All we need is Radio Ga Ga...

Remember the famous song by Queen? Well, if I was a Queen, then I would proclaim the Radio to be Dead!! Such is the state of the channels on the airwaves of Mumbai. Gone are the good old days, when one would start the day with Jaggu & Tarana on Go FM! Now I dont know who to listen to - everyone sounds the same, the topics are not much different, and the songs well.. there's no variety there either!

Its a shame, really! One would think with 7-8 channels doing the rounds, there would be a tough choice to make between them, however, on the contrary, its turning out to be a dull channel switching act whilst each channel follows the same songs hour after hour.

Is Indi-pop dead? I know for sure the desi revolution has killed English songs and bands, since there's hardly any channel (baring VH1) which dares to show Angrezi stuff on TV. And the same theme has followed the Radio too, with the only English songs played on AIR's Rainbow FM and some one odd hour on Radio City. Along with the desi revolution, Radio channels have now become brand ambassadors for Bollywood songs. I've been listening for the past month or so, and none of the channels have played one Indi-pop song.. I dont even remember the artists ;) (of course I cant forget Euphoria!!)

Well, enough said! Let us pay our homage to the Radio which we once adored and which ceases to exist amidst us now!

Letting sleeping dogs lie!

Situation: I'm travelling in our beloved BEST bus on my way to work, last thursday, around 9.30 am. Obviously, being rush hour, there is the usual hustle-bustle. I'm used to dozing off while travelling and today was no different. I was suddenly awoken by a ruckus created by two gentlemen in the seat in front of where I was enjoying my nap. I couldn't follow why the ruckus was created, but the conversation that transpired went like this:

Gentleman1 (seated): Why can't you talk properly? Have you no manners?
Gentleman2 (standing): Sir, I think you are mistaken. All I was saying was please remove your bag from the pathway, so that I can stand properly!
G1 : Arey, but is that the way to speak? Have your parents not taught you any manners? Don't you know how to talk when you come from "outside"?
G2 (visibly flushing!): I'm sorry if I hurt you, but all I was saying was that you remove your bag!

At this point in time I had a rush of blood! Let me explain! G1 in the situation was a Gujarati gentleman, and G2 apparently from the Southern part of India. (I could make out by the accents that both the individuals sported!!) My first reaction was that I wanted to nudge G1 in the back and ask him - 'Excuse me Sir, but what exactly do you mean "outside"??'

I was quite flabbergasted at the question posed by G1. I've stayed outside the country for around a year, but never have been made to feel like an outsider in those countries. Its a different thing that I didn't enjoy the privileges of being a first citizen, but in no way had anyone told me that I was an outsider! And here I am in my own country hearing people call a person from a different state an outsider!! And by what right does a Gujarati guy in Maharashtra call this guy an outsider? Isnt he himself from "outside"?

Mumbai is supposed to be a cosmopolitan city where people from all across the country come to fulfil their dreams. Year after year throngs of people from villages, different states, far away places come to Mumbai to make a living. And year after year this place has welcomed them with open arms (albeit, looking at the population explosion the city is facing, its no longer a pleasant thought!).

Coming back to the topic, I felt like saying those things, but I didnt!! Why? Well, simply put, I didnt want to face the ire of the irate Gujju gentleman, lest he turn his attention to me. And all the while in the bus I was thinking whether I did the right thing. Whether I should have intervened or not? Havent we all become this way? Its not only this simple issue, but havent we become or chosen to become ignorant to graver issues?

DO YOU HEAR...

The wind blows across the earth
Do you hear the whisper sweet
The fire burns in the hearth
Do you hear the silent feet
The water splashes on the shore
Do you hear the hearts that beat

Chorus
Do you hear the unspoken words
Do you hear the unsung tune
Do you hear the beating hearts
Does it remind you of you and me

The raindrops on the window sill
Hearts burning in the midnight glare
The snow falling on the hill
And slowly the passions flare

Chorus --

WHAT I WANT..

Dont stop me from saying a thing
I know what i want
Dont stop me from doing something
This is all i want

Chorus:
( And what i want is )
For Us to be together
For now and for ever
We will be together


Dont just stand there
Give me a sign
Dont give me those looks
I'm not lyin'

Dont break my heart baby
Dont rip it out
This is for sure not maybe
This is what i want

Chorus --

And do i see a smile
Please Give me a sign
Oh please please please
Girl Im Flyin'

U dont know u just
Made my day
tell u something i must
This is all i want