Goodbye 2008

In a tumultuous year that was 2008, the world had witnessed an ailing global economy, natural disasters and the rise in terrorism. Here's hoping 2009 will be a much better year.

I had picked one of Styx songs which i felt most befitting to end the year on a good note, and to reflect on the year gone past...

'Show Me The Way'

every night i say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven
And every day i'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends i knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And i feel this empty place inside so afraid that i've lost my faith

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way

And as i slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
That i wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go
And i keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that i just won't know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away

And if i see a light, should i believe
Tell me how will i know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that i'll get there someday
Show me the way

Every night i say a prayer
In the hope that there's a heaven...


In Loving Memory and dedication to Ms Lo Hwei Yen, who lost her life on November 27, 2008 in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India.

'Last Christmas' : A Second Christmas Blog Post

This is my second Christmas blog post and rightly so, how could i forget about a Christmas record that i suppose almost anyone living through the 80s would replay this (either on their music players or in their heads) on every Christmas for the rest of their lives?

Wham! was a 1980s pop duo group made up of George Michael and Andrew Ridgely, with the former blessing listeners with one of the best and flawless vocals ever, with classics such as 'Careless Whisper', 'Wake Me up Before You Go Go' before embarking on a very successful solo career. His voice is still one of the most impeccable and serene i have ever heard from a male singer.

Ever since 'Last Christmas' hit my ears from as early as 1984 when it was first released, i don't think there is a year since i missed hearing this unforgettable song on every Christmas every year till this day as an adult. It also brings back memories from that first crush in primary school days, relationships past and many memories from yesteryears. i believe it does so for many many people too. If you can't hum the chorus of this song from start to finish, then really you don't belong to the 80s! Watch and relive this Christmas classic on the MTV here.

Enjoy another one of Wham! tracks called 'Heartbeat'. It has that christmas feel too. You can also listen to the song directly here.

And for the second time...wishing all my readers a Merry X'mas wherever you are...

Shine bright for me...this lonely Christmas

I have always love Christmas time though i may not necessary celebrate it. As a kid, i will always look forward to Christmas album or single releases by my favourite bands or singers. Most will release a good single or album to coincide with this period and for the coveted 'Christmas #1 album or single'. Perhaps the most memorable one was 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time' done by Band Aid in 1984. Christmas time feels good as the atmosphere feels lighter, cooler and relaxed as the year comes to a close and ushering in a new year ahead.

There are many great Christmas records released in the years before. Out of so many, it was not difficult to pick my favourite. Erasure released 'Crackers International', an EP (Extended Play) record during Christmas 1988. An EP is somewhere between a single and a full album and usually contains 4-5 tracks lasting about 20 minutes or so. Among the four great tracks on this EP, the last track 'She Won't Be Home' stood out as Christmasy as it could be. Take a listen to it here.

Merry & Blessed Christmas + a good year ahead to all my readers...


'I won't dare to say to you, how much i want to be with you...'

- She Won't Be Home

The Soundtrack Of My Life

Film music or soundtracks as we know form an important part of any film and gives an emotional depth to a movie. There are countless great soundtracks as there are great movies out there but allow me to demonstrate a bit of biasness and sidetrack a little in this post, to pay tribute to the greatest movie i have (and will ever) watched in this lifetime i am very sure.

The Shawshank Redemption is an American film made in 1994. At over 3 and a 1/2 hours long, it was not a hit at the movie screens but made its fame at a most unlikely source - the videotape rental service and the good old word of mouth. I will like to think that this film popularized itself into a modern classic because of the ordinary person watching this movie at the comfort of his home and came away so impressed and goes passing the word around about the film, to the extent that it now ranks #1 at the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) website, and surely in the hearts of those who have watched it, including mine.

This film is a prison movie that revolves around the two main actors - Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman who played the characters Andy Dufresne and 'Red'. It is a quiet movie with many themes of friendship, redemption, faith, morality, courage, corruption and hope. Most of the movie concentrated on the conversations between Andy and 'Red'. While i will not divulge much of the film here, i will strongly recommend for all to go watch the film from start to finish and find out for yourself, and hope that everyone will come away with your hearts touched by it.

On a personal level, this film has been a uplifting catalyst in many disappointing and down moments in my life before. I will replay many memorable scenes and quotes in my mind in the movie whenever i feel discouraged and it always worked for me. The consistent message of hope and never giving up hope throughout the movie just sets my heart alive. Coincidentally, this film seems to follow everywhere i go too. This film 'caught' me on the plane to India last year and most recently in China on a tour, it was played in the hotel tv during a late night.

