January 07, 2008
V are all RockstarsMusings
Abhi posted a link on the news tab which I just had to click…Guns N’ Roses? Sweet Child o’ Mine?
Indian-ishtyle??
I thought my brain would implode at the thought but I was hooked immediately. That song (and that group) dominate my memories of my freshman year in high school— mostly because I hated myself for secretly kind of liking it.
Fortunately, no one uncovered my shameful positivity towards this anthem of the popular set. I say “fortunately” because my friends wore flight jackets, smoked cloves and paired Fluevogs with our somber tweed uniforms; we listened to The Smiths, not this group we would later derisively hiss at for being ignorant and intolerant since it obviously had issues with homosexuality and people of color. Never mind that GnR’s lead guitarist Slash is half-black himself, to 14-year old me any group which was going to diss gay people was evil (I had just gotten over my crush on George Michael, my favorite member of Depeche Mode was Martin and I hearted Erasure…I really wanted to be Grace Adler when I grew up).
Part of the reason why this video— which is actually a wonderful commercial for Indian MTV-rival Channel V— jolted me like a quadruple-shot-latte was because none of the things I associate with Sweet Child o’ Mine are brown. High school, my friends from it, the TG parties I grimly attended with all my pledge sisters at UC Hippie…not brown. This video? Brown, and fabulously so.
This song has serious staying power. It went from being my bete noire twenty years ago to what I was giddily shouting the lyrics to a few months ago, at the National Geographic Halloween party. Upon observing how unanimously thrilled everyone aged 21-61 was the second those unmistakable, evocative first notes blared, I think I drunkenly decided that SCoM would be on my wedding reception play list, should I ever resolve my fear of adulthood and move beyond the existential crisis of “nomenclature for feminists”, i.e. “Do I take his name?”.
Wait, where was I? Oh, yes SCoM. Rather, “Ooooooh, woah-oooooh Sweeeet Chile of Miiiiiiiine”. A song so infectious, I’m sure every one of you has your own memory or five associated with it. I must say, the version we’re highlighting above is fantastic. Well, the first almost-half is. I loved it until 00:24. I just wanted more of those bliss-inducing strings. The vocals ripped me out of the euphoric haze I had been lifted in to and I was bewildered and slightly annoyed until Auntie’s hilarious, monosyllabic reaction at the end, which punctuated the minute nicely.
It’s a Monday and I thought you deserved something Happy; see how many times you watch it before you can tear yourself away. Me? Four. Just when you think something familiar can’t surprise you…
anna on January 7, 2008 02:10 PM in Humor, Music, Musings, Video · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post
¤ Today's Cool News said: Sweet Child of Mine - Sitar Style
"we are all rockstars" OH Hell Yeah!!!
i like how one of them is channeling Slash with his hair :)
oh, i can't believe my first time commenting on SM involves guns n roses!
oh, i can't believe my first time commenting on SM involves guns n roses!
Oh, I'd say that's rather auspicious. ;) Thanks for delurking!
There is knout wrong with guns and roses, my first taste of rock and roll, welcome to the jungle. And slash was and still is very much cool!
I wore out that tape. That year, my gf and future Mrs. S got me AFD tee for my birthday.
I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).
whoa, this scom version reminds me that uber performing monkey's straddlin virtuosity at the zee cine awards..here.. where he plays the opening riffs off all songs in "OMG, THATS WHAT I CALL MUSIC #27", ... and then ...dances to them...[trivia-did you know he also painted the backdrop?]... dont let the karan juhar gentle banter at the beginning put you off the shot of the lady jangling the musical dildo at 2:52.
I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).
Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)
First time I ever heard GnR was when my older best friend taught me how to drive a stick shift. He had it blaring from the stereo, trying to drive on an old airplane runway...yeah, good times.
“Do I take his name?”I say, hyphenate.
I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).
Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)
Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)
I say, hyphenate.
Yes, but I'm a Southie and lately I've been dating similar. Gone are the days when I could have been a Kurisummoottil-Deol*. Now it would be more like Kurisummoottil-Lakshminarayan. My children would go Menendez on my kundi, and really, who would blame them?
*These are all hypothetical names. I am in no way implying that I dated a random relative of Bobby Deol's back in '93 or that I'm part of that uber-Christian clan (I think "Kurisummoottil" translates to "the root of the cross") by using these surnames which are cited here purely for the purpose of expressing a point. Nope, not me. Not I. Not me. So there! Oy, I'm in a musical place today, aren't I?
more like Kurisummoottil-LakshminarayanI just thought about that after I commented. Yes, that does get complicated. Best wishes!
12 · bess said
I just thought about that after I commented. Yes, that does get complicated.
Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?
Abhay Deol?
Abhay Deol?
No one THAT obvious. I keed, I keed.
ha ha, I had to throw it out there:)
I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).
Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)
Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)
Call me thick, I didn't get that.
Not too shabby. In fact, it sounds pretty good!
But do they smash their sitars into the tabla and speakers at the end of the concert? (Like Nirvana, The Who, Nine Inch Nails etc.) That would make them true certified rockers.
Just being my usual sarcastic self. Sitars, veenas, santoors, tablas and mridangams etc are beautiful pieces of fine art that happen to make gorgeous sounds. Besides, in Hinduism, all musical intruments (Western and Eastern, and books/printed materials) represent Goddess Saraswati, at least that was what I was raised to believe. This belief may vary from region to region.
Not all southies have long surnames- you could always marry a Reddy or a Nair or a Rao :)
19 · nala said
Not all southies have long surnames- you could always marry a Reddy or a Nair or a Rao :)
Damnit Nala, with your logic and facts and stuff. That's ONE more excuse I can't use now. Bah!
17 · Single and Looking
Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)
Call me thick, I didn't get that.
Quick post, should have elaborated.
DC = Brooks Brothers town. Curly Long haired guys do better in NYC.
On a recent trip to London, I was struck by how stylish everyone looked riding the Tube even wearing 'bankers' style clothes.
Then again some people in Noida dress better than people on the Metro.
Oh, funny. That's what I get for reading these postings including Anna's quickly and replying without any self editing.
I read her original comment as "Yes, but if you found one, who would play at your reception? ;)" Meaning he would be the musician and etc...
Sorry Anna. Sometimes all the social/caste/economic class issues on this website it tends to color my readings of these postings.
Then again some people in Noida dress better than people on the Metro.
hee. The same is true of New York (that people in Noida dress better than them).
Damnit Nala, with your logic and facts and stuff. That's ONE more excuse I can't use now. Bah!
An excuse for not hyphenating? I think you should just give the kids your name. :)
I would like to see an Indian version of Welcome to the Jungle when they go to that percussion break in the middle of the song and Axl screams at the end "You know where you are.. you're in the jungle baybeeee" . They could use tablas or something in that segment of the song.
Appetite for Destruction is one of my all time favorite albums. Every damn fucking song is very listenable. No filler.
It's too bad Axl Rose became almost as fucked up as Michael Jackson.
What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.
Anna, I'd say, you should not change your name unless your spouse also agrees to change his. Three words: Swaminathan Anklesaria Aiyar.
Do you know where you are?
What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.
I'm pretty sure one of the dudes from Soundgarden was Indian. Given the career trajectory of most grunge bands, he's probably well on his way to being a 'street musician' of sorts.
This has me wishing for more Hindustani/Qawwali/Carnatic covers of western music. I'd tap that.
Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?
Hahaha! Well, in such dire circumstances, I believe "Iyer" itself is a perfectly acceptable alternative to other, more intimidating options.
23 · nala said
hee. The same is true of New York (that people in Noida dress better than them)
I was really surprised by how much the malls and some places in the New Delhi metro area were similar to DC, even down to the underground parking garages.
There were even some hot Delhi girls riding the metro there. :)
nala nair sounds like a cool name
Does anyone know who any of the artists are in the video?
ANNA, a short surname is not always a boon - mine has a rather risque meaning (and coupled with my first, would make for a good porn star name). a good example of how parents not being down with the lingo can be detrimental to their kids...
Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?they do, but desi or not, there doesn't seem to be some sort of trend towards choosing the shorter one...
I knew Anna would post this :)
That...was...AWESOME.
Pravin:
What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.
Please to follow along on the tabla (or table, take your pick):
dukka-dukka-dukka-duk
-a-
duk-a-duk-a-duk
duk-duk-dukka-duk
Feeel the riddam in your haaaaaand
steeeal de riddam wile you kaaan.
Chamach-Adhmi!
anna, thank you for the post...that rocked! no pun intended.
I always knew Indians would smell the roses before we see Chinese Democracy
32 · Manju said
nala nair sounds like a cool name
Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).
No, but I know exactly how fast I am going.
Pingpong, are you really that tiny? Given how hung up men are about size, I commend you for your public candor.
39 · portmanteau said
Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).
Hmmm, Manju Portmanteau has a certain ring to it too, sweet child of mine.
Pingpong, are you really that tiny? Given how hung up men are about size, I commend you for your public candor.
Port, I thought men were hung down when it comes to size, but to each her own.
