Goodbye 2009 ; Time For Change

Motley Crue is an American hard-rock band. They were part of the late 80s surge of long-haired metal bands emerging, belting out songs telling of wild nights out, teen anger, drugs with one or two slow ballads tucked inside every album which were usually gems. It was in 1989, with every penny saved from my pocket money, i was able to purchase cassette tapes on my own, starting with this music genre. Since then, i am very much a metal head. I remembered this album fondly as it was one of the first albums i had bought, containing the head-banging fast adrenaline title track 'Dr Feelgood' which is actually a reference for drugs, 'Without You' a forlorn song about falling in love.

'Time For Change' is the last song on this album and it is the reason for my writing this last blog post to end the year and also this decade. It was not a single but the moment i heard this intimate song as a 12-year old then, the lyrics and tune just spoke volumes to me. This song has accompanied me right to my adulthood, and listening to it each time still gives me the chills and highs. It is just such a powerful track to me about facing changes in life and that 'nothing stays the same'.

Time For Change

I Heard Some Kids Telling Me
How They've Lost All The Faith In The Way
They've Been Talking World Peace
And The Wars In The Streets

The Lines On Their Faces So Deep
A Revolution, Or Reach Out
And Touch The Day
We're Overdue Child

Change
Now It's Time For Change
Nothing Stays The Same
Now It's Time For Change

I Feel The Future In The Hands
Of Our Youth Will Be Safe
No More Lies
Old, Tired Fools Tell Our Future
With Tarot Cards, And Lie Of Crime

The Lines On Their Faces So Deep
A Revolution, Or Reach Out
And Touch The Day
We're Overdue Child

Change
Now It's Time For Change
Nothing Stays The Same
Now It's Time For Change

I'll Change
I'll Change
Not Tomorrow But Today

Change
Now It's Time For Change
Nothing Stays The Same
Now It's Time For Change

For all the good and bad, laughter and tears, heartbreaks and happiness, baggages and regrets for the past year and the years gone by, it is time to throw them out the window and tear down the walls, as the dawn of a new decade beckons.

Welcome 2010

Do They Know It's Christmas?

'Do They Know It's Christmas?" was a Christmas hit single which peaked at #1 in the UK charts in 1984. It was recorded by Band Aid, which made up of UK musicians and groups such as Duran Duran, Bananarama, Paul Young, Boy George and featuring Phil Collins on drums. They came together to produce this record with proceeds which went on to benefit the people suffering from famine in Ethiopia, Africa. Not a christmas goes by without me listening to this song at this time of the year.

Wishing all my readers a Merry X'mas.

'It's christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade'

- Do They Know It's Christmas

Before I Forget

Slipknot is an American metal rock band or known as 'nu-metal', a term coined for 'new metal' actually. i have heard of them some years ago but it was not until in early 2008 when i actually took notice of them when i heard their single 'Before I Forget'. A fast-paced song with brutal crunching guitars, i remembered listening and head-banging to this song many times and mimicking the excellent double-pedal drumming by their drummer Joey Jordison. I still do when i revisit the song from time to time.

Slipknot is made up of 9 members, with each wearing a distinct mask which they don it everywhere they go and on and off stage, thus maintaining a mysterious sense of obscurity but which gave this band such a unique identity.

The MTV of 'Before I Forget' is one of the best i have seen in modern music videos. Excellently shot with the members off their masks but with the cameras shooting them such that their full faces are never shown throughout, thus keeping true to the band's running theme of anonymity. This video won them a Grammy award in 2007 for 'Best Metal Performance'

I am a world before
I am a man
I was a creature before
I could stand
I will remember
before I forget
Before I Forget.

- Before I Forget

Tears In Heaven

I was compiling a CD of 'classic rock' MP3 songs for listening during my car drive. This gentle ballad 'Tears In Heaven' by Eric Clapton was in my list and i was just playing it on repeat mode over and over again, enjoying it. I heard of the story behind the song before -

"Tears in Heaven" is a ballad written by Eric Clapton about the pain Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor, who fell from a window of the 53rd-floor New York apartment of his mother's friend, on March 20, 1991. Clapton, who arrived at the apartment shortly after the accident, was visibly distraught for months afterwards.

This ballad written about and for his son by Clapton went on to be one of his most successful hit single which he went on to perform it on his famous 'unplugged' concerts. I am not a big fan of his music but i really admire his strength and solitude in writing such a powerful tune and performing it to millions on stage. That such tragedy could evoke such strong emotions which gave birth to a song that touches almost everyone who hears it.

