facebooked

I really must slap myself for not only succumbing but being a bad crack-addict on this thing called Facebook. Why oh why is it so good? I really should be doing things like ironing out the details of the play I'm about to direct, wash my filthy car, eat...

So, here I am taking a break from it.

The traffic in the city has become unbearable. The heat is unbearable. Though blue skies are a comfort to see. No hazy hazy. I was a near a damsel in distress at class today. If the temperature went up by one degree, I would've fainted and my students would've stomped all over me.

I'm speaking nonsense. It's not that hot. My students were very well behaved today. And they actually finished their homework. A first for this class.

This heat is making me loopy.

the week before it began

Independence Day is less than a week away, and as traffic begins to swell on the city's one-way roads, the nation is in full celebration swing. Which poses my question: what are we actually celebrating? Do we even know the actual history of how our nation was born?

Everyone has their own song to sing. The lyrics change with each interpretation. A mellow beat warped into a shrill scream, unheard.

As I sit here, waiting for a batch of laundry to go into spin cycle... Spin cycle. Wet things spinning around until every juice of water is drained from every pore of material. Once its done, I chuck it all in a bucket which I take out to the drying line. Then I wait again. For everything to dry so I can take it to the ironing board. Press. Steam. Everything is fresh as new.

Is that what we're celebrating? The change of the times, the lack of historical truth in our textbooks, what?

Raise a flag. Feel proud.

Where will your flag be in December?

2 Nights of Jazz

And so, the nights finally arrive. I make my debut at the Top Room, singing 6-8 Jazz numbers. Together with Malaysia's best female jazz vocalist, Junji Delfino, lost now found blues mamma, Shantini Venugopal, and musical theatre songbird Maya Abdullah, we'll take on some standards and showcase an original number or two. Friday 17th and Saturday 18th, begins 9:30pm.

I'm singing! I'm Singing!!

Check this out!

another year arrives

I turned 33 yesterday. Still a young man I am. A few people were surprised. Many expected me to be in my late-30s. I'm not surprised. Looking at my usually worn and tired face, I don't blame them for thinking me older. I also take it as a compliment knowing I'm seen as someone who knows and has done a bit more than that boy down the road. With that, I say thanks from the bottom of my shallow heart (shallow only because of my age, not my superficial need of owning my umpteen pair of Crocs!)

My birthday came round this year not with bells and whistles but with a dose of what needs to be done for me to grow a little wiser and play a little smarter. Past birthdays, and parties, have always left a bittersweet feeling. I used to ask why I bother throwing parties and celebrating. Always very hesitant but went ahead with it. The next couple of days after would see me wallow and question nearly everything that hadn't even happened yet. Yup, I was that kinda guy. Never completely happy to simply enjoy the coming of the years.

That's why this year was surprisingly different. No worries, no questions. The same friends and a few new ones. A fabulous dinner with a bellydancer and lots of whiskey manipulating my every move on the dancefloor. Doesn't sound very different from past years. However, it was and is.

I'm still a bitch. So, I've been told. But I don't care anymore. Work is great, friends even greater. Why on earth should I be worrying about things like boyfriends and money? That's a question not worth thinking and mulling over.

I had a fabulous party. I mentioned that, didn't I? Two great shows coming up. And very possibly a trip to Cambodia by year's end.

Lots of stuff to look forward to.

a little chick has flown the coop

I received a phone call today. Not a very pleasant one. Shocking and left me speechless.

A wonderful little person whom I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with has suddenly left us.

Valerie Tay. You will be missed and I pray that a flight of angels will sing you to your peace.

Godbless.

one month

Ooh, I didn't realise a month has passed and I've not posted here. April is a week away from it's end and what a month it's been! A widow whose late husband converted to Islam after marriage has had her child taken away from her by the Islamic authorities. This is the second time something as ridiculous as this has happened in this great country of mine. Elsewhere in the world, namely the USA where anyone can own a gun, a stressed-out Korean student goes on a rampage, kills 32 people and then himself. The French elections saw one of the highest voter turnouts in their recent election history. More flooding and dying flashing on our TV screens and in our newspapers. In the past few days, we've learnt that schools in the UK have decided it best to stop teaching about the Holocaust and the Crusades. What?!?

How can I even begin to enjoy the gifts I have received? Well, I have. It helps to ease the tension of the nonsense. Yes, I call it nonsense. Someone is not doing their job. And that's nonsense.

I have been blessed to have been given the chance of working with a group of individuals that show me, on a weekly basis, that life should and must be enjoyed and celebrated. Every waking moment. No matter what. They continue to show me that innocence can never be lost.

