My First Love

I belong to a typical 'Gulf-Malayalee' family. Every vacation would eventually mean prosperity in the form of getting our first TV, first stereo, landline, and more... I still remember my first TV vividly. It was a black and white TV inside a brown shutter, a DYANORA.

Dyanora took us into a world of music through shows like Chayageet & Chitrahaar in the 80s. It was a complete appointment viewing because families without a TV would gather at the homes of those who did, sitting together to watch these songs back-to-back. That was my first introduction to Bollywood Retro Music, but it didn't quite manage to grab my attention completely.

During another vacation, my Gulf return dad got us a stereo! Having a stereo meant we had to have cassettes. That's how our home was introduced to voices that weren't necessarily conventionally sweet-sounding. Artists that frequented my home included:

1. Jim Reeves

2. Boney M

3. Abba

I heard these albums so many times that I knew each song by heart. I even knew at which beat they stopped to take a breath. Our Christmas was taken over by Jim Reeves' Christmas Special Albums. It was the first thing to play when we woke up on Christmas day.

Songs like "Roses Are Red (My Love)," "He'll Have to Go," "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Rivers of Babylon," "Daddy Cool," and many more—I can hum or sing every single one of them.

Thanks to my father, I was in good company when it came to music. Once I started tuning into these international artists, there was no turning back. We watched the Grammys on TV and then purchased the cassettes featuring the Grammy award-winning songs.

All I know is that I am who I am because of music, and good music has always kept me company. I started enjoying music regardless of genres or languages. I have my own background score playing no matter what situation I'm in.

Music is therapeutic. You should discover what resonates with you. And if you can't, I can definitely help by customizing a playlist just for you, tailored to that particular moment.

Until then, let's go Lalalalala...

-SuVi