Enjoying music

Kishore

(July 2002)

Everyone of us likes to listen to music. Be it movie music, classical music or pop music. Music is something that can cheer up. I have often wondered what is it that makes us like music. The following are a few random thoughts from my experience.

Music contains a rhythm and appeals to our aesthetic senses.
Music conveys that everything is fine and gong in a rhythm.

It is difficult to get to like any music on first instance. As we keep listening to music more and more the music creates an impression and experience in our mind. And whenever you listen to the same music again, it brings forth the impression and experience and makes us feel at ease.

As you start listening to the music more and more it becomes absorbed in our mind and becomes part of us. Even after years you will still remember the complete sequence of the music. The frequency of the music gets into our innermost parts of brain and when it comes out it comes as a whole.

We also associate a particular emotion, pleasure any music we listen and when we hear it back we can relive those moments.

Listening to our favorite music creates a sense of familiarity and can remove any pain, loneliness we are experiences. It can also help us recollect our past memories and cherish them. Music becomes a friend when you have no one else with you. Music can ease your stress and help you revive your spirits.

My preferences and experiences

My earliest recollection of music I heard was when I used to visit my Grandparents house when I was very young. I used to listen to "Chittibabu Veena" music coming from neighboring house. It has created a deep impression on me and a few years back when I found audio cassette of the same music I purchased it without blinking. And I carried those cassettes with me to US when I moved and I still play it in my car. Whenever I hear that music it bring back memories of my childhood and feel very young and energetic when I hear that music.

Later my music preferences were influenced by my brother who used to listen to pop music. He used to listen to Michael Jackson and all other pop stars. As I started listening to those songs again and again (not directly, but whenever my brother played those) I became attracted to that. Some of the songs had a special attraction and I also used to go through lyrics of some of the songs which my brother used to bring from his friends. After learning the lyrics of pop songs it was much easier to follow them.

I remember the time when we watch Boney M music videos in our neighbor's place. Recently only I bought Boney M Audio CD and listening to them was a pleasure of a long time. Again the music brings back past experiences to current time.

Pop singers/groups I liked gradually included: Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Pet Shop Boys, Phil Collins. And I have also listened to many other good songs which I don't know the singers but still like whenever the songs plays on the car radio. Because of my liking of the above mentioned singers, I added their CDs to my personal collection recently.

Movie Music is an obvious experience we go through whenever we watch the movies. Hindi and Telugu movies which I watch more have lot of songs but there are some musical hits and listening to those songs is always a pleasure. I don't have any special preferences in Hindi and Telugu movie singers but listen to songs whenever I get a chance and appreciate the golden or hit songs. And as usual those songs also bring back memories.

I have also listened to some pop music of Indian singers in past few years. Liked a few have them but don't have any of them in our collection.

Coming to Classical music which reflects tradition of India, I have listened to some of exponents in live performances. Classical music of India has special quality of bringing familiarity in first encounter unlike the movie or pop music. When I was a bachelor and staying in Madras my room mate used to purchase lot of audio cassettes related to natural sounds and classical singers (from Music today company). I used to listen to them when he was playing and like them also.

Summary

 Every one of us will be having some music or other that we like that takes us back to our childhood and other memorable experiences. Are you aware of them? Are you a music enthusiastic and keep yourself up to date. What do you like: movie, classical, pop or rock? Take sometime to reflect on your preferences. It will be worth the thought.

I listen to music only occasionally and I don't have any passion for going after the 'latest in music' by listening to all new songs released. I think there are lot of people who want to keep in tune with times.

Enjoy the music of your life.

Do drop your comments or views to me at cskishore@cskishore.com