Back to the music part, Shawshank Redemption's music soundtrack is also one of the best i have heard. Listen to the ending theme and watch a beautiful scene in the movie.

China witnessed one of the most devasting earthquakes this year which occurred on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan province. This powerful quake caused thousands of homes to be destroyed and thousands more lost their lives. On a recent study trip to China in November, i had the chance to visit the earthquake zone, witnessing at first hand the devastation caused - schools, buildings razed to the ground. Scores of banners were everywhere, encouraging the affected people whose homes were destroyed. My heart felt heavy walking through but more than anything, i also saw hope and the strength of the human spirit in the people who were rebuilding their homeland. Left with nothing but only hope in their hearts and it is this hope that will help them overcome in the end, much like anyone of us at some difficult point in our lives. I was reminded of a line Andy Dufresne says somewhere in the movie : "There are places in the world that aren't made out of stone, there is something inside that they can't get to you, they can't touch. It is yours - Hope"

Fear can hold you prisoner but hope can set you free. That's damn right...


"Get busy living or get busy dying..."

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies..."

- Andy Dufresne














Visit to Sichuan Earthquake Museum in Chengdu. The poignant banner on the ceiling written by affected villagers reads in chinese - 'Bless good people a lifetime of peace'

Intermission

Sorry to all the folks who have been visiting my blog for any updates, i'll be back in mid december with more music and updates. Till then, take care everyone...

Drive

The Cars 'Drive' is one of the classic 80s tune. It is a song about self contemplation of a situation gone wrong. Check out the MTV here.

Who's gonna tell you when
It's too late
Who's gonna tell you things
Aren't so great
You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong

Who's gonna drive you home tonight

Who's gonna pick you up
When you fall
Who's gonna hang it up
When you call
Who's gonna pay attention
To your dreams
Who's gonna plug their ears
When you scream

You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong
Who's gonna drive you home tonight

Who's gonna hold you down
When you shake
Who's gonna come around
When you break

You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong
Who's gonna drive you home tonight

Someday when i get to own my own set of wheels, i got a feeling this is going to be a staple song playing in my car, on those quiet night journeys, on the highways driving back home.

This weekend, my country will host the first inaugural Formula One Grand Prix Night Racing and i must say, it is one of those rare times that i actually feel proud of the efficiency and effort that the country has put into hosting this great event, that has suddenly put the world's spot light on this island nation.

The White Album

The Beatles White Album was a double album released in 1968. The ideas behind this collection of songs beneath the simplistic white cover were largely conceived by the band members on a trip to India.

The songs covered a plethora of themes from rock, happiness, tiredness, about a Desmond who is a 'she', sex, pigs, birthdays, rage, chaos, romance, love and eventually culminates with a most appropriate and gentle closing track in 'Goodnight.' Fragmented but sounding cohesive at the same time. A fan once wrote saying that even after 40 years since its release, to the Beatles fan, much is still being discovered with each hearing of the songs. This album was made amid a period of turmoil and tensions in the band. The members were going through the death of their band manager, experiencing relationship breakups, drugs, arguments and in-fighting among themselves. Instead of caving in to all these circumstances, the musical geniuses of the fab four shone through to produce this epic album.

I remembered vividly how the white album was played repeatedly on my CD player while i was sitting through the night in a hospital accompanying my brother who just underwent a surgery sometime in 1995. I also reminisced the time from the mid to late 90s when CD bootlegs were widely available in music shops then, some of which were 'under table' purchases but it was just such a fun time scurrying through the wide range of Beatles bootlegs which i bought and amass quite a huge collection. I am still very proud of my Beatles CD bootleg collection till today.

As i grow older, my penchant for Beatles music tends to focus on their later releases from the album 'Revolver' and 'Sgt Pepper' onwards where the music tends to talk about more adult and worldly themes rather than the teeny lovey pop tunes in their earlier years. There is just so much to write about the Beatles, that i will perhaps blog more about their music in time to come.

The latest September issue of Mojo Magazine (a british music magazine) celebrates the White Album with a quite interesting CD of cover versions of the songs in the album. I am waiting with anticipation for the second cover CD which will come with the next issue. i wonder how 'Revolution #9' will sound like really.

Hearing the white album at this period of time reflects my current state of mind - chaos and confusion. I just hope that amid this difficult period, something can eventually string my thoughts back together again, just like how the last track 'Goodnight' always managed to lull me gently to sleep each time without fail.

Here are some selections from the White Album...Enjoy.

'I Will'

'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da'

'Blackbird'

'Birthday'

'Helter Skelter'

'Goodnight'












'Blackbird singing in the dead of the night, take these broken wings and learn to fly' - Blackbird

Ghost Town

The Specials were a reggae ska band formed in 1977 from Coventry, England. They had a #1 hit with this song "Ghost Town" in 1981.

