MUSICA DIVINA!

I was thinking to myself a couple of days ago and remarked how music is in such an exciting state currently. I am a product of the 90's( late 90's to be very accurate) and though the music of those times have very nostalgic qualities to them, they were also undeniably in a state of suspension; 'Backstreet Boys' and 'N Sync' ruled the charts for Chrissakes! Without taking away anything from their entertainment value, those were hardly of the same stature as the terrific Art Blackeys and Ella Fitzgeralds of the preceding decades-not by any stretch!

What makes music monumental and what makes it decidedly popcorn entertainment is, I personally think, its originality and genuineness. Music like any other form of expression has a soul and the only way to communicate with the soul is through genuineness. This is the quality that music aficionados clamor for, when modern music is being taken into perspective.

My excitement owes itself to the spying of the same qualities of the great eras in some of the music today. I am going to list out a few of the artists, and mind you keep your prejudiced opinions somewhere else...

1. Lil Wayne- Ha,ha,ha, I can literally hear some of you cuss out loud at that! But seriously I mean it to be no joke because that man is hugely talented! Rap after Biggie and Tu Pac had utterly become a bad joke, but that man in his laughable baggy jeans and with that inimitable smirk is bringing so much freshness into the genre. I know that I may sound audacious but I rank him up there with Tu PAc and Biggie. Can't wait to see what he does in the next few years!

2. Jamie Cullum- Ok, Michael Buble has been doing a very good job of bringing Jazz into the mainstream ( the purists would scream for my blood at the usage of that sacred J word to describe what he does). But he cannot be called original in any sense because he deals with the art of reinvetion. Jamie Cullum on the other hand is amazing for what he is doing- taking the genre associated with old men and tobacco pipes, and imbuing so much coolness that the young can identify with. He will go very far if the world still has its head on the right way:-)

3. Jazmine sullivan- This young girl has a lot going for her. An amazing vocal, great song writing skills and Grammy nominations- and to top it all that enviable quality called 'SOUL'. When I listen to her I can't help but remember the great old ladies like Ella Fitzgeral, Arethra Franklin, Count Bassie. And furthermore, given the fact that she has been in the business just a few years one can only expect her to hone her skills to higher levels.

4. Amy Winehouse- I have had my eyes, and ears, on this one before she became the star, and junkie, she is now. That voice! Ah, pure ecstasy is the only way I can describe it. There are many people with amazing voices but few with the rawness and irreverence that she possesses. I just wish she would get a grip on herself and get back to making music because that's obviously what she excels at.

5. Jason Mraz- He is one cool cat:-) There is not much you can say about his music by way of analysis. The only word I can use to describe his music is 'Honest'. Refreshing and utterly uncaring is what this guy has come to represent in my book of music. It does not hurt that he is a good looking dude too I suppose ( His MYSPACE page has many devoted fans begging to have his children:-)

I would love to write a whole lot more but since this is just a blog page... Anyway to just name a few more- James Morrisson, John West, Adele, Jack White...

In any case the deal's only going to get better, unless music also goes into recession:-( If you have time check these artists out and be glad you have me to introduce you to this luminary company:-) Ciao!

MAD NORMALCY

A gunman has killed eight people in a nursing home, in south Carolina: North Korea is suspected to be testing missiles: Paris Hilton has been attacked in a night club: the world is in its state of normal madness.

Meanwhile, here in India, with the elections drawing near a very sordid affair is being played out on that very impressionable stage- the mind of the masses. Varun Gandhi, heir to Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi, has done the unthinkable and overtaken LK Advani in total number of net searches. The road he chose to get there is the oft abused communal card. Predictably the Congress is in an uproar and as a result Varun Gandhi continues to be glorified by hate-mongers.

The whole mess is on the whole not surprising, considering the fact that in the past too people like Togadia and Modi have made use of vitriol to achieve political gains. Neither is only one group at fault; the partition of India was accomplished by gnawing on the same unholy bone. The stench emanates instead, from the visible lack of ethos and principle in the current political scene. I have always suspected, as many people have long since concluded, that ideology is just the stick that politicians use to beat the opponent, only to be conveniently exchanged for another as the need arises. This present fiasco has all but confirmed my suspicion.

