1^n = 1

It seems that the current IN thing in the blogosphere is to blog about whatever related to Merdeka. I remember this time last year, the debate was on whether the Birthday of Malaysia fell on 31/8 or 16/9, and we got no answer for that.

This year, the most talk-about issue is around the slogan '1 Malaysia' promoted by our 'beloved' PM. To me, it's nothing new, it's nothing fantastic and it's nothing else. The same thing has been being talked about more a few decades. Someone got bored and decided to label it with a new title, so we have the '1 Malaysia' campaign now. That's just an example of 换汤不换药.

To execute something is always harder than explaining the ideas. There's no point keep on focusing on the branding and not applying it. It does no good to the nation!

I bet you never know such a song exists right?

我们的主题曲

继《Ipoh Mali》之后，又有一首新的歌曲，在歌颂着我的故乡——怡保。它的山明水秀和美味食物，的确使许多过客流连忘返。要不然，易桀齊也不会有创作灵感，而写出着首好歌。不知道连锁店遍布全星马的Oldtown Kopitiam会不会征用这首歌，作为其金漆招牌的主题曲。

可是哦，连易桀齊这东马人都能为怡保写歌，为什么出生怡保的各位音乐人至今也没创作出脍炙人口的‘怡保歌’呢？（《Ipoh Mali》，差在不够大众化）不知道，要等到什么时候才有像《Sayang Kinabalu》那样被沙巴人传唱到街知行闻的‘非官方州歌’在霹雳州出现。




怡保

詞 易桀齊
曲 伍冠諺 易桀齊

往北開 兩個人 路過了怡保
三小時 才到檳城 路上雨好大

回程的時候 繞到這個鄉鎮玩玩
好山好水好風光

怡保的舊街場 吃的數不完
芽菜 河粉 咖啡香

走在怡保街上 這里舊得很好看
灑下古老月光
有多少人嚮往

被山嶺環抱 在霹靂洞前面合照
有古早樣的浪漫

我走在舊街場 撲鼻咖啡香
像愛般揮不散

走在怡保街上 這里 舊得很好看
灑下古老月光
有多少人嚮往

我走在舊街場 吃的數不完
芽菜 河粉 咖啡香

走在新舊街場 由近打河分两半
穿梭两个時光
你都在我身旁

Every song tells a story - Pt 3

If you are a modern folk, I'm sure you are more or less hooked to listening to music, be it classical or pop music. And I truly believe that there must be a few particular songs that you like them so much, probably because of the catchy melody or the lyrics.

Of course, I'm just like anyone else, no different from you. Now, let me share with you of a few songs that could represent a certain period of my life.

2005 Michael Bublé - Home

2005, was the year I graduated with a bachelor degree. Finally, the hard works on rushing for the assignments dateline and the never ending tests and exams, were over. What a relief! I was actually feeling lucky enough to have graduated, since I was quite an an idiot throughout the whole final year.

So, just like anyone else, I was on the crossroad to choose an option from a few alternatives. Further studies was totally out of my choice as I had no confidence in doing more studies at that time. At the same time, the graduation too marked the end of my 3 years stay in Coventry, England. Here came another question: where should I start my career?

Back home to help out the family business, was my decision. It'a choice which I am still in doubt whether it's the better option, sometimes. But, the optimistic part of me always gets to brush it off with positive attitude. This nice song too reminds me how wonderful is it to be at home!

2006 James Blunt - You're Beautiful

I was so into this song; even until now. James Blunt is such a wonderful singer with a nice voice. Great melody, meaningful lyric. No doubt, this song's one of the greatest hits of all time! Do you think so? I bet you do!

'My life is brilliant; my life is pure' I like this particular 2 lines the most. Whenever feeling unhappy, down or upset about something, I would just shout out this 2 lines aloud. This is to remind myself that my life isn't that bad after all. Why should I be so negative?

Year 2006 was not my year. Everything just seemed going to the wrong direction and nothing much to be cheered for. I always believe that in reality, all these things were just part of the challenges that we need to deal with and to learn something from. More importantly, it does make us stronger and tougher than before. C'est la vie

Masyarakat Majmuk

I always think that Malaysians can do more to show the world how people from different backgrounds can live together without much conflict. That's what the government and other organisations in Malaysia have been promoting to the rest of the world, right?

Malaysia, Truly Asia. Such a catchy phrase has been deeply locked in many foreigners' mind; at least that's what my experience with other couchsurfers tells me.

Most of the time, I explained to the couchsurfers that much conflicts were actually avoided as many Malaysians didn’t have much interaction with others of different backgrounds, be it race, religion, education, sexuality or whatever.

The institutions and policies implemented in this country, somewhat create an imaginative borders that group people in different community and prevent any interactions. Many do believe that such boundaries separating different communities must be eliminated eventually.

Nevertheless, one couchsurfer from Tunisia I hosted recently told me a different opinion: People from different backgrounds shouldn’t mix around and should just stay within the group they belong to. That’s the reason why Malaysians live in harmony and different cultures are well protected.

I was so shocked with such a remark. So, does it mean that we are heading to the wrong direction? Do we have to stop all the works in encouraging more integration among people? No, I don’t think so. We should just continue with our hard work to achieve that mission!

Well, he’s a foreigner and doesn’t really understanding the concept of multicultural which has had a long history with this nation. Hopefully, after his tour around Malaysia and Indonesia, he would have a new perception on the multicultural Malaysian society.

Meme

Here are the instructions:

1. Put your iPod on shuffle.(or any mp3 player in shuffle mode)
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.


Q: What does next year have in store for you?
黑色柳丁 – 陶喆 (Black Tangerine – David Tao)
don't think we could find it and I don't want it!

Q: What does your love life look like next year?
The Way You Look Tonight – Michael Buble
make sure u do look good! dun ruin my love life

Q: What do you say when life deals you a bad hand?
Home – Michael Buble
get back home and sleep! then, a fresh new start

Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
今天没回家 - 陶喆 (Not going back home - David Tao)
who wants to be back at home if there's so much fun out there?

Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
Creeping In - Norah Jones
yeah... creeping into the blanket. I want more sleep!

Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
A Foggy Day (In London Town) - Michael Buble
nice song, but I need an instructor for this to happen!

Q: Your favourite saying?
My Girls - The Temptations
Well, I guess you'll say, 'What can make me feel this way?'

Q: Favourite place?
Nightingale - Norah Jones
somewhere where I can find Nightingale(夜鶯)? Of course, NO!

Q: What song describes your best friend?
Feelings - Il Divo
best friends know me the best! thanks for being my friends...

Q: What song describes your ex?
That's Life - Michael Buble
that's life! 命中注定的! what can we do?

Q: What song describes yourself?
Above Ground - Norah Jones
yup... I don't like to hide. I am who I am

Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
Painter Song - Norah Jones
undertneath the swirling skies for all to see... anywhere la

Q: Your love life right now?
Sunny Side Up - Freddie Ravel
I'm happy being single... enjoying the bachelor life!

Q: How will you die?
So Good So Right - Brenda Russell
how good and right can it be? just no much pain will do

P/S: You are TAGGED!