Sunday, April 29, 2007

Love Stories in Songs - Part 3

(5) Unanswered Prayers

This is a strange, unusual, love song by Garth Brooks. A love song for "the wife." A chance meeting with an old flame, makes the singer take a nostalgic trip down memory lane. He remembers the many times when he'd prayed to God, to get that girl. But now, he thanks God for "unanswered payers"!! Listen to the lyrics (you can also find them by clicking here), watch the video below and enjoy.





Just the other night, at the home-town football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame.....

Here, Garth Brooks is seen singing, at a open concert, in New York. So I wonder if you can hear the words clearly. But its worth listening to his clear version.

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Love Stories in Songs - Part 2

I am trying to put two more songs here following my earlier post.

I am just amazed and thrilled to find that most of my favourite songs are already on "you tube" in some form or other. It makes me happy that there are many others with similar likes.

Anyway here's song No. 3. You can see it below

(3) Goodness Gracious Me.

This song was originally, actually, sung by actors Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren themselves!! And not by any playback singers. Peter Sellers acts like an Indian Doctor based in London, and his accent is hillariously Indian!! In the movie 'The Millionairess" he is a simple doctor who spurns the advances of an italian beauty even though she is a heiress to a fortune, and very keen on him.

I heard this song many years ago, read the singers' names and movie's name; but was unable to find this movie to watch, until I came to Bahrain where in one DVD/Video shop - four years ago -I saw this title. Well, I borrowed and enjoyed the movie, but was shocked and disappointed that the song did not figure in it, at all!!

Apparently, this was a song that they both did as a 'promo' for the movie, and no original video is available by both of them, anywhere. :-( Let me know if any of you know more about this.

Anyway, an enterprising couple decided to mime to the song, and placed it on 'you tube'. I am placing it here, for you. They did a fantastic job here......though I just wish the doc was an Indian.

Listen to the very funny lyrics, and the perfect Indian accent of Peter Sellers. You'll enjoy it.





(4) Angelo

This is a song I used to listen to, on radio, when I was very very young [All India Radio, Hyderabad used to broadcast 1-hour of english programmes daily, which I used to eagerly look forward to]. It may have been the time when I was in High School. It is sung by Brotherhood of Man, a group that was very popular for nice romantic numbers and some peace-on-the-world types. This one is a regular love-story. Poor boy falling in love with a rich girl. Listen to the lyrics (you can also find them clicking here), watch the video below and enjoy.





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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Love Stories in Songs - Part 1

...
There are a few love songs, with stories in them, that can move us a lot. Here are FIVE songs of this type, that I like most. Though not necessarily in the same order. (I know some of you might call me a sentimental fool after seeing & listening to these. But do I care?? :-p )


(1) Tie a yellow ribbon round the 'ole oak tree.



Sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn, in 1973, its a story of a released prisoner going in a bus, singing this song, for the passengers and the bus driver, hoping to see a yellow ribbon tied around the 'ole oak tree. He is desperately hoping and expecting his lady love to still like him after three years in prison. He had written a letter asking her to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree, if she still wants him. And is willing to go away from her life, if he doesn't see that yellow ribbon. For Lyrics, click here


(2) Coat of many colours

Its the love story of a mom and daughter. This Dolly Parton song was one of those few songs that actually moved me to tears. Many years ago, when I was living alone, this song made me think of the sacrifices that my parents had made for us. It is the story of a girl who, when she was young, had no proper clothes to wear. But her mama made her a coat of rags sewn together, which the girl proudly wore.

Lyrics can be found if you click here. Though this is a recent stage performance of Shania Twain - with the original Dolly Parton - the audio is not that clear. You should listen to the clear Dolly Parton number. Watch out for a glimpse of Oprah Winfrey in the audience at the end of the song!



.....to be continued

The other three songs I promised, will be coming soon in another post as "Part 2" and "Part 3".

