Music: Melodies of my days.

I sing out of tune, and I cannot play any musical instrument, but listening to music always makes me happy.

Growing up, listening to the daily request programme broadcast by the Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) Broadcasting Corporation was mandatory. I vividly remember the singing classes at school, in both English and Hindi, the Chaayageet on television, and the Binaca Geet Mala on the radio. MTV and Channel V were two channels I often tuned into.

Adolescence saw me enjoying the then-current favourites in Hindi and English, buying cassettes by the dozen, and shaking a leg when nobody was looking. CDs came later, and I remember my sons, now in their twenties, using them.

Now, it's music I turn to when I’m stressed and when I’m cooking. Music helps me cook up that storm in the kitchen, because cooking isn't one of my favourite activities.

My dad was musically inclined—he loved to sing, and now that I’m married into a musical family, every day is ‘music day.'

My son and husband have studied Western classical music and are pianists. I enjoy listening to Pop music. I like listening to gentle Jazz too. The Girl from Ipanema is one such Jazz song that puts a spring in my step.

ABBA, Vengaboys, Michael Learns to Rock, Big Mountain, and The Pussycats are among my favourite bands. The Games People Play by Inner Circle and That Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, You Raise Me by Josh Groban, and Beautiful in Your Eyes by Joshua Kadison are some of my hot favorites, and I never tire of listening to them. This post would be incomplete if I didn’t mention Usha Uttup.Being an oldie –goldie, I also love listening to catchy and soul stirring oldies sung by oldies like Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Jim Reeves and Neil Diamond. Jerusalema sends my spirits soaring.

I know not much about Ghazals or Hindustani classical music, but I enjoy a few Bollywood hits like Kabhi Kabhi, Chu kar mere mann ko, Yeh Ajeeb Dastan Hai, and Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chodenge.

Among the spirituals and hymns, One Day at a Time, Precious Lord, Abide with Me, God of the Mountain, and What a Friend help me during tough times.

Music is inclusive. It goes beyond the barriers of colour and gender and there’s music for every kind of mood and any kind of situation that you may find yourself in, so happy listening! 

image credit: Freepik

This post is my entry to the weekly Blogchatterbloghop challenge