cry
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

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February 25_AS

Today's song is not really a morning song. It is a soft lullaby that will rock you to sleep. But then this is a beautiful tamil song that I heard in the recent past and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Thooli or the cloth cradle that you hand from a hook in the ceiling - Do you have any memories associated with it? Well I do. I have heard lot of stories from my mom on how I used to love sleeping in the thooli. Though I do not remember any of it, I do remember rocking my sister to sleep. Usually the mom's sari is used so that it gives the baby the same warmth and feeling as sleeping on mommy's lap. Thooli does sound warm and nice, but I never used it with my kids. There were no hooks to hang the thooli and I had read enough about the risk SIDS when using thooli. I had also heard how difficult it is to wean a child away from the thooli once the child gets used to sleeping in it.

Both my mom and MIL never insisted that we use thooli for my kids. But everytime, we found it difficult to put the baby to bed and paced the room up and down, trying different tactics to put our colic baby to bed we would hear about the magic of thooli and how it could put any wailing baby to sleep.
"Oru thooli katti athula potta jammunu thoongum. Intha kalathula than etho pudusu pudusa sollara"
The concept of making the child sleep in a thooli is a thing of past. But one cannot deny the fact that these modern day cradles can never give the cosy warm feeling that a thooli gives.

This song is about a child that sleeps in a thooli hanging from a tree branch, listening to the rustling leaves. A gentle breeze rocks the cradle. This song is specially for all those who find it difficult to sleep. Just play this song and go to your dreamland. I wish this song was a bit longer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmAZPfh7a0

Lyrics

Aariro Aararo Aariro Aararo (2)
Punnai marathu kombai valaithoru
Thottil thonguthu
Adhil poovinai pola meni padaitha
Kuzhandhai thoonguthu (2)
Aariro Aararo Aariro Aararo (2)

Salasalanu ilai asaindhu
Jaadai kattudhu (2)
adhil silu silu ena thendaral thavazhndhu
thottilai attudhu (2)

Punnai marathu kombai valaithoru
Thottil thonguthu
Adhil poovinai pola meni padaitha
Kuzhandhai thoonguthu
Aariro Aararo Aariro Aararo (2)

Enna ninaithu kalai udhaithu
Pappa sirikkuthu (2)
Adhan chinna chinna mani kannukkule
oru nadagam nadakkuthu (2)

Punnai marathu kombai valaithoru
Thottil thonguthu
Adhil poovinai pola meni padaitha
Kuzhandhai thoonguthu
Aariro Aararo Aariro Aararo (2)