This is not about Rock Hudson, but only about music.
At an interview at the start of my career, I was once asked, “Do you like music?”
“Sir, movies and music, I do not understand.”
“What barbaric tastes you have, you do not like movies or music but are interested in politics.”
Earlier in the conversation, I had proudly told the interview panel that I find politics very exciting.
Barbaric, it is, not to be able to appreciate music. You are not a gentleman if you do not enjoy music,
ideally, you should be able to play a musical instrument.
I can bet on it that there is some genetic musical switch in one’s DNA construct. You are lucky if you
were born with the switch ‘on’ for I have made numerous attempts to get that going.
Interestingly I was part of the school choir till maybe grade IV or V, but then as I grew up I probably
stayed away from music for in a boarding school (that too all boys) only sissies participated in music.
Efforts at appreciating the santoor, tabla, or the sitar at the SPIC MACAY programs at school didn’t
yield much. Probably the only achievement was some ability to discern when a completely
extraordinary note was being played.
School obviously had its own brand of music. We Will Rock You, Another Brick in Wall, and the likes
topped the popularity charts, wouldn’t be surprised if they still do. Songs like Ice Ice Baby, Queen’s I
Want To Break Free or Roxette’s The Look was also very popular.
How can I forget the ever-popular, without copyrights, a compilation called ‘Sexology’. With its racy
title, it was a must-have for every individual at school. Sexology dished out songs, tamer than its
name, like Let’s Talk About Sex etc.
I have come a long way since then. Over the years I have seen music really grow on me.
Bob Dylan was the trigger, Living Next Door To Alice reminded me of yesteryears. Don
McLean’s American Pie and Vincent got me hooked to soft rock. And John Denver is another of the
favorites.
And oft heartbroken Micheal Learns to Rock’s I Wanna Dance tugs at my heart.
One of the coolest songs I have ever heard is Jesus He Knows Me by Genesis.
However, I still get a feeling of incompleteness for I still can’t hum any of these songs. The day I can,
hum even one song, I will be convinced that the musical switch has at last been activated.
If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it.
Music: