Don't let bygones be bygones...

Course I'm a guy of this generation. Iv'e seen everything that has come and gone through the years. Of course I've been mystified by Inception and humming to American Idiot. But the entertainment of the latter century seems to appeal to me quite a lot. That's why I kind of end up smirking a lot when people on  You Tube glued to this stuff comment on videos. Sample some of these-

Video: Eric Clapton's 'Layla', 

"You say Lady Gaga, I say Van Halen

You say Hannah Montana, I say Nirvana

You say Owl City, I say Iron maiden

You say Jonas Brothers, I say Eric Clapton

You say Justin Bieber, I say Guns n roses

You say Taylor Swift, I say Aerosmith

95% of teens these days listen to the same crappy pop over and over again. If you're one of the 5% who still listens to real music, thumb this up, then copy and paste it to at least five videos. Don't let the spirit of rock and roll die!"

Video: Nirvana's 'Come As You Are' 

"HOW DISRESPECTFUL, NIRVANA VIDEOS SHOULDN'T HAVE A DISLIKE BUTTON" 

Video: Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here', 

"Maybe Pink Floyd has simple riffs. Maybe the lead singer sounds like a burning person. And even MAYBE all Pink Floyd fans and band members are gay. But let me tell you 1 thing:

The lyrics are beautiful and even 97% of all the lyrics were written from the heart and by the band members themselves.

Instead of Bieber who buys lyrics to sing and thinks hes amazing, while his voice gets autotuned. Thats one point of Pink Floyd; They are awesome, but they dont brag with it.."

Apart form the regular screaming girls in the bubblegum pop of today, you can find all this scattered through You Tube. And I kind of agree. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna be spitting out at Bieber like the rest of 'em. Hey, he's worked hard too...I think. 

OK, lets quite this Beibing (oops?). Back to the 20th Century. The past seemed to have been a blast. 

Exhibit A: Pink Floyd. 

Come on, everyone has GOT to love Pink Floyd. There is nothing as good as some good ol' psychedelic tunes for the road, or simply when you need a psych-up. Their 30 years of action from the 1960's really buffed up the experimental music scene. Besides, without them we would't have a Porcupine Tree. Haven't heard 'em? Sigh. :P 

Exhibit B: The Beatles 
The fab four who changed music eternally. They charmed with simplicity, giving their albums that irresistibility. I mean who knew balderdash like 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' could be such hits? A pity visionaries like John Lennon had go so soon. But it looks like Modern Technology finally recognize the the dent made by the Beatles (Read: itunes) :) 

Exhibit C: Nirvana...Duh!

By far the most revolutionary, rebellious bands ever made. But then again, all that's good doesn't necessarily last long. Kurt Cobain drills a bullet though his head. Or as some say today- 'Kurt shot himself to make Nirvana more popular!' The best Grunge bands out there hardly alsted 3 albums. But they made their mark. 

So, even though I love certain bands of the present, the past seemed better. Oh well, let's keep the present for it's catchiness and the past for its artistic feels. But of course there are the exceptions. All said and done let's get some R.E.M rolling! 

The same goes for movies. Though I shall keep that for later. I'm getting awfully sleepy and have a homework overload. Not the best of combinations.  Either way, I really must stop blogging on music. God...

Yours aimlessly, 

Sudharshan 

Null and Void

And this is nothing compared to the rest of Chennai

Remember my last post about the Rain-Holiday Paradigm? Well, as you all can plainly see, it's no longer of much value. Today it rained, just like yesterday night, and the whole of yesterday. And my, what a rain! I mean, its been pouring for the last 36 hours at least. And hasn't shown any sign of ceasing. 

I see signs of 2012 approaching. :)

The forces of weather seem to have been thrust upside down and are functioning in this haphazard manner. It no longer feels anything like the usual Chennai. Chennai's temperature has entered a free fall. Last time I checked today it was somewhere around 20 degrees. Whatever it is, i do kinda find this condition very pleasant. To hear the pitter-patter at any instance of the day. To get drenched the moment you step outside. And to feel in that perceptual holiday spirit. Although the holiday part is just a waste. Iv'e been holed up in my house with nothing else to do. ( No wonder I'm blogging :-) ) 

So I'm juggling all these facts in my head, why exactly did it rain? Considering they gave us a day off there was suppose to be sunshine blazing down. Maybe its one of those things you mustn't speak about.  Hell, I blogged about it. Serves me right. No wonder its pouring all around. 

But, looking outside everything looks in an extremely pitiable state. The water is merging from all the lanes, alleys and homes and combines in the slushy street from where it continues its path towards...err...salvation? Meanwhile we see the

குப்பை தொட்டி

's of the street overturned as their gooey contents mingle with the torrents of water.( Courtesy Neel metal Fanalca) Sorry, but you'll have to get over my knack for the imagery.  :) 

But, on a more serious note, reports tell me 170 people across TN are dead as a result of this storm. Now that's something we may have to think about. We can just sit here, quite happily embracing the weather and the fact we have nothing to do. But the people who really deserve the holiday are those people having to deal with such pitiable conditions. 

Guess I'm done for the day. All this is beginning to cloud my judgement. Anything I type from now won't hold much water. Forgive me for my excessive punning. All these puns must be starting to rain on your parade! Alright, I'm done. 

Wait a second....

