Music is ... #atozchallenge letter M @AprilA2Z

My theme for the 2017 AtoZ Challenge is "Daily Thoughts".

Each day I will post a thought that comes to mind. The first word of the thought will correspond with the letter of the day.

So here is my thought for the letter M

taken at the Saturday Farmers market in Wellington

Music is a moral law

It gives soul to the Universe

Wings to the mind

Flight to imagination

Charm and gaiety to life

and to everything

~Plato~

I think Plato summed it up very nicely on a generic basis. On an individual basis, that is for myself, music connects me to my soul, to the Universe, to the great Spirit.

There are so many genres of music. On different days, in different moods the genre and type of music changes. Some days I like my Indian music, some days English and other days in foreign languages. Some days it's bollywood some days it's Gujarati songs. Some days I like devotional some days instrumental. Sometimes it's piano, sometimes the violin.

Whatever I choose on the day, music is sure to make me feel good.

M    meditative and mesmerising

U     universal and uplifting        

S     sublime and soul satisfying

    I      inspirational and illuminating

C     captivating and calming     

Today I feel like some instrumental piano so sharing Richard Clayderman's La Vie En Rose (one of my favourite songs).



And a Gujarati folk song Mehendi Te Vavi - very popular as a garba song. Garba is a traditional dance from Gujarat. Watch the audience dance some garba steps (approximately halfway through).

Shreya Ghoshal in Wellington NZ


Music means many different things to different people. What does it mean to you? Share in the comments below.

If you do leave a comment, make it easy for me and leave a link to your blog / post.

Teaser for the letter N: Now is ....

Written for the #atozchallenge drop by and check out some awesome posts.

My posts so far
All roads lead to your destiny               
Be like the river       
Change occurs at every moment
Do or do not                           
Expectation              
Find the Fun
Great Minds Think Alike
Help Comes
Inaction can
Journeys
Kite Flying
Live as if


Warm Regards


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Goodbye 2016 and Hello 2017 #FridayReflections #WOTY

Today is the last day of 2016 and here in New Zealand in less than an hour we will clock over to 2017.

So how was my 2016?

All in all it wasn't a bad year. Work wise it was an extremely busy year. I like being busy but I hope that in 2017 I find more time to do the things I want to do.

My writing took a backseat this year and though I did post fairly regularly, the satisfaction of having done well isn't there. Don't know why, but I just felt my writing was too fragmented. I seem to be catching up rather than planning well and a little too much free writing (probably because I was always trying to catch up). I also feel my writing needs to take on a new direction. Let's see what 2017 brings forth.

My word for 2016 was "Creative" and though I didn't do too well on the writing front, my other creative pursuits like mixed media and crafting brought me great joy. I will definitely keep up with that in 2017.

And I did a little travelling too.  Spent Christmas in Nelson in the South Island of New Zealand. Such a lovely place. Will write some more on that in another post.

What's my word for 2017? 

Creative came to me so easily as my word for 2016. But my word for 2017 seemed so elusive. I thought of a few - focus, persevere, enjoy. But none of them seemed to resonate. I thought I might have to go with no word this year as nothing was coming to mind. That unfortunately made me very uncomfortable. Words have a way of forging a path so I was determined to find one.

Then a couple of hours ago, I stumbled upon a video on Mozart. Prior to that I sent up a prayer and asked for a word. And as I listened to Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor, the word andante came flashing into my mind and would not leave.

So having looked up the meaning of andante "music tempo - at a walking pace" I decided that it was really the perfect word for 2017. 

Andante for me means, in general, slowing down the pace of life. 2016 seemed to fly by and I felt I didn't really savour the moments. Andante also signifies exercising but not at a crazy pace that puts my back out and perhaps I will pursue my desire to learn a musical instrument. On the writing front I hope I will not have to rush things and do some focussed writing.

So let's see how Andante unfolds for me.

What's your word for 2017?  Write a post or share in the comments

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. May 2017 bring you good health, success, prosperity, peace, joy and love.

Linking to:
#FridayReflections at Everyday Gyaan -  Reflect on 2016, the year gone by
#WOTY at Ramblin' with AM
New Year prompt at BlogChatter


Warm Regards


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Fragile Lives #BarAThon

I'm really struggling with the prompts on this BarAThon.

