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.

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

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?

LET'S KARAOKE 14 : GEORGE MICHAEL - KISSING A FOOL

It's time to hit the microphone again, guys. This time, I have chosen George Michael's Kissing A Fool, the fifth single taken from his first album 'Faith' upon his departure from Wham!. Unlike his other singles from the album, this song did not manage to climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It stalled at number 5 and the top spot on the chart for that week belonged to Bon Jovi's Bad Medicine. I guess everyone and his girlfriend were into Bon Jovi back then. By the way, George Michael was also considered as a hottie at that time (that was a long, long time before his infamous restroom incident). Kissing A Fool has also been covered by Michael Bublé and I'd have to say that both versions are excellent. So here it is, the karaoke for George Michael's Kissing A Fool. Just don't start singing like a fool.

The single's cover

You are far when I could have been your star
You listened to people who scared you to death and from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough to even make a start
But you'll never find peace of mind till you listen to your heart

People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will, for they will
If you let them steal your heart from you
People, will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through

Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So goodbye
But please don't take my heart

You are far, I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces and mend my heart
Maybe I'll be strong enough, I don't know where to start
But I'll never find peace of mind while I listen to my heart

People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will, for they will
If you let them steal your heart
And people, will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all

But remember this, every other kiss that you'll ever give
Long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you, like I always do
But something there that can't compare with any other

You are far, when I could have been your star
You listened to people, who scared you to death and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough to think you'd love me too
I guess you were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool

PLAYING WITH THE BIG BOYS (AND GIRLS)

I know the title sounds a little bit dirty but there is not much to it actually. I've been playing Mafia Wars on facebook for quite a while now and a few weeks ago, I thought maybe I could expand my Mafia family. I was feeling a bit too ambitious and I did what most players would do in order to get active and powerful Mafia members easily and quickly. I did a bit of searching here and there and contacted a few high-level players to be in their family. Little did I know that most of these big boys and girls were already in warring clans. There are hundreds of these clans and some of them can be pretty obsessed and vicious when it comes to playing this game. I really put my little Mafia ass in trouble since I could easily be detected by other players as well. What started as a game that I played for fun with some good friends turned into a nightmare. I was attacked and robbed left and right 24/7 by these warring clans. They definitely are a ruthless lot and most of them are automated players. Well, there was nothing I could do except to lie low for a while and wait until everything is back to normal. The attacks are a lot less now and I am able to resume my game peacefully. The moral of the story is never try to get into the big league if you're still a greenhorn. You still have a long way to go and there is still a lot more that you have to learn. And I have definitely learned my lesson.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Mother's Day is back once again and this time, I'd like to give thanks and honour to all the ladies who have 'mothered' me in one way or another. Nobody can doubt that y'all have done a wonderful job and today is definitely yours to enjoy. But the real award will have to go to the only mother I have in this world (and the hereafter), Puan Hajah Kamsiah binti Haji Abdul Hamid or more well-known as 'Madame Kam' to my close friends. So to all mothers out there and especially, Madame Kam, have a wonderful Mother's Day today. Y'all are much loved! Muah! Muah! Muah!

ALBUM COVERS INSPIRED BY ART AND OTHER SOURCES - PART I

Boris Vallejo - Dragon Tatoo

Ted Nugent - Penetrator

Abdul Mati Klarwein - New York Angel

Reuben Wilson - Blue Mode

John Steuart Curry - Tragic Prelude

Kansas - Kansas

Frank Kelly Freas -The Gulf Between

Queen - News Of The World

Henri Fantin-Latour - A Basket Of Roses

New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies

M.C. Escher - Bond Of Union

Ian Hunter- Ian Hunter

René Magritte - The Listening Room

The Jeff Beck Group - Ola

René Magritte - The Blank Cheque

Styx - The Grand Illusion

Sir John Everett Millais - The Boyhood Of Raleigh

Talk Talk - It's My Life

Édouard Manet - Le Déjeuner Sur L'Herbe

Bow Wow Wow - See Jungle! See Jungle!

Boris Vallejo - Butterfly Wings

Amuk and XPDC

ENFORCING MY IMPERATIVES : IN A 'GRAMMATICAL' MOOD

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to 'request' someone to do something since its strength is never as potent as 'telling' that someone to get the job done. I don't like to be seen as an autocratic person (bitchy, fussy and uncompromising are more like it) but somebody (not me obviously) has got to do it. I have had enough of unfulfilled requests, incomplete tasks, abandoned jobs, substandard projects et cetera et cetera et cetera and I don't think I want to be diplomatic any longer. I've tried to be cynical and sarcastic but some people just can't grasp the idea of cynicism and sarcasm. To resolve this issue, I will have to resort to implementing imperatives. No more 'can you, could you, would you, will you' and 'please' when it's much more effective to practise my authoritarian skills (I can be very Hitler-like, mind you). So I guess I will have to tell some people to do their jobs :

IMMEDIATELY
RESPONSIBLY
QUICKLY
RIGHT
ONCE

So to those who feel that this entry is written for you or about you, you'd better get off your lazy ass right now!

J-POP AND K-POP

It seems that a lot of Malaysian teenagers are into K-Pop or Korean pop nowadays. This can obviously be seen in their way of dressing and hairstyles. Before K-Pop made it way to the Malaysian shore, it was Japanese pop or J-Pop which dominated the scene but the impact was not as big as that of K-Pop. I also did not know that a lot of Malay songs from the 70s and 80s were actually cover versions of Japanese pop music until I heard a few of the original tunes on youtube. It was amazing how heavily Malay music 'borrowed' from the Japanese that some of these cover versions have become the signature songs of these secondary singers. J Mizan is known for his' Hari Ini dan Semalam' and Rina Rahman for 'Berikan Ku Bahagia'. Other Malaysian singers who have sung the cover versions of Japanese songs include Sudirman, Noorkumalasari, Sharifah Aini, Uji Rashid, Halil Chik, Sanisah Huri, Alleycats and Sarena Hashim. I might be a tad too old for this K-Pop thing now but the J-Pop songs from yesteryears really suit the old man in me very well.

p/s On a lighter note, if Japanese pop is known as J-Pop and Korean pop as K-Pop, what should we call Chinese pop? Chi-Pop obviously, which in the Malay language sounds very much like the vulgar word for the female genital!