I spoke too soon

Just a few minutes ago, I thought I’m all You Tube’d out. It was getting a bit too much, even with the variety of stuff I was shuffling through. I wanted to write about Two Things for today that made me bow my bed with gratitude. 

However, never to worry with music. It’s a never ending love affair, full of surprises, like life- with I like you today, or no, not that, oh, oh, oh please, no no, and Yes, Yes, Yes!! True, music will surprise, just as life does.

1) How can anyone resist a girl romancing her sax. If you don’t believe me, here’s Candy Dulfer. Check her out here: https://youtu.be/_5kKo2_2MzI

2) More woman power with the Celtic Woman singing “You raise me up,” https://youtu.be/Yfwlj0gba_k 

The Josh Groban version of this was one of my mother’s favorites. We both sang it together when she felt vulnerable, but wouldn’t show it. I played it for her, and we together sang along loudly. https://youtu.be/iHCcx47ZENk I see her face now, and hear her voice singing. 

3) I can never see this video of Susan Boyle without the salt from my eyes flooding down my cheeks. This is where she made her debut- when the world first discovered the existence of this woman, who spent her best years as caregiver to her ailing mother who had passed just before Susan showed up here. She learned singing listening to her favorite Elaine Paige. Here it is: https://youtu.be/RxPZh4AnWyk “I was young and not afraid..” and “there are storms you cannot weather..” I never could bring myself to see Les Miserables. 

SusanBoyle’s story is here: https://youtu.be/aq4qOvkyXE8 At 25:00 minutes she sings “I know him so well” with her hero Elaine Paige. Powerful song. 

4) Stay with this one till the end, and you will be rewarded: https://youtu.be/gRHnjH3Zjpk

Lyrics of "Hymn to Freedom"

When every heart joins every heart
And together yearns for liberty
That's when we'll be free
When every hand joins every hand
And together molds our destiny
That's when we'll be free
Any hour any day, the time soon will come
When men will live in dignity
That's when we'll be free, we will be
When every man joins in our song
And together singing harmony
That's when we'll be free.

5) Nothing against men. Here’s one of my favorites. His perfectly imperfect teeth, the perfectly awkward gait, the perfectly unassuming manner, the perfect example of the capacity of the human spirit to dream. The human spirit that is crushed only when their very own mock their dreams and mutilate their capacity for hope. Here he is, Paul Potts in all his glory, coming out into the world, being born with Nessun Dorma, one fine piece so many sing, and some like Paul, do so, so well. Here: https://youtu.be/dnp-8GrHOIk

6) David Foster. His name is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s been around forever, and has discovered more talent than possibly anyone else. I love his uplifting Love Theme from St. Elmo’s fire. This link features David himself, so I like this one. It’s black and white: https://youtu.be/qL0vBw3csNE

No, did not see the movie, but there’s a version of the music on the internet, where everyone else loves everyone else, and there’s a gorgeous Andie Macdowell, and Demi Moore, and everyone is beautiful, guys included, with the beauty of Youth. This version, just in case you want to see how it plays in the movie: https://youtu.be/bH2hGqJved8

7) There has to be an honorable mention for “Dreams” from the Cranberries: https://youtu.be/C2EifAO9ZHg

Love the Energy, the vibrancy, the urgency in the music. Again, Irish lass singing against the Irish backdrop. My second visit was longer and cemented my connection with Blathin, (more about it in another post) an Irish name, which means “Little flower,” who lives in Dublin. 

In some ways, Dublin invokes the poignancy of Berlin. Though the two cities, Dublin and Berlin are totally different. However, both have seen such terrible loss of life. 

Dublin lost a whole generation, some to the famine, and the rest to immigration. Boston has a memorial in the heart of town, which I visited a few times in July this year, as it was near our hotel and I had to pass it several times. Interestingly, the Dublin memorial to the victims of the famine was just across from our hotel in Dublin, and I could see it from our room. Bizarre coincidence.  

