DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?🤔

THE PERSONA VS THE PERSON ✍️

Have been thinking about why 'celebrity' deaths in another part of the world, especially untimely and unexpected ones, make people everywhere, feel just a little sad.😪 We've never met or seen them in person; and they don't even know that we exist, in some part of the universe, oceans apart from where they are.

...and yet, there is a sense of loss in our hearts, when we hear that they've moved on from this life. Just the thought that we will never watch them on screen again, fills us with a very strange and difficult to explain 'emptiness'.😔

Each time any actor, singer or performer that we've watched or heard a lot on TV, in movies or on stage, or whose songs we've listened to often, passes away, we feel that slight sadness. That feeling lingers on for a while too, and it's sometimes difficult to understand 'why'.🤔

I think it affects us a little more, if we've been especially fond of a particular artist. I know I felt like that, when I heard that the Patch Adams/ Mrs.Doubtfire actor - Robin Williams, had died, some years ago; and I felt it again, when I heard about Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), a couple of days ago.

It's not that I was a huge fan of either of them, and I didn't really follow their careers or the things they did, all the time; but there was something about some of their performances, or the characters they played on screen, that endeared them to me. Maybe, I just liked them, because they made me Laugh.😊

These were two people however, who 'In Reality' definitely were the perfect representation, of those Charlie Chaplin lyrics, from the 'happiest sad song' or the 'saddest happy song', that I love...

'Smile though your heart is aching,
Smile even though it's breaking;
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by,
If you just Smile.'🎶😪

They truly made the whole world Smile and Laugh all the time; even when their own lives were full of long and relentless personal struggles of their own. It makes us all ponder on the difference between the 'On Screen Stage Personas', that people who are always in the limelight, create for the whole world to see...Completely the opposite and different, from what lies behind those smiles; those 'Real Life Feelings and Experiences' that they actually struggle and battle with, every single day.🎭

But hiding behind masks, creating alternate versions of reality, almost living in a parallel universe, somehow seems to be something, that every single person does constantly; and from long before the pandemic forced us to wear masks, for a few years.😷 

Whether a 'celebrity' or just another 'ordinary human being', I think in some ways, we're all a little like that, in our own lives too, aren't we?🤔

I WONDER WHY...

PERHAPS LOVE ✨️❤️

 

Lyrics like these make songs Special.😊

I like the many 'comparisons' used by the Songwriter, to describe Love.💞

PERHAPS LOVE (Song Lyrics) 🎶

- John Denver and Placido Domingo

Perhaps Love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm;
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of Love will bring you home.❤️

Perhaps Love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more;
And even if you lose yourself
And don't know what to do
The memory of Love will see you through.✨️

Oh, Love to some is like a cloud
To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel;

And some say Love is holding on
And some say letting go
And some say Love is everything
And some say they don't know.🤔

Perhaps Love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it's cold outside
Or thunder when it rains;
If I should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of Love will be of you.✍️🎶

I first discovered this beautiful song, when Carlton Braganza sang it on his online show 'Jukebox Jammies' some years ago. I thought the lyrics were exceptionally meaningful and beautiful; and I've loved the song ever since that first time, when I heard it.❤️

This is from a more recent show, earlier this year. Carlton singing that same song as Placido, in a cover duet version with John Denver.😊

DARE TO DREAM ✨️❤️

Many years ago, we had picked the Theme 'Dare to Dream' for our Annual Day at DB; because we wanted our students to see, how 'Every Dreamer is an Inspiration and a Role-Model'.✨️

As I worked on writing that Script, I remember how I spent many weeks reading about the most 'Inspirational Dreamers' around the world, from various fields;😊 together with also looking for a whole bunch of appropriate 'Songs written about Dreamers', to match the script.🎶💃

This was a song that I had picked that year. It was also one of the songs, sung at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, by John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John.❤️

DARE TO DREAM (Song Lyrics) ✍️🎶

- John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John

I am my own Believer
In my Heart the Reason
I will follow the Light from within;
I'm not afraid of weakness
I'm gonna taste the sweetness
Of the power not to give in.
Oh I will see it through
I Believe, this is my Moment of Truth.