This prompt somehow brings negative thoughts into my mind, but I want to write a positive spin on this. So again  I'm going to just let my fingers fly across the keyboard and let them take me where this post is meant to be.

I've written about this story before but for some reason I am compelled to write again so here it is again.

25 years ago one afternoon while we driving down to do our grocery shopping, the song "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison was playing on the radio and I was singing along. 

Just as the song ended, the car had a complete mechanical meltdown. The steering wheel locked, the accelerator jammed, the brakes failed and we were on a curve on the motorway. There was nothing we could do but to let the car go. It kept veering fast, crossed 2 lanes, crashed into a high bank and flipped over 3 times. 

As we were racing towards that bank, I heard this voice, loud and clear, that we should relax and roll with the car not resist the roll, and that all will be well. I remember saying calmly to my daughter "We're having an accident, roll with the car. We'll be ok".

The car was completely smashed and if you had seen it you never would've believed we came out of it alive let alone without a scratch on us. And it amazes me to this day how calm I was through the whole thing. I actually counted the rolls.

Life can be so unpredictable and change in an instant. But though life can be so fragile, I do believe that we are never alone.  

I have always believed that My Sweet Lord was with me that day who saved us, held us in His arms, protected us, reassured us and comforted us and kept me calm in what were the most terrifying moments of my life.

My sweet Lord

I really want to see you

Really want to be with you

Really want to see you Lord

But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord

I really want to know you ...

Here's a link to my earlier post that describes my moment of realization of My Sweet Lord.


Share a moment when life felt so fragile and yet something good came of it.


I am participating in the Blog-a-rhythm Blogathon. A 7 day blogging festival. 
I am with Team #CrimsonRush
Day 3 prompt is Fragile Lives

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Remembering #Songs - Pritam Aan Milo

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.

I started this festival with songs I associate with my mother so it's only fair that I end the festival with a song that I associate with my father.

My song for day 7 is Pritam Aan Milo (Beloved Come Meet) by C.H Atma. Even though my dad wasn't musically inclined I would often hear him sing this song in his baritone voice.

In the last year of his life I heard him sing this a lot. I often wonder if he was being called to his Spiritual home.

After his death I searched youtube for the song and started loving it too. Whenever I hear this song I think of my dad.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPoVTL8Sa2c


Do you have a song you suddenly started to like? Share a song that means a lot to you.


My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara
Day 2 -  Twilight On The Trail
Day 3 -  Moon River
Day 4 -  Amapola
Day 5 -  Arrivederci Roma

Day 6 -  Born Free

Warm Regards


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Remembering #Songs - Born Free

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.

I had my day 7 all set but a song for Day 6  seemed to evade me.  You may wonder why I didn't use the day 7 song for day 6. But there is a method in my madness.

Then as I was browsing through youtube I came across Born Free and I knew that was my song for day 6.

I was about 9 or 10 I think when my dad took me to see the movie which is a true story about Elsa the Lioness and her beautiful relationship with Joy and George Adamson.

My favourite part of the movie was the ending. I thought it was so cute and the song was just perfect.

I also read the books written by Joy Adamson. Here are 2 of them. Couldn't find the last one Forever Free.

My favourite scene from the movie. Lions are so majestic and the cubs are so cute.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB5iodUkBaI


So much of turbulence in the world right now. We are born free but are we living free and in the future will we stay free?  What do you think?

My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara
Day 2 -  Twilight On The Trail
Day 3 -  Moon River
Day 4 -  Amapola
Day 5 -  Arrivederci Roma

Day 6 linkup


Warm Regards


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Remembering #Songs - Arrivederci Roma

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.

Day 5  takes me back to 1993-1994 when I travelled to England and Europe.

We were 14 family members (5 children and 9 adults) who came from around the world for a trip around Europe. We hired a mini bus and a driver and travelled from London to Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Rome, Venice, Heidelberg and Cologne.

But my song today is about the beautiful city of Rome. It is one of my favourite cities in the world. And I hope that someday I will visit again.

I enjoyed visiting all the places and it was exciting to look forward to the next city. But I was really sad to leave Rome. I felt as if I was leaving a part of me behind. So as our bus pulled out of Rome, we all waved goodbye and sang Arrivederci Roma (Goodbye Rome).

Rome is a city you never forget.

But here is a video with some nice scenes of Rome that brought back many memories of a beautiful city and time with family of which 2 have said their final goodbyes - my dad and my aunt (dad's sister).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyMoP1Ph4A


Do you have a favourite city? Share a special memory from that city.


