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..."