Mumbai’s Favourite Playlist

On the 23rd of October, 2009, Hindustan Times, in it’s special supplement, HT café gave, an article listing “Mumbai’s Favourite Playlist” giving a line up of top 100 English tracks that have been playing in the city (and perhaps in India’s other metropolises too). I don’t know how far would one agree with this list but the list had some of the all time great English Songs ever, agreed.

Here is the line up: (according to htcafé 23rd October, 2009)

Summer Of ‘69 – Bryan Adams

Hotel California – Eagles

November Rain / Sweet Child Of Mine – Guns ‘N’ Roses

Winds Of Change – Scorpions

Zombie – Cranberries

Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

YMCA – The Village People

Roadhouse Blues – The Doors

American Pie – Don McLean

That Thing You Do – Fountains Of Wayne

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

It’s My Life – Bon Jovi

Loosing My Religion – REM

We Will Rock You – Queen

We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel

Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

Every Breathe You Take – The Police

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones

Nothing Else Matters – Metallica

La Bamba – Los Lobos

Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor

Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen

Pretty Women – Roy Orbison

I Want To Break Free – Queen

Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

More Than Words – Extreme

Staying Alive – Bee Gees

Sacrifice – Elton John

Beat It – Michael Jackson

Sultana Of Swing – Dire Straits

Don’t Speak – No Doubt

Everybody Hearts – REM

We Are The Champions – Queen

Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles

Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

Thriller – Michael Jackson

La Bamba – Ritchie Valens

Paradise (Original title: “Another Day In Paradise”) – Phil Collins

With Or Without You – U2

What’s Going On – For Non-Blondes

Cecilia – Simon And Garfunkel

Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

River Of Dreams – Billy Joel

You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate

Jeremy – Perl Jam

Sweet Dreams – Eurhythmics

Mama I’m Coming Home – Ozzie Osbourne

Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynrd

La Isla Bonita – Modonna

I Feel Good – James Brown

What If God Was One Of Us – Joan Osbourne

I Will Do Anything For Love – Meatloaf

Simply The Best – Tina Turner

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cindy Lauper

Walk Like An Egyptian – Bangles

Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

Leaving On a Jet Plane – John Denver

Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

California Dreaming – Mamas And Papas

Proud Mary – CCR

What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

Right Here Waiting For You – Richard Marx

D.I.S.C.O. – Ottawan

Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh

Riders On The Storm – The Doors

Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley

Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye

Imagine – John Lennon

Where The Streets Have No Name – U2

Take It Easy – Eagles

I Want It That Away – Backstreet Boys

Bittersweet Symphony – Verve

Living On The Edge – Aerosmith

Lean On Me – Bill Withers

Wonderwall – Oasis

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Iris – Goo Goo Dolls

Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

Uptown Girl – Billie Joel

Highway To Hell – AC/DC

I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett

Like A Prayer – Madonna

Love Is All Around – The Troggs

Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane

Smooth Operator – Sade

Unchained Melody – Air Supply

Light My Fire – The Doors

Gimme Hope, Joanna – Eddy Grant

Black Or White – Michael Jackson

Mama Mia – ABBA

Red Red Wine – UB40

I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder

Always – Bon Jovi

Words – Boyzone

Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

Heaven – Bryan Adams

Gangsters Paradise – Coolio

This list has some of the most outstanding songs ever, surprised to find a lot of songs here that I thought were rare

On the 23rd of October, 2009, Hindustan Times, in it’s supplement, HT café gave, an article listing “Mumbai’s Favourite Playlist” giving a line up of top 100 English tracks that have been playing in the city (and perhaps in India’s other metropolises too). These are the top requested songs in Mumbai

Here is the line up: (according to htcafé 23rd October, 2009)