My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara
Day 2 -  Twilight On The Trail
Day 3 -  Moon River
Day 4 -  Amapola


Day 5 linkup


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Remembering #Songs - Amapola

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.

As day 3 was for my daughter Day 4 is dedicated to my son the night owl.

When he was a baby he had this uncanny knack of  waking up at precisely 11pm each night. This was his time to play. He rarely cried but his baby gurgling  wouldn't allow me to sleep. How can you be cross with your baby who looks like an angel and just wants to be loved and cuddled?

So the two of us would move into the lounge and there I would rock him in my arms and sing Amapola. That always seemed to calm and quieten him down and he would slowly drift off to sleep. I used to hum and sing this song a lot when I was pregnant and perhaps it was familiar to him.

It's such a beautiful song and such a lovely catchy melody. It's one of the songs I hum or sing often. Always makes me happy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INcRW7w6-8o

Poppy, pretty little poppy
My soul will always be only yours
I love you my dear child
As the flower loves daylight

Poppy, pretty little poppy
Don't be so hard and love me
Poppy, poppy
How can you live so alone?


Do you have a "go to" song whenever you need to calm down?


My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara
Day 2 -  Twilight On The Trail
Day 3 -  Moon River


Day 4 linkup


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Remembering #Songs - Moon River

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.


"Moon River" from the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's"  is my song for day 3.

I was 11 years old when I saw this movie on a luxury cruise liner from Singapore to Hong Kong. And since then I've loved this song.

Many years later my daughter and I  watched it together. It's one of our favourite "watch together" movies, And at every trip to New York walking past Tiffany's is a must.

Here is the song from the movie sung by Audreey Hepburn one of my favourite actresses.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOByH_iOn88


Do you have  a favourite "watch together" movie?


My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara
Day 2 -  Twilight On The Trail

Day 3 linkup


Warm Regards


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Remembering #Songs - Twilight on the Trail

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory

Carrying on from day 1 that had songs from my childhood, day 2 is all about the songs that I skipped and danced to when I was little - say about 10 years old.

Nat King Cole's Ramblin' Rose album was a big hit in our home, We had a big lounge and verandah and whenever we listened to this album my mom, brother and I would sing together and I would start my skipping. Those were such joyful days.

The musical side of us comes from my mother. My father on the hand was a sportsman. I did the singing with my mother and walking with my father,

One of the songs on the album that I loved was Twilight On The Trail. Back then I didn't understand the meaning of the song I just loved the rhythm and the tune. And it had a good beat for skipping. In fact most of the songs on the album were good for skipping.

I love the simplicity of life depicted in this song: We should be like this - in tune with nature and content with life just the way it is.

When it's twilight on the trail,

And I jog along, 

The world is like a dream 

And the ripple of the stream is my song.

When it's twilight on the trail,

And I rest once more, 

My ceiling is the sky 

And the grass on which I lie is my floor.

Never ever have a nickel in my jeans,

Never ever have a debt to pay, 

Still I understand what real contentment means, 

Guess I was born that way.

When it's twilight on the trail,

And my voice is still, 

Please plant this heart of mine 

Underneath the lonesome pine on the hill

Twilight on the trail - Nat King Cole from the album we had shown in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9D9IEdEQ2k


Is there a song that brings back a childhood memory? Write a post or share in a comment.


My posts so far:
Day 1 -  Asmara

Day 2 linkup 


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Remembering #Songs - Asmara

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words. This is a 7 day festival from 10 July to 16 July.

My theme is "Remembering Songs". These are songs that trigger some memory.

Day 1 begins with songs my mother used to sing to me in Malay (Bahasa Melayu / Bahasa Indonesia).

So while my friends were learning nursery rhymes I was learning these songs. I was 2 years old when I learned my first song - Burong Kakatua - a song about a cockatoo.

 I remember my mother had a record of Anneke Gronloh who sang these songs.  And I think her favourite was Asmara. I can still see her singing it and later when I grew up we used to sing it together. Haven't done that for a while now.

I love listening to these songs even though I don't understand every word. The melodies are lovely.

Isn't that the best thing about music - you don't need to understand the words, just the melodies can touch your soul.

