brothr2brothr

BANGKOK HANGOVER

2011-07-14T16:15:00.053+08:00

NO THANKS to the movie THE HANGOVER 2 (which was mostly shot in Bangkok) - BANGKOK is portrayed as a sleazy and seedy city, full of Go-Go girls, Lady boys, pimps, drug pushers and mobsters ( even the monkey is not spared) and dirty farang's (Causasians)
However, many tourists would want to go to Bangkok for these reasons.
Here is another perspective how i see Bangkok - a different kind of Hangover for me,

PEACE AND SERENITY

UPSCALE NIGHT LIFE and it does not cost you an arm (or a leg or a monkey)

Not all the glitters are sleaze.
TAWANDANG BREWERY - DANCING AND PRANCING where the locals frequent and let their hair down. Decent food, very decent beer and the music is loud and alive!

HYDE & SEEK - C'EST CHIC - with the best cocktails in the city and not to be missed smoked pork-belly.

BED SUPPER CLUB - TOURISTY - worth a visit but NOT for the real clubheads

HANGOVER HOTELS - RANGES and AFFORDABILITY. No need to stay at sleazy motels with so-called cockroaches running around and frequent power failure as in THE HANGOVER 2.

HANGOVER TRANSPORTATION - CHOICES

HANGOVER SHOPPING - PLENTIFUL

HANGOVER NEWS - SAD (for me)

HANGOVER FOOD - VARIETIES .No, you don't have to eat Tom Yum or Som Tum all the time.

HANGOVER FLIGHT - COMFORT

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY vs SPORTS SPONSORSHIP

2011-07-05T19:22:00.015+08:00

Many companies attempt to embark on Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) by jumping on the bandwagon, probably just to tick their Corporate KPI’s as “Done” without really thinking through the real objective of doing so.

And not surprisingly most would fail as CSR is being mixed up with their intentions of pure commercial returns. That is not to say that CSR should not have commercial values but it has to find the right balance between CSR and Commercialism usually in the form of Sponsorship.

Beside the right balance, the chosen platform has to be relevant to the target stakeholders- the customers, consumers and the receiving beneficiaries of the CSR as well as the right fit to the Company’s Vision / Values and Brand’s Essence /Positioning.
Hence, it is not the easiest equation to fulfil and Marketeers in general would tend to have long debates on the merits of the chosen platform.

GOLF is almost mandatory (though male skewed) type of sponsorship for most companies which desire to drive ASPIRATIONAL VALUES. Many would perceive it as a rich’s man sports and argue how relevant is it to the Average Joe’s – they tend to forget that most Average Joe’s do have dreams and aspirations.
But to balance Golf with the role of a CSR is perhaps not the easiest task. That is when Sincerity has to really play a role to really engage the sponsorship to have real values.

Chang Beverage seems to have the right fit. Not by merely being the Beverage Sponsor (for the 2nd time) at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, Chang Beverage is supporting the development and nurturing of Golf Talents under its “ThaiBev….Thai Talent”. This programme provides training, competition opportunity and financial support for talented Thai youths in various fields to be nurtured to potentially achieve their ultimate goals…..hence “LIVE YOUR DREAM” – the Campaign tagline.

A right balance of the CSR and Sports Sponsorship and driven with aspirational values. But there is a final mix in this Equation which is probably the most important - Execution and Activation to bring it alive. We will wait for Ocober then.

CIMB Asia Pacific Classic 2011 Malaysia is the first PGA Sanctioned Tournament in South East Asia and will be held at The Mines Resort & Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur from 27th to 30th October 2011.
A top class international field of 40 players will compete for a US$6 million prize purse, with US$1m going to the winner.
CHANG BEVERAGE is the Official Beverage Sponsor.

CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE

2010-11-24T18:53:00.003+08:00

Kuala Lumpur

23rd November 2010

As cloudy as my mood

ON THE ROAD

2010-09-25T17:55:00.020+08:00

I listen to music all the time and it is no exception when I am driving.
With the exception of 89.9 (BFM -which is a business station), the playlist of other local radio stations really falls out of my demographics.
Hence I take lots of pleasure in selecting my own CDs or plug my MP3 whenever I drive.
Here, I am attempting to list down the albums (in CD format) that I play most consistently over the years.

On this list, I try to stick to 10 selected albums ( and not mixed MP3 files) that give me most pleasure ON THE ROAD.

1. BACK IN BLACK - AC/DC (1980)
How could one not have a Rock album on the list? It pumps up the adrenalin and makes me nod to the riffs (though air guitar is impossible while driving)
I bought this album (initially on cassette) when I was still in school. I used to blast it off at loud volume!!! (All Rock music should be played LOUD anyway)
From the first track ‘Hells bells’ to the last ‘Rock N Roll ain’t no pollution’, there is not a single moment to pause or breathe or let-up.

My favourite track is Track No.2 – ‘Shoot to thrill’ which thrilled me to no end when it was featured in IRON MAN 2, after 30 years of its original release and still sounded so relevant.
So IRONIC too as my friend told me he heard this used in a porn film!!!

2. RUMOURS - FLEETWOOD MAC (1977)
Also one of the remnants from my childhood, this album had 4 singles when it was released and it was rare at that time to have that many singles. My favourite track is ‘Dreams’ which I think it is one of the best pop single of all time – Stevie Nicks’s witchy and hypnotic (draggy) vocal over a numbing bass line. I would repeat this track alone like 5 times for short distance drive though I still love the rest of the album including the wailing ‘Gold dust woman’

3. GRAN TURISMO - THE CARDIGANS (1998)
OK, I am biased, this is not even a great album but one particular track ‘My favourite game’ is perhaps one the Best driving song to me. The two notes guitar riffs put me in a trance and flashes of the music video play in my mind so vividly. It shows Nina Persson driving a Cadillac till the car overturned at the end, and not before she threw Felix the Cat out of the car.

4. LIVE AT READINGS - NIRVANA (2009)
Another rock album, this was Nirvana’s legendary live set from 30th August 1992.
Like AC/DC, there is not a single moment I can take a breather – right from ‘Breed’ to ‘School’ (which I would shout along to the chorus of “No recess” till the last track ‘Territorial pissings’

5. OK COMPUTER - RADIOHEAD (1997)
I love Radiohead so much that I have an alter ego called Karma Police (under my Twitter and Facebook account). I have played this album to death, in my bedroom, in my living hall and in the car. I just can’t get enough of ‘Karma Police’, ‘Paranoid Android’ and ‘Exit Music (For A Film)”
Occasionally I would replace ‘Karma’ with ‘Niama’ in ‘Karma Police’ when I am agitated during a traffic jam made worse by traffic police. Never mind if you don’t know what it means.

6. PAUL’S BOUTIQUE - BEASTIE BOYS (1989)
I am not a fan of hip hop but Beastie Boys are really the pioneers with samples, loops and everything but the girl AND without all those nonsensical Bling Bling and MTV
This album always makes me feel youthful again and has to be played LOUD and shout along

7. PERMANENT - JOY DIVISON (1995)
This is a compilation of tracks from their ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and ‘Closer’ studio albums.
Ian Curtis’s vocal was haunting and detached (he committed suicide after the 2 albums) over its dark, sparse yet urgent electronic sounds and Bernard Sumner’s guitar. Three tracks that I keep on repeat mode are ‘She’s lost control’, ‘Transmission’ and of course ‘Love will tear us apart’

8. HOTTER THAN JULY - STEVIE WONDER (1980)
This is my favourite Stevie Wonder’s album (though ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ comes close).
Well, not every CDs I put in my car player are loud and banging. At times, I slip in this for some quieter moments. Ballads ‘Rocket love’, ‘Lately’ and ‘All I do’ are brilliant to reflect and ponder while driving on auto-pilot.

9. CELEBRATION – MADONNA (2009)
Pop music at its most pristine and why I included this is more for sentimental reasons which I can chart every song to my own life spanning from 80’s to the present time. Most embarrassing is I still can sing along to almost all of the songs . ‘Holiday’ still sounds so good while ‘Justify my love’ makes me want to touch myself. Horror!

10. THE K & D SESSIONS – KRUDER AND DORFMESITER (1998)
OK, I said no DJ compilations but this 2-CD compilation of down tempo tracks from dub to trip hop is very significant to me during the time it was released and I was living in Phnom Penh which was a big turning point in my life. I played this in Phnom Penh so much and in the process I made a lot of friends and saw the world in a different light.
I have 2 copies of this album as it really means that much to me – one at home and one in the car.
Every time I play this when I am driving, it only reminds me of an era that is priceless
Dub will save the day

People: DIVA

2010-09-14T20:48:00.011+08:00

According to Wikipedia; DIVA is defined as a celebrated female singer with outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music.
Over the years, the term is so loosely used as every singer worth its salt would proclaim herself Diva and that included Sir Elton John who shamelessly appeared in the VH1 Diva Live Series.

One acid tongue Diva (don’t remember who exactly) once remarked ‘How could anyone just proclaimed herself as Diva especially when she has not gone through the years of hard work , blood, sweat and tears?'

She was then (out of jealousy I gathered) referring to the likes of the young tarts such as Britney or Christina.

But then I have another story (which is the point of this blog of ‘People' I know – I emphasized ‘People’ and not necessary ‘Friends’).
I know of this self-proclaimed Diva, and she is not even in the industry who wants everyone thinks she is a Diva. (Her real occupation is playing the Diva)
She enjoys the attention and would go to the extend of staging dramas just for thrill.
I would think Ikea is a good venue as she can vary her scenes in the dining room, the dressing room and the bedroom ( but never in the kitchen – which is definitely off limits).

Her best performance so far must be singing Disney (or Broadway - i really forgot) songs at grandfather’s wake and she planned her ‘performance’ to make sure that her ‘stage’ has a backdrop of a natural background (coconut trees to be exact) to picture- frame herself in front of the mourners.

And to truly live a Diva’s life, she must be fake, manipulative and being (perceived) superior – living by Madonna’s motto –said at the beginning of her Virgin Tour in the 80’s –'I wanna dance, I wanna sing and my dreams came true'

Perhaps the term Diva has evolved so much and she is merely keeping pace to the new definition as Beyonce rightly pointed out – 'Now, now, now, Diva is the female version of a hustla, of a, of a hustla'

You know those who ordered the most expensive items on the menu and took nibbles of them and then hissed 'i am done'
Of course she is not paying for the bill. Diva never pays

And where will she be eventually? Will there ever be a Happy Ending? Perhaps or...
Perhaps what Amy Winehouse pointed out in her 'F* me Pumps'

Without girls like you,
There's no nightlife,
All those men just go home to their wives.
Don't be mad at me,
Cuz you're pushing thirty,
And your old tricks no longer work.
You should have known from the job,
That you always get dumped,
So dust off your fuck me pumps

Tiger Tiger

2010-02-18T16:17:00.010+08:00

I like to believe that I have fairly liberal views on politics and would never really dwell into heated discussions over my point of view.
Lately the country’s political arena has become such a circus freak show and it is hard not to talk about politics over breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Here are my favourite 3 amusing topics starting with:

1. Face Value - Removal of the banner welcoming PM's pending goodwill visit to Klang. With so many parties involved with their own respective agendas, this probably would yield the most interests if it is kept under Fixed Deposit in the banks
The most taboo thing this auspicious Lunar New Year is having one’s signage (or face) being taken down. I guess this is where “Face Value” takes on a whole new meaning altogether. Now now, can we have a venue?

