Friday, October 30, 2009
Osibisa in Chennai
OMG! I can't believe it. Osibisa is playing in Chennai as part of The Hindu's Novemberfest. I missed them when the band played in Chennai in 1984, during their glory days. The band is on a 40'th year anniversary tour. One of their players Dakua Potato is no more. Osibisa opened with Andanda Shankar's "Ragupathi Raghava" in Chennai in 1984. Will they do that this time too?
By the way if you are wondering if you have heard Osibisa before here goes. If you have been watching "Asatha Povathu Yaru" on SunTV or "Rasika Raaja" on Surya TV the music you are hearing in between the shows is from Osibisa's hit "Ojah Awake".
Osibisa's and many other African artistes and bands make Happy music. Singapore in the late 90's used Osibisa's "Sunshine Day" extensively for their "smile" campaign. Music director M.S. Vishwanathan's songs in the Tamil movies "Ninaithaale Inikkum" and "Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi" seemed to have been heavily drawn from the music of Osibisa particularly the keyboard music of "Dance the body music". In fact the sound of the keyboard in this song only instantly recalls these old Tamil movies shot in foreign locations.
From among other hits of Osibisa the ones I like are, "Sakabo", "Music for Gong Gong", "The warrior", and "Welcome Home".
You can book tickets online at the The Hindu, November fest's site. Official tickets go on sale only after November 6'th. But you can book your tickets online. Hurry! This time I am not missing them live.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Why you cannot watch cricket while having lunch or dinner
In the U.S during Football season it is custom in many families to get friends and relatives together and have dinners (comprising mostly of Pizzas and pop) together and watch the games. Unfortunately in India you cannot do that for the single most revolting reason and that is - "spitting".
Players are spitting on the ground, players spitting on their hands and rubbing hands together (I saw Ricky Pointing do that disgusting thing in a recent game), spitting drinks after drinking them or gargling their mouths. Players chewing gum and spitting them too. It goes on without any inhibitions that you want to put away your food and take your eyes off the TV screen. It is utterly disgusting. I had mentioned in an earlier post how many Indian players were swearing and though most of them are inaudible the expletives could be clearly understood.
No wonder in Singapore you are fined a hefty fee if found spitting in public. The sale of chewing gum is also banned there considering how much of a pain it is to clean them up if they aren't disposed off properly. Wrigley's gum comes with a silver-shiny foil that you can use to dispose the chewing gum once your are done with it. I am not sure if other chewing-gum makers provide one such foil but unfortunately if the thing is not disposed off properly it can be found everywhere, from cinema seats, toilets, urinals and all those places you can come in contact with giving you such an annoying time. It's a terrible mess if it sticks to hair.
Considering how much spitting goes on here among the general public, India could make a killing if such fines were imposed here too and considering how a huge T.V audience is also watching these matches in close-up mode, I won't mind imposing a fine on spitting players too.
Players are spitting on the ground, players spitting on their hands and rubbing hands together (I saw Ricky Pointing do that disgusting thing in a recent game), spitting drinks after drinking them or gargling their mouths. Players chewing gum and spitting them too. It goes on without any inhibitions that you want to put away your food and take your eyes off the TV screen. It is utterly disgusting. I had mentioned in an earlier post how many Indian players were swearing and though most of them are inaudible the expletives could be clearly understood.
No wonder in Singapore you are fined a hefty fee if found spitting in public. The sale of chewing gum is also banned there considering how much of a pain it is to clean them up if they aren't disposed off properly. Wrigley's gum comes with a silver-shiny foil that you can use to dispose the chewing gum once your are done with it. I am not sure if other chewing-gum makers provide one such foil but unfortunately if the thing is not disposed off properly it can be found everywhere, from cinema seats, toilets, urinals and all those places you can come in contact with giving you such an annoying time. It's a terrible mess if it sticks to hair.
Considering how much spitting goes on here among the general public, India could make a killing if such fines were imposed here too and considering how a huge T.V audience is also watching these matches in close-up mode, I won't mind imposing a fine on spitting players too.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A delightful Hollywood Movie Soundtrack by A R Rahman
In another first for an Indian Music Director/Composer, A R Rahman composes all the songs and music for the Hollywood Movie, "Couples Retreat".
Like me, if you thought "Slumdog Millionnaire" wasn't worth it, take a listen to the songs of "Couples Retreat" at the following site.
http://www.couplesretreatsoundtrack.com/
A R Rahman even sings a Tamil song and I can imagine the feeling listening to it while watching the film in the U.S or in countries outside India. The song may not play in its entirety but even a small bit is worth it. Then there is Khailash Kher lending his vocal talents in another song, an afro number and other delightful tunes. Check it out.
Like me, if you thought "Slumdog Millionnaire" wasn't worth it, take a listen to the songs of "Couples Retreat" at the following site.
http://www.couplesretreatsoundtrack.com/
A R Rahman even sings a Tamil song and I can imagine the feeling listening to it while watching the film in the U.S or in countries outside India. The song may not play in its entirety but even a small bit is worth it. Then there is Khailash Kher lending his vocal talents in another song, an afro number and other delightful tunes. Check it out.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Two stunning performances
The first is an old one performed way back in July this year by Neethu, the singer with a very unique voice on Idea Star Singer. Here Neethu is performing in the Remix round. Her Hindi though not perfect is suprisingly good for a singer singing in Hindi for the first time. A lovely performance.
And the next, Lekshmi in the judges round, recently from Super Star 2. Music director Deepak Dev was so much in awe of her watching her sing his song that towards the end he joined her on stage. This performance gave me the goose bumps.
And the next, Lekshmi in the judges round, recently from Super Star 2. Music director Deepak Dev was so much in awe of her watching her sing his song that towards the end he joined her on stage. This performance gave me the goose bumps.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Prinia chicks at Satish's home (two weeks ago)
I am happy that they have hatched, looked after well and must have taken to flight.
Here are the pics. I was lazy to watermark them and post them.
Day 2.
Day 2, another pic.
Day 3.
Day 5.
Day 7.
Day 12 or day 13. In this final pic, the only one where I used the camera's flash you can see the colour differences of the feathers on the body of the chicks. Two days after this pic was taken I found the nest empty.
Here are the pics. I was lazy to watermark them and post them.
Day 2.
Day 2, another pic.
Day 3.
Day 5.
Day 7.
Day 12 or day 13. In this final pic, the only one where I used the camera's flash you can see the colour differences of the feathers on the body of the chicks. Two days after this pic was taken I found the nest empty.
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