Listening to rock 'n' roll is indeed a joy. When I'm blue, or feel a little down, it's music that elevates my mood. And if it's old time rock 'n' roll,the effect is rea; fast. And how can any such write up be complete without Elvis, the king of rock 'n' roll. He was someone who defined 'rock n roll' as a musical genre and also made it a big part of youth culture.
The king is regarded as one of the originators of rockabilly, an uptempo, back beat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues alongside guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. His fame has transcended generations and crossed boundaries.
At the age of 21, he became one of the most popular persons of the world. Even many who don't know American showbiz as such, know Elvis. I for one, as a child growing up in a small town knew very little about Hollywood, but knew Elvis pretty well. The legacy lives on...
There were many others who came, saw and conquered.
Check out more from the oldie goldie collection...
I must always admit that it was the Richard Valenzuela better known as Ritchie Valens' biopic La Bamba which I only saw not too long agoin TV, that got me stuck even more on rock n roll. Lou Diamond Philips did a wonderful job as a debutante. I've shed many tears every time I have watched the movie 'La Bamba'. Here was the story of an incredible teenager who achieved a lot but left every thing too early...
He was wise beyond his years. The support of his mother and love but also resentment(rising out of jealousy)of his half brother Bob is well portrayed. This youngster was different from his brother and the others. While other teenagers were seeking fun, he wanted to compose, write songs, be a star and really, truly love his girl Donna. This real life Valenzuela family fully supported that movie. Bob Morales and Connie Valenzuela came to the set to help the actors portray their characters correctly, and Connie makes an appearance as an older lady sitting next to Ritchie at the family's first party.
Lou Diamond Philips bonded greatly with the Valenzuelas and, at one point, actually became Ritchie to them. There was an incident when the actors began shooting for the final fatal scene and started boarding the plane. The scene was interrupted by Connie Lemos, Ritchie's real life sister who was only six years old when the accident happened. She hysterically tried to keep Phillips from boarding the plane. She was heard shouting, "Don't go Ritchie!
Please don't get on the plane! Why did you have to die?" Later she admitted she realized at that moment that she never fully accepted her brother's death.Of course it was a very hard thing to accept when the brother was just 17 years old and had just become a star...
Even Buddy Holly's wife(who was pregnant at that time) later admitted that if she was around that day she would never have let him get on that airplane. Wonder what would have been, if it was so... If that would have actually happened, the rock 'n' roll scene would have been different today.
The legacy truly lives on, thanks to the lasting power of the music and the true blue fans!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Babetude loves Rock 'n' Roll
I've liked entertainment stuff from the 50s and the 60s so much that some have said that I'm born in the wrong era. Well, the passion is really intense and for a long time now. I've really wanted to time travel too and go back in time. So I don't really blame them.
Or maybe I was a rock n roll star, an actor or artiste in Hollywood in my previous birth.
Well, it could be you know, considering the undying passion since childhood, despite being born in a small town, somewhere close to the Far East, a little over two decades ago... Hey, now don't tell me that I'm freaking you out guys. Just telling you all, what I feel sometimes:-)
I must tell you all that rock n roll just turns me on anytime, anyhwere.
I love to dance. I've done some Hindi film style dance and some Latin which I'm supposed to pursue further. But I do the twist and all sorts of retro steps even better.I love retro outfits.
Elvis,Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens et al- their music still rocks bigtime for me. I've never been a big fan of pop,hip hop or hard rock. And I'm mighty sure it's not so just for me.There are many others who feel the same about old school rock 'n' roll and there are enogh reasons for that.
The older folks would definitely still appreciate the music always for the nostalgia factor...
Elvis was indeed the king. A good actor- performer and a true blue entertainer.
Now listen to this lovely Buddy Holly song and you'll know what I mean. His talent was nipped in the bud but his legend lives on.Kudos.
When he was with his band members, they supported him really well. It's been more than 50 years since Holly left the world, but there are still many die hard fans who say that his music will make him live forever.
Then there was this super talented youngster Richard Steven Valenzuela better known as Ritchie Valens.
He hadn't lost his baby fat yet and was still in high school but destiny made him a huge star who could use his God given talent at a very young age. His raw beautiful voice sounded so honest, so deep, so true at an age when there weren't many ways to technically correct voices.
This guy's recording career lasted only eight months but he scored several hits during the period. He was an accomplished singer and guitarist who despite being left-handed, mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument thanks to his eagerness.
He was really special in many other ways too. Here was a guy who was just a teenager but who knew how to truely love a woman. Check out the song 'O Donna' which was written and performed for his real life girlfriend Donna Fox. She's still known as Ritche's Donna and her personalized license plate reads "ODONNA".