2. Sodomy – I am sure the Malaysian Media has introduced this new buzz word to a whole new generation and demographics of audience including those at Kindergartens. And to think of TV stations beeped out words like “Bit*h”, “Sh*t” and Katy Perry’s “I kissed a girl”.
And local media even explicitly published a contentious line “Can I fu8k you?”
("No sex please, We are Malaysians")

3. Jet engines – Leaving on a jet plane indeed (to Uruguay)

This Tiger is a feisty one and it is only the beginning.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2009: MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME

2009-12-23T22:00:00.042+08:00

2009 is drawing to an end at the blink of the eye. It has been an eventful year for me though not all necessary good.
Flashback at a quick glance:
• Started my blog - thanks to Mei who planted the idea in my head over a few glasses of Sangria and some “to die for” chocolate at Solaris.
• Collapsed at the airport and eventually hospitalised for stomach ulcer.
• Quit a high profile job and had grand plans of travel but never materialised due to occasional panic attacks and H1N1.
• Went on a 10-day Ayurveda detox programme which was effective ( losing 3 kg) but back to old eating habits after awhile

Three months of doing nothing but watching lots of DVD at home, in the midst of it, discovered THE WIRE, my all time favourite series.
• Made a life time commitment of getting a puppy (a pug I named Kopi- Malay word for Coffee, after my favourite beverage). I initially wanted to name him Negro (after Joey Negro) or Bobby Brown but was worried I might offend my neighbour who is a Black named Bobby. Kunta Kinte came to my mind for split second but that would be deemed racist.
• Rejoined the work society (which it is politically incorrect for me to blog about my work)
• Of course listened to lots of music – listing down my favourite albums was not as easy as it seemed. Somehow I did by checking which CDs are still left on my deck (which means they were played constantly).

Here is my list for my 2009 Top 10 Favourite Albums-(which is the point of this blog entry) ranked in no particular order.

1. XX – XX
I only posted one entry solely on music review which I gave my humble opinion. I have never attempted to be a music critic but I write to express what I personally like and not what others would like. This album made perfect sense to me in the hour of my so-called anti-social period. Dark and intense yet stark (though my friends- Dennis and Buck blatantly concluded it was me going through Depression), I find it most absorbing and the creative vocals pairing was like a interchange of nonchalant words. Maybe it reminded me of another great duet between Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan on “9 Crimes”

2. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum- Kasabian
I was uploading all praises for this album on Facebook, Twitter and sms-es to friends. Only one friend Donna Dee concurred with “I like” and to me, no one rocks with so much cock-sure attitude belting out the words as if he does not give a Flying F*ck. “Where did all the love go?” gives me a natural high. A poke in the eye for those who wrote them off (before their Sunway concert)

3. Horehound -The Dead Weather
One of White Stripe’s Jack White’s project together with the Kill’s vocalist-Alison Mosshart. If there is a term for Vintage rock, this is how it should sound like. Well, would appeal to people in my age group ( aka mid life) or any new kids who are anti pseudo rock acts like Fall Out Boy and Panic At The Disco and open enough to discover ‘new’ music like this. When I played this to a childhood friend Eric, he loved it immediately…..i think it is an Age thing

4. A Brief History Of Love-The Big Pink
Initially I could not put my finger why this album ticked me so much – fuzzy guitar with an electro wall of sound. Then I realised, Yes, they are the new Velvet Underground (and I dig Velvet Underground’s debut so much, that I have it on a box set, CD, vinyl and an oil painting of the iconic Andy Warhol’s banana hanging in my room ). Singles “Too Young To Love” and “Dominos” could change rock snobs into dance warriors in the clubs

5. The Resistance - Muse
What is wrong for being bombastic? It was OK for Emerson Lake and Palmer and Yes in the 70s but not Muse? One can’t fault Muse’s ambition of a 3 part symphony of "Exogenesis" clocks at 12 minutes with sweeping strings!!! Progressive it is.

6. (The Album) - Wilco
I have been listening to this for the last 3 months. Yes, it does not have the alternative sensibilities of previous Yankee Hotel Foxtrot ( I callled it the KLCC album) or A Ghost Is Borrn (I called it The Egg album) but this untitled album (i called it The Camel album) has Jeff Tweedy going all mellow, neither dark, sweet or being too white. It could easily be a sequel to their last album Sky Blue Sky. Wilco defined their genre as Thom Yorke/ Radiohead defined theirs. Respect.

7. The Eternal -Sonic Youth
After few patchy albums, this is supposed to be a return to form – the distortions and fuzziness are all back in place. Check.

8. 22 Dreams- Paul Weller
What can say, I really love Paul Weller (Modfather) since his days with The Jam and Style Council. I even bought into Fred Perry because he endorsed it (and I have six authentic Fred Perry Polo T shirts and a cap (courtesy of Jacquie who bought it for my birthday at Covent Garden, London). Patchy album, way too long but tracks that worked, worked like gems and they grew with repeated listening.

9. Noble Beast – Andrew Bird
No fuss and frills, just honest (and sweet) folk-pop. It has been a perennial favourite for Sunday morning music (like Lina's favourite song -"Easy as Sunday morning)

10. I am…Sasha Fierce- Beyonce
My taste is not exactly mainstream but if I have to choose one pop album, this is it. Fusing urban/ hip hop / R&B with futuristic electro, I find it bold and genre breaking yet commercial enough to have 7 singles!!!!!

The classic line from the single DIVA – “Now now now Diva is the female version of a hustler, of a of a hustler”
Diva indeed!!
Worth mentioning albums that did not make it on the top 10 ( they are not exactly new ):
• Rain Dogs/ Swordfish Trombones/ Frank’s Wild Years- Tom Waits (Trilogy).
I was never into Tom Waits till I watched THE WIRE which was using his “Way Down In The Hole” as the theme song.

• All the people – Blur.
This was recorded live at Hype Park 2nd July 2009. Love the energy buzzing throughout the concert and not the clinical polished tracks found on their studio albums. To me, Damon Albarn is probably one of the most talented artist in this Universe.
• Bleach- Nirvana.
Their most under rated album before “NEVERMIND". It still sounds so raw 20th years after.

• The Stone Roses (Debut)
Never understod them till 20 years later in this 20th anniversary set. To label them as shoe-gazers was totally incorrect. Now I know the fuss and I wanna be adored

• The Pleasure Principle – Gary Numan.
It really has been 30 years since this came out and “Cars” still sounds like it belongs on today’s chart. La Roux, Little Boots, awful Lady Gaga have all been taking notes.

Here to the end of a Decade:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A NEW BEGINNING OF A HAPPY TWENTY TEN

Music is life, Life is Music

AGE Ain't Nothing But A Number?

2009-10-27T22:31:00.023+08:00

Age Ain't Nothing But A Number is the title of Aaliyah’s debut album released in 1994. The album was produced by R. Kelly and it was rumoured that they had an affair prompting Aaliyah to name the title of her album to be such.
I asked myself this question recently, is Age ain’t nothing but a number; having just marked another year in my life, pushing me affirmatively to middle age now.
If I were Aaliyah and had to justify for my relationship, the answer is 'Probably' but I ain’t Aaliyah (not that I ever wanted to be or even inspired by her).
Neither were I so filthy rich and had a few convertibles and mansions at my disposal like Huge Hefner, that age is really a number given medical advancement like anti ageing treatments and Viagra, why fret about age?

My friend Don never fails to share hilarious stories (or are they gossips) that so and so a 20 something model is living with a millionaire banker old enough to be her grandfather and another story about Anne Nicole Smith.
He asked why are women attracted to old men which in this case Age is really ain’t nothing but a number in the bank account.

Since I do not fall into either of the above categories, I pondered and came to my conclusion that Age indeed is NOT a just number which triggered all these points:

I can please myself to think I am still (ahem) young but my body ain’t fooling.
I do not have the energy as before ( like climbing up the stairs or run for a train, worse, not even being to cycle around my neighbourhood).

I also realized when those pop stars I grew up listening to, started to die (i.e George Harrison, Marvin Gaye, Maurice Gibb, Robert Palmer) I am ageing as they were dying.

My tolerance for noise is getting lower by the night. Clubbing is definitely out of my agenda. Not that I won’t go but I just find it boring and pointless.

I started to be able to recommend supplements to my friends – C10 co-enzyme, B complex…and I find going to GNC in fact quite 'spiritual'.

I was commenting to my editor friend Jennifer that none of the clothes featured in her magazine is of any relevance to me. My fashion sense obviously has matured to simple black, white and grey and when I looked back at some photographs on what I used to wear, I would die of embarrassment. Well, I blamed the bad fashion era of the 80s!!!

On the same shameful era of 80's, I found a Deluxe 30th Anniversary of Gary Numan’s debut album – The Pleasure Principle (1979). I lapped it up immediately to realize that it has really been 30 years since the single “Cars” came out from that album.But i was more than ecstatic to listen to it again and again.

And as recent as last week, I bought a Duran Duran’s album (also a deluxe 2 CD edition) – Rio (1981). The music labels know exactly how to make money out of people of my demographics. I excitedly sms-ed my neighbour – “Now I have all the 12in versions of “Rio”, “My Own Way” , "Say A Prayer" and “Hungry Like A Wolf” on CD" (I have them originally on 12in vinyl).

He being a 'Swear-to-God' iPod cultist, of course did not share that kind of enthusiam as mine having merely replied "Yeah, it was one of m y favourite" The difference is he is not going to spend RM60 on it

Subconsciously I am so attuned to all these sentiments to really reinforce one crucial point - Age ain’t just a number, it creeps up and inhabits me up from within and I can’t do anything about it.

WIDE EYES OPEN

2009-09-25T00:09:00.026+08:00

At the blink of the eye, it has been 4 months now since I first uploaded my debut blog -‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ in May on my ambitious plan to pursue life’s simple pleasures of basically taking a sabbatical and not work.
Much has happened since then –my dramatic collapse at KLIA, wallet burning hospitalization, panic attacks, trips to very much the same old places, hours watching DVD box sets of The Wire (Best series i 've ever watched), Entourage, True Blood and read a few books but still did not accomplish the task of reading ‘10 Books To Read Before You Die’

Of course I listened to loads of music which I could easily single out some of my favourite CDs – Muse ( I am currently crazy over their “Resistance” CD), XX, Sonic Youth, Florence + The Machine, Little Dragon, Kasabian, Iggy Pop, Jarvis Cocker, Friendly Fire, Bat For Lashes, Aluminium Group, Yeah Yeah Yeah, Grizzly Bear, Tori Amos and Tom Waits’s Trilogy of Frank’s Wild Years / Swordfishtrambone/Rain dogs
(Tom Waits’s ‘Way down in the hole’ was featured as the theme of HBO Series ‘The Wire’ which I heard it over 60 hours of the series!!!! )

All the sudden, I realized I got myself promoted to be the Chairman Of the Bored. In spite of all the above that filled up my time, I became very bored, my friends no longer had time for me (that’s a joke OK?), I ran out of things to do or buy (not that I really had much to shop except grocery, DVDs , books and CDs). I even managed to pump up the deflated tyres of my mountain bicycle and got my Vespa started again (with the help of Wijay).

