• Jai Ho (May Victory Be Yours) - A. R. Rahman
    3 replies, posted
I was born in India in January, 1990. The last time I was able to visit was when I was eight years old, in 1998. I live in Canada now, and I'll be 22 this month. India was and is a very crowded country. It is polluted, the poor are in a terrible plight, and the streets as I remember them were old, poorly maintained, and dirty. I love Canada, but when I think back to India I feel a fondness I can't explain - Life there felt raw, clear and crisp, and life here sometimes seems like a waking dream by comparison. I still remember the smell of rain-drenched earth that was unique to India and India alone, and playing with kids whose names I never knew in the streets near where I lived. While I've resolved to spend the rest of my life in Canada, I can't get India out of my blood. I haven't yet watched the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire', but I decided to look up some of the music and found this, the original Hindi version of the song 'Jai Ho' which means 'May Victory Be Yours'. The reason I posted this is because I was caught by surprise. Watching this video evoked a rush of emotion in me, as nothing has for years. It filled me with an aching longing to see India again. And I know for some of you it will be hard to understand just by watching this, but I want to share it with you anyway. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nikw8HG8J8I[/media] Here's a rough translation someone else made. I wish I could provide one better, but I don't speak Hindi. [I]"Victory to thee, Victory to thee, Come, come my Life, under the canopy Come under the blue silken sky! Iota by iota, I have lost my life, in faith I’ve passed this night dancing on coals I blew away the sleep that was in my eyes I counted the stars till my finger burned Come, come my Life, under the canopy Come under the blue silken sky! Taste it, taste it, this night is honey Taste it, and keep it, It’s a heart; the heart is the final limit You dark black cloth It’s some black magic, isn’t it? Come, come my Life, under the canopy Come under the blue brocade sky! For how long, how very long It’s been on your lips Say it, now say it The eye is downcast Such lit up eyes Are they two lit-up diamonds Come, come my Life, under the canopy Come under the blue silken sky!" [/I]
Watch the movie bro, it's good. I listened to the album a while back and remember enjoying it a lot. Might have to grab that again. Indian music has always interested me, the likes of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan are really interesting to listen to. If you know anything of that variety, please post them.
A.R. Rahman is so cool. I wouldn't have heard about him if not for Superheavy. It's mainly because of A.R., Ravi, and others that going to India is big on my bucket list.
I've recently discovered Sheila Chandra and Monsoon. She's great. On Peter Gabriel's label too.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.