glee

The title of this post should instantly give away what I intend to talk about.

First off, I have to admit, I do love the show Glee.

Yes, it is just a bunch of High School kids running around, singing and dancing. But the music is just so gripping. Please do not think that perhaps I would also be a fan of "High School Musical". Rest assured, I am not!

Anyway, I am not writing this post to declare my love for the series. The series is perhaps just a means to an end. What the series invokes in me is my love for music.

As a kid, I was always an active participator in the world of arts. My journey began with Bharat Natyam at the tender age of 5. After moving back to Delhi, as the years unfolded, singing, rather than dance, emerged as a throbbing passion. I still remember my audition for the Western Music Choir back in Class 6. That was the big girls' choir. When one is in primary school, no one really takes the kids seriously. But entering middle school opened up that one little window which I surely knew I would not let pass me by. So there I was, standing in front of my seniors, who were from Class 11 or 12, and they had little patience for a 10 year old. I took in a deep breath, and began singing "We are the world". The next thing I knew, I had spent 7 glorious years in the Western Music Choir of my school. Of course, please don't get me wrong. I am not out to declare that I was the best singer in the group; far from it... well not that far. But the joy that I experienced in those 7 years, is simply irreplaceable.

And that is why I guess I enjoy Glee.

Music is electrifying. And whenever I sing, with each note, the world transforms. Every song has some sort of magic in it. With the sound of every beat, the heart races, faster and faster, synchronising itself, perfectly in tune.

While I do believe in the magic of words, music, for me, is one step higher. Music is just pure unadulterated expression of feelings. If I am happy, I have a song for it. If I am sad, I have a song for it. For heartaches, I have plenty of songs for it.

Music... actually singing to be precise, is in fact an integral part of me. I don't actually remember a single day in my life that I have not sung. Of course, singing in public has been reduced to the rather occasional visits to karaoke only; while the closed door notes are usually reserved for my car alone. Though I thoroughly enjoy singing my lungs out while driving alone, the thrill of singing in public is quite intoxicating.

In school, our Western Music Choir was quite active. We used to participate in several competitions every year. Singing in front of an audience used to be amazing. On call, we used to march on to the stage. Even though we had performed several times, each time we walked out on that glimmering platform, butterflies would fill our stomachs. As the curtain slid open, the crowd would turn silent. The spotlight focusing on us, our drummer would snap the drum-sticks thrice. Cue music... and we sang! Days and weeks of practice boiled down to those 4 minutes of musical harmony. And as soon as that last beat was hit, the crowd would roar in applause. All we could do was smile. The exhilaration of it was enough for us.

God I miss that.

A few months ago, I happened to convince some of my friends to join me for karaoke. In a bold attempt, I chose to sing Adele. Having never performed the song "Rolling in the Deep" in public, I was pleasantly surprised to receive several acknowledgements from complete strangers. The sense of excitement on having performed in public, after so many years, left me missing my days in the choir room, with all my friends. All of us just hanging out, wrapping ourselves in music, having the time of our lives.

Glee.. certainly is the right word for it. The feeling that music gives you...

nish