Ladies, ladies, I can tell you with no hyperbole at all that I don't just have inches, I have feet. Two to be exact. When I leave home in cold weather, I use carefully designed casings of plastic, leather and rubber, otherwise I'd cause people to stare at me wide-eyed in awe and disbelief. The casings are called boots.
I also gotta say that I agree that the vocals really ruin the ad at the end. The old guy wailing was kind of annoying. The first part was fun to watch.
what - no word on sepia on the whole aussie-india cricket tour?? We are being labelled racists - yo.. here are my 2 cents on the issue -
i really dont think anyone in India is under the impression that Symonds is black - also the word monkey is hardly used to connotate black people (we have other words for that - which are never spoken). heck, my mom is so naive that she thought it was okay to refer to blacks as "negroes" until I told her...so these allegations of "racism" are preposterous. Singh is probably darker than Symonds. Symonds just happens to look like an ape - nothing else to it!!
Look, Aussies - you need to understand something - no one cares 2 hoots about your country - no, not even the US (whom you pander to so devoutly), and not even the UK (who, because of your ethnicity you love to hate..). India, is an emerging superpower, and in many ways, this cricket team represents the face of modern India - one that will not take Shit from anyone - not your cricketers (whom we so convincingly defeated in the fastest form of cricket), not your media, and not your cricket boards filled with "stupid old white men".. sorry mates - this is how its going to be in the new century.
No, but I know exactly how fast I am going.
:D tell me pingpong, are you one of those guys who has pingpong (and pool) all figured out according to newtionian principles?
39 · portmanteau said
32 · Manju said
nala nair sounds like a cool name
Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).
haha... thanks for looking out for me portmanteau akka (or do you prefer didi?). that reminds me... today i was eavesdropping on the conversation of these three russian men who were talking about the presidential election; they were making fun of mitt romney's mormonism, saying 'like in big love!' to the one who didn't understand what the significance was, and wondering aloud if he had crazy mormon orgies with his secret multiple wives. i think manju is far from being a mormon kind of conservative though.
45 · nala said
wondering aloud if he had crazy mormon orgies with his secret multiple wives. i think manju is far from being a mormon kind of conservative though.
don't underestimate me
Yeah. Okay. Thanks for sharing, swoop. Nice threadjack, apropos of nothing.
See pingpong #31. First, slow down. That'll help you figure out where you are, where you're going, and also let your fingers catch up to your brain.
Yeah, Heisenberg definitely applies here.
Um. Here...ish.
don't underestimate me
so you're both a sepia mutiny deity and the lord of your plural-uterus household?
41 · Manju said
39 · portmanteau said
Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).
Hmmm, Manju Portmanteau has a certain ring to it too, sweet child of mine.
The auspicious occasion can be held in the fall. Just watch out for that November Rain. Maybe held in Chandigarh or Mumbai, which some think are paradise cities.
Sorry. Couldn't resist it. ;)
:D tell me pingpong, are you one of those guys who has pingpong (and pool) all figured out according to newtionian principles?
Oh yes, the Newtonian theory of pingpong: if the male spanks his ball with a paddle and the female spanks it harder, the male will find his ball coming quickly. It's called transfer of momentum.
But I will always remember the advice given to us by a sixth grade PE instructor: "Hit the top-right corner of the ball". Great. Now just show me which corner of this spherical ball you're talking about.
Oh yes, the Newtonian theory of pingpong: if the male spanks his ball with a paddle and the female spanks it harder, the male will find his ball coming quickly. It's called transfer of momentum.
What, no collisions in which both the male and the female expend energy?
But I will always remember the advice given to us by a sixth grade PE instructor: "Hit the top-right corner of the ball". Great. Now just show me which corner of this spherical ball you're talking about.
You played pingpong in P.E. class?? Or are we talking about different kinds of balls now.
You played pingpong in P.E. class??
Only when it rained. (The school used to send some teams for interschool events and stuff, including in pingpong, except it was called table tennis). Otherwise it was outdoors in the unwelcome heat. With standard PE teacher instructions like "Form a circle. Eii! [wheet!] The circle is not straight. Both of you three! Stand in a straight circle". Much fun was had.
I just got back from India yesterday afternoon. This video is awesome and moreso because one of my cousin's absolute favorite song is "Sweet Child O' Mine" - it's his ringtone. I'd hear the song ten times a day. I borrowed a cellphone from him for my trip - guess what the ringtone on that one was? The same. Now I come back to the U.S. and I hear this rendition. Too funny. But it's really well done. :)
Do you know where you are?
IN THE JUNGLE, BABY!
This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.
I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.Hello, Santana it's around 2:12. I always prefer the drum solos myself (Rush, anyone?)
As for this:
The old guy wailing was kind of annoying.
