Feed-back.

Yes it matters. Yes, its important. In fact, every artist thrives on it. Feed-back.

But I was wondering where this term came from and what it means.
Dictionary says: the process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output.
Also: Feedback is a series broadcast on BBC Radio 4, presented by Roger Bolton
Also: "Feedback" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson
Then I gave up on Google and Wiki :)

And got thinking - which most of us have forgotten to do - thanks to google... and just read the word again.. Feed - Back.
Its pretty simple - when I perform, please feed me back :)

I wanna be the Sunshine Girl..

This blog is dedicated to the maintenance guy in my office who claims to keep the studio temperature @22-23 degrees everyday - but obviously its anywhere below 10!

Every morning I begin with asking them to just shut the freaking AC before I begin the show since I know I cant handle it and then by 9 - I am stuttering into my links since the cold has by now gone and settled into my bones. (dont give me the obvious - oh why dont you wear a jacket? I DO!)

After another round of shouting and dhamkis (I once actually told them I will not do the show) - and then just rushing out at 11 after my last link - ASAP - I RUN outside the office to treat myself to some human conditions. Normal air - normal temperature and some sunshine!

I have in the process fallen in love with the sunshine. I think its got more than just Vitamin D to offer. Some of the things that I get treated to: warmth, love, that feeling of meeting a friend..sometimes feels like you are hugging someone and sometimes feels like someone just rescued you! Then sometimes it soothes your jammed nerves and sometimes just smiles at you. I know - this might mean nothing to people who live in cities like Dubai.. but believe me, try and spend some time with the sun alone on a random morning and it has so much to give you. Silence is beautiful, and with sunshine to go with - well, its just the frosting on the cake.

I do get it when the singer sings..'Ain't no sunshine when she's gone..' - I love that song.. Bill Withers. Do check it out if you havent yet.
And if ever someone says to me - you're my Sunshine Girl.. it would be the best compliment in my life :)

But still - can we please do something about the freaking temperature in the studio!!

@6:30 on Mumbai Roads!

A lot of people sympathise with jocks who do the morning show since they have to wake up at 5 am every morning and be at office @6am! My god!
But then they tell you- par achha hai na - no traffic at that time and while returning also - afternoon must be good.

Now - to clear all doubts - morning 6 am in Mumbai is also mad on the roads. Just think of a traffic scenario and pick the worst of the lot, the ingredients that make the traffic jams more irritating than they actually are: swinging Cycle walas, rash truck walas, dadagiri BEST buses, slow and BP raising autos!
Now put all of these together on my way to office - quite a hair-pulling experience I assure :)

Back On-Air!

Been so long since I last wrote since I was busy with quitting my job and then joining a new place and then obviously working in it!

So I am back to a radio station! And I am back on-air! Where? Well, that's not important. Really... it does not matter. Point being I am again a part of something I love so much. Radio.

The reasons for taking it up back are many but I do know one thing for sure, that it feels like home. And its not about being in a comfort zone, its about going back to something you love and something you know the workings of.

I often used to tell people that if I join radio again it would be like getting back with someone that I've broken up with. And it is exactly that. The expectations, the familiarity and yet the distance, the feeling of being sure and yet unsure. and also the 'I knew this would happen' moments are already arriving :)

But I realise that I can keep writing - now as a jock. So i'll close this chapter and begin a new one :)

Humming a different tune ;)

Radio Jingles have always been an integral part of the identity of the station - specially in this super crowded space. At least I've always felt its important! Specially since the day I wanted the RED fm jingle to be my ringtone 3 years back :)

It came to my mind to write about it mainly because I heard myself singing along the new jingle of the new Oye! Totally fun - though it missed the frequency completely - as do the hoardings all around town. I dont know when the agencies will realise that the frequency is all there is to promoting a radio station. I know what your name is, but I dont know where you live, so how do I come and meet you? :)

In any case, I am moving away from the point. So I just realised that after long - almost all stations actually have good jingles for themselves.

