Everyone likes music in one form or another. Different people have different tastes in music. I have realized that exploring likes in music is very interesting indeed. To me, it sort of, personifies the essence of each person. Now, that does not mean that it helps me categorize or stereotype people. On the contrary, it helps me understand them better as unique individuals.
I define the essence of a person as, the symbolic influence, impact or imprint of life experiences on an individual. Good, Bad and otherwise. It includes phases in one’s life like childhood, early growing up years, teenage, grade school, etc. as well as significant experiences with friends, families, acquaintances, strangers and people (and sometimes even places) in general. They arouse memories, emotions that go with them and a trail of thoughts. What is more, each time you hear them the trail may extend depending on what new experiences you may have added to that particular association.
Therefore, one’s taste in music is very subjective and actually has quite a personal significance to it. Oh and so unpredictable, which is what makes the exploration all the more fun! For instance, I automatically associate one or more songs with different phases of my life, places I’ve been to, and almost all significant experiences in my life so far! I cannot categorize my likes in music according to genres since I like some (or many) across most. Most of my favored songs range in language from Hindi, Punjabi, English, Tamil and Gujarati and several of their dialects (in no particular order, however Hindi does top the list). So, here are some select songs that, let’s just say, are music for more than my ears!!
Format: Song- Movie/Artist- Descriptor- Memory- Emotion- link
Snow drops and daffodils- Dana (1970)-
Rose colored glasses- Parading / prancing around with my sister in new dresses stitched by mom (and her singing along), my notion of love and romance at 5- elation, mush & wonder (then), nostalgia & amusement (now) & awesome (forever)
Snow drops and daffodils
Chikkubukku raile – Gentleman (1993)-
Dappankoothu 101- One of the first songs introducing my sister and me to Dappankoothu (hip-hop-like songs) in Tamil music and of course the man with bones of rubber- wonder & amazement (then), nostalgia (now) & ekdum dhinchaak (forever)
Chikkubukku Raile
Aayega aane wala- Mahal (1949) + Babuji dheere chalna- Aar Paar (1954) -
The singer in me- D-27, Jamnagar, being profusely praised by family and friends for singing in my tiny 3-4yr old voice- Embarrassment & Pride (secretly though) (then) - amusement & fun (now) - absolute nostalgia (forever)
Aayega Aane Wala
+
Babuji Dheere Chalna
Woh ladki hai kahaan- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) -
Ultimate masti- A song we performed on, in our first year of college, reminiscent of Sociology dept and staff, MSU Baroda, AR, SB, SP, NA, DV and everybody else performing on the song, as well as the ones attending the practice sessions, exhausting rehearsals and major bloopers, making new friends, having fun and making memories for life.- fun(then), fun & nostalgia (now & forever)
Woh Ladki Hai Kahan
There you go! I wonder if other’s have similar or more interesting associations with music as well!? Feel free to share some.
Enjoy and shake a leg!
