#9 Dream

John Lennon carved out a strong solo career albeit a short one after the Beatles broke up in 1969, producing classics such as 'Imagine'. He was murdered outside his New York home in 1980.

#9 Dream is a song written by John Lennon from his 1974 album 'Walls and Bridges'. The strange refrain in the song 'Ah! böwakawa poussé, poussé' came from a dream he had and from there, he worked his way around the song, thus explaining the dreamlike and atmospheric feel of the tune. I discovered this interesting record sleeve above from the internet which must be a japanese single cover for the song.

I experienced two vivid dreams this week.

I dreamt of someone whom i had not seen for a long time and it just feels so real, that familiar face and the setting. i pondered often if i will ever see her again and it is just ironic that i can somehow meet her in my dreams once in a long while, i just smiled and thinking perhaps, that is really good enough.

I met my Uncle (who just passed away in February) in a dream, having a conversation with him over the recent football matches and can only recall him saying 'ok sure i will catch the highlights of the match'. Perhaps he has something to catch up in the afterlife and thus missed watching it.

My dreams are mostly undefinable with 'twisted plots' and i can't understand most of them, even so most will just evaporate off my mind the moment i wake up. I remembered a time last year when i was having a terrifying bout of nightmares in which i recalled someone (or something) constantly chasing me and i was kind of 'battling' and fighting him almost nightly. Interesting.

I read in an article a long time ago which gives a possible insight into the mystery of dreams, that if a human does not have dreams, the person will go insane. Dreams is possibly a way for the human brain which, in the awakening state, been subjected to all kinds of thought-processing and different emotional states, to release the tension that it constantly builds up. I think it is akin to squeezing a sponge to get rid of all the soap and water in it.

Life is a constant struggle and dreams is a mystery. These two are perhaps intertwined but we may not completely understand it till the day we die.

The Resurrection (The Story Of Lazarus)

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. When Martha discovered that Jesus was on his way, she went out to meet him. "Lord," she said, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
- John 11:1-45

The Bible contains many interesting stories which even a non-believer could read and study about them. Jesus performed many miracles in the New Testament but the most intriguing and fascinating to me must be the scene when He raises Lazarus from the dead. This pivotal event is a precursor to His own impending death and resurrection.

I was playing in a rock band named 'Overture' in the late 1990s. We wrote our own songs and even produced a demo on cassette. i wrote the lyrics to the songs which we then jam and added music to make them complete. Thinking back, the source of inspiration for the lyrics i wrote could be found in the things i read or experience around me.

It was in early 1999 that our band wrote possibly the best and last song before we disbanded. It was the year before the new millenium and there were a lot of talk about 'the second coming' and all that cryptic soothsayer and doomsday messages passing around the whole year. I was deeply affected by it and around that time, our guitarist Lionel had just completed a catchy guitar riff and tune which he played and recorded on a tape and pass it to me, in the hope that i could pen lyrics around it. On first listen, it seems to fit in to what i felt about the whole talk about 'the second coming' and very soon, i just sat in my living room and pen the entire words to it. The lyrics came easily to me and it was quickly penned down in less than five minutes.

The Resurrection (Overture)

Don't you think the sky is telling a story
One that makes you cry, one that makes you happy
We waited a thousand years just for today
The day you will be judged and i pray it's ok

Stop telling lies 'cos they tell none
Go on tell your friends the One's coming
Close your eyes, shut the doors
Brace yourself for The Resurrection

In the dead of the night and you woke up
You're drenched in cold sweat and your heart's pounding fast
Ask your heart what have you done lately?
Or have your sins caught up but you're blinded completely

Stop telling lies 'cos they tell none
Go on tell your friends the One's coming
Close your eyes, shut the doors
Brace yourself for The Resurrection

And when everything's gone
Will we still be here?
To live the human spirit that we hold so dear
Times when you feel lost and running out of time
Rest assured Love will keep us alive