In Berlin, the spirits of the holocaust victims seem to lurk in the air particles, more so in some areas than others. Creepy, but Berlin will grip you with its efforts to atone for its past sins. A walking tour is a must. Some parts are so vibrant. We stayed at an amazing pre-war property, which retained much of its magnificence. Eight glorious days, and at least 6 of the major Christmas markets. This is not the place to write about it, but the German people can stop apologizing now, for the crimes of an Austrian who manipulated a population exhausted by the circumstances and the aftermath of the Great First World War. That’s another story. Dreams are the only way out. 

8) Andrew Lloyd Weber. I love so many of his pieces. “All I ask of you” and others from Phantom of the Opera, which I saw twice, once in Sydney and another time in Vegas. “Don’t cry for me Argentina” from Evita, which I have not seen, and so many, many, many others. However, on the subject of dreams, I must leave you with: https://youtu.be/DIYFThfPfBI 

I could go on, but must reluctantly albeit firmly, rein myself in. The intent is to write about the Two Things. Will have to wait. It’s 1:17 am and that means December has begun. No longer months to wait. Christmas is coming, the New Year is around the corner. Dear God, please make ot a good one, for everyone. 

Veenu Banga

12/1/20/21

1:17 am. 

Getting high on music, just close your eyes..

Sometimes, no words are required:

https://youtu.be/qbS_kXiz9NU

https://youtu.be/jX3Ugbd5EIo

Sometimes, a few words become a composition, no music is required. The magic of these voices can only be a gift from the gods:

 https://youtu.be/yg91djzL4-c

https://youtu.be/DcpWnj0buiY Wish they would have let her finish singing. 

Sometimes words and instruments unite and create sacred sound, that can make a canvas of your insides, and dance in each pore of one’s existence:

https://youtu.be/xVueLvn0WYE

Believe it or not..

https://youtu.be/xAA9BMBbaVw The passion and the power of music, indeed it comes from God.

Music heals, and if it’s unlocked for you by a Master, even better:

https://youtu.be/RZ-TCUdsoz0 Very moving interview that may resonate with many.

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” 
― Friedrich Nietzsche

Veenu

11/30/21

1:17 am 

Always, it’s the music..

 …that brings us home to our heart.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9fJfOhNCsjI

Some voices come with built in accompaniments, they don’t really need instruments to complement them.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xVueLvn0WYE

My Samanijis also sing like that. No musical instruments required! 

Ani means nun

Ani Choying Drolma. I saw a small clip of hers, less than two minutes long, and I was spellbound. Then began the search for her, which wasn’t easy because there was no name. My first instinct was to believe that she may be a Thai nun, perhaps? Then last night, I got lucky and was up until past 4:00 am, reveling in my discovery. I was not disappointed. 

That first clip is this one: https://youtu.be/QCOnRUj_SeE

Her singing: https://youtu.be/yP3YurOfqDY 

Here’s more about her, in her own words, in English: https://youtu.be/YyJe-F4tWbI

Her websites: http://choying.de/ and http://choying.com/ 

One cannot fathom the mind, not our reality, not anyone else’s. However, what motivates a person, or pushes a person so much, that they walk away from everything familiar to them, and choose a life of complete renunciation? One day they are with you, teaching you, serving the community, and the next day they are completely out of your life. Gone. I suppose it’s best to accept and hold on to the memories. 

Veenu Banga

11/09/2021

@3:37 pm.

Alternate ending to First Words (one of the Sunflowers series)

Looking at the perfect rounds of his glasses, “Gandhi,” she thought to herself, laughing inwardly. All her coyness disappeared as she let out an involuntary chortle. 

He was startled, unsure whether at her boldness, her innocence, or her spontaneity. 

“Hmmmn, what was that,” he asked, teasing the hair that had escaped to encroach upon her forehead. She blushed. 

With one perfect finger of hers, she touched the eyeglasses where they sat on the ridge of his nose.“Gandhi,” she repeated. 

