The Sound of Music

This thought emerged yesterday when my husband spent a large part of the evening watching several music videos of Rihanna's songs, which she has released over the years.

This got me to wonder if I had ever really enjoyed watching music videos and what purpose do music videos truly serve?

This trail of thought got me to probe further and the actual question worth thinking about was, do many of us really enjoy music for what it truly is - i.e. In it's unadulterated form, free from the usual visual mediums that accompany music these days, such as, music videos, live stage performances, reality shows etc.?

In the olden days when radio or records were the main means of exposure to music, so the key focus as we can imagine would have been purely on the music - the sound, melody, lyrics, vocals, etc. The only exception would probably be sporadic live performances from time to time- if it happened to take place in a venue close to where you lived and if you could afford it.

With the advent of television, the internet and more efficient means to transport and connectivity, different dynamics have now come into play. It isn't anymore about the songs itself or the music albums. Music videos, live performances on the TV or over the web, frequent tours/live performances at venues all over the world, television reality shows with singing playing a key part, is all part and parcel of the music scene these days.

I can see how music videos help the artist, because it gives their voice a face. It helps them create a certain persona for themselves. Videos also provide employment to the support team like stylists, choreographers etc. It maybe makes the memory of a song last longer in the audience's mind, with the added visuals coming to the audience's aid.

But isn't music to be enjoyed for the melody, voice, lyrics etc.? And don't music videos distract us from focusing on the music itself?

This trail of thought got me to even question live performances. Don't the stage backdrops, dancers, lights etc. take away from enjoying the music, for what it is?
I can see how live performances help the artist and supporting team of stylist, set designers, dancers etc., get an additional means of income. Some artists thrive from the positive energy that they receive from a live audience. And it serves as a means to directly connect with their audience and entertain them.

So, unlike music videos, at least live performances give the audience a synergistic experience, which is worth experiencing. Also maybe get further inspired by the artist they admire.

Music pieces used in movies also somehow make sense. The lyrics of a song can help to take a movie plot forward or the melody or the vocalist's voice has the potential to add character or help generate a particular emotion in the movie audience.

But then again how many of us usually take the trouble to identify background scores of different movies that may have caught our fancy as we watched a movie.

Music based TV reality shows are another more recent medium for established artists to reach out, and maybe also providing exposure for new talent to the world, or to provide us exposure to new renditions of old favourites. Besides 'The Voice', I can't think of many other shows where the vocals are the core factor at choosing potential talent, and where very little focus is laid on personality, looks, one's back story etc.

So we can see how live performances, music tracks for movies and music based TV reality shows add value to the audience. However, I still fail to see how music videos could add value to the song, expect for pegging a visual to an audio track.

After having questioned most mediums, where visuals seem to play a key role, rendering the sanctity of the pure auditory experience high and dry, I chose to look at how I could, in my own way, embrace the visual mediums of music exposure.

I use these visual mediums for personal creative growth. Personally for me, how a song is conceptualised or translated into a video is always intriguing. Or the set and stage setup at a live performance or how different voices and performances are evaluated or judged is interesting.

I often play this creative game with myself. I ask myself how would I imagine a video on a particular song, that I may have heard on the radio. I then try and compare it to the actual video. I have often been surprised, by the way the actual video pans out. Sometimes it's been a pleasant surprise, for instance Gotye - 'Somebody that I used to know' or Justin Bieber's - 'Love yourself'. and then other moments when I couldn't have, in my wildest dreams, imagined such a video for the song, e.g. Jess Glynne's 'Rather be' or Major Lazer's 'Lean on'.

Also, while watching any music TV reality show, I would shut my eyes and try and listen to the vocal performance for what it is and then form my own opinion on who my favourite contestant is.

These are little ways in which I try to embrace what's presented to me and make it enjoyable to me.

The next time you happen to watch a music video or a TV reality show or a live performance, try to become more self aware of what music really means to you.
For instance, ask yourself -
- Do you tend to interpret stimuli that comes your way more visually or more acoustically?
- Do you take a more logical approach and focus more on the lyrics of the song? Or are you driven by feelings and tend to focus more on the melody or the vocals?
- How does music stimulate/ inspire you?

Names and Us

Given how unusual and unique my name is, I am often complimented and asked what it means. This has got me to think and wonder why each of us is named what we are. And, if our name holds any significance in our lives.

It would be a good starting point, if each of us could find out how and why we were given our names.

There are different routes that parents take to name their new born. 

• For some it is the meaning of the word/name that is appealing, 
• For some it is after another person, who the parents admire, whose qualities they wish their child would embody. For instance, naming one’s child after famous people like sports persons, actors etc.
• Some are names after a loved one or family member
• Some are named after Gods or Goddesses
• Some parents are more keen on the way the word sounds or even how it visually looks
• Some choose a name similar or complimenting a sibling
• Some adventurous parents go down the route of wanting to create unique names for their little ones, created from scratch or by combining two words to be meaningful
• Some parents give primacy to astrological & numerological considerations in picking a name
• Some parents decide on a name, based on how their child looks
• Some parents like to combine elements of both their names
• Some want it to begin with a particular alphabet
• Some want a certain number of syllables

And the list may be endless.

Probing further, on why you were named what you were named, may help you understand, what you truly stand for. 

For example, if you were named after your grandfather, try and understand which of his traits your parents admired and wished that you possessed too. 

Don't just stop at “my parents liked the way my name sounded”. Probe further to understand what was the feeling they felt, when they said your name for the first time. Maybe it was a feeling of peace and calm. Maybe they wished that by naming you that, you could potentially have such an influence on everyone around you.

It's these little insights that could help you understand yourself better - from traits that you could naturally possess, or what appeals to you, or maybe even linked to a hidden purpose you are here to fulfil.

For those of you are curious to know how my name 'Alzeyne' came about and what it means. It was a month long effort to arrive at my name. Yes, I wasn't named until I was 1 month old.

The process began by considering my Rashi. For those of you who are unsure about what is a 'Rashi' and its significance in the naming process - Based on the time and place of birth, one falls under a particular moon sign or 'Rashi'. For each moon sign, there are suggested alphabets to be used as the starting letter for babies born under that Rashi. So having worked that out, the letter 'A' was the shortlisted alphabet my name was to begin with. 

Then my dad went through encyclopedia sized books, containing over tens of thousands of names, to try and find a name for me. Nothing seemed to feel right, so then my parents considered 'creating' a name for me, which is unique. They decided to combine two words, to create a name, which they hadn't heard off. 

Al - which means 'the' and 

Zain - which means beauty. 

The next point under consideration was how to spell my name, taking numerology into account. Dad spent a lot of time establishing the best way to spell my name, ensuring it ties in well with the 'vibration' of the birth number. So Zain, was modified to be spelt as Zeyne... and that's how I came to be called Alzeyne

I cannot be more grateful to my parents, especially dad, for one of the most precious gifts he has given to me, my name, Alzeyne. Thank you.

Over the years, the more I thought about my name and its meaning, I realised that my name is in sync, with how I am. I am always on the look out for a combination of qualities to make someone or something truly beautiful. Unfortunately, most people associate beauty with looks but it stands for something much more than external appearances.  Those who can look beyond the obvious, are the one's who not just get me, who I am, what I stand for and what appeals to me etc., and also truly appreciate how 'beautiful' the name 'Alzeyne' is.

I hope this piece inspires you to get to the bottom of why you were named, what you were. And to reflect a little more on why & how you named your children, or intend to in the future.

Much love..

Thank you Rihab and Aditi for encouraging conversations around this subject.