Ideas are Immortal

Firstly, let me articulate the problem as I perceive it:
Mobilizing people for a common cause, without the paparazzi hype and  corporate media incentives, for genuine purposes is one of the most arduous tasks in the ironically ‘social network’- ed world. Even if one succeeds in projecting an incentive for the audience, and gets them together at a place, now surfaces a deeper problem : reluctance of the herd to open up their minds.

Without making it abstract, I shall try to convey the fact which is so commonly observed amongst many of us. A sense of reluctance, seemingly emanating out of a tinge of disinterest is gripping a majority around us.
This I would argue is no reluctance or disinterest – it all boils down to an aversion of sorts towards “thinking”. Aversion directly based on laziness!

Aversion to think and laziness?
Does it strike as unusual. Well, please shelve the exclamation, for majority of us in reality are lazy, contrary to the third person criticism each one would want to spew out.

While the occasional sense of laziness in physical toil is common and pardonable (in a restricted and relative sense), for not always does one wants to expend physical efforts burning calories and breaking sweat;

But, there is another perilous laziness; This in many cases is permanent and ineradicable: Laziness associated with the mind – An inhibition to think!

While, I do see this as a serious problem, the usual causes which are attributed to it like upbringing, systemic constraints, genetics, etc are superfluous, and serve the least but as an inadequate explanation.

Thinking requires conscious efforts, and focused thinking leaves you with headaches (and me with my migraine attacks!). But, when it is ready made  solution that many of us seek, in most cases endorsing them even without questioning the proposals offered, where is the question of ‘thinking’ at all here? And this precisely is the demon haunting the “public”.

We end up absorbing injudiciously all the views perpetrated by media and the ones in power, we seek a revolution with the least intent of self change, we want solutions without understanding the problems! These regressions that have become not so uncommon today are results of a simple, yet cancerous symptom of “laziness to think!”.

Now if I were to be asked what is the solution I have thought of to this problem, I’d invoke Morpheus’ line,

I can only show you the door; You’re the one that has to walk through it!

It is proactive change that can set a mind free from its shackles of lethargy. If one cannot be inspired to attain this change, as History stands as a witness, man made calamities (fascism & racism) do instigate people to think!

The most entertaining of these, and that is the most convincing as well is the evolutionary perspective.

Organisms, given their conditioning to the law of natural selection, want to transmit the best of the genes  to better the process of evolution and hence playing their part in perpetuating the highest quality genes.

The usual example of peahens being attracted towards peacocks with large, vibrant tails, or giraffes with the longest necks etc… are just the tip of the iceberg of the evidence that’s out there in front of us.

Talking about ourselves, the evolutionary gift bestowed on us is the ability to think, imagine and create : Our Intellectual abilities. So, the incentive as directed from the evolutionary force, for each of us to be able to be doing what we do, is to advertise our genes!

This has neuroscientific elucidation; There are certain portions of the modular brain that we are bestowed with abilities to enact the trait of advertising the genes for evolutionary purposes, which end up being subsconscious many a times.

I am so resonating with this idea, that I might concur entirely with this argument 😉

This makes so much sense, at least to me, or the ones like me: I recently discovered that my saga of amorous infatuations (at least the majority of them), have had a categorization! I wholly belong to a genre of people, coded with a sexual orientation called as “sapiosexual” ( a person who is sexually attracted to intelligence in others)!

And because I see myself as a sapiosexual, the notion of me advertising my genes (although it sounds ludicrous), seems justifiable 😉

PS: Suggested reads – works of Wilayanur Ramachandran, and of course Charles Darwin.

Well, there has been AR Rahman, Coldplay, RHCP, Maroon5, some new bands and even a kannada song as well! Here I just am in a playful mood to index these tracks in a seasonal, personal favorite countdown.

