So I spent the day at the Esplanade writing and researching, before getting a night-changing email at 6pm. Basically, if all went according to plan, Echo & The Bunnymen was within my reach! Coincidentally, they'd be playing at the Esplanade in 2 hours.
After much deliberation and an attempt at financial planning (think along the lines of primary school maths sums) I decided I MUST go. Surely it was a sign and divine intervention of sorts that I received this news before the show, and not, as I anticipated, after or during. So I went to buy a ticket and decided to get the cheapest one for $68. It's 3 floors up, but right in the centre and a pretty good view. But still too far away.
And then things got even better. When sadly making my way to Circle 3 watching others embark to lower levels, wondering if I should've gotten a better seat, I was informed that as the tickets didn't sell out, I was being reseated to the first level. Also because I was alone and could be easily slotted anywhere, as compared to groups of people who wanted to stick together. Score! (with all gratitude to the post-punk deprived masses). Saved $20 bucks plus had the joy of sitting amidst others who paid more than me but got the same spot.
Echo & the Bunnymen were awesome, first thing I loved was the Manchester accent. I could listen to Ian McCulloch speak all day. Didn't have a clue what he was on about at some points, but it was lovely to hear anyway.
The crowd was made up mainly of expats, and it was just like when I saw David Byrne. Just me amidst all these much older, rich people. Everyone was seated which was really annoying me, but I was quite happy to dance by myself. Eventually everyone got up and Ian said, in his awesome accent, "that's better!" It really was.
They played a pretty ace setlist - Rescue, Bedbugs and Ballyhoo, Lips Like Sugar and Think I Need It Too (new album) were my favourites. Ian's voice is one of the best things I've ever heard; surely comes from lips like sugar, sugar kisses. The band was insane too. I'm so glad I went. =)
Must have forgotten something
How to forget how to be true
Covered myself in numb things
Don't touch me, and I won't touch you
Try to remember something
Why am I here and who are you?
You must have meant something
Animals came in two by two
Whatever you want
Whatever you need
I think I need it too
<3 <3 <3
If I wrote everytime I had to, I'd have gone through a lot more notebooks by now.
The tears she could conceal. But she hoped - and she hoped as silently as she could - that he wouldn't hear the echoed shatter of her heart. She needed to hide the truth. She needed him to think it was perfect.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Echo For Me
Today was my first free day in quite a while - no article to be hurriedly written and rushed out, no research to be quickly compiled. It was a much needed break. I was planning to get tomorrow's work started today to set a route of general calmness, but didn't quite happen. I was also planning to sort out the mess that is my room and put up my new posters (requires a lot of shifting and climbing and searching for suitable adhesives) but that didn't happen either.
I'm enjoying Bowie in my satin sheets too much.
I have decided to give Echo & The Bunnymen a miss (due to lack of funds) and it sadly makes me feel all grown up. Who'd have though I could be foresightful enough to not spend money that's hypothetically mine but not in the bank yet?
That being said, if it was a band on my must-watch list, I'd sell everything. Myself even. And that wouldn't even be my last resort.
The year so far has been a year full of gigs - YYYs, Green Day, Muse(and Rise Against), and who knows what next. The irony is, I could get paid for any, or even several, of the projects I've been working on anytime. Knowing life and the way it goes, I bet 1 hour after the concert starts, 9pm tomorrow, I get a call saying I've just been paid for project so & so. I just know it.
What's even worse is, I joined TWO contests to try and get free tickets. One was a general lucky draw type thing which I wasn't at all hopeful about, the other was to submit your favourite E&Bunnymen song, and why, and tell it well! Done, I thought to myself.
Below I have posted what I submitted. I strongly believe that the tickets were kept for the organisers, or given to friends.
My favourite song by Echo & the Bunnymen is All My Life from their self-titled album.
Several reasons:
1. It's the perfect song when you're happy, it's the perfect song when you're sad - both in terms of the music and the lyrics. That level of versatility is something I appreciate and believe to be rare, so this one stands out as something really special to me. It's also an epic ending to the album.
2. The verse that goes:
Cannon fire burning
on the hillside
You and I are side by side
Listen
Tin soldiers playing our tune
Makes me think about war, makes me think about love - the flowers by the hillside are purple.
