The same thing happened today that happened yesterday, only to different people

Yesterday was an awesome evening…! I had planned this weekend to visit the concert of Jagjit Singh…! It was in Oakland city a 40 minutes ride…but I made sure to attend and cherish some of my 2004’s memories when I was attending his concert in Mumbai.

“A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts.” ~ Elvis Presley

As usual this was a new experience for me as far as the place was concerned…I wanted to analyze the crowd as well. Usually, the ghazal crowd is more of elite I feel…where people have patience to listen to the ghazals and the shers (couplets), that one says and the intellect of understanding it…and to my surprise the crowd was a bit divided.

“In reading, a lonely quiet concert is given to our minds; all our mental faculties will be present in this symphonic exaltation.”

There were people who were sitting on the first row and were just mere there for the sake of show-off. Infact from there one of the guy started troubling Jagjit by telling him ‘Mukarar’ (once more), when in between the singing Jagu was challenging his musicians to play ‘jugalbandi’ (a kind of competitive music that they instrumentalist’s play which really test there talents as well)!

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

There was a brief…conversation however Jagu was on mic and he said to the guy that he is not the only audience and hence he has to be patient. Also, when you say ‘Mukarar’ meaning I will be only singing one ghazal hahaha it was a hilarious sarcasm that Jagu created and told him he can get refund back for his ticket ‘If he has purchased one’!
It was an embarrassment for that guy as the whole crowd was clapping to Jagu’s reaction.

“When an argument flares up, the wise man quenches it with silence”

Anyway, what best I like about Jagu is, (no doubt his voice has always mesmerized me and even today I get Goosebumps the moment I hear his ghazals), that he not only gives opportunity in his shows to his musicians but also makes the crowd involve and sing with him. Yes, guys yesterday the program started at 8:00 p.m. and ended up at 12:00 a.m. Though the venue was more or less a sports stadium hence the sound system was not that effective. I missed the 'Royal Thompson Hall' in Toronto....the architecture is something...amazing which basically was created keeping music in mind! I remember how Jagjit had mentioned this aspect before starting his ghazal in Toronto :D!

"There's someone in my head but it's not me".

During that time period he sung almost 25 ghazals along with Punjabi folk songs. Some of the ghazals he made all of us to sing and it was quite interesting as I always liked the interactive crowd whether it’s a concert, meeting or presentation…I think that’s how a presenter can feel the veins of his audience.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”

In all…it was an awesome evening, a memorable one for me…as each time I see him …I feel he is getting more and more young with his voice and himself. I did say that he is looking younger than last time :D

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.”

Jagjit was honored by the Mayor of Oakland city, a certificate that declared May 6th as “Jagjit Singh Day” :D

I have added all those ghazals (trying to as am rushing out too ;) ),that he sung during the concert except the Punjabi ones.

“To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.”

I loved the concert ended with the song – ‘Balle balle ni kudiye punjaban ki’ and I remembered how I had a folk dance competition in school on this same song…! Oh gosh…I can never leave behind my child hood memories..!

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

An awesome evening which I had and will always crave to have :D

“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.” ~ Leo N Tolstoy