ROSHAN’S ELEVEN: FIRST 11 SONGS LISTENED TO IN 2024

Every year on January 1st, I post about the first 11 songs that I listen to on my Mp3 player on my system. I pick them at random or like today when I specifically selected a couple of songs because I was thinking about them. This year, like the last few, I listened to them on Youtube instead of from my mp3 collection.

  • The Other Side Of The Rainbow – Extreme
  • The Alien – Dream Theatre
  • In The Army Now – Status Quo
  • Fear & Cowardice – Big Wreck
  • Calling Elvis – Dire Straits
  • Gold Dust – Tori Amos
  • I’m Movin On – Terri Clark
  • Solace Of You – Living Colour
  • River – Sarah McLachlan
  • SugarMan – Regina Spektor
  • Master Of Puppets – Metallica (live in Riyadh)

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Greatest Piano Rock Songs

Pianonote.com has a list of what, in their minds, are the 36 greatest piano rock songs ever. Now they haven’t mentioned which is #1, #2 etc but based on my musical tastes, I picked the 11 that I think are the best (I haven’t heard some of the others) and I am placing them in my order of greatness. So here is my top 11 greatest piano rock songs of all time:

  • November Rain – Guns N’ Roses (1992)
  • Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (1975)
  • Hey Jude – The Beatles (1968)
  • Walking In Memphis – Marc Cohn (1991)
  • Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (1981)
  • Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
  • Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx (1989)
  • Piano Man – Billy Joel (1973)
  • Layla – Derek & the Dominoes (1971)
  • Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis (1956)
  • Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles (1961)

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Movies

American actor Dwayne Johnson, also known by his wrestling ring name “The Rock”, has a long career in media, appearing in films, television series and video games. His films have grossed over $3.5 billion in North America and over $12.5 billion worldwide, making Johnson one of the most successful and highest-grossing box-office stars of all time. But what his best films? Well in the long running tradition of Roshan’s Eleven, I present to you my top 11 movies starring of co-starring the Rock.

  • San Andreas
  • Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
  • Skyscraper
  • The Scorpion King
  • Race to Witch Mountain
  • Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
  • Moana
  • Jumanji: The Next Level
  • Shazam!
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Red Notice

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Songs About Summer

Here are my favourite songs about summer

  • Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
  • Cruel Summer – Bananarama
  • Girls Of Summer – Aerosmith
  • California Girls – The Beach Boys / David Lee Roth
  • School’s Out – Alice Cooper
  • Summer Nights by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
  • Boys Of Summer – Don Henley
  • Summer Night City – ABBA
  • Island In The Sun – Weezer
  • Sealed With A Kiss – Jason Donavan
  • Summer Nights – Van Halen

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : BRENDAN FRASER MOVIES (Updated For 2023)

I did a similar post back in the first year of this blog, i.e 2007. I have removed 3 movies from that list and added 3 more. All 3 I watched after I published this list, the latest among them being The Whale. Let’s celebrate all things Brendan.

  • The Mummy
  • Encino Man
  • Journey To The Center Of The Earth
  • Blast From The Past
  • Bedazzled
  • The Mummy Returns
  • With Honours
  • George Of The Jungle
  • Airheads
  • Inkheart
  • The Whale

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : My Fav Top Canadian Tv Shows Of All Time

So Canada is very near and dear to me. I’ve wanted to go there since I was like 20 or so. Never got the chance. I have watched quite a few Canadian tv shows and this is my top 11 favourite ones. Now I have not included current show Hudson & Rex or Heartland since it is still ongoing and I have not included shows that are made in Canada and have a very large Canadian cast with some American ones like Stargate Sg1 or Stargate Atlantis or Battlestar Galactica. It has to be made in Canada and set in Canada. Honourable mentions not on this list are Shattered (which only lasted two season), Bitten, Continuum (I haven’t watched more than a few episodes but it is good), Arctic Air (which lasted 3 seasons), Sanctuary and Remedy (which also only last 2 season). I haven’t yet watched Schitts Creek or Kim’s Convenience or Trailer Park Boys. I will eventually get to them. So here is my top 11:

  • Corner Gas
  • Flashpoint
  • Republic Of Doyle
  • Due South
  • 19-2
  • Little Mosque On The Prairie
  • Cold Squad
  • Rookie Blue
  • Being Erica
  • Orphan Black
  • The Listener