Terrifyingly beautiful in such simple words.
Personally, it makes me want to create something as pure and simple as this.
I'm a writer and this verse alone makes me want to be a better, more giving writer. It makes me want to write so people know exactly what colour the flowers are, without me even mentioning the flowers.
3. I like finding connections between me and the music I listen to (e.g. The Clash's London Calling was released in Dec. 14 1979 in the UK, I was born on the very same day 8 years later)
This album was released in 1987, the year I was born. I like to hear the songs and imagine how as they were being written, recorded, produced, I was, at the very same time, also being created and prepared for the world. Romanticising? Definitely. But still entirely true.
xoxo
With bated breath and crossed fingers,
Rett
And they said I won the 2nd prize of... a cd. Awesome, while you enjoy your unearned tickets tomorrow, I shall stay home and listen to CDs.
I'm enjoying Bowie in my satin sheets too much.
I have decided to give Echo & The Bunnymen a miss (due to lack of funds) and it sadly makes me feel all grown up. Who'd have though I could be foresightful enough to not spend money that's hypothetically mine but not in the bank yet?
That being said, if it was a band on my must-watch list, I'd sell everything. Myself even. And that wouldn't even be my last resort.
The year so far has been a year full of gigs - YYYs, Green Day, Muse(and Rise Against), and who knows what next. The irony is, I could get paid for any, or even several, of the projects I've been working on anytime. Knowing life and the way it goes, I bet 1 hour after the concert starts, 9pm tomorrow, I get a call saying I've just been paid for project so & so. I just know it.
What's even worse is, I joined TWO contests to try and get free tickets. One was a general lucky draw type thing which I wasn't at all hopeful about, the other was to submit your favourite E&Bunnymen song, and why, and tell it well! Done, I thought to myself.
Below I have posted what I submitted. I strongly believe that the tickets were kept for the organisers, or given to friends.
My favourite song by Echo & the Bunnymen is All My Life from their self-titled album.
Several reasons:
1. It's the perfect song when you're happy, it's the perfect song when you're sad - both in terms of the music and the lyrics. That level of versatility is something I appreciate and believe to be rare, so this one stands out as something really special to me. It's also an epic ending to the album.
2. The verse that goes:
Cannon fire burning
on the hillside
You and I are side by side
Listen
Tin soldiers playing our tune
Makes me think about war, makes me think about love - the flowers by the hillside are purple.
Terrifyingly beautiful in such simple words.
Personally, it makes me want to create something as pure and simple as this.
I'm a writer and this verse alone makes me want to be a better, more giving writer. It makes me want to write so people know exactly what colour the flowers are, without me even mentioning the flowers.
3. I like finding connections between me and the music I listen to (e.g. The Clash's London Calling was released in Dec. 14 1979 in the UK, I was born on the very same day 8 years later)
This album was released in 1987, the year I was born. I like to hear the songs and imagine how as they were being written, recorded, produced, I was, at the very same time, also being created and prepared for the world. Romanticising? Definitely. But still entirely true.
xoxo
With bated breath and crossed fingers,
Rett
And they said I won the 2nd prize of... a cd. Awesome, while you enjoy your unearned tickets tomorrow, I shall stay home and listen to CDs.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
So much for that
Yi Han is back!
Spent the morning (I actually woke up at 8am, 3-4 hours earlier than usual. It's the insomnia that keeps me up till 5 or 6am every night. Well, morning. But today I forced myself to arise from my slumber.) finishing up some work. It went rather smoothly, and then I was off to meet the boy.
I showed him around all the new developments in town like ION and 313, although I must admit I was quite a useless tour guide as my reply to every question was, "erm, dunno". It's true I'm a tourist in Orchard these days. I guess I'm only good at pointing out pretty things.
Hung out at Starschmucks, the weather was perfect coffee weather. Rain and all.
And thanks to him I know have that awful song by RuPaul stuck in my head.
Found a nice new place (well, new to me) at City Hall - Japanese coffee place which for some reason is called MOF. Asking for trouble if you ask me. Shila had arrived by then and we had conversations about our futures, politics, the old man who won't leave, lots of fascinating stuff.
Meant to get more work done tonight but it's almost 4am and I haven't done a thing.