Praniv, I loved that bit. If only the hairband rockstar tenors could be so melismatic.
The band took that visceral GnR sound and made it transcendent.
55 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi said
Do you know where you are?
IN THE JUNGLE, BABY!
IN THE JUNGLE, BABY! Close the office door and attach the head phones/ear buds and crank the volume to 10!
BTW, I agree tablas at the percussion break would be awesome. They could even bhangra-ize it a bit. Play it at Basement Bhangra - the crowd would go nuts.
Now I have to find a Karaoke bar this week.
56 · Amitabh said
This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.
I'd agree with you on this. While Bess points out Santana, I can also think of some from Velvet Revolver and Green Day, I think musicianship as a whole has decreased in music. With the newer technologies, there's much more of a synthesized product - not that I mind, some of my favorite american pop songs come from JT and Timbaland.
You may also may not remember hearing an evocative guitar solo recently, as there are so many musical voices. GNR in its time was the definition of a "rock" band. Most people living in America would have some familiarity with GNR, while nowadays, there's no quintessential defining act that everyone can identify or have some familiarity with. To a lesser extent, I see the same phenomenon in Bhangra. Other than Shinda and Gurdas Mann, the modern acts don't seem to have the same kind of resonance with the majority of the population. That's not to say there isn't great music out there, it's just harder for everyone to identify it with a multitude of choices to listen to.
That video rox! Thanks A N N A.
One thing, though. Whycome you weren't offended by Axl's immigrant bashing in "One in a Million?" I was, slightly, back in the day, but I rationalized that these were the thoughts of a character/narrator and not necessarily the artist.
Was GNR popular in India in the late 80s and 90s? It seems like a lot of the music that got popular over there were the old 70s rock bands or the pop stars of the 80s. I wonder if a poppish band like Bon Jovi was more popular over there.
One thing, though. Whycome you weren't offended by Axl's immigrant bashing in "One in a Million?" I was, slightly, back in the day, but I rationalized that these were the thoughts of a character/narrator and not necessarily the artist.
Harbeer,
I did have issues with that song. :) I mentioned them in this line:
we listened to The Smiths, not this group we would later derisively hiss at for being ignorant and intolerant since it obviously had issues with homosexuality and people of color.
In the post, "obviously had issues" is linked to the wiki page for "One in a Million". :) Aside from my dirty, clandestine fling with SCoM, I really disliked GnR. :) My freshman year was a bit less radio-friendly: Book of Love, Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, Cure, Softcell, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb...
I know, I know. You did say all that. I'm not faulting you or anything. But even the Wikipedia entry talks about Axl's use of the words "nigger" and "faggot" but don't really discuss the immigrant-bashing.
Immigrants and faggots They make no sense to me They come to our country And think they'll do as they please Like start some mini Iran Or spread some fucking disease They talk so many goddamn ways It's all greek to me
Never would've pegged you for a 4AD-er. How about Big Black? (I was a head-banger and [strictly East Coast] bboy. I know those two genres aren't the most compatible, which is why I was psyched when the Judgement Night soundtrack came out.)
This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.
The music market is divided into many niches nowadays. If you want to hear killer guitar solos and great musicianship in general , you're far more likely to find them in a Disco Biscuits/Umphrey's McGee/Perpetual Groove set or a Opeth/Mastodon album than anything you can hear on the radio. Of course the genres/niche markets that support jam bands and prog/death metal bands don't involve a great deal of radio-play or MTV exposure.
I really disliked GnR. :)
Had I known that I would have just told you that GNR was more bark than it was bite (in terms of stirring up the pot) and after all, people are people, so no one needs to be a master to the servant of pop, everyone is entitled to their choice of genre of music, it's a strangelove.
That's it, Karaoke tonight.
64 · muralimannered said
what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.
They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time. I saw Grupo Fantasma a few weeks ago and after a kick ass conga solo, the singer announced, "And now...guitars!" to introduce the cheesy-assed guitar solo.
Doh! I used a quote that was quoted by murlaimannered and accidentally attributed the quote to murali.
Harbeer,
Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy? I ask, because to me, I find that GNR and P.E. were very similar. Both put out good music, both were one of a kinds, both were controversial, both had elements of their music where they were accused of race baiting. As an East Coast B-boy, myself, who loves all kinds of music including New Wave and Hard Rock, I find that every genre includes some type of offensive comment. I still enjoy the music, I just don't support the comment or the group making it.
BTW, Judgment Night was a very good spin and was seminal in helping to create the modern rock/rap fusion we hear today.
They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time.
I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.
As an East Coast B-boy,
Are you really a breakdancer?
Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?
