Spring Awakening

Saw the original broadway version today on a dark boot-legged copy. It is sad that my sudden discovery of Jonathan Groff led me to look it up. But then again going by the belief the show propounds, "I believe all will be forgiven".

Needless to say the theater bug is back, bigger, stronger and more immune to my resistance. I am torn nearly in the middle between my love for reason, rationality and discovery and my passion for performance, music and communication. Add to this the greed I have for experiencing life, it dooms me to swing perpetually, feverishly between short-lived recurrent obsessions.

Back to Spring Awakening though, it is beautiful, powerful and sweeping. Second only to Rent in message and pathos. It manages to reverberate with the audience. The music soars with your emotion in triumph right before plunging into darkness in the depths of your mangled heart.

Lea is brilliant but more importantly Jonathan is heart-wrenching. Simply amazing as Mechior, he truly is a brilliant singer, actor and more importantly an incredibly good-looker. The character of Melchior itself is so enchanting, the bright, intelligent, athiest up-in-arms against the regressive society. The brave explorer, the discoverer.

The sex scene between Melchior and Wendla is the best make-out scene I have ever witnessed. It truly and very artistically en captures the essence of their passion, love, fear, and their urgent longing for each other, yet amazingly it leaves their innocence intact!
You cannot help but rejoice for them though why does Melchior not understand the consequences when he is the only kid who knew everything is beyond me. I will presume for my own happiness that he wanted her too much and was ready to take responsibility for his actions. Lea and Jonathan's real life friendship only makes the entire scene more adorable. It is rare and beautiful to see two dearest friends from the opposite sex, who are just that.

Anyway, the whole show is gorgeous, intelligent with beautiful music. Right from "Mama who bore me" with its obvious pun, to "The guilty ones", "The bitch of living" and so on.
I admit I have a full blown crush on Jonathan Groff and yes I do know he is gay. That does not help sadly.

Rolling Stone 500 Greatest SOngs of all time

1. Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

2. Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones

3. Imagine, John Lennon <<

4. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye

5. Respect, Aretha Franklin

6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys

7. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry

8. Hey Jude, The Beatles

9. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana <<

10. What'd I Say, Ray Charles

11. My Generation, The Who

12. A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke

13. Yesterday, The Beatles <<

14. Blowin' in the Wind, Bob Dylan <<

15. London Calling, The Clash

16. I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles

17. Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix

18. Maybellene, Chuck Berry

19. Hound Dog, Elvis Presley

20. Let It Be, The Beatles

21. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen

22. Be My Baby, The Ronettes

23. In My Life, The Beatles

24. People Get Ready, The Impressions

25. God Only Knows, The Beach Boys

26. A Day in the Life, The Beatles

27. Layla, Derek and the Dominos <<

28. (Sittin on) the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding

29. Help!, The Beatles

30. I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash

31. Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin <<

32. Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones

33. River Deep - Mountain High, Ike and Tina Turner

34. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', The Righteous Brothers <<