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Thursday, April 05, 2007

Radio Ride

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She's sun and rain, she's fire and ice
A little crazy, but it's nice....
She's every woman that I've ever known.

Listening to these words, as I drove to work this morning, gave me a nice warm feeling. Strains of melody from the vocal chords of Garth Brooks, have always given me such feeling. In fact, good old country music always does that to me.

This morning, at the Isa Town Roundabout, when I was impatiently waiting for the cars in front, to get out of the way, it was this country music that was calmly soothing my nerves!

You might ask, Country music? That slow old-fashioned music?? I know I know. There are those who think I am very old ( well..ummm, probably I am. Because its not chic and sound-of-music-ish to sing 'I am 37 ... going on 38'... at my age).

But the truth is, I hate 'heavy metal' and 'acid-rock', and wonder where on earth 'techno' has come from. And what the hell 'hip-hop' or 'funky' is...... I get even more bugged when those in the age-range of I am sixteen, going on seventeen, start discussing the differences of terms like 'R&B' and 'Blues' and 'smooth jazz', as old fashioned. Well, if people can let aside their tastes, and give me just country music anytime, I would be content.

In fact, listening to music while I drive to my place of work each morning is now a rejuvenating experience. Praise songs, that warm your heart on sunny pleasant mornings, and these country music songs that relax your mind in the rush-hour traffic, are a great cure for a stressful mind.

My glove compartment (glove? I don't know if its the right usage in Bahrain) has got a good collection soft soothing music to beat the 'Oh-my-God-I-am-late-what-do-I-do-now' moods.

Music really is the saving grace when up-front, the cars are not moving and the friendly policeman at the roundabout is beckoning the drivers to go past, and go fast, waving his arm at high speed - sometimes I really worry that his arms could come off at the hinges.... er.... joints - but meanwhile he is heartlessly halting and completely ignoring my lane, and line, of cars.

Switiching to radio - I go to 96.5 FM, and hear Krazy Kevin's screams, squeals and guffaws, and some coffee talk, and flick to another channel, 104.2 FM, (Voice FM, the new Indian radio channel from Bahrain with its pot-pourii of languages), where Juhi-ji is talking to some Ahmed who has SMSed her a long poem which she is faithfully reading - khaas-doston-key-liye-ek-khoobsurat-kavitha - in her special soulful voice.

She asked a question and wanted the listeners to SMS their answer. I almost did that, forgetting the recent law in Bahrain! That drivers should not use headset-less phones while driving!! Luckily for me, I didn't. Because our friendly neghbourhood policeman had finally relented. And with a grim face, a generous nod of head, a quick wave of hand, he indicated that our line of cars can now safely enter the roundabout, and move on. He immediately and majestically motioned to the otherside to come no further, while our relieved train of cars slid forward on road.

Oh, the power the traffic policeman weilds !!! [it reminds me of the question my little daughter asked "who is the strongest man in the world?", and when I feigned ignorance, she answered that it was "a 'traffic policeman' because he can stop many cars and even buses with just one hand!!"].

While the Voice FM's hindi song, regales my mind, I move on, only to soon see before me yet another line of cars, at next intersection - the A'Ali (Traffic Directorate) roundabout - and wait again. I was glad, however, because this will be the last traffic intersection, before I reach my place of work.

After the song on the radio, Juhi-ji, came online. She began talking to a cricket expert, who is refusing to accept the term 'expert', but waxing eloquent on Bangladesh's excellent performance in worldcup. Shutting them off mid-way, I flicked to 101.4 FM and heard - for the umpteenth time - Natalie Cole's song 'Unforgettable' which she sang with her late father Nat King Cole (the song had won a grammy for Sound engineering).

Just when I thought I'll get delayed even more, traffic moved on. And I moved on to tape from radio... and Garth Brooks came to his ending, as I too ended my ride, and parked my car to get into our building..

She's anything, but typical
She's so unpredictable
Oh but even at her worst she ain't that bad
She's as real as real can be
She's everywoman
....