So why should we be alarmed that the BJP whom Sanjay Gandhi, the late father of Varun, targeted during the emergency period in the 70s is singing his praises? Well, to put it simply, because we are ruled by people who have only their political mileage in mind- all ideologies and integrity be damned! Who then is Congress, the BJP, or the RJD? All profit seekers with their own agendas- which not surprisingly at all does not include the development of the nation. Seen one, you've seen them all.

But in the midst of all these madness there is still hope that at least one group exists that holds the nation dearer than its political longevity. That task, of finding the gem or the coal with potential to be a crown jewel, rests on us. The next logical step would be to start working in whatever way possible to ensure that the right people are put on the seats. And the obvious step that anyone should be doing is to VOTE. For long we have been led to believe that a single vote is of no importance. Nothing farther form the truth- each vote counts.

How can a responsible citizen just stand and watch while the nation is turned into a scrap of bread that street dogs and flea bitten curs fight over?

FASHION FORECASTS 2009!

Ok, here's the time of the year when forecasts are made about everything from politics to the stock market. To add my own spin to it I'm gonna be making some predictions about what trends will rule in fashion this year. Last year too I made some forecasts and to my credit most of them proved to be spot on; like the roman sandal craze in the high circles of fashion and minimalism in decor and furniture. Right now I'm feeling very smug and you'll have to excuse me because I like to brag when I get things right:-)

So what are this year's forecasts?

1. Black is going to be in like never before. Basically both uppers and lowers in black will be the norm, but what will be more interesting is the admixture of crazy colors in the upper and black in the lowers.

2. As to the fit skinny will rule. Someone said that skinny is out but I whole heartedly disagree. What I will agree with however is that skinnies as we know them will disappear. This year the fit will be more inverted triangleish being more relaxed around the butts, but nevertheless skinny. This is about men. With regard to women things will get very crazy indeed:-)

3. I predict the revival of old school leather shoes for men. The good old pointed, laced leathers will be the rage, albeit in very adventurous materials. For one the shiny look leather will be a hit I suspect.

4. A very cool accessory will be spectacles. Yes, you read that right spectacles, not sun glasses. But neutral lenses of course. Certain outfits reach perfection if subtly accessorized with cool spectacles in my opinion.

5. Street fashion is going to be everywhere. Street is all about freedom of expression and individuality and this year everyone will try to be a star in their own rights! The inspired look will be mangas. Just take a look at some of the mangas that come out of Japan and you will get my drift.

6. Japan has always had it's say in fashion but this year it's relevance as a fashion birth place is going to be phenomenal! Just you wait and watch my words...:-)

I do have many other forecasts but these on the whole I will bet my life on. Really, you can hold me to them at the end of the year. Oh, and btw checked shirts will make a comeback for men, but like everything else it'll be a different spin.

Take care and C'ya all.

Shameless Fiasco...

I had to write this no matter how un-populist it may sound...

So 'Slumdog Millionaire' won 8 Oscars. A most note worthy achievement indeed. I have personally not watched the movie because I have an aversion to over hype; but maybe when the hype dies, who knows... Anyway, this post is not an appreciation of the said movie at all. If it's anything it's an exercise in deprecation.

Let's get one thing straight- 'slumdog Millionaire' is a British movie...full stop! It is not even a collaboration, unless you take the nationality of the actors into consideration- which would land the entire exercise of crediting a movie into s@#tty waters. A British- american-mexicano- latin-german-....you get the general idea. Danny Boyle, the director and the man of the moment, is a UK resident and has no Indian citizenship.

With that set straight lets get on to the point. Why in hell is every other Indian news media and even the UPA trying to take credit for the movie? Why in tarnations name I ask?!!!! This question has been eating away at my mind for the last few days and left me in a nail biting tantric state. Without having ownership of a particular quality called utter shamelessness I can not imagine any Indian coming forward to claim the honor.