England came under Margaret Thatcher's rule in 1979 at a time of civil unrest as a result of massive unemployment. This escalates to uprising and street riots across many parts of England. Amid these tensions, "Ghost Town" was released and catapulted to the number one spot on the charts. This was widely recognized as the perfect song which captured the mood of an entire nation and conveyed a most significant political statement within. A very interesting song that alternates back and forth with an eerie and happy tone. Hear the eerie child-like wailing between verse and chorus and the ghostly siren noise towards the end of the song. Watch the MTV here.

In the country where i came from, or where there is a significant chinese community, this month is known as the Hungry Ghost Month when it is believed that the gates of hell is open for all ghosts and spirits into our mortal world to wander for a month. During these times, the chinese would make offerings, in the form of food, prayers, the burning of 'hell money' to their loved ones who had passed on or just to appease any wandering spirits around. As such, food offerings, burning of 'hell notes' and joss sticks (equivalent of candle sticks) could be found on the roadsides in many parts of the country.

Big elaborate open air concerts known as 'Getai' are also organized throughout the island featuring song and dance. Besides entertaining the living, these were also meant to entertain the dead on their yearly one month 'vacation' to the land of the living. The first row seats are always left vacant, these are meant for the 'guests' from the other side. It is pretty much a ghost town during this period. Even in highly modernized nations, this tradition is still widely observed among all the chinese.

During this month, the young are advised not to stay out too late and road accidents have a significant higher occurrence than usual, not to mention many ghostly encounters and 'sightings' by people.

I myself have never encountered or seen anything eerie during this period though i strongly believed in the presence of spirits and ghosts. I sometimes do wish i can befriend someone from the other side or able to communicate with them rather than being in the company of humans.

Ghosts are not scary, human beings are far worse (at times).









Chinese character for ghost pronounced as 'GUI'

Hand In Hand

The Beijing Olympics 2008 will kick off next weekend. One of the biggest sports events in once every four years will pit the world's finest athletes and sportsmen with each other. Besides challenging for honours and pushing the limits of the human spirit, it is also an event to foster friendship among the nations.

In 1988, the Olympics was held in Seoul, South Korea. With every major sporting event, there is usually an accompanying official theme song, sung by a popular artiste or band. 'Hand In Hand' by Koreana was the song that year and quite the best Olympic song i have ever heard since. This was also produced by famed music writer and producer Giorgio Moroder. Strong melody, a rallying chorus with great vocals, this is a very well-written song.

Watch the video and listen to the song.

The Living Years ; Remembering Grandma

In 1989, i heard this song called 'The Living Years' by English band Mike & The Mechanics, a side-band project by Genesis member Mike Rutherford. As i was still in primary school, i was perhaps not so proficient in my English language to fully understand the lyrics to this song till i was a few years older. When i did understand it at some point, it was to be one of the most lyrically meaningful song in my life, till now and forever.

This song was a worldwide hit and deservedly so. Written by Rutherford and lead singer B.A Robertson about the loss of their fathers, it explored the theme of the gap and different perspectives between two generations, the lack of communication, non-reconciliation and eventually regret upon the death of a loved one.

Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got

You say you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
You just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defence

In the space of minutes, this song perfectly captures what most of us experience sometime or another in our lives, that we do not take time to appreciate the ones close to us till they are gone. A simple conversation turns into an argument, digging up past hurts and disagreements, strained relationships, bitterness...i myself am guilty of all that so many times over.

Today marks 8 years since my grandma passed away. This song was with me at those moments and it served as a reminder to me from then on, whenever i listen to this, that there were things that i should have done more for her and there were things i should not have done then. She loved the family and all of us, especially me. I remembered the night before she passed on, i held her hand close, she called my name and told me to study and work hard.

Till this day, i have a problem coping with death and loss. And i also believe i will have to witness more along the way as i thread through this life ahead. It is times like this that we could learn to 'say it loud, say it clear' things deep in our hearts to the people closest to us so that we will not regret not saying to them in their living years.

Listen to this song here. Enjoy the MTV and i hope everyone reading my blog will find meaning in the lyrics.

I had a vivid dream about a month after my grandma passed away. I remembered it was very clear and she was standing in front of a very bright tunnel and she said "Leong, i am going away now." I had never dreamt of her since. I also remembered she kept telling me when i was young that after she has left the world, she will not appear to me for fear that i will be afraid.

But i know she is still around, all these times...constantly watching over the family and keeping me safe everyday.

I hope to see her someday and hold her hand again...