Spent the morning (I actually woke up at 8am, 3-4 hours earlier than usual. It's the insomnia that keeps me up till 5 or 6am every night. Well, morning. But today I forced myself to arise from my slumber.) finishing up some work. It went rather smoothly, and then I was off to meet the boy.
I showed him around all the new developments in town like ION and 313, although I must admit I was quite a useless tour guide as my reply to every question was, "erm, dunno". It's true I'm a tourist in Orchard these days. I guess I'm only good at pointing out pretty things.
Hung out at Starschmucks, the weather was perfect coffee weather. Rain and all.
And thanks to him I know have that awful song by RuPaul stuck in my head.
Found a nice new place (well, new to me) at City Hall - Japanese coffee place which for some reason is called MOF. Asking for trouble if you ask me. Shila had arrived by then and we had conversations about our futures, politics, the old man who won't leave, lots of fascinating stuff.
Meant to get more work done tonight but it's almost 4am and I haven't done a thing.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bellamy > Flowers
Just got back from the Muse gig. If the Killers hadn't cancelled, I'd have missed this. So thanks, Brandon.
Rise Against was really good, plus I like them because they're all vegan. Vegan punks ftw =)
And then there was Muse. Matt Bellamy was insane on the piano - I can't help but fall deeply in love, respect and admiration for rock stars who play the piano. And he played it REALLY well.
Matt is excessively cool and talented.
The show started, as I knew it would from my extensive research, with Uprising, a phenomenal song from their latest album, The Resistance. It's a killer song and one hell of an opener. And of course I love every opportunity I get to shout Oi! Oi! Oi! with a massive crowd.
We ditched our faraway seats and stole a spot which was as close we could get without rappelling into the moshpit beneath us (couldn't find any rope). I was loving the irony of the Indoor Stadium crew repeatedly telling Shila and I to return to our seats - we had $98 tickets but eventually secured a better spot than the $128 ones - while Muse played Uprising (They will not force us, They will not control us!).
One sorrowful girl was later heard reporting to her manager or whatever, saying how she TRIED to tell us SO many times but we REFUSED to move. Yes, indeed. (If you ignore them they eventually go away.)
Light displays were zomg awesomeness, I felt like a child watching fireworks for the first time. Plus we had a perfect view after said seat-abandonment took place.
Supermassive Black Hole was a gem, Hysteria was right up there with it. Besides the obvious favourites, I LOVED Unnatural Selection:
I'm hungry for some unrest
Well let's push it beyond the peaceful protest
I wanna speak in a language
that you will understand
Counter balance this commotion
We're not droplets in the ocean.
I wish it had gone on for longer, and I wish they'd sung for absolution.
But other than that?
Electrifying, hair-raising and entirely epic.
Thank you, Muse, you have no idea. And just when I needed it most.
Beer at Brewerkz Before Bellamy.
I <3
Amazing, no?
Giant balloons with confetti!
Rise Against was really good, plus I like them because they're all vegan. Vegan punks ftw =)
And then there was Muse. Matt Bellamy was insane on the piano - I can't help but fall deeply in love, respect and admiration for rock stars who play the piano. And he played it REALLY well.
Matt is excessively cool and talented.
The show started, as I knew it would from my extensive research, with Uprising, a phenomenal song from their latest album, The Resistance. It's a killer song and one hell of an opener. And of course I love every opportunity I get to shout Oi! Oi! Oi! with a massive crowd.
We ditched our faraway seats and stole a spot which was as close we could get without rappelling into the moshpit beneath us (couldn't find any rope). I was loving the irony of the Indoor Stadium crew repeatedly telling Shila and I to return to our seats - we had $98 tickets but eventually secured a better spot than the $128 ones - while Muse played Uprising (They will not force us, They will not control us!).
One sorrowful girl was later heard reporting to her manager or whatever, saying how she TRIED to tell us SO many times but we REFUSED to move. Yes, indeed. (If you ignore them they eventually go away.)
Light displays were zomg awesomeness, I felt like a child watching fireworks for the first time. Plus we had a perfect view after said seat-abandonment took place.
