Sunday, July 31, 2011

RAMADHAN 1432H


Welcome back, Ramadhan. InsyaAllah, Muslims all over Malaysia will begin the fasting month on Monday, August 1 2011. To all I know and love, let us start this blessed month by counting the blessings that have been bestowed upon all of us. There are many others out there who might not be as fortunate as we are. Despite the overall increasing prices of goods, we are still able to put food on the table, prepare for the Eid and enjoy other wordly pleasures that have been denied to others due to poverty, war, illnesses or economic crisis. May this Ramadhan bring us peace of mind, wisdom, patience, forgiveness, benevolence and humanity.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

LET'S KARAOKE 17 : AMY WINEHOUSE - BACK TO BLACK

Now that she's gone, I'm pretty sure there will be people out there who are looking for her karaoke. Some would like to sing her songs too, I believe. This might be the first of a few more Amy Winehouse's karaoke. Here's to remembering Amy Winehouse and Back To Black...

The single's cover



He left no time to regret
Kept his dick wet
With his same old safe bet
Me and my head high
And my tears dry
Get on without my guy

You went back to what you knew
So far removed
From all that we went through
And I tread a troubled track
My odds are stacked
I'll go back to black

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her

And I go back to, I go back to us

I love you much
It's not enough
You love blow
And I love puff
And life is like a pipe
And I'm a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

Black, black, black, black

Black, black, black
I go back to
I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black

Sunday, July 24, 2011

AMY WINEHOUSE : THE LATEST ADDITION TO CLUB 27

I guess everything was fated to be though the co-incidents are quite uncanny. Amy Winehouse, the troubled British chanteuse, has joined the list of other influential musicians (Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison of the Doors, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana) who died at the young age of 27. Each and everyone of them was responsible for shaping music, especially rock music, to a certain extent and most of them had become victims of drug overdose and/or alcoholism. Without a doubt, these artistes were naturally gifted and great talents usually come with a high price. Uniquely gifted people, especially artists, musicians and philosophers, are usually difficult to understand and most of the time, they are also misunderstood. They live in a world of their own, separated from others and the reality. Quite often, drugs and alcohol seem to be their only solace and form of escape. I wrote a short entry a few years back about how some people fail to cope with failed relationships based on Amy's song 'Back To Black'. I guess the song is some sort of a premonition of what was about to happen to her. Many might say Amy and countless other drug overdose victims are totally responsible for their own deaths but we need to remind ourselves that drug addiction and alcoholism are a very powerful and devastating illness. It's not a habit that one can pick and discard at will. Millions have succumbed to this disease and many more will, I'm sure. Most of the time, substance abusers and alcoholics are unable to fight their demons alone. It takes a lot of courage, will power and determination on their part to fight their never-ending struggles. Many of them might look tough on the outside but it is also quite often that they are very fragile and hollow inside. The unbearable void, pain and emptiness that they feel inside often lead them to self-destruction, making them lose the will and desire to go on fighting and living. Deeply-troubled souls like these are difficult to fathom and to leave them alone is like watching them digging their own grave and doing nothing at all to stop them. One of Amy's final performances in Belgrade, Serbia clearly shows the terrible state she was in at that time. It's really sad and heartbreaking to know that another tormented soul has lost the battle against substance abuse. RIP, Amy Winehouse. You will definitely be missed.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

LET'S KARAOKE 16 : KIM APPLEBY - DON'T WORRY

Once upon a time, this one was a favourite of mine. Kim Appleby was one half of the duo 'Mel And Kim', a group she fronted with her sister Mel Appleby. They had a few big hits back in the 80s such as 'Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)' and 'Respectable'. Their music was very much Stock Aitken Waterman which was the rage among club-goers back then (some might diss the SAW sound now but seriously, it was truly BIG then). Sadly, Mel And Kim's rise to fame was stopped short when Mel was diagnosed with cancer. After a few years hiatus (Kim took care of Mel when she was sick) and Mel's death in 1990 (from pneumonia), Kim released her eponymous debut album (also in 1990). The album produced a few hit singles and one of them was this song 'Don't Worry'.