Would you know my name
if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven...

Would you hold my hand
if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven...

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please...begging please

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven...

Would you know my name
if I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same
if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven...

Christine; Behind The Wheel

I am catching up on my reading again now that i have much time on my hands. When i gotten my car in October, my mind instinctively turned to one novel i had in mind and one that i have not read yet - Christine - by Stephen King. Reason was simple, i just got a car and what not better than to read a horror story about a car, and the end result was a most satisfying and thought-provoking read.

Christine revolves around the story of a few teenagers, most notably the story's protagonist Arnie Cunningham who chanced upon a run-down and unused old car, named Christine whom he loved at first sight and bought it from it's previous owner, unknowing of its horrifying history in which the owner's daughter choked on food in the car and which his bereaved wife later commited suicide inside it as well. Throughout all these, he had loved the car deeply, close to an obsession before he sold it to Arnie. It seems this obsession took over Arnie. Friends, enemies and his own family and his girlfriend soon learned what it was like to cross Christine as Arnie somewhat demeanor character got possessed by the cursed car. The story was suspenseful and finally descends into horror as people around Arnie soon experienced.

There is a strong moral behind the story of how the things people love can reach to the point of obsession and in some sense 'possess' its owner to become oblivious and in some cases, violent to his surroundings and people around him. This is something Stephen King is so good at as he brings out all facets of human behaviours and their fears in his writing.

It was a nice but eerie feeling that i experienced when i finished reading the novel. There were uncanny parallels between what i read and what i am experiencing now. Christine was red and so is Abbey my car. i am experiencing what Arnie went through - the unerring love for the car - as i have been spending much time tending and washing my car. I got flustered and angry when i noticed little blemishes on the car and i recently flew into a rage at someone who crossed onto Abbey my car.

There are a lot of songs written about cars. There are just too many but i have picked one here which i have driven along to these days. 'Behind The Wheel' was a hit single by Depeche Mode in 1987. The pounding 'engine' beats and simplistic but mysterious lyrics makes for a good listen while driving.

In my own diseased imagination, i wished Abbey can do what Christine does in the story - to heal itself from any knocks, dents, dings to herself and to do back any harm to anyone or anything that crosses her. But Abbey has been a nice quiet girl so far and i am enjoying every moment with her.

Just do not cross her in anyway, and her owner as well...


'Sweet Little Girl
I prefer you Behind The Wheel
And me the passenger
Drive
I'm yours to keep
Do what you want
I'm going cheap
Tonight'

- Behind The Wheel

Elton John

Elton John is one of the most successful solo musicians in modern times. A virtuoso pianist, his songs are well written and the hit singles are unforgettable from the times when i heard them as a child. Some of my favourites are Nikita, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Daniel, Sad Songs Say So Much, Sacrifice, Healing Hands, The One, The Club At The End Of The Street and Empty Garden.

Sacrifice must go down as one of the best ballads i have ever heard. Meaningful and soothing, a classic song no less.

Empty Garden is a song written for John Lennon at the time when he was murdered. A poignant song that evokes so much emotion whenever i hear it.

Abbey my car turns one month old today and i have been listening to a lot of Elton John while driving since. The songs makes for a great listen driving through the streets in the quiet morning to work and cruising through the highways under the street lights at night.

I am having the time of my life.

'And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate world' - Sacrifice

Sit Down

'James' is a UK indie band from the 90s. 'Sit Down' was a famous hit song from them in the early 90s with its catchy tune and thoughtful lyrics. I think the lyrics is written from the pespective of a handicapped or destitute person, or perhaps from someone who simply needs a friend or company to talk to.

'Sit Down next to me
in love, in fear, in hate, in tears' - Sit Down

A New Flame ; Simply Red

Simply Red is an acclaimed English band known for their adult-oriented pop tunes and ballads, most notably from the 80s and 90s such as 'Holding Back the Years', 'Stars', 'Something Got me Started', 'For Your Babies' and one of the best cover version in 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'

'A New Flame' was a single from 1989 from the album of the same name. It's staccato beat and sensual vocals from lead singer Mick Hucknall is impeccably neat and close to a perfect tune.

Today is a day to remember for the arrival of my first car.
I have named her 'Abbey'.
She is my new flame and yes,
she is simply red

'She's turned me around
A New Flame has come
and nothing she can do can do me wrong' - A New Flame

Perfect Day

'Perfect Day' is a ballad written by Lou Reed in 1972. It was popularized again in 1997 when it was re-recorded by Lou Reed and other British musicians and released along with a music video as part of a promotion by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

Hear the original version here.

