Here In My Home

The inspiration for this entry came along when I suddenly realised today that I've NEVER seen the video for Innuendo's Belaian Jiwa despite it being one of my all time favourite songs. Almost like a chemical reaction with an added catalyst, it triggered me to realise that in fact there are a lot of local videos which I've not had the chance to see before. Whereas in the old days, the only way you could hope to catch them was determined by whether the TV stations wanna play them (and even if they did you might not be watching at that time), nowadays we have the saviour in the form of YouTube!

I have to admit 95% (or more) songs I listen to are not local music, as I believe is so with many other people who grew up in the cities in Malaysia. So in hopes to boost the confidence and belief in our local music industry, I've decided to post up some videos of songs made wonderfully by our very own Malaysians, and will also give other kids who grew up in the Klang Valley like myself a chance to watch these videos and relive the songs, maybe for the first time even:

1) Belaian Jiwa - Innuendo


Come on, everyone knows this song (or so they should). Who would have thought Innuendo could come out of nowhere with such a HUGE and beautiful ballad that had everyone, and I do mean everyone, in school singing and swooning along? To date, I have not encountered a single Malaysian who can say they don't love this song. Of course, in today's time, it would be very weird seeing a bunch of guys with long floppy hair singing a love ballad. That's sooo yesterday. But the quality of the song definitely survives the test of time. Until today, I have yet to come across a local Malay song which was as big as this was back in its heyday. Of course, everyone waited with bated breath then for Innuendo's next follow-up hit, and we waited... and waited...

2) Kau Ilhamku - Man Bai


Another HUGEEE song that I grew up listening to. This was THE acoustic song to play back then if you wanted to inject some local flavour into your performance. Back in my school days, Talentime contests were held all the time (not sure if the tradition still continues now), and you can bet at least 1 person will perform this song for sure! Yes the video looks low budget (and probably is, I mean it's basically a few guys sitting together with guitars, and some standing fan placed in front of Mr Man Bai to provide the shirt-being-blown effect), but once again it's the song quality that takes centrestage.

3) Istimewa - Indigo


I'm ashamed to admit I have never heard this fine Malay song until I accidentally discovered it from one of Hariz's song collections. And I was hooked ever since. Once again though, the video leaves much to be desired. I mean does it not remind you of the Salem Cool Planet videos of yore? I actually rolled my eyes when I saw the guy riding into the forest on a white horse. Eee damn cheesy man...

4) Seindah Biasa - Siti Nurhaliza


No list of local songs would be complete without mentioning Siti, now would it? Without doubt the undisputed pop goddess in the local music scene. I admit I do not listen to her regularly, but I have to admit she's got fantastic vocals with a pretty and marketable face to boot. I still remember vividly she first burst onto the music scene with her Jerat Percintaan winning performance on Anugerah Juara Lagu, and well she has never looked back since. There was even a time when she NEVER walked away from award shows empty-handed for YEARS! Certainly one of, if not the biggest, singer Malaysia has ever produced.

5) Gemilang - Jaclyn Victor


Admit it. Jac was definitely the saviour of Malaysian Idol. It's no secret the quality of contestants on the show was sorely lacking, and if not for Jac, the show may not even have returned for a 2nd season (and it showed when no one in the 2nd season could even hold a candle to Jac's brilliance). Jac literally swept the floor with Dina during that finale night. I still remember watching her perform Gemilang and it still gives me goosebumps watching her build the momentum up, and the next morning, EVERYONE at work was raving about the performance and how good she was. Everything was perfect: the vocals, the rapport with the back-up singers and audience, all building up to 1 final big note. And I mean BIG. Now this is what all big vocal singers should regard as the Holy Grail performance. So good was she that night, she was never able to repeat it again in subsequent performances of the same song (as evident on last year's Asian Idol).

6) Estranged - Itu Kamu


This is definitely one of the newer songs on the block. Very refreshing and definitely one of the better local rock songs to hit the airwaves.

