Music Influences

There have been many Facebook dares/challenges going around that I’ve gotten tagged on, but just didn’t get around to posting. However, this one seemed to pique my interest slightly more than the others. The challenge was to post 10 music albums that have influenced you over the years. As I was thinking through mine, I realized they are all connected to a member of my family or social connections. I’m going to bend the rules a little and vary it up with either the musician or a particular track and I definitely cannot settle for 10! A trip down memory lane is always welcome, so here goes!

Elvis

Elvis Rules! Period. I think I’ve been a loyal fan since I was ten. This mostly comes from my mom. She was actually more of a Pat Boone fan, and I have a strong memory of her trying to teach me how to twist. I believe I have the Twist down like a pro and have added my own spin to it! There’s really nothing stopping me from belting the songs out instinctively when they come on. I’m talking Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes, Are you Lonesome Tonight, and In the Ghetto.
But you can’t talk oldies without my other lifelong favorites. Listening to Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole, 500 Miles or Seasons in the Sun, always evokes a degree of melancholy, whereas Summer Wine and County Roads, a sense of youth and adventure.

80’s Rock

Even though I was an 80s toddler, I think my education in 80’s Rock was masterfully completed by my brother. All those long rides to school for drop off in a tiny Suzuki, with the windows rolled down and music blasting at top volume. Added to the memory were the frequent trips to Kin electronics in Fortress Stadium to buy their specially formulated collections on cassette tapes. I lived off of Bhaiya’s collection for quite some time till I started investing in my own. We were the first generation digital natives of sorts delving headfirst into music media. With hardly any other entertainment, these songs literally saved us from boredom. Locked doors, loud music and lots of jamming! Favorites from this part were the Genesis Album from Phil Collins, Laura Branigan’s Self-Control, Madonna’s Like a Prayer, Eric Clapton’s Layla, Sting’s Legal Alien and Pat Benatar’s Love is a Battlefield. I also remember purposefully writing down the lyrics for Bye Bye, Miss American Pie and have it memorized to this day. I know some of these were probably pre-80 but I remember listening to these growing up so I associate them to the 80s. Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust and We Will Rock You, and Eye of the Tiger were also constantly on repeat ( and still are!)

Michael Jackson

Die-hard favorite! Thriller, Beat it, Billy Jean!! So many failed attempts at mastering the moonwalk, but one of the highlights of my life was seeing his gloved hand waving to a crowd on the streets of Bangkok. My parents and I were roaming the street bazaars and all of a sudden there was a buzz of excitement and someone yelled ” Michael Jackson”. There was no google at the time ( or smart phones!) so not much in the way of verification, but I would like to believe it really was Michael Jackson 🙂

Kishore and 80’s Bollywood

This one goes to my dad, Azfar and my sister. You could never sit in Abbu’s car without having a Kishore tape in it. Recently, he has graduated to a CD which I found impressive! There would also be a fair sprinkling of Mukesh and Lata. I have vivid memories of him tuning in to his favorite radio station and listening to Binaca Geet Mala broadcasted from India. It’s interesting that he has not given up that nightly ritual and still listens to his favorite oldies ( and some new ones) saved on his phone. Azfar is also a big Kishore fan, so this has continued on in my marriage. You’ll often find these going in the background while he cooks up something special.

From my sister, 80’s Bollywood. Apa was usually away at med school but I remember she would have these collections which I would take and listen to on the long drives from Lahore to Pindi and back when we visited her in Army Medical College. Notable mentions: Neeley Neeley Ambar Par, Julie soundtrack and Qayamat se Qayamat Tak!

Wedding dholki songs

All right, don’t judge! I’m a dholki lover. My voice sounds more-or-less like a ‘phata howa dhol’ but when has that ever stopped someone who loves singing dholki songs? If you want to get a party started, get a group of ladies on the floor around a drum, and you’re set. The trick is to know the refrains of most songs and keep changing it up quickly so no one figures out you don’t know the whole deal. Although, a few that should be sung through and through are Luddi Hai Jamalo, Lal Meri Paat, Mundiya, Hai Apna Dil to Awara, Balley Balley and Rang Barse. My earliest memory of a dholki was probably one of my uncles. I have a vague recollection of sitting on the periphery clapping away to the songs the aunties were singing. Regardless, weddings (Punjabi weddings in particular) are festive, full of hulla gulla ( and good food!) and although the dholki session is becoming a dying art-form, it’s still one of my favorites. I admire the’ tappey’ sessions but have to admit, I’m not too skilled at those.

Pretty Woman and the 90’s!

Hello! Richard Gere…swooon! The whole soundtrack was puppy-love awesome, and who can ever forget Roxette’s It Must Have Been Love! And since we are talking of Richard’s, there’s the other Richard, Marx that is with Right Here Waiting For You. And let’s not forget Bon Jovi

Beethoven

I’m not much of an instrumental fan. But as a pre-teen I was given a Casio electronic piano and a couple of my friends who played the piano helped me learn part of Fur Elise and Moonlight sonata. It’s complicated and I never got far. I play mostly by ear and always wished I had formal training. It’s only when you play the piece that you realize the brilliance of having composed these being in a state of rapidly deteriorating deafness.

Whitney Houston/ Bodyguard soundtrack

The quintessential I Will Always Love You! Everyone tried to sing it, everyone butchered it. Nobody does it quite like Whitney Houston’s rendition. Strong feminist vibes from I’m Every Woman. Ironically, I’ve still not seen the movie but got the soundtrack for Kevin Costner and fell in love with Whitney Houston. Life moves in mysterious ways!

Pakistani Pop

Alamgir is a rock star, still! He visited Denver recently and I had just started photography. It was such a neat opportunity to meet him in person and listen to his soulful voice again. I remember being glued to his songs on the Walkman. Rewinding, re-rewinding till all the lyrics were memorized! If Alamgir was the mast bearer for Pakistani Pop, then Nazia and Zoheb were the innovators. Catchy rhythms, good looking duo – they captured everyone’s hearts! Fun fact: One of my cousins worked with Biddu and Nazia in London and composed the original track of Aap Jaisa Koi but unfortunately didn’t get credit for it.

Junoon

Growing up, I was a hardcore Junooni and I remember having these very passionate disagreements with one of my closest friends who was a Vital Signs fan as to who was better. I still loved all their albums, but if given the choice on concerts, it was always Junoon! Even got to meet Salman Ahmad backstage after a Kinnaird concert! ( those guys should have been given medals for walking into a hall full of KC girls, lol!)

Kendrick Lamar/ Pray for me – Black Panther soundtrack

Ok, this is not typically me and I’ll usually change the song if it’s rap. However, with Taimoor and Haaris showing such a love for rap, they persuaded me to listen to Kendrick Lamar. If you can look past the cuss words, then I do see the point that at least his raps have a social message. Also, impressive that he’s won the Pulitzer prize. My favorite is the Weekend/ Black Panther soundtrack for Pray for Me.