1. Summer Of ‘69 – Bryan Adams
2. Hotel California – Eagles
3. November Rain / Sweet Child Of Mine – Guns ‘N’ Roses
4. Winds Of Change – Scorpions
5. Zombie – Cranberries
6. Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd
7. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
8. YMCA – The Village People
9. Roadhouse Blues – The Doors
10. American Pie – Don McLean
11. That Thing You Do – Fountains Of Wayne
12. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
13. Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
14. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
15. It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
16. Loosing My Religion – REM
17. We Will Rock You – Queen
18. We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel
19. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
20. Every Breathe You Take – The Police
21. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones
22. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
23. La Bamba – Los Lobos
24. Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
25. Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
26. Pretty Women – Roy Orbison
27. I Want To Break Free – Queen
28. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
29. More Than Words – Extreme
30. Staying Alive – Bee Gees
31. Sacrifice – Elton John
32. Beat It – Michael Jackson
33. Sultana Of Swing – Dire Straits
34. Don’t Speak – No Doubt
35. Everybody Hearts – REM
36. We Are The Champions – Queen
37. Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles
38. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
39. Thriller – Michael Jackson
40. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
41. Paradise (Original title: “Another Day In Paradise”) – Phil Collins
42. With Or Without You – U2
43. What’s Going On – For Non-Blondes
44. Cecilia – Simon And Garfunkel
45. Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
46. River Of Dreams – Billy Joel
47. You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
48. Jeremy – Perl Jam
49. Sweet Dreams – Eurhythmics
50. Mama I’m Coming Home – Ozzie Osbourne
51. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynrd
52. La Isla Bonita – Modonna
53. I Feel Good – James Brown
54. What If God Was One Of Us – Joan Osbourne
55. I Will Do Anything For Love – Meatloaf
56. Simply The Best – Tina Turner
57. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cindy Lauper
58. Walk Like An Egyptian – Bangles
59. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
60. Leaving On a Jet Plane – John Denver
61. Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
62. California Dreaming – Mamas And Papas
63. Proud Mary – CCR
64. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
65. Right Here Waiting For You – Richard Marx
66. D.I.S.C.O. – Ottawan
67. Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh
68. Riders On The Storm – The Doors
69. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
70. Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
71. Imagine – John Lennon
72. Where The Streets Have No Name – U2
73. Take It Easy – Eagles
74. I Want It That Away – Backstreet Boys
75. Bittersweet Symphony – Verve
76. Living On The Edge – Aerosmith
77. Lean On Me – Bill Withers
78. Wonderwall – Oasis
79. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
80. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
81. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
82. Uptown Girl – Billie Joel
83. Highway To Hell – AC/DC
84. I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett
85. Like A Prayer – Madonna
86. Love Is All Around – The Troggs
87. Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane
88. Smooth Operator – Sade
89. Unchained Melody – Air Supply
90. Light My Fire – The Doors
91. Gimme Hope, Joanna – Eddy Grant
92. Black Or White – Michael Jackson
93. Mama Mia – ABBA
94. Red Red Wine – UB40
95. I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
96. Always – Bon Jovi
97. Words – Boyzone
98. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
99. Heaven – Bryan Adams
100. Gangsters Paradise – Coolio

This list has some of the most outstanding songs ever, surprised to find a lot of songs here that I thought were rare

Mumbai Attacked

Location	Type of Attack
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station	Shootings, Grenades
South Mumbai police headquarters	Shootings
Leopold Café, Colaba	Shootings
Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel	Shootings, six explosions, fire on top floor, RDX found nearby
Oberoi Trident hotel	Shootings, Explosions, Hostages, Fire
Mazagaon docks	Explosion, boat with armaments seized
Cama Hospital	Shootings, hostages
Nariman House	Siege, shootings, hostages. Home of the Chabad Lubavitch center
Vile Parle suburb, North Mumbai	Car bomb blast

Mumbai on Wednesday 26th November, just a few minutes before 10 PM was hit by what we can call the worst terrorist attacks in India with over a 100 people killed and over 300 injured.

Amongst those killed include foreign tourists and a top counter terror officer. It as been over 16 hours now and the firing still continues at certain locations.

Hostage situation at two of the prime hotels in Mumbai The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and The Oberoi Trident.

It definitely looks like a very highly coordinated attack with the terrorists coming to the city in boats. It all started just a little before 10 PM when two people with automatick AK-47 rifles and hand grenades were seen holding up inside the CST station in Mumbai.

The Indian Army and the NSG cammandos are taking control of the situation.

More on the web:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26_November_2008_Mumbai_attacks
• http://search.twitter.com/search?q=mumbai+attacks
• http://features.ibnlive.in.com/special/web2/mumbai-terror-attack.html

Back Home

So finally after a tiresome 13 hour journey from Dublin to Frankfurt and finally landing at Mumbai. Lufthansa treated me very well, the food was fantastic but there was a serious shortage of leg space. I being a little on the taller side felt a lot cramped to sit in those seats in the 747 jumbo jet. There was also an obvious difference with my experience with Swiss that the in flight screen was a large common one right in the front, as in the Swiss plane, this was behind the seat rest, so individual screens.

Again the in flight entertainment had a great movie to be watched
‘Pursuit of Happyness‘. I was impressed with the story and the screenplay with really superb acting by both Will Smith and his real son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith. For now I can say that Will Smith can act and his son is a real Oscar winner. The story touched my heart and the main aim that is portrayed in the movie that happiness is always chased for and you will never find happiness unless it is striven for.

As I reached the Mumbai Airport, I already began to feel the heat, it was 30 degrees C with heavy rains that lashed just before we landed. I quickly went through the necessary immigration and custom checks before I spotted my parents waiting for me. I ran towards them only to be brought to a halt by my brother and friend. Soon mom and dad were there and the first thing from mom’s mouth, “You appear to have lost weight.” Quickly I asked them to get on the road and get some wind blowing in my face, I was already wet with perspiration.

We came to Manickpur in about an hours time only to find out that there is no electricity across the village. The shedding was from 09:30pm and now it was almost 3:30am and still no sign of the electricity. I took a cold shower and sat on the swing in the gallery only then I felt relief.

I was not in a mood to sleep even after a tiresome journey just because of the sheer euphoria of getting back home. Anyways I did catch up on some sleep before getting over to places I wanted to visit and was back home in the evening when my fiends caught up on me.