It's amazing how different songs conjure memories and evoke all sorts of feelings, bringing us back to a particular time and place in the past. Here are some examples of what comes to mind when I listen to certain songs.
God Is So God & Jesus Loves Me - our primary school Headmistress Sister Assunta used to conduct Catechism for us in Standard 1 n these were the first 2 songs she taught us.
I Can't Smile Without You (Barry Manilow) - my brother Andrew used to sing this all the time when he was very young.
Yellow Submarine (The Beatles) - this was one of the only few songs we'd enjoy when my Dad played it in the car, because there used to be this A&W ad on TV that used this song.
Just A Closer Walk With You & I Believe - we used to sing church hymns after family prayers at night... Just A Closer Walk is my Dad's all time favourite, and we always struggled with the high notes on I Believe. We even have the hymnal from Church, and now here in Dubai, Ben n I have one from OLPS too. I tried to get us to sing some hymns here too, but we ended up laughing at each other too much.
Karma Chameleon & Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me (Culture Club) - For some twisted reason (that I still haven't figured out) I had a crush on Boy George when I was young. Maybe the wayang make-up and long hair was to prepare me for the likes of Poison, Motley Crue and SQ stewardesses.
I Just Called To Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder) - there was a time when my Mom was CRAZEEE about this song.
Billy Jean & Bad (Michael Jackson) - my brother Jeremy would hop about and chase the reflection of lights on the square tiles in Uncle James' clinic (our family dentist). He n Andrew would moonwalk all over the living room too.
Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx) - my primary school friend Ajantha in Standard 6... we sang this song and cried 'cos our primary school days were over (I know! So corny!!).
A Shoulder To Cry On (Tommy Page) - Tommy Page would continue "touring" Malaysia every year for many years 'cos the adolescent Bee Dees Club girls seemed to be the only people on the planet who didn't think he was a has-been.
Amour (Julio Iglesias) - Jeremy made a home-made cassette once, playing the part of deejay n all. He would intro a song or singer, then play it. He dedicated this song to my Dee Ku, 'cos his name is Ah Moh.
We Didn't Start The Fire (Billy Joel) - there was a time when Andrew was lagi CRAZEEE about this song, he had a cassette that played this song over n over n over... Remember how we used to sit by the radio waiting for a favourite song to play just to record it on cassette?
3AM Eternal (KLF) - Jo-Ann Fonseka, Zainurazrein n Juleeza performing this dance in Secondary School for some concert. Shenn Wye, Ajantha, Jayshree n I practised this routine with them too, but we couldn't make the "body wave" n "running man" look cool enough so we were dropped from the "posse" n put in charge of the Play, Stop, Pause, Rewind n Forward buttons. And I'm pretty sure Jayshree dreamed of being Mrs Michael Jackson at one point in time. This was about the same time we listened to some really weird shit, like Vanilla Ice, NKOTB, C+C Music Factory, 2 Live Crew, Color Me Badd, Milli Vanilli... and we'd do that dumbass 2 Legit 2 Quit sign with our hands...
Manis & Hijau (Zainal Abidin), Legenda (Sheila Majid), Tragedi Oktober (Awie, Wings), Sembilu (Ella) - so I listened to Malay songs n used to be a minah rock... I still am. There was a time when I listened to KRU a lot too and thought I was gonna marry Yusry. Around that same time, groups like 4U2C n phrases like "gua caya sama lu" were very "chun". And Shankey Jennifer Tee Pooi Ling joined an all-girl Malay group that never made it.
Watermark (Enya) - there was a time when I pulak was CRAZEEE about this song n would listen to it repeatedly 'cos I was depressed for quite a while after watching Edward Scissorhands. This was about the same time I fell in love with Johnny...
I Hate Myself For Loving You (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts) & Another One Bites The Dust (Queen) - the band at Chilli's (PJ Hilton) used to play this all the time. The crowd would substitute "for loving you" with a rather vulgar version.
I'd Do Anything For Love (Meatloaf) - when I was 17, young Remy Hilary Hendroff (yes, his middle name is Hilary), sang me this song over the phone. That very same night, Steven Suresh, the full-of-himself, full-of-crap, good-for-nothing 'kudikaran' called me, told me he loved me n sang me the same song. A few days later, while lepaking at "The Park" with Nat, Godwin Gomez told me he loved me n sang it too, then went on to date a friend of mine instead (he probably sang it to her too). Makes you wonder if all altar servers read from the same "Idiots Guide to 'Kow' Girls, featuring Meatloaf".
Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum) & Cliffs of Dover (Eric Johnson) - a college-mate of Jeremy's named SuLin made him a cassette with these songs.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Poison) - Jeremy tried to teach me how to strum this on the guitar 'cos he said it's the first n easiest song to learn to play. I still have my kapuk guitar tucked away somewhere in Singapore, gathering dust n mould.
Nevermind (Nirvana) - Jamie loved Nirvana so much, she was depressed when Kurt Cobain died.
Lemon Tree (some dumbass group) - I remember how everyone absolutely LOVED this song when I thought it was the worst piece of crap I ever heard. The grossest part would be when everyone would happily chant together... I wonder how, I wonder why... AAARRGHH!!
Zombie (Fay Wong's cover of The Cranberries' hit) - our first term in Saito Academy, n how Danial Lim would play this Fay Wong album on the player throughout the day. Then Ah Loong, Ah Kok, David n I would piss everyone off by popping in a Metallica CD.
Mooi Tin Ngoi Lei Doh Yat Se (Jacky Cheung) - there was a Cantonese serial on TV that everyone was hooked on (around 1995-96) n the nerdy male lead sang this song to the girl over the phone in a phonebooth. It was a defining moment for Hong Kong TV, almost as instrumental as a Rachel-Ross-With-or-Without-You moment. There was another song in that show that David Soon taught me how to sing. It's supposed to be a Cantonese scouts or girl guides friendship song.
Lovefool (The Cardigans) - at my first job at Loukis Design, this song was played on the radio a lot, as well as that Hindi-English "Oh Jana" one. I remember the coloured walls, Vincent, Daniel, Hana, Yasmin, Chomel, Zul... and of course the "jana-jana" from the mamak shop below who used to bring up our roti canai n teh tarik. Daniel, Chomel n I used to check out the girls/guys at the Stamford College opposite, and I had a silly crush on some fella who worked at the Ampang Point McDonald's so I had Happy Meals almost everyday.
Pergilah Sayang (Korie n Ella) - once, on a bus back home from work in Ampang, this song played on the radio... A few mats n minahs (me included) were nodding their heads n tapping their feet during the guitar intro, and then we all sang quietly together, like semua sekali! "Indah terasa......"
Fire (Babyface & Des'ree) & Uptown Girl (Billy Joel) - the only songs that used to be able to get me on the dance floor. Now the only way you can get me to step on a dance floor is if there were cockroaches everywhere except there... Or if Johnny Depp was standing there (sans Vanessa Paradis of course).
Living on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) & Open Arms (Journey) - Energy, back when they used to play at HRC Singapore. Shouting n screaming... Whoa, we're halfway there... WO-OH...
Mandy (Barry Manilow) - the Grand Piano at SRC had this auto-play function, so everytime this song played, Shorbani n I would be like, "Oh, Mandy..."
Dying Inside To Hold You (Timmy Thomas) - skiving at the stairwell at Far East Plaza during work one day, chatting on the phone to Raena as she sang this song, teasing me about a certain 'jungle' fellow.
I'll Make Love To You (Boyz II Men) - one of those door-to-door salesmen came by Gymboree one afternoon, n Sue bought some scented candles from him. So Nadia n I would sing this song n tease her about it, like, "Oooh... throw your clothes, on the floor..."
Falls Apart (Sugar Ray), Higher (Creed), Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard) - songs to wake me up.
Breathe (Midge Ure), Un Ange Qui Passe (Annie Villeneuve), Faithfully (Journey), Kite (U2), Who Wants To Live Forever (Queen), Fade To Black (Metallica), One Last Breath (Creed) - songs that have gotten me through some pretty rough patches.
Angel's Lullaby (Richard Marx), Inside Your Heaven (Carrie Underwood), Fallen Angel (Poison), Heaven (Warrant)... some of the songs on an angels-n-heaven-themed Double-CD that I compiled for Ben... back when we just started "courting" (Courting sounds so old-fashioned, but "paktor" sounds too "chor lor") He was going through a pretty rough time at work so I left him tricks n treats all over the restaurant n office on Halloween (the day of our first date), including this "Chicken Wings" CD.
Angels Brought Me Here (Guy Sebastian) - Ben n Bernie's song :o)
To be continued in Part Two...
God Is So God & Jesus Loves Me - our primary school Headmistress Sister Assunta used to conduct Catechism for us in Standard 1 n these were the first 2 songs she taught us.
I Can't Smile Without You (Barry Manilow) - my brother Andrew used to sing this all the time when he was very young.
Yellow Submarine (The Beatles) - this was one of the only few songs we'd enjoy when my Dad played it in the car, because there used to be this A&W ad on TV that used this song.
