Saturday, May 12, 2012

My master's voice...



“Tea?” I croaked.
Hubby dearest looked at me like I had just landed from Mars and he was hearing an alien speak.
“See, that’s what happens when you don’t know when to stop.”
He was obviously taking a pot shot at last night’s ‘mehfil-e-khas’ at a friend’s house. We had gathered at Anil’s house for a weekend night out and Anil brought out his brand new karaoke system and plugged it all together. After we had all oooh’d , and aaah’d at the piece, we got together for the mike testing and singing. Friends took turns singing and the mike finally landed in my hands. I flipped through the list of songs as if I was a pro.
 It will be imperative here, to tell you that singing is my passion, but unfortunately my vocal cords went on strike when I was born and never returned. All they left behind was their poor cousin who at best makes me sound like I’ve swallowed a frog! Nevertheless, I saw a long listing of Kishore Kumar’s songs and they brought an instant rapture, a feeling I cannot describe! I picked up the mike and cleared my voice, all set to give the Indian idols a run for their money. The lyrics ran amok on the TV screen and I broke into a full throttled performance as if it was my last day on earth! The song ended and I was so mighty pleased with myself that I couldn’t bring myself to part with the mike.
‘Can I sing just one more song’, I pleaded.
‘Of course go ahead’, they chorused.
They must have probably kicked themselves right after they said those four beautiful words! Because, right away I got to demonstrating my non- existent singing skills, belting out one number after another!
I must confess I am a self-proclaimed, obsessive fan of Kishore da. I have listened to his songs umpteen times .I listen to him every waking hour, irrespective of whether I am cooking, cleaning, eating, reading, blah blah. I sing along, not just the lyrics but the music too! From the first note to the last...so much that with the first note of music I know which song it is! When I hear the master sing, my mind just wafts to him like the smoke from an incense stick. And stays there. His voice makes me go weak in my knees. That is the effect his music holds over me. Mesmerizing and enchanting! He transports me to different world where there is just me and his voice (and in the background swaying trees and gentle breeze, fragrant flowers and gurgling streams, chirping birds and dancing butterflies!) Yes, magical is the word!

So how could I just let go of the opportunuity to sing his songs here? 

As for the others, they had given up all hopes of karaoke-ing and had resigned themselves to hear me croak.
I went on and on till I could go on no more. It was almost three in the morning and I was sounding like I had swallowed a hundred frogs! But I must confess, I had thoroughly enjoyed myself! My poor friends looked like the pale, flat green leaves which serve as landing pads for frogs and hubby dearest looked plain embarrassed!
“Let’s go home and get a power nap”, said hubby dearest with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
 “Sooo..ee….Di’ I  o’ ova’bod’?”  
“Well you did go overboard, but this wasn’t the first time,eh? Remember the last time at the office party?”
 I smiled sheepishly. Of course I did remember. I had sung ‘Pal pal dil ke paas’ and the team broke into a thunderous applause after I finished the first stanza. Motivated, I sang the entire song! There were claps at the end of each stanza and I wondered why the claps died down by the time I finished. Hubby dearest told me later that the first applause itself was meant for me to stop.....! stop singing!
“ ‘e mays ‘e ‘o ow o’ co’to’ ”  I tried reasoning, meaning ‘he makes me go out of control’, the “he”  referring to Kishore da.
“Poor guy must be turning in his grave!” he smirked, “May he rest in peace.”                                             

19 comments:

  1. I too like to sing but my voice is no better than yours :P
    And you sang till 3 :D :D Wow thats quite some love for singing!

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  2. You had fun doing it and didn't bother how you sounded - A hat tip to you just for that.

    Drink loads of hot tea and luke warm water for the croaking throat.

    Cheers :)

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  3. Bwhahahahahaha.....:D
    They started clapping after the first stanza and that encouraged you :P hahahahaha :D
    Few karaoke system gives the scores too. What was yours ???? :D

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  4. maithili: oh yea!

    AS: you are bang on! I enjoyed myself like never before both times!! and you bet I will do it again( without a regret!!);)

    CD: Would you believe if I said that my scores were always above 92? I went as high as 96!!!! That's what encouraged me in the first place!! unfortunately the scores are high if ur tune is on the spot and not for the voice!! but who cares? i enjoyed myself!!

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  5. if you lose your voice in the pursuit of enjoying yourself- I say - lose it all the more! ha ha!! This post made me smile.

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  6. I loveee Kishore Da
    I probably have all of his songs he ever sang and I just cant get bored of them . There was just something very mesmerizing about his voice

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  7. Hahaha! Well - I am one of the singalong types as well - and I do not restrict myself to Kishoreda :) Rafi, Lata, Asha, Mukesh, Hemantkumar - I spare nobody :) There was one post on my singing prowess too on my blog :) http://jambudweepam.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-am-on-song.html

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    Replies
    1. Hahhaa...I know...I have had the privilege of hearing you!

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  8. If it made you happy, then how does it matter who clapped when :P
    I love people who sing, maybe because I can't do it. I can't even sing nursery rhymes if I wanted to!

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    Replies
    1. That is what I console myself with!! I'm not a singer by any measure..but who cares na?

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  9. Till 3 a.m.?! Wow! You obviously do love to sing! ;) Gargle with warm salt water and/or hot water lemon honey ginger concoction or tea. <3

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  10. Hahahahaha! Seriously! Till 3 am? Amazing, girl! You rock! And Kishore da is the best! Now "was"... still "is"! :D

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  11. Titli, I wish I was there. I love Kishore Kumar 's songs.I remember his earliest song'/'chota sa ghar hoga''. After that there was no looking back.

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    Replies
    1. maybe someday we should all get together and sing his songs aloud!

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At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person..deep gratitude for those who have lighted the flame within me!! your comments will be appreciated..

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