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN: FIRST 11 SONGS LISTENED TO IN 2023

My Roshan’s Eleven first 11 songs I listened to in the New Year has been a constant thing since 2007. This year however I split it between Jan 1st and today, Jan 2nd. Usually I post about the first 11 songs that I listen to on my Mp3 player on my system. I pick them at random or like today when I specifically selected a couple of songs because I was thinking about them. I must say that this year too, I played some songs from Youtube and some on Spotify. So a day late but here is 2023’s list:

  • Addicted To Pain – Alter Bridge
  • Cowgirl In The Sand – Neil Young
  • Lux Eterna – Metallica
  • Rolling 7s – Dirty Honey
  • Grind – Alice In Chains
  • Breaking Down – Skid Row
  • Pretty Fly For A White Guy – The Offspring
  • Blow At High Dough – The Tragically Hip
  • All Hell For A Basement – Big Sugar
  • The Final Countdown – Europe
  • Under Pressure – Queen with David Bowie

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Spooky Time Music For Halloween

October means a few things including Halloween. Although it isn’t really celebrated here in India, I always associate Halloween with scary movies, funny & spooky videos and music. Music can also be spooky and scary and in the spirit of Halloween, there has always been some spooky music to go along with it. I did a Google search for scary songs or Halloween related songs and some of the stuff is the more recent and stupid music. Instead let me give you my list, off the top of my head and which is also included in the scary songs lists online. Here we go:

  • Monster Mash — Bobby (Boris) Pickett
  • Thriller — Michael Jackson
  • Ghostbusters Theme — Ray Parker Jr.
  • Somebody’s Watching Me — Rockwell
  • Welcome to my Nightmare – Alice Cooper
  • Season Of The Witch – Donovan
  • Witchy Woman – Eagles
  • The Devil Went Down To Georgia – Primus
  • The Number Of The Beast – Iron Maiden
  • Scream – The Misfits
  • Year Zero – Ghost

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Fun Oktoberfest Facts

1. Oktoberfest is called October but starts on September.

The name “Oktober” is misleading because most of the festival happens in September. Fun fact: The event started in 1810 and at that time it took place during one week of October. Along the years, it was extended and the starting date was changed to September because the weather is warmer and more pleasing. Therefore, it’s easier to attract more visitors to stay even longer and enjoy the beer (and festival) throughout the night.

2. Munich beer only

Oktoberfest is, above all, a celebration of Bavarian traditions, so the only beer you’ll find during the festival is brewed within the city limits of Munich. Only beers that fit this criteria are considered Oktoberfest Beers.  Fun fact: It’s considered one of the best beers in the world and according to the Bavarian Purity Requirements there are only 3 ingredients used in the brewing process: water, barley and hops.

3. It is a 204-year-old tradition that wasn’t originally a beer festival.

The first Oktoberfest was held to honor the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, in 1810. Now that’s what we call a wedding party! Fun fact: The wedding party ended with a horse party.

4. They’ve cancelled it 26 times.

You can’t stop beer pouring! In 200 years, Oktoberfest has only been cancelled 26 times. The causes were mostly due to the war and cholera epidemics. The last two years the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

5. Vomit-proof sneakers for Oktoberfest.

With so much beer being consumed it’s obvious that some people might feel sick and end up puking… And that’s why Adidas recently released a limited edition of vomit-proof sneakers inspired by the Oktoberfest. They’re priced at 199,95€ with “Prost” stitched on the side and surprisingly, they’re already sold out.

6. Locals call it “Wiesn”.

It’s named after the Theresienwiese, which is the name of the land where it takes place, and it’s also named after Therese, the Princess that was married there. It’s pronounced as “Vizen”. Fun fact: The “Oide Wiesn” is a part of the festival that features more traditional elements such as music, dancing and costumes, in contrast with other parts of the festival that are dedicated to beer and partying.

7. Nobody raises their mug until the Mayor says so.

Since 1950, the festival has only started after the official gun salute and the mayor shouting O’ zapft is! (“It’s tapped!”) and offering the first mug to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. Only after that, the festival can start. Tip: On the 21st of September of 2019 at noon, the Mayor will tap the first keg of beer and the festival will (officially) start.

8. The hairier the hat, the wealthier the wearer.

During Oktoberfest, traditional visitors wear Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte). The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. Except nowadays the tufts are synthetic and everybody can look as wealth or as poorly as they like.

