Heavy Metal

Just like many of my friends here, I have a great fondness for music. I grew up listening to old Bengali songs, Rabindra Sangeet, Najrul Geeti, the typical bollywood songs and the Indi-pop genre. It was only in my high-school days did I start liking Afro-American Jazz, Western Country Music, pop, Indian semi classical, Hip-hop and various other kinds. I have a strong affiliation with soft rhythmic music, be it the old Bengali songs or some beautiful guitar tunes, or the sound of a flute.

But somehow, I have grown a strong distaste for Heavy Metal music. With the best percussionists and excellent guitarists around, this genre of music never seems to impress me a wee bit. May be, I am sounding dogmatic, foolish and childish (and I really don’t know if I am!), but can anyone explain to me how terms like ‘metal-banging’ and ‘distortion’ and ‘thrashing’ are remotely associated with music? It may sound funny to few, that it becomes quite challenging for me to withstand one complete hard-rock song (they strain my ears and cause headache)! Perhaps the best advice for me is that, Rock is not meant for me, and it’s best avoided. But, seriously, if some of my readers take the pain to comment over this post and explain to me, its appeal, its association with ‘machismo’, it will be great. Perhaps your comments will help change my prejudiced  view in near future.  

Last day on TV, I saw a commercial where people were requested to spread certain awareness by writing blogs and by other means. It suddenly struck me that not a few, but a huge number of people who have access to the internet, have started taking blogs and bloggers seriously. It not only creates mass-awareness and can be both written and accessed for free (this was not the case when e-communication was much less developed), but well written blogs provide a varied range of information and knowledge, inspiration, some good debates, some heated up arguments, constructive criticisms (although rare), and some really good practice for all aspiring writers. What I like particularly like about blogs is that people all over the world can easily share their thoughts, beliefs or even justify, argue and criticize the writer directly and quickly. Now this is a huge advantage compared to magazines, journals or even newspapers and books.

In Bengal, few people are interested in other things than gold, fish and cricket! But I can quite well imagine that a time will soon come in India when the best written blogs will be restricted to paid members, and famous writers shall be writing here regularly in return of thick pay-cheques!