Episode 50 : They're playing our song

As long as I can remember, I always had a preference for popular music. So much, that I publicly stated I preferred listening to Uncle Haas' music (English) to Grandpa's (Carnatic). The legend goes that when Uncle Haas returned from college, I would follow him into his room and pester him to play my favourites.

Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

Then came the pop sensation of those days... the Hassan siblings.

Aap jaisa koi,
Meri zindagi mein aaye
To baat ban jaaye,
Haan haan, baat ban jaaye

I moved on to Hindi film music. When you move to different states in the country, Hindi film music becomes the de facto preference. It did not change even after I returned to Madras in 1989. But I also began to add Tamil and Malayalam film music. Malayalam film music of those days, which had a semi-classical bent to it, not the kind we get to hear today. Grandpa would have been happy to see that happening, but he wasn't alive then.

The shift began with Baba Sehgal and Apache Indian. Those days... ugh! And then moved onto Michael Jackson... UGH!

At around that time, I dug up some old cassettes. Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park, Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love and ABBA's Super Trouper soon became regular. I also spotted a Pink Floyd and an REM album belonging to Uncle Haas and Papa Hyde's Dire Straits album, Making Movies. I thought they sounded boring... back then, in my defence.

While others in my class listened to a whole lot of bands, I took my time. First Def Leppard, then Aerosmith, then Guns 'N Roses, then Metallica.

Pink Floyd, REM and Dire Straits too.

Now? Anything that sounds nice.

The radio, WinAmp or the CD player; they play my songs.