Well and good the actors have done a geat job and have been deservingly, but considering the nature of the Oscars debatably as well, won accolades for it. But that is not reason enough to jump on city scapes and announce brazenly that it is India's moment. Shamelessness really does very poorly at describing the current mood here. Let's for once sit down and think reasonably. Isn't it being unfair to Danny and his directorial and script writing team the way India is Hijacking his moment? I mean the poor chap must be feeling guilty to take credit for his own work, given the stratospheric jubilation here in India by everyone from the news media to the UPA!

The most damning of everything is the fact that the UPA government has also raised it's me-me flag. Without being disrespectful in the least, might I ask a simple question. Did Sonia Gandhi act in the movie? Or perhaps Amar singh aided Danny Boyle in the direction? Or maybe the spot boys were UPA workers? Nada! None of that happened. Then why, UPA, why, demean yourselves and the entire nation by making such ridiculous and half assed claims?

A paper, which unlike certain others exercises restraint and posesses that rare gift called common sense, carried a feature that quotes a distinguished person. He says that rather than the nation's achievement it is a celebration of individual talent and I very well agree with him.

Indians have for long lived in extremes. We are quick to crown someone and equally quick to throw the same person to the wolves. Maybe what we really want is a sense of identity...

A DATE WITH PENELOPE CRUZ

Today's paper says that Penelope Cruz does not have a date for Valentines this year... I would be more than willing to make myself available; what's more I'll even give her a rose;-)

I'm anti-establishment to the extreme. Rebel without a cause might describe my state quite aptly, yet, even that coinage stops short of being complete. I do not gripe against conventions for lack of things to do. It is my identity rather. I'll always seek to find the hidden path.

So needless to say valentine's day ticks me off. I say, why glorify a particular day when all it works out to is an excuse to be attentive one day and indifferent the rest of the year. Or in certain cases as an excuse to get into someone's pants... My displeasure would perhaps not be as evident if the capitalization of the day was not so severe. The appeasement of Mammon is sickening and revolting- utterly.

It is in itself a rather sweet idea. I mean why on earth should I protest the expression of love? The interpretation and practice of the theory is what riles me! 1 Corinthians 15 is so starkly in opposition to the way people celebrate Valentines now. It is showy, decadent, selfish, self-seeking and above all hypocritical.

Why then, you might ask, do I volunteer to be Penelope Cruz's date? The possibility of that happening is as good as Haley's comet deciding to do a 5o year advance appearance, but still, why? The reason is simple really- she's the bomb! And if the excuse of Valentines is the only chance in a million, make that a trillion, for me to spend a day with her, I'd glady betray myself and half the world. Hypocritical? Exactly why I dislike Valentines!:-)

ASHES OF TIME

Last night i watched this work of art by Wong Kar Wai, and I was quite overwhelmed. Wong Kar has long been renowned as one of China's most prolific Cinematic exports, and this movie proves it.

The plot is not the most important thing here, nor is the action which to be honest left me feeling a little disoriented because of its jerkiness. The key to understanding and enjoying the movie is instead in the art of storytelling that Wong Kar Wai employs. Through a roughly one and a half hour duration some seemingly disconnected personalities are woven into an awesome climactic sequence.

Partly a study on the nature of human emotions, and partly an examination of personality types, the movie succeeds on both counts for me. The dialogues are neither too obtuse or esoteric, nor too one dimensional; which is the same for the characters themselves. I suspect that much of Chinese folklore and philosophy has been interwoven into the movie.

The cinematography is first rate. Certain scenes look like they would have been perfectly at home among one of Ansel Adam's best photographs; and coming from a Photography fanatic that's high praise. The beauty of the desert is not cosmeticized( this btw is not a real word!) but presented in all it's cruelty and quiet tenacity.

The characters are played excellently by some Hong Kong heavy weights. I think that Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung steal the movie through their stellar performances though. Tony Leung in particular occupying very little screen time proves that long does not necessarily mean better. Props to all the cast though!

I always desist from elaborating on the plot in my reviews because I feel that it is for the viewer to discover for themselves. What I can say without any prejudice is that Wong Kar wai deserves every accolade he gets. very few movies leave me feeling half satiated and craving. This was one of them.

There are some very strong, but covert, sexual allusions in the movie. See if you can spot them; perhaps that'll tell you how observant you are:-)

Watch it!