The Music I grew up Listening to

Finally I AM writing about music on my blog… god knows for how long I have been trying to do this …But whatever! lets give it a shot.

Prescript : Since I realized it is rather a long post,I’ve tried my best not to make it lengthy by breaking it into parts. The reader should be able to identify the most interesting part and read .  Cheers!

Okay so Michael Jackson had this mysterious death yesterday..and suddenly the whole world adulates him- even the people who had heard their first and last jackson song from a rowdy teenager over speeding on the road with music system blaring!
Michael Jackson will be remembered for his pop beats forever. There is no doubt about it. It is indeed the end of an era. I loved his music too.. heard him first time when I was 6-7 years old. It was the black or white album.
Though the charges of child molestation might be acquitted but the image of him dangling his few month old baby will never leave my mind. He is and will remain guilty for it. I never liked him as a person.i infact always rebelled him.i hated him because he changed his skin and sang no matter if its black or white. Very ironic.very bad.
but
This post isnt going to be about the greatest rock songs/blues/metal or anything like that. I think a much elaborate and informational place for that would be 500 songs that shaped rock .find the link here
I also wont criticize anybody like himesh or praise some one like axl rose here :P
This will be just about what I like to listen to…and how I have grown up what I have - apropos to music of course( that’s different that music has shaped me in other ways as well- about my opinions, ideas and ideals. It has given me the teachings I should have got form religious books ..if I had believed in any. And so here am with music as my only religion)

People often ask me if I ever listen to hindi music.yes I do.i grew up as a normal child with sri devi on tv! =) but I hate hindi music now.neither new nor old or very old. Im not mature enough for the very old ones and I hate when people tell me in jam sessions the song im crooning has a double meaning which is very pervert. Same applies to pop songs. Well, majority of them..erm like rihana, Madonna ,JLO, kylie…wow I just realised its almost everybody!!

In my playlist you could find a blues song next to heavy metal proceeded by country understandable by people who don’t pay heed to genres.
It is also contrary to the fact, that I don’t download albums ever or what people/radio/world wide web/magazines suggest, that I have a decent knowledge on this beloved topic. My music grooming started very early. When I sould have been listening to only nursery rhymes I remember I had alternate papa roch and twinkle twinkle on my music system. All credits to a grown up music fan in the house if u are blessed to have one.

Here is a list of *must-listen* songs that you should find interesting.
I have not classified them according to the genre since almost all of would have fallen into one or the other type rock then.

Romantics:
Okay I myself had a ridiculous countenance on my face everytime people started the topic of romantic songs. But thanks to a few friends trespassing my life, I’ve started liking them. To name a few that would ineluctably conjure memories in your mind are:

• Sometimes when we touch-
• Me and You -Kenny Chesney
• Slow dancing in a burning room - John Mayer
• Eric Clapton -Layla( non acoustic)
• Careless whisper -George Michael
• Romeo and Juliet -Dire straits
• I will always love you – Whitney Houston
• Soldier of fortune- Whitesnake
• Lady in Red -Chris de Burg

There were more but I think they will better suit in the sad songs list!
I pay extra attention to the lyrics.. so all the above songs have undoubtedly awesome lyrics. And yes, they are in order.

Besides, I also find the songs from the hindi movies

• Hum Dil de Chuke sanam
• Gangster and
• Taal

Good. They are in order again.

Thinking of Romance John Bon Jovi’s and Bryan Adam’s romantic classics were the hotbed for most of the poems( in the other blog ). They bring back the teenage memories of having my oh-so-many crushes ;)

When Im in the mood of getting inspired to play my guitar or just happy for how beautiful the music is, I like to listen to these:

Dream theater:
I was introduced to the band when I was in XI th . It was ‘Change of Seasons’ – a 24 minute song!
I remember I laughed it off saying it would still be playing even when I would wake up from a sleep.Dream Theater is now one of the most respected bands for me now.It has the best members in everything..and they gel so well.It is a tight band.

The must listen songs by dream theater would be :

• Change of Seasons
• Hollow Years
• Take away my Pain
• Pull me Under

Another band I find similar because of the high pitched vocals would be

Iron Maiden : I’ve known people who started rock with Maiden.It hasn’t been the same with me. I started hard rock with

Metallica : That was after Xth. It was the age, when I was extremely rebellious, aggressive and short tempered.I cared about no one else than me.
No wonder Metallica was what I worshiped. The awesome lyrics were a boon.

Must listens :

• Well, I can’t pin point any songs by metallica-I love them all.For Maiden :

of the dark

• Rhyme of the ancient mariner

• The longest day are must listens. The art of coming back to the same beat is what I admire the most for maiden songs.

By the way also check out “the iron maiden s” it’s the only female band to cover the maidens. Im so proud of them.Fear of the dark is especially done very well.

Megadeth : Most amazing guitar riffs to me.\m/
You have to listen to

• Kill the King
• Peace sells
• Holy wars…wow is the only word
• Morning Good Friday.. though I can take only the starting solo, you might the whole song

Guns and Roses: Handsome vocalist with slash was a killer combination when it was. The new album “Chinese democracy” doesn’t impress me much, slash is no longer a part.
Though the lyrics are fantastic.
“I’ve got one hand in my pocket, no hand in destiny” is my favorite line 

Alter Bridge, Metallica: *always* work for me when I need anger management.

Lacuna Coil : has awesome vocals. If you like amy lee, chances are high for you to like lacuna too.
Pearl Jam: ideal for exams !! They create songs which will work in lugubrious or ecstatic mood! I love them. Rearview Mirror album is a collection of phenomenal work by the same.
Aerosmith : Wholesome goodness  I’ve loved them since a long time.Steve Tyler’s screams are amazing ;D
AC/DC: They aren’t trained musicians as far as I know but still make music that will alleviate all sadness or shake you all night ;)

Female artists:

• Britney spears- I don’t know why people have started hating anybody who likes her. Her personal affairs shouldn’t affect her fan following. She started at an early age like MJ.Its understandable why she behaves weirdly at times. I like her, in any case. Of her newest creations, I like Toxic and Womanizer.I’m assuming you have heard of the popular old ones.

• dion: the queen of singing.

• Tracy Champman: I love the lyrics and the acoustic buzz
• 4 non blondes: Amazing vocals. Better still, I can manage singing and playing their songs ;)
• Shakira: Who can afford to *miss* this lady!(pun intended). Apart from the sinuous moves I adore her voice too.
• Jewel : well, If you like acoustic and that peculiar nuances that go with them, this is perfect for you. People have told me my voice matches her’s =)

Other must listens :

• Freebird – skynyrd lynyrd
• than words - extreme
• Whiskey lullaby
• Return to serenity(acoustic) - testament
• Love hurts - nazareth
• Love bites – def leppard
• I love you- saigon kick.. .sweet song!
• Im with you- avril lavigne
• All the things she said- tatu .. its weird the way she screams :P
• Iris- Goo Goo dolls
• American Pie – Don Mclean
• Someday – MLTR …the lyrics blow me away.
• Dire straits ..if you consider lyrics a lot ( like me ).
• Steve Vai- Simly because he IS the god.
• Pink Floyd – Get out of my here if you haven’t heard of him
• Sunday Bloody Sunday-U2