The song and the lyrics beautifully bring out his talent and the earnesty in his voice.
And this was the guy who also made "La Bamba" popular. Now this was originally a Mexican folk song that he transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became an instant hit and still is.
Here it from the pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement...
The movie La Bamba with Lou Diamond Philips( in his best role ever) chronicles this talented musician's life well and also talks about his mother's encouraging role in his career.
February 3, 1959, was a black day in the history of music, a day that took away three great musicians- Valens, The Big Bopper and Holly. It also reportedly led to the gradual decline of rock n roll( though the die hard fans keep it very much alive!)
It's said fans lined the streets and cried for days.
Don McLean with his popular ballad "American Pie" later immortalized February 3 the saddest day in rock history as "The Day the Music Died".
Don was then a young boy and a newspaper delivery boy.
Later he wrote:
"A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride(ref: Holly's widow María Elena Holly)
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
Did you write the Book of Love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow...
"
Well, the real fans of rock n roll did do their bit well!
Or maybe I was a rock n roll star, an actor or artiste in Hollywood in my previous birth.
Well, it could be you know, considering the undying passion since childhood, despite being born in a small town, somewhere close to the Far East, a little over two decades ago... Hey, now don't tell me that I'm freaking you out guys. Just telling you all, what I feel sometimes:-)
I must tell you all that rock n roll just turns me on anytime, anyhwere.
I love to dance. I've done some Hindi film style dance and some Latin which I'm supposed to pursue further. But I do the twist and all sorts of retro steps even better.I love retro outfits.
Elvis,Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens et al- their music still rocks bigtime for me. I've never been a big fan of pop,hip hop or hard rock. And I'm mighty sure it's not so just for me.There are many others who feel the same about old school rock 'n' roll and there are enogh reasons for that.
The older folks would definitely still appreciate the music always for the nostalgia factor...
Elvis was indeed the king. A good actor- performer and a true blue entertainer.
Now listen to this lovely Buddy Holly song and you'll know what I mean. His talent was nipped in the bud but his legend lives on.Kudos.
When he was with his band members, they supported him really well. It's been more than 50 years since Holly left the world, but there are still many die hard fans who say that his music will make him live forever.
Then there was this super talented youngster Richard Steven Valenzuela better known as Ritchie Valens.
He hadn't lost his baby fat yet and was still in high school but destiny made him a huge star who could use his God given talent at a very young age. His raw beautiful voice sounded so honest, so deep, so true at an age when there weren't many ways to technically correct voices.
This guy's recording career lasted only eight months but he scored several hits during the period. He was an accomplished singer and guitarist who despite being left-handed, mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument thanks to his eagerness.
He was really special in many other ways too. Here was a guy who was just a teenager but who knew how to truely love a woman. Check out the song 'O Donna' which was written and performed for his real life girlfriend Donna Fox. She's still known as Ritche's Donna and her personalized license plate reads "ODONNA".
The song and the lyrics beautifully bring out his talent and the earnesty in his voice.
And this was the guy who also made "La Bamba" popular. Now this was originally a Mexican folk song that he transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became an instant hit and still is.
Here it from the pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement...
The movie La Bamba with Lou Diamond Philips( in his best role ever) chronicles this talented musician's life well and also talks about his mother's encouraging role in his career.
February 3, 1959, was a black day in the history of music, a day that took away three great musicians- Valens, The Big Bopper and Holly. It also reportedly led to the gradual decline of rock n roll( though the die hard fans keep it very much alive!)
It's said fans lined the streets and cried for days.
Don McLean with his popular ballad "American Pie" later immortalized February 3 the saddest day in rock history as "The Day the Music Died".
Don was then a young boy and a newspaper delivery boy.
Later he wrote:
"A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride(ref: Holly's widow María Elena Holly)
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
Did you write the Book of Love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow...
"
Well, the real fans of rock n roll did do their bit well!
Friday, September 3, 2010
A poet, but only for a while...
India's biggest male star Amitabh Bacchhan is able to bring meaning to this very beautiful song. The fact that his father the late Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a famous Hindi poet, probably helped him to do some nice poetic roles of his career.
Well, the song was sung by the very talented and evergreen singer Mukesh, but Mr Bachchan has truely performed well here.
Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon,pal do pal meri kahaani hai, pal do pal meri hasti hai, pal do pal meri jawani hai...
By the way,the poet, the very talented Sahir Ludhianvi should get a lot of credit here as he is the man who wrote the beautiful Urdu words which Mr Bachchan is seen using to emote in the visuals.
