Raman was bo… Read Full Bio ↴Susheela Raman (b. 1973) is a singer of Indian descent.
Raman was born in London, later emigrating to Australia with her family. In Australia she studied classical South Indian song and began giving performances. She then began working with Western forms including rock and soul, while continuing to study classical Indian music with Shruti Sadolikar. Her desire to mix Indian with Western music resulted in her first album, Salt Rain, in 2001, followed by Love Trap in 2003.
In 2005, she released Music for Crocodiles. The basis of the album was recorded in Britain (Wiltshire in September 2004); the work was continued the next month with Indian musicians and mixed in Los Angeles.
In 2006 Susheela was again nominated for BBC World Music Award and was the subject of a one hour documentary by French-German TV Channel ARTE, called 'Indian Journey' directed by Mark Kidel. In the same year she independently recorded 33 1/3, which is a set of re-imaginings of music from the sixties and seventies. Artists covered include Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, Can, Joy Division and Throbbing Gristle. The album features long term collaborators Sam Mills on guitar, VIncent Segal on Cello, and tabla player and percussionist Aref Durvesh. The album was released in April 2007 in France.
In 2011 she released the album Vel.
Susheela continues to research and discover music from South India, studying in 2007 with the Bhakti singer Kovai Kamla.
Bliss
Susheela Raman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The nectar of Bliss
The rain falls for you
Shiva worships you
As you protect Vishnu
You exist as consciousness
In Blissful hearts
Compassionate one
You rain is falling
Ever harder
In these lyrics, Susheela Raman reflects on a divine power that brings complete joy and contentment. She refers to this power as the "nectar of Bliss" that is conjured by someone's charm. The song suggests that this power is so great that even the rain falls for this person, and Shiva, a Hindu god known as the "destroyer" and "transformer," worships them. Additionally, the person serves as a protector for Vishnu, another Hindu god who is considered to be the preserver of the universe.
The lyrics also suggest that this divine power is not only present in this person, but in every person's heart. The person is referred to as a "compassionate one" who exists as consciousness, implying that the song is about finding inner peace and understanding. Raman reflects on this power during her meditation, where the sound of rain appears to grow increasingly intense. The song portrays the power as an unstoppable force that reigns over all aspects of life.
Overall, "Bliss" is a song about finding inner peace and contentment through divine power. The lyrics suggest that this power is present within every person and that it can be accessed through meditation and mindful reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Your charm conjures
Your irresistible charm invokes a feeling of awe and admiration in me.
The nectar of Bliss
Your presence fills me with an intense and overwhelming sense of contentment and joy.
The rain falls for you
Nature shows its love and devotion for you by pouring down rain as a gesture of gratitude.
Shiva worships you
Even the mighty deity Shiva venerates and pays homage to you.
As you protect Vishnu
You take on the role of protector for the revered god Vishnu.
You exist as consciousness
You are present as a form of awareness and enlightenment.
In Blissful hearts
You reside in the hearts of those who are filled with pure and unadulterated bliss.
Compassionate one
You are a symbol of empathy and benevolence.
In my meditation
During my moments of introspection, you are the focal point of my thoughts and reflection.
Your rain is falling
The intensity of your influence and impact is increasing continually, like the pouring of a heavy rainstorm.
Writer(s): Samuel Peter Landell Mills, Susheela Raman
Contributed by Jackson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.