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My five - Prithvi Ramesh

Arthur Alexander

A quintessential early 1960s love song, which doesn’t use elaborate poetry to evoke emotions in the listener. Arthur Alexander has been an inspiration for the likes of The Beatles and Rolling Stones. This song was part of the Beatles album Please Please Me; I’ve heard John Lennon’s perfectly imperfect voice (that almost cries in tune) sing it hundreds of times. But when one listens to the original track, Alexander’s Southern (Alabama) accent stands out in stark contrast to the Liverpool accent. While both have their charms, I’ve always associated the former with the kind of innocence and honesty that makes this song what it is.

M.I.A

Boyz

An extremely catchy number, ‘Boyz’ is a wonderful blend of ‘dappan koothu’ (a dance and music genre, which emphasises percussion) and the kind of hip-hop that the Sri Lankan singer M.I.A does. This is true of the sounds, beat, and percussion as well. It is also a blend of cultures. The video features her regular crew doing a Jamaican style koothu dance with ease and élan. All of this comes together in graphically enhanced colourful psychedelic frames.

This song is inspired by a popular notion in American politics, that of hatred in certain parts of the world towards western values such as freedom and democracy. It challenges the underlying pride that one sees in the leaders of this free world. Although the lyrics address specific social issues in America, the overall theme of the song also represents the disgruntlement and cynicism of people living under democracy and relative freedom. The pain in Neil Young’s voice coupled with the delicious sarcasm of the song lends a voice to the frustrations of cynics all over the world.

This is the ultimate anthem; an ode to womankind — ‘the other half of the sky.’ Without her, ‘There ain’t nothing.’ It exposes the extreme vulnerability of a man to the woman he loves. And the meaninglessness of life and success without her. This is an intense track with beautiful words and music.

This piece from the “White Album,” famous for its association with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is a song about deception and betrayal, and the protagonist in this song, described as ‘Sadie.’ The words are bitter, the voice honest. The emotions of the writer reach the listener with ease. The melody and harmonies in this song are brilliant.

Cliff Richards: Travelling Light

John Lennon: Oh my Love

Pearl Jam: Last Kiss (originally by Wayne Cochran)

Roy Orbison: Unchained Melody

R.E.M.: Imitation of Life

(Prithvi Ramesh is a New Delhi-based financial analyst, with a serious weakness for the Beatles and Carnatic music)

My Five is a personal list of the five greatest tracks in popular music

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