Just A Closer Walk With You & I Believe - we used to sing church hymns after family prayers at night... Just A Closer Walk is my Dad's all time favourite, and we always struggled with the high notes on I Believe. We even have the hymnal from Church, and now here in Dubai, Ben n I have one from OLPS too. I tried to get us to sing some hymns here too, but we ended up laughing at each other too much.
Karma Chameleon & Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me (Culture Club) - For some twisted reason (that I still haven't figured out) I had a crush on Boy George when I was young. Maybe the wayang make-up and long hair was to prepare me for the likes of Poison, Motley Crue and SQ stewardesses.
I Just Called To Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder) - there was a time when my Mom was CRAZEEE about this song.
Billy Jean & Bad (Michael Jackson) - my brother Jeremy would hop about and chase the reflection of lights on the square tiles in Uncle James' clinic (our family dentist). He n Andrew would moonwalk all over the living room too.
Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx) - my primary school friend Ajantha in Standard 6... we sang this song and cried 'cos our primary school days were over (I know! So corny!!).
A Shoulder To Cry On (Tommy Page) - Tommy Page would continue "touring" Malaysia every year for many years 'cos the adolescent Bee Dees Club girls seemed to be the only people on the planet who didn't think he was a has-been.
Amour (Julio Iglesias) - Jeremy made a home-made cassette once, playing the part of deejay n all. He would intro a song or singer, then play it. He dedicated this song to my Dee Ku, 'cos his name is Ah Moh.
We Didn't Start The Fire (Billy Joel) - there was a time when Andrew was lagi CRAZEEE about this song, he had a cassette that played this song over n over n over... Remember how we used to sit by the radio waiting for a favourite song to play just to record it on cassette?
3AM Eternal (KLF) - Jo-Ann Fonseka, Zainurazrein n Juleeza performing this dance in Secondary School for some concert. Shenn Wye, Ajantha, Jayshree n I practised this routine with them too, but we couldn't make the "body wave" n "running man" look cool enough so we were dropped from the "posse" n put in charge of the Play, Stop, Pause, Rewind n Forward buttons. And I'm pretty sure Jayshree dreamed of being Mrs Michael Jackson at one point in time. This was about the same time we listened to some really weird shit, like Vanilla Ice, NKOTB, C+C Music Factory, 2 Live Crew, Color Me Badd, Milli Vanilli... and we'd do that dumbass 2 Legit 2 Quit sign with our hands...
Manis & Hijau (Zainal Abidin), Legenda (Sheila Majid), Tragedi Oktober (Awie, Wings), Sembilu (Ella) - so I listened to Malay songs n used to be a minah rock... I still am. There was a time when I listened to KRU a lot too and thought I was gonna marry Yusry. Around that same time, groups like 4U2C n phrases like "gua caya sama lu" were very "chun". And Shankey Jennifer Tee Pooi Ling joined an all-girl Malay group that never made it.
Watermark (Enya) - there was a time when I pulak was CRAZEEE about this song n would listen to it repeatedly 'cos I was depressed for quite a while after watching Edward Scissorhands. This was about the same time I fell in love with Johnny...
I Hate Myself For Loving You (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts) & Another One Bites The Dust (Queen) - the band at Chilli's (PJ Hilton) used to play this all the time. The crowd would substitute "for loving you" with a rather vulgar version.
I'd Do Anything For Love (Meatloaf) - when I was 17, young Remy Hilary Hendroff (yes, his middle name is Hilary), sang me this song over the phone. That very same night, Steven Suresh, the full-of-himself, full-of-crap, good-for-nothing 'kudikaran' called me, told me he loved me n sang me the same song. A few days later, while lepaking at "The Park" with Nat, Godwin Gomez told me he loved me n sang it too, then went on to date a friend of mine instead (he probably sang it to her too). Makes you wonder if all altar servers read from the same "Idiots Guide to 'Kow' Girls, featuring Meatloaf".
Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum) & Cliffs of Dover (Eric Johnson) - a college-mate of Jeremy's named SuLin made him a cassette with these songs.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Poison) - Jeremy tried to teach me how to strum this on the guitar 'cos he said it's the first n easiest song to learn to play. I still have my kapuk guitar tucked away somewhere in Singapore, gathering dust n mould.
Nevermind (Nirvana) - Jamie loved Nirvana so much, she was depressed when Kurt Cobain died.
Lemon Tree (some dumbass group) - I remember how everyone absolutely LOVED this song when I thought it was the worst piece of crap I ever heard. The grossest part would be when everyone would happily chant together... I wonder how, I wonder why... AAARRGHH!!