35. Light My Fire, The Doors

36. One, U2 <<

37. No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley and the Wailers

38. Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones

39. That'll Be the Day, Buddy Holly and the Crickets

40. Dancing in the Street, Martha and the Vandellas

41. The Weight, The Band

42. Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks

43. Tutti-Frutti, Little Richard

44. Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles

45. Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley

46. Heroes, David Bowie

47. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel

48. All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix

49. Hotel California, The Eagles <<

50. The Tracks of My Tears, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

51. The Message, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

52. When Doves Cry, Prince

53. Anarchy in the U.K., The Sex Pistols

54. When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge

55. Louie Louie, The Kingsmen

56. Long Tall Sally, Little Richard

57. Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum

58. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson

59. The Times They Are A-Changin', Bob Dylan

60. Let's Stay Together, Al Green

61. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On, Jerry Lee Lewis

62. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley

63. For What It's Worth, Buffalo Springfield

64. She Loves You, The Beatles

65. Sunshine of Your Love, Cream

66. Redemption Song, Bob Marley and the Wailers

67. Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley

68. Tangled Up in Blue, Bob Dylan

69. Crying, Roy Orbison

70. Walk On By, Dionne Warwick

71. California Girls, The Beach Boys

72. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, James Brown

73. Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran

74. Superstition, Stevie Wonder

75. Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin

76. Strawberry Fields Forever,The Beatles

77. Mystery Train, Elvis Presley

78. I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown

79. Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds <<

80. I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

81. Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino

82. You Really Got Me, The Kinks

83. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), The Beatles

84. Every Breath You Take, The Police <<

85. Crazy, Patsy Cline

86. Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen

87. Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash

88. My Girl, The Temptations

89. California Dreamin', The Mamas and The Papas <<

90. In the Still of the Nite, The Five Satins

91. Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley

92. Blitzkrieg Bop, Ramones

93. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, U2 <<

94. Good Golly, Miss Molly, Little Richard

95. Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins

96. Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis

97. Roll Over Beethoven, Chuck Berry

98. Love and Happiness, Al Green

99. Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival

100. You Can't Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones <<

101. Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Jimi Hendrix <<

102. Be-Bop-A-Lula, Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps

103. Hot Stuff, Donna Summer

104. Living for the City, Stevie Wonder

105. The Boxer, Simon and Garfunkel <<

106. Mr. Tambourine Man, Bob Dylan

107. Not Fade Away, Buddy Holly and the Crickets

108. Little Red Corvette, Prince

109. Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison

110. I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now), Otis Redding

111. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams

112. That's All Right, Elvis Presley

113. Up on the Roof, The Drifters

114. Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home), The Crystals

115. You Send Me, Sam Cooke

116. Honky Tonk Women, The Rolling Stones

117. Take Me to the River , Al Green

118. Shout (Parts 1 and 2)], The Isley Brothers

119. Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac

120. I Want You Back,The Jackson 5

121. Stand By Me, Ben E. King <<

122. House of the Rising Sun, The Animals

123. It's a Man's Man's Man's World, James Brown

124. Jumpin' Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones

125. Will You Love Me Tomorrow, The Shirelles

126. Shake, Rattle & Roll, Big Joe Turner

127. Changes, David Bowie

128. Rock & Roll Music, Chuck Berry

129. Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf

130. Maggie May, Rod Stewart

131. With or Without You, U2 <<

132. Who Do You Love, Bo Diddley

133. Won't Get Fooled Again, The Who

134. In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett

135. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles <<

136. Your Song, Elton John

137. Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

138. Family Affair, Sly and the Family Stone

139. I Saw Her Standing There, The Beatles

140. Kashmir, Led Zeppelin

141. All I Have to Do Is Dream, The Everly Brothers

142. Please, Please, Please, James Brown

143. Purple Rain, Prince

144. I Wanna Be Sedated, The Ramones

145. Everyday People, Sly and the Family Stone

146. Rock Lobster, The B-52's

147. Lust for Life, Iggy Pop

148. Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin

149. Cathy's Clown, The Everly Brothers

150. Eight Miles High, The Byrds

151. Earth Angel, The Penguins

152. Foxey Lady, Jimi Hendrix <<

153. A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles

154. Rave On, Buddy Holly and the Crickets

155. Proud Mary, Creedence Clearwater Revival <<

