The Covid-19 pandemic era will forever remain entrenched in memory and history as a time we lost family and friends to a virus that caught the medical fraternity and scientific community off guard.
Leaving a trail of devastation and sorrow in its wake, people are still suffering from the after-effects in terms of unmitigated sorrow for some, and for others, having their bodies continue to betray them.
We saw the worst and the best of humanity with many frontline healthcare workers losing their lives in the attempt to save people. We also had insane lockdowns imposed on us, which saw individuals dying alone without having the solace of their family around them.
The black market opened as soon as something vital was needed like oxygen cylinders and prescription medicine such as Remdesivir.
Out of this chaos and misery, something beautiful was birthed, if only a song to commemorate lost precious lives.
Notable musicians Selwyn Menezes, Siddharth Cota and Arvind Menezes, with lyrics by Nerissa Britto and Paul Aranjo, produced the melodious, soul-stirring Ode to the Departed to memorialise the victims of COVID in 2022.
Two weeks ago, they finally launched the promised video to showcase the original track.
The video for the song was filmed and edited by Sheniah Menezes. The visuals aptly capture the core theme of the song.
In July 2021, Nerissa, a lawyer who dons many hats as singer, lyricist and composer of harmonies and tunes, was approached by Selwyn Menezes, her childhood music teacher and now friend, to write lyrics to the tune composed by him and Siddharth Cota.
The song, she was told, was meant to honour victims of Covid-19.
Inspiration hit Nerissa quickly to put together the lyrics in a matter of 20 minutes.
She said, “I wanted the song to acknowledge the pain and mayhem the pandemic had brought on, while also emphasising hope – that we can, and must, look ahead!”
Notable musicians Selwyn Menezes, Siddharth Cota and Arvind Menezes, with lyrics by Nerissa Britto and Paul Aranjo, produced the melodious, soul-stirring Ode to the Departed to memorialise the victims of COVID in 2022.
She went on to say, “That could perhaps help listeners, in whatever small way, in making peace with the gigantic losses they have experienced.”
Paul Aranjo, a man with extensive marketing and advertising expertise, now based in Dubai, had but a chance, solitary meeting with Selwyn at Hospicio in Margao, which led to an impromptu performance for the patients.
“It was COVID time, and there were so many sad stories from India about people losing their loved ones suddenly, and not even being able to see their dead bodies,” said Paul.
It was during this time that Selwyn asked Paul to write a song. Paul acquiesced and the same day sent Selwyn the lyrics, singing them to the already composed tune.
Paul Aranjo, a man with extensive marketing and advertising expertise, now based in Dubai, had but a chance, solitary meeting with Selwyn at Hospicio in Margao, which led to an impromptu performance for the patients.
“I wanted to capture all the human loss, the emptiness, sudden deaths and human tragedy that COVID left behind,” recalled Paul.
He told us, “Selwyn loved it and asked if he could tweak some words. I had no objection and he went ahead and recorded and released the song.”
Selwyn has made a name for himself in Goa as a violin and mandolin virtuoso and a music teacher par excellence.
He felt it necessary to remember the victims of Covid-19 for the misfortune that they and their families had experienced.
He said, “We lost a few friends, and I thought placing ourselves in their shoes (ie the families who went through the ordeal of seeing their beloved ones suffer, and then the lack of oxygen cylinders, etc, which made the trauma even worse) would be the best tribute to the soul.”
Selwyn has made a name for himself in Goa as a violin and mandolin virtuoso and a music teacher par excellence.
After Selwyn had composed the first two parts of the song, Siddharth did his bit by adding the third and producing the musical arrangements.
The song was recorded at Siddharth’s studio in his home, and mixed and mastered by Noel de Souza.
Siddharth Cota, the main vocalist and guitar player for the song, is widely known in Goa’s music domain, performing with Orlando Noronha’s group and The Cotta Family. He has also performed at the NCPA in Mumbai.
Arvind, who is part of Juventus, Gavana and other choral groups, provided percussion for the song. “The COVID pandemic hit us so badly,” he said.
The weight of people’s travails, those who had lost lives and their means of livelihood, could only be soothed by a breath of hope. Hope that could be perfectly captured via the means of music.
The weight of people’s travails, those who had lost lives and their means of livelihood, could only be soothed by a breath of hope. Hope that could be perfectly captured via the means of music.
Arvind said of Ode to the Departed, “We felt like doing something in a medium that touched the heart and mind very effectively. Music helps heal and calm the mind.”
Now, in visual form for the Goan audience, the video for Ode to the Departed, available on YouTube on Siddharth Cota’s channel @siddharthcota6709, has already garnered 2.6K views.