9. Beer prices start at 10.70€ / £9.50 / $12.

It’s the price of one liter of beer… Not for those looking for a low budget festival. Tip: Beer can be bought in the tents from 10:00AM to 10:30PM on weekdays, and from 9:00AM to 10:30PM during the weekend.

10. People drank 7.5 million liters of beer in 2018!

Fun fact: In 1910, on its 100th birthday, 120,000 liters of beer were poured – that’s about 1,500 bathtubs worth of beer!

11. The beer is specially brewed for Oktoberfest and it’s extra strong.

One mug of beer here is equivalent to 8 shots of Schnapps.They’re specially brewed for the festival and they have at least 6% alcohol.

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : 11 Interesting Facts You May Or May Not Know About India

Interesting Facts That You May Or May Not Know About India:

  1. The wettest inhabited country on Earth is India. With 11,873 millilitres of rain falling annually, Meghalaya village has been named the wettest spot on Earth by the Guinness Book of World Records. Considering that the rain season lasts for six months.
  2. The glacial Lake Roopkund, which is 16,470 feet above sea level in the Himalayas, is known for the human bones that have been discovered there and nearby. The skeletons are considered to be the remains of persons who died in a strong hailstorm in the ninth century.
  3. For around 1,000 years beginning in the fourth century BC, India was the world’s sole supplier of diamonds. The Krishna River Delta is where the initial diamonds were discovered.
  4. Hinduism is regarded as the world’s oldest religion, with records going as far back as 5,500 BCE. Hinduism has no recognised creator, and since it is a way of life, nobody is interested in finding out.
  5. India is home to 22 official languages. Santali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu are just a few of the many languages that are spoken in India. However, Hindi and English are the official languages.
  6. Since most Indians speak their own regional language in addition to English for ease of communication, India also has the second-largest population of English speakers in the world (the first is the United States).
  7. India is home to around 1.37 billion people, second only to China. and the figure keeps increasing. According to predictions, India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation by the year 2050.
  8. In India, there is a floating post office. India not only has the greatest postal network in the entire world, but it also has some incredibly unusual post offices, such as one that floats on the water. The post office, which is situated near Dal Lake in Srinagar, has started to draw curious tourists.
  9. The Shani Shingnapur community is well known for having no doors or locks on any of the residences. Beyond that, criminal conduct has not been documented for about 400 years.
  10. India had 26 national holidays in 2019, including Christmas, Deepavali, Holi, and Independence Day. Because the Indian population is made up of so many diverse cultural groupings, there are many different holidays and festivals, which contributes to the great variety of celebrations.
  11. India is home to the largest sundial in the world. The tallest sundial in the world, standing at a towering 27 metres (90 feet) tall, is located in the town of Jaipur. A UNESCO World Heritage Site designation has been given to the sundial. Thousands of people flock to see the shadow, which moves at a speed of roughly six millimetres per minute, every year.

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Fun Facts About Stairway To Heaven