156. The Sounds of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel <<

157. I Only Have Eyes for You, The Flamingos

158. (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley and His Comets

159. I'm Waiting for the Man, The Velvet Underground

160. Bring the Noise, Public Enemy

161. I Can't Stop Loving You, Ray Charles

162. Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead O'Connor

163. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen <<

164. Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash

165. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman

166. Lose Yourself , Eminem

167. Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye

168. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, The Temptations

169. Losing My Religion, R.E.M. <<

170. Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell <<

171. Dancing Queen, Abba <<

172. Dream On, Aerosmith

173. God Save the Queen, The Sex Pistols

174. Paint It, Black, The Rolling Stones

175. I Fought the Law, The Bobby Fuller Four

176. Don't Worry Baby, The Beach Boys

177. Free Fallin', Tom Petty <<

178. September Gurls, Big Star

179. Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division <<

180. Hey Ya!, Outkast

181. Green Onions, Booker T. and the MG's

182. Save the Last Dance for Me, The Drifters

183. The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King

184. Please Please Me, The Beatles

185. Desolation Row, Bob Dylan

186. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), Aretha Franklin

187. Back in Black, AC/DC <<

188. Who'll Stop the Rain,Creedence Clearwater Revival <<

189. Stayin' Alive, The Bee Gees <<

190. Knocking on Heaven's Door, Bob Dylan <<

191. Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd <<

192. Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell

193. There Goes My Baby, The Drifters

194. Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly

195. Maybe, The Chantels

196. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses <<

197. Don't Be Cruel, Elvis Presley

198. Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix

199. Flash Light, Parliament

200. Loser, Beck

201. Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order

202. Come Together, The Beatles

203. Positively 4th Street, Bob Dylan

204. Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding

205. Lean On Me, Bill Withers <<

206. Reach Out, I'll Be There, The Four Tops

207. Bye Bye Love, The Everly Brothers

208. Gloria, Them

209. In My Room, The Beach Boys

210. 96 Tears, ? and the Mysterians

211. Caroline, No, The Beach Boys

212. 1999, Prince

213. Your Cheatin' Heart, Hank Williams

214. Rockin' in the Free World, Neil Young

215. Sh-Boom, The Chords

216. Do You Believe in Magic, The Lovin' Spoonful

217. Jolene, Dolly Parton

218. Boom Boom, John Lee Hooker

219. Spoonful, Howlin' Wolf

220. Walk Away Renee, The Left Banke

221. Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed

222. Oh, Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison

223. Dance to the Music, Sly and the Family Stone

224. Good Times, Chic <<

225. Hoochie Coochie Man, Muddy Waters

226. Moondance, Van Morrison

227. Fire and Rain, James Taylor

228. Should I Stay or Should I Go, The Clash

229. Mannish Boy, Muddy Waters

230. Just Like a Woman, Bob Dylan

231. Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye

232. Only the Lonely, Roy Orbison

233. We Gotta Get Out of This Place, The Animals

234. I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Byrds

235. I Got a Woman, Ray Charles

236. Everyday, Buddy Holly and the Crickets

237. Planet Rock, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force

238. I Fall to Pieces, Patsy Cline

239. The Wanderer, Dion

240. Son of a Preacher Man, Dusty Springfield

241. Stand!, Sly and the Family Stone

242. Rocket Man, Elton John

243. Love Shack, The B-52's

244. Gimme Some Lovin', The Spencer Davis Group

245. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Band

246. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher, Jackie Wilson

247. Hot Fun in the Summertime,Sly and the Family Stone

248. Rappers Delight, The Sugarhill Gang

249. Chain of Fools, Aretha Franklin

250. Paranoid, Black Sabbath

251. Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin

252. Money Honey, The Drifters

253. All the Young Dudes, Mott the Hoople

254. Highway to Hell, AC/DC

255. Heart of Glass, Blondie

256. Paranoid Android, Radiohead

257. Wild Thing, The Troggs

258. I Can See for Miles, The Who

259. Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley

260. Oh, What a Night, The Dells

261. Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder

262. Ooo Baby Baby, Smokey Robinson <<

2 63. He's a Rebel, The Crystals

264. Sail Away, Randy Newman

265. Tighten Up, Archie Bell and the Drells

266. Walking in the Rain, The Ronettes

267. Personality Crisis, New York Dolls

268. Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2 <<

269. Roadrunner, The Modern Lovers

270. He Stopped Loving Her Today, George Jones

271. Sloop John B, The Beach Boys

272. Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry

273. Something, The Beatles

274. Somebody to Love, Jefferson Airplane <<

275. Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen

276. I'll Take You There, The Staple Singers

277. Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie

278. Pictures of You, The Cure

279. Chapel of Love, The Dixie Cups

280. Ain't No Sunshine, Bill Withers <<

281. You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder

282. Help Me, Joni Mitchell

283. Call Me, Blondie

284. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?, Elvis Costello and the Attractions