Dare to Dream
Dare to Fly
Dare to be the ever Chosen One to touch the sky
Dare to Reach
Dare to Rise
Find the Strength to set my spirit free
Dare to Dream.🌟

I will Go the Distance
Embrace resistance
I will lay my soul on the line;
When the wait is over
And the hunger has spoken
If I give my all, I will shine.
Oh I will see it through
I Believe, this is my Moment of Truth.

Dare to Dream
Dare to Fly
Dare to be the ever Chosen One to touch the sky
Dare to Reach
Dare to Rise
Find the Strength to set my spirit free
Dare to Dream.🌟

And my Heart will Shine like the Sun
A million voices Together as One
I Believe, I Believe, I Believe, I Believe.💞

Dare to Dream
Dare to Fly
Dare to be the ever Chosen One to touch the sky
Dare to Reach
Dare to Rise
Find the Strength to set my spirit free.

Dare to Dream
Dare to Fly
Dare to be the ever Chosen One to touch the sky
Dare to Reach
Dare to Rise
Find the Strength to set my spirit free
Find the Strength to do what I Believe

Dare To Dream

Dare To Dream✨️❤️

A26 at RAY' 2022 in IC 🎶💕

So, I went to the St.Francis Grounds a little early last evening, because I wanted to meet Chrystal Farrell (another awesome friend that I made, because of Carlton Braganza and Jukebox Jammies) before the show. I ended up meeting and posing for an unexpected pic with the whole Band.😊 That didn't even happen, when I went to listen to A26 at Cohiba in Goa; and I felt like some celebrity myself, as I stood there for a pic, with all these awesome musicians together.🙈 Thanks Chrystal!🤗❤️

I don't even need to say this, but just about everybody loved the show.This time, I decided to enjoy the show from right in front of the stage, instead of watching from the back. The energy and enthusiasm there, was quite something.😊 

Our parishioners, friends and lots of people from elsewhere too, who love A26, all dancing the night away, jumping, cheering and singing along. I usually stay away from being 'in the heart of the action' like that, and always prefer to watch from the sidelines...But I went closer to the stage last night, only because I wanted some nice clear videos.

After reading this post, someone who knows me well, asked me with a very confused expression, 'So, were you dancing, when you were so close to the stage?'😂😂😂 

A26 is simply amazing and definitely one of 'India's Finest Bands' today. You just have to look at their social media pages, to know how much and how often they're travelling, all over the place. Part of the 'Frequent Flyers Club', like someone calls them.😊 But, the fact that they travel so much and constantly have shows all over, proves how much in demand they are everywhere...and that can only be, because they are so good.❤️

In conversations with musically inclined friends from IC, after the show, there was one common feeling. We were just so 'Happy' to have had a 4-day event like this in IC.😊 Has never happened before and it really made us 'feel good'. 

To see how so many talented musicians were in the audience last night (few, not even from IC), made us feel 'Proud', that our Parish hosted something like this. 

So, once again to the organisers of 'Ray - Asha ki Kiran, 2022'; a big 'Thumbs-Up' for a job really well done. It truly was a 'Fabulous' event, in every respect.👏👏👏

This has also been a really eventful week for me. Beginning with the two days of the International Jazz Festival at the NCPA, then Darren and Niloufer's 'That Christmas Spirit and more' at St.Andrew's, followed by these two days that I attended at 'Ray' here in IC, hearing Remo and A26 'Live'.

I'm sure the 'Chief Musician', who writes the music score of all our lives, was in the mood to fill my life, with lots of music this week😊🎶💕

...and actually, my heart still longed to be at a couple of other shows too; because there were so many events happening this week. If only, I could have been, in more than one place at once.😊

...but another thought that comes to mind is that, if I was still in school, I would have never been able to make the time to attend so many concerts in one week, with all the endless school work. So, I must be 'Grateful' for the musical experiences I did have, and the many countless friends I met this week.