  1. Stairway to Heaven remains the biggest-selling sheet music in the history of rock. An average hit sells 10,000 to 15,000 copies of sheet music. Stairway to Heaven has sold well over one million copies.
  2. Stairway to Heaven was performed in almost every concert by Led Zeppelin and it was omitted only on rare occasions, when shows were interrupted by curfews or technical problems. The last time the band performed the song was in Berlin on 7th July 1980, which was also their last show ever as the full band, and this version also was one of the longest ever, lasting almost fifteen minutes.
  3. Stairway is still played 4,203 times a year by America’s sixty-seven largest AOR (album-oriented rock) radio stations, according to trade magazine MONDAY MORNING REPLAY (stat from the early 90s).
  4. US communications company MediaBase lists ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as having been played a total of 1,432,403 times around the world as of May 2008.
  5. The guitar introduction is one of the most famous pieces ever played on the guitar, but was in fact borrowed from the song Taurus by Spirit, who were touring with Led Zeppelin at the time. They have been interviewed about this and apparently do not mind.
  6. Fans believe that the song is influence by The Lord of the Rings. Long before Peter Jackson’s blockbuster movies, Zeppelin’s band members were big fans of The Lord of the Rings. And J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel inspired several of their songs, including “Ramble On,” “The Battle of Evermore,” and “Misty Mountain Hop.” Many Tolkien buffs believe “Stairway” also leads straight to Middle-earth. According to one theory, the lyrics echo the “The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen,” a story of two lovers told in the appendix of The Lord of the Rings.
  7. The lyrics, written by Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant next to an evening log fire, were inspired by his search for spiritual perfection. A seminal influence was the book Magic Arts in Celtic Britain by Lewis Spence, which Plant had recently read; it contained references to May Queens, pipers, and “bustling hedgerows.”
  8. In 1982, a California State Assembly consumer-protection-committee hearing featured testimony from “experts” who claimed that “Stairway,” when played backward, contained the words: “I sing because I live with Satan. The Lord turns me off — there’s no escaping it. Here’s to my sweet Satan, whose power is Satan. He will give you 666. I live for Satan.” Evidence of a demonic message? Or was the backward-masking controversy started by a failing electronics firm as a ploy to get teenagers to ruin turntables by spinning them backward? Swan Song Records also issued the following statement at the time which said:“Our turntables only play in one direction—forwards.”
  9. In 2003 it was named #31 in Rolling Stones ‘Top 500 Songs of All Time’ and #3 in VH1 in their 2000 awards for the ‘100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time’ awards.
  10. The tendency for many aspiring guitar players to learn to play the introduction to the song was spoofed in the 1992 Mike Myers movie Wayne’s World, when a “No Stairway to Heaven” regulation is enforced at a music store visited by the title character. The intro was replaced with a more generic, non-“Stairway” riff in later releases of the movie, making the joke incomprehensible. Plant himself referenced the scene’s “No Stairway? Denied!” line during a concert appearance with Page in 1995.
  11. Zep’s lead guitarist was known to dabble in the occult, but the so-called “magical” instrument he used for his “Stairway to Heaven” solo wasn’t infested with demons or blessed by witches or anything cool like that. It was simply a 1959 Fender Telecaster he got from fellow British shredder Jeff Beck. Page also used that Telecaster during his days with the Yardbirds and on sessions for the first Zeppelin album. “A bit of a magical guitar, really,” Page said.

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Eleven Things You Can Do As A Single On Valentine’s Day

Here, find all the best things to do if you’re single on Valentine’s Day…

Have a spa day. Who says you need to get someone else to buy you the ultimate spa day for you to get some fun me time. Go ahead and schedule a massage or go to a local spa for some fun.

Have a night out with friendsThere’s a good chance that you’re not the only single one in your friend group, so why not get together and have some fun with each other?

Have the ultimate movie marathon. The fun thing about this idea is that you can either do it at home by picking out some of your favorite movies and watching them from your couch. Or you can head over to your local theater and take in some of the latest flicks with the rest of the crowd.

Volunteer. There are other people around you that might also not be getting some love on V-Day. Check out your local animal shelter, nursing home, or hospital and spread some love around in your neighborhood.

Try out a new restaurant. There’s a good chance that there are plenty of restaurants around you that you haven’t seen yet, so why not go check it out?

Splurge on a big gift. Have something that you’ve been dying to get, but have been too afraid to take the plunge on hitting buy? Then you should really treat yourself with something you’re always wanted.

Go to a chocolatier. Find out if there is a local chocolate shop nearby you and try out some new sweets that you’ll definitely be excited to take home with you.

Try a new recipe. Whether it’s cooking, baking, or even both, take the time to create a new dish that you’ll definitely devour later.

Binge-watch a brand new show. There’s definitely a show on your list that you’ve been wanting to check out for a while now, so why not start?

Go to a local coffeeshop. Your local place might be having an open mic night or it might be the perfect place to get some much-needed work done, so fuel up and have some fun at your local coffee place.

Have a game night. Whether you want to just play some solo player games or want to host the ultimate get-together with your friends, game night is always a good idea.

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : CURRENT TV/STREAMING SHOWS I AM WATCHING

So this list is the top 11 tv & streaming shows that I am currently watching at this moment. This includes a show or 2 that are older and have completed their run a while back but hey, rewatching good shows is what it’s all about. I also plan to rewatch Star Trek TNG & Farscape after I finish season 5 of CSI, which I am watching for the first time but I have watched a handful of episodes from different seasons on cable many years ago). I also want to rewatch Firefly, Star Trek Deep Space 9 & Star Trek TOS. And shows like The Walking Dead & The Flash are on a long hiatus mid season. Plus I also want to rewatch Buffy The Vampire Slayer and four Canadian cop shows I have only watched once : Cold Squad, Flashpoint, 19-2 & Due South. Too many shows, so little time. If only I win the lottery and can retire from work.

