Music is a popular topic of debate in drawing room conversations, considering how conspicuously present it is at most get-togethers where music trivia begins to come out of your ears, after a while. Often, my heart goes out to the unsuspecting souls who have somehow managed to hold on to their romanticism about their kind of “good music,” only to innocently offer it to pontificating snobs for demolition on evenings like this. “I’ve got tickets to the Kenny G evening,” they’ll generously offer, looking around eagerly for company. And that’s when the Nobility of Music swoops down to attack them. “Kenny G???? Then you must have already booked for Yanni’s 2014 concert in Timbuktu?!” Suddenly the Kenny G fan is confused. When exactly did it become “uncool” to listen to Kenny G? Is he dated? Do I have poor taste in music? Should I care? But WHAT is wrong with Kenny G?!
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The Nobility does not stop here. They have a go at elevator music. Boy bands. Girl Bands. Bryan Adams. Air Supply. The Nobility will frown if you mention any of these in a context other than mockery. The Nobility will examine your collection of music. Your social status, your personality type, your blood type, PAN number, driving licence expiry date, mother’s maiden name – all these and more will be deduced from the number of CDs, and artistes and genres represented in your collection. God forbid, if you have a Kenny G lurking there somewhere.
Retro Hindi, Indian classical – these they dare not frown upon. In fact a Noble will have some interest in these genres, if not mastery in them.
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But often as in musical chairs, fortunes shift suddenly and it is not long before a Noble who has until now enjoyed the rapt attention of a sheepish gathering is beaten at his own game. Just as he begins to wax eloquent about his area of expertise – Kishore Kumar, the nuances of his style, the depth and range of material he’s resourcefully dredged up on him, in walks The Emperor who then proceeds to dismiss Kishore off as a poor singer with limited range, dismisses the Noble off as a wannabe retro music lover and bemoans the loss of this great heritage of old, Hindi film music left behind by the likes of K C Dey and R C Boral. The Noble will go home baffled, his ego bruised, his sense of self awry. When exactly did it become “uncool” to listen to Kishore Kumar? Is he dated? Does he have poor taste in music? Should he care? WHAT is wrong with Kishore Kumar? There is nothing wrong with enjoying Kenny G, some boy band or Air Supply. Music is music. If it’s good on your ear, celebrate it. And if it fills you with joy, go for another earful.
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Seetal Iyer is the co-founder and content head at Timbre Media and one of the most well-loved radio voices for over 15 years and counting.