7) Operator, The Line Is Dead - Lo


If I thought listening to local Malay songs was rare, it was even rarer to listen to local English songs! During my schooling years, local English songs were really few and far in between, and it was only in the recent years when Hitz heavily promoted local English artistes did we start to notice them. Of course Lo was also one of the main guys involved too. He debuted his Evening News hit with such great response that he was an instant hit. I personally think his songwriting skills have improved tremendously as is evident with this Operator song. Haha I also think he's one cool local celeb, definitely someone I wanna photograph with given the opportunity (well Lo, if you are somehow reading this please take note!).

8) Tong Hua - Michael Wong


We can't forget the fact that our local Chinese artistes are actually VERY huge in the international Chinese market, and one fine example is Michael Wong. This is really a huge favourite song of mine. Simple, touching, with the perfect sing along chorus. Think you will enjoy this even if you are not Chinese.

9) Superwoman - Gary Cao Ge


Another local Chinese lad who has gained a big reputation overseas. I think he did really wonderful with this Superwoman remake. So NOT cheesy, and he has somehow managed to add such a cool vibe to a classic song.

10) Here In My Home - Malaysian Artistes For Unity


Well this is the last one and also the latest! I love the fact that all these local celebs are joining hands to make such a recording. It's reminiscent of the US artistes who often come together for the big charity songs eg We Are The World, and the more current What's Goin' On a few years back. This song is definitely timely to celebrate the diversities of our cultures. Yes we may not be perfect yet, but if I myself can have a Malay bro and an Indian buddy, what isn't possible?

So I hope I can dance

This may come as a surprise to many, but I have always, ALWAYS, harboured hopes that I'm actually able to dance. Really.

I can conclude this is a surprise because I know typically most people expect me to fall into a certain stereotype, which may include all or some of the following:
1) goody 2 shoes stay-at-home and watch TVB series and CSI and their reruns all the time, except when I'm reading and sleeping
2) think it's silly going to a club and paying to be among lots of smoky and sweaty people
3) will only order soft drinks, and not alcohol, when given the choice
4) listen to adult contemporary songs only and believe Celine Dion as the saviour of music
5) scowl at the idea of paying money for someone to conteng your skin as a tattoo
6) read lots of educational material eg National Geographic magazines, play intellectual games eg Sudoku
7) will sleep early at 11pm (latest 12pm) and wake up fresh at 8-9am on a non-work day

At least the above are the ones which quickly spring into my mind when it comes to the stereotype I should belong in, or maybe look like I belong in. Haha I can only have the following corresponding comments to the above:
1) I admit I watch lots of TV, but rarely reruns, and I love LOST, but given the choice let's go out man (after all can watch on dvd later :)
2) the only thing preventing me from going is forking out the cover charge!
3) bring on the booze!
4) I'm not saying I don't listen to adult contemporary (especially since I'm not getting any younger), but please play some booty-shaking, hip-grinding material instead :)
5) will not comment about this because no one is gonna believe me anyway
6) does reading FHM monthly count?
7) well I'm not really typing this at 'normal' hours. And don't call me before 11am on a non-work day, unless we're going out of course!

So anyway, yes I have to confess, I would love to go for a good dance, if only I wasn't so damn clumsy and end up totally embarrassing myself. Which is why it's difficult to dance in the clubs in Malaysia. Especially in KL, you have too many places where people mostly drink and stare at the minor few who CAN dance, and thus you know you're not going to be the eyesore idiot spoiling the scene. I love the rare occasions when you find a club where everyone dances, and they don't care even if they evidently can't, and nobody cares to notice either. Everyone just wants to let loose and have a good time. Someone please bring me there, and promise not to laugh at me! According to Asha, a club in Melaka she went to called Pure Bar, was this exact sort of place, AND there was no silly cover charge!! I'm so tempted to go now, but of course it's too far to just go for no apparent reason. Dammit, these Melaka people really have it good...(anyone wants to bring me there during my birthday??).

