By the time I read this again, it’s possible that Twitter may die and all that may remain is my blog- as long as I’m paying BlueHost. For that reason alone, I wanted to save this 30 day Song challenge here to look back on.

Based on specific cues, I had to select songs that came to mind. I mainly kept it for Hindi songs, and usually thought of these in my 3-5 a.m. feedings with the baby. Maybe five years from now, I’ll be curious why I had to Tweet at that time, and maybe these songs will make everything seem ok.

My list has the usual suspects: Gulzar, Shah Rukh, Meena Kumari, Rafi, and surprisingly or not, a lot of A.R. Rahman.

Here goes my 30-day song challenge list:

• Day 1- Song with a color in it: First song that popped up in my head is this (neele neele ambar…) 
• Day 2- Song with a number in it: Also major lullaby song for baby for some reason … Do lafzon ki hai 
• Day 3- Summer song: Cheating a little, because it’s really end of summer, but this is more Indian summer to me than anything else – also just the best shot Bombay song (Rim Jhim Gire )
• Day 4 – Reminding me of someone I’d forget: Tere Bin – I have an inherent hatred for this song representing a phase rather a person in my life.
• Day 5- Song that needs to be played out loud: Many but current mood – Zeb & Haniya / Afreen from Coke Studio
• Day 6- Song for dancing: Relatively new, but very fun /Zingaat
• Day 7- Driving song: Because I listen to so much throwback hip-hop on the way to work, it is actually Eminem (radio edits sure enough :)) I’d have a different pick as a passenger in a car.
• Day 8- Alcohol/Drugs: I thought this was hilarious when I was younger – it’s not and AB is majorly hamming & who choreographed thodi si – also known as go to Antakshari song starting with ‘th’.
• Day 9- Happy: SRK’s playlist on a loop but also from my childhood Chandni – this is when I understood playback singing is a thing and even with Sridevi’s nasal tones, cousin and I danced each day to entertain ourselves and our mothers.
• Day 10- Sad: Please don’t judge but it must be my teen hormones still I’m always moved by Kajol in this song each time I see it. Because, what’s with you Rahul! Of course there are better sad songs still …
• Day 11- Never get tired of: Strangely I’ve seen Mai ni Mai (this song) on YouTube more times in the last 9 months than ever. I still am not tired.
• Day 12- Preteen: So many things happened in the 90s. This was hard to choose- too many options, but this is what I recall a lot today with Anna choosing Deepak Tijori over Shah Rukh (googling Deepak Tijori now)
• Day 13 -70s: Lots to love. But then, jo kahi gayi na mujhse, woh zamana keh raha hai
• Day 14 – Wedding: I always liked this song for us because we spent time in Delhi6. I don’t know how it would retroactively fit our wedding (songs from our wedding that I do recall were folk/ Kashmiri and performed live)
• Day 15 – Cover: The original is great but I love this version mainly because of 90s nostalgia and Shaan. Julie, I love you
• Day 16 – Classic: Rafi although I like the other version more but Rafi ast, ast and more ast. Dil jo na keh saka…
• Day 17 – Karaoke: SRK + Madhuri because what could go wrong? Aur kuch ho jaye toh, kuch yakeen hai kya?
• Day 18 – Birth year song: Deepti Naval & F Sheikh, because we need people in zindagi who are a ghana saaya.
• Day 19 – Life: Muskuraaye toh muskuraane ke karz utaarne honge aka Gulzar / RD
• Day 20 – Many meanings: I’ve been obsessed with this song from Masaan
• Day 21 – Song with a person’s name: Anand Bakshi didn’t know if it was a girl or boy’s name in the film when he wrote the song, so he made it gender neutral, just like Bobby sounds
• Day 22 – Forward: over ten years ago, this song got me out of a rut. Who wouldn’t when you’re rubaroo roshni…
• Day 23 – I recommend: It’s pensive but such a companion album when you’re feeling a little uneasy with anything ever. even in its sadness, it’s calming. https://youtu.be/xOcpH19CbAs (I love Meena Kumari in general)
• Day 24 – Band broke up: Not a band but Abhijeet stopped singing for Shah Rukh (or anyone). At the time this song released, I had seen 3 Shah Rukh films in the theater on the same day and thought this voice really suited him. Roshni se bhare bhare. I have similar feelings for SP/Salman.
• Day 25 – Artist not alive: Although Kishore and Rajesh Khanna were a thing, this one is unique. To be fair, I like this song for Rafi but Khanna’s dance moves are not any less ordinary. Gulabi aankhen…
• Day 26 – Fall in love: Thoda sa dard tu, thoda sukun
• Day 27 – Heartbreaking: The context in the film made me cry and now as a mother it’s even more heartbreaking. Luka Chuppi…
• Day 28 – Artist I love: Sukhwinder especially Chhaiya chhaiya.
• Day 29 – Childhood: Ulat palat galat salat thaain…
• Day 30 – Reminds me of myself: Luckily saw the movie before it was banned. Was obsessed with yeh rishta kya kehlata hai. It’s not a song, it’s me in mid 2000s
  
  It’s a good exercise to jog your musical memory!