My attention span was getting shorter by the minute but my insecurities started to bother me, more of the guilt of not working but spending all my time pursuing the above life’s simple pleasures.
Hence I decided to go back to the Grinding Stone, to work and be useful again. Of course it took me a good 2 months to decide, weighing on all available options.
Funnily and unconsciously, H1N1 was part of the deciding factor. Just 3 months ago, I had grand plans to travel and do some soul searching. Somehow after a few panic attacks and feared of contacting the flu, most traveling were put on hold except for tickets I already booked months ago to Bangkok and Phuket.
As of any passing phase of life, what have I learned in this short sabbatical of mine?
Here is a summary:
1. I know who my REAL friends for sure and I would always make time for them especially for those coffee breaks and banana leaf rice sessions.

2. I should not be generous or overly nice to anyone as I could be taken advantage of and misunderstood for being vulnerable and weak among other things.

3. My family loves me more than I thought though they do not express it explicitly.

4. I still never learned to ride my Vespa or fit enough to even cycle.

5, I am still materialistic (shame shame – what have I not learned?) as I dreamed of the BMW Z4 ferociously.

6. All Play and No Work made me a dull boy.

7. I missed Power lunches but I loved my afternoon naps more

8. I definitely do not miss drinking which was almost a requirement in all my past job,

9. Change Change Change – my unhealthy diet.

10. LIFE is like Tour De France as it passes you by when you blinked (i picked this up from French film- 'Amelie')

Now, with WIDE EYES OPEN, I am going back to the Corporate World and I should no longer have excuses on wanting another sabbatical, not so soon anyway……as I still dream of the BMW Z4 (Sign of mid life crisis of wanting a convertible?)

The XX

2009-09-07T17:38:00.010+08:00

One of my life’s simple pleasures is to discover new music. Be it genre defying or pop music that makes a statement and has its impact on the way music is being listened or perceived.
I chanced upon the South London 4-piece band with their debut self tilted The XX.
Anything that is hard to file always ends up as Alternative.
Hard to put a finger on this, songs have a sort of empty aura of minimalism.
Mazzy Star on electro or Sonic Youth without the fuzzy guitar?
Portishead without the sinister Noir or Cocteau Twins remixed by David Sylvain?
You get the drift.

Both the female and male vocals of Oliver Sims and Romy Madley Croft are melancholy textured. Both sound lethargic and nasal as if they were singing in their dreams.
Lyrics are pretty much the art-school type, abstract and not abstract and wander aimlessly but linger on and on.

I am still wondering why the album is so hypnotic, I guess I have to keep listening and with dim lights.
This is definitely in my 2009 top favourite album list

Album/Artist: The XX
Label/Year: Young Turks / 2009

BRIGHT LIGHTS - BIG CITY

2009-08-20T22:19:00.106+08:00

BANGKOK

The best tip I ever picked from Discovery Travel and Living Channel is:
'Travel as a traveler and not as a tourist'

In this manner, one can experience so much more and absorb the local cultures and way of life.
I have been to Bangkok so many times that I lost count. In fact, I lived there for awhile before the Millennium.
For those who thought Bangkok is all Go-Go bars, massage parlours, night markets and temples, they probably only been to these places and concluded that Bangkok is such.

A friend even told me that Bangkok was just another Haadyai. I was slightly crossed with his comments but then, what could I expect if the only place he has ever set foot in Thailand was Haadyai., and that also probably at some brothels and roadside hawker stalls.
I can’t defend how much I love Bangkok, the city for a start is much much safer than KL, people are more cultured, refined and perhaps more beautiful.
Of course as in every city, there is the seedy and sleazy side.
It depends where one hangs out and if one goes beyond night markets, hawker stalls and sleazy joints, Bangkok has much more to offer.
My routine in Bangkok does not vary much, shopped a bit usually music and books. I have to admit selection is not great.
I always stayed in the same area- Silom or Sukhumit which has good selection of boutique hotels as long as they are near to the BTS (City train) stations and bars/clubs I frequent.

I love BED Supper Club (which is just across Le Fenix Hotel, I last stayed).
Cover charge is really not cheap at 800B (RM80) at the entrance for 2 drinks.
Through my connection, I got in as a VIP (ha ha ha).
Of paramount importance to me is the music - must be good and not cheesy (I really hate David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland’s ‘When love takes over’ and the likes).

Bangkok is indeed Bright Lights Big City
Like the local Thais would say in their unique accent “I like”

(Bright Lights Big City is the seminal novel of the 80s by Jay McInerney published in 1984 and made into a movie in 1988)

Siam Paragon and MU Restaurant at Sukhumit 11

I even watched a movie or two and had an Al Fresco lunch

Le Fenix with a pool on 7th floor

'Pump up the volume - jam jam'

THE SIGN

2009-08-16T12:35:00.030+08:00

Once upon a time, launch parties were grand affairs filled with all sort of Razzmatazz. Then came all the restrictions - from no tobacco sponsorships to no serving of alcohol (if it is opened to the public).
Since it is so much harder for alcohol and tobacco companies to peddle their trade, I guess this prompted the companies and their agencies to be more creative in their launches via exclusive invites and (semi) private parties, which actually are more expensive to run if one is to calculate cost per head and getting the right cool people to be invited.
Of course the trick is NOT to invite the same group of cool people to each party as the intended communications would not be streteched.

Last evening, I decided to go out (after 2 months of home imprisonment), I actually kind of tag along to some friends (who have the cool factor) to new KENT launch. I would use the term ‘Launch’ loosely as it was really not supposed to be a launch technically. Hence an exclusive Black and Red party would be more appropriate with the INTRODUCTION or DISPLAY of the new Nanotek variants.

90% of the invitees did dress up to the Black and Red Theme, reminisces of Michael Jackson without the Fedora (ala Smooth Criminal meets Blood on the Dance Floor).
Lots of potent Orange and Cranberry juices. Music was decent enough though a bit too mashed up in different dance genre, May be too many cooks up there.
The lightings and interactive elements were par excellence especially the cluster of blocks building up to the DJ Booth.
The set-up was very much ‘inspired’ by a previous Louis Vuitton launch in HK with the V ‘monogram’ used as an mnemonic projected throughout the venue.
The V is supposed to be a ‘K’ lying on its back (derived from the brand name as subtlely implied).
Really up to the cool people to make the link and see The Sign. And if they are cool, they must be able to.
As for myself, I think ....I see The Sign.

Cool cats

VULGARITIES IN FULL CRUDE TECHICOLOUR GLORY

2009-08-14T16:49:00.033+08:00

After watching the HK cop flick “I Corrupt All Cops”, I was so ‘inspired’ by its script that consisted of Cantonese swear words and phrases. It is not common to hear them in movies due to censorship and in a way, downgrade the film to be perceived as low class. (as if only low class / lives use them).
But if you take a walk to Chinatown or your favourite wanton mee stall or once in a while at your friendly malls; and if you do listen carefully (listen, not hear), you could have a earful of these swear words and phrases. Strings of them, in fact.
Only in Cantonese (which also happened to be my mother tongue), these words and phrases rhymed (oh so) eloquently. Of course, one has to understand basic Cantonese to fully appreciate how creative the swear words are intertwined into daily conversation.

Unlike the English language which vocabulary of swear words is limited to the few F’s, C’s and Mother, Cantonese uses lots of swear words with Adjectives. One can describe anyone or anything with crude genitals phrases regardless male or female.
Instead of calling someone a bit*h, you can insult her in a descriptive manner such as Fat C**t (Fei H**), Smelly C**t (Chow H**), Silly C**t (Soh H**) or Slutty C**t ( Hau H**).

Thin, Smelly/Rotten, Fat, Sl*tty

If these are used on a male, the insults are worse, as the male is regarded as not a male but a bit*h (H** people)

I did not make the following up but they are real incidences I have came across 'transacted' between two women:

Incidence 1: Catfight on the street
Thin Woman shouted at Fat Woman: ‘Die fat c**t’ ( Fei H**)
Fat Woman responded: ‘You mean only fat people have c**t, don’t you have one, you Smelly C**t (Chow H**)
Thin Woman asked: ‘Smelly? Can you smell it from here?’

Incidence 2: Coffee Shop
A transvestite (‘Pondan’) was walking into a coffee shop and a fat woman/hawker (who was selling fried noodle) stopped frying and stared at the transvestite as he/she passed by. All the sudden, the transvestite turned back and shouted:
‘You fat c**t (fei H**)!!! What are you staring at?’
Fat Hawker replied so creatively that I burst out laughing:

‘At least I have a fat C**t and you don’t even have one at all’.

Incidence 3: The Mall
Just when you thought all the nice /pretty promoter girls at the Cosmetic counters are such nice dollies. I was walking on the aisle in between two counters and overheard this:
Cosmetic Girl 1 shouted to Cosmetic Girl 2: ‘AC not working today, it is hot like C**t in here’.

The C**t word was so offensive and hurtful then as if i was hit with a pile of bricks under those bright fluorescent lights - just as I walked between them. I did not even dare to glance back and I felt pity for those International Cosmetics brands that thrived on image building and yet have it tarnished by the swearing promoters.
I related this back to a friend (in the cosmetic industry) and he told me that I should perhaps stop and ask the promoter this:
‘Is it that hot in the c**t? Can I break an egg and fry it there or perhaps insert a drumstick to see if it fries like KFC’

Now I understand where hip hop artist Nelly got his inspiration to write the hit “Hot in Herre” (2002).

People are definitely offended by vulgarities used with the intention to hurt, but a few doses every now and then for comical relief is perhaps good for the soul.
I have told the above incidences at friends’ (informal) parties and most reacted in a disgusted manner but they all laughed – so which is which now?

HARDWARE READY, SOFTWARE INCOMPATIBLE

2009-07-25T12:46:00.022+08:00

7 Bad Habits ala ‘Malaysia Boleh’ style

Whilst we may boast of having KLCC and F1 in our home ground, our mentality did not manage to so some catching up. I am not slandering or stereotyping my own nationality, but then, there are many things we should be ashamed of. This is what I coined as ‘Hardware Ready’ (infrastructure) and ‘Software Incompatible’ (Mindset and mentality) and we dare to laugh at the Singaporeans – a case of pot calling the kettle black.
Here is a list which could be embarrassing, unexpected and downright inconsiderate.
We may be (at least once) guilty of one of the following – being Malaysian after all:

1. I noticed that Carl's Junior (my favourite Burger Chain) has no longer the variety of salad toppings (pickles, lettuce, chopped onions etc) that it used to have. The toppings corner used to have much more variety and maybe for cost reason, it is now reduced to only few basics
Could this be the patrons abusing the toppings and made them into a bowl of salad rather than for toppings?
I noticed some patrons just ordered a drink and fries and helped themselves endlessly to the salad toppings as if they were eating fries with salsa sauce.
And most inconsiderate is the leftovers of what have been taken.
Why bite more than one could chew even it is free?
This is a clear demonstration of greed which is clearly exhibited at all Buffets.

2. People who steal things from self service counters.
This include bottles of tomato and chilli sauce (usually at KFC) which can easily be slipped into a bag. I used to work at KFC and customers even stole Tent card holder – the ones on the table displaying menu and promotion offers.
You may ask – what’s the hell for? I found out that Tent card holder (can be 2-3 sided) is handy to slip in photographs of your loved ones for display at your lovely home.
The more bizarre items to be stolen are sugar and creamer sachets at those coffee chains. So handy to be used at home or office. One steals them by a handful and not one or two petty sachets. Brings new meaning to a fistful of money.