So yes I can't dance. But at least I can watch. And just in case anyone thinks I'm into the contemporary, technical sort of dances, erm sorry to not fit the stereotype again, but I'm definitely hip hop/R&B all the way! In fact, thanks to Hariz, I discovered this fantastic show in the US called America's Best Dance Crew, and basically it's a dance contest with the 'crews' performing fantastic, jaw-dropping street moves. Think Step Up 2: The Streets, but in a REAL competition. Season 1 is over, and currently season 2 is screening. To give my loyal fans a taste, here's the videos of my 2 favourite groups from season 1 (thanks to the kind soul out there who made the effort to compile ALL their dances in season 1 together):

Kaba Modern


I loved this group so much but unfortunately they missed out on the finals, and could not face off directly with the eventual champions. I think they were VERY good in the beginning, but began to dip towards the end of the competition. Favourite dance routines were definitely the Sensual Seduction and Thriller sequences!

JabbaWockeeZ




Genius, pure genius! This group SO deserved the title. Just watch the videos above. The act of wearing the masks makes them even more interesting and lends an incredible oomph to their performances. Can't even begin to describe how creative these guys are, just wait for the All That Jazz performance (especially the killer ending part of it where they each pretend to be a member of a band playing an instrument).

Now season 2 is underway and I'm following it very eagerly! To be honest, I've always wished I could do the Thriller dance, I mean come on, isn't it just so cool? I was especially inspired after watching the movie 13 Going On 30, and they had this scene below, and enlightened me on how even geeks can look cool doing it (kudos to Jen Garner for making it look so believable):


So there, I've confessed. Anyone out there with a secret desire others would never thought you would have? Do feel free to leave some comments!

And yes I have indeed saved the best for last! If you have skipped all the above, do yourself a favour, and just watch this one below. Guaranteed to make you laugh and will brighten up a lousy day for sure!

The Comeback Post

So I know I've been AWOL for like a good half a year. Well it's difficult when you're juggling work and commitments and the like. Ok fine I just got lazy. And an unfunny brain. I guess part of the reason I don't blog as often as I would like to is because my brain doesn't want to be funny when I most want it too. I've known a few people in my life who are superb with the one-liners, and they spit them out spontaneously like they have time travelled to the future, heard what you said, THEN have time to think of a good back-at-ya statement and proceed to say it. Ok I'm rambling again...

Back to this post, I was motivated to make a comeback chiefly due to the unwavering support and encouragement from my dedicated fans (yes I love you all too). Fine, it was ONE person only, but hey I'm not gonna leave my one fan feeling lost without guidance from my words of wisdom right? ;) Can't say no when my writing's gold (OMG I can actually rhyme for the first time in my life).

So then I thought what the heck should I post this time round? Fighting unfunny brain and all, I figured let's share my two cents worth on the movies I've watched at the cinemas this year (well at least those that I remember watching, yes my brain is now unfunny AND forgetful). For the uninitiated, I am a self-professed movie whore, and am lovin' it! Problem is, I watched so many of them I can't really remember them all. So I'm gonna type them here as I can recall them. Let's get the ball rolling, shall we?

Oh almost forgot the obligatory PSA (that's Public Service Announcement for the uncool): WARNING! WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT PROCEED IF KNOWLEDGE OF A MOVIE'S CONTENT WILL AFFECT YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE MOVIE IN A NEGATIVE MANNER! (Except for you, Ryan, this is after all your fault for egging me on for a comeback and in the process deprive me of an hour worth of sleep):

Cloverfield So Cloverfield was this big secret hush hush movie that no one had any idea what is was about until a few weeks prior to its release. The marketing gimmick for this movie was genius, to say the least: release a short teaser one year ago about some terrified person speaking into a camcorder about some attack, causing a lot of internet buzz, showing a picture of a decapitated Statue Of Liberty (don't we just love watching flicks where real life landmarks are reduced to smithereens?), and of course talk of a monster nobody knows looked like what.