I don't know about Harbeer, but I was a fan of both PE and GNR. At the time, PE was the rap band for me while GNR was my rock n roll band.
I don't think it is a problem to like the music even if the singer is a jerk. Elvis Costello used the N word in real life when he got pissed once. Some of the 70s rockers had very unsavory private lives which included taking in underage groupies.
12 · bess said
I just thought about that after I commented. Yes, that does get complicated.
Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?
I know a Beth Narasimhan...
heee
70 · HMF said
As an East Coast B-boy,
Are you really a breakdancer?
ROTFL, I got a little amped and started reliving my younger years, hence the slip in tense. Good catch.
Re: Git-tar.
Ted Leo is a bona fide guitar hero. See him live if you get a chance. Great guitar, no wanky solos. Full marks on politics too.
Murali,
Good call on Opeth. Still Life, Black Water Park or both?
Anna,
You'll be glad to know about Johnny Marr's gainful employment.
And yes, G'n'R were huge on Indian campuses.
68 · Jangali Janwar said
Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?
Hell yeah! I was into all that positive, militant black power stuff. PE, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, YZ, Paris. People are shocked when I admit that I never much went for Boogie Down Productions (well, I liked D-Nice but KRS-1 never much did it for me.)
And then there were the really weird acts like Arrested Development, Me Phi Me, Intelligent Hoodlum and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.
Judgment Night was a very good spin and was seminal in helping to create the modern rock/rap fusion we hear today.
That De La meets Teenage Fan Club track is a classic, but if that soundtrack is responsible for Kid Rock and Limp Biscuit, then I'm not sure it was worth it.
Oh, now this is going to be stuck in my head during the most important meeting of my week:
i believe in the me phi me
I didn't know anyone else who had that single. AND Intelligent Hoodlum. Harbeer, I'm stealing your iPod.
71 · Pravin said
I don't think it is a problem to like the music even if the singer is a jerk.
This goes for all art in my world. Hell, I even like some David Allen Coe songs. ("My Long Hair Just Can't Cover Up My Red Neck" is a killer karaoke song for a Sikh boy from Texas, y'all.) (And then there's that right-wing bigot Charlie Daniels' "Long Haired Country Boy"--another karaoke standard of mine.)
(Don't laugh.)hardy har har!
And ANNA, I loved the Cocteau Twins/Bauhaus/Dead Can Dance- 3 AD label stuff Lonely is an Eyesore...oh the memories.
Harbeer,
Great bideos, yaar. Huge fan of D-Nice, simply for this one line: "I'm taking out you suckas and you don't know how I did it." I understand about KRS-One. The lyrics on "love's gonna getcha" are fantastic and the "bridge" is a classic but he always seemed genuinely arrogant and that turned me off of his music. The 80's and early 90's were a great time for Hip-Hop, some of the acts you mentioned really elevated the lyrical side of the music. Then it went dry and you had Crap-Hop, I personally blame P-Diddy. Now, it seems to come full circle with Common, Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe Fiasco bringing about a resurgence in the lyrical side of the music.
To keep it brown, another great melding of worlds was Jay-Z and Punjabi MC, I've never seen a crowd that doesn't start moving to this tune. Kid Rock isn't so bad, keep an open mind with him (despite the whole Pam and Tommy episode), he really spans a lot of musical influences. I certainly wouldn't put him in the same class as Limp Bizkit. That was simply trash, though Faith and Nookie were useful tunes to get your workout on to.
69 · muralimannered said
I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.
Fair enough. I just emailed a Stanley Jordan video earlier today, and I was rockin Miles Davis's Live/Evil last week and really digging the John McLaughlin solos. (Most things involving pre-1980s John McLaughlin rock my world--Bitches Brew, Shakti, Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Guitar Trio.)
Anybody hear the Shakti album that Santana played on--Love Devotion Surrender? (Apparently Zakir Hussein is playing in that clip but you can't really see or hear him.) Sick album. I'll have to replace it one day. (Been ten years since my apt in Brooklyn got burglarized and I still haven't rebuilt my collection.)
Sweet Child of Mine is the rare "hair ballad" of the 80s i could stand. Don't get me wrong. I put that in quotes because I dont really consider GNR to be a hair band or that song to be a real hair ballad. But when that video first came out, i remember how GNR was being lumped in with the silly 80s hair band scene even though they were more of a straight up rock n roll band in my view. I hated those freaking 80s hair ballads.
The only good thing about Nelson is I think they really killed off the 80s hair band scene with their craptacular videos. Another song I despised was that MR Big song where some curly haired wuss would sing about "Only to be with you" or something.
Is this video a TV commercial in India? What exactly are they advertising? What is the point?
