Some songs are all time favourites

Yesterday, whilst sitting in a hotel lobby enjoying the music, we were reminiscing how we are engulfed with unforgotten memories when listening to certain songs. The general view was that the lyrics were meaningful unlike modern ones of today. I can’t say I totally agree, because while some are like nonsense rhymes, others convey the message the artiste is trying to get across.

But then, I suppose since I like rock and jazz, while the majority lean towards the more popular songs, their tastes are more conventional. Each to his own!

Although unplugged music is lovely, I must say I do like a bit of techno sounds too. I love off beat rhythms and weird sounds. Like gates creaking open or coconut being scraped.

Sometimes the kids wander into my room and say, “Oh, mum! Listening to your weird songs again?” Buddha Bar music is good to have as background to serious thinking or relaxing. A musical sound that gives pleasure will be good listening to anyone. So what if someone else doesn’t like it?

Move with the times

I have this friend who requests songs by Connie Francis, Nana Mouskouri, or Hank Locklin and is most peeved when the young band boys look blankly at her and say they’ve never even heard of them! When there are kids around, one is forced to move with the times as you have no choice but listen to their current favourites at top volume.

Anyway, I like Led Zeppelin very much, to the horror of the kids, “What on earth are you listening to, mum?” Their composition of  Stairway To Heaven  is supposed to be the most popular rock song of all time.

Strangely, it only reached the charts in 2007, when it was released as a single for the first time to the public. An interesting fact is that they were booed off stage when they first performed it in 1975. Actually, it does not sound like a typical rock song but is more folksy, with flutes, keyboards and string instruments. So maybe the audience was expecting pure rock and that could be the reason for their reaction.

I find it difficult to choose a single song as the best ever. They are all different expressions of different genres. But one can certainly have favourites!

Everlasting favourites

I have so many preferences that they couldn’t be listed in one go. There are the everlasting favourites like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chicago, Michael Jackson — oh, I could go on and on. Aren’t you glad you can hear? Imagine being deaf and not able to listen to music? Inconceivable!

But I just cannot listen to pure classical music over a long period of time, my mind starts wandering and I can’t concentrate. Did I hear sharp intakes of horrified breath? My Big Sis, who is always trying to convert me, is making another vain attempt to instill some culture into me, by taking me to a concert tomorrow. Apparently there are light interludes in between for Philistines like me!

I love Queen too, and their song Bohemian Rhapsody is unbelievable. Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest stage performers ever, as well as having a superb voice with a very wide range. These are songs you can listen to over and over again and never tire of.

One of my most enjoyable and memorable visits to the theatre in London was to the performance based on songs by the band Queen, titled   We Will Rock You.  Fantastic! The audience rocked along together with the performers. And now you know why I am called “The Rock Chick!”

Musician’s language

But I like jazzy music too. One of my favourite groups is Jamiroquai. Lots of people make the mistake of thinking this is the name of the lead singer, but it is not so. The name was composed by using the native American tribe Iroquois and the word “jam,” which in musician’s language means an informal or impromptu performance of musicians. I have loads of their albums, and I just love their music.

Another two favourites are Mezzoforte and Casiopea. Michael Franks’ lyrics to his songs are all like little conversations and stories to the audience. They are very realistic and totally listenable to, as well as he has the smoothest, really soothing voice.

I have to mention coloured musicians, they are simply the best! George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, and Earth, Wind and Fire — all of them out of this world. I wonder why I’m listening to the whirring of the fan instead of one of my CDs?