So what did I think of it? LOVED it to bits! The creative juices were certainly flowing when they planned the whole filming. Loved the part when the head of the Liberty came flying onto the streets, and all the supposedly-shocked onlookers were snapping photos of it instead of running for their lives! Well, Asha did tell me I would have done the same...Yes I admit the whole camera-shaking bit can be dizzying, but really doing it otherwise would have reduced the movie's authenticity. The best part is, amidst all the chaos and running around, it really is a love story underneath it all, but done subtly and not shoved-down-your-throat type. I felt really irritated when I overheard some people comment about how the movie does not offer any explanations, or a proper ending. These people don't seem to realise it really isn't the point of the movie to give any explanations. The point was just to document, from a victim's point of view, what happens if you were in a city attacked by a monster. And that itself lies its beauty.

Vantage Point This was really a so-so movie for me. It's about a terrorist plot to assassinate the US president (of course, every movie that's politically-inclined must depict the US president), but told from the views of 8 different people. I would say the story-telling mode was really creative, and goes something like this:

Scene 1:
A cow is eating grass. It dies. Other cows run. A farmer is aghast.

Scene 2:
The farmer is eating breakfast with his wife. His son is playing with some Lego. Farmer and wife is seen arguing. Farmer complains he is sick of milking cows. Farmer wants to audition for American Idol. A cow is eating grass. It dies. Other cows run. Farmer is aghast.

Scene 3:
Farmer's wife wakes up grumpy from a night of bad sex. She makes breakfast while thinking if she should buy that new limited edition lingerie from Victoria's Secret to spice up her sex life. Farmer comes to breakfast commenting it was his best sex ever. Farmer and wife argue. Farmer's son is playing with Lego. A cow is eating grass. It dies. Other cows run. Farmer is aghast.

Scene 4:
Farmer's son is carried by farmer's wife and placed in front of the TV and given some Lego to play with. He starts to cry when his parents argue. A cow is eating grass. It dies. Other cows run. Farmer is aghast.

Scene 5:
The cow is grazing in the fields. It is depressed to hear the farmer is sick of milking it. Thinking it has no more reason to live, it chokes on a big bite of grass and drops dead. Other cows run. Farmer is aghast. The family mourns its death.
So yea it goes something like that lah. The funny thing is everytime they did such rewinds, I hear the cinema audience sniggering like it was so funny. These people obviously strolled into the cinema not knowing what the movie was about. I guess the only funny thing I found about the movie was that, for all the fantastic plotting the terrorists did, their plans were eventually foiled by a little girl standing in the middle of a road, of all people!

Step Up 2: The Streets Of course all dance movie are the same plot-wise. It's always about a bunch of losers who aren't so well-off, but can dance so well we wonder why they didn't think of making it big by dancing in a Britney video and then getting laid by her ala Kevin Federline.

I have to say the Step Up series really ignited my love for dance movies. And OMG, that final dance scene was like THE best dance scene in a movie to date. Sufficiently long enough to not make you feel short-changed, it had everything: the ultra-slick choreography, jaw-dropping moves, the perfect clubbing tunes, hot women with sick bodies, and of course the rain had to come at the right timing to provide the scenario of wet people looking cool while dancing. Even the obligatory best friend cum nerd was a sick dancer! Man if only my nerdy friends (and myself) could move like that. Oh and do not be misled by the movie poster, the female lead is not really as hot as it suggests.

Forbidden Kingdom

I was disturbed by the fact that this movie will further convince Americans with regards to the stereotype that ALL Chinese people know kungfu. This movie could have been so much more tasteful and epic-like, but unfortunately it ended up being a cheap thrill. Nevertheless, I have to admit it was a fun movie to watch (quite rare nowadays) and a good family fare. The lengthy Jet and Jackie fight was also great, if only it did not end with Jet speaking in yet more embarrassing English. But the best scene? Definitely the part where Jet pee'd on Jackie when tricking him into believing the heavens were opening. This scene will forever remain as one of the most memorable moments in Chinese filmmaking since Ang Lee tricked all the Americans into believing that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a great Chinese kungfu movie and to shower it with Oscars, a move that befuddled most of the Chinese community.

