The music sings itself...

Hey guys

Just want to share with you a video I came across recently and which influenced me a lot.

Check this out (Warning:Not for those allergic to Goosebumps)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA&feature=related

How was it?

I did not understand the word he sang.I did not have a clue of the genre of the song.I did not even know whether it was a sad song or a happy one.

And yet it choked me.More so after that old lady wiped her tear.It must have struck them.Gave them the goosebumps.It must have that tremendous force that pierced through the strongest of the hearts and mellowed them.

The roaring applause between and after the song is a testimony to that fact.

But did they expect this beatification when he came to the stage?...I doubt so.

When this goofy looking guy confronted the mic more than half the people including the stone-faced judges(and me) must have thought that he is going to botch up.Especially after his inital introduction,his below ordinary looks and personality.

And how wrong were they.

He just blew them all apart.In first few seconds his song destroyed all their prejudices and first-impression to smithereens.

Really How quick are we in judging others under the yardsticks of one's looks,talks and thousand other discriminators.

I watched this video tons of times after that.Not for the song but to experience the gradual revelation and revelry of the audience and judges.That's really the quintessence of this performance that you dont need all those stereotypical traits to conquer hearts. :)

Really valuable and inspirational lesson to learn.

If I am able to achieve even a quarter of what this guy did in those 4 min,Ill consider myself the luckiest person.

Adios.

PS: This one is even more cogent.Please check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk&feature=related

Contd..

Comfortably Numb

This song is an epitome of psychedelic rock.The Pink Floyd are known for their song writing and soulful solos in their songs.

It made me Dav Gilmor as my favorite guitarist.

This song just takes you to another level.It starts really slowly.Allowing you to settle into it.There are ghostly sort of veils that can be heard throughout the song creating an amazing effect.

Vocals commenced by Roger Waters joined by mellow voice of Dave Gimor,while they still lurk in your mind,the opening verse ends.

And then without warning....the haunting solo starts.When you hear the first note,you just know that a tranquilizer has been injected into your brain through your ears.Its sad..Its painful...its beautiful.Its soothing.It takes you high.It makes you fly.

This is one of those solos that should be listened with your eyes closed.Just enjoy that particular minute of the beatific journey instrumented by David Gilmor's magical fingers and his characterstic subtle inimitable vibratos.

David Gilmor is a type of guitarists who would convey a ton of feeling with as little notes as possible.Every note is there for a reason.He doesnt 'play' the guitar.He just glides through it.Figuratively the smoothness of the solos is resemblant to a hot knife through butter.

In the epilogue solo,he sets free in top gear....albeit bit elongated it is kinda mood shifter of the song.It has a much cheerful overtone to it than the first solo.

No wonder both the solos have been cited as one of the best in the guitar world.Again another of my most favorite ones.

Contd...

Hotel California Live

If master of puppets is a thrash metal anthem,then this one has to be crowned as an acoustic guitar lover's anthem.

You tend to understand the power of the sound of a well tuned acoustic guitar over the electric one.(Personally i like acoustic more :P ) not to mention the amazing utility the song has got.When you are able to play the song end to end,you end up in learning n number of guitar techniques like Hammer On,pull offs,slides arpeggios etc.

The songs is one complete dulcet package of most of all that is there about the acoustic guitar.

Of course it is played on classical.But it can be played and heard just as nicely if not better with acoustic guitar.

The original song was played with 12 string acoustic for the epic instrumental ballad to the vocals,with a highly acclaimed electric guitar solo at the end.

The Live version,where the actual action is,tweaks the original song heavily,to a better effect,richer passages and a lot more depth to the song.

It starts with a Spanish sounding intro,with the 12-string strums intermittently while none from the crowd having a clue about where the intro is taking them to.Just as Don Felder finishes his flamenco-esque intro everyone chips in with their guitars and play the famous hotel california ballad.

And thats when the crowd realise what is going on and what is going to happen marked by a huge applause.Its one of those moments that makes hair on your neck stand up.

If anything that could surpass the sweet,mellowed intro and the cruchy high pitch and yet awesome vocals of Don Henley is the outro played by both Felder and Welsch.Notes and notes of melody poured in by both of them structures the outro beautifully.

This also is one of my favorite songs.Infact it has a special place in my heart for being the first high profile stuff I could play from end to end on my guitar(atleast the outro and intro).And trust me it adds some stuff to your guitar techniques repertoire.

My ears dont get tired of it...Dont think they ever will.