Radio Mirchi - Vishal-Shekhar doing the honours there
Red Fm - I think its Sachin Gupta..
Oye - Ram Sampat with a brand new station image to manage
Radio One - Shankar Ehsaan Loy singing along as brand ambassadors
Radio City has a really catchy one
Big fm - tagging their elements with the last 3-4 notes beautifully with a lot of variety

In a country that lives on Music and Masala, I think its only fair that radio stations invest in creating a musical identity for themselves. Which is why I always wonder why Fever stayed away from it.

In any case, here's wishing 104.8 a healthy new avatar. Its not every other day that a frequency changes names. The last one we remember is the transition of Go to Radio One. This is also just the second station to have a Hindi-ish name to itself now. Besides Mirchi & Oye, its City, Red, Fever, Big, One - all insisting on Hindi programming - strange isn't it? :)

Raahat se Raahat milti nahi ab...

If you are (still) a die-hard fan of Raahat Fateh Ali Khan, you might want to stop right here... not that I am to write anything offensive about him. I love him, he is to be respected. But aren't we killing him already?

Like many other Pakistani singers, the Bhatts introduced us to this master, he sang for us, Laagi Tujhse Mann Ki Lagan. A song that anyone is ready to hear even today anytime of the day. And as is in Bollywood, you just need one big hit. There he was:

First looking like he was picking his songs with bigger banners and selectively:

2005 Kalyug - Jiya Dhadak Dhadak
2006 Omkara - Naina
2007 Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - Bol Na Halke Halke
2007 Om Shanti Om - Jag Soona Soona Lage
2007 Namaste London - Main Jahaan Rahoon
2007 Aaja Nachle - O Re Piya
2008 Haal-E-Dil - Haal-E-Dil
2008 Woodstock Villa - Koi Chala Ja Raha Hai
2008 Dil Kabaddi - Zindagi Ye (special appearance)

Then, giving us hit after hit on one year:

2009 Main Aurr Mrs Khanna - Rabba
2009 Billu Barber - Jahoon Kahan
2009 Love Aaj Kal - Ajj Din Chadheya
2009 London Dreams - Khwab Jo
2009 De Dana Dan - Rishte Nate
2009 Veer - Surili Akhiyon Wale & Surili Akhiyon Wale (duet)

And then - ONLY him giving us hits! EVERY film whether big or small has his song in it. Its as if its a compulsory obligation that every album should include his song!

2010 My Name Is Khan - Sajda
2010 Ishqiya - Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji
2010 Toh Baat Pakki - Phir Se
2010 Lahore - Ore Bande
2010 Badmaash Company - Fakeera
2010 Virsa- Mein Tenu Samjhawan
2010 I Hate Luv Storys - Bahara (Chill Version)
2010 Milenge Milenge - Ishq Ki Gali
2010 Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai - Tum Jo Aaye
2010 We Are Family - Ankhon Mein Neendein
2010 Dabangg - Tere Mast Mast Do Nain
2010 Anjaana Anjaani - Aas Pass Khuda & Aas Pass Khuda - Unplugged(duet)
2010 Aakrosh - Man Ke Mat

And of these songs (in just 6 months or so of the year) - just one song that challenged his style and presented him in a refreshing manner: Dil To Bachha.

He is UNIQUE and he is great, but why do we need to make him omnipresent and make him lose his charm? And I dont think that just the music directors or producers are to blame, but even the singer himself, who but cannot be blamed for enjoying his super-stardom.

This had been on my mind for some time now, but only got down to paper (or blog as you may) -after a friend while hearing one of his songs mistook it for another one. I pity the radio playlists that have only his songs on High Rotation... there seems to be no choice! And in effect, no variety. I guess we would just have to wait till the next singer is introduced by the Bhatts :)

Now we are Talking!

:)
ON Sunday afternoon, listening to music on the radio was a treat. Every channel that I switched to, had something different to offer. Variety had finally arrived.

So there was Marathi music and there was Indipop. I could hear Tumhe Apna banaane ki (Sadak) from the 90s or a Devanand song from Guide and I could even listen to Dabanng. Radio One's initiative to promote independent artists also sounded refreshing. The Swapnil Joshi show made me smile (in spite of me being a non-marathi girl) and the back to back music on Fever also did the trick.

After a long time, I could sing along, switch and experiment with my radio set with love and enjoyment, rather than frustration and impatience.

Ofcourse, all of this, on a Sunday. Afternoon. Hope the spread spreads further :)