285. Smoke Stack Lightning, Howlin' Wolf

286. Summer Babe, Pavement

287. Walk This Way, Run-DMC

288. Money (That's What I Want), Barrett Strong

289. Can't Buy Me Love, The Beatles

290. Stan, Eminem featuring Dido

291. She's Not There, The Zombies

292. Train in Vain, The Clash

293. Tired of Being Alone, Al Green

294. Black Dog, Led Zeppelin

295. Street Fighting Man, The Rolling Stones

296. Get Up, Stand Up, Bob Marley and the Wailers

297. Heart of Gold, Neil Young

298. One Way or Another, Blondie

299. Sign 'O' the Times, Prince

300. Like a Prayer, Madonna

301. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?, Rod Stewart

302. Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, Willie Nelson

303. Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones

304. With a Little Help From My Friends, The Beatles <<

305. Say It Loud -- I'm Black and Proud, James Brown

306. That's Entertainment, The Jam

307. Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

308. Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson

309. What's Love Got To Do With It, Tina Turner

310. Iron Man, Black Sabbath <<

311. Wake Up Little Susie, The Everly Brothers

312. In Dreams, Roy Orbison

313. I Put a Spell on You, Screamin' Jay Hawkins

314. Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd <<

315. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, The Animals

316. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd <<

317. Many Rivers to Cross, Jimmy Cliff

318. Alison, Elvis Costello

319. School's Out, Alice Cooper

320. Heartbreaker, Led Zeppelin

321. Cortez the Killer, Neil Young

322. Fight the Power, Public Enemy

323. Dancing Barefoot, Patti Smith Group

324. Baby Love, The Supremes

325. Good Lovin', The Young Rascals

326. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, James Brown

327. For Your Precious Love, Jerry Butler and the Impressions

328. The End, The Doors

329. That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind and Fire

330. We Will Rock You, Queen <<

331. I Can't Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt

332. Subterranean Homesick Blues, Bob Dylan

333. Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum

334. Wild Horses, The Rolling Stones

335. Sweet Jane, The Velvet Underground

336. Walk This Way, Aerosmith

337. Beat It, Michael Jackson <<

338. Maybe I'm Amazed, Paul McCartney

339. You Keep Me Hanging On, The Supremes

340. Baba O'Riley, The Who <<

341. The Harder They Come, Jimmy Cliff

342. Runaround Sue, Dion

343. Jim Dandy, Lavern Baker

344. Piece of My Heart, Big Brother and the Holding Company

345. La Bamba, Ritchie Valens <<

346. California Love, Dr. Dre and 2Pac

347. Candle in the Wind, Elton John

348. That Lady (Part 1 and 2), The Isley Brothers

349. Spanish Harlem, Ben E. King

350. The Locomotion, Little Eva

351. The Great Pretender, The Platters

352. All Shook Up, Elvis Presley

353. Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton <<

354. Watching the Detectives, Elvis Costello

355. Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival

356. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Eurythmics

357. Little Wing, Jimi Hendrix

358. Nowhere to Run, Martha and the Vandellas

359. Got My Mojo Working, Muddy Waters

360. Killing Me Softly With His Song, Roberta Flack

361. Complete Control, The Clash

362. All You Need Is Love, The Beatles

363. The Letter, The Box Tops

364. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan

365. Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers

366. How Deep Is Your Love, The Bee Gees

367. White Room, Cream <<

368. Personal Jesus, Depeche Mode

369. I'm A Man, Bo Diddley

370. The Wind Cries Mary, Jimi Hendrix

371. I Can't Explain, The Who

372. Marquee Moon, Television

373. Wonderful World, Sam Cooke

374. Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Chuck Berry

375. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2, Pink Floyd <<

376. Fake Plastic Trees,Radiohead

377. Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles

378. Pride (In The Name of Love), U2 <<

379. Radio Free Europe, R.E.M.

380. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John

381. Tell It Like It Is, Aaron Neville

382. Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve <<

383. Whipping Post, The Allman Brothers Band

384. Ticket to Ride, The Beatles

385. Ohio, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

386. I Know You Got Soul, Eric B and Rakim

387. Tiny Dancer, Elton John

388. Roxanne, The Police

389. Just My Imagination, The Temptations

390. Baby I Need Your Loving, The Four Tops

391. Band of Gold, Freda Payne

392. O-o-h Child, The Five Stairsteps

393. Summer in the City, The Lovin' Spoonful

394. Can't Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley <<

395. Remember (Walkin' in the Sand), The Shangri-Las

396. Thirteen, Big Star

397. (Don't Fear) the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult

398. Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd <<

399. Enter Sandman, Metallica

400. Kicks, Paul Revere and the Raiders

401. Tonight's the Night, The Shirelles<<

402. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), Sly & the Family Stone