And the disdainful look the auntiji gives at the end, so realistically typical. How many of those have I been on the receiving end throughout my life....
Harbeer,
For some country try out Hank Williams, "A country boy can survive". For some reason, my dad, a punjabi through and through simply loves this song. That David Coe track is killer! BTW, I never liked Arrested Development, one of the few, I thought they were so contrived. Intelligent Hoodlum, that's a real blast from the past.
Umm, about that I-Pod, I call dibs.
80 · Jangali Janwar said
Great bideos, yaar
Word, I'm glad you've gleaned something from my procrastination. Here's one last one from Poor Righteous Teachers before I get back to work.
What about your parents. What kind of pop/rock music they do seem to like? My mom is close to being a senior citizen and she likes a lot of rock and pop.
69 · muralimannered said
They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time.
I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.
Amen! Preach!
Pravin, let's never utter the word "Nelson" again, so that no one will ever try and bring back that craptacularness. They singlehandedly nearly destroyed the power ballad.
Umm, about that I-Pod, I call dibs.
Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.
80 · Jangali Janwar said
I understand about KRS-One. The lyrics on "love's gonna getcha" are fantastic and the "bridge" is a classic but he always seemed genuinely arrogant and that turned me off of his music. The 80's and early 90's were a great time for Hip-Hop, some of the acts you mentioned really elevated the lyrical side of the music. Then it went dry and you had Crap-Hop, I personally blame P-Diddy. Now, it seems to come full circle with Common, Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe Fiasco bringing about a resurgence in the lyrical side of the music.
Yeah, "Love's Gonna Getcha" was exception, especially on account of that bass line, and "The Bridge" is indeed a classic, too. I kind of fell out of hip hop when De La went all PM Dawn and realeased Buhloone Mindstate and Quest dropped Beats, Rhymes and Life, so I missed the whole mid-90s Tupac vs. Biggie thang, in addition to great stuff like Pharcyde, Wu Tang, Fugees, and the rise of Jay-Z. I didn't get back into hip hop until I started hearing conscious stuff again like Black Star, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Blackalicious and The Coup.
For a killer late 80s - early 90s hip hop mix, go here and prepare to at least nod your head if not fully bust out into a full-fledged kickstep/cabbage patch dance medley.
My mom is close to being a senior citizen and she likes a lot of rock and pop.
I remember listening to NWA in high school, in the car, with my mom, who was completely oblivious not only to what they were saying, but also to all the swear words...I actually don't think she could make out the individual words in their 'songs'.
As for the guitar discussion, you guys seem to know a lot more about that than me, but I will say this...there is a place for (relatively) brief, well-phrased guitar solos in most rock music. One of my favorite solos is Hendrix in 'Hey Joe'...short, sweet, and beautiful. As long as the solo says something or makes a succint musical statement without meandering aimlessly around, it's good. The solo in Sweet Child O'Mine is a good example.
88 · bess said
Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.
I did something like this on the day after Christmas (forgive the technical difficulties). I wish I'd remembered to make the comparison between up-and-coming desi rappers and the Spanglish phenomena of the early 90s--Cypress Hill, Mellow Man Ace, Kid Frost, etc.
I also wish I'd known more about Immortal Productions and Tigerstyle a mere two weeks ago.
Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :)
Speaking of GnR and India...one of the first times I ever realised the gap between middle-class urbanites vs rural folks, was when I was visiting India many years ago...I was in a car, stopped in traffic. I glanced over to this bus stop where a lot of people were waiting for the bus. There was a teenager wearing a black GnR t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, listening to a walkman. Next to him was someone straight outta the village...dhoti, turban, big moustache, heavy ear rings, lathi, the works. Both standing side by side, waiting for the bus. Wish I could have taken a picture.
Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :)
I gots love a'right! For all yous, dats DJ Drrrty and mm too!
I did something like this on the day after Christmas (forgive the technical difficulties).Thanks for this. I'll be on it soon and I'm all about forgivin' ; )
88 · bess said
Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.
Bess, it's not much, but here's one of my old skool playlists. :)
Amitabh,
Your one brave man to have NWA playing while your mom was in the car. If my mom would have had an inkling of what was in that music, the chappals would have started flying!
Bess, thanks. If your interested in some mixtapes of 80's and 90's music, check out DJ Neil Armstrong. Look for his CD's on that site. He's got an eclectic mix on his CDs skewing towards Hip-Hop, R&B and New Wave. I'd recommend Sweet, Oscillate Wildly and BitterSweet, to keep it really light. Unfortunately, no South Asian music. In the interests of full disclosure, he's also a close friend. He has no idea that I'm on SM or that I'm recommending him nor am I getting any proceeds. SM intern, sorry about the plug, just wanted to share good music.
