Simply Rahat!

I always blog after a concert or something and that's not going to change.

I went for "Simply Rahat" a concert by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Suntec Convention Hall and BOY DID I ENJOY IT!!

It was so so awesome and what made it even BETTER was the fact that I knew almost all the songs that he sang! I was sitting there and I realised that a lot of the songs that I love, are sung by him. I just love his voice and what he can do with his voice and the fact that he does hindi film songs as well as Qawwali songs just tells you his amazing range of ability.

The set was extremely simple, just the stage with the musicians. Rahat and his backup vocals and the tabla players were all seated on carpets on the floor with the other musicians around them, either standing or in chairs. He didn't have like a fancy programme or whatever, it was just him singing the songs. What I loved was that after it was quite apparent that the audience was a bit sedate, he actually very politely told us that we're quite quiet and its nice for the musicians to hear response from the audience, so they know whether they're doing it well or not and I was glad because I didn't know what kind of a performer he was so I too as an audience member didn't really get into the full groove of it till he said that. After that, the audience was quite quite appreciative which I like. As I've said before, audience behaviour is a big thing with me and bad behaviour or unappreciative behaviour can ruin a night for me. He sang some of my absolute favourites like Main Jahan Rahoon, Sajda, and Dil To Baccha Hai Ji as well as O Re Piya. I was so happy he sang the Qawwali number, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya!

You can see though when he was singing the ghazals and the qawwali songs,that its more challenging but also that he enjoys it more than the hindi film songs. And when the performer is enjoying the performance itself, that too makes me happy! I mean he was smiling and genuinely having fun!

The only thing I regret is not being able to understand Hindi though because he did the ghazals and when he was singing them, like people were responding and Mama was laughing and enjoying it because she understood but I didn't so I just focused on the music part and not the words. So that did make me feel a little sad but Mama told me some of what he was saying so that was okay. I wouldn't say I'm a great expert on music but I like listening to it and I like to dance so music's important for dancing. So when he does those difficult bits in the Qawwali songs and ghazals, I'm genuinely impressed because I've never seen anyone do it so fast! I can't even imagine someone doing chakars to the beat he makes! *chakars: the spins in kathak* Sigh. I had a glorious time honestly, except the part where he was singing Mast Qalandar, the last song and like people were leaving, obviously because they heard Tere Mast Mast Do Nain. I mean yes it was past midnight but COMEON you already have to pay midnight charge, just stay for the last song proper and not OFFEND the artist! I can't stand it when people leave before the performer's done. Plus, the last bit was amazing and so fun because he was going so fast and it was so upbeat!

Sigh. ridiculous. and RUDE.

anyway, I'm quite tired but that's my gushing done about Rahatji's show.It was fun fun fun and my seats were pretty great considering the low price and hey, awesome vocals and technology means that I could hear EVERYTHING even though I was so far away so HA!

I'm so happy:)

shini

I know I haven't blogged in ages but its mostly because I didn't feel there was anything TO blog about. You'd probably know that if something was bothering me or if I was upset or pissed off, I'd blog about it to let of steam. However, things have been so so lovely that I didn't have to.

Well, not everything. But that's not my issue to tell or blog about so I'll just say that I'm there for my friend and I'll always be.

Moving on, I feel like I should at least briefly mention something about the new school year starting for me in a week's time. Its going to be my third year, (THIRD YEAR CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?) and I have quite a bit depending on it. Reason being that my CAP has to be pulled up from a 3.13 to a 3.5 by the end of my third year. I know I said I'd be okay if I didn't do honours but honestly, who are we kidding? I'm SCREWED if I don't do honours and I don't just mean at home. If I want to work in ANY ministry, or government institution, I'm going to need that bloody honours. Yes it calls for another year of paying fees but hell, I need to do it. Thing is, if I need to pull up my grade so much, and its been so dismal for so long, I need to like get all As for all my modules this sem. And surprise surprise I have to be doing a stats module as well as one on international political economics. In case you didn't know (this blog was after the horrible year of 2008), econs is not my best subject. I failed for 2 years doing it in jc and through a tuition teacher and a helluva lot of writing, as well as some praying and a bucket load of luck, I somehow managed the miracle of getting a B for it in A levels. Doesn't sound like much I know but for me, changing the U to a B, IS a miracle. So anyway, the damn subject caused me much stress and pain for the whole 2 years I was studying it.

And now, through some persuasion from my friend, I WILLINGLY choose a module with the word economics in it, a level 3000 module, in the semester that I have to DO UNBELIEVABLY WELL IN. Sigh. Why did I do it? Well, I had looked at my other option, Human Rights and Ethics or something like that, and checked out its exam paper and needless to say, the economics paper seemed a lot more do-able. Lord, I really hope I kick myself in the ass and do well this semester. I HAVE to be a hermit and not go out and do all my readings because I'm doing ALL level 3000 modules. The thing is, some of my close friends are finally coming to NUS and I want to hang out with them there. And yes, I'm going for Bollyfest. And yes, a close friend is coming down late August and I want to go out with him too. And yes, my best friend said I should really go back to Bollywood dance (if they'll have me) and do that too. So how? Well I guess that means a real cutback on all the other things. I'm GOING to do this, because I have to and because I need to and because I BLOODY WELL CAN. I've basically slacked off for 2 years in NUS and I really should stop now. One year doesn't sound like a lot of time to pull up my grade, but I'm going to at least TRY.

Okay I don't know how this became a ranting session because I was supposed to talk about how excited I am to go back to school and start my good-girl campaign and read and do my work. And also the fact that there's a STARBUCKS on campus makes my life infinitely more awesomer(since I've been asking for it since school STARTED for me) also makes me excited. Finally, just seeing my school friends, learning, participating and making new friends make me excited, especially with my own personal campaign. Oh, okay see, I did manage to say what I'm excited about. Sigh. Well, I think that's enough for now. I have something else to rant about but , this isn't supposed to be Rants of a Hormonal Person is it now? Okay, I'm going off, don't want to be late. Ciao my bellas and keep smiling!

love,

shini