3. The next time if you go on a flight, just take note of all those embarrassing habits. It is not even about rushing in and out during boarding. It is about stealing again.
Before landing, announcements on weather, time and drug trafficking are common until I heard this on Air Asia telling the passengers that it is an offence to take (they meant ‘steal’) life jackets from the plane. This simply means that they are passengers (not necessary Malaysians though) who steal lift jacket – and you can buy them on the internet now.

Once I was on a MAS flight and the passenger next to me took all the cutlery and wine glass. (MAS did /does provide stainless steel cutlery and not the white cheap plastics).
After she took her set, she asked me for mine. I told her ‘No’ as the air stewardess would have thought I stole them too.
She commented –“You already paid for it in your air-ticket, so it is yours anyway”.
And this was on Business Class.

4. Dumping of garbage – does not matter which condo or flat one lives in, some residents would just dump anywhere to their convenience even though there is a Refuse Chamber or Garbage Room a few steps away.
Popular places to dump is by the lift, by own doorsteps (as the workers would pick it up any way) or worse, at your neighbour’s walkway.
One of my neighbour (I still do not know who the culprits are) keeps dumping their polystyrene lunch boxes at the door of the Refuse Chamber even though the green garbage dumpster is next to it. If I ever find out, I will drop the garbage back to the front of their door steps.
Not that I am fussy but my other neighbour has a pet cat named Rocket- probably from the character in Cidade De Deus (picture below) running around the walkway and at times rummaging garbage.

5. Jumping Queue is most common but what I can’t understand is why some can’t even wait especially when the Queue is short. They will be running back and forth on two different queues, some time with a companion who queues on one to see who would reach the ‘finishing line’ of the counter first. As if they would get a kiss from the perpetually bored ‘F*ck you very much’ cashier. Observe carefully, some of these cashiers have this constipated looks as if in pains of in need of moving their bowels.

6. Talking about rude / indifferent services, Malaysia is easily the worst in the Region (and I am not talking about cab drivers alone). Totally no pride in the jobs and we dare (again) to laugh at Singaporeans or Hongkies.
I once went to Low Yat Plaza to get some cables and approached this spaced out Chinese salesman (the 4 eyes type with pimply face and dyed hair ). Before I could finish my sentence of asking him if the shop stocked the cable, he cut me short and answered abruptly with just one word/one syllable - ‘MOLE!!!!!’ (which means ‘No’ in Cantonese).
I was sad that this could be the future of our Generation – and I could not help being prejudiced that this spaced out dude was probably ‘shaking head’ at some techno 'feng-tau' joint at Kg Pandan/Kepong/Old Klang Road) till 9am and had to come to work at 11am.

There was another incident years ago at Sogo TAR. I was looking for a particular shoe size and asked the sales assistant.
She answered “Tak tau” (means ‘Don’t know' in Malay).
I countered how could she not know. She said she was new ('Baru start kerja').
I pressed her to look for it and within one minute returned with an answer (knowing she did not check) – ‘Tak ada:’ ( ‘No have’).
I could not have pursued it further as it was a definite closed ended reply and not an opened ended as ‘Tak tau’ .

7. Sometimes I think some Malaysians have watched too many vampire movies and are afraid of the sunlight. It is very irritating for drivers to stop at shaded areas at traffic lights even though there is space before the front car and making it worse at the jam. As if a few minutes of UV can kill them.
And parking indiscriminately – double parking and causing huge jam. Just try going to the stretch at Jalan Brickfields where 7 Eleven and KFC are.

I have another tale on rude driver – it is actually a real incident.
My 70 year old English friend (whom my neighbour called him 'Primitive') was taking a stroll and passed a tinted black SUV parked indiscriminately by the shoulder of the road. He pressed his face against the black tinted windows to see what was inside and suddenly the window was wound down and a young punk and his string of vulgarities followed:

Young punk driver shouted at Primitive- “Don’t fu*king touch my car”
Primitive- “Then you don’t fu*king park here”
Young punk – “Fu*k you!!!!”
Primitive– “Which side do you want me to get on?”

And Primitive walked away without turning his back leaving the totally stunned (beyond words) young punk behind.

This entry is not meant to offend – just leave it as contentious.
You may have some experiences you like to share.
Meanwhile Malaysia really ‘Boleh’

Footnote - More pictures on the way

INFLUENCES: SOUND AND VISION

2009-07-22T20:47:00.021+08:00

MOSTLY, my perspective is very much influenced by Sound and Vision surrounding me
On Sound, the most influential album of all time (in my humble opinion) is VELVET UNDERGROUND and NICO, created by Andy Warhol in 1967.

In that era where Love and Peace ruled, the songs were dark and controversial dealing with drugs, prostitution and S&M. 'Heroin' and 'I'm waiting for the man' were not your average songs to be played at pineapple and cheese (tres chic) cocktail parties.
I’m waiting for my man
Twenty-six dollars in my hand
Here he comes, he’s all dressed in black
He’s never early, he’s always late
First thing you learn is you always gotta wait
I’m waiting for my man

The man here being the drug delaer

VELVET UNDERGROUND and NICO created the noise rock sound that was experimental, avant garde and revolutionary.
The low-fi distorted and fuzzy guitars were of great influences years later to landmark alternative rock albums.
Here are few of my favourite:
The Jesus And Mary Chain: DARKLANDS (1987)
My Bloody Valentine: LOVELESS (1991)
Sonic Youth: DAYDREAM NATION (1988)
The Horrors: PRIMARY COLOURS (2009 Mercury Prize Nominee)

From this perspective and armed with my digital camera, i took a few pictures from my balcony from Dusk to Dawn - all fuzzy and distorted till i get sober by dawn
(No Drug references here, please, this is a family friendly blog)

Dusk to Dusk (Ashes to Ashes)

Break of dawn

Hazy Afternnon

MY SEPUTEH - 58000 KUALA LUMPUR (Part 2)

2009-07-17T14:40:00.025+08:00

FLAVOURS & COLOURS

Even though these images may not be unique to Seputeh alone, they are things we take for granted and one day, they may be forgotten....

Haircut RM10.00

Old school car wash

In the vicintiy of adjoining Robson area

MY SEPUTEH - 58000 KUALA LUMPUR (Part 1)

2009-07-16T09:26:00.053+08:00

Quaint and Alluring (Q&A)

I have been living in this neighbourhood for 7 years and have not really gone around except for minor errands and meals.
Now that I have time to stop and smell the ‘roses’, it dawns on me that Taman Seputeh is perhaps one of the few under-rated neighbourhoods and it is charming in an understated way.
It is like Kuala Lumpur’s best kept secret, being walking distance to Mid Valley and Brickfields and it is between Kuala Lumpur City and Petaling Jaya, with (so callled) elite Bangsar across the road. Not to mention a 5 minutes drive to Chinatown and a 20 minutes walk to KL Sentral.

I was having dinner with a reputable housing developer and even he concurred that Seputeh has all the potentials as in years to come, it will be beyond reach of the common layman (like me) to be able to own a property within Kuala Lumpur city limits .

Seputeh is indeed in the city but somehow it is Quaint and Alluring at the same time.

Roads leading around Seputeh.

Facilities I never used

My favourite fix

8 mins of brisk walking to Mid Valley/The Garden

Contrast of old and new

The once infamous Korea Hotel and Japan club with very different extra curriculum activities

The Hotel for 'Adults'

When dusks fall.

My toys and pieces of my life

My nest

Tales from Alma Mater

2009-07-15T10:38:00.028+08:00

I supposed that Corporal Punishment no longer exists nowadays in school. Even if it does, it probably very mild compared to my era in the 70s-80s.

According to Wikipedia, Corporal punishment is defined as the deliberate infliction of pain intended to discipline or reform a wrongdoer or change a person's bad attitude and/or bad behaviour.

The term usually refers to methodically striking the offender with an implement, whether in judicial, domestic, or educational settings.

Teachers then (and this was not limited to Head or Discipline Masters) were empowered to carry out corporal punishment in all form of sadist and immoral ways.
I stated immoral as the punishment may not inflict physical pains at times but could make one loses his/her self esteem and in longer term, lived with guilt and shame, besides being belittled by other pupils in the school.

Here were some of the popular methods. Some of you may be able to identify them or could have personally experienced them.

1. Rotan was the most common, which was basically caning on the buttocks.
The sound of the whip was horrifying but then the pupils really did not mind as long as the end results were not visible (no one could see the whip marks except themselves).

2. Squatting. This was rather hilarious and fun to watch. Malaysian teachers were very
creative in executing it. It could be done while squatting with the fingers pulling the ear-lobes, sometimes with the arms criss-crossed each others.

Sometimes, a circle was drawn on the floor and the pupils were not allowed to move out of the circle, sometimes this was done on the chair. If only Jane Fonda had discovered this for her video……

3. Class of Flying Duster – Some teachers used it as an excuse to practice the pitching in the classroom. Instead of a baseball, the most handy to be thrown is the blackboard duster Never under-estimate their aim, If he/she caught someone not paying attention or sleeping at the back of the class, the flying duster would definitely kept all awake.

I can assure you this is more entertaining than “House of the Flying Daggers”.

4. Pinching – this was of pure sadist act. The teacher would identify an area of the body to be pinched – most popular were the ear-lobe and navel button (especially among female Indian teachers- I remembered Mrs. Nathan in Standard 3 for sure).
Once the fingers pinched the targeted area, with slight twist of the wrist, the fingers would rotate 180 degree, either clockwise or anti clockwise depending it is the right or left hand being used.

For maximum effect after the 180 degree turn, the teacher would push the pupil back and forth (usually against the blackboard) while the fingers were still tightly gripped against the targeted area.

This brought new meaning to the phrase “Wrapped around your finger” (A Police song from 1983 Synchronicity album)
Some teachers would target nipples pinching (only to the male pupils as if male nipples were less sensitive).

Is this not sexual abuse?
I once heard a teacher in a Chinese school would pull hair off the pupil’s legs as a form of punishment as if he was plucking feathers from a chicken.

5. Slapping , the less severe was so cleverly demonstrated in the brilliant Guy Ritchie’s movie "Rock N Rolla” (2008). Here is an excerpt from the classic slapping scene

Archie: Bandy, you ever ask a stupid question like that again, see Danny there? He's gonna slap you.
Archie: Danny, slap him.
Danny: [slaps Bandy]
Archie: With the right Danny, properly.
Danny: [slaps Bandy]

Archie: No, no, no, NO. Come on, do it properly with the back of the right hand.
Danny: What is this, a tennis match, Arch?
Archie: [slaps Bandy]

No need for strong violence, putty in the hand, it will transport him back to childhood, just like in school

Sometimes, pupils were asked to write lines, you would have seen how Bart Simpson does it at the beginning of The Simpsons

These punishments were mostly unnecessary. Once during Art lesson, the Art Teacher whose claim to fame was that he taught the cartoonist Lat, gave an assignment to the class.