Songs I like...

Hey ppl

Wanted to right this one since long.

Disclaimer:

I am a music lover.I listen to Hindi(old/new),Marathi(Old/new) and English songs.

But my vocabulary(if thats the right word) is very limited.Specially of English and new hindi songs.

This article is about the English songs I love to listen to.

Let me warn you that this Ill be commenting on them mostly from a guitarist's perspective.As I can play at least some part of each one of them. :p So maybe its difficult for some of you to relate to it and you may find it a bit too colourful and over the top.

It has happened many times that I started liking certain songs after hearing them 10-12 times.(This happened when you put on a song in the background while playing Fifa for hrs).I dont know whether the repeated listening has any subliminal effect which makes you like the song.I wont be talking about such songs.

Then there are certain songs(not new all),previously known to me,previously disliked/uninterested by me,which i started liking as I started learning guitar.Funny aint it.So this article is about those handful of songs through my ears.These are the songs which I happen to listen everyday while traveling either because I am too lazy to upload new songs,or when I get

stuck in a zombie traffic when plugging my earphones is a far less detrimental than pulling my hairs out of frustration(An article on Mumbai is due :p)

So let me disclaim again,this might be the old stuff for many of you,there may be many more and better songs out there of which I am unaware of(hoping to listen more of them).

Ill post it in parts lest it should be more readable.Do provide your comments.

So let the sound of music be heard.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Master Of Puppets

This should go down as The Anthem for the thrash metal Genre.

The legendary bass intro riff with fat crunchy sounding notes boding a glimpse of stuff to come.Followed by the main rhythm riff,joined by James growling yet a very apt-to-the-song vocals.

The song is signatured with extensive down-picking.The powerful and aggressive downpicks give the song it teeth and rage.

Then there is a very melodic interlude om clean guitar.Even though there is this sudden shift from the fuzzy distortion and snarling vocals to a clean electric slow section,you somehow dont feel disconnect.These guys know their stuff.The clean interllude is actually a built up to the shred-solo by Kirk,just before a small riff played by James.

Both James and Kirk's guitars are harmonized with each other superbly.

Lyrically,the song's just fine.The theme is well played.Neither too wordy nor vulgar.The song is such that it does total justice to the instrumental part.

All in all,excellent rhythm,very melodius clean guitar parts(can be played on acoustic),a superb solo and a powerful vocal makes this songs one of the things to swear by.

Playability index....well I would say apart from the main solo which requires a tinge of lightning in your fingers,I would say the rest of the sections are quite learnable.

This is officially my most favorite song of the genre.I literally listen it everyday.The more you listen to it the more it is etched onto your music receptors.It needs to sink into.

PS:Once my friend listened to this song,he said he thought it was noise..But then,he listens to Lady Gaga :p

Contd...

See the champions..take the field now :)

Hey pals.

A fun filled colourful month marked by cheers,passion,emotions,celebrations and the entertainment of the highest order(read football) laden with the intermittent ballads of "Waka waka" and the beutiful,high spirited "waving your flag"..finally culminates today. :(

I was supporting Germany.(just because I supported them last 2 worldcups :) )
It was one of the youngest teams of the worldcup and without their captain "der feurer" Michael Ballack.
Even though Germany enjoys being considered as one of the most formidable contenders in every worldcup,not much was expected from this young inexperienced and to some extent Ballack-handicapped team.They were clearly the dark horses.

But they did well.Extraordinarily well.
Right from the match 1 they provided a plenitude of team play,lethally efficient counter attacks and most importantly a feast of goals.A slight glitch could have been the only blemish(Against Serbia) till Spain ended their glorious journey.
Though the third place win is always disconsolating,everybody enjoyed their unconvetional flamboyant game.

But at the end,like a true frustrated Indian sports fan I couldn't help mulling over India's chances of getting into competitions of such level.(WC,olympics)
Is it even realistic??...if yes the how long...10 yrs?? 100?? ever??...
Following are what I think could be the excuses.

We are not genetically stronger.We lack that sort of physique required at this level.
(Then how did Japan/Korea/China qualify.Whose average height and built is definitely shyer than most of the Indian population)

We lack the necessary infrastructure and funding required for the game of football.
(What about the poor underdeveloped African countries which make into worldcup.That too bearing some of the toughest competition in the world)

Football is not popular here.
(That might have been case few years back but not now definitely.With the increasing popularity of the EPL much of the youth are turning to football.
And as per the status quo football is anything But not popular in India.)

