A Music Junkie’s Tale

Music….

We live in the era of Music. We are surrounded by it. Music has the power to break cultural barriers and bring people together; it can inspire you, leave you with a feeling of hope and belonging. Music has the magical ability to bring joy and help you get through tough times. As the famous German composer Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” I couldn’t agree more!!

The music revolution which began in the 1960s marked the beginning of music’s dominion on the world. Today, music is used everywhere and in various forms and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to it. There is so much music, so much talent, and so many different kinds of music. I am always in awe with musicians — how can someone create something so beautiful without seeing or feeling it. It fills me with wonder; I am amazed at the ingenuity and creativity of the human mind. Though, often, I am saddened and ponder why some genuinely talented artists never get the recognition and fame they deserve. Maybe they didn’t crave for it. Maybe they didn’t write music to get famous. Maybe it wasn’t in their destiny — if destiny does exist. I can never know.

All I know is how much music has influenced me and made me the person I am. I am not a singer, songwriter, musician, or composer. Heck, I can’t play a single instrument. Yet my love for music is unconditional. It has played a pivotal part in my life. I have ended up becoming best friends with people just over our mutual admiration for music. I have understood people based on their music inclination — it’s hard to comprehend, I know. How can someone be judged, just by their taste in music?! But take my word for it, — it’s true. Every music fanatic would secretly agree.

Music has always been an integral part of my life. As long as I can remember, music always made me happy. My earliest childhood memories were waking up to the sounds of my mum’s collection of devotional songs. Beautifully composed bhajans and shlokas made every morning pleasant. Then there was my dad’s collection of Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, and Muhammad Rafi. The songs reflected the style and culture of that era, and the pure melody of their voice left me speechless. When you come to think of it — my love for music stems from my parents. They loved their music and I love mine!

After we grew up, I and my sister were given our choices and we rushed to buy the latest Bollywood album with entertaining and fun-filled songs. It was only when I was in my twenties that I realized, a lot of songs — some evergreen hits too, was, in fact, either a rip off of some English or foreign songs or were plagiarised in some form or another.

Back then, it was still the good old days of the tape recorder. Mixtapes were all in rage. We had a few English mixtapes with famous chart-topping songs of yesteryear artists. By the time I was in high school, I was swooning to boy bands — most famously Backstreet Boys (BSB). My sister (a huge fan back then) introduced me to BSB and I must admit, listening to their love ballads made me feel weak in my knees.

Music Metamorphosis

My real relationship with music began during my engineering days. I was introduced to the music which changed my life. I had the good fortune of meeting people who had brilliant and often, different taste in music. These people, who would later go on to become some of my closest friends, had an insatiable appetite for music just like me. They didn’t listen to music just to kill time — music was like a healing machine to them. Music kept them sane in this insane world.

When I say it “changed my life”, I mean it changed the way I viewed life, my thought process, and my perspectives. It wasn’t just the songs that affected me; it was the masters who created them, their life stories, the tragedies that made them compose, the circumstances in which, some of greatest songs were written, and how music saved them — in every way.

Up until then, I saw the world as black and white. You are either good or bad. I didn’t understand the complexity of life. But as I read more and listened to music with deeper meaning, I realized we all are humans with shades of gray — Humans who made mistakes, humans ruled by emotions, humans capable of forgiveness. I became aware as I experienced the real prowess of songwriting — lyrics, so passionately written with so many meaning — each different for different people.

My connection with music grew as I grew and I became obsessed with finding music which made me think, songs that made so much sense in this senseless world. It opened the floodgates for my addiction to music.

I remember times when I was so depressed that I couldn’t relate to anyone or anything. But there was music that made me feel better, songs that reassured me that I wasn’t alone, there were people like me who had gone through troubled waters and they made it and maybe, I can make it too.

I can never forget the days when I was at my rock bottom not able to tell anyone what is going on in my mind. Words failed me, but not songs — songs that I felt were written just for me. Songs that somehow connected with me, when no one else could.

I clung to music the same way a junkie clings to drugs. There was so much music and so little time. I wanted to listen to all if it — correction — I wanted to listen to good music, I wanted to share that music with the people. In a way, you can call me a music junkie. I need music to survive, else I’ll be adrift in the chaos of the world.

For some, music is an escape; escape from everyday mundane life, escape from reality. For some, music brings them back, gives a sense of belonging and for some, music is a way of expression — of all the words held back, of all the feelings hidden, of suppressed emotions. I can never fully comprehend which category I belong to. Perhaps all three, perhaps one of them or perhaps something entirely new and none at all!