#9: Songs And Souvenirs
Dear Reader,
For the longest time, I’ve been trying to collect all my songs and put them on one app - I’m still in the process of doing it. It seems to take forever, and while on this journey, I’ve been rediscovering old songs which I love and thinking about the time period wherein I listened to it on repeat, leaving me in waves of nostalgia. Maybe this process is going on for a while, because secretly, I don’t want it to end.
When I was a baby, getting me to eat was a plan in vain, that is, unless and until I sit in front of the TV and watch tapes of Tamil Serial theme songs and advertisements. Bizarre, I know! The only time I used to open my mouth was at the sound of “kannin mani” and the sight of Raadhika Sarathkumar in Chithi. Metti Oli’s title number was also a crowd favourite at home. I also remember my grandfather walking early in the morning everyday with Suprabatham on, by MS.
Car rides in our ancient Swift Dzire (we’re too attached) with my parents were replete with songs from the 70s and 80s, all burned into multiple CDs by my father. My parents love Kishore Kumar (as do most) and although Hindi isn’t my forte, I enjoyed listening to his captivating voice. I fell in love with ABBA, a Swedish band, during these car rides and as I grew older I realized how beautiful the lyrics of their songs are. I don’t know why, but I also distinctly remember Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin being played and The Ketchup Song - I don’t know the proper words to this till date and love singing my own version. I was also introduced to Blondie, Boney M, Wham!, Air Supply and The Carpenters. What a time.
Whenever I listen to a bunch of Tamil film songs, especially those from Vaaranam Aayiram or Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, I get transported back into the van which took me to school everyday. Middle school me got accustomed to these wonderful Tamil tracks. With music blaring in the background, in the company of friends, and the cool wind in your face, what more do you need?
At the threshold of my teenage years, a cousin of mine introduced me to One Direction. I was obsessed, this word doesn’t seem to cover my extent of love for them. I can shamelessly confess that I know each and every song of theirs par coeur. I still remember that day every time I listen to a song of theirs - we were making pancakes and watching “What Makes You Beautiful” and that’s all I needed to hear. I was the textbook definition of a fangirl and needless to say, was heartbroken when they broke up. The boys are doing well on their own, but my heart still stays hopeful for a reunion! Weirdly enough, one album of theirs makes me think of a particular summer, which was a year before that album got released
Around 2013-15, while my cousin and I were going to Taekwondo classes, we got introduced to many aspects of Korean culture, including K-pop ( we were listening to K-pop before it was cool :P). Girls Generation was a K-pop band and I’m pretty sure we significantly contributed to the views on their videos. They proceeded to break up as well, but I’ll always remember their peppy numbers and elaborately themed videos.
A lot of people have expressed to me that EDM (Electronic Dance Music) isn’t really music, just a bunch of beats together, but isn’t there a beauty to that too? EDM takes me back to 2014-2017 where my cousin and I discovered Avicii, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and a lot more niche EDM artists. Another friend and I at school used to gush over this and keep recommending new songs everyday! I used to love listening to Popdanthology which is basically a mashup of all the popular songs of that particular year.
This is the third or fourth time I’m mentioning this, bear with me. I carpool with my friend to college. So it’s obvious that we’d have a driving playlist - filled with an array of songs from Taylor Swift, One Republic, Arctic Monkeys to ARR to keep our road rage at bay (we like to think that it works, but who knows?).
This past year, Tiktok and Reels are everywhere. While it is obvious that most of them are a cringefest, you can’t deny that we’ve gotten to know a number of great songs because of this. My friend and I are making a huge list(down below). This playlist of songs on Reels is what I’m currently listening to, while I’m doing something low effort and mechanical. Hope you like these artist/song recommendations! A third of it is mainstream, I know, I’m basic and I love it. :)
Links you’ll love
My Instagram is filled with this cat preparing food and I cannot seem to get enough of this!
Instil a bit more aesthetic in your life with these vibrant and rich Wes Anderson-esque photos and colour palettes.
Reuniting With Awe - what a beautiful piece.
101 Ways to Live Sustainably (via The Alipore Post) - Change starts with baby steps, which ultimately end up making a huge difference.
If you need some cheering up right now, I think all of us could do with that - check out the weirdly heart warming compliments given by Leslie Knope, to her best friend Ann Perkins.
Meryl Davis & Charlie White honor Bollywood music and dance!
Sending you small pockets of sunshine :)
— adithi
Lovvvve this. I remember listening ABBA in your car 🥰
It’s nice to recall your child hood memories and expressed your intense desire in music as well as religious song in the morning which blends your involvement in music with moderation and at the same your studies too .Best wishes keep writing .
Knowledge is an asset and information is wealth .