Hi... I agree with Gomzy.... thanks for sucha detailed write up. You almost took us there....
Thanks Shivakumar V.A. --- Gomtesh Upadhye <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello Shama > > I have no regrets for not been there.You almost took > us to Michigan.ThankYou, > > Gomzy > > > On 4/17/06, Thulasi Ram <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > simply superb! > > > > > > On 4/16/06, Shama <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Alright, here goes. I think if it was not for > this group, I would not > > > have found out about the concert as early as I > did. It would've taken a > > > longer time for me to realize that ARR was going > to be here. Anyway, thanks > > > to the group, I managed to get my tickets in > time and spent a good amount of > > > money for that. > > > > > > I was trying my level best to not get carried > away daydreaming and all > > > that, just for the fact that this was going to > be on a much smaller scale > > > than most ARR's concerts. Time just flew by and > the day I was waiting for > > > had finally arrived. Since we were going from > Canada, we had to make sure we > > > got there well in advance. > > > > > > On the morning of April 15, I could not make > myself to sit and study as > > > I was way too excited to get there. I had not > spared anyone who actually > > > bothered to listen to me going on about the way > I was feeling about going to > > > ARR's concert. Finally, the time had come for us > to leave. As childish as it > > > may sound, I had checked my tickets at least 10 > times during the drive > > > there. I was really anxious considering it was > not a full-fledged ARR > > > concert. Everyone who knew about it wondered out > loud whether it was worth > > > paying all that money just to see some Americans > perform ARR's songs. But I > > > kept telling myself that all that mattered was > the fact that ARR himself was > > > going to be there performing. It is usual for > original singers to perform > > > his songs. If anyone is to visit the message > board on miindia.com, you > > > will probably come across a lot of messages > saying it was not worth their > > > money and what not. And obviously I do not agree > with it. > > > > > > After we got there, we didn't wait around too > much. We just showed our > > > tickets and got in. When we entered the stadium, > it was a bit intimidating > > > 'cos it was still sinking that I was really > there. We were shown to our > > > seats in the 4th row. Oh, just before the > concert, there was a reception > > > where one could get to meet everyone including > ARR, but that was 150 dollars > > > per person. Skipped that. The stadium was yet to > be filled in with people. I > > > was just taking in the details of the stage in > front of us. I could see the > > > KORG keyboards that was a sign where Rahman was > going to be. And I could not > > > be happier. He was going to be right in front of > me. Time passed and the > > > stadium was filled up with a lot of people. I > truly was not expecting that > > > many people, considering Ypsilanti is a small > city and all. Anyhow, finally > > > it was time for the show to begin. > > > > > > The Global Rhythm group entered and took their > positions. The singers > > > were distributed in 3 groups (comprising of > atleast 25 people each). Then > > > there were the string instrument players, the > keyboard players and the > > > percussionists. The President of EMU made an > opening speech, praising this > > > effort and ARR. And then we were told that the > music was directed by ARR, > > > and was going to be conducted by Ethan Sperry. > After that one white girl > > > came up and started, " Sari madushaala pi > aaya...". I could not believe what > > > I was hearing. My instant reaction was 'What in > the world?!' And what > > > followed after shut me up for the rest of the > concert. The way these people > > > performed ' *Ramta jogi' *was mindblowing. The > energy levels were > > > skyrocketing. My eyes were welled up by the time > they ended the song. And I > > > remember thinking, 'Tears already? This is just > the beginning!'. I managed > > > to get my act together by the time, Ethan asked > us to welcome The Man > > > himself. At this moment, walked along a man who > is admired, adored and loved > > > by millions. He showed up clad in white cotton > clothes. And he got the > > > loudest cheers and a standing ovation. ARR took > the mike and said > > > (paraphrasing) " Can you believe what is > happening on the stage?" A cheer > > > followed. "Neither can I". > > > > > > It must be mentioned that there were some groups > in the audience who > > > were really loud. I mean I totally understand > that everyone was excited to > > > see him on the stage and everything, but there > is something called a decent > > > behaviour. It was to the extent that someone > pointed it out to ARR and he > > > had to say (paraphrasing) " Please listen to the > singers while they are > > > performing and shower your appreciation and love > after the act was done". I > > > felt ashamed. But I think it silenced people to > a certain extent. I am > > > roughly going to talk about the songs performed > in (almost) orderly fashion > > > and my own opinion of the performance: > > > * > > > > > > Khalbali > > > *: Performed by ARR. Brilliant. Very well sung. > I think it was Karaoke. > > > * > > > > > > Yaaro Yarodi > > > *: Performed by Vasundhara Das. The chorus was a > few Indian girls from > > > the GR (Global Rhythm). The music was also > performed by GR.* > > > > > > Veerapaandi Kottayilae > > > *: Performed by GR. It was brilliant. I am going > to take the liberty to > > > say I don't think that this song could sound > anymore amazing during the > > > chorus. The male part was sung by all the males > in the group and the female > > > part was likewise. * > > > > > > Roobaroo > > > *: This was again a great performance. It must > be kept in mind the songs > > > were sung by different singers from GR and then > ARR joined them every now > > > and then. The funniest part of this song was > when they were wrapping up the > > > song and singing "aye saala'' during which they > all pointed towards the > > > audience. Every single time towards the end of > the song, 'aye saala' was > > > towards to audience. Too funny. * > > > > > > Raaga's Dance > > > *: Vanessa Mae's one. Performed by Melissa > Reiner (violin),V R Sekar > > > (cello), ARR (keyboard) and Patrick Hernly > (tabla). Brilliant. * > > > > > > Paathshala - Be a Rebel > > > *: Performed by some female GR singers. They > even danced to it. Awesome > > > stuff.* > > > > > > Ik onkar > > > *- Performed by Vasundhara Das. Very well sung. > * > > > > > > Rang De Basanti > > > *- Performed by singers from GR. The male lead > was awesome. And the > > > female counterparts were great as well. They did > complete justice to the > > > masti and energy factor of the song. * > > > > > > Dol Dol (Yuva > > > *) - This was one of my most amazing > performance. Performed by GR > > > percussionists. I am a huge percussions fan and > I loved this to bits. The > === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic. Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman e-community. Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com Admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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