10. Days are forgotten from Kasabian’s Velociraptor

Wow! This is one of those songs which hook on the very first few seconds you are into it. I haven’t been aware of this decade old band-Kasabian;nonetheless now I’m glad. With this song I am going a little retrospective into their discography and pick out all their best. For now, this song is going to be on my playlist for sometime now. The aaaannn-nnnnaaaaaa-aaaa hum is super haunting, and adding to it is a cool video. Days are forgotten!

9. Kathlalli karadige from Yograj Bhat’s Paramatma

Well this witty of a kannada track from the movie Paramatma, has all ingredients except the picturisation to become a memorable one (irony is that I had stopped listening to it after seeing the video!). Nonetheless, the song by itself is full of sarcasm, mockery and unheard kannada slang – I just love it!

8. I don’t mind from Superheavy’s Superheavy

An awesome duet by Mick Jagger and Joss stone with some deep lyric. I can almost visualize AR Rahman playing the keyboard for this one. A haunting bass goes through the song and is one of the most effective songs in recent times. A great venture by the team of Superheavy to mix cultures and give us some vibrant music. Superheavy the album itself is a great listen. And Joss Stone in this song sounds like Dido in the Eminem version of Stan, while Damien Marley sounds the most comprehensible in this track 😛

7. Munandhi saaral ni from Harris Jayaraj’s 7am Arivu

First and only Tamil song which has been exceptional in the recent months comes from Harris Jayaraj in this tamil biggie. Karthick, one of my favourite singers renders a magical touch to this deeply romantic track picturised on the gorgeous Shruthi Hassan. Looking forward to the entire video, this time!

6. Satyameva jayate from Superheavy’s Superheavy

Second of the tracks and first direct one from AR Rahman is this amazing track titled Satyameva Jayate, and gets on to become a peppy number. The main chorus with all the artists singing to an awesome guitar piece sticks to one’s head.

5. Moves like Jagger by Maroon5 and Christina Aguilera

Mick Jagger’s third time already 😀
Although in this one, he’s the protagonist, and not the artist. In a tribute to Mick Jagger, Maroon5 collaborates with Christina Aguilera for this hilariously shot video and a great number, it starts with a funky whistle apt to feature Mick Jagger’s clones! Although, Christina’s vocal contribution to the song ain’t much, I’m not unhappy that she’s featured in the video 😉

4. Sada Haq from AR Rahman’s Rockstar

Okay! If this comes as a surprise, as in not to have made it to the top – I guess, then there is something better than this awesome track. One of the best guitar leads for an Indian song, from Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist Orianthi Panagaris. The lyrics are just ground breaking and I love the way this track catches its tempo – Keeps ascending through the song. Another masterpiece by the genius. It would be apt to mention another track from Rockstar “Naadan parindey” deserves to be somewhere on the list, and most apt would be along with Sada haq. AR at his best in both the tracks.

3. Paradise from Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto

Audience can be led into the closest sensation of musical meditation in contemporary music only by Coldplay. Is Chris Martin’s voice magic? I might agree! Chris Martin singing “para para paradise, everytime she closed her eyes” is as magical as something could get. An amazing song, no one but Colplay can do something like this. A great album overall, better than their previous Viva la Vida, and the track Paradise is my favorite in this album.

2. The adventures of rain dance maggie from Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ I’m With You

Talk of groove, funk and jump, there’s RHCP for you. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie has an impeccable groove through the song and the teasy lyric of RHCP in this song catches on from the very first moment. Further, the classic “Heyyyy noooow” by Anthony is as good as it could get. The casual video on the beaches of California is also something pleasant to watch!

1. Jo bhi main from AR Rahman’s Rockstar

Well, if you have not heard this song yet. You might be surprised to listen to it. This is not one of those impulsive songs which you start liking the very first time. This is a classic AR Rahman track which grows onto you, each and everytime you listen to it. Mohit Chauhan’s best ever, and a great track in this amazing album. The song gets better with every piece of instrumentation, carried all over really well by Mohit. The song has some profound lyric yet again! This is one of the tracks which will stand the test of time!