Iron Man While it has garnered widely positive reviews, I really have to state here that this movie was wayyyy overrated. Don't get me wrong, it was not a bad movie, and Robert Downey was great in the role, and it had some really funny lines, and the Iron Man suit looked damn cool. But that was about it. Let me tell you what was wrong with it. When I watch movies of such nature, I expect to be held at the edge of my seat for at least 1 scene (if not more). Sadly, the most promising scenes failed to set my fireworks off because right when I thought it was gonna take my breath away, it ends abruptly (example: the part where Iron Man is pursued by the jets). The king of comic movies, for me, is still Spider-Man 2. It had all the right ingredients: gripping thrills, smart content, actors that spoke and touched the audience, the tears-in-your-eyes scenes (not mine of course). Iron Man? Not quite there yet. AND the final fight scene was not enticing either, there was no recognisable bad-ass villain, Gwyneth Paltrow was as lacklustre but overrated as usual. I rest my case.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian This was another bore-fest for me. The first one was nothing to shout about, but this one, though slightly more entertaining, failed because the main character it was trying to push was a wuss. I mean is it just me, or did Prince Caspian appear more like a spoilt immature brat who wanted to be a wannabe hero and leader? It doesn't help that in such turbulent times, the exiled Prince seemed to had a lot of spare time grooming his hair to perfection (not shown to the audience of course), and apparently Vidal Sassoon already existed back then to provide him with the perfect shampooed and blowdried locks. Such movies are also often gauged by how elaborate and mind-blowing their final battle sequence is, but LOTR this is not. AND that final part where the girl succumbs to her lust and kisses the Prince? Was I the only one who was left with a sour taste in the mouth?

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull I would have to say this movie was the complete opposite of Iron Man. While the script was not as sharp and witty and the plot was really incredulous-bordering-on-ridiculous, it did have that ONE scene that kept me glued to the screen and lapping it all up. The said scene was of course the jungle scene where Indiana and his groupies were running away from the Russians while trying to grab the skull. The action was spot-on! Loved loved the swordfight between Shia and Cate Blanchett while balancing on the jeeps. Cate obviously had fun playing the Russian woman, and why wouldn't she? I love these Russian people. They speak in a cool accent, they look cool, and don't you just love the Russian female tongue-twisting names? With alumni like Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kusnetsova, Karolina Kourkova, Anastasia Myskina, it's like the moment you have a Russian female name, superstardom beckons. Quick, it's not too late to change your name (sadly, male Russian names are instead rather dull. Need examples? Nikolai, Mikhail, zzz...).

The Orphanage This was the latest flick I caught and think it sure beats the hell out of all the summer blockbusters to date. Yes it is a Spanish movie and directed by that Pan's Labyrinth director. It's seriously one of the best horror movies I've watched in a while. Still have chills when I recall some of the scenes from the movie. It will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat, and some of the best moments include the part where they employ a medium to seek the spirits in the house. And unlike the run-of-the-mill Asian horror flicks, it does not rely on fake shocks, there are no long-haired females, and has a thought-provoking plot as a bonus. Please catch this while it is still showing!

So what else will I be looking forward to this summer?
1) The Dark Knight (the first one was just great, and the Joker this time seems really disturbing) 2) Wall-E (trust Pixar to save the summer once again. Still thought Ratatouille was the best movie of 2007) 3) The Happening (latest M Night Shyamalan movie which hopefully will finally rival Sixth Sense) 4) Sex and the City the Movie (yes I know this is a chick flick, but I adored the series. Keeping fingers crossed it has the brilliant lines from the series)

5) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (better be good. Hope Jet Li doesn't try to speak English again though)
While this may not be a new movie, I recently watched White Chicks on AXN, and this was the first time I watched it. I have to say I have very limited interests in such so-called comedies, because they are usually filled with slapstick shmuck and toilet humour which I find totally unfunny. Surprisingly, I found White Chicks to be hilarious and the pop culture references were just classic. Favourite line from the movie?
While one of the White Chicks was squeezing into a tiny outfit in the dressing room with his girlfriend (girlfriend as in girlfriend when you are a girl, not when you are a guy):
White Chick: I think I need a bigger size.
Girlfriend: Honey, you never need a bigger size.