403. C'mon Everybody, Eddie Cochran

404. Visions of Johanna, Bob Dylan

405. We've Only Just Begun, The Carpenters

406. I Believe I Can Fly, R. Kelly <<

407. In Bloom, Nirvana

408. Sweet Emotion, Aerosmith

409. Crossroads, Cream

410. Monkey Gone to Heaven, Pixies

411. I Feel Love, Donna Summer

412. Ode to Billie Joe, Bobbie Gentry

413. The Girl Can't Help It, Little Richard

414. Young Blood, The Coasters

415. I Can't Help Myself, The Four Tops

416. The Boys of Summer, Don Henley

417. Fuck tha Police, N.W.A.

418. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Crosby, Stills and Nash

419. Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang, Dr. Dre

420. It's Your Thing, The Isley Brothers

421. Piano Man, Billy Joel <<

422. Lola, The Kinks

423. Blue Suede Shoes, Elvis Presley

424. Tumbling Dice, The Rolling Stones

425. William, It Was Really Nothing, The Smiths

426. Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple

427. New Year's Day, U2

428. Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels

429. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, Solomon Burke <<

430. White Man in Hammersmith Palais, The Clash

431. Ain't It a Shame, Fats Domino

432. Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight and the Pips

433. Ramble On, Led Zeppelin

434. Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett

435. Beast of Burden, The Rolling Stones

436. Alone Again Or, Love

437. Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley <<

438. I Wanna Be Your Dog, The Stooges

439. Pink Houses, John Cougar Mellencamp

440. Push It, Salt-n-Pepa

441. Come Go With Me, The Del-Vikings

442. Keep a Knockin', Little Richard

443. I Shot the Sheriff, Bob Marley and the Whailers

444. I Got You Babe, Sonny and Cher

445. Come As You Are, Nirvana

446. Pressure Drop, Toot and the Maytals

447. Leader of the Pack, The Shangri-Las

448. Heroin, The Velvet Underground

449. Penny Lane, The Beatles

450. By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Glen Campbell

451. The Twist, Chubby Checker

452. Cupid, Sam Cooke

453. Paradise City, Guns n' Roses

454. My Sweet Lord, George Harrison

455. All Apologies, Nirvana

456. Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price

457. Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, Ramones

458. Soul Man, Sam and Dave

459. Rollin' Stone, Muddy Waters

460. One Fine Day, The Chiffons

461. Kiss, Prince

462. Respect Yourself, The Staple Singers

463. Rain, The Beatles

464. Standing in the Shadows of Love, The Four Tops

465. Surrender, Cheap Trick

466. Runaway, Del Shannon

467. Welcome to the Jungle, Guns n' Roses

468. Search and Destroy, The Stooges

469. It's Too Late, Carole King

470. Free Man in Paris, Joni Mitchell

471. On the Road Again, Willie Nelson

472. Where Did Our Love Go, The Supremes

473. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, Aretha Franklin

474. One Nation Under a Groove, Funkadelic

475. Sabotage, Beastie Boys

476. I Want to Know What Love Is,Foreigner

477. Super Freak, Rick James

478. White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane

479. Lady Marmalade, Labelle

480. Into the Mystic, Van Morrison

481. Young Americans, David Bowie

482. I'm Eighteen, Alice Cooper

483. Just Like Heaven, The Cure

484. I Love Rock 'N Roll, Joan Jett

485. Graceland, Paul Simon

486. How Soon Is Now?, The Smiths

487. Under the Boardwalk, The Drifters

488. Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win), Fleetwood Mac

489. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

490. Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones

491. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, Dusty Springfield

492. Running on Empty, Jackson Browne

493. Then He Kissed Me, The Crystals

494. Desperado, The Eagles

495. Shop Around, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

496. Miss You, The Rolling Stones

497. Buddy Holly, Weezer

498. Rainy Night in Georgia, Brook Benton

499. The Boys Are Back in Town, Thin Lizzy

500. More Than a Feeling, Boston

ONE

Is it getting better? Do you feel the same?
Will it make easier on you now,
when you've got someone to blame?

