watch the old man groove!

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Normally i cant handle radio. too much of crap music followed by even more crazy RJs involve with their own voice and their own stupid jokes. Jasmine loves her radio and listens to it when ever she travels in the car which is like a large and important part of her day. i cant handle it more than a few minutes. Now that Jispa has her songs on her cell phone, its interesting listening to her songs which I kind of enjoy. The other day we were just sitting on the dinning table and listening to the youtube selection of Coldplay. It was a moment of some bonding! Hah! that was a brief ephemeral moment of papa daughter having something to share.

She later asked me - am I allowed to use my cell phone as a music player. Ya sure, I answered. Of course you can, why not? She said that Mom is saying no! Hah! Jispa is one of those who likes her music and likes to listen to it while studying or while doing practically anything. Anything besides swimming. Before swimming I am not allowed to listen to the radio, a song or even sing one. Because then it gets stuck in her head while swimming and nothing is more irritating that that. I had gotten her a nice set of JBL headphones. Jasmine is also right, music is also a source of distraction as she constantly fiddles with her song list when she is listening to it, even when she is studying or doing something. And mom doesn't let her listen to music with her headphones on. I am assuming its because then she wont listen to anything mom shouts out for or possibly she would listen to it too loud. hmmm.

I asked her if she would like a good music system that plays music via bluetooth from her cell phone. Wouldn't that be cool. I have been trying get a good system at home for some time. Jasmine listens to music while cooking and my servant from 10 years, Deviki listens to it while doing her work and now Jispa. AND I HATE MY UGLY RADIO AT HOME. It sounds like shit. Its a old cheap box which we bought as a cheap cheap thing when we had less money. After that I have been after Jasmine to upgrade but she refuses. I cant listen to music on that crap boom box. So now that Jispa has come of age, I am going to but one just for her. Any decent good one that plays bluetooth and possibly has a radio for Jasmine and Devki’s sake. Lets see, that would be a good gift for her. After all what is a teenagers life if she doesn't get a music system as  gift from her dad!

While driving a few days before I saw this ad for a retro radio station on the a billboard and I knew I had to just tune in. Dam cool. You know you are old when a retro music station is belting out numbers that you just loved listening to as you were growing up. Aint that the cool old thing to do. I guess they probably appeal to the 40 year old who still love listening to songs that he grew up to. They re the perfect audience with all the money in the world. A 40 year old. The young kid has got no money and a fleeting loyalty and of course internet music that besides them no one else listens to! 

So today morning when i was coming to office I put on the radio to the retro channel and I heard the awesome tracks back to back - Om shanti om, yard aa haha hai an then the heavily inspired Jumma chum de de. I couldn't help singing these tracks and grooving to these beats while driving. People would have thought I was a joker but it was great. These are amazing tracks and filled my mind with a ton of positivity and energy, not that I think I need it early morning but a little more spring wouldn't hurt at all.

So that was fun and this radio channels dded some meaning to my morning commute today! yo man!

The AIR is dead... long live AIR

These days I have rediscovered the magic of government radio. I wouldn’t have heard radio if not for the private players. And I wouldn’t have switched to government radio if not for boring and pathetic private players. Most FM channels play the same music. It’s the same latest songs being played by all. Almost all RJ’s are similar in their pompous and ‘I am soo dam smart’ tone. I thought Aniruddh was the most irritating till I heard Manish Valecha. He is the worst. He does play some lovely music though I wish he just shut up.
The best thing about the goverment run All India Radio (AIR)100.7 fm is the amazing talk shows that they have. Typically after a game of squash, while driving home at around 9.00 to 9.15 pm I turn on it on. News in Hindi followed by news in English (most turn off here but the patient inherit the earth). People like me with no TV love it. The best then follows. Post the news they have a talk show on a current and important subject. This will be a 15 minute chat typically having a senior journalist with an expert on the issue. I have heard shows about the LTTE, Sri Lankan Military response, Right to education Bill, hosting IPL during elections, criminalization in politics etc. It is great to listen to these experts talking with deep insights on these issues. It is a pleasure to hear them. It gives you a rare chance to understand the core of issues that are dealt with. Most of the time either these issues are not carried by national press or they have pathetic analysis on them. Journalism in India is dead in any case. At these forums the expert and the journalist is not afraid to take shots at the political machinery, the current government or even the judiciary. It seems fair and impartial. What strikes me is that there is someone in this government company who is tirelessly working away, identifying issues, the right experts and quietly trying to do his job. This quiet honest worker is as much a hero as possibly Tarun Tejpal. Long live the quiet efficient bureaucrat. If you are somewhere reading this… I bow to thee.
But I don’t know how long this will last. How many of us actually listen to this. Tarun once explained in his edit on the importance of politics and us the elite paying more attention to it. I sure hope this radio station is never privatized. Look at the news channels these days. I miss the Doordarshan news. It was infinitely more balanced. If demand dictates supply then the fact that we don’t have balanced and well analyzed opinions on the news then it is a reflection on our tastes and our demand.