The old Yellow AGFA tape

The tape recorder my mama (uncle) purchased in the late seventies was a novelty item in those days. It was amazing to watch how it recorded sounds and would play it back.

The tape recorder did not have a built in radio in those days. If we wanted to record programs broadcast on All India Radio, we would have to keep our Philips transistor radio (which was the size of a small TV.. not todays flat screen mini 7inch LCD's.. but CRT TV's from the nineties.. boy I talk of the nineties in the distant past.. that means I am old.. very old.. cut cut cut.. change topic!)

The one tape that always would bring me back a lot of memories was a meera bhajan (?!) on Radha. No one is sure who the singer was except grandma who tells me it was someone from Hyderabad named Sita and she was a Station director or something at AIR Hyderabad.

On my last trip, was told that the tape is "no more".

If anyone can give me a audio link to this song or even tell me correct lyrics, would really appreciate it..

It is a Hindi song and my transliteration is based on my poor grasp of the hoarse recording. But even with all that noise, the original song is just so touching that it would make me want to cry every time I listened to it. The voice was so imploring, beseeching that it would touch a yearning inside you for things that you don't know you are missing.. (okay, I really don't know what was going through my head while writing that last sentence, but for some vague reason, those are pretty much the words that come up).

Raadha pyaari thee
darohi banthi--e hamaari

gadi ek pal me
gadi ek mukh me
gadi ek avala dhari -ee saari
meera ke prabho giridhar dhar?
Charana kamal pal haari

Please do let me know.

.

Playlist for the clinically depressed

A buddy asked me yesterday, "What is this connection to Bob Dylan and the bailout man? Why do you keep connecting them in multiple posts?"

For some reason, when I am depressed there is a tendency to seek out even more depressing songs. That seems to be silly, because one would try to listen to upbeat songs when in a sad mood, or at least that would make sense, right?

It also happened that two Dylan CD's were in the CD player at the time and a few of the songs were so in with my mood and thoughts at that time, that they kept playing in my head. The same thing happens with old Ilayaraja songs or Kannadasan songs at times.

The lyrics do the damage, but it is the sad voice that makes it all the more depressing (all lyrics courtesy of this link)

Like a rolling stone

Postively 4th street

Stuck inside of Mobile

and the really fitting..

Subterranean Homesick Blues

Time to stop worrying about the economy and focus on the daily routine.

No more depressing posts on Bailout related topics...

.

Hooked again...

Cannot get "Baa Baa Bamba" out of my head!

We play videos (usually from this blog) or from youtube when we feed the kids.

Accidentally got a seasme street clip, one link leads to another and before you know it, we are watching my favorite song!

Two years ago, there was no youtube.. no such link..

Now there is!, and if you are a Grover fan, here is "Monster in the mirror".

Jr. seems to have forgotten how crazy she was about these songs at one time. She is falling in love with them all over again!

Finally a perfect daddy-kid cartoon song. We loved this so much that we bought the DVD two years ago! It is "The alligator king".

ps. I am not a big fan of these youtube snippets because I am sure they are some kind of copyright violation and it is a question of time before they get taken down. Just wish that Sesame street would make some of these clips or even teasers of clips, available on their official site! Would also give bloggers like me a chance to show the readers what we are talking about, and maybe increase their DVD sales! After all, we are advertising them for free here...

pps. An anonymous commenter had requested the lyrics for the song two years ago. I am still trying to find the lyrics.. I did used to speak a little spanish in grad. school days thanks to the Dancing connection and learnt Beginner and Intermediate spanish.. so here is my attempt to give you the lyrics..

Baa Baa Bamba

As I walked in the country one day by chance
all the sheep in the meadow were doing a dance
and they were singing ...

Baa baa Bamba, Baa baa bamba
baa baa bamba, baa baa bamba

Y siguieron bailando Y bailando mas
entonces la vaca hecho el compas
entonces la vaca hecho el compas

And then the cow said how do you do
How do you do
I wanna dance and sing like you
Yes I wanna dance and sing like you
Yes I wanna sing and dance like you
I do!
and she was singing

Moo Moo mamba, ha ha haa, Moo Moo mamba
Moo Moo mamba, Moo Moo mamba

Y siguieron bailando Y bailando hai
un patito nadando pason por ayi
un patito nadando pason por ayi

And then the duck who just to happen to swim on by
said that is a dance I would like to try
said that is a dance I would like to try
and he was singing

quack quack quamba
quack quack quamba
quack quack quamba
quack quack quamba

Y siguieron bailando Y bailando hai
un gatito saltando pason por ayi
un gatito saltando pason por ayi

and then the cat who was playing in the hay
said watch and sing while I dance away
said watch and sing while I dance away
and he was singing

Meow meow Mamba, Meow meow Mamba
Meow meow Meaomba, okay, Meow meow Meaomba

baa baa bamba, baa baa bamba
moo moo mamba, moo moo mamba
quack quack quamba, quack quack quamba
meow meow mamba,meow meow mamba,

everybody...

baa baa bamba, baa baa bamba

Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa'mí y pa' ti
Ay Arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba

Yo no soy marinero,
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan
Soy capitan
todos huntos
one more time..

Bambaaaaaa!!!!

Seguir - to follow , continue
Saltar - to play
Nadar - to swim
Bailar - to dance

Native spanish speakers, please correct mistakes, apologies in advance for mistakes..

.