Art Teacher:
This week, your homework is to design "Logo”. Who can tell me what logo is

Pupil (Ah Fook, if I remembered correctly, put his hand up):
I know Sir, It is “keong kan” (Which means “Rape” in Cantonese)

Ah Fook actually had mistaken the word ‘Logo’ for “Rogol” which means “Rape” in Malay and he answered in Cantonese which we were not allowed to use when communicating with the teachers.
For Ah Fook’s innocent ignorance, he got some back hand from the teacher to the amusement/horror to all the pupils in the class.

So out of ‘vengeance’ and frustrations, some pupils took to the toilet walls to vet their release in form of crude/cave-man type of vulgar graffiti.
I am not sure if today’s school toilet walls still being used for blanket of pupils’ creativity/frustration, but in my heydays, I had seen a lot of them (and I felt vaguely and strangely aroused by these crude drawings at times).

The one that left the deepest impression on me that i could still recall is this particular graffiti with a cave-man doodling of the female genitalia – an arrow pointing to ‘it’ with the Malay word “P*ki” (which means vagina in Malay) and crude words under it (in broken English) were:
‘Mrs. Tan has 365 hairs, I know because I count them one by one everyday for a year”

So, I would conclude this blog with a song that best encompasses the abuse and punishments inflicted by the teachers and endured by the pupils:

PINK FLOYD: ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (1979)
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall

DUA PULUH LIMA (25)

2009-07-12T10:46:00.029+08:00

Friends on my Facebook would have read this before as I posted it on Valentine’s evening out of boredom.
Of recent, when I blogged about Janet Jackson, my friend Fai asked me – “Why on earth are you promoting Janet? We want to know more about you”
Here you go, lifted off lock, stock and barrel from Facebook entry, 25 things you may not know about me.

1. If I was writing this on Valentine’s evening, it does reveal my relationship status.

2. I can’t live without my black coffee fix.

3. I love sense of danger (though i do not necessary indulge in it)

4. I could be erratic and moody and almost impossible to get through when I am in these moods.

5. My entire life could be documented by music I listen to and Donna Summer’s ‘Love to love you baby’ started something in my life. 17 minutes of eargasmic pleasure!!. My mum used to comment- "This black devil woman has no shame!"
The rest was well, Motown.

6. Kruder and Dorfmeister’s ‘The K&D Session’ is the soundtrack that I want to be played at my wake, with of course Massive Attack’s Blue Lines. Plus Nick Cave (Boatman Returns), Style Council and Soul Heaven (Defected compilation).
Initially I missed out ''Being Boring'' (Pet Shop Boys) but i do need a friend to just slip in this track and not play the entire Behaviour album or even (horror horror) play the wrong Pet Shop Boys' songs - "What have i done to deserve this" and "It's a sin"- that will be too inappropriate.

7. I am a die-hard Chuck Palahniuk’s fan – and my all time favourite book and movie is FIGHT CLUB which I can relate to personally.

8. I love to have clean nails – my guilty pleasure is having manicure and pedicure done but always hesitate to go to a Nail Shop as it could make me less of a man.

9. I just counted – I have 30 bottles of EDT, my favourite being Creed Vetiver, Prada Infusion D’Homme and Comme Des Garcons Odeur 71 – depends on my moods when to use what
I prefer soap to shower cream anytime as I like to scrub myself. Plus I love brushing teeth, 3 times a day on the average.

10. I tend to scratch my head and crack my knuckles ,more that the average person, this I observed.

11. My daily diet consists mostly of meat and lots of chilli and hardly any vegetable and almost no fruits. (That could be one of the contributing reasons how I landed up at the hospital).

12. I love my friends and willing to walk the mile to help them and more and more now. I do not care what others think of me but I do care what my friends think.

4 not 5
13. I have 4 tattoos .

14. I am the forgiving type and I do not hold grudges but that does not mean i will forget.

15. I am impatient and my attention span is getting shorter as I get Older but i express myself better than ever before, rather than to suppress my emotions. (Thank God for Blogging now)

16. My friends say I am going through mid life crisis, may be true as I am thinking of getting a convertible (not that i could afford one) but I have NOT resorted to listening to box-set of Led Zeppelin nor taking long shower (like Kevin Spacey's shower scene in another top favourite movie of mine -'Amercian Beauty')

17. I could be cruel to be kind but then no one really gets this.

18. I believe to try everything (I wanted) at least once - “you’ll never get to heaven if you’re afraid of getting high”

19.My flaw is I could be too objective and orderly in everything I do.

20. I love to sleep and i do dream a lot – and all my dreams are in full technicolour glory - 'a crash of drums, a flash of lights'
Sometimes i could fly in my dreams and could actually sing a song in an improvisation manner.

The last time I remembered singing 'Bridge over troubled water' like a choir boy. And it freaked me out when I saw Josh Groban/Brian McKnight singing it the next day at a music shop LCD (from David Foster and Friends DVD)

21. I love mountain bicycles but never been fit enough to even ride around my Seputeh neighbourhood. Lance Armstrong is my idol, for someone who triumped so much when all was seemingly lost.

22. Work stimulates me but it also stresses me a lot and I believe I need a balance on this. BTW, I am a Librian.

23. My ambition is to retire at 50 year old and concentrate on my hobbies (hmmm… have to rethink about this now) .

24. I like to believe that I am a simple and kind person

25. MUSIC IS MY LIFE AND LIFE IS MUSIC

INSPIRATIONAL SONGS TO KEEP MY SPIRIT HIGH ( While my tears dry on their own)

2009-07-10T18:49:00.028+08:00

Some would think I tend to exaggerate how music is of paramount importance in my life. Music indeed plays a part in every aspects of my life and in my current condition where I have so much time to ponder and reflect, here is the list of songs which are personal and poignant to me while my tears dry on their own.

WILLIAM DE VAUGHN / MASSIVE ATTACK: BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU’VE GOT (1974/1991)
This is actually a Ghetto Song about standing tall in discriminating era and condition.
But it pretty much summed up my condition – I am thankful for all I have and I do not need what I have not got.
Wealth, Power and Material Gains could corrupt our minds most time, it takes a wake up call to really realize how lucky I have been. The numbers of calls, SMSes, visits and mails from my friends and family are priceless to make me realized that there are more people who care and love me. And for that, I am most thankful.

Incidentally Massive Attack (beside Kruder & Dorfmeister) remains my all time favourite artist.

Madonna was once quoted that she f*cked to Massive Attack's Blue Lines album when it was released. That also explained their later collaboration on Marvin Gaye' s 'I Want You'

PET SHOP BOYS: BEING BORING (1990)
Probably the best lyrics ever written about life’s trials and tribulations.
I wondered if I ever been boring in view of my (perceived) disciplined and rigid life.
Have I done enough? That I still doubt and relates back to reasons why I quit my job. I need to lead a more enriching life and that does not necessary need lots of money but enough to pay the bills.

Excerpt from the song:
When you’re young you find inspiration
In anyone who’s ever gone
And opened up a closing door
……Someone said: if you’re not careful
You’ll have nothing left and nothing to care for

Incidentally this is also a song I want to be played at my wake. It is not morbid, not your usual hymns which I find depressing rather than spiritual.
Thanks to my close friend F, who pointed this track to me when he was in happier times with his partner then in the 90s.

STYLE COUNCIL: MY EVER CHANGING MOODS (1984)
During job interviews, a standard question would always be asked on what would be my strengths and weakness. It was usually easier to list ‘Strengths’ but when it came to ‘Weaknesses’, I had to be selective as not to jeopardize the chance of getting the job.
I would usually state ‘Impatience’ and ‘Moody’.
Yes, I could have mood swing like a pendulum and came to realise it when my peers avoided me on certain days. One of them Jacq (from peer to close friend) was bold and truthful to have told me that in these exact words – “B, when you were our (HORECA) boss, we were so afraid of you (she meant moods-la).
[Incidentally she also once asked me (after some club visits in London) if she was “trendy” enough for the job. My answer was “We need someone to work and you are of the right fit”]

I am not looking for excuses or being superstitious. During my recent Ayurveda detox programme, it revealed that I am a “water” based personality and my lifestyle (work, diet etc) is fiery in nature, which would clash with my body elements, hence the mood swing.
I am just reiterating what the detox analysis revealed. Not concluding anything.

I really adore Paul Weller - the brain behind Style Council, from his rock era of The Jam to soul-funk-jazz of Style Council and the days of his solo career, the Modfather lives in my heart - and also a reason why i am such a big fan of fashion brand Fred Perry (because Paul endorsed it)....being a marketer myself, how could i fall for this?

STYLE COUNCIL: SHOUT TO THE TOP (1985)

FIRE ISLAND FEATURING LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (1998)
Like I said, I love Paul Weller especially his phase with Style Council, Right after his band The Jam disbanded, he turned his back to the rock critics and fans by venturing into a soul-funk-jazz genre.
This track has the best uplifting strings and lyrics that are most inspiring:
When you’re knocked on your back - and your life’s a flop
And when you’re down on the bottom there’s nothing else
But to shout to the top - shout!

There is also a dance version by Fire Island featuring Loleatta Holloway. I played it once at a house party and my friend Ms. M was dancing to it and remarked- "B, this track is sick”.
I totally concurred. It was sick in a good way.

SISTER SLEDGE / PAUL WELLER: THINKING OF YOU (1979/2004)
This song will always bring a smile to my face. In many ways, it reminds me of good times. I played this at my amateur DJ sets at Frangipani,
I played this when I was once invited by close friend Donovan The Funkie Junkie on his radio show. I guess he had to bend his back just to get an unknown like me and risked playing at his 2-hour show.
It would always remain an experience I never forget.
I also never failed to play it at my occasional house party, And I would play both versions – the original Sister Sledge and a cover by Paul Weller (who exudes so much masculinity into the otherwise fluffy song). This is the song for all my partners in crime.

The lyrics have a controversial word – “Now I’m living in ecstasy” which really meant pure bliss and love and not the abusive substance.
Of course in modern Clubland remixed version, the E word is looped 10 times for cause and effect.

BOB SINCLAR: THE WAY I FEEL (2009)
This most recent inclusion (like yesterday) is more accidental. After checking out from the RM7000 3-day 2-night hospital stay, I was down and dizzy still, probably from the shock.
I just put on a few CDs in the CD player as back ground music while I was sulking (also partly feeling wobbly from the blood loss).
At the beginning of Bob Sinclar’s ‘Born in 69’ album, he was trying to hard to repeat its past success formula of ‘World Hold On’ and ‘Love Generation’ – breezy, feel good, bordering to being cheesy till it hit track 9 - ‘The Way I feel’.

My head perked up. It was pure house bliss and my spirit lifted up at once, I realized the power of music had on me.
And there is no denying I am a die-hard HOUSEHEAD.
I just could not help but to add this in Twitter and Facebook the following day.

There are few more songs I love to list but then it would be an overkill.
This particular entry is perhaps the most therapeutic I have written (do read between the songs...lines) and it certainly beats queuing up for donuts.

Am thinking aloud -Why are donuts and cupcakes so gay and Over the top (OTT) these days?

The Beach in KL aka Pantai (Part 2)

2009-07-09T12:20:00.010+08:00

7th - 9th July: Breakfast in bed, liquid diet, in-room entertainment,special reclining bed, sofa chair, intercom service at Pantai (Beach) resort

On Flight MH791, I was more in panic than in pains on the flight back to KL, worrying I passed out in the plane or quarantined upon arrival.