So much has happened in the past year and yet all IS the same. I am still striving to find the right balance. The right chord between dedicated academic achievement and multidimensional artistic endeavours.

There is SO much I'd like to gain, achieve and I know I have only 2 years left in which to do that. The last three have been more of aimless wandering.

Even now I am spending my time drawing Aragorn's eyes - those beautiful almond shaped brilliant blue eyes, perched with my book in the tallest tower of the campus, insulated from the tortured life below. Beneath me winter has struck thrice and withdrawn.

I have taken an oath, an honest heart-felt sentiment clad in cheesy taglines. I do not know if I will be able to live up to it for another 790 days.

Did I disappoint you?

Apparently I did. I wish I could show you my heart, my intention, the blazing fire of dedication. I wish I had cared enough to turn up. I was too busy losing my way. I wish I knew all this was a test, I would not have failed you then.

I just wish I can live every moment of my life - achieve all that I am capable of , all that I desire to. I hope the intensity of flitting resolution would make up for the transcendence of its existence.

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come to play Jesus,
to the lepers in your head.

ONE life

Just a small update
I actually held in my hands today, the first edition of a hand written book on Quantum Mechanics by Enrico Fermi!
What an amazing moment when you are so close to a classic piece of history.
It's like being with 'David', 'Water Lilies' or 'The Sistine Chapel'.
It's ecstatic at worst and inspiring at best.

Reality strikes!

I haven't written anything original for ages,
Haven't even thought anything new

Just spent an evening at the lake watching the sun drown
Listening to my soul and the music that resides within
Swinging wildly between utopia achieved and denied.

There is the numbness of apathy
Pierced by angles of longing

Longing for a meaning, for a goal
For a statue to raise, a temple to salute.

Something worth living for
Something dying for.

Wishing for my lost innocence, naivete
I know I don't believe anymore
I wish I did.

Andy on a roll

88 the number of keys on a piano
so let's hope this bu doesn't fall flat
all set to be able to keep sharp
but also i try not to see everything in black and white
so tune in
i think it's goign to be grand
as long as we set it up right
and then it could get electric
i've a real good feeling that we'll hit the high notes
G hope it doesn't get too CD this week
A that wouldn't be good
Otherwise there'll be people in the street buirning FEG's of us

I'll stop now as an octave mercy

Argh! What the hell is this?
I am feeling so compellingly senti right now for no reason at all!! There is a barrage of emotions and no anchor to pin them down to.
Maybe it's just that I am going home :) Soon ! :)
Or maybe I should make hay while the sun shines and paint!
:)) What a random bunch of ideas that!

Too many tweets might make a twat..

Hello Andy, John and Tom,

After the enlightening Bugle this week, I tried very hard to think before I spoke and was subsequently inspired to pen down this beautiful Ode:

Too many brits make a brat
Too many frits make one fat
Too many splits make a spat
Palin quits for reasons squat

Regards

Manmohini morey

Tweaking the dials and knobs

to get it right
What was that station?
What was that frequency?
When our wavelengths matched
When there was blissful harmony
Resonance

It all seems mismatched now
The beats horribly off
And the closer you try to get the more it lashes
In torrents
Tortuous waves of energy

It was agonising and ecstatic
That entangled world

As we quietly slid far away into
our classical worlds, indifferent
un-interfering
Trying to capture approximations to ideality
Into our imperfect, realistic world.

My latest submission to JO & AZ

My Dear Deluded Duo,

You've got your history completely muddled. Due to your Freudian fixation on the Royal Family, you Britishers overlooked the fact that America and India are now completely independent.

In fact the day Britain, in all its snootiness, decided to break off the Eurasian mainland, and dug a huge moat around itself, filled it with the Loch Ness Monster and covertly charged the entire Empire with the bill, was the day it lost its dominion over the world.

You are now at best a neglected 51st State of the USA, much like a badly behaved, misguided, smaller brother of Texas. You insist you are sovereign but really, waving a flag and feeding a Queen doesn't actually spell liberty. In fact you are more accurate chanting "God Bless America, and while you're at it, Save the Queen" too. If you all mend your loony ways and behave yourselves, you might just earn a star on their flag!