Zombie (Fay Wong's cover of The Cranberries' hit) - our first term in Saito Academy, n how Danial Lim would play this Fay Wong album on the player throughout the day. Then Ah Loong, Ah Kok, David n I would piss everyone off by popping in a Metallica CD.
Mooi Tin Ngoi Lei Doh Yat Se (Jacky Cheung) - there was a Cantonese serial on TV that everyone was hooked on (around 1995-96) n the nerdy male lead sang this song to the girl over the phone in a phonebooth. It was a defining moment for Hong Kong TV, almost as instrumental as a Rachel-Ross-With-or-Without-You moment. There was another song in that show that David Soon taught me how to sing. It's supposed to be a Cantonese scouts or girl guides friendship song.
Lovefool (The Cardigans) - at my first job at Loukis Design, this song was played on the radio a lot, as well as that Hindi-English "Oh Jana" one. I remember the coloured walls, Vincent, Daniel, Hana, Yasmin, Chomel, Zul... and of course the "jana-jana" from the mamak shop below who used to bring up our roti canai n teh tarik. Daniel, Chomel n I used to check out the girls/guys at the Stamford College opposite, and I had a silly crush on some fella who worked at the Ampang Point McDonald's so I had Happy Meals almost everyday.
Pergilah Sayang (Korie n Ella) - once, on a bus back home from work in Ampang, this song played on the radio... A few mats n minahs (me included) were nodding their heads n tapping their feet during the guitar intro, and then we all sang quietly together, like semua sekali! "Indah terasa......"
Fire (Babyface & Des'ree) & Uptown Girl (Billy Joel) - the only songs that used to be able to get me on the dance floor. Now the only way you can get me to step on a dance floor is if there were cockroaches everywhere except there... Or if Johnny Depp was standing there (sans Vanessa Paradis of course).
Living on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) & Open Arms (Journey) - Energy, back when they used to play at HRC Singapore. Shouting n screaming... Whoa, we're halfway there... WO-OH...
Mandy (Barry Manilow) - the Grand Piano at SRC had this auto-play function, so everytime this song played, Shorbani n I would be like, "Oh, Mandy..."
Dying Inside To Hold You (Timmy Thomas) - skiving at the stairwell at Far East Plaza during work one day, chatting on the phone to Raena as she sang this song, teasing me about a certain 'jungle' fellow.
I'll Make Love To You (Boyz II Men) - one of those door-to-door salesmen came by Gymboree one afternoon, n Sue bought some scented candles from him. So Nadia n I would sing this song n tease her about it, like, "Oooh... throw your clothes, on the floor..."
Falls Apart (Sugar Ray), Higher (Creed), Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard) - songs to wake me up.
Breathe (Midge Ure), Un Ange Qui Passe (Annie Villeneuve), Faithfully (Journey), Kite (U2), Who Wants To Live Forever (Queen), Fade To Black (Metallica), One Last Breath (Creed) - songs that have gotten me through some pretty rough patches.
Angel's Lullaby (Richard Marx), Inside Your Heaven (Carrie Underwood), Fallen Angel (Poison), Heaven (Warrant)... some of the songs on an angels-n-heaven-themed Double-CD that I compiled for Ben... back when we just started "courting" (Courting sounds so old-fashioned, but "paktor" sounds too "chor lor") He was going through a pretty rough time at work so I left him tricks n treats all over the restaurant n office on Halloween (the day of our first date), including this "Chicken Wings" CD.
Angels Brought Me Here (Guy Sebastian) - Ben n Bernie's song :o)
To be continued in Part Two...
3 comments:
Hey Bern
Thanks for reminding me about the best time of our life when we were rockers! I got so freaked out by yr Poison montage cuz i used to own a few of the exact posters! Shudder...Man i feel so nostalgic seeing the RHCP, Nirvana, STP, Metallica album covers - remember we used to go to Thrifty's cassette section to buy rocker tapes after school? Time to wipe the dust and bring out the old CD collection..... :)
smooches/Jamie
Yeah Thrifty's! That's where I bought all my cassettes! Just remembered Minerva bookstore at State too - where we bought Kerrang! as well as last minute quick-study guides... and your video store at Jln Gasing... what was it called again?
The crappy video store is still there, bought over by Lotus. Who can forget Minerva?? You know, i still have my collection on rock magazines from early 90s onwards - Spin, Rolling Stone, Q...with classic covers of RHCP, Nirvana, Peral Jam etc..Waaa like history books la. I'm in the process of moving out of my folks place to my apt so got vry nostalgic whn i discovered all these treasures.
Good times!
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