The lyrics speaks about romance and telling someone how much it means to him just by being with her.

'Oh it's such a perfect day
I'm glad i spent it with you' - Perfect Day

This is exactly how i felt on this day.

Fast Car

'Fast Car' was a Grammy award winning song in 1988 by American singer Tracy Chapman. A meaningful song with a simple and affectionate tune sung with sincerity.

Singapore hosted its second Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend. And yes, i was there to savor every engine howl, screech and excitement in its entirety.


'I remember when we were driving
Driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone'

- Fast Car

19

'19' was a big hit that top the charts all over Europe in 1985. This part dance, part socio-war commentary song on the Vietnam War was written by Paul Hardcastle. It features sample dialogue and news report about the Vietnam War. Unique and written ahead of its time, this song will never date.

'In World War II, the average age of the combat soldier was 26,
In Vietnam he was 19'

- 19

Cry

Godley & Creme was a British duo and this 1985 single 'Cry' was a memorable song from them. It is emotive and full of feelings, even listening to it often more than 20 years after it's release.

Check out its strange but innovative music video featuring faces of people morphing in and out from start to finish. Amazing.

'you don't even know how to say goodbye,
you make me wanna cry'

- Cry

Zihuatanejo ; A place with no memory

I wrote about the film Shawshank Redemption late last year and how it has a profound impact on me and to many who had watched it. In one of the most powerful scenes in the movie, Andy Dufresne talked to Red about 'a warm place in the Pacific' called Zihuatanejo. Tim Robbins who acted as Andy later expressed his thoughts in an interview :

' In the end, it's a film about people being in jail and having hope to get out of that jail. Now, why is that universal? Not everybody has been in jail. But maybe on a deeper level, a metaphysical level, people feel enslaved by their environments, their jobs, their relationships, by whatever it is in the course of their lives that puts the wall or the bars around them. And the idea that you can survive many, many years in this kind of enslavement, or prison of your own making, and that there's a Zihuatanejo somewhere in your future - i think that's something that really is important to people ; the idea that Zihuatanejo can exist for all of us. '

It was much later that i found out that Zihuatanejo is actually a real place in Mexico. In the movie, Andy described it as 'a place with no memory' and one where he wants to live the rest of his life, if he ever gets out of prison. This scene has a strong impact on me and one that has been constantly replaying in my mind for some time. I had just received news yesterday of my posting out to a new place of work from next year onwards. After five years in the current place, this was something i had been looking forward to for a long while and during this whole period, i had really wondered if i can ever get out of this place where i struggle constantly and daily to find meaning in my work. This blog post was conceived in my head a long time ago but i have really thought if this will ever materialize here and finally, it has now become a reality.

This will be my last few months in the place and i am looking forward to begin a new life in a new place in the new year and when that day comes, i will leave behind all memories of the place before except for some, of the wonderful people i had known and worked together. I am beginning to understand this is how life should be, to discard the bad and unwanted but to keep the little ones that's good.

'Suds On The Roof' is an uplifting short instrumental found in the soundtrack to this movie.

'A warm place with no memory,
that's where i want to live out the rest of my life...'

- Andy Dufresne

Ghostbusters

1984 was a very good year for music. i was just attending school at primary one then. my memories of those times may be blurry now except for the music - hits after hits that were being churned out during that year and much of the 1980s.

One of the most unforgettable singles to emerge that year was 'Ghostbusters' by Ray Parker Jr. from the movie of the same name, with an innovative MTV to complement it. Fun, wacky and witty, this is music at it's most earnest and pop at it's best which makes the 80s such a fun era to be growing up in.


If there's something strange in your neighbourhood
Who ya gonna call?
Ghostbusters!

i ain't afraid of no ghost...

- Ghostbusters

Nirvana ; In Utero

Nirvana lead the grunge movement in the early 90s. The three-piece band was made up of Kurt Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl. In the space of just three years and two highly acclaimed albums - Nevermind (1991) and In Utero (1993), they attained legendary status before the untimely death of frontman Kurt Cobain.

Their album 'Nevermind' first propelled them to worldwide popularity due in part to the single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' which is considered to be one of the all-time best rock single. To me, it was their next and final album 'In Utero' which captured my attention and my heart. It remains a staple listen all these years since i heard it during my college days.

