Facing (the) music

I'm finding the post the hardest to write! I started it on Feb 3 (over two months ago) and left it at the title, restarted it today and did too many careless Ctrl+ Zs wiping out a decent draft and now I am fed up of my own stupidity! This post has to go up on my blog today. Good ... so far so good!

So what inspired this post? If I'd have a make a finite list I'd state

1. My Mom and of course everyone else in my family who have a passion to sing

2. My veena teacher Mrs.Kamala Ramasubramanian (whom I have disappointed heavily)

3. A lot of people in the film music industry

4. Sangeetha vidwans and vidushis from the classical school of music

5. Various artists from other genres of music who's tracks I occasionally listen to

6. A host of reality shows that have become an arena for people to showcase their "musical talent".

Different people would define music in different ways. One such definition that stood out to me was Bombay Jayashri stating in a concert that music is her religion. She said that whatever one does the most becomes their religion. She was forthright enough to answer a distorted question with this remark; I was impressed. :)

To me, music is a friend, a soul mate. There are times when I need something that can strike a chord with me. Whenever I want that kind of company, I choose, listen and enjoy. When I don't want it, silence becomes music and everything else becomes noise.

Coming back to item #6 in the list, I am compelled to ask a question. Are these reality shows really creative?

I don't want to take a stand right away. Let me reason out a bit.

Before I analyze further, I have to quote Bombay Jayashri again. In the same concert I mentioned earlier, she had also said that the purpose of music is to provide entertainment (she did talk about other purposes ...). Anyway, do all these super / top singer programs do justice to their purpose? Overall they might but IMHO, they could do better.

At times, the judges entertain the viewers more than the performers. I agree that the media has to cater to audience with varied taste, participants have to sing popular numbers to make the jury's job easy (also because everyone who takes part should be given a fair chance). All said and done, it gets boring beyond a point. There is too much repetition which undermines (and at worst,destroys) the little novelty that the contestants and organizers might have introduced. Perhaps they can include a segment or two to encourage fresh compositions / rare renderings.

Until then, I'll keep fast forwarding and skipping through episodes deceiving myself that I am listening to music, while killing time by enjoying the unwholesome entertainment that these shows provide. Thankfully, I get my kind of music elsewhere. :)

P.S. I am great fan of Chinmayi Sripada. I follow her blog too (and her Mom's as well). She is more than just a super singer!

Did I forget Shreya Ghoshal?! She too rose to fame through one of these TV shows. I am not an unreasonable critic am I? Adios! ;)