Supermassive Black Hole was a gem, Hysteria was right up there with it. Besides the obvious favourites, I LOVED Unnatural Selection:
I'm hungry for some unrest
Well let's push it beyond the peaceful protest
I wanna speak in a language
that you will understand
Counter balance this commotion
We're not droplets in the ocean.
I wish it had gone on for longer, and I wish they'd sung for absolution.
But other than that?
Electrifying, hair-raising and entirely epic.
Thank you, Muse, you have no idea. And just when I needed it most.
Beer at Brewerkz Before Bellamy.
I <3
Amazing, no?
Giant balloons with confetti!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Moodless Mayhem
No mood to eat, to work, to get out of bed.
I tried listening to The Beatles instead of my stupid emo playlist - made a momentary difference.
Even my eyeliner-induced joy faded quite quickly.
And then everything's okay and the world is pretty again.
Until I stop and I turn and I go for a ride.
And then it isn't.
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide,
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride,
Until I get to the bottom and I see you again.
Do you, don't you want me to love you?
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you.
Tell me, tell me, tell me,
Come on, tell me the answer...
Well you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
I tried listening to The Beatles instead of my stupid emo playlist - made a momentary difference.
Even my eyeliner-induced joy faded quite quickly.
And then everything's okay and the world is pretty again.
Until I stop and I turn and I go for a ride.
And then it isn't.
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide,
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride,
Until I get to the bottom and I see you again.
Do you, don't you want me to love you?
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you.
Tell me, tell me, tell me,
Come on, tell me the answer...
Well you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
Monday, February 1, 2010
About Time
Finally got down to finding a mobile application to tweet for free with, since Singapore isn't on Twitter's list (and Indonesia is - the irony!). Found 2, one is taking a while to set up and authorise so I've found smsyo which works fine except that their website is advertised with every tweet. They've cleverly offered to remove the suffix from all tweets if I advertise for them on my blog, which I definately prefer. It's being sorted out now, I believe.
Only thing left is to figure out how to receive tweets from people I'm following without going online with my phone. Phase 2 of smsyo should provide although they mentioned a small fee.
This weekend's been the best and the worst all at once.
What do you do - what can you do?
I hope it gives you hell.
Only thing left is to figure out how to receive tweets from people I'm following without going online with my phone. Phase 2 of smsyo should provide although they mentioned a small fee.
This weekend's been the best and the worst all at once.
What do you do - what can you do?
I hope it gives you hell.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
Late last night I read that JD Salinger passed away.
He was living in isolation and was 91 years old.
The world has lost a legend of a man who changed and defined lives in ways that perhaps, only now, he will know.
I wore my Attack of Literacy shirt today in tribute; he's one of the writers featured on the shirt.
No other character but Holden Caulfield has remained so fresh in my mind - consistently, constantly - regardless of whether the last time I read Catcher in the Rye was yesterday or 2 years ago. He's the only one who's become a part of me not just while reading the book but after, up until now, and I imagine for a long time to come.
Many writers influence how we write. Here is a man who influences me from within. He really does.
JD Salinger, you're a star. In everyone's eyes, and mine.
When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down that goddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I don't know why.
Here are just some of my favourite quotes:
It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road.
I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible.
What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.
When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around. I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something. Only, I don't go. I'm too worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go.
Sensitive. That killed me. That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a toilet seat.
I was half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can.
People always clap for the wrong things.
I'm always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.
It's no fun to be yellow. Maybe I'm not all yellow. I don't know. I think maybe I'm just partly yellow and partly the type that doesn't give much of a damn if they lose their gloves.
That's the whole trouble. You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write "F*** you" right under your nose.
You take somebody that cries their goddam eyes out over phoney stuff in the movies, and nine times out of ten they're mean bastards at heart.
I'm sort of an atheist. I like Jesus and all, but I don't care too much for most of the other stuff in the Bible. Take the Disciples, for instance. They annoyed the hell out of me, if you want to know the truth. They were all right after Jesus was dead and all, but while He was alive, they were about as much use to Him as a hole in the head. All they did was keep letting Him down. I like almost anybody in the Bible better than the Disciples. If you want to know the truth, the guy I like best in the Bible, next to Jesus, was that lunatic and all, that lived in the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones. I like him ten times as much as the Disciples, that poor bastard.
I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.
Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.
