Songs Of Love…Songs Of Unity by Dana Gillespie

With a string of selected songs, a compilation of her songs in The Divine Presence over the years, Dana Gillespie of London Blues Band fame took the audience through her memory lane, presenting an electrifying music concert at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet this evening in Prasanthi Nilayam.

The singer, the most popular western voice in Prasanthi Nilayam and undoubtedly one of Bhagawan’s favourite singers, took the audience down memory lane, singing mainly hit songs from her earlier concerts in Prasanthi Nilayam.

The underlying theme of her performance was Love and Unity. Recapitulating her glorious times in Bhagawan’s physical presence, the cherubic singer began with the song “we are all one…under the sun”.

Singing with the aid of recorded tracks of music, Gillespie continued for an hour, often inciting the audience to join with rhythmic beats. She presented twelve songs that included two bhajans. Some of her favourite numbers sung during landmark occasions, 70th and 80th birthdays, were reproduced.

The soul of music is touched only when it is sung with love…Recaping her experience with Bhagawan, the singer stated that to sing in His presence one need to have a ‘large heart’…and the accomplished singer exhibited what she is in possession, a heart full of Love for The Lord, craving for a United World.

Interestingly, during the interludes, the singer presented a guided tour, explaining the songs and significance and snippets of her wonderful moments with Beloved Bhagawan.

Presenting a bhajan, “Prem Easwar Hey…Easwar Prem Hey…” she explained how she would often sing her all time favourite bhajan, the lines of which “La ilaha illa allah…” went missing over the years, and the bhajan was “Allaho Akbar…Allaho Akbar…La ilaha illa allah…” Grabbing the mike when she burst into singing “Allaho Akbar…” with her booming voice echoing the spacious Sai Kulwant Hall, the audience joined in chorus and the message was clear, Unity Of All Religions, Oneness Of Godhood.

Every song was well received and the hall reverberated with rapturous applause at every short-break. She ended the concert chanting the Vibhuti Mantra, “Paramam Pavitram Baba Vibhootim…”