'In Utero' was banned in this country (it was a silly act) due to a controversial track called 'Rape Me'. It has got nothing to do with rape but is only used metaphorically to describe the media attention and scrutinizing on Cobain's personal life, which he described lyrically as akin to 'being raped'. It is one of Nirvana's best tracks and one of the highlights in the album. It is also one of my personal favourites. The rest of the album is a non-stop barrage of heavy guitars, wailing and powerful drumming set against a backdrop of melodic guitar riffs. It is an in-depth listen into Kurt Cobain's musical genius and also his tortured and troubled soul within. 'Dumb', the only quieter but an almost perfect beautiful song. Dave Grohl's impressive drumming on this album inspired me to take up drumming during my final year in college. Luckily enough, i remembered stepping into a CD shop that time and chanced upon this album (i wonder how it managed to sneak through those censors) and bought it on the spot without hesitation. Check out 'Scentless Apprentice', 'Very Ape', 'Tourette's', 'Milk It', 'All Apologies' and 'Pennyroyal Tea'.

Soon after the release of this album, Kurt Cobain committed suicide by putting a gun to his head, but not before he left the world with one of the best rock albums ever.

Today marks 9 years since grandma's passing away.

'I think i'm dumb
maybe just happy' - Dumb

Michael Jackson (The King Of Pop...forever)

Michael Jackson passed away today at the age of 50.

My earliest memory of music was listening to Michael Jackson's songs as a child. Songs such as Beat It, Billie Jean, Thriller, Ben, Bad, Man In The Mirror, Liberian Girl, Leave Me Alone, Dirty Diana, Black Or White, She's Out Of My Life and Smooth Criminal have accompanied me to my adulthood till this day and forever.

He also co-wrote probably the most well known charity single 'We Are The World' in 1985 performed by USA for Africa, a collection of music artistes from USA.

His collaborations with fellow musicians produced massive singles such as 'Somebody's Watching Me' (with Rockwell) and 'Say Say Say' (with Paul McCartney).

I could never ever forget 'Smooth Criminal' and it's outstanding video that showcased the King Of Pop himself at his best, along with his dazzling moonwalk.

In 'Black Or White', Michael Jackson sought to break down racial prejudice within the space of a song with its refrain 'it don't matter if you're black or white'.

For all his success and memorable music, Michael Jackson has been on the wrong side of the news ever since the mid 1990s, often criticized for his incessant spending, eccentricity and finally over the mill - accusations of child molestation in which he was finally acquitted in 2005. But he has never been the same since and seems worn out in recent years. He is just human like everyone else, for even the mistakes if he has made any. For me personally, i will rather (and had always) remember the man who gave the world the best music in modern times and for his generous heart in helping the world in his humanitarian works.

As soon as i heard the news this afternoon, i set out to write this on the blog, in loving memory of the most gifted and iconic entertainer of our times. I had planned to write about him and his music sometime ago and it is just sad that i had to write in this context of his passing away instead. As i pen off now listening to 'We Are The World', i can feel my eyes welling up with tears as Michael's gentle voice seeps into the first chorus.

You may be out of our lives now but not in our hearts.

I used to say 'I' and 'Me'
Now it's 'Us', now it's 'We'

- Ben

'We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving'

- We Are The World

Shake The Disease

'Shake The Disease' was a hit single for electro-pop band Depeche Mode way back in 1985. The haunting and infectious melody ensured this was one of the best and memorable songs within the band's vast catalogue for many of their fans.

Depeche Mode is such an important band to me. I will do a full write-up on the band sometime soon.

I like songs that capture the mood of the times we are living in. This song is most apt for what the world is experiencing now with a certain mysterious virus spreading around the globe and infecting human beings.

'Here is a plea from my heart to you
Nobody knows me as well as you do
You know how hard it is for me to shake the disease
That takes hold of my tongue in situations like these'

- Shake The Disease

Everybody's Changing

Keane is a British trio band who debuted their album 'Hopes and Fears' in 2004 to much acclaim and success. Their unconventional brand of music using vocals, drums and piano as the leading
instrument in their songs was unique and fresh-sounding. I did hear their subsequent releases but those had made little impression on me. I can only attribute it to the lack of consistent guitar sounds in their music. To me, they will never surpass the brilliance of this debut album and especially the following three tracks which remain my firm favorites.


'Everybody's Changing', the outstanding debut single is their best track for me. An unforgettable piano riff and great vocals makes this a great and fresh listen, even till this day. And what a great music video to accompany this song.



'Somewhere Only We Know' is another sentimental track with its pulsating piano track , coupled with great vocals.






'This Is The Last Time' - a semi-fast song that rides on the success of the first two singles. Shimmering pianos, excellent.