So here are some songs for your listening pleasure

Asmara - a song about heartbreak


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Qox6PMzGg


Burong Kakatua - the first song I ever learned. The record cover shown is one of the ones we had.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEi4577ByjY


Bengawan Solo - an Indonesian folk song about the river Solo. Another one of my favourites. This version is very soulful.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvdpavLYGk


What was the first song you learned?  Write a post or leave a comment.

Day 1 linkup


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My Life According to The Beatles #MondayMusings

The Doglady has a musical challenge and I thought I would play along as it sounded like a lot of fun. And it was.

I chose The Beatles as I thought I would definitely find a song for each question but it wasn't easy.

The Challenge:

"Using only song names from ONE ARTIST OR BAND, answer the following questions. Try not to use the band I used, or repeat a song title. (It’s a lot harder than you think!)  Publish as “My Life According to (BAND NAME)” and link back to this post".

Q and A

***********

Are you a male or female?

Lady Madonna

Describe yourself:

Child of Nature

How do you feel?:

I Feel Fine

Describe where you currently live:

Here There And Everywhere

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Across The Universe

Your favourite form of transportation:

Drive My Car

Your best friend is:

Another Girl

Your favourite colour is:

Yellow Submarine

What’s the weather like?

Here Comes The Sun

Favourite time of day:

A Hard Day's Night

(hmm day or night?)

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?

Paperback Writer

What is life to you?

Magical Mystery Tour

Your relationships:

A Shot Of Rhythm and Blues

Your fear:

I Just Don't Understand

What is the best advice you have to give?

All Things Must Pass

(as in this too shall pass) 

If you could change your name, you would change it to:

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

(Miss Elizabeth Bennett considered one of the most beloved characters in British literature. Jane Austen herself described Lizzy as "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print."  - source Wikipedia)

Thought for the day:

All You Need Is Love

How you would like to die:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps
(interesting inspiration behind this song)

Your soul’s present condition:

It's Only Love

Your motto:

Let It Be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VoRAZdc85I

The Beatles were a great band and each of them were extremely talented but I think George Harrison wrote some of the best songs - My Sweet Lord, Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps were some of those.

I tried to find a good Beatles version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps but couldn't find one so here is the version from Concert for George - a tribute to George Harrison on his first death anniversary. The first time I saw this I this video I almost thought he was on stage. His son looks just like him. Before the finale, McCartney relayed to the audience, "Olivia said that with Dhani up on stage, it looks like George stayed young and we all got old". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4J6i_vw0w

Eric Clapton (lead guitar and singer), Paul McCartney (piano/keyboard), 

Ringo Starr (drums), Dhani Harrison (backing guitar)

Linking to:
#MondayMusings at EverydayGyaan
#MicroblogMondays

Warm Regards


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My Personal Journey with Music

I am taking part in the Write Tribe Festival Of Words 8th - 14th December 2013

So today's personal journey is with "Music"

My new ipod has "Music, food for the soul" engraved on it and that sums up my love for music and what I think and feel about it. My soul pretty much cannot live without music.

I was 2 years old when I learned my first song and from then on I went to sing at competitions but my love affair with music truly started in 1972 when my brother gave me Donny Osmond's Too Young Album for my birthday. I had this little red portable record player that I carried around everywhere and I think I drove everyone mad as I played it over and over again.

image source: google images

And Donny Osmond - oh my those Puppy Love years were so much fun. I had this big life size poster of Donny above my bed and I would gaze at it first thing in the morning and before I went to bed. And I always had a skip in my step because of that. Of course back in India in those days, there was no chance of Donny ever visiting to do a concert so magazines, posters, records and the radio were my only link to him.

But when you dream big and wish with all your heart and soul, then wishes and dreams do come true (even if that's 34 years later). And in 2006 I had the pleasure of attending a Donny concert in Wellington. Believe me when I say that I was 13 again that day.

So here's a song that soothes my soul, that brings me joy, that takes me back in time and makes me young again.

Donny sings Puppy Love many many years later

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0A3lIZXe8c

I will love this song forever as Donny held my hand for a fleeting moment in time at that concert while he sang Puppy Love. He wore similar clothes too and looked just like that. Sigh!

Join me tomorrow on my next journey with  some Travels

My Personal Journey so far:

Day 1 = Memories

Day 2 = Food

Day 3 = Books

Check out some Day 4 posts and some Day 3 posts that I really enjoyed:

Ruchira's Love of Books - a nice walk down memory lane for me. Archies here  ...

