Tag Archives: music

The Place I Long To Be

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It has been like 10 years since I last heard Kingston Town by UB40. I heard it again yesterday night after little J called it in early. The song did not bring back a lot of memories. But somehow it captivated me again. Like a little boy that is certain he has met the love of his life.

I was in anticipation of a difficult Monday morning. Skeletons in the closet from predecessors came back to haunt us at work. And Monday morning was another round of showdown after lots of threatening and taunting. And I now need to face them. Perhaps that is why the reggae was calming. I was on the maroon rug, my back against the sofa, feeling blank, with the song on repeat.

I decided it was about time I give myself time to think and contemplate again. I moved myself back into the bedroom. Work has taken me so far away from myself that it is about time I reeled myself back in again. I need this. I need this with S asleep recovering from her bout of flu, J asleep perpendicular between S and I, the humidifier humming away in the background, the electric blanket keeping winter away. I need this moment of silence after many months of drifting.

I could hear myself thinking after I put on the earphones with Kingston Town on repeat like before, but thinking no more about work. I went off in many different directions like two horses pulling at different directions without the charioteer. I reeled myself back in again many times but the horses persevered. I gave up.

I adjusted little J and I tried to sleep with Kingston Town still playing through the earphones. The night eventually took over and I dozed off. But I remember two further thoughts before I fell asleep.

I thought about getting a retreat. It need not be up a mountain or deep in the jungle. I will just try to spend nights alone in a separate room trying to pick fragments of myself up during the long break of Chinese New Year. I should.

I thought about myself, walking into a dark temple. In the middle of the temple was a candle, or an oil lamp. I walked towards it and lighted it. The temple was still dim from that small source of light, but it will be a start. Perhaps the small little flame will stoke a fire bright enough to light the journey ahead.

I fell asleep with UB40 still singing the catchy reggae tune through the earphones. Funny how certain songs at the right place and right time can throw us off on a tangent into a reverie, looking for a place I long to be, where the moonlight lingers on.

 

Returning to a Typical Weekend

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I fell asleep almost in an instant as I hit the bed yesterday. It has been such a long week since getting back from Hong Kong. And yesterday was the longest yet.

Since getting back from all the excitement of Hong Kong, J has been finding it difficult to adapt back to Shanghai. It is more quiet and with less outdoor activities. And to move her out of that mood, J and I have been counting the days till we reached weekend because I promised her we’ll do something somehow.

She woke late yesterday on a bright and sunny Saturday and I had to get a cut so that my hair stops resembling a bird nest on my head, so I left earlier before she was ready. By the time S and J joined me, it was more than half the day gone and it was afternoon.

We walked and talked and sang and ate and drank till the sky turned dark and most kids were already back home and probably tucked into bed. Uninvited stares came our way judging us about our irresponsible parenting. It didn’t matter and I can’t be bothered. I know my J more.

We reached home exhausted and past 10pm. It was a simple day and it incurred minimal expenses. We only spent a bit on karaoke but it was worth it when J attempted to sing Fish Leong’s “如果冰箱会说话” and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”.

The day was nothing compared to Disneyland Hong Kong. The week continued to seem as long with me still unable to get the rest I really need. It mattered not because the essence that made it another great day was there  – the three of us.

Together.

Having fun.

Silly Little Song for the New Year

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The old year went out just like that, and we ushered in the New Year of 2011 without much fuss. With the freezing temperature and the three of us still fighting the flu, it will most likely be a quiet few days at home.

But a new silly song around the apartment will most likely break the silence often.

Little J, when possible, likes to barge into the bathroom and sit on the toilet whenever I take a shower. Then she’d move in and out of the bathroom, refusing to let me lock the door, pretending to get stuck between the vanity counter and sitting or even lying down on the bathroom door.

Day before, rather than nagging her about closing the door whenever she leaves the bathroom (because it lets the cold air in) and not to sit on the bathroom floor, I made up a silly little song that has kept J and I singing since day before.

Since New Year’s Eve it has gotten more serious this singing, and even now she is doing it next to me.

Little girl, where are you?
Clever girl, I see you.

Why are you sitting on the floor?
When you leave please close the door.

Sitting on the floor is not so fun,
Cos some insects will bite your bum-bum.

The song is not going to be a classic, but it will definitely remind me years later of that particular New Year when J and I had this silly little song together.

But I doubt I’ll remember how to sing it anymore by then.

Ono’s Asia and Balik Kampung with Rasa Sayang

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It has been a while since I last listened to Malay songs. It has been longer still since I last caught with up with its development. During my secondary school days, my Malay friends would keep me up-to-date, and I used to love singers like Ella, Nora and KRU. We didn’t have CD then, only cassette tapes. I have even used a classic and damn good P Ramlee song, Getaran Jiwa (great song that KRU did a brilliant cover too), for a home video once.

It was a nice surprise when I saw a Malay song on a CD in Shanghai. When I saw Lisa Ono‘s recent album, Asia, yesterday, the first song that caught my eye was a Malay folk song, Rasa Sayang, and not Chinese songs like He Ri Jun Zai Lai (何日君再来) and Ye Lai Xiang (夜来香), even though I also know of them.

I bought it without much hesistation, and simply because it had Rasa Sayang on it. It must have been that Malaysian part of me, in a foreign land and country, and being someone that knows that particular song.

Lisa Ono - Asia

Lisa Ono - Asia

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Top 10 Nostalgic Love Songs of 2009

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It has been a rather nostalgic year. I guess part of it can be attributed to having J as a daughter. It’s been 2 years and parenthood has somehow made me think back to times when life was simpler, even though I refused to believe so then.

Some of these songs came back quite unexpectedly. Some through commercials or movies or at some restaurant, cafe or bars. But they never fail to make me feel kind of sad. And remind me how much I adore and love J at the same time.

These songs have accompanied through much of 2009. I often have them playing softly in my office only to remind of home, sweet home.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t get them into a particular order. I guess I enjoyed them all equally as much.

  1. The Beatles – In My Life
  2. The Beatles – I Will
  3. Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken
  4. Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful
  5. Jewel Akens – The Birds And The Bees
  6. Elvis Prestley – Wooden Heart
  7. Gerry and The Pacemakers – Ferry Cross The Mersey
  8. Cliff Richard – Evergreen Tree
  9. Buddy Holly – Everyday
  10. Frankie Avalon – Why

Perhaps one day they would be part of J’s favourite too.