As a tribute to your twisted beliefs may I, in all humility, suggest a slogan for The Bugle, (which did you know is also defined as a misery pipe?!) ?

The Bugle: Declaring The War on Facts, by the Sentries of Bull Shit.

Yours lovingly,

What a reason to post. I'm bored. I actually have nothing of interest to do and writing amounts to just about scraping the bottom of the barrel.
I am trying to check if even that holds any joy to me at all.
Well it's not like I don't have work, there are 2 projects to juggle, one thesis to write, 3 difficult Broadway songs to prepare for performance, 4 intriguing books to read, John Oliver to holler at and Matt Damon to generally drool over.
Still it is not grand enough, not magical enough.
For the Drama Queen that I am I should probably permanently shift to Disneyland.

What is this life so devoid of care?
Too much time and nothing to stare.

“I can close my eyes on my valley as it is today, and it is gone, and I see it as it was, when I was a boy. In those days, the black slag, the waste of the coal pits, had only begun to cover the sides of our hill. Not yet enough to mar the countryside, nor blacken the beauty of our village, for the colliery had only begun to poke its skinny black fingers through the green.” – Huw, How Green Was My Valley.

I still remember this place, this self same city though much greener, brighter, cleaner and quieter. The plump orchard trees blossoming with glorious flowers that melted away into luscious fruits. Remember the guava, mango and litchi branches literally bending over backwards to bear their produce. Still remember the kids climbing these boughs in an attempt to lighten their burden and enjoy a feast, fighting off rival birds. I remember the East Canal Road actually flowing alongside the East Canal, my garden in full bloom attracting butterflies of every size and shape, the clean gurgling streams flowing by houses. When Air Conditioner was unknown and a Cooler not required. A time of liberal rain and water abound.

Can you see that valley today? When was the last time you actually saw a beautiful butterfly or a house sparrow? When was the last you awoke in the morning to the tune of a bird or sighted a blue kingfisher? When was the last you did not have to hunt road sides all day, for a good bunch of litchis or when mangoes didn’t wilt before their time? When rain didn’t clog, heat was not so cruel, Basmati fields were not rare. When was the last time you crossed Chakrauta Road and did not curse the traffic for clogging it up?

It is not trivial, this ruin for as Albert Einstein once said:

‘If all the honey bees were wiped out, mankind would follow in about four years.’

We really do not have to go too far to see what fast-paced, un-planned, mindless “development” can do to the Earth. Just look around. See what it has done to this small town and witness the dregs of misguided progress.

Yet we should not hasten to cry death to technology for therein lies the future of mankind. It is very easy for anyone to take an extremist view and march ahead trampling on delicate ecological balance or hail an end to all development. However we should not demonise technology. For it has done us much good too. We have continuous electricity now, better health facilities, more medicines, easily available clean water, better sanitation, stronger roads and brighter safer nights. The Communication revolution and Globalization brought with it more knowledge and literacy, better ideas and flavours from across the globe.

This dichotomy is well manifested by this saying:

“In an underdeveloped country, don't drink the water; in a developed country, don't breathe the air.” ~Changing Times magazine

Technology is thus a double edged sword and we have to learn how to wield it well. Therein lies the relevance and import of this conference. This conference was an attempt at enlightening us all about the wastefulness of our ways. It intended to show us paths leading to “sustainable development”, one which will give us a better tomorrow without devouring our resources.

As always it is not difficult to change our future. It will just take some compassion, understanding and maturity, but we can all do our bit. All we need to do is use some common sense and care a little. It will take such simple measures like conserving water and electricity at home and in college. We need to cut reckless oil usage, recycle plastics, paper and water. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Plant and tend to trees. There is a lot we can do and I sincerely hope we have taken some lessons from the brilliant material presented in this conference and will carry them out.

Let us make our homes more environment friendly. In fact let us all take a step further and make this college eco-friendly.

I would urge each and everyone, including me to make M.K.P. Go Green For

“What would the world be, once bereft
of wet and wildness? Let them be left.
O let them be left, wildness and wet;
Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.”
- Gerard Manley Hopkins.