Here's one last one from Poor Righteous Teachers before I get back to work.
I've had my door closed all day. Thank goodness it's the beginning of the year and been very slow, but I know I'm going to pay tomm. Sepia Mutiny, destroying the myth that brown people focus on work.
Harbeer I just realized that link is to kpft (I've heard loads of great stuff about that station, all pub radio stations want to have that kind of community representation.)
impressive, mang. Did you host?
JJ, I'll be checking out DJ Neil thanks and when you said this:
some mixtapes of 80's and 90's
Had me remembering the mixtapes I'd been given over the years - sincere love on analog.
ANNA, as for your old skewl playlist - I'm working my youtubiness way through that one ; )
And in the spirit of selfconsciousness I realize I wrote 3 AD, meant 4 -doh!
97 · bess said
Harbeer I just realized that link is to kpft (I've heard loads of great stuff about that station, all pub radio stations want to have that kind of community representation.) impressive, mang. Did you host?
Yeah, all the Pacifica stations are pretty rad. (Are you sure you're not thinking of the more famous KPFA in Bezerkeley, though?) I did host that night, but the show (Border Crossings) was started by my friends Nusrat and Jaspal more than five years ago. I've been working with them for about three of those years, but only when I'm visiting my friends and family back in Houston. Did you miss the discussion with Abhi and Amardeep on 12/19/07?
I recommend Generasian Radio if you want to hear the latest desi sounds (though I am not personally connected to that show, except as a fan).
HAHA! Thanks so much for posting this.
Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?I know this wasn't directed towards me, but I looooooove PE. How can you guys not like Boogie Down Productions or Arrested Development? A travesty! ;)
Amitabh -- You're lucky; if I play NWA with my mom in the car I get a thappar upside the head.
Pravin, on moms and music: my mama has great (rock) taste. My deep appreciation for Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, old school Santana, etc., comes from her. She also loved Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams and Into My Car," but I think I can forgive her for that.
Re: guitar solos, hello! Tom Morello! There are excellent guitarists today, and some (like, maybe 2?) are even pop stars. I don't need some lame-ass hair metal solo to have an ear-gasm.
How can you guys not like Boogie Down Productions or Arrested Development?
"Beef, what a relief." Kris lost me forever as a potential fan with that one weak line (although D-Nice still holds up). Too simple and didactic. Arrested Development? Meh, they're just corny (same reason I don't like Spearhead), although I was a fan back in the day.
My answer to the parents question: my dad used to listen to qwaali and ghazals and stuff like Gurdas Maan, Jagjit Sing/Chitra Singh, Surinder Kaur, etc. Not so much anymore. My mom hates music unless it's kirtan (Sikh "hymns") or dhadi waars (which are something like militant Sikh power raps).
I'd never play NWA in front of my mom because I never really went for that misogynistic gangsta stuff in the first place, but even if I played Shakiyla in the car with her she'd prolly yell and swipe at the off switch and inadvertently turn it up instead of off.
Doh! The phrase "militant Sikh power" was supposed to point here.
An impromptu "I can't believe I'm still #^@%!#& at work"/inspired-by-SM playlist:
1) Description of a Fool - Tribe
2) Holy Moly - Talib
3) Pass the Plugs - De La
and just for Camille, what I'm listening to right this second...
4) What Side you on - Public Enemy
Back to work...
Arrested Development? Meh, they're just corny (same reason I don't like Spearhead), although I was a fan back in the day.But don't you find Arrested Development whimsical? Didn't Mr. Wendal make you think? Sigh, I will retreat to my misogynistic, weak-lyric'ed, Boogie-less gangsta rap corner.I'd never play NWA in front of my mom because I never really went for that misogynistic gangsta stuff in the first place
Thanks, ANNA! =D
Camille,
Until your comments about Arrested Development, I was a fan of your posts, but now I must question your judgment. ;) Since you, Harbeer and ANNA are fans of "conscious" hip-hop and are commentators who try to get their point across without being misunderstood, this one's for y'all.
Camille,C'mon, you know you find them precious! ;) I don't love ALL Arrested Development, but I can't say I dislike them. I love to groove to their version of "Everyday People" and to "Tennessee"! You know who I really love, though? Dead Prez.Until your comments about Arrested Development, I was a fan of your posts, but now I must question your judgment. ;)
After Common fell into the GAP he really broke my heart :(
I will retreat to my misogynistic, weak-lyric'ed, Boogie-less gangsta rap corner.
Ironically, I've softened up to NWA but not BDP since then. If you can imagine (based on my comments on SM), I'm actually less self-righteous than I used to be. ;-) The new Devin the Dude is insanely great and it's hardly pc.
