Thank you folks

If this site is still rated PG and is not full of tarantino-esque vocabulary, If I still havent bought that Uzi and made a sieve out of a select few who have "screwing up someone's life real tight" as their motto, one would have to thank a few folks who do the unpaid job of acting as anti-depressants. Ms Harrison, Dickenson, Waters, Knopfler, Fenley, Page & Co. Rock music, or for that matter any form of western music, is seen as a stream of music where you have to dope to listen to music, get a tattoo of a mythical monster on your arms, ride bikes, date leather-clad chics and most importantly worship the devil. To break that myth and get people started on listening to good music, here goes a list of songs that are truly greats, in every sense of the world. If someone, anyone, gets an interest, I think my job is half done.

I wasnt born listening to this music. Ganja Turtle has seen me scream "18 till I die" and "backstreet's back allright". But then, courtesy a lilendian (who is a actually a pretty big indian), I was cleansed. What follows is a list of songs which you really have to make a effort in hating. There are thirteen songs, each by one band who have stood the test of time. 13 Songs in Arunthur's Dozen.

1. Sultans of Swing - Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
When it comes to Knopfler's vocals, there are two schools of thought. One says knopfler sings, the other says he talks. But when it comes to his guitar, there can only be one school. One that agrees his guitar talks better. My first song that didnt involve a bunch of boys crooning about love. And what a song at that. A live version has Knopfler rubbing shoulders with Clapton. That is like Hitler and Mussolini teaching Criminal Sciences.
A-side: Money for Nothing

2. Time - Dark Side of The Moon - Pink Floyd
As volunteers of this new generation, one of our chief attributes is procrastination. Right from snuggling deep inside the sheets in the mornings (which is okay) to checking online communities and posting on flame wars (which is not), we procrastinate. One way to wake up and get a life is to buy a brand new shovel and ask your best friend to hit you hard in the head. A safer way is to listen to Waters singing "Time". That is a wake up call that would work even on Kumbhakarnan.
A-side: Another brick in The Wall

3. Won't get fooled again - The Who
A hard thump from the drums, an electric riff, topped off by the always-hyper pete townshend. A song that rips apart anyone who promises a revolution or a new beginning or any of that happy bullfeces. "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss". One tight slap on the face. Maybe they should play this to the Dravida parties in tamilnadu. Dont bet on anything happening with them though.
A Side: Sparks

4. Hard day's night - The Beatles
It takes great innovation and hardwork to make a whole generation go crazy and run behind your songs. It takes harder work to pick one song out of a whole list of chart busters. I have to settle for Hard day's night purely for the adrenaline in it. From start to end, Starr (one of the lesser populars in the band, for whatever reason) keeps up the beat with lennon oozing love in his lyrics, my favorite beetle George and everone else's favorite Paul bringing up the rear. If your girlfriend likes a ride on the wild side, try this. Its on my list anyways ;-).
A Side: Yesterday

5. Take it Easy - Eagles
Imagine the bright blue sky. Imagine a cool, but not cold, breeze blowing across your face. Imagine the sea to one side and a park on the other. Throw in the setting sun. Pedal your bicycle. Let go of the wheels and close your eyes. Be one in the nature. Wait, there is something missing, isnt there ?? Just add "Take it Easy" somewhere in the picture - playing inside your head or on a player or in the nearest cafe. Adds a fresh new flavor to the whole setting.
A Side: Hotel California

6. Purple haze - Jimi Hendrix
Ganja is crude. Hashish is outdated. Cocaine can be dangerous. The easiest, quickest, safest way to go on a high is to buy a nice pair of headphones and play Purple Haze. The riffs by the left-handed Jimi Hendrix are not of this earth. Definitely. When he screams "Excuse me, while I kiss the sky", it feels exactly that. Just dont listen to it from a terrace without rails.
A Side: Voodoo child

7. Burning for you - Blue Oyster Cult
In the days of Hip-hop and Rap, a song which doesnt cuss you and your family is a bonus. Expecting it to serve any purpose is a joke. This song serves two purposes. Apart from a racy number by bloom, it also helps if you dedicate this to your girlfriend who is just going to read the title and fall flat. I cant guarantee the girlfriend going p-l-o-n-k, but I can guarantee you playing the air-guitar shaking your head like you just found that it is there for banging.
A Side: Dont fear the reaper

8. Highway Star - Deep Purple
Rumour has it that once when God misplaced his bow and arrow, he was so distraught and walked into a recording studio, Looked at something that looked like a weapon, picked up a guitar and turned up for a recording. The result: Highway Star. Move over folks, I listened to it live.
A Side: Smoke on the water

9. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
No song list can be complete without The King. People say a thamizhan cant keep his posterior to the ground if he hears "tappanguthu". Jailhouse Rock is another of those cant-keep-me down numbers. A cut here, A slant there, A jerking knee here, A shaking hand there, A sideburn that almost touches the chin, A crop of hair right in between your eyes and some magical vocals. That should do some justice to the song. Throw away all your trance-loving friends and check out the real deal.
A Side: Hound dog

10. Cocaine - Eric Clapton
Guilty pleasure. Again, you are left with a thought if it was clapton who was drugged when listening to this song, or was it you who is stoned because of listening to this song or is it both of you ?? But then, you dont bother because as long as you are high, nothing else matters. A song to listen after coming back from a hard days work, sitting on your couch and loosening your tie. As clapton himself says when you got bad news or if you want to kick 'em blues, Cocaine.
A Side - Layla

11. Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
One genius per song is a good mix. Two makes you feel heady. Thats exactly what a rendition of Roadhouse Blues does. Jim Morrison on the vocals, Ray Manczarek on the keyboard. You could just hitch a ride to The Elysian Fields with that. Morrison writes one of the most pragmatic lyrics of all time. "The future is uncertain and The end is always near". Ah, its great to be pessimistic.
A-side: Light my fire

12. Susie Q - Credence Clearwater Revival
All bryan adams/bon jovi/MLTR/Marc Anthony fans, take a number and stand in the queue. Here is a song that tells love the way it is supposed to instead of asking the girl to paint your love or asking if you have you ever really (thrice - that is very important, gives an emphasis you see) loved a woman. The lyrics in Susie Q are simple, straight, precise and to the point. "Say that you will be mine, baby all the time, susie Q". Isnt that all it boils down to ??
A-side: Bad moon rising

13. When the Levee breaks - Led Zeppelin
You hitched a ride to the elysian fields with two geniuses in one song. Try 4 now. Page, Plant, Bonham and JPJ. Such songs happen once in a lifetime, and if you are blessed, the band exists when you are alive. Bonham keeps a heart-pumping rhythm from the opening, with page freaking out in his regular style, and JPJ, as an exceptional bassist prowling in the background biding his time and keeping the song alive and Plant joining in with a drawl in his voice. Makes you understand why god gave you two ears in the place of one.
A-side: Stairway to Heaven