He's basically saying that he's a poet,but his story, his existence, his youth will last only for a while.
Umm...quite wisely said.
Check out the translation...
I'm a poet only for a moment or two...
My story is only for a moment or two
My existence, whole being is only for a moment or two
My youth is only for a moment or two
Many poets came before me, and then departed;
Some went sighing, And some went singing songs.
They were only the story of a moment in time; I too am only the story of a moment.
Tomorrow I will be separated from you, But for today, I'm a part of you. I'm a poet of a moment or two, not more.
Tomorrow new songs will arrive, Fresh blossoms will be plucked.
There will be better storytellers than me,
And better listeners than you.
Tomorrow, someone might remember me;
But why should anyone remember me?
For my sake, Why Should This Busy World Waste Its Time?
I'm A Poet Only For A Moment Or Two
Babetude also like some another Mukesh song Ek din bik jayega maati ke mol which asks the listeners to leave a legacy behind...
Ek din bik jaaegaa, maatii ke mol jag mein rah jaaenge, pyaare tere bol duuje ke hothon ko, dekar apane giit koii nishaanii chhod, phir duniyaa se Dol ik din bik jaayegaa maati ke mol
And the meaning of the same is:
A day will come when you will get sold for the price of clay. All that will be left in the world will be what you have said. So, give your songs to someone's lips. Leave a mark, then leave this world.
Wow,giving people a reality check and great advice,but packaging it as a wonderful song. Very intelligent, must say.
Babetude admires the poets, philosophers and the truely wise who always ended up finding the true meaning of things all the time. And things just turn out to be almost universal then and now.
Like how I said in my previous posts,we only seem to realise things as we turn a little older and a little wiser.
Babetude personally is very happy that she's getting enlightened in her 20s itself, rather then waiting to be so in her 30s and 40s. In fact if it was sooner than that, it would have been better.
Looking forward to the times to come to learn even more, but definitely not the hard way, again!
The sooner you get wisdom the better it is. Drifting makes no sense and wisdom gives one clarity, direction and better choices. Period.
Well, the song was sung by the very talented and evergreen singer Mukesh, but Mr Bachchan has truely performed well here.
Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon,pal do pal meri kahaani hai, pal do pal meri hasti hai, pal do pal meri jawani hai...
By the way,the poet, the very talented Sahir Ludhianvi should get a lot of credit here as he is the man who wrote the beautiful Urdu words which Mr Bachchan is seen using to emote in the visuals.
He's basically saying that he's a poet,but his story, his existence, his youth will last only for a while.
Umm...quite wisely said.
Check out the translation...
I'm a poet only for a moment or two...
My story is only for a moment or two
My existence, whole being is only for a moment or two
My youth is only for a moment or two
Many poets came before me, and then departed;
Some went sighing, And some went singing songs.
They were only the story of a moment in time; I too am only the story of a moment.
Tomorrow I will be separated from you, But for today, I'm a part of you. I'm a poet of a moment or two, not more.
Tomorrow new songs will arrive, Fresh blossoms will be plucked.
There will be better storytellers than me,
And better listeners than you.
Tomorrow, someone might remember me;
But why should anyone remember me?
For my sake, Why Should This Busy World Waste Its Time?
I'm A Poet Only For A Moment Or Two
Babetude also like some another Mukesh song Ek din bik jayega maati ke mol which asks the listeners to leave a legacy behind...
Ek din bik jaaegaa, maatii ke mol jag mein rah jaaenge, pyaare tere bol duuje ke hothon ko, dekar apane giit koii nishaanii chhod, phir duniyaa se Dol ik din bik jaayegaa maati ke mol
And the meaning of the same is:
A day will come when you will get sold for the price of clay. All that will be left in the world will be what you have said. So, give your songs to someone's lips. Leave a mark, then leave this world.
Wow,giving people a reality check and great advice,but packaging it as a wonderful song. Very intelligent, must say.
Babetude admires the poets, philosophers and the truely wise who always ended up finding the true meaning of things all the time. And things just turn out to be almost universal then and now.
Like how I said in my previous posts,we only seem to realise things as we turn a little older and a little wiser.
Babetude personally is very happy that she's getting enlightened in her 20s itself, rather then waiting to be so in her 30s and 40s. In fact if it was sooner than that, it would have been better.
Looking forward to the times to come to learn even more, but definitely not the hard way, again!
The sooner you get wisdom the better it is. Drifting makes no sense and wisdom gives one clarity, direction and better choices. Period.
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