He was singing that song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." He had a pretty little voice too. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The cars zoomed by, the brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the kerb and singing "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed anymore.
"Promise me you'll let your hair grow. Crew cuts are getting corny. And your hair's so lovely."
Lovely my ass.
Take most people, they're crazy about cars. They worry if they get a little scratch on them, and they're always talking about how many miles they get to a gallon, and if they get a brand-new car already they start thinking about trading it in for one that's even newer. I don't even like old cars. I mean they don't even interest me. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.
All these angels start coming out of the boxes and everywhere, guys carrying crucifixes and stuff all over the place, and the whole bunch of them - thousands of them - singing "Come All Ye Faithful" like mad. Big deal. It's supposed to be religious as hell, I know, and very pretty and all, but I can't see anything religious or pretty, for God's sake, about a bunch of actors carrying crucifixes all over the stage. When they all finished and started going out the boxes again, you could tell they could hardly wait to get a cigarette of something. I saw it with old Sally Hayes the year before, and she kept saying how beautiful it was, the costumes and all. I said old Jesus probably would've puked if He could see it.
Boy, when you're dead, they really fix you up. I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.
Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.
Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
He was living in isolation and was 91 years old.
The world has lost a legend of a man who changed and defined lives in ways that perhaps, only now, he will know.
I wore my Attack of Literacy shirt today in tribute; he's one of the writers featured on the shirt.
No other character but Holden Caulfield has remained so fresh in my mind - consistently, constantly - regardless of whether the last time I read Catcher in the Rye was yesterday or 2 years ago. He's the only one who's become a part of me not just while reading the book but after, up until now, and I imagine for a long time to come.
Many writers influence how we write. Here is a man who influences me from within. He really does.
JD Salinger, you're a star. In everyone's eyes, and mine.
When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down that goddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I don't know why.
Here are just some of my favourite quotes:
It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road.
I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible.
What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.
When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around. I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something. Only, I don't go. I'm too worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go.
Sensitive. That killed me. That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a toilet seat.
I was half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can.
People always clap for the wrong things.
I'm always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.
It's no fun to be yellow. Maybe I'm not all yellow. I don't know. I think maybe I'm just partly yellow and partly the type that doesn't give much of a damn if they lose their gloves.
That's the whole trouble. You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write "F*** you" right under your nose.
You take somebody that cries their goddam eyes out over phoney stuff in the movies, and nine times out of ten they're mean bastards at heart.
I'm sort of an atheist. I like Jesus and all, but I don't care too much for most of the other stuff in the Bible. Take the Disciples, for instance. They annoyed the hell out of me, if you want to know the truth. They were all right after Jesus was dead and all, but while He was alive, they were about as much use to Him as a hole in the head. All they did was keep letting Him down. I like almost anybody in the Bible better than the Disciples. If you want to know the truth, the guy I like best in the Bible, next to Jesus, was that lunatic and all, that lived in the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones. I like him ten times as much as the Disciples, that poor bastard.
I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.
Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.
He was singing that song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." He had a pretty little voice too. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The cars zoomed by, the brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the kerb and singing "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed anymore.
"Promise me you'll let your hair grow. Crew cuts are getting corny. And your hair's so lovely."
Lovely my ass.
Take most people, they're crazy about cars. They worry if they get a little scratch on them, and they're always talking about how many miles they get to a gallon, and if they get a brand-new car already they start thinking about trading it in for one that's even newer. I don't even like old cars. I mean they don't even interest me. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.
All these angels start coming out of the boxes and everywhere, guys carrying crucifixes and stuff all over the place, and the whole bunch of them - thousands of them - singing "Come All Ye Faithful" like mad. Big deal. It's supposed to be religious as hell, I know, and very pretty and all, but I can't see anything religious or pretty, for God's sake, about a bunch of actors carrying crucifixes all over the stage. When they all finished and started going out the boxes again, you could tell they could hardly wait to get a cigarette of something. I saw it with old Sally Hayes the year before, and she kept saying how beautiful it was, the costumes and all. I said old Jesus probably would've puked if He could see it.
Boy, when you're dead, they really fix you up. I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.
Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.
Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
an odd(fellows) day
So I spent the day at library @ esplanade again, my new fav. place. I'm now at a cafe in the library, with free wireless, a powerpoint thingy to charge my laptop, reasonably priced drinks and a rather lovely view of the city skyline as the sun sets and the lights come on. Me likes.
There was a exhibition going on in the library, about music in Singapore from the 60s till today. This was of great interest to me as it's exactly what I'm writing about. So I spent a couple of hours listening to some local music with their slightly impressive lot of CDs. First pick was The Oddfellows - was rather pleased with myself because after a few songs I thought, Buzzcocks. Violent Femmes! And both are high on their lists of influences on Myspace. If you're gonna give them a listen I'd go for Lost My Head or Foggy Daylight. I listened to the whole album from start to finish, and it was a pleasure. It really was.
I'm hoping I get to write about them later on for the project I'm working on; I'll suggest them to be included anyway. An interview would be awesome. Found a Quests double disc compilation, SO sixties, I love it!
Oops the cafe's closing.
There was a exhibition going on in the library, about music in Singapore from the 60s till today. This was of great interest to me as it's exactly what I'm writing about. So I spent a couple of hours listening to some local music with their slightly impressive lot of CDs. First pick was The Oddfellows - was rather pleased with myself because after a few songs I thought, Buzzcocks. Violent Femmes! And both are high on their lists of influences on Myspace. If you're gonna give them a listen I'd go for Lost My Head or Foggy Daylight. I listened to the whole album from start to finish, and it was a pleasure. It really was.
I'm hoping I get to write about them later on for the project I'm working on; I'll suggest them to be included anyway. An interview would be awesome. Found a Quests double disc compilation, SO sixties, I love it!
Oops the cafe's closing.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Rise from your slumber!
So I've been reading up a significant amount about our lovely little country and her history - independence, politics, riots, music, the whole lot. It's fascinating and I feel very small indeed about how little I know. Some of these things were taught in Social Studies in school but quickly forgotten after the exams were over.
Today I had the pleasure of referring to work I'd previously written for a new article. A good feeling for sure.
I'm currently writing an article about the National Anthem and how it was first played to the public when Yusof bin Ishak was inaugurated as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) and I can just imagine - following a 17-gun salute, the first President emerges to the grandeur of Majulah Singapura to a 2,500-strong crowd, who was hearing the anthem for the first time, waiting at The Padang.
I've also been reading a book by JBJ titled The Hatchet Man of Singapore (guess who?) and it's very enlightening. It's also very saddening. But oh how much I've learnt - about politics in days past, how it applies and still carries on till today, the role of the Catholic Church in the '87 arrests, why I should cut Father Patrick a bit of slack for his rigid ways and lots more.
But more must be learnt before anything more is said.
Everyone should read this book, and JBJ's call for us all to "rise from [our] slumber" will surely manifest.
The Man:
Photo from Singapore: The Encyclopedia
Also I had a very annoying FB discussion with someone who says that Oscar, Edgar, Vincent, Henry and other legendary writers/artists could have prevented dying penniless if they had better marketing. Yes. Better marketing, Mr. Wilde, you got that? urgh.
Today I had the pleasure of referring to work I'd previously written for a new article. A good feeling for sure.
I'm currently writing an article about the National Anthem and how it was first played to the public when Yusof bin Ishak was inaugurated as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) and I can just imagine - following a 17-gun salute, the first President emerges to the grandeur of Majulah Singapura to a 2,500-strong crowd, who was hearing the anthem for the first time, waiting at The Padang.
I've also been reading a book by JBJ titled The Hatchet Man of Singapore (guess who?) and it's very enlightening. It's also very saddening. But oh how much I've learnt - about politics in days past, how it applies and still carries on till today, the role of the Catholic Church in the '87 arrests, why I should cut Father Patrick a bit of slack for his rigid ways and lots more.
But more must be learnt before anything more is said.
Everyone should read this book, and JBJ's call for us all to "rise from [our] slumber" will surely manifest.
The Man:
Photo from Singapore: The Encyclopedia
Also I had a very annoying FB discussion with someone who says that Oscar, Edgar, Vincent, Henry and other legendary writers/artists could have prevented dying penniless if they had better marketing. Yes. Better marketing, Mr. Wilde, you got that? urgh.
Monday, January 25, 2010
And she knew it would be good.