Somehow I made it, went through the Health Check, Immigration, Custom and even along the way, stopped and bought a bottle of Vodka (Peach flavoured) at Duty Free.

After purchasing the airport taxi coupon and as I was pushing the trolley out, I felt very dizzy, collapsed and passed out in full dramatic glory in the middle of the Arrival Hall!!!
(I have to make a mental note not to make fun of the trolley dollies again)

Someone rushed over to help me but I just blacked out. I saw flashes of indistinctive images and the sound around me seemed to be turned down to almost mute level (a bit like when one is underwater).
When I regained conscious (must be only few minutes or so), I realized I was still at the centre of the Arrival Hall, much to my embarrassment. I wanted to stand up but my legs were so wobbly.

After all that embarrassment exhibited in full technicolour glory, I was wheeled to the clinic nearby where the doctor suspected I could have had a cardiac arrest.

To cut a long story short, I was admitted to Pantai Hospital the following day.
It was definitely no beach at all as to its claim to fame/name of being “Pantai” (Malay word for Beach).

I am writing this from my hospital bed with drips on , typing very slowing with few fingers from one hand.
Turned out I have internal bleeding from a stomach ulcer which was inflicted by a virus.
The food poisoning actually aggravated the situation, I will leave out all the gory details.

The only consolation (to kill time) is I get free Wi-fi here – well I doubt it is free, everything has been costed in. The bleeding may have stopped but my wallet will start bleeding soon, this is definitely no Bleeding Love.

And I am now at the mercy of the Doctor to discharge me, hopefully by today if further tests confirmed that I am stable to go home.
Now it is more of the cash register ringing in my head…. Khring Khring Khring.

From Beach to “Beach” (Pantai) all in my first week of leaving the Corporate World

Footnote - the 3 days 2 nights package came up to slightly above RM7000. My heart bleeds more now

The Beach - Patung (Part 1)

2009-07-08T20:26:00.027+08:00

Walk on the wild side (walk only)

2nd to 6th July 2009
Fresh off the Corporate grindstone, I was off on the first flight to Phuket, Thailand.
Even the two hours flight delay on MAS (not AirAsia as most would have thought) did not dampen my spirit a bit.
On the flight, it was live entertainment itself. I loved to watch the trolley-dollies on the aisle knowing that they talked about their sex life explicitly to their own peers in-between serving (layan) the passengers (this is according to an insider’s information).

When I touched down, I came to realise that my dream was to be able to afford a holiday home here. Without a job, this dream was a bit too much to dream of.
I was absorbing everything along the way (even though I have been to Phuket for more than 10 times) – there were premium factory outlets (Ripcurl, Adidas, Nike), Tesco Lotus, Golf club, Yacht Club, European bakeries and local eateries, all full of charm.

Light up the night

I checked into Millennium Resort which was adjacent to an ultra modern Mall called Jung Ceylon. I also realized that I could not do away with modern life’s essentials. There were fast food, ice-cream parlors, cafes, bookshops, fine dining, cineplexes and huge shopping centre (Robinson being the key tenant).

My loft

Contrary to Mei’s belief that I shopped a lot, it was only half truth – my interests only encompassed reading materials and music related stuff.
Millennium Resort was 5 star all the way – I also discovered I could be fairly of high maintenance. How long could I be living joie de vivre without a job?
Perhaps be a kept man (as Jee responded in a Facebook questionnaire on my secret fantasy to be).
The real answer is “Porn star” for those who are curious

I was walking with invisible springs on my heels at the mall, never been so stress-free for a long time. I happened to overhear this couple’s conversation:
G/F: Should we go shopping first?
B/F: I don’t care
G/F: Or let’s go to the beach
B/F: I don’t care

It occurred to me the response “I don’t care” was perhaps one of the rudest; it being so indifference. If the reply was “No” or “Up to you”, it was at least an indication.

With the words “I don’t care” echoing in my mind, I really ‘don’t care’ what would enfold in my life. My entire life has been so structured and process driven (at work), I would want a life to be enriching and exciting.
But somehow old habits die hard - for the next few days/nights, my routine at Patung Beach never varied that much (though I left them unplanned). I practically did not leave Patung beach at all and did the same thing again and again for 5 days and nights!!!

Breakfast at Au Bon Pain (OK, I really loved this café), sat on the same sun-deck chair by the beach, walked around the mall and watched 2 movies- 'Up' and ‘Ice Age 3’

My VIP seat- day and night

Yes, I must buy CDs – surprising I found Bob Sinclar’s Born in 1969, Sonic Youth’s The Eternal, Austrian jazz crooner turned electronica Louie Austen's Easy Love and Vanessa Williams's The Real Thing (don’t laugh -she can actually sing)

I was so closed to buying biographies (at 50% off) of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Hugh Hefner but there were hard covers and too bulky to be carried back.

Evenings were more or less the same, I finished reading Guillermo Del Toro/Chuck Hogan’s The Strain at either Au Bon Pain or Starbuck.
My childhood friend Eric once told me that women found man to be very sexy reading alone. So far that definitely had not been proven.
No naughty stuff, not that I did not want, just did not happen.
Like my friend Jimmy ‘Zohan’ once commented when we went drinking in KL- “You need to have a target”.

On my last evening, I wanted to be more adventurous and ordered (Extra Spicy) Thai shrimp salad and fried morning glory for dinner. After that, I went to Swenson and ordered a mocha shake and down a bottle of Japanese green tea in the hotel plus a bag a wasabi-flavoured Frito-lays
(My usual meals are normally cooked and not spicy when I am on holiday)

That night, my entire stomach felt bloated and it went on the following day. I was perspiring and was in pain. For strange reason, my head was throbbing (I thought I pulled a neck muscle) and I was feverish.
I started to panic if I had contacted H1N1 flu and worried if I had to be quarantined either in Phuket or KL.
I checked in, trying to look normal (I was still perspiring and feeling very dizzy) and after 90 mins of waiting at the hall, I boarded the MAS flight back to KL with one BAD MOTHER vius in my stomach.

To be continued…….
The Beach in KL aka Pantai (Part 2)

(We are a part of a) RHYTHM NATION

2009-06-21T14:38:00.028+08:00

Unless you were born in Timbuktu and have not heard of Janet (Ms Jackson if you’re nasty), her music has been around since the 80’s.
Most would have thought CONTROL (1986) was her debut but it was not. Prior to CONTROL, Janet released two pop albums - JANET JACKSON (1982) and DREAM STREET (1984). It was wrong timing as Jacko’s THRILLER was still ruling the entire world, anything else was pale in comparison.

Coupled with her girl next door image (she was 16 when she released her debut album), it hardly made a ripple.
It was then she decided to control her career and hired maestros Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and CONTROL was the labour of her breaking out and self defense.
Along the way, she also eloped and married El Debarge (of Debarge famed for ‘Rhythm of the night’)
Lead single ‘What have you done for me lately’ sounded so fresh then and full of attitude - the infectious beat and ‘dare’ to question her beau (compared to all the silly love songs i.e ‘Crush on you’ (Jets) and even more stupid song ‘Walk like an Egyptian’(Bangles) released in 1986.
It was so successful, it spanned 7 singles including ‘Nasty’, ‘When I think of you’, ‘Control’, ‘Let’s wait awhile’, ‘The Pleasure Principles’, ‘Funny how time flies’.

Expectations were very high for the next album and with efforts to be taken seriously, RHYTHM NATION 1814 was released in 1989. The title track was to address racism ‘breaking the colour lines’ through music.
Who could forget that memorable B/W video directed by Dominic Sena- militant dance choreography in the warehouse….5, 4, 3, 2, 1

The album was very successful, spanning singles ‘Miss you much (sounded like a Prince track), her trademark feel good vibe ‘Escapade’, ‘Black cat’, ‘Alright’ (featured Cab Calloway in the video) and the brilliant ‘Love will never do without you’.
The video was directed by legendary Herb Ritts, till today, the images of Janet in a top and jeans running carefree on the beach with Antonio Sabato Jr (CK underwear model) and Djimon Hounson (Blood Diamond) are still so vivid in my mind.

The 90s began with a more matured Janet. It was the phase she reduced herself to just Janet. 3rd album JANET (1991) had her bare breasts being cupped by her beau then Rene Elizondo Jr and perhaps became one of the most recognized album cover. It also highlighted the more sensual side of Janet. Lead single ‘That’s the way love goes’ is a beautiful as it could get -
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire?

Total of 6 singles from Janet including ‘If’, ‘You want this’ ‘Because of love’ and her trade marked slow burners ‘Again’ (also featured on Poetic Justice) and ‘Any time Any place’ (My friend Fai said these songs are meant for pondering by the window panes on rainy days)

From sensual to sexual maturity, Janet’s 6th album VELVET ROPE (1997) was her last great album, a feat never to be achieved after.
Though no where close to JANET, it has my all time favourite hit – ‘Got till it’s gone’, with the chorus sampling Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi.
I can relate to this personally as most don’t know what they got till it’s gone.
It also spanned 6 singles notably 'Together again’ (a song that played a role in my beloved friend Ms.M’s life), ‘Go deep’, ‘I get lonely’, ‘You’ and the sensual ‘Everytime’ (another rainy day song).
VELVET ROPE is supposed to be ‘deep’ - the ropes are supposedly to keep others from knowing us and our feelings. I can think of other roles the ropes can play (foremost) and being deep in other areas.
Well, with songs like “Go deep’ and ‘Rope Burn’, do I not think so?
Tie me up tie me down
Make me moan real loud
Take off my clothes
No one has to know
Whisperin'I wanna feel a soft rope burn
Wanna feel a rope burn

Enter the Millennium, Janet at her 30’s, was still recycling her past formulas – the girlish giggling and the girlie girlie stuff were a bit too out of place/time for her.

With other pop stars making waves (Britney, Christina), Janet did look like over the hill (twice or thrice).
ALL FOR YOU was released in 2001. The videos for singles of the same title and ‘Doesn’t really matter’ imitating the cute cute Japanese pop culture ( pink nails, platform shoes) was totally a mistake a 30 something woman wanted to associate herself with.
In Malay, she will be called “Perempuan tua”.
And just like what Guy Ritchie correctly said of ex wife Madonna – “When she is dancing on stage with her dancers, she looks like a Granny among them”
To be fair, ALL FOR YOU, did have its moments. ‘Someone to call my lover’, ‘Son of a gun’ and ‘Doesn’t really matter’ ( from The Nutty Professor) are pretty decent songs.

2004 was indeed a turning point in her career for the worse. How could Janet pull this off with a so-called wardrobe malfunction (during duet with Justin Timberlake on his ‘Rock you body - I’m going to get you naked at the end of the song’) at Superbowl Live to be watched by millions of God fearing - Country loving Americans?
My friend J.Y.Kh commented “What is the big deal, nothing much to see, all black”.
I presumed she meant the lights were off at that crucial moment.
Though Janet apologized, America had not be kind to her and to time the release of DAMITA JO after that, was suicidal.