Arrested Development whimsical? Maybe in small doses. I'm would wager that I'm far too cynical to listen to more than two songs in a sitting, but I would probably enjoy those two songs, but I am not willing to test this hypothesis because I am a fraidy cat. "Tennessee" would still be fun. [Resisting urge to look up other song titles and clips for fear of actually liking them...]
If you can imagine (based on my comments on SM), I'm actually less self-righteous than I used to be. ;-)Are you in a hipster recovery program? ;)I'm far too cynical to listen to more than two songs in a sitting, but I would probably enjoy those two songs, but I am not willing to test this hypothesis because I am a fraidy cat.
S'ok (re: fraidy-ness), I can live with that. I can even live with you hating AD :) When they are fun, they are real fun. When they are moralizing, they are weak-sauce.
Here's tonight's dirty dozen...I'm grateful they were around to keep me company on this late, late night which is FINALLY over.
Shodan,
I'm a fan of both, but i've been giving Opeth second-class citizen status in the metal world while listening to the eargasmic perfection that are the fills and time signatures deployed by Mastodon's drummer. Also geeking out with the Dethklok album as well--I would submit, Anna (and others aware of the 80s), that's it out Spinal Tap'd Spinal Tap.
If we're discounting misogyny, I can't make much more tastier recommendations than:
1. New UGK album--still plenty of Pimp C on the boards, Bun B on the mic and a few surprise guests (Dizzee Rascal for one.)
2. Any Jay Dilla production--whether his detroit buddies Slum Village or any one of a number of his side projects (err backcatalog)
3. Zion I--Boom Bip always grabbed my head from a resting position and set it to nod with alarming reliability. (west coast! west coast!)
harbeer,
eventually Devin the Dude will live solely on income from shows playing to 100% college kids. He's massively awesome and I wish Houston didn't have a way of cutting down it's finest with 'drank and shitty label issues and probably non-drank related substances.
Just as a follow-up, the link I gave to my friend's website (up-thread at 96) has some issues. Apparently, one of the webforms is messed up and he has to rebuild the site. Under his appearances section, someone jacked the site and put links to porn sites. Please be aware of it and don't be offended, it's not representative of what he's into. If the SM Intern wouldn't mind, please remove the link at 96. Thanks Much.
My mom loves Rick Springfield. She was into the whole Elvis thing(she is one of the late 60s immigrants). Oh, she could't stand Norah Jones. Found her boring. She enjoys Aerosmith. She liked even a couple of Eminem songs. She likes the guitar part of We Dont Need No Education. And she enjoys all those jam sessions during those Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows. Unfortunatley, she also likes the Celine Dion type stuff too. She finds White Stripes amusing to watch, especially Meg White's demeanor. She got a kick out of watching Pixies on TV though I do not know if she shared my enthusiasm for the band. It seemed more like she watched it for the novelty aspect (from her POV). She likes some Aerosmith, Stones, and quite a few of the 70s rockers. And like many other Indians, she likes the Beegees and ABBA. (then again, I love the Sat. Night Fever soundtrack too and I can't hate ABBA as much as I try to).
IN THE JUNGLE, BABY! Close the office door and attach the head phones/ear buds and crank the volume to 10!
Office?! I'll never be square enough to be cubicled. Plus, mine goes up to eleven.
Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :) I gots love a'right! For all yous, dats DJ Drrrty and mm too!
Thanks for the shoutout, Bhenshod, and for the love, Bess. Where're your playlists?
The new Devin the Dude is insanely great and it's hardly pc.
When is he neither? DtD is the best thing to come outta the Dirty Souf since the General hisself. (I know you're with me on this one, Bess)
Did you miss the discussion with Abhi and Amardeep on 12/19/07?
Great interview, but what was up with that ridiculous mashup you played? @=)
Pravin, on moms and music: my mama has great (rock) taste. My deep appreciation for Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, old school Santana, etc., comes from her. She also loved Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams and Into My Car," but I think I can forgive her for that.
Impressive, but is she a Carribean Queen?
(I can't believe I just asked that of your mom)
3. Zion I--Boom Bip always grabbed my head from a resting position and set it to nod with alarming reliability. (west coast! west coast!)
Respek for the Zion I up. I count Fingerpaint and Bird's Eye View as some of the illest joints I've ever heard.
She likes the guitar part of We Dont Need No Education.
Are you referring to Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2?
Instead of overwhelming you guys with more of the tiresome pontificating and haughty dismissals of differing opinions that you've come to expect from me every time I delurk to talk music, I'll spare you and just point y'alls to this