Guitar Hero

Slash is one of the most recognisable and accomplished guitarist in modern times. Lead guitarist of Guns & Roses and now with the rock outfit Velvet Revolver. Those trademark dreadlocks, dark shades of him posed with his Gibson Les Paul, with a cigar in mouth sets him apart from other guitarists in terms of style, stage presence and not to mention his great guitar playing.

Any self-discerning rock music fan living through the late 80s and 90s will instantly and quite often reminisce about the opening riff of 'Sweet Child 'O Mine' or the lengthy, amazing two-part guitar solo in the epic 'November Rain', courtesy of Slash's great guitar technique and playing. His excellent control and phrasing just complements the songs perfectly.

Now with Velvet Revolver, Slash's excellent playing continues in the band with 2 of his ex-bandmates from Guns & Roses along with Scott Weiland, the former frontman of Stone Temple Pilots. Though i discovered the band quite late but nevertheless i am enjoying some good rock music in this band currently. Scott Weiland's strong dynamic vocals and Slash's guitar parts really stands out as i listen more and more to them. It is really Guns & Roses Mark II for me. Check out 'Get Out The Door', 'The Last Fight' and 'Messages'.

Interestingly, Slash is also featured in Guitar Hero III, the very popular guitar role-playing game garnering fans across the globe now. No sooner can every young kid, adult or elderly live out their inner rock dreams to this game. I am still waiting to lay my hands on one. Watch this nice interview from Slash himself talking about this game.

My love for music has spilled over to my toy-collecting hobby. One of my main interest is collecting music figurines and i must say, i am quite proud to be the owner of every single music figurine ever released in the world and counting. Mcfarlane Toys released this figure of Slash in 2005 and it is by far the best music figure ever released. That signature pose says just about everything that a rock star should aspire to be.


















"I've taken myself to the edges of life my way. And I'm still here."
- Slash

Quiet is Beautiful

REM is one of the biggest rock bands in the world, hailing from New Orleans, USA. While i may not be a very big fan of the band except for their singles, their album 'Automatic For The People' released in the early 1990s can be considered one of my favourite albums of all time and to many REM fans in the world, the strongest album they have ever made.

This album is very quiet, most songs starts off with guitarist Peter Buck's acoustic strums. Vocalist Michael Stipe probably wrote his best lyrics in this album. Sensitive and with meaning, this album scored several hits and the whole album sounds very coherent, bordering on themes such as mortality, death, hurt and ultimately ending off with a hopeful note.

The song 'Drive' starts off the album with a dark tone. The looping acoustic guitar line gave the song a sombre feel till Peter Buck lets loose a few crunches of the electric guitar towards the end, to a great effect. A great opening for this classic album.

'Everybody Hurts' and 'Man On The Moon' were huge singles. The first is a sweet comforting lullaby while the latter boast one of the best singles from the band with a catchy singalong chorus to boot.




One particular track stands out at the end of the album called 'Nightswimming.' A very bare track with a single repetitive piano line, lush strings and Stipe's emotive vocals and lyrics. Till this day, i may not have fully grasp the meaning of this song but i guess it is about hope. Some things are so beautiful it is better left unsaid and unexplained. Download this track here.

I was on a trip to northwestern India to the desert plains in Rajasthan last November. There were long journeys on buses and i was just taking in the beautiful simplistic sights for hours on end. The land stretches to the far end of the horizon with clear blue skies above. I was constantly listening to this REM album and many a times when 'Nightswimming' came on, i found my eyes well up and tears came streaming down my face as i think of my family back home, and of a certain someone...i hope Yuki is doing well and leading a good life now.

"Everybody hurts, sometimes everybody cries...
Everybody hurts sometimes..."

Rock me Amadeus...

Falco was a pop, rock and hip hop rapper and music artiste hailing from Austria. His songs were mostly in German mixed with English lyrics. I was barely 7 years when my brother will blast his tracks non-stop, in particular these two epic tracks :

1) Rock Me Amadeus

This stunning track rocked my world as a young kid and over 20 years on, it still rock my senses like no other song can. Recorded in German laced with english verses and about the classic composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this was a very successful single that top the charts in UK, USA and most parts of Europe in 1986. Absolutely singalong, though i don't understand a single word of German but each time when the chorus hits, it just brings me home. With a brilliant MTV featuring the charismatic and flamboyant Falco in different shades of dressing-up as Mozart, it is just a joy to watch. Larger than life, this is music and showmanship as its absolute best.