DAMITA JO is Janet’s middle name, sunk like no other. With tracks like ‘Sexhibition’, All Nite (Don’t stop)’ and ‘Moist’ , they sounded more like letters to Penthouse.
Well, the album cover looked like it has been lifted off Penthouse, so it made sense.
Did Janet expect the Public to believe her malfunction?
Here some excerpts of the lyics (bet you did not realise how explicit they are till now)
Sexhibiton
...Feel the sexsation
I...Feel the pulse and vibration (babe)
I...Wanna little tastetation (babe0
I...No need for a sexplanation

Strawberry Bounce
I did a tease
To bring you to yo' knees baby
Now you know that pimpin' ain't easy
Then you said"Fine motherfucker,
I like it

All Nite (Don’t stop)
Work it like you're working a pole
Shake it 'til you're shaking the floor
Pop it like you're poppin' a cork
Don't Stop,
Jerk it like you're making it choke
Break it like you're breakin' a code
Drop it till you're taking it lower

Moist
Feel my rain come
Pouring soaking
Longing your lips
Baby oohYou make it so moist
When my ocean's overflowing
Afterglowing
Take me oooh

Janet’s comeback album – 20 Y.O in 2006, marked the 20 years since CONTROL.
Over produced by her beau Jermaine Dupri, it was reminiscent of her hey days but somehow it hardly cut it.
My friend Fai commented that she sounded as if she no longer has breath to sing and just murmured her way through.
Lead single ‘Call on me’ ( with Nelly) was one of her best effort in years but no one took notice – the spitfire rap of Nelly and her soft (breathless) vocals was like hand in glove.
The video was so OTT, straight out of Bollywood. I could imagine drag queens doing that, not Janet.

Subesequent singles did not chart well but were actually good especially the feel good sing along of 'Enjoy' and the super sonic charged up ‘So excited’ lifting a sample from Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’ (the scratching bit)

Latest album DISCIPLINE (2008) is perhaps the best she has done in this Century. It has all that Janet has ever encompassed.
‘Feedback’ is a bloody good fine single – listen to the details – the beats, the beeps and vocals arrangement:
Strum me like a guitar,
Blow up my amplifier
Whe you hear some feedback
Keep going take it higher
I’m gonna feedback feedback

And that spacey music video is strangely sexual (or vulgar depends how one looks at it) with splutters of white liquid not unlike a string of pearls. (My neighbour was the one who first saw it in that angle)

Follow up singles ‘Rock with you’, ‘Luv’ and ‘Can’t B good’ are equally infectious
But hardly caused a stir. Why?
Have we not forgiven her or we have forgotten her?
All she is asking now is to come back
To me, all is forgiven – after all we were and are very much part of her Rhythm Nation.

Footnote:
I just realized this entry took me 2 days to finish. I had to listen to her CDs again, checked the facts and went through some trivial stuff on the internet.

Made me realised what Peter Gabriel once remarked-
Musicians/Artistes spent their blood sweat and tears, time and money to produce music. In today’s world of downloading, music is so disposable with the click of a button.

Where is the art and passion?
Downloads will never replace the pleasure (if you are a purist) of listening to music in its original formats (Vinyls/CDs) as these formats represent the flow of thought/concept/phase of the artist at that point in time.
That is why I hardly buy Compilations (unless it is purely disposable purpose) as I still like to read the liner notes and follow the flow of music that point.

Call me foolish or old fashioned.

Once, there lived a Prince in the 20th Century....

2009-06-18T12:49:00.025+08:00

Prince Rogers Nelson aka Prince, Genius, Prodigious Producer, Dirty-minded Innovator, Multi-talented Artist, Soul Funkster, Enigmatic Pop Star, Multi-instrumentalist, Super Wanker, Boyfriend (to gritty starlets), The symbol, Genre/Gender Blender, Slave…..they go on, favourable or not, to describe this man is endless.
So multi-faceted is he that you can’t pigeonhole him.
Being great or inconsistent in his career, Prince has experienced much, like when he dethroned himself to a mere symbol that marked his period of uber self indulgence, churning out materials with inconsistent quality, a trait that he has since tried to make amends.
He also attempted to return to his Prince moniker, but that’s another story. However, anyone who has listened to Prince at any one time would have varied and diverse views about the man and his music.

The Works

Here are several of Prince’s best, worst and under-rated works in the 20th Century:

THE BEST

This album is my most beloved Prince’s album. Few good reasons, one of them is that Record/Disc 2 is so f*cking brilliant, it sparkles. Like how Sheena Easton grits through the hooky
U Got The Look
Your face is jammin’
Your body’s heck a-slamming
If your love is good, let’s get 2 rammin’

And the role reversal, of ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’ (Beyonce- eat your heart out).

My all time favourite remains ‘I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man’, a ditty about one-night stands.

I may be qualified 4 a one-night stand, but I could never take the place of your man

I would always dance to the extended guitar break and feel silly about it later.

Sounded dated and corny now on the album is the title track -
In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name….’ (I cringed though)

Around The World In A Day (1985)
This album, although deemed as a creative ‘Work in progress’ (WIP) or a wanking effort of pure self indulgence, one with total disregard of commercial values and his fans who looked up at Prince as ‘God’. It nevertheless still sounds fresh as it was before.

The psychedelic and freewheeling pop here includes the feel-good track ‘Raspberry Beret’, is touted as one of the 80’s pet sounds and not forgetting the decadence of

Pop Life

Everybody needs a thrill

We've a space to fill
Life aint real funky
Unless its got that pop

(and Lady Gaga can poke herself in her face trying to be pop dance).

Purple Rain (1984)
This one earned his Royal Badness hordes of fans. So intense was the music –it was the soundtrack of the same-tilted, equally engaging movie, the bad hair (my mum used to call it the broomed hair), the purple hue (Way ahead of Deepavali) and many more elements pertaining to the album, it became endearing to many listeners.

Though the songs sound dated today, they nevertheless became part of the boys and girls’ phase of life in the 80’s

Equally controversial on it is Darling Nikki (Masturbating with a mag)

This album spanned 5 hit singles out of the 9 tracks!

THE WORST

So unfocused is this album that one can’t make it out what it is all about. Patchy, frivolous and flawed to being annoying.

Lead Single ‘Thieves in the temple’ is a mundane as it gets.

THE UNDER-RATED

The Black Album (1988/1994)

Probably the most bootlegged album ever (before the downloads era), it was scraped before its release in 1988. His Royal Badness switched the release with ‘Lovesexy’ and accompanied it with a hideous-styled naked cover.

Black Album is anything but dark (It was actually untitled and the cover has nothing on it except in total black). It is the mother of funk. Subsequently it was officially released in 1994 after much ado about nothing.

A great funk nugget in it- Cindy C (about Cindy Crawford, who else)

Cindy C, will u f*ck with me…play with me…..i will pay your usual fees

However the one that stood the test of time for me is Parade (Under The Cherry Moon Soundtrack) (1986)

I still can’t resist till today,
Kiss

Act your age , not your shoe size…..You don’t have to watch Dynasty to have an attitude

And Girls And Boys

The French seduction by Marie France towards the end of this track made me breathless and wanna release…...
Je vous en larerai avec mes jambes …Faire l’amour Faire l’amour
(I’ll warp my legs around you…..make love make love)

fin

''Layan" - Let Me Entertain You

2009-06-11T23:13:00.001+08:00

Not until recently, have I heard this word “Layan” used so frequently and ‘eloquently’.
When I checked the Dictionary, it literally means “Serve” or “Entertain”. (boring boring).
However when the word is used among my circle of friends, it connotes so much more than what the dictionary interprets. It carries sarcasm, cheekiness and (possible slight) contempt, all in one word. What I learned in school was in this manner - “Layan dengan baik” (“Serve well”) vs now “Just laaaaayan ”

Sometime back, my friend was going to Religious courses in preparation for her wedding. She was told that as a good wife, she must layan her husband. Whenever he wants it (sex), she must layan. I forgot whether she was told to layan or bagi. She was so shocked that this sort of mentality still exists.

Once I had a house party and as a bedroom DJ, I could not resist spinning my favourite soul classics to the guests (to layan them). One of the guests who was probably more used to harder sound (i.e. Trance) was finding difficulty to dance to it and she made an honest remark, even my ear cocked to listen up – ‘Whatever B plays, I will just layan la’.

In her higher state of unconsciousness at that hour, I was sure she meant well.

I finally pulled out an old En Vogue track – ‘Free Your Mind’ just to honour that occasion.
Subsequently, she layan us in a sketch as if we were passengers in a space ship – and she was directing us where the EXITS were. It was the night of the spaceship.

Some like to layan while some like to be layan.
I have to admit I have very varied and ‘stranger than fiction’ friends. They all made my life more interesting and enriching. One is this rich businessman (childhood friend). He is too rich , too bored and to layan himself with some thrills, he goes to supermarket to shoplift toiletries and challenged himself how many times he could get away before he gets caught.

I know of another group who loves to stage Drama Hari Ini at Shopping Malls. Their favourite being IKEA as they can move from scene to scene i.e ‘let’s do a quarrel scene at the bedroom and then move to the kitchen to stage another’. No props or setting required, IKEA provides for free. The thrill is to get other shoppers to watch them – Just layan them.

We all need Layan in our lives– It is better than reality TV as it is REAL.

B layan friends
Footnote
‘Let me entertain you’ was taken from:
Queen : Jazz (1978)
Shakespeare Sisters: Hormonally Yours (1994)
Robbie Willaims : Life Thru A Lens (1997)

Under the influence

2009-06-11T18:40:00.000+08:00

I am quite sure all of us have some funny stories to tell when we are stopped at roadblocks and being checked for all sorts – drunk driving, road tax, IC or license and passports (only seems to be applicable for female foreigners from China).

I get stopped ALL the time, regardless if I am drunk or not, after a night out. Consuming a handful of mints, winding down the window (to neutralise the air), switching radio channels to play Dondang Sayang, choking down half bottle of water – all these do not work anymore . My friend (T) remarked it is my face/race that discriminates me for being a single male driver….and yellow (no reference to Coldplay)

Hence, I stopped driving altogether and started taking taxis and requesting favours from friends who would just SEND me home after drinking (unlike Cher’s “TAKE me home” which connotes something more).

However females tend to have the advantage of not being harassed when they are stopped at roadblocks. My friend (the divine Ms.F) could have had the heaviest session of drinking (among other things), her hair all over the place, totally face-off and yet got away scot-free. Instead she was asked for her mobile telephone number to go out for (you read this right) tea tarik !

Of course she would oblige (but I am not sure if she gave her real number), flashed her half seductive/half flirty smile, criss-crossed legs for a split second and put her palms together (as if meditating) and said “Oh thank you thank you Abang”. After that, she drove off and probably uttered “F*ck you very much” and told the story to the whole world (including me).

Another female friend of mine got stopped and Abang told her he could let her off if she let him “Pegang” (hold). Who ‘pegang’ who I would not know as usually it is the female who ‘pegang’ the male (who has the attachment) and not the other way other.
The correct term Abang should use is “picik” (squeeze).