Met Krystle for dinner and hung out at the Esplanade for a while. There was a dreadful Abba cover band that I tried my best not to listen to. Not just because it was Abba - they were... not so hot.
We spent some time in the Library@Esplanade, I do love the place. It has a cosy feel most of the other libraries lack. And I'm glad I've paid my exorbitant library fees (almost $80) because it's awesome to be able to pick up books and movies for free. It feels, in some small way, that I'm getting my literary entitlement as a citizen now - though where my $80 has gone, who can say?
I was in the mood for some local movies - the NLB project I'm working on has made me realise how much of the local arts I've missed out on by not being born back in the day. So, to compensate being short-changed by means of birth in the wrong decade, I got the award-winning 12 Storeys (1997), which was also the first Singaporean film to be shown at Cannes. Saw it years ago but I'm sure I'll appreciate it more now.
I also got Alternative Voices which contains Mother by Royston Tan, Exodus by Sherman Ong and Katong Fugue by Boo Junfeng (adapted from Alfian Sa'at's Landmarks: Asian Boys Vol. 2).
It's not quite the same as rioting and rock & roll in the 60s, but it'll do. Can't wait to watch 'em.
We spent some time in the Library@Esplanade, I do love the place. It has a cosy feel most of the other libraries lack. And I'm glad I've paid my exorbitant library fees (almost $80) because it's awesome to be able to pick up books and movies for free. It feels, in some small way, that I'm getting my literary entitlement as a citizen now - though where my $80 has gone, who can say?
I was in the mood for some local movies - the NLB project I'm working on has made me realise how much of the local arts I've missed out on by not being born back in the day. So, to compensate being short-changed by means of birth in the wrong decade, I got the award-winning 12 Storeys (1997), which was also the first Singaporean film to be shown at Cannes. Saw it years ago but I'm sure I'll appreciate it more now.
I also got Alternative Voices which contains Mother by Royston Tan, Exodus by Sherman Ong and Katong Fugue by Boo Junfeng (adapted from Alfian Sa'at's Landmarks: Asian Boys Vol. 2).
It's not quite the same as rioting and rock & roll in the 60s, but it'll do. Can't wait to watch 'em.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I've got the spirit, but lose the feeling
It's been a while since I've done this, but I've been listening to Joy Division for the entire day. I can't honestly say I've ever forgotten how much I love them, so it must be that I rediscover their awesomeness each time I have a JD Day/Week.
I'm thinking my favourite song might be Disorder. Or at least it's in my top 3.
Watch it HERE it's for your own good. Promise.)
I was thinking about how the same music can mean such different things to each individual. One major thing about JD for me is how they've changed how I listen to all music - it was only after I became a JoyD Junkie that the bassline became the predominant sound I'd hear in every song. Because Peter Hook's bassline is epic.
Or like how I will always have a secret soft spot for Fall Out Boy because it was their cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart all those years ago(I think it was '03)that led me back to the original. And it was, in turn, JD's cover of Sister Ray that led me to Velvet Underground.
Joy Division is also why I got into vinyl - my very first LP was Closer. An original, even. I'd been listening to nothing but JD and thought there had to be a better, perhaps more intense way of hearing these songs that I loved. And I suddenly fell in love with records. It's beautiful how it all works.
I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand.
I'm thinking my favourite song might be Disorder. Or at least it's in my top 3.
Watch it HERE it's for your own good. Promise.)
I was thinking about how the same music can mean such different things to each individual. One major thing about JD for me is how they've changed how I listen to all music - it was only after I became a JoyD Junkie that the bassline became the predominant sound I'd hear in every song. Because Peter Hook's bassline is epic.
Or like how I will always have a secret soft spot for Fall Out Boy because it was their cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart all those years ago(I think it was '03)that led me back to the original. And it was, in turn, JD's cover of Sister Ray that led me to Velvet Underground.
Joy Division is also why I got into vinyl - my very first LP was Closer. An original, even. I'd been listening to nothing but JD and thought there had to be a better, perhaps more intense way of hearing these songs that I loved. And I suddenly fell in love with records. It's beautiful how it all works.
I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
FAIL
Craig told me about this site - too funny!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
see more funny facebook stuff!
