Thursday, June 19, 2008

Harder Better Faster Stronger

I saw this video on YouTube – my friend T sent me the link and I think its incredible. Check it out - it starts a bit slow but hang about its well worth it



Additionally I’ve been listening to the 2008 Eurovision Songs.

I’m especially in love with these three (in the order listed)

Armenia's Qele Qele.

Israel's The Fire In Your Eyes.

Greece's Secret Combination.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Kehna Hi Kya - What Is There To Say

This whole weekend, and the build up to it, has been particularly trying and emotive. As always the middle of June is a difficult time in my life. Yesterday 10 whole years marked the most significant day in my life. My uncle’s death.

Thankfully English helped preserved my fragile state with sweet texts and messages at intervals when I desperately needed every ounce of strength I could muster. English feed me strength in abundance, as did most of the friends that I’ve opened up to about it.

The need to remain busy ate away at me today as I refused to let my thoughts wander. I was out of bed at 6AM and have not stopped moving at sonic pace since.

The other day when I was in my uncle’s car I noticed his copy of the Bombay Soundtrack, and I brought it home with me. Feeling somewhat needful of music, I inserted the CD and specifically allowed ‘Kehna Hi Kya’, the track I borrowed the disk for, to fill my room. With the speakers & boombox at close to max, mentally I began to unravel the words, with each repeat, the English words staying in mind. Normally when I listen to Hindi music I allow the Hindi to wash over me without really attempting to unravel what exactly the song means. However, today with the need to keep my mind busy, I allowed myself to break the song down as much as possible whilst I cleared through the dust and piles saturating my room.

Whilst it is one of my all time favourite songs, I never realised fully what anything more than the title meant. Which if you’re wondering means ‘What is there to say’!

Since I’ve already broken it down and feel weary and don’t really fancy writing a real post today I thought I’d put up a translation of the song.

So here it is – the English translation of ‘Kehna Hi Kya’ - apologies if its not perfect – its fairly elite Hindi.

Gumsum gumsum gup chup, gumsum gup chup
Gumsum gumsum gup chup, gumsum gup chup
Halchal halchal ho gayi teri, honth hai tere chup
Khalbal khalbal ho gayi teri, baithi hai tu gupchup
Pyaare pyaare chehre lekar dediya ishaara
Dekha teri aankhon mein hai sapna koi pyaara
Humse gori naa tu sharma, kehde humse zara
Humse gori naa tu sharma, kehde humse zara.


Silent and secretive, silent and secretive
Silent and secretive, silent and secretive
You are all shaken, yet your lips are silent
You are clearly disturbed, yet you sit there silently
But your lovely face betrays you
We all see that there are sweet dreams in your eyes
Don't be shy fair one, tell us what has transpired
Don't be shy fair one, tell us a little of what has happened.

Kehna hi kya yeh nain ek anjaan se jo mile
Chalne lage mohabbat ke jaise yeh silsile
Armaan naye aise dil mein khile, jinko kabhi main naa jaanoon
Voh humse, hum unse kabhi naa mile, kaise mile dil naa jaanoon
Ab kya kare, kya naam le, kaise unhe main pukaaroon?


What is there to say, my eyes met with a stranger
Instantly it were as if a love story has started
Desires that I never knew before, are blooming in my heart
If he and I have never met, I don’t know how have our hearts have met
What do I do now, what name shall I take, how do I call out to him?

Pehli hi nazar mein kuch hum, kuch tum ho jaate hai yun gum
Nainon se barse rim jhim, rim jhim humpe pyaar ka saavan
Sharm thodi thodi humko aaye to nazarein jhuk jaayen
Sitam thoda thoda humpe shok hawa bhi kar jaaye
Aisi chali, aanchal ude, dil mein ek toofaan uthe
Hum to lut gaye khade hi khade.


At first sight, both you and I got a little lost
A shower of love fell dripping from our eyes
As I got a little shy, my eyes shied away facing downwards
The mischievous breeze teases me
Such a storm brewed in my heart, that my draped sari flew
I was totally taken, whilst simply standing.

Kehna hi kya yeh nain ek anjaan se jo mile
Chalne lage mohabbat ke jaise yeh silsile
Armaan naye aise dil mein khile, jinko kabhi main naa jaanoon
Voh humse, hum unse kabhi naa mile, kaise mile dil naa jaanoon
Ab kya kare, kya naam le, kaise unhe main pukaaroon?


What is there to say, my eyes met with a stranger
Instantly it were as if a love story has started
Desires that I never knew before, are blooming in my heart
If he and I have never met, I don’t know how have our hearts have met
What do I do now, what name shall I take, how do I call out to him?

Gumsum gumsum gup chup, gumsum gup chup
Gumsum gumsum gup chup, gumsum gup chup
Halchal halchal ho gayi teri, honth hai tere chup
Khalbal khalbal ho gayi teri, baithi hai tu gupchup
Pyaare pyaare chehre lekar dediya ishaara
Dekha teri aankhon mein hai sapna koi pyaara
Humse gori naa tu sharma, kehde humse zara
Humse gori naa tu sharma, kehde humse zara.


Silent and secretive, silent and secretive
Silent and secretive, silent and secretive
You are all shaken, yet your lips are silent
You are clearly disturbed, yet you sit there silently
But your lovely face betrays you
We all see that there are sweet dreams in your eyes
Don't be shy fair on, tell us what has transpired
Don't be shy fair one; tell us a little of what has happened.

In honthon ne maanga sargam, sargam tu aur tera hi pyaar hai
Aankhen dhoonde hai jisko har dam, har dam tu aur tera hi pyaar hai
Mehfil mein bhi tanha hai dil aise, dil aise
Tujhko kho naa de, darrta hai yeh aise, yeh aise
Aaj mili aisi khushi, jhoom uthi duniya yeh meri
Tumko paaya to paayi zindagi.


These lips begged for a melody, that melody is you and your love
That which these eyes have ceaselessly searched for is you and your love
Even in a crowd, my heart feels lonely,
As though, it fears that it might lose you.
I got such happiness today, that my whole world is dancing
When I found you I found life.

Kehna hi kya yeh nain ek anjaan se jo mile
Chalne lage mohabbat ke jaise yeh silsile
Armaan naye aise dil mein khile, jinko kabhi main naa jaanoon
Voh humse, hum unse kabhi naa mile, kaise mile dil naa jaanoon
Ab kya kare, kya naam le, kaise unhe main pukaaroon?
Kehna hi kya yeh nain ek anjaan se jo mile
Chalne lage mohabbat ke jaise yeh silsile
Kehna hi kya?


What is there to say, my eyes met with a stranger
Instantly it were as if a love story has started
Wishes that I never knew before, are blooming in my heart
If he and I have never met, I don’t know how have our hearts have met
What do I do now, what name shall I take, how do I call out to him?
What is there to say, my eyes met with a stranger
Instantly it were as if a love story has started
What is there left to say?

Find below the video for the song