Rock-o-holic!

I noticed that there are a certain number of tracks that have almost permanantly found a place in my winamp playlist these days. That got me thinking ,it would be nice if I compile a list of some of my all time favourite rock songs. I did a bit of soul searching, but still there were glaring omissions in every list. So I decided I’ll make a random list and keep updating it as and when needed. Here we go!

1) Proud Mary-Creedence Clearwater revival(CCR): Stylish. That’s how I’d describe this song. Full of deep riffs and powerful lyrics, it has a unique garage tinged gospel flavour. Listen to it, and you’l know why ccr is unarguably one of america’s greatest bands ever.

2) Woman from Tokyo-Deep Purple: Pure unadulterated rock at its best. Sky high energy levels. Takes you back to the 60’s.

3) Light My Fire-The Doors: Very anthem-ic. It’s got a jazzy psychedelic twist to it.

4) California Dreaming-The Mamas and the Papas: A friend of mine told me about this band . And I’ve fallen head over heels in love with this song! It is also featured in the movie Forrest Gump.

5) Yesterday once more-The Carpenters: This song is really special to me,and I’m sure every person who attended the ILP at Coimbatore in June last year would identify with it!

6) Winds of Change-The Scorpions: One of the first rock songs I listened to. The sheer quality of the lyrics and Klaus Mein’s voice, conveys the essence of the song thoroughly.

7) Sweet Lorraine-Uriah Heep : This is a power packed melody with some amazing vocals. Very upbeat.

8) I will still be laughing-Soul Asylum: Not as popular as their hit single “Runaway train”,but this song appeals to me more, in terms of pace and energy.

9) Wish You were Here-Pink Floyd: This is my favourite Floyd track. It makes me unwind to my college days and I always associate this track with one particular hilarious incident in hostel! If at all I get doped, this is the song I’d like to play;)

10) No woman,No cry-Bob Marley: I find this reggae inspired number very very romantic. Makes me dream of candle light dinners under the moonlight!

11) Wanted Dead or Alive-Bon Jovi: A die-hard fan of Bon Jovi!and this song is a classic piece of rock. Absolute cowboy stuff.

12) Makes me wonder-Maroon5: There’s something very catchy about this song, that new age techno vibe is indispensable. Listen to it using your head phones to really appreciate the quality of it’s sound.

13) Where Do You Go To My Lovely-Peter Sarstedt: Trust me,this is one of the most romantic songs I’ve ever heard. It is set to a simple and beautiful waltz tune and it makes you feel great! Check out the lyrics ….that’s where the song scores big.

14) Johnny B.Goode-Chuck Berry: Oh my god! What can I say about one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time?! The opening riff blows you away and this is one song I could listen to, over a thousand times in a row.

15) Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin: Need I say anymore!!A rock anthem of sorts by the virtual Gods of Rock.

It’s close to 1 a.m now, and my vision is blurred with sleep! Do let me know if you liked any of the songs I’d mentioned. Will update this post as time progresses.Have a good day:)

Benga"lured"!

A sunny Bangalore afternoon.A typical traffic crunch at the signal."Rush Hour",quips my aunt.Why do they call it Rush hour,when nothing's moving??I could have said that,but I know that it's not one of my authentic one-liners,so i choose to underplay my smartness,and all i can manage is a very matter-of-factly "Yep".

My aunt drafted out our plan for the day.Lunch,movie,shopping,club,coffee,music show,dinner and bang!i jolt my way back to my primitive hometown by the 9.30 p.m train.Perfecto!Our first stop:Garuda Mall,one of bangalore's biggest malls,i'm told.We have a quick grub at the sprawling food court -chole battura,dhokla,pulao-and sign off with an out-of-the-world strawberry milkshake(I'm really obsessed with listing out the dishes i had-cant help it,I'm a hard-core foodie!).

Next up is the movie.I am so thrilled to discover that my aunt loves the movies just as much as i do..and whats more!We even have similar tastes.There's an incredible sense of bonding which springs up between two people who nurture the same views and tastes-that feeling breezed through me at the moment.Both of us unanimously decide to settle for ''Juno" at the INOX.We grab a jumbo caramel popcorn pack and rush in through the sleek complex.I've always ranked Inox as the second best movie place in chennai,the first being Satyam cinemas,with its innovative state-of-the-art movie watching experience coupled with a first class refreshment counter and not to mention,the sparkling clean chic restrooms!

I really have to devote atleast one paragraph,if not an entire post,to "Juno".What a movie!Truly deserving of the Original Screenplay Award it bagged at the Oscars.We've had movies on teenage or premarital pregnancy in indian cinemas,but its not a complete entertainer,unless the heroine is insulted,a hue and cry is raised by her immediate family over her pregnancy,and an old ailing sarathkumar calls for a panchayat and ostracises his son,also played by sarathkumarand after killing his dad's enemies and a thousand other people who have nothing to do whatsoever with the pregnancy and the ostracisation,all ends well,in a revolutionary digital imagery gimmick where the 2 sarathkumars are found holding each other in an embrace!Or a movie like "kya kehna",which again was so full of societal cliches.

That's where Juno scores way ahead of the rest.The movie has originality stamped all over it.Ellen Page brims with energy as the independent 16 year old,who deals with pregnancy after consensual sex with her best friend.What makes the movie extremely enjoyable is its snappyoneliners,ready wit,and the refreshing humour.The scene where she breaks the news of her pregnancy to her dad and stepmom deserves special mention,because their reactions are unpredictably natural and intelligent.Juno does'nt treat her pregnancy as a joke,but she manages to find humour in her situation..For example,one of my favourite lines in the movie:

Vanessa Loring: Your parents are probably wondering where you are.
Juno MacGuff: Nah... I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?

The soundtrack is cool.The opening track is so cute,and right from the time you see "FoxSearchlight" on screen,you are in for a mega-sweep of originality and humour.

It seemed like a prelude to a perfect evening:)We drove to Richmond Road to my aunt's library-I was thrilled to bits!I was not prepared for a literary encounter of this intensity-Spread before me was a hall where roughly 30,000 books were stacked up in alphabetical order.Any god damn book in the world from every single edition of mills and boons to salman rushdie to jhumpa lahiri-You name it,you have it right in front of you.Enchanted,I picked up a few books and after coffee,we headed to the club where an Indian Idol like music competition was on,full swing.Grande Finale of the Rotaract Idol!Clones of kishore kumar,vasundara das,geetadutt and lataji weaved magic with their musical wands,and i could not take my eyes off a particular sportzy john abraham look alike in the crowd-It was a treat in more ways than one!!

My tryst with bangalore ends there.As i watch through the hazed windows in my train,andsee the city speed by,i realise how much at home i felt in the city .I had come with just onebag and i was leaving with 5,courtesy my wild shopping spree!But whats another 20pounds when i'm carrying home tonnes of memories and happy moments?:)