  • CSI : Crime Scene Investigations (on season 5 now of my binging for the first time)
  • Superman & Lois (new show on season 2)
  • The Rookie (season 4 airing)
  • The Blacklist (season 9 airing)
  • Star Trek : Prodigy (new show still on season 1)
  • Star Trek : Discovery (season 4 airing, which is on a little break now)
  • Hudson & Rex (season 4 airing)
  • Law & Order : Organized Crime (best new show, especially for cop & crime drama)
  • Walker (season 2 airing)
  • FBI / FBI : Most Wanted / FBI : International (I lump them together as they are so connected)
  • Transplant (new show, season 2 currently airing)

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN: First 11 Songs Listened To In 2022

My Roshan’s Eleven first 11 songs I listened to in the New Year has been a constant thing since 2007. This year however on January 1st, I just wasn’t in the listening to music mood. Usually I post about the first 11 songs that I listen to on my Mp3 player on my system. I pick them at random or like today when I specifically selected a couple of songs because I was thinking about them. I must say that I did play some songs from Youtube. So a few days late but here is 2022’s list:

  • Cuts Like A Knife – Bryan Adams
  • One Thing – Finger Eleven
  • Hurricane Years – Alice Cooper
  • Angel Of Death – Slayer
  • Only – Anthrax
  • Islands In The Stream – Dolly Parton & Kelly Rogers
  • Winter – Tori Amos
  • Gypsy Boots – Terri Clark
  • Blood & Tears – Steve Vai
  • Paper Moon – Our Lady Peace
  • Wild Night – John Mellancamp & Meshell Ndegeocello

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN: Movies Set During Summer Months

No matter how long it’s been since you were a student, everybody loves that last-day-of-school feeling that the warmer months bring. Remember as a kid just itching for the summer to start so you can have a great time with your cousins and friends? Well here is 11 movies that are set during summer.

  • E.T.
  • Jaws
  • The Goonies
  • Weekend At Bernie’s
  • Independence Day
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  • Point Break
  • Clueless
  • Grease
  • Thelma & Louise

Roshan’s Eleven : The Best Beatles Songs In My Humble Opinion

If you love music, you love the Beatles. There is no way around that fact. I don’t care what kind of music you love the most, you have to like the songs that the Liverpool 4 produced.  The group, whose line-up comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time. Your favourite bands & artists were either influenced by them or influenced by artists who were influence by the Beatles. So get off your high horse and just admit it. Unless you are a rapper/hip-hopper. I don’t consider that nonsense music anyway!

So here is my list of the ultimate 11 Beatles songs. This list might not be the same as your list. That’s ok, share your 11 in the comments below.

  • I Saw Her Standing There
  • Yesterday
  • Come Together
  • A Hard Day’s Night
  • Hey Jude
  • Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
  • Get Back
  • Let It Be
  • All You Need Is Love
  • Something
  • Twist & Shout

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN : Romantic Movies

So, it’s that time of the year again. Valentine’s Day is up next Sunday and the stupid posts on Facebook about it being manufactured (like your religious holidays, right?) is upon us. I don’t care; there is something special about dedicating a day to love.  This is my list and I have not yet watched a few movies that are famous so for the time being this is my list.

  • You’ve Got Mail
  • Ghost
  • The Notebook
  • Titanic
  • LA LA Land
  • Pretty Woman
  • Before Sunset
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • Casablanca
  • The Shape of Water
  • Knocked Up

ROSHAN’S ELEVEN: First 11 Songs Listened To In 2021

Every year on January 1st, I post about the first 11 songs that I listen to on my Mp3 player on my system. I pick them at random or like today when I specifically selected a couple of songs because I was thinking about them. This year, like last, I listened to them on Youtube instead of from my mp3 collection.

  • No Surrender – Judas Priest
  • Separate Ways – Journey
  • She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
  • Black Velvet – Alannah Myles
  • I Would Walk 500 Miles – The Proclaimers
  • The Letter – Tedeschi Trucks Band
  • The Actor – Michael Learns To Rock
  • Fade To Black – Metallica
  • Barracuda – Hearth
  • Easy Lover – Phil Collins/Philip Bailey
  • See You On The Other Side – Ozzy Osbourne