Grand Memories

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As I look into my Grandmother's eyes
I seem to feel a bit surprised
She sits there in her silly old chair
Clicking her heels, it's too much to bear

See she can't walk, sing, or speak
She is thin and looks very weak
It saddens me to see her so
That life has brought her to a terrible low

She can remember a little from the past
But the present goes by way too fast
She knows her son you'll see
It's hard for her to remember me

I wish I knew how she was feeling
Maybe there are secrets she is concealing
I wonder what goes through her mind
As she sleeps there in a bind

Speak to me Grandma; wake out of your trance
Please get up, move, or dance
I want to see again the sparkle in your eyes
Because I know that's where the truth lies

You used to sing with a glorious tune
Tomorrow to hear you sing was never too soon
You saved so many lost souls everyday
Taught them about God and all he has to say

You were so strong, mighty, and bold
Your life was too short to already been sold
I miss hearing you sing and pray
The hours are cutting short, it could be any day

I want you back sound body and mind
I wish there were a key I could find
To bring you back out of this state
Oh why did this have to be your fate

This must have been God's very plan
To watch you grow and see your wings span
You've served him right from the start
He welcomes you to his home and heart

My love for you will never die
I will hold your Sparkle in my eye
I know I'll be singing with you someday soon
Walking through the gates of heaven,
singing the same glorious tune

IPL Fever Ends

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The IPL fever which had gripped the cricketing world for a month came to end yesterday after a dramatic victory of Hyderabad Deccan Chargers over Bangalore Royal Challengers. The outcome of this year’s tournament couldn’t have been better as the teams which finished last & second last in 2008 finished first & second this year.
Deccan Chargers were my favorite ever since the team was announced last year. They were the best team on paper but they weren’t able to get anything right last year. But this year they were consistently good & hence they lifted the cup which they rightfully deserved. The Bangalore Royal Challengers also did a great job by climbing the points table from the near bottom to the top.
The arrangement of the closing ceremony was incredible. It was breathtaking to see the night sky adorned with lanterns & fire crackers. The laser show also made for a pretty interesting sight. This however was not reflected in the performances organized. It was disappointing to see Akon lip-synching to his own song & appearing disinterested throughout the act. Even veteran singer Eddy Grants performance became repetitive to the point that it seemed boring. And the worst part was the so-called dance performance by Katrina Kaif on the Pussycat Doll’s version of ‘Jai Ho’. That was an enormously bad representation of Bollywood dance on an International Platform.
It is needless to say that the biggest winner of IPL 2 is South Africa. It earned a considerable amount of revenue hosting it, not to mention the enormous amount of donations made by the franchise owners & BCCI to the charitable organizations in SA. The same money could have made much difference in our own country considering the vast number of people suffering of poverty in India.
The positive part of taking IPL to SA was that it added a truly global touch to it. Since, SA has a substantial Indian population the spectators were just as passionate as in India. Can’t wait for the next IPL, till then I hope all the Indian team players recover from the fatigue caused by this before the T 20 world cup..

‘The Guy-Liner’ Vs ‘The Guy-next-door’

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Adam Lambert

Chris Allen

I have been an avid follower of ‘American Idol’ ever since it’s first season aired back in 2002, much before its Indian counterpart hit the television screens in India. Its crisp & professional setting leaves very less or no time for drama unlike the singing shows which bombard various television channels in India & for this precise reason I still remain its fan..

I never planned to watch this season so intently but I got interested when I saw Anoop Desai audition for it. The thought of seeing an incredibly talented Indian-American on one of the most esteemed & iconic platforms of American pop culture got me hooked. This was what I thought before I got to see Adam.

From the moment I saw this guy, I realized that he was different..different because he was by far more talented than the best whom I had seen so far, different because he was not only a great singer & performer but also a musical genius, different because he did not conform to the trend & dared to be himself, different because he was gay…

I was not surprised when news reports came in much later about the controversy surrounding his sexual orientation. Though Adam & the producers of the show have always maintained their silence on this issue the truth can be felt the same way I felt it. I am sure it would have broken the hearts of many females to see this good looking crooner kissing a guy but that would be selfish on their part wouldn’t it?

I never felt that this would ever jeopardize his chance of winning the contest as the high notes he reaches would easily shut the critics up & when America could elect its first Black president, Adam winning seemed more believable. Besides, he could be an Icon for the gay crowd & carry forward their message to the people.

The final showdown between Adam Lambert & Chris Allen was like a battle between two diametrically opposite personalities. The cool & calm good boy-next door as opposed to the hot & fiery Eye-liner wearing Adam made for an interesting finale. I was shocked when Adam Lambert lost out in the final to Chris. Chris is a very good singer& also a nice guy, but it was easy to see that Adam was at least three times a better than him. I firmly believe that the public got it wrong this time & the reasons could be many:-

1. The fans of semi-finalist Danny Gokey defected toward Chris.

2. Chris’s boyish charm won over the quintessential rock star image that Adam projected.

3. People didn’t vote because of the blatant favoritism of judges towards him which made people think that he would anyway win irrespective of whether they vote or not.

4. Some would have been turned off because of the controversy surrounding him.

Whatever the reason may be, Adam has always remained an epitome of humility despite the fact that he is put at such a pedestal by the media & the judges. He has a good heart & that is seen through his music. This is seen when he goes ahead & thanks his musicians publicly after every performance. He even proclaimed that he was fortunate to be sharing the stage with Dannny & Chris, whom he regards as fabulous singers.

In a way, I sense that not winning might be beneficial to Adam:-

1. He might get more creative freedom with the music company he chooses & get to make the kind of music he wants.

2. He might outsell Chris in the long run.

3. He hits the music scene as an individual artist not carrying the baggage of ‘Idol’.

I can proclaim without flinching that he is iconic & will remain so in the times to come. There are very few who can sing songs of U2, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, etc. with such panache’. And I will always remain his fan irrespective of whether he kisses a man, woman, or a cow!