Cricket influence
(Now this is valid.One of the only outdoor sports which demands very little athleticism,fitness levels etc compared to other sports.Hence no wonder we are good at it.)

Corruption
(Spot on.Most of the control boards for sports in India are under some or the other misisters who lack the knowledge/experience/expertise except greed for that sport.For apparent reason.
No remedy for this other than the Utopian solution of flushing them all into toilet..)

We cant have quality players of the international level.
(I dont believe this...)

So summing it up,between India and the FIFA world cup lies an eternity.
But I am optimistic.Just want to cheer for our country in football world cup atleast once in my life time.

I know the above analysis was really not required in this mood but cant help it. lol

Also this world cup was further spiced by a certain 8-legged creature with psychic powers AKA Paul who picks his meal from the box labelled with the flag of a country which would supposedly win.Its really hilarious how people can come up with such stuff.Nevertheless he got all his predictions correct for this world cup.However ridiculous this affair sounds it did provide a different flavor of excitement.Obviously looking at his popularity other creatures from around the world had to show off their talents. (the parrots..the alligators)

It was a mini world cup of words on social networking sites as well..Esp facebook.
Will miss those squabbles.Putting on Inflamatory status on facebook...the debates....mocking other teams etc etc...it was superbly entertaining. :(

But then all the good things are short lived.Lets hope the Final today perfecty climaxes and bids Adieu to this colourful world cup of the most beutiful game in the world and lets hope the coming 4 yrs gallop along fast.

See ya.

PS: Neither supporting Spain nor Dutch today.Just hoping for a quality game.Hopefully going till the penalties.

PS 2: Ok.Had to edit the post after the final.It was as fierce as expected.And thankfully not at all disappointing.The match was showered with the confetti of yellow cards :D
I would have loved it to go till the penalties.
Anyways props for Spain!!The best team won.Although we would have prefered them to be not so mingy about the total number of the goals scored.(Seeing at the quality of the players they possess).Hard luck Oranje.

PS 3: Good news for us German fans as well.Thomas Muller deservedly got the prestigious Golden Boot for having scored 5 crucial goals and 3 assists.Hail Deutschland. :)

Probability is God is Probability

Maybe it has been stated before.But its fun to independently prove an existing theorem.(Besides its one of my favorite topics.hehe)

All it needs to prove it is one simple experiment.
Throw a coin 10 times.Lets consider getting a head all 10 times as success.
Now before every coin toss pray to god that it is a head.
Count the number of heads at the end of the 10 tosses.
Now perform the same experiment again.Only this time dont pray and just note down the number of heads.Repeat this as many times you want.
I am sure you wont be able to tell the God-influenced coin tosses from the normal coin tosses.Hence it is proved that the probability is as powerful/influential as god.But nothing is as powerul as god but the god.Hence Probability is god. :)

Let me also tell you from my personal experience.I was a very pious theist once...until I found God is a redundancy.
There were ample times when I prayed to god and did not get what I want.There were ample times when I didn't pray to god and I got what I want.
So you see...it really doesnt matter.Things happen the way they want to.There isnt an evidence substancial enough to vindicate the present of some god governing them.Its plain probability.Hence Praying to God translates to praying to probability which sounds kinda ridiculous.

Its been 2 yrs since I became an atheist.And frankly speaking nothing drastic(good/bad) has happened to me since.
When you think over it with a reasonable mind then you'll realise at some point that you dont "need" god anymore.Your conscience is capable enough to distinguish between right and wrong.And trust me Its a very cool position to be in. :)

PS: Its totally a personal opinion.You are free to disagree with me. :)

Is there anybody in there..??!!!

Hey

Nothing new this time..Just a cursory post to keep the vital signs of my blog intact :p

After the initial flurry of posts after posts I felt Ive run outta ammunition.lol

Or is it the case of Bolggers Block??!!..I dont know.

As far as poems are concerned,Had few subjects in mind but somehow couldnt get the words out of me.

Nothing strikingly interesting to write an article as well...

No great updates as such...Nothing life changing is happening since I took a job.

Guitars going good.Although I could as much as glance at my electric one unless its a weekend.

Office....well I've lost the track of whats happening there long back.

All in all Life is little busy right now.

Just hope I find some quality time,a fresh mind and good topics to doodle here again

Adios.

PS: No sign of Gymmie Yet :(

PS 2: Hail Germany (Though I doubt how much of the WC Ill be able to catch...I am already missing out on French open)