A Personal Message to Uncle Kiat

My cousins, relatives and i wrote personal messages for Uncle Kiat this afternoon before he departs on his final journey.
This was what i wrote :

Uncle Kiat,

Thanks for all the memories and help
I will remember you fondly
Stay a Liverpool fan always
"You'll Never Walk Alone"

Goodbye Uncle ; You'll Never Walk Alone

My uncle passed away on this day today, after battling illnesses.

For the whole afternoon, i laid on my bed with memories of my uncle fleeting through my mind like a flashback tape. The fondest perhaps was the time when i stayed over at my grandma's place when outrageously, he would take afternoon leave from work just to be back home to play soccer video games with us. Those imageries remain fresh. Life feels the most poignant at moments of loss such as these.

My uncle was a fervent Liverpool fan. i was playing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' repeatedly during evening time and instinctively, the tears just flowed.

'You'll Never Walk Alone'

When you walk through a storm
hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone.

I hope you are in a better place now uncle kiat and you will be remembered and missed always. I am sure i will think of you on every soccer match day from now onwards. Wherever you are, You'll Never Walk Alone.

Whitney

Whitney Houston is one of my favourite female singers. i grew up with her songs and ballads since my primary school days in the 80s and i still listen to them fondly. Blessed with a rich voice, her voice resonates with emotions every time. The 1987 album entitled 'Whitney' was her most successful album which produces four #1 singles.

Some of my favourite tracks includes 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', 'Didn't We Almost Have It All', 'All The Man That I Need', 'Miracle', 'One Moment In Time' and 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'


'And if somebody loves you, won't they always love you?
I look in your eyes and i know that you still care for me...'

- Where Do Broken Hearts Go

Cha Cha Heels

80s dance group Bronski Beat collaborated with Eartha Kitt on this 1989 dance hit 'Cha Cha Heels'. Collaborations between music artistes is a norm but i believe it takes an enigmatic singer and voice to bring the song to a next higher level.



Though i may not know much about Eartha Kitt other than her origins as a 1950s singer, when i first heard her voice on this track, i knew it gave the song a special touch. That slick sensual voice and characteristic growls really added a different dimension to the song. Take a listen to it and download a copy here.

Eartha Kitt died at the age of 81 on Christmas Day in 2008 last year.

' So don't you mess around with me you won't know what to do
Cause I'll put on my cha cha heels and walk all over you '

Looking For Linda

My brother drops by my house probably twice a month nowadays and not as often as he used to do. His constant habit is to sit in front of my computer, logged onto YouTube website and keyed in titles of music videos, mostly of the 80s. I am not complaining but am actually grateful, for at certain times i will be awed to find that long lost forgotten hit, courtesy of my brother's more equipped knowledge of 80s music than me.

So it was in december last year that he came by and played 'Looking For Linda' by 80s band Hue & Cry. Instantly, that catchy chorus hit me the moment it started. It must have been a good 14 or so years back since i last heard it. Cool song, excellent...

Watch the MTV here and enjoy the song.

YouTube is one of the best inventions on the internet for me personally. i recall the days in the early 1990s when i was a student staying up late nights to catch the latest MTV music videos and taping them using a VCR. Those days are long gone and obsolete. At a stroke of a finger and a few words, we could watch watch mostly any music videos, past and present instantly on YouTube. i have since moved on beyond music videos and watched countless documentaries, history channels and education films on various interest on YouTube and allowing me to know and understand the world more intimately. It has deepened my thoughts and enrich my mind for the better.

'Never Stop Looking for Linda...'

I am still looking for mine...

Ozzy the Ironman

I have always been a fan of Ozzy Osbourne. That sinister deep nasal, almost devilish voice gave his songs that extra edge that makes them unforgettable. I first discovered him in the late 80s on the duet ballad with Lita Ford called 'Close My Eyes Forever'. Since then, i have backtracked his catalogue to discover many great tracks, some of my favs such as 'Crazy Train', 'Goodbye To Romance', 'So Tired', 'Road To Nowhere' and 'See You On The Other Side'

Ozzy Osbourne first made his mark with pioneer heavy metal band Black Sabbath in the 1970s before he went solo. One could witness his extraordinary showmanship and stage presence. The original band members of Black Sabbath reunited in 1997 for a concert and released an album of live tracks called 'Reunion.' Check out these tracks played in the concert 'Paranoid', 'Children Of The Grave' and 'Ironman' which was used in the Marvel hit movie of the same name last year in 2008. In a word, it was mind-blowing. Ozzy and his band were in top form, rousing the crowd and spilling out expletives throughout the set.

Ozzy Osbourne has battled drug abuse, alcoholism and all the excesses of rock & roll throughout his life and he is still around today. Beneath that dark persona and insanity, he has a normal family and i believe strongly, a good father as well.

My favourite Ozzy song has got to be 'Dreamer'. Check out an alternative heartwarming MTV of this song here which features him and his family.

Here's to a good 2009 ahead.

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.