One web discovery that I found while doing one of my regional assignments was a Web Site for Indian music (to listen to and buy). I was originally looking for music bars in Calcutta (located in North Eastern India) that featured some of the new pop/Indian music I have recently seen on travel shows but I could not find what I was looking for. I did, however, find this site that features more old-fashioned music (I assume) unless it was just a different variety like our varieties of pop, western, jazz etc. The Site address is: http://www.calcuttaweb.com/gaan/rabindra/index.shtml . There is a large list of songs (not written in English but in Bengali), which the listener can select to see what kind of music they prefer to buy although these listenings are for free.
We have not read much about music in our readings on different countries, but I still feel that this is a valid way to understand a culture better, as well as to target a certain market looking for more cultural ties to their experience. I have found from personal experience that music or movies I have bought from specific regions becomes a very special keepsake because, to me, a song can bring me right back to the place I have visited more than any picture I may have taken. Along with the senses of sight, sound, touch and smell; sound seems to be most adaptable to travel along with fabrics (that only carry the smell of an area for so long). I am not sure how obsessed others are with bringing back the sensual (not in reference to sexual) experiences of an area but I have found that simply smelling Phad Thai can transfer me back to the streets of Bangkok, hearing the bag-pipes can transport me back to the pubs of Scotland, and drinking a cup of well made tea can transfer me to the fields of the Costwolds in Britain.
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