...and yes, 'EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.'✨️❤️

(This is a post I shared on FB a year ago, in December' 2022.)

MAKING MUSIC THE 'A26' WAY 🎶💕

Was introduced to A26, this amazing Band from Goa, on Carlton Braganza's online music show 'Jukebox Jammies', during the lockdown. Loved the voices of both Lester Rodrigues and Chrystal Farrell.🤗❤ I think they are both fantastic.

Since then, over the last three years, I have followed them and listened to many of their songs online; and have discovered how talented every single member of the band is. Grayston Vaz, Marwino Da Costa, Ignatius Rodrigues, Alfin Fernandes, Joe Pereira - Fabulous musicians, who all sing too, play multiple instruments; and most of all, they just enjoy the music. You can see that in every song they sing.🙂🎶💕

If you follow them online, you'll realise how packed and hectic their schedule is sometimes, because they travel all over, singing and performing; but you'll still always see them smiling and enjoying themselves, when they're on stage. That enjoyment is infectious, and the audience catches it instantly too.😃

So, when I was in Goa for a few days in May 2022, I made sure I went and listened to them 'Live'; since they're at 'Cohiba' every Wednesday night. They almost didn't perform there, in the week I was in Goa, because of another event; but thankfully, their plans changed at the last minute, and the show that day, didn't get cancelled. Whenever you are in Goa, you must make sure you go, and experience a 'Live' A26 performance.🙂

They really are such a great band; and while their online videos are awesome, listening to them 'Live', makes you feel proud that we have a band as good as that in India, and a little more proud that it's a band from Goa.❤

(This was a post, that I had shared on FB, in July 2022)

YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION ✨️🎶 (Song Lyrics)

- Chicago

You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love that lasts forever;
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time.

You should know, 

Everywhere I go;

Always on my mind, 

in my heart,

In my soul, baby.

You're the meaning in my life
You're the Inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the Inspiration✨️
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I Need You.❤️

And I know, yes I know that it's plain to see
So in love when we're together;
Now I know that I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time.

You should know, 

Everywhere I go;

Always on my mind, 

In my heart,

In my soul.

You're the meaning in my life
You're the Inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the Inspiration✨️
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I Need You.❤️

Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you.

You're the meaning in my life
You're the Inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the Inspiration

When you love somebody 'til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind
No one needs you more than I

When you love somebody 'til the end of time
When you love somebody
Always on my mind
I Need You.✨️❤️

EXTRA-ORDINARILY 'YOU' 🌟💕

Sometimes, we may think we haven't really done that much, to deserve praise and accolades... 

What we may not realise, is that what we thought was just Ordinary to us, was actually 'Extra-Ordinary' to someone else; because to those people, a lot of 'little bits of nonsense' actually made 'a whole bunch of sense'.😊💕

I guess, we can all try to fill the world with the warmth, brightness and love that a ray of sunshine brings, in little ways everyday. That 'one ray' that creeps into a dark corner, even through a little crevice, a tiny slit somewhere or even through a locked door, could 'make the biggest difference' to another person's life, without us even realising it.✨️

BE THAT RAY ❤️

To know just how much brightness,
You bring to each new day;
Look through those tear-laden eyes,
Whose pain you laugh away.

To know just how much sunshine,
You bring to every dark room;
Look at that storm-beaten life,
Filled with cheer, instead of gloom.

To know just how much warmth,
You bring to each chilly night;
Look at the cloud-filled sky,
Where rainbows, are now in sight.

To know just how much light,
You bring to every lonely heart;
Look at those frown-clad faces,
Smiling more, with the 'Will to Restart'.😊

(From a post I had shared on FB, exactly a year ago, on this day in October'22.)