'Everybody's changing and i don't feel the same...'

- Everybody's Changing

Runaway Train

Runaway Train was a 1993 song released by US rock band Soul Asylum. It led the band to international fame and to a Grammy award the following year. This song is so well known since that it is always mentioned in the same breath as the band.

I was listening to my music player and running through the tracks in the '1990s' folder when this song came weaving through my ears and brought back great memories. More than that, it revives memories of it's unforgettable MTV which i felt is too good not to be shared here.

From the onset of the first chorus in the MTV, pictures of missing children in the US are shown which follows with their names and the year they have been missing since. As a result, this music video was very successful in reuniting many of the missing children with their families. Some of these children even saw themselves in the video and returned home. Others were not so fortunate and were found not in the best of conditions. One of the girls in the video was not actually missing but was found murdered and buried in her own backyard by her mother, while in the middle of a bitter custody battle between her parents. Looking at the video, these children must be as old as i am now and i hope that wherever they are now, they are leading good and happy lives.

This song has a lot of heart. That is the way music should be and that is probably why i started this blog in the first place.

'Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
A little out of touch, a little insane
It's just easier than dealing with the pain

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like i should be getting somewhere
Somehow i'm neither here not there'

Sex On Fire ; Kings Of Leon

I have not been keeping in touch with current music and bands so much but when i do discover some from time to time, they are usually so good i think they are heaven-sent to someone whose ears are so attuned to the music of the 80s and 90s. I will be writing about a few good bands i have heard since the turn of the century in my next few posts.

I recently discovered Kings Of Leon and how they blew my mind away on the first hearing. They are an American band with a blend of raw but yet fresh sounding rock anthems. Their latest album Only By the Night released in 2008 elevated them to international acclaim and surely one of the best bands in this planet at the moment and for a long time to come.

'Sex On Fire' was the first song i heard from them and i knew for that instant it was something special. This powerful anthem from their latest album won the band a Grammy award last year and deservedly so. This guitar-driven rock tune really sounds as good as the title suggest. Listen to it here.

'Use Somebody' follows up with another strong single that has the singer talks about looking for someone he likes and how he hopes she will notice him somehow. It is a brilliant song and that sweet simple sounding refrain chorus will surely stuck with me (and anyone who hears it) for a long long while.

Other good tracks from this great album are 'Closer', 'Revelry' and 'Manhattan'

'You, your sex is on fire...' - Sex on Fire

'I hope it's going to make you notice
someone like me...'

- Use Somebody

Get Here

This delicate ballad sung by American soul/jazz black singer Oleta Adams touched a chord in my heart way back in 1991 when i was still a student. It has stayed there ever since.

A quiet piano track but filled with yearning through the singer's emotive vocals, imploring her lover to get back to her wherever he is. I guess this is how everyone feels when we are in a relationship.


'I don't care how you get here just,
get here if you can...'

- Get Here

INXS

INXS (read as 'in-ex-cess') is one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from Australia and has inspired almost every music band that has sprouted from the Land Down Under since.
Fronted by charismatic frontman Michael Hutchence, their music were well-received all over the globe.

The very first song i heard from this band was 'Never Tear Us Apart' sometime in 1988. This heartfelt ballad is also one of their best and most recognizable song. Michael Hutchence's yearning and sincere vocals are at their best here. Listen and watch the MTV here. Enigmatic and with an innate showmanship, he is regarded as one of the best rock music stars. He also has a string of romances with famous celebrities and stars including Australian female star Kylie Minogue. Unfortunately, his glittering life was cut short in 1997 from an apparent suicide.

Some of my other favourites are 'By My Side', 'Suicide Blonde', 'Disappear', 'Beautiful Girl', 'Need You Tonight'








'In the dark of the night
Those small hours
Uncertain and anxious
I need to call you

In the dark of night
By my side
I wish you were
I wish you were...'

- By My Side

And So It Goes...

This quiet hymn-like ballad by Billy Joel mirrors my thoughts at the moment. A simplistic track with just piano and vocals. There is indeed a song to fit every mood and moment.

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

Pet Sematary (Remembering 'Lucky')

I have always been a fan of Stephen King's novels. Some of the best films i have watched are adapted from his stories. Pet Sematary was memorable as it was the first Stephen King novel i read from from start to finish and it will go down as one of his best stories for me and in the author's own opinion - his most scary novel written.

