When I hear this song, I cry...tears of Joy and love
And I don't even love the artist but it's the context that matters
It was the first dance and the newly married couple strolled out onto the stage for that proverbial romantic start to their new life together. Even in our Indian weddings, there is this tradition. It was my cousin sister and her husband, I could say that now. The cousin sister I had cared for every time I visited India. She would follow me around, she a little toddler and me, a 12 year old cousin, so excited to play with her.
And here she was, all grown up. Watching them was so joy-filling.
And then all of a sudden, the music stopped…and a high energy Bollywood song came on. And they ripped it out, a choreographed dance for the ages. The entire hall was squealing and clapping. The energy was electric.
Watching them kill it on the dance floor was even better than the romantic nostalgia we had just felt.
By the end, we were all on the dance floor with them and that’s how the night started.
Dance is everything to me. It’s the balm for my soul. And EVERY time I hear this favorite of mine, I think of them doing the unexpected and performing for the crowd. I smile, I start dancing myself…in my home, my car, wherever. I’ll even turn it on purposefully to come out of a funk, because I know it will make me move for sure.
And when the body moves, so does the mind.
Try it and see if it does something for you. And here’s a secret…imagine my beautiful cousin and brother-in-law belting out the best dance moves ever. I promise, it will move you somewhere!
The auditorium was packed and the performers couldn’t even all fit on the stage. There were two orchestras, four adults from a band, and two choirs lined up on the sides of the stages fanning out on the sides of the audience. The energy was so palpable.
It was the end of the year concert and these middle school students were bravely performing at their future high school with their orchestra. My oldest son, in 8th grade at the time, played bassoon and I could see his large cylindrical instrument peeking out among the rows of children, dressed in black. It was the last song and the conductor said they had “something special” planned.
Thank you, Tanmeet. I love the music - it makes me want to get up and dance! I'll have to learn some new moves though!
I appreciate you writing this in response to my ask for uplifting music memories at Sarah Fay's party. This will lift spirits.
This is great! I'm listening to the linked song right now and can see/feel the memory you described, Tanmeet. Thanks for taking me there,.
I grew up in a religious tradition that advised people to avoid dancing. (You know... could lead to sex, that kind of thing.) What a loss! As I've grown, I decided to make dancing a part of my life. I'm not particularly good at it, but I am good at enjoying it!
Music and dance transcends our differences.