The single's cover


In no time
You'll be fine
Don't worry

Don't worry
Don't worry

You met a guy

He said he was your lover
He said he loved you like no other
He told you that you were the only one
How could he say that when he's having so much fun

Now he says you're making him sad
How is that when he treats you so bad
Now he's gone
Left you for another
You're not the first
You now discover

Don't you cry
You'll get by

You'll be back on you feet
In no time
You'll be fine
Don't worry

You got hurt, you got hurt
You're not the first
Your heart aches
It won't last
It will pass
Don't worry

Don't waste your time thinking of the past
Love like that could never last girl

Don't you know things happen for a reason
It's meant to be just like the change of seasons
You're not to blame
Don't you feel so bad
He was the one who was making you sad
Now he's gone
Left you for another
It's for the best
You will discover


Don't you cry

You'll get by
You'll be back on you feet

In no time
You'll be fine
Don't worry
You got hurt, you got hurt
You're not the first
Your heart aches
It won't last
It will pass
Don't worry
Don't worry
Don't worry


Standing all of my own

Love will never be the same without him
Trying hard to be strong
How can I go on
Now he's gone

Don't you cry
You'll get by
You'll be back on you feet
In no time
You'll be fine
Don't worry
You got hurt, you got hurt
You're not the first

Your heart aches
It won't last
It will pass
Don't worry

Don't you cry
You'll get by
You'll be back on you feet

In no time
You'll be fine
Don't worry
You got hurt, you got hurt
You're not the first
Your heart aches
It won't last
It will pass
Don't worry

Saturday, July 2, 2011

LET'S KARAOKE 15 : SWING OUT SISTER - TWILIGHT WORLD

Swing Out Sister? Quite an unusual name for a group. Well, quite a very unusual name for anything actually (they got it from a 1945 movie of the same name). Their type of music is not something that can be categorised as standard pop but they did manage to infiltrate the pop market with a few of their more pop-friendly songs. I guess not many people can appreciate their brand of music and maybe, that is part of the reason why they have not achieved the success that they so much deserve. Like other singers and groups of similar genre such as Sade, Basia and Simply Red, they too have kept their own loyal followers from all around the world.

The single's cover


Time out
World in a hurry
There's more love than money changing hands
Lights out
Thinking out loud

Turn your back on the world outside
Night thoughts
No one can share
As darkness breaks through another day
Secrets

Talking out loud
Silence waits just a dream away

Forget lonely crowds, unfriendly faces
They'll soon became familiar places
Before too long, before too long

Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
You're living in a twilight world
Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
Don't give in to the twilight world

Time out
World in a hurry
There's more love than money changing hands
Lights out

Thinking out loud
Turn your back on the world outside
Forget lonely crowds, unfriendly faces
They'll soon became familiar places
Before too long, before too long
Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
You're living in a twilight world

Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
Don't give in to the twilight world

Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
You're living in a twilight world
Don't be fooled by love songs and lonely hearts
Don't give in to the twilight world

AVANT-GARDE OR JUST PLAIN UGLY?

I've seen a few monuments and memorials erected which somehow do not seem to convey any meaning to me. Instead of enhancing the landscape and appearance of a certain place, some of these structures can be considered as monstrosities not worthy of construction in the first place. Why was going on in the minds of the undertakers when they were doing the projects? Did they take into consideration the overall look and effect these 'uglies' would have on people and the surroundings? Certain structures are even overshadowed by other constructions around them, making them totally insignificant and totally 'blah'. Impending suicide, I'd say. What is the point of building a monument or memorial if it doesn't serve any purpose at all? Talking about these 'uglies', I have seen many replicas of certain objects erected right smack in many town centres in Malaysia. I'm sure most of us have seen these gigantic durians, pineapples, mangosteens, wildlife, marine life and myriad others in the middle of a busy intersection somewhere. Totally distracting and totally cartoon-like sometimes! I wouldn't mind so much if these replicas are placed near the entrance of a farm, orchard, amusement park or anything of that sort but not in the middle of a town. I'm sure we can place these 'giants' somewhere else. Definitely somewhere that is more touristy. Some might argue that these structures are points of interest and serve as landmarks for certain localities but I'm sure we can find something that is much, much more attractive and appropriate than a giant durian or a giant squid. What say you?