Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages

I honestly and truly believe that one of the special things that make me blessed is that the years 1989-1996 were part of my teenage years. Are you kidding me ? They were everything.
Cable television brought my way some friends for life.
That was the Music Era ..every freaking week ..Aerosmith, GNR, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Def Leppard, Metallica, REM and a host of others released stellar album after stellar album.
Those days were pretty mundane. High School and College and the love of the routine.
Then came Big Ones and the nature of the game changed.
Hysteria, Pyromania, Appetite for Destruction, Big Ones became household names.
Skulls and Roses and rock signs were second to none.
In a once ordinary life, The music was no where even closing to ordinary.
The music was spectacular.
It made my heart pound.
It made my pulse race.
It made my head bang.
And the sign of an ultimate "Rock of ages" sorta experience is that it still does!
After all these years and after all this exposure and admitted appreciation of several other forms of music from Jazz to Classical to Trance to Country to HipHop ... deep down inside
I am a Rocker! ..A true blue Rockaholic...A rRockomaniac ..A Rockstar!
With leather boots, tattoos, a hundred silver rings, crazy big hair, never say die attitude... sticking my tongue out at the world.
So here is my unabashedly adoring list of songs which also have seriously awesome music videos which I love in an almost devotional sorta way.
These songs have had a profound impact on me and continue to over the years - some because of the lyrics, others because of the video, the rest because of the music ..and mostly because of the personal experiences that I now connect them with.

1. Guns'n' Roses : November Rain
Axl popping pills, the white church with the piano, The first drum beats (can u hear them !) The orchestra, the slow walk down that wedding aisle, the short saucy wedding dress, the sweet kiss,
, when Slash walks out of the church ..god ..(how sexy was that !)and his awesome guitaring, The Ariel view of him and the church and the guitar ...the rain at the reception ..everyone runs for cover ..the cake tumbles .... after the wine spills - Slash climbs onto the podium and the bad a#$ build up to the most amazing musical finale ever ! ..the funeral ..the line of limos..the tears ..the darkness ..after that..November Rain all over again. The bouquet toss .. landing on the grave..bleeding color still the music spans out..
I thought this was my song because I am a November Born
I wanted it to rain every November after I heard this song
And in 1996 - it did. And I cried and Died of Ecstasy.
"nothing lasts forever and we both know hearts can change"
"I know that you can learn to love me, when no ones left to blame"
"Nothing lasts forever - even Gold November Rain"
What an iconic song ! I really wanted to use my illusions after this one! This was a song that would took me on the emotional rollercoaster of a lifetime. Just when I thought it was happy - it was sad. Just when I thought it was a rock song - it was ballad like.
Axl Baby - Thank you !

2. Def Leppard - Pour some sugar
First of all - lets be clear on this.
Anyone who starts a song with "Love is like a Bomb" .and has a chorus that says "Pour some sugar on me!" ....will be idolized and sent to rock heaven on this blog atleast.
Authentic, Classic, Unbrindled rock! ..Half black and white and Half color - This video was like a live performance .. no shirts ..big hair ..sweat..laser lights and mad crowds high on a combination that I dont want to mention on this blog...
Joe Elliott. Rick Savage and Tony Kelling at their best ever !
"I'm hot ..sticking sweet ..from my head ...to my feet" ..
I so wanted the white sleeveless shirt the Joe wears in this song.. God alone knows how I hunted for it everywhere - including the Night Market in Bangkok 2 years ago...No luck so far..
When I was 18 - my favorite thing to do was open a bottle of thumbs up while listening to
"Take a Bottle - Shake it up" ..and thats what I remember everytime I drink something fizzy !
Days when I have no enthu left - I still do that.
Cold bottle of suds and Pour some sugar .. the ultimate energy booster...
Gotta LOve this one !

3. Aerosmith - Amazing
Hail all and bow to Joe Perry - God of guitar !!
To say that I was SHOCKED when I saw this video and song would be the understatement of this century. For a 16 year old who doesnt know what virtual reality is - This video shook me to the core.
It made my heart race and feel like I was doing something forbidden.
It still does. .. Steven Tyler does an all time prolific opening for a rock song song when he scroons "Kept the right ones out ..Let the wrong ones in ..Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins" .. and walks upto the screen..
Unforgettable ..in every way .. The adolescent kid ..on the complicated computer .. who air brushes his photo and hits a user interface button called "Acne neutralized" ... (Man! ..That was my wish too back then !) .. His messy room .. Access Denied .. The joy of a joystick ..wears kid gloves ..and enters "Cyber Space" ..he meets the hot chick ..goes for a ride and the bike ride that became everyones fantasy ..
I'll spare the rest of the symbolism's on this blog ..yeah ..high impact high visibility ....is this even possible ?! ..who cares ..Impossible ..is nothing !
"The one last shot at a permanent vacation
How high can you fly with broken wings
Lifes a journey not a destination
And you just cant tell just want tomorrow brings
You gotta learn to crawl before you learn to walk .."

NO KIDDING .. This song is like "The Alchemist" of the fabulous rock world
Intensely philosophical - Sharply impactful - Deeply resonating ---Its Amazing ... and I'm saying a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight ..