Shilpa's Call for Help - neither a lender nor a borrower be comes to mind.

Kathy's Haiku - I love a haiku so how could I not feature this one.

Enjoy a song or two and have a joyful day.

Warm Regards

Like my facebook page Suzy's Ilation and if any of your posts needs some tlc, add it to the goodwill thread there and I'll drop by and give it some love.

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UBC 13 - AtoZ - My Sweet Lord

Day 13  of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge
The letter L  for the  AtoZ Blogging Challenge
"My greatest hits" for the Writers' Post Blog Hop hosted this week by Cairn Rodrigues


L is for .... My Sweet LORD


22 years ago one afternoon while we driving down to do our grocery shopping, the song "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison was playing on the radio and I was singing along.

This has always been one of my favourite songs, and the words always meant a lot to me but until recently I never really understood how much they meant to me.

My sweet Lord

I really want to see you

Really want to be with you

Really want to see you Lord

But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord

I really want to know you ...

So back to that afternoon ...

My daughter was quite little then. (This was before my son was born). Little miss independent and mischievous had removed her seatbelt. Something kept nagging at me to turn around and check. So glad I did.  btw I wasn't driving in case you're wondering how I turned around!

That must've been less than half a minute before the song ended and the car had a complete mechanical meltdown. The steering wheel locked, the accelerator jammed, the brakes failed and we were on a curve on the motorway. There was nothing we could do but to let the car go. It kept veering fast, crossed 2 lanes, crashed into a high bank and flipped over 3 times.

As we were racing towards that bank, I heard this voice, loud and clear, that we should relax and roll with the car not resist the roll, and that all will be well. I remember saying calmly to my daughter "We're having an accident, roll with the car. We'll be ok".

The car was completely smashed and if you had seen it you never would've believed we came out of it alive let alone without a scratch on us. And it amazes me to this day how calm I was through the whole thing. I actually counted the rolls.

I always believed that there was someone with me that day who saved us - who, I had no clue. But something took place recently (about 3 weeks ago) that made me sit up and think about this. And I truly believe that the Lord himself held us in His arms, protected us, reassured us and comforted us and kept me calm in what were the most terrifying moments of our life.

I really want to see you Lord,
I see Him now

I really want to know you
I know Him now

I really want to be with you
I am with Him

After the accident whenever I heard "My Sweet Lord", I used to be terrified - as if it were a bearer of bad news. But in the last 3 weeks, the song takes on a completely new meaning for me. It is the song that truly connects me with my Lord. It's like a communication channel with Him.

But it takes so long my Lord
It has taken over 20 years for the penny to drop

George Harrison was hugely influenced by Hinduism and was a great friend of Pandit Ravi Shankar who said the Lord had given him the perfect name Hari-son (Hari pronounced as hurry = God). In "My Sweet Lord" he blends East and West together. But for me this song merges my consciousness with my sweet Lord.

So grateful to George Harrison who wrote and sang one of the most awesome songs ever. And exceedingly grateful to all the wonderful strangers who stopped and helped us, who comforted us and gave us strength, and to the doctors, nurses and paramedics who attended to us at the scene.

But most of all I am eternally grateful to my sweet Lord who came to me, loved me unconditionally, asked for nothing from me, gave me the gift of life again, and quietly and patiently guided me over the years to reach Him. I am truly born again.

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo, Maheshwara
Guru Sakshat, Parabrahma,
Tasmayi Shree, Guruve Namah


O Master; You are the Creator, the Sustainer, the Divine, the Destroyer
And the true embodiment of omnipresent, transcendental Divinity.
To You, glorious and supreme Master
I humbly and reverently bow.


My sweet Lord

Hare Rama, Hare Krishna

By whatever name you call Him
Know that He is with you and that He comes!

And where, you ask, does "My greatest hits" fall into this?. It is the moment 3 weeks ago when the penny dropped and I looked up and thanked my sweet Lord for His Grace and  Blessings, that moment when He made my daily prayer take flight:

"To see you more clearly, to love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day".

Enjoy this awesome song.

My Sweet Lord - George Harrison  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kNGnIKUdMI

May you always feel His presence, as I did then, and as I do now, every moment of every day.

Blessings to you. Namaste.

Warm Regards