"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasant a thing, after all, as wanting."
-As long as I am wanting, I am alive!

A is A

There is that which is true,
then there is that which you want to be true.

And a big chasm in between,
driven by a sublime disconnect between your perception
and someone else's.

For what is truth without knowledge and what is knowledge without interpretation?

It was easy for Aristotle to propound his Law of Identity but did no one see through it? Maybe no one took it that seriously.

After years of borrowing Ayn Rand's vision and a quest for Roark, I now rest my case. It is futile, the attempt to objectify everything, the attempt to rationalise every occurrence.

Why do I think that in the end it will all make sense? That there is something more to understand?

Maybe there isn't an answer. Maybe randomness governs more than just the Quantum World. Maybe it's time to let the truth "lie".

Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai

To music realised

There is a dream like quality to you
A subtle soft charm that touches my life
Like the sheerest of muslins
Almost there but not quite
An escaping moment
A soft breeze
Your voice still plays softly in the humdrum of my daily life
And there it shall stay a dream not realised, a hint of first rain
An idea too beautiful to be defined by the harsh colours of life :)

I have decided to stay away from Blogging. Those who've been regularly going through it, thanks a lot, it was very kind of you. :)
However I now think I should stop broadcasting random opinion.

So long and Thanks for All the Fish! :)

The bug

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you
how to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
they bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know how you were diverted
you were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
no one alerted you

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps

It has bitten me finally, the bug of Classical Rock. My introduction to Western Music came with the Boy Bands and Pop Culture. English Music to me as a kid was defined by Boyzone and MLTR, limited to Backstreet Boys and Britney and all that lay in between. I am almost regretful today of the kind of music I subscribed to then.

Throughout college I diligently stayed away from Rock. To me there was something very repelling in the mass fad associated with it. In a young college campus you regularly bump into the wannabe pseudo rock fans, faking it only to get tagged as cool.

Something so flimsy could not hold my approval. But then as they say one should not judge a book by its covers, I was wrong all along.

Without much to do, I set about to explore the Kings and Queens of the Bohemian era. Little did I know I would catch the virus. My room now resounds with Knopfler, Floyd, Mercury, The Who et. al.

Ostrich anyone?

If I could just not be trapped within myself for a few months.

What a holiday that would be!

Having established previously that I am a fool, I shall now take it that all my mistakes henceforth will be forgiven and forgotten in light of my pleading stupid.
Last Sunday I had gone to play and had managed to misread the Shuttle time table, as a result of which had to walk all the way back from the Intramural Fields to my home. At night. Alone.
Which was alright except that I also managed to scare another girl walking ahead of me!
Don't ask me why. Apparently my very presence scares people off!

So I was walking the walk, when I noticed this blind guy coming down the street on the pavement. I moved aside softly and though he was pretty far, he still managed to hear me.
Then he looked up and said "Hi!". I recovered from my astonishment and quickly returned his greeting, which in turn led him to place my position exactly.
So now this blind man is looking straight at me and says "Do you know if there is a Church around? I know there is a Church on 24th, I am not able to find it"

Well to begin with I did not know where a Church was, but since I am claiming stupidity we shall ignore that. Besides I was taken aback. It struck me that the street we were walking on was in fact 24th. Besides it was late night and deserted. God knows how he figured out the street number! God knows how he even crossed the streets all by himself with no traffic sound signals! And he wanted to go to a Church now, all by himself!

Gathering from my incoherent muttering he quickly grasped that I was pretty useless and cheerfully walked on saying " Don't worry ! I'll ask someone else. Good night! "

I didn't need to belabour the point so, except that I need a nice big break from work. :P
Anyway my point was that I was amazed at the independence and confidence of this blind guy! In fact I am frequently impressed by the resilience and courage shown by many disabled people living their life cheerfully and proudly.

Compare them with me. Us. We with our little worries and small disadvantages, create such a brouhaha for every little inconvenience we face! There are people in this world with far graver issues and struggles and they carry on with such amazing courage, perseverance and good cheer.

Maybe we all should step back and remind ourselves of our incredible good fortune now and then :)