Nothing beats this encounter where my friend Ms. L was stopped and after some polite chit chat, Abang asked for her mobile number. She obliged, thinking that would be the end of it.
Few weeks later, Ms. L received a call from Abang's wife asking if she was having an affair with her husband. (She must have found Ms. L’s mobile number somewhere). Instead of a confrontation, the woman turned into a poor sobbing soul, worried if the husband would leave her etc etc.
Why would the wife be so vulnerable? She should have done exactly as per this

Woman to Woman (1975) - Shirley Brown

Hello, may I speak to Barbara
Barbara, this is Shirley
You might not know who I am
But the reason I am
Calling you is because
I was going through my
Old man's pockets this morning
And I just happened to
Find your name and number
So woman to woman
I don't think it's being
Any more than fair to call you
And let you know where
I'm coming from

Now Barbara, I don't know
How you're gonna take this
But whether you be cool or
Come out of a bag on me
You see it doesn't really
Make any difference
But it's only fair
That I let you know that
The man you're in love with
He’s mine
From the top of his head
To the bottom of his feet
The bed he sleeps in and
Every piece of food he eats
You see I make it possible
The clothes on his back
I buy them
The car he drives
I pay the note every month!!!!

While woman can drive under the influence, Man (Abang) is usually driven under the influence of woman. How ironic.

Footnote: Under The Influence was taken from Chemical Brother- SURRENDER (1999)

LIVE AND LET DIE

2009-05-22T18:17:00.000+08:00

I always live by the principle of “Live and Let Live”.
In a day of my life, I meet all kinds – after awhile, it is tough to see through who is who (at least in the initial stage), who are the genuine ones or people who are nice to me for what I can do for them (no sex please, I'm Malaysian)
Now that I have resigned from my current position, I will (in 2 months time) no longer have the power word ‘Director’ attached after my name, I shall discover the truth of others in their true (techni)colours.
I am not going to be so naïve to think that all my friends are going to go on the journey with me but i will for sure count with my 10 fingers the real friends i have, who are the fair weather and the acquaintances.
But i will always live by 'Live and Let Live '– just forgive (but not necessary forget) those who disappointed me and get on with life.

But in the Entertainment industry ( yes, it is definitely no business like show business), it is a different song altogether.
Best illustrated by Paul McCartney and Wings’s LIVE AND LET DIE - the 8th James Bond Theme (1973). See lyrics at the end.
Also covered by Guns N Roses (Use Your Illusion 1991) and Duffy ( War Child Heroes Compilation 2009)

I really do not want to stereotype the entertainment industry but I feel that some who think they are the special ones; have gotten quite lost and can’t differentiate Reality and Acting . Perhaps too many TV Reality shows. They probably believe the entire world is an oyster and stage for them to perform.
Why do people have this impression that to get ahead, one has to be nasty and superficial .

Lily Allen said it best with her potty mouth in The Fear (2009)

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers.
It’s all about fast cars and cussing each other.
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic.
That’s what makes my life so f*cking fantastic.
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore.
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore.
When we think it will all become clear.
Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear.

A close DJ friend once told me about this incident where he and a co-colleague had this spat of words – “You know, just because we work together, it does not mean we have to be friends” – so blatant, mean and cruel. In reality, this is pure insecurity and a big dose of inferiority complex.
Of course, on sexual favours, I was told is quite a norm rather than exception in the Industry. A male TV host once told me that to get ahead in his TV station and be given good hosting progamme, the female actually have better opportunities especially if their top bosses are of the skirt chasing type. I am not implying that the female sleeps their way to get what they wanted (It was rumoured Madonna did).
Is it really such a big deal to sleep to the top? If one wants to be a virgin, probably this industry is the wrong fit. Each industry has its own peculiarities. After all this has to be between consenting adults
Before I get rotten eggs thrown to me for making such a controversial remarks/generalization, I mean no contempt (But- Yes Sir I can boogie) – the world is made up of all kinds. I am merely illustrating some real examples that I have heard.
Best live and let live
And not Live And Let Die

When you were young and your heart was an open book.
You used to say live and let live.
But in this ever changing world in which we live in
Makes you give in and cry.
Say live and let die.
What does it matter to ya.
When you got a job to do.
You gotta do it well.
You gotta give the other fellow hell.

"F*CK ME. I'M FAMOUS".

2009-05-20T00:47:00.000+08:00

Those who have been around the club scene long enough would probably have encountered this breed of PEOPLE who always demand to get into clubs for free and be treated like Bianca on a white horse”.
Pick from this multiple choice (In school we called it ‘Objective Question’) of their over -used reasons :-
A. The High and Mighty
“Do you know who I am?”
“I am a Dato’/ Dato’s girlfriend“ (but we have many Dato’s under the yum yum tree / not wife as that would be qualified as a Datin)

B. Names dropping:
“I slept with the DJ”
“I know your boss and we smoke _ _ _ _ _ at the balcony”

C. The Glamourama:
“I am a (f*cking) celebrity /star”
“ My father is a Dato’ “

D. The Fakes Ones:
As if….“F*ck me, I ‘m famous”
“ I only do Cristal” (the champagne specifically)

My friend, a door bitch (let’s call her Ms. F) has the most creative rude way of turning these people off. Ms F once challenged an arrogant patron to sh*t at the door to see if the sh*t did not stink like others.
“Then I will take your Sh*t”
It was also a wonder that Ms. F did not have sh*t thrown at her at the end of her shift.

I must remind myself this blog is about MUZIK, not gossips.

Hence back to the point. I recently found a great song by Amy Winehouse (when I was doing a mix CD for couple of friends) which befits the scene so well.
The title itself is hilarious. Lyrics are acid cutting and razor sharp but true to the core.

F*ck Me Pumps
Amy Winehouse’: FRANK (Debut album 2003)
The M.J. Cole Remix is par excellence.

When you walk in the bar

And you dressed like a star

Rockin' your F me pumps

And the men notice you

With your Gucci bag crew

Can't tell who he's lookin' to

Cause you all look the same

Everyone knows your name

And that's you whole claim to fame

Never miss a night

Cause your dream in life,
Is to be a footballers wife

You don't like players

That's what you say-a

But you really wouldn't mind a millionaire

You don't like ballers

They don't do nothing for ya

But you'd love a rich man six foot two or taller

You're more than a fan

Lookin' for a man

But you end up with one-nights-stands

He could be your whole life

If you got past one night

But that part never goes right

In the morning you're vexed

He's onto the next

And you didn't even get no taste

Don't be too upset

If they call you a skank

Cause like the news everyday you get pressed

You can't sit down right

Cause you jeans are too tight

And your lucky it's ladies night

With your big empty purse

Every week it gets worse

At least your breasts cost more than hers

So you did Miami

Cause you got there for free

But somehow you missed the plane

You did too much E

Met somebody

And spent the night getting caned

Without girls like you

There'd be no fun

We'd go to the club and not see anyone.

Without girls like you

There's no nightlife

All those men just go home to their wives.

Don't be mad at me

Cause you're pushing thirty
And your old tricks no longer work

You should have known from the job

That you always get dumped

So dust off your fuck me pumps

Also check out electroclash anthem - FRANK SINATRA by Miss Kitten (2001).
A bit too explicit for this blog – hedonistic to the max.
Here is a sample:

Every night with my star friends

We eat caviar and drink champage
Sniffing in the VIP area

We talk about Frank Sinatra.."

You know Frank Sinatra?"He's dead!

HAHAHAHAHA!

Dead.

To be famous is so nice.
Suck……Kiss….

To sum it all – David Guetta has immortalized and honoured these breed of PEOPLE-
“YES, F*CK ME, I’M FAMOUS”

P.S. At one point in my career, I was looking after the Entertainment channel as a strategic consumer touch-point ( for brand image building) and we made sure we did not “rape” the clubs/bars i.e to get in for free and/or get free drinks. We made sure that we opened two or three bottles on a slow evening (Tuesdays and Thursday are quite typical), then only the club owner would take notice of our contribution. No point doing this when the club is busy.(Industry tips).

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE

2009-05-19T18:53:00.001+08:00

I have never blogged before, never even thought of it until the fateful day (at least to me) on 16th. May 2009.
It is really difficult to put my thoughts and emotions online – how personal should it be – for all of my thoughts and emotions to be displayed in full technicolour glory or just write for the sake of writing or just for the sake of wanking?

What I would blog seems easy enough in view of my deep deep passion for music but would it interest others if I go overboard with trivia like “ Do you know that ‘Love Hangover’ and ‘Don’t leave me this way’* have similar bassline at the break?”) … really does anyone care? (but I do).
I made up my mind, just go with the flow, whatever that is spontaneous but not driving my friends to boredom. This blog would centre my observations- everything from social to political commentary but all have a common underlying ‘backbone’ which is MUZIK. I could almost document my entire of my life to music I listen to.

Now now , how / where should I start?
This turned out to be the easiest and it was impromptu for sure– started off with afternoon tea at Solaris with a cahoot- Ms.M ( the one whom I should give all the credit to) - over a pitcher of (very lame) mojito ( we did not order tea) and seafood platter at Michealangelo and then the heavenly sent chocolate (at Schokolart).
In between topics about music, marathon, working with a difficult people and my decision to resign (I will come back to this later), she remarked – “Why don’t you channel all these to a blog?”
Now that I would have more time on my hands., why not?
I chose several blog names – all were either taken or too long (rebelrebel, brother_B, brother_on_the_run) and ended up with Brothr2brothr.
Voila!!! Registered there and then and I now officially have a blog.

What to blog?
I have so many stories to share – I tend to think on the dark side (not necessary negative – there is a big difference) and thought of the MUZIK / soundtrack that I would like to be played at my wake as my first entry – a bit too morbid…hell no then.

OK, back to the blog – in life ,we go through life cycles. From me being really naïve (best represented by Madonna’s Like a virgin in the 80’s) to my career progression in the 90’s ( can’t really think of a tune – I probably never mixed business with pleasure) to the peak of my clubbing era in the millennium ( so many tunes to list – Pete Heller’s Big Love, MAW’s To be in love, Chemical Brothers’s Star Guitar, Etienne De Crecy’s Prix Choc, Dubtribe Sound System’s Do It Now, Daft Punk’s Rollin’ & Scratchin’……..endless).
My playlist nowadays is somehow less esctastic , consists of more non mainstream acts such as Andrew Bird, The Enemy, The New Pornographers etc. Guess age mellows me out.

I am now back to where I started after a complete life cycle – I want more quality time (and perhaps love ha ha ha, I am really laughing aloud).
All my life , it was over run by work, deadlines, budget, difficult bosses and politics. I became agitated, fast tempered, uptight and could very well slip into depression ( if I am not careful).
I just woke up one day (last Wed to be precise) and decided – this is it. ‘No more tears – enough is enough’ ( I am now humming the Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand duet) - just a figure of speech – there is more to life than crying for these stuff.
Some of my friends could see my side of the decision and have been most supportive ( you know who you are), some were indifferent ( probably think I have gone mad to drop my day job).

To me; as so well depicted by a musical by Barbra Streisand – ON A CLEAR DAY,YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, my mind is freed of stress and is at peace. I do see what I want to do with the new chapter of my life.…. and this is just the beginning.
To sum it all - my debut entry in Bjork’s song:

DECLARE INDEPENDENCE**

Declare independence!
Don't let them do that to you!
Declare independence!
Don't let them do that to you!
With a flag and a trumpet
Go to the top of your highest mountain
And raise your flag!

This debut blog entry written for all my friends. It is somehow personal and not so much on music as most of you would expect of me . That will be “Akan Datang”

Footnote:* I am comparing Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes ’s original version that came out in 1975 and NOT (God forbids) The Communards’ Hi-NRG 1986 version which was meant more for cocks strutting on the dance podium.** A good friend asked me how could I have 9 Bjork CDs and only 2 Britney Spears (??)– now you know.