Update- Palligaluku Nallai Vidumurai. Oh, here we go again! 

Sudharshan! 

The Rain-Holiday Paradigm

Rainy days are sometimes the best days to hit the beach. Seems like school's
recognize that! 

I'm sorry, but I simply need to talk about this. It's kinda the weirdest phenomenon and iv'e never seen this NOT happen.
So picture yourself lazing around at home, doing nothing basically except dreading the inevitable school day tomorrow. Of course it's raining outside but you don't get your hopes high. Then as it turns to night it gets cloudier and cloudier but suddenly stops raining altogether. Only for it to resume in the wee hours of the morning.

That's where the situation was this morning. As usual I would wake up, slowly trudge out of bed and get on with my life. Here's where it changes. This would be the usual routine on a rain-holiday. First you would get an SMS from some friend of your who seems to have his eyes perceptually glued to the TV screen-

New Message from "X"
Today Holiday. Chk Sun news. 
sent 6:42 AM

Now we're talkin'! So as natural as it may seem I go switch on the TV screen. There's this flash news thingy that goes along the bottom of the screen. After those flashes appear two or three times I'm finally able to decode what's written there. ( Spare me and my slow Tamil reading skills :))

Now, all we need is a school confirmation...I'm still kinda jobless. Then-

New Message from "Y" 
Yeah! We got a holiday! 
sent 6:50 

Alright. I get it. These text message go on for a lil' bit more time. Then I get bored and start sending some of my own. All this brings us to the school's message-

New Message from Yokibu
2-12-2010 is a holiday for students from class I to XII. 
sent 7:05

And just as that message comes in, as weird as it may be, the rain simply ceases. Very interesting phenomenon I should say. I'm not complaining though. It's just as if the rain hates school as much as any other random school kid. And now I'm pretty sure the sky is blue again. I'll be damned if it isn't.

To a wonderful sun-filled holiday!- Sudharshan!

Psychitude!

Ever heard of those songs that touch your soul? Those songs which always get your spirits up? Or as Barney Stinson would put it....those songs that get you totally psyched!? :D

Here are the songs I always crank up-

1) Schindler's List theme - John Williams. 
You'd prefer to start off with this song. Cause it's gonna get you quite sad rather than all Psyched out. But its all gotta be part of the package. Though the movie may have its sinister, cruel and mindless Nazi moments, the soundtrack never fails to appeal. John Williams spun together a boundless, timeless violin sonata here, and Spielberg may have been more than satisfied.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLK5OWU2YGw



2) Under The Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers. 
Whether or not the song refers to minds response to narcotics, this song has that strange vibe in it. Maybe its the guitars. Or just Anthony Kiedis's silky smooth vocals. RHCP can get you completely stoned sometimes, or most of the times rather. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE





3)  Knockin' On Heavens Door- Bob Dylan{Insert one of the countless artists who covered it} 
Of course, you have gotta thank Bob Dylan for this masterpiece. But the awesomeness doesn't stop there. There happens to be almost like a million (citation needed) bands that covered it that have taken it to a whole new level Varied styles, riffs, vocals- you name it. The most preferable versions of the song for me would be those of GNR and Eric Clapton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcWTTs8QVRc


4) Stairway To Heaven- Led Zep 
If there's one thing, I'm a complete nut for songs that build up as they progress. Welcome to the endless Stairway To Heaven. It starts off in a moody, enchanting way but fast forward it and you wouldn't know how in the world it transformed into an all out guitar solo. That's just Led Zeppelin for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9TGj2jrJk8




5) You Give Love A Bad Name- Bon Jovi
Just as Barney Stinson proved, this song is without doubt legen...wait for it...dary! You get to know what's coming just as you press play.

" Shot thru the heart, and your to blame...you give love a bad name!" True Story.

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




6) {Anything song at all}- The Beatles
Gimme any of their work, because the Fab Four of the 60's never fail to impress. Their songs are just bound to turn you on. It's a pity not many care much about their legacy now. Apart from Steve Jobs. :)

7) Time Of Your Life- Green Day
"It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life."  

Green Day has stayed for long, but this by far is one of their best ever. A deviation from their punk-rock mantra sure paid off . Nothing but raw acoustics and strings back up Billie Joe's nasal vocals. And that's what makes the song amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

9) Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana 

Though I may not be the biggest fan of Grunge, I'll take Nirvana any day. Maybe this song is kinda dark and deep. But that doesn't mean it can't feature in my Get Psyched mix. Kurt Cobain is where Psych begins. All the awesome seem to die young. Nevermind. 

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

10) Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes. 

This song is such an apt example of how a single bass line can make a song such a hit. Haven't heard it? You have to! God, this song gets your feet tappin'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY

8) Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - My Chemical Romance 

That's quite a lot of Na's isn't it? But the song has that potential alright! The lyrics though either sound kinda revolutionary or plain awkward. Perhaps it just goes with the whole 'conceptual' outlook of the album. Or their just having an overly fun time. :) 

Exhibit A: Let's blow an artery

Eat plastic surgery

Keep your apology

Give us more detonation

More? :  Oh, let me tell ya 'bout the sad man

Shut up and let me see your jazz hands

Remember when you were a madman

Thought you was Batman

Hit the party with a gas can

 Kiss me you animal

Killjoys, make some noise! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egG7fiE89IU

So what's your playlist? 

Out for now, Sudharshan!