2) Jeanny

This second major hit by Falco is a very fine ballad. Featuring spoken lyrics in German, Falco's voice breaks out emotionally with stunning choruses sung in English. 3/4 way into the song, a newscaster spoken speech with a police siren adds an intelligent touch to a perfect song. This single was controversial at its point of release as it was said to be written from the point of a rapist or murderer. Because i don't understand German, i have always interpreted this song as a guy mourning over a lost love or death. The beauty of music is such you don't need to know a single word in a song and yet it touches a chord in your heart. It is about that connectedness between you and the song. The MTV is also brilliant and classy.

Falco had other hits such as 'Vienna Calling' and 'Der Kommissar'. Tragically, he died in a car accident in 1998 at the age of 40 and was due for a music comeback.

If i am only given a limited choice of songs to bring me to the after-life, these two songs will undoubtedly be in my list. In any case, they are already deeply entrenched in my heart.

'Jeanny, quit living on dreams
Jeanny, life is not what it seems
Such a lonely little girl in a cold cold world
There's someone who needs you...'

R.I.P Falco

Blind But He Sees Everything...

I discovered The Jeff Healey Band somewhere in the mid 90s while i was attending college. At first look at their album cover "See The Light", nothing seems special except for a band pose. Look closer and you see the frontman (Jeff Healey himself) holding his guitar on his lap. Me and my music peers then later discovered he was actually blind and had his eyes removed due to cancer while he was only eight months old. Against all odds, he found his unique way of playing the guitar on his lap and developing his own guitar techniques. It was said that because he could use all his fingers on the fretboard, that way he could use his thumb to reach notes beyond that of normal guitarists. Take a look at one of his live performance here... simply remarkable and nothing short of respect.

I first heard Jeff Healey Band's 'Angel Eyes' and a solid cover version of The Beatles 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' before tracing back the band's catalogue. Jeff Healey's raw voice along with a bluesy touch and skill on on the guitar makes for a great listen.

Check out these tracks too - 'Lost In Your Eyes', 'I Need To Be Loved', 'I Tried' and another great remake of The Beatles 'Yer Blues'.

I only discovered in the week before while surfing through the internet that Jeff Healey had passed away in March this year, due to a recurrence of the cancer. He was only 41. Blind he may be all his life but i believe he sees only a world of good and beauty through the eyes of music. Maybe it is a blessing too he did not get to see all the ugly side of the world we lived in, the wars, killing, terrorism and all that shit going around these days.

At times, we only need to look at inspirational stories like these to get us through any difficult times. I do believe that a fervent love for music, perseverance and a spirit of not giving in and giving up propelled Jeff Healey to such musical excellence. We should all embrace such spirit likewise too...

The Batdance...

This summer, the world waits in anticipation for the release of the movie THE DARK KNIGHT. This second prequel to the Batman movies before traces further back in time to the origins of Batman and more importantly, this film introduce his eternal nemesis The Joker, played by Heath Ledger who died untimely after acting in this dark role.

When i first gotten news of this movie, it did not take me long before my memories flew back to 1989, the year when the first major Batman movie hits the big screen, starring Michael Keaton as The Batman and veteran actor Jack Nicholson as The Joker. I was just 12 years old and i saved enough to buy the cassette soundtrack of this movie. On first look, all the songs were done by Prince, whom i have already heard and loved his songs by then, such as 'When Doves Cry' and 'Purple Rain', which sound as fresh and timeless today as when i first heard them so many years ago. Prince wrote, composed and produced all the songs on this soundtrack, just as all his music releases. Here was such a versatile musician and encompassing many musical styles who could play virtually every musical instrument.

'Batdance' was the leading single from this soundtrack which shot to #1 on the music charts. It starts off with a chilling laughter from The Joker before the energetic drums kicked in. Interlaced with dialogue from the main characters in the movie, this rollercoaster ride of a song impressed with pop, rock, funk, heavy metal all thrown in and changes pace so intelligently. In a word, this unique song is just as "insane" as the Joker himself, in a good sense though. Thinking back, i just marveled at how fatefully this soundtrack was given to a creative, adventurous and playful music mind as Prince to write and produce. If it had landed in another musician's hands, the result will undoubtedly be very different...in fact, it will fail miserably i think. Watch the MTV.

Check out these two other tracks from the soundtrack 'Partyman' and a beautiful Prince duet with Sheena Easton called 'The Arms of Orion'.

Watch the movie trailer here.

I am waiting with great anticipation for this new Batman film not because of the hero Batman. i am never one who goes for the good guys. The villains and bad guys appeals more to me. Also, this movie is going to trace the origins of one of my favourite villain The Joker. Heath Ledger's death soon after this role made it all even more poignant. The Joker appeals to me not just on the cinematic level but on a personal level as well. That madness, insanity, dark persona and shrill laughter is a reflection of me in many sense.