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