The tone of the song spoke strongly of the coming of Christ though i had not intended the lyrics to sound that way when i wrote it. I sometimes wondered eerily how the lyrics could somehow take a shape of its own as i wrote it. Though the song sounded dark both musically and lyrically in many sense, i am glad that it ended in a positive tone with that line 'Rest assured Love will keep us alive'

I was again listening to this song frequently in the past week and with a pinch of nostalgia, it sort of coincide with Good Friday which i thought i may just gel the two events together and come out with this latest post on the blog. I am also sharing with work colleagues often about how in the lives we lead, we constantly 'die' (in the spiritual sense) everyday from the frustrations and difficulties we face in our daily lives, in our work, relationships and in all facets of human problems but are 'reborn' the very next day to face the challenges again. At least that is how i am feeling each day at the moment. But i also believe that it is how we re-emerge stronger or are 'reborn' from life's obstacles that matters, in the same way that Jesus does the impossible by raising Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again."

- John 11:1-45

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band from the mid 60s. Fronted by the enigmatic Lou Reed, this band was influential on many rock bands since.

They released their debut album which features a picture of a banana on their album sleeve. This great album spawned many great songs and in particular, two of my favourites from the band 'Femme Fatale' and 'Sunday Morning' in which Nico, a German singer guested on the vocals to great effect. Her haunting, warm and deep resonant vocals was both startling and memorable ever since i started listening to them.

John Cale, the band's guitarist played out a brilliant viola section through 'Sunday Morning', adding a very atmospheric mood to the christmasy jingles that littered all over the song. Listen for yourself.

Listen to 'Femme Fatale' here.

'You're written in her book,
You're number thirty-seven have a look...'

- Femme Fatale

Pump Up The Jam

I am not exactly a big fan of dance music but in my growing up years, there had been a few dance tracks that had stuck with me till now. Technotronic's 1989 dance hit Pump Up The Jam remains at the top of my list. 20 years on, it still sounds fresh and infectious as ever.

Turn up the volume, groove along to the strong beat and set your heart and feet a-tapping to this great great track.

Beds Are Burning

Midnight Oil is an Australian rock band. In 1987, they released the single "Beds Are Burning". I chanced upon this song back then and it has never left my head since. This powerful song has political overtones which talks about oppression. Below is an extract taken from wikipedia about the origins of the song :

"Beds Are Burning" is a political song about giving native Australian lands back to the Pintupi, who were among the very last people to come in from the desert. These 'last contact' people began moving from the Gibson Desert to settlements and missions in the 1930s. More were forcibly moved during the 1950s and 1960's to the Papunya settlement. In 1981 they left to return to their own country and established the Kintore community which is nestled in the picturesque Kintore Ranges, surrounded by Mulga and Spinifex country. It is now a thriving little community with a population of about 400.

Midnight Oil performed the song in front of a world audience of billions (including then Prime Minister John Howard) at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The whole band were dressed in black, with the words "sorry" printed conspicuously on their clothes. This was a reference to the Prime Minister's refusal to apologize, on behalf of the government of Australia, to the Aboriginal Australians for the way they have been treated over the previous 200 years, particularly in relation to native title and the government-sanctioned removal of Aboriginal children of the Stolen Generations from their families.

On a personal level, i always relate this song to certain periods of my life where obstacles and difficulties need to be overcome. Listening to this tune always encourages me to push and soldier on no matter what.

This music blog turns ONE YEAR OLD today. Many thanks to everyone who reads this blog and enjoys the music within.

'How can we dance when our earth is turning,
How do we sleep while our beds are burning' - Beds Are Burning

When I'm With You

This power ballad by Canadian Band Sheriff has been on my playlist for the past few weeks. Originally released in 1983 and then re-released in 1989, it reached #1 in the US charts. I remembered hearing it on the radio on the music chart show and liking it instantly. This is just such a sentimental and emotionally-charged song with very powerful vocals.

Interestingly, Freddy Curci, the lead singer's amazing high vocal at the end of the song is being listed in the Guiness Book of Records for holding the longest note in a song. It just feels like heaven whenever he hits the end of the song with that angelic vocal that seems to go on for eternity. Take a listen here.

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"