He brought his face closer to hers till their noses almost touched. Then suddenly, he pulled back and laughed with her. 

‘Gandhi,” he repeated with some consternation. Then, taking off his glasses, “not anymore!” he said. Just as suddenly, sliding in beside her, he grabbed the bridal quilt and pulled it over both their heads. 

Veenu 

9/1/2021 

3:24 am

A Full Moon measure of Time

The stars were pretty dim tonight 

And muted behind clouds, the moon.

Jupiter was supposed to nudge close 

Shining bright, and the shine gone 

All  too soon. 

It’s the clouds you see, they’re the cause

Of the change of plans in the sky,

Just as our clouded judgements

Destroy us, when our true Nature

We defy.

The clouds will lift, and time it’s toll 

Does take, the moon’s fullness then reduced

Teaches us, it’s the law of Nature, and 

A price is paid, and that time cannot be abused. 

It’s best wisely used. 

So to pick oneself up, is all you can do.

However hard, the first steps one must take

All journeys being with the lifting of one’s foot,

And then another, and another in pursuit

Of our dreams. 

Take not the high road, that much at least 

to one’s self is owed. So strap on those boots

And rising tall, on the horizon keep your eye

For time is a ticking a ticking away, nothing faster 

Than time can fly.  

The moon and the stars, if they can be 

over come by clouds, don’t you see?

What chance does stand a mortal mere

For doubts to turn them in? It’s time, 

Time always wins. 

Veenu Banga

Copyright 08/22//2021

11:25 pm

Backstory: I went to see the full moon 🌝 last night and it had a thin opaque film of cloud. Could Barely see the stars. And yesterday Jupiter was supposed to be closer to the moon and would have been shining bright, but clouds ☁️ came in the way of that celestial plan, at least over my part of the world. So this is what I perceived. 

08/23/2021.

A silvery crescent rests on blue

Sometimes I wish there was an App, which if you would point to a star the sky, will tell you which star it is. (Just as Shazam can identify music) I think I must have seen Venus, it was out west, and quite high. It seemed so close, it was so brilliant. I like to imagine it’s a spaceship, with people inside, coming to visit us- us as in all of humanity. They’re coming to Earth. How excited they must be! We have everything. Lots of water in our oceans and rivers, and streams. Good soil in large parts. We have the Amazon basin, and we have Hollywood (and Bollywood) and the internet, etc. Etc. American cultural exports are known everywhere. Oh dear, if they only knew! What a mess we’re making, a mess of this beautiful planet!

However, I digress. We were out walking after dinner, and as always I was looking skywards and saw the moon. There is something so magical about the waxing moon, it’s like loaded with Energy, like a child thriving on love, it has a sense of robustness about it, and it feels as if it is that love, that is accelerating it’s growth. 

The exact opposite happens with the waning moon. It’s more yin, a sobering spectacle, till one approaches Amavasya, and hope returns. I love watching the moon, and the sky, especially at sunrise and set. There is an etherealness to it, more than that, it the unexpectedness-a new sky every moment, a new sky every sunrise and sunset. The shapes are different, the palette, even the sky itself, is of a different hue, every single day. Now even my friends and family know to tell me if they see a beautiful sky. 

So here we were, just past nine, 9:02 pm to be exact. The sun had long gone to bed, being an early riser these days. However, the sky was still a beautiful blue, with the silky texture like covered with satin on the surface. Oh, and I also wish there was an App, that if you pointed it to a color, it would tell you which color it was, what ones were predominantly in that and etc. Because the sky was the bluest I’ve seen at that time of night. Let’s call it Inviting Blue. And, yes, I took pictures, and yes, I will share them. Now, without further ado. Enjoy. 

In the second photo, the moon is on the top left, and if you look between the little blue island like opening between the two trees on the lower right, you can see the bright star. I’m guessing it’s the Evening star. Can’t say as I’m no astronomer. You may need to zoom in to see it. 

Veenu Banga

July 7, 2021.

11:27 pm