I recalled the time when i finished reading the novel, it left a disturbing and unclean feeling that lingered for a long time and even till now when i revisit the story often with fondness. Beyond the horror was a deeper issue which every human faces and one which the author hits the jugular spot on - dealing with death. My brother once said to me 'everyone must walk that path someday'. In Pet Sematary, the author crosses beyond that path with a disturbing thought - how far would you go to bring back a loved one from the dead? Read the novel and see the trailer for this movie. This film is slated for a 2010 remake release next year on the big screen and i just can't wait really. 'Cemetary' is mispelled as 'Sematary' as this was a place in the story where little children named and buried their pets when they died.

Renowned punk band The Ramones wrote a memorable song of the same name which was used in the film. Listen to it here.

This novel remains very close to my heart with its emotional depth and memorable characters, in particular the protagonist - Louis Creed and his toddler son Gage. The emotional struggles were something me and everyone else could relate to, especially when i still find death somewhat hard to handle. Interestingly, i had recently asked some friends if they would ever try to bring back their loved ones, if ever there was a way to bring them back from the dead, albeit they will return a little less human and stranger than before - the replies were a resounding yes and we agreed unanimously that it is in all human beings that we all long to see our loved ones again even after they are gone. And i also believe it is in all human nature that we are tempted to cross certain boundaries that are perhaps not meant to be crossed at some points in our lives, even to defy death in this instance.

Fred Gwynne who acted as Jud Crandall (Louis Creed's elderly neighbour) mentioned a line in the movie which says 'sometimes dead is better' and commented in an interview :

"Now what he really means by that is when someone dies who is very close to you - let them go, don't try to keep them alive. it's no good for them, its no good for you and its no good for the people around you. and of course that is the mistake that is made in this film, they try to keep their loved ones alive"

I believe there is an element of truth what the actor says but in reality how many of us could actually not keep our loved ones alive in some way or another? During my uncle's recent death, it was just a sight too common. As all of us witness in the gallery as the coffin was pushed into the furnace, i saw his daughters and wife having to be restrained back while wails and cries echoed around sorrowfully. His wife and my grandma are still trying to come to terms with his departure. As all of us live out a finite number of years on this earth, i believe such attachment in our relationships is a natural way of things. Attachment brings with it joy in togetherness and eventual grief when someone close passes away but it is exactly that which makes us inherently human.

I like to think that if ever there was a Pet Sematary that exist somewhere, i will bury all my disappointments in life, failed relationships, missed chances, along with all my loved ones that had passed on and my own heart which i felt was left dead a long time ago, in a hope that they will all come back to me once again...

'Lucky' my family pet dog is fondly remembered in this blog and on this day of his passing 11 years ago. And yes if there is ever a Pet Sematary, i will bury him in and welcome him back into my embrace again, no matter how he turns out to be.

Finally, i can fully understand why Louis Creed says to his dead son in a most poignant and heartbreaking scene,
"Come back to me Gage...come back to us..."

Come back to us Lucky...


'I don't want to be buried in the Pet Sematary
I don't want to live my life again...'

- Pet Sematary (The Ramones)


















Death is a mystery and burial is a secret


'How do i know a good book?

- One in which i first live inside the story and thereafter the story lives inside me forever...

Especially For You

'Especially For You' was a love duet by Australian pop stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Released in November 1988 as a Christmas single, this sweet ballad was a big hit that swept across Europe and around the world. Listen to it here.

Toto

Toto is an American band formed in 1976. Founders David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather were the original members but the lineup had several incarnations especially in the vocals department where you could hear different singers on their songs, depending on which era they were written. The members are also prolific session musicians who played for famous pop stars like Michael Jackson.

Toto songs are well-written and produced. They were either cutting-edge rock songs or emotional ballads with themes of love and relationship. Below are a list of my favourite Toto songs.

My top 'fast' Toto songs

1) Stranger in Town
2) Endless
3) Home of the Brave
4) Stop Loving You
5) '99'
6) Georgy Porgy

My top 'slow' Toto ballads

1) I Will Remember
2) Africa
3) Anna
4) Lea
5) A Secret Love
6) I'll Be Over You
7) Two Hearts

'Africa' is most probably Toto's most successful and well-recognised song, winning the band a Grammy award in 1983. The band disbanded in 2008 after 31 illustrious years in music making.

My favourite track has to be 'I Will Remember'. It sounds poignant and reminds me of a failed romance many years ago. Watch the interesting MTV here.


'Even when love has come and gone
And our hearts have moved along
I will remember
There was a time when we had the trust
and that always was enough
I will remember
I will remember you...'

- I Will Remember