4. Meatloaf - "I would do anything for love"
Bat out of Hell and into this song and video ! ..
What a video ..like a movie .. soft and breathless .. harsh and fist thumping ....the choppers rolling their blades..the cars roaring their engines ..on the chase .. This scary looking disfigured man .. the cops pursue him as he flees on an impressive bike ....they are searching an old mansion in the torch light ..spider webs and chandeliers ..and from behind the wall ..a noise ...a roar ....he breaks down the wall and flees .. sees this girl in the forest and runs away leaving a pretty necklace ..the almost haunted mansion ..the beast by the fireplace ..and the girl being lifted up into the air on some crazy chair ..and she's singing all this time ..
With a chorus line that says "Some days I just pray to the god of sex and drums and rock and roll" .. whoever wrote this song was out of his mind in a brilliant way.
"Maybe I'm crazy ..Its crazy and its true
No one can save me now - no one can save me now but you"
"I would do anything for love - I'll be there till the final act"
A box of tissues and a round of applause.
It should be a mandatory watch for anyone who wants to direct a video.

5. Nirvana - Smells like Team Spirit
When Kurt Cobain died - I cried.
I always see him the way he is in this song inside my mind.
Dishevelled hair, plain t shirt .. Dusty Gym Room .. Cheerleaders jumping ..Crowd Fist Pumping.. The Janitor sweeping the floor ..he's also grooving to the music that he obviously digs .. the dreadlocks ..the sweat ..the mad crowd .. headbanging ..and the demolition of the sets.
The Blood rushing through everyones heads, the violence and the peace after.
"With the Lights out - its less dangerous
Here were are now - entertain us "
The ultimate rock song by one of the greatest rock bands of all times

6. Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
Its ridiculous how relevant this song is even today.
"There are one million youth lost on the streets of America" .
And more in other parts of the world. Hard Hitting video.
No rif raf. Straight to the point. Shows pics of missing people, their names and ages. Moving in a gut wrenching sort of way. Shows kids running away. From kidnappers - themselves - abusive parents ?! ..Ridiculous how harsh the world is ..
Hate the way the song ends with the little baby in the stroller being kidnapped in broad daylight ..made me sick back then and still does.
Its said that several kids shown in this video did end up being reunited with their parents - several others were also found dead. Life - is a runaway train for some.
In every country that this video was shown - the pictures were of local kids missing.
Similar results everwhere.
"I was a key that could use a little turning"
"So tired that I couldnt even sleep
So many secrets I couldnt even keep
One more promise I couldnt even keep"
This is one video I definitely cant get out of my head. Great song too !

7. Blind Melon - No rain
The happy wonderful tap dance intro by the little girl dressed like a bumble bee - the heartless crowd erupts in horrific laughter - she runs away - guitar starts strumming and gentle .. humming...her anger ..her tears ..her frustration ..make it so real. ..the group playing in a field of daisies against a deep blue sky .. the little girl befriends all these strangers in the street..until she meets bee people like her that accept her and she laughs and dances away !
Just when she was about to lose hope in the world ..she finds friends who accept her and love her
Awesome collage of colors and brilliants cinematography in this one

8. REM - Everybody Hurts
Black and White - the subtitled philosophy - the traffic jam - the cars .. like you are stuck on the highway of life ..Amazing treatment to this song .. soft lights ..and did I mention the subtitled explanation for whats happening in the song!
..The subtitles show what the people in different cars are thinking ..and its mind freaking blowing ..what a concept !!!! ..
what I re,member is the snapshot of the lady with "No one can see me" and the guy thinking "If I had a gun" ..and one more guy thinking "I;'ll talk when I want to"
If I were to capture all the thoughts that crossed my mind for every minute I waited in traffic - I bet it would help me understand myself better.
"Dont let yourself go - Everybody Cries ..and everybody Hurts .. sometimes.."
So many times when I'm stuck in traffic to date - I look around and see the people around me and wonder what they are thinking..are they happy ..sad .. reflective ..angry .. and its all because of this song that stuck in my head..
Side note mention : I ended up in traffic jams frequently thinking about this song ,,..miles away from Athens,GA the birthplace of this band. Life is a journey.

9. Duran Duran - Come Undone
This is my theme song when I am upset or having a very bad day.
It always gets me back into the swing. Helps me release my breath and pent up anger and come to terms with whatevers going on.
It tells me that its okay to have a bad day. Its okay to breakdown. Its okay to come undone.
And when you do come undone - you get a chance to realise who is next to you, helping you rebuild your life block by block..piece by piece.
Crazy video - Aquarium - Large sharks swimming behind...the couple who's survived a flood ..other ppl having a breakdown ...the girl who is in chains ..trying to escape them as she sinks further and further into water ..the bubbles as she sings ..
"Who do you need - Who do you love - When you come undone"
Yes - this song is a permanent feature in my life .. theme song material

10. U2 - Still havent found what I'm looking for
Black and White background - Bono walking slowing .. in a casino ....city lights ..bright lights ..love the random snapshots of street people ..simply lovely ....dig the part where they sing and play to the street crowd gathering ..
"I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled - these big city walls - only to be with you"
and still havent found what you're looking for ?
Yeah - this is the ultimate breakup song. Unfortunately. Lol!

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I could go on and on.
These songs and artists have been my companions in good times and in not so good times..and helped me weather change. My appreciation and understanding of them has only grown over the years and I feel fortunate for having enjoyed them.
They may be rock songs with big on dreams videos - but they are also deeply moving, intensly philosophical and relevant to growing up at any point in time.
Rock music gave meaning to my journey, helped me figure out my limits and shape my experiences inside my mind and enjoy my life.
And its good times in a good life when there is good music.
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I am 30 years old
And my city is Mumbai.
Thank God I have enough