Appreciating Music

Chuck your existing phone and buy a Nokia Asha phone.

I did it. The best thing is, you can download music from Nokia Music Store free for three months. Apart from downloading my favorite albums - film songs mostly by AR Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and very few others - I got to download all the albums of Lucky Ali.

I got to download many of the music albums of the movies of Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna (thanks to Doordarshan's Rangoli, I only know a song by the actors and not by their singers. I don't know or don't care if a song is a Mohammad Rafee or Kishore Kumar. Probably I dont' have that good a music ear). Now, I can listen to "Gunguna rahe hain banwre" on demand! That's the best song in Rajesh Khanna's Aradhana according to me.

I guess in Telugu, if you go by actors, the number of good songs that Nagarjuna has is a lot more than any other contemporary actor. Geetanjali, Nirnayam, Ninne Pelladutha, Rakshana, Rakshakudu, Manmadudu....

Apart from downloading the albums that I already know of, this gives me an opportunity to widen my music appreciation horizons. Bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Beatles are only names to me so far. I have only heard that they made great music. Rock, Reggae, Jazz - I have only limited knowledge about these phenomena and no idea what differentiates them. I have a chance now to experience their magic. I got to download albums of Abba that I already know of, appreciate and love - now, I can play Dancing Queen, Chiquitita, Mamma Mia any time! And Michael Jackson, whose "Dangerous" is one of my favorite albums. Now, I can check if his Bad, History, and Thriller stand true to their reputation as well.

Individuals, I heard of John Lennon who was shot dead by his fan who wanted to see if his hero would die of a mere gun shot. I heard of Bob Marley and admired his Rastafarianism. Jim Morrison, who died at 27 and who was famous for his (feigned) antipathy and derision for his live audience (made famous by the movie Rockstar). Now, I can see for myself what all the fuss was about.  I will know if their music agrees with my sensibilities and taste.

However, I am a bit disappointed when I could not find a few classics on the Nokia Music Store. And when I finally downloaded some albums of the famous bands of 70s, I could not find anything special...... yet. Probably, the music grows on you and it takes time to appreciate it. I am hopeful. Also, I am astonished how many Rahman albums found themselves into my phone. Easily, he is the best and the most prolific music director the world has seen or heard!