Monday, April 30, 2007
My introduction to Music
As a kid I was never really a music fan. We used to have a big collection of tapes in about three different languages, spanning many genres but I never got beyond appreciating commercial Hindi music, and maybe the occasional boy bands in the later days.
One day, about seven years ago, I was taking a walk around Shivaji Park area in Dadar, Mumbai after my tuitions with a friend. Shivaji Park is, as every other place in Mumbai, a very crowded place, where mostly you'll find children playing cricket - lots of them! Around the circumference there are a few adventurous types who jog dodging people, dogs and cars. There is also a ledge around the circumference where guys just hang out watching time fly.
Anyways, that one evening, it was around 7, and pretty dark too. We were somewhere near the centre of the huge ground. What dragged us there was a big stage, still under construction. There were some big speakers too, but I didn't realize how big it was, till a little later.
As we were standing there, in the somewhat less crowded grounds, probably enjoying the peace. When suddenly there's this strange sound.. a singer with a high pitched voice saying something like "mtv" or rather "I want my mtv". Strange. It was loud though, and somewhat awe inspiring. Who would say something like that?
And then.
Drums. Drums louder than anything. Slowly. Then fast. Faster. Some guitar riffs coming here and then. It was the loudest music I'd heard. And I was in front of the speakers. More guitars, More drums. Its like out of control almost. And then when you feel a high - a kind of high like you get 4 seconds after a double vodka shot neat - it all ends to give way to a heavily distorted Gibson Les Paul.. the intro is over, the song begins.
Image: http://www.connollyco.com/
The song is Money for Nothing, by Dire Straits. Its a song like no other I'd heard. A man with gruff vocals comes up, and talks the song instead of singing it. Mark Knopfler. I could tell the guitar riffs - repetitive as it was, was genius. The guy with the high pitched voice came out again. Sting.
That night, my friend and I stood stunned, staring at the makeshift stage. After a while, I noticed the others in the ground were also as transfixed as I. It was music, man.. pure, raw music - the type which holds you by the balls and assaults your senses. I didn't know which song it was, then - but eventually I did. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing was the second album I ever bought - it was the best one, too.
I realized a while later that that day was August 14th, and the stage was put up for the Independence Day Celebrations on the following day. Some wise guy thought of playing this song after setting up the sound system.
It was a sort of freedom for me, too. I discovered music that day.
One day, about seven years ago, I was taking a walk around Shivaji Park area in Dadar, Mumbai after my tuitions with a friend. Shivaji Park is, as every other place in Mumbai, a very crowded place, where mostly you'll find children playing cricket - lots of them! Around the circumference there are a few adventurous types who jog dodging people, dogs and cars. There is also a ledge around the circumference where guys just hang out watching time fly.
Anyways, that one evening, it was around 7, and pretty dark too. We were somewhere near the centre of the huge ground. What dragged us there was a big stage, still under construction. There were some big speakers too, but I didn't realize how big it was, till a little later.
As we were standing there, in the somewhat less crowded grounds, probably enjoying the peace. When suddenly there's this strange sound.. a singer with a high pitched voice saying something like "mtv" or rather "I want my mtv". Strange. It was loud though, and somewhat awe inspiring. Who would say something like that?
And then.
| Dire Straits - Mon... |
Drums. Drums louder than anything. Slowly. Then fast. Faster. Some guitar riffs coming here and then. It was the loudest music I'd heard. And I was in front of the speakers. More guitars, More drums. Its like out of control almost. And then when you feel a high - a kind of high like you get 4 seconds after a double vodka shot neat - it all ends to give way to a heavily distorted Gibson Les Paul.. the intro is over, the song begins.
Image: http://www.connollyco.com/That night, my friend and I stood stunned, staring at the makeshift stage. After a while, I noticed the others in the ground were also as transfixed as I. It was music, man.. pure, raw music - the type which holds you by the balls and assaults your senses. I didn't know which song it was, then - but eventually I did. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing was the second album I ever bought - it was the best one, too.
I realized a while later that that day was August 14th, and the stage was put up for the Independence Day Celebrations on the following day. Some wise guy thought of playing this song after setting up the sound system.
It was a sort of freedom for me, too. I discovered music that day.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Runner's High
Week 5 of my 15 week running program: Ran 8.2 kms in 50 minutes. Only a matter of a month or so before I can attempt 10 kms at a stretch - and then all I'll need to do is speed training!
I started running after an 'inspired' attempt at last year's Pune Marathon 10 km race. Well I didn't intend to run 10kms, a friend and myself, we intended to run for the 5 km AIDS Charity Run; but we took a wrong turn and ended up in the route for the 10km race. After finding out the the real finish line was 5 km further away, we did what any young blooded runner would do - run the remaining 5 kms!
That day I think I managed it in 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Today was a good run. After a long time I felt the second wind (Anaerobic Glycolysis) kicking in, after about 5km into it. Satisfied!
I started running after an 'inspired' attempt at last year's Pune Marathon 10 km race. Well I didn't intend to run 10kms, a friend and myself, we intended to run for the 5 km AIDS Charity Run; but we took a wrong turn and ended up in the route for the 10km race. After finding out the the real finish line was 5 km further away, we did what any young blooded runner would do - run the remaining 5 kms!
That day I think I managed it in 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Today was a good run. After a long time I felt the second wind (Anaerobic Glycolysis) kicking in, after about 5km into it. Satisfied!
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