Friday, January 22, 2010
#%&@ you Killers
So the Killers have cancelled their gig here.
This is devastating news.
I don't even know what to say.
Epic fail.
@anonymous, The government isn't accountable to Haiti but they are to us. My point was if people are unhappy about how much is being donated, that should be taken up with a government that is representative of the country, not a private organisation who most, if not all, in the group have no affiliation to and are not represented by.
This is devastating news.
I don't even know what to say.
Epic fail.
@anonymous, The government isn't accountable to Haiti but they are to us. My point was if people are unhappy about how much is being donated, that should be taken up with a government that is representative of the country, not a private organisation who most, if not all, in the group have no affiliation to and are not represented by.
Smile like you mean it.
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
(and I remember it like it was yesterday).
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
AND IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD BUT...
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
(she doesn't exist, it's all in my head now)
Let me go
'cause I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
taking control.
taking control.
And it's all in my head.
But it's killing me.
and taking control.
I never I never I never.
I'm Ms. Brightside.
Taking control.
Control is an awesome film by Anton Corbjin about Ian & Joy Division.
But you'll only really get it if you know Ian like I do.
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
(and I remember it like it was yesterday).
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
AND IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD BUT...
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
(she doesn't exist, it's all in my head now)
Let me go
'cause I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
taking control.
taking control.
And it's all in my head.
But it's killing me.
and taking control.
I never I never I never.
I'm Ms. Brightside.
Taking control.
Control is an awesome film by Anton Corbjin about Ian & Joy Division.
But you'll only really get it if you know Ian like I do.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
seriously.
Okay so I had a pretty awesome night out with Sheelz, Shaun, Arman and Redz. Vego dinner with Shila at Bugis before heading home, I mean, to Timbre, for some beer to the sounds of Jack & Rai and EIC. We stayed till they closed as Redz and I are reckless freelancers, Shila doesn't have school tomorrow and Arman starts work next week and Shaun's off tomorrow I think.
Anyway.
I came home to discover the MOST ANNOYING GROUP IN THE WORLD on facebook.
It's called $1mil out of ur expansion fund for Haiti? City Harvest n New Creation pls?
First of all, if you'd like to create a group about something you perceive to be serious, pls sp3|| out ur wordZ, thx.
The group is basically trying to rally people together and appeal to rich churches to donate to Haiti. More specifically, City Harvest church which has a $310 million expansion plan. All the group wants is $1 million for Haiti, because that's what God would want them to do, and the churches can then set up in Haiti and start converting people there.
And the discussions on the wall contain arguments about how everyone should donate, but Christians more so than anyone else because of the calling to love thy neighbour.
Everyone's quoting from the bible and everything and the thing that came to mind for me was Jesus' preference for humble acts of goodwill as opposed to donating and making sure everyone knows about it. Uncertainty on whether these churches have donated or not are even stated in the group's info page.
If people have an issue with how much is/isn't being donated, take it up with the cheap bastards. Not private organisations who are not answerable or accountable to society.
I was about to join the group and say something, and then I was about to post on my wall, but decided to seek asylum here instead.
Mad, mad world.
Anyway.
I came home to discover the MOST ANNOYING GROUP IN THE WORLD on facebook.
It's called $1mil out of ur expansion fund for Haiti? City Harvest n New Creation pls?
First of all, if you'd like to create a group about something you perceive to be serious, pls sp3|| out ur wordZ, thx.
The group is basically trying to rally people together and appeal to rich churches to donate to Haiti. More specifically, City Harvest church which has a $310 million expansion plan. All the group wants is $1 million for Haiti, because that's what God would want them to do, and the churches can then set up in Haiti and start converting people there.
And the discussions on the wall contain arguments about how everyone should donate, but Christians more so than anyone else because of the calling to love thy neighbour.
Everyone's quoting from the bible and everything and the thing that came to mind for me was Jesus' preference for humble acts of goodwill as opposed to donating and making sure everyone knows about it. Uncertainty on whether these churches have donated or not are even stated in the group's info page.
If people have an issue with how much is/isn't being donated, take it up with the cheap bastards. Not private organisations who are not answerable or accountable to society.
I was about to join the group and say something, and then I was about to post on my wall, but decided to seek asylum here instead.
Mad, mad world.
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