Tomorrow, they'll continue to surprise me.

that's the way I've always heard it should be

The weather's dreary these days. But does that reduce the possibilty of enjoying yourself? I think not and I know you'll agree.

It's been an eventful week so far. It all began when I met a friend for lunch and we decided to browse the new Borders after. Sifting through the jazz section of the CDs, I found some absolute rare gems that no other store had. I was whooping with excitement when in my hands were 3 Sarah Vaughan albums I'd been hunting for what seemed like forever. These were albums she recorded for the Pablo label, considered by many to be some of the best stuff in her career. I couldn't agree more. She was in her fifties and her voice had lost none of it's virtuosity but developed a deep resonance that was remarkable. Sarah Vaughan's musicality and superb craftmanship of interpreting lyrics IS second to none.

Here's what I found:
1) I Love Brazil! (Jobim and Nascimento on this album!)
2) Copacabana (nothing to do with Barry Manilow ok?)
3) Linger Awhile: Live at the Newport Jazz Festival 1957 (bloody fantastic!)

These albums kept me company while I made my way to judging a college drama competition. Good job kids! Kept me entertained for 2 evenings.

Yesterday, I bought, online, the ultimate Sarah Vaughan album, her 1973 concert in Japan. Digital download. No need to wait for the postman. I was in paradise for 2 hours!

Today, as I was about to leave home for a recording of my own, the postman tooted at the gate. I had a package. From a friend in Singapore. He sent me a CD. Mark Murphy's new album, Love Is What Stays. Brilliantly produced by Till Brönner (very sexy German trumpeter!)

Yay! I've been enjoying the traffic.

Went to watch Frank Miller's 300. I see now why people have been telling me I'm Xerxes. But really, would I wear that much jewellery? Good to see Gerard Butler without his Phantom mask.

Tomorrow is the final round of the above mentioned drama competition. I'll be in traffic again, which usually gets me in a foul mood. These kids can count themselves fortunate that the CD changer in my car will keep me in a swinging frame of mind.

ps. Melinda Doolittle is the next American Idol. And Blake Lewis is strangely sexy.

come on down

I'm feeling better. Not down and grumpy. Why? Because 1: I helped a good friend buy her DSLR (and her first few shots are fantastic!) and 2: I'm getting out of KL for a couple of days. Going Down Under, Singapore that is. Going to chill with some kids and watch other people get creative and all theatre-like.

Will be introduced to a young man, whom one friend wants for me to give him acting tips and another friend who says he's good-looking and swings on my side of the parade. Oh dear! I'm in for a spot of distraction. If I suggest for him to "feel it", he'll think I mean emotions and I'm thinking...you know what I'm thinking! I'll be wishing it's more than just thinking. I prefer to think out loud. Very loud. Yeah baby kinda loud!

Oh yeah baby! Have a great weekend!

i should be so lucky

Hello Every Body! What a month has past! I missed celebrating most of Chinese New Year because my lower back acted up again which made me bedridden for the first few days of the festival. Then spent the rest of the time recuperating. Only got up on my feet last week. Had to do a show on Saturday. In 5-inch stilettos. Back in pain. Sharp pain shooting down my left leg. What the heck?!? All this at 33. I tell you, I think I should sell my house and retire. Go buy a hut in a village perhaps. This of course kills my plans to buy a bicycle. Can't pedal. I wonder if bicycles come in the one pedal variety?

I haven't taken a decent photograph. My mind is a mess. I can't remember appointments. Nor string a logical sentence together without some crass comment flying off my tongue.

Thank god for trance music. And Sarah Vaughan too.

Will be back with a smile soon.

alltogethernow

The girls and me finally got together. Not all of us flew over to Sydney for Cheng's wedding. But when the wedding came to KL this past Sunday night, we all got a shot in before we sauntered to the bar. Yes, we were pissed-faced! Good ol'fashioned headaches and stinky hotel room.

One thing is confirmed: A wedding is only fun when you're part of it. Not as guest cos it's bloody boring and tedious. How many times have you been to a wedding, as a guest, and couldn't wait to leave?

I also need to take a breather from my friends Johnny, Macallan and Dom. Soda on the rocks pour moi.

Class of '07 (l-r): Seows, Cheng, Wei, Candice, Way Cheng, Me & Shen (or Ivy to the boys!)

a new leaf turned

And so I'm back, from outer space. I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. Well, don't fret my pet. I was very close to deleting this blog. Why? I don't have much to complain about nowadays. I've kinda let things go. In other words, I have other more non-trivial matters to occupy my time. Photography is one of them. I just came back from a wonderful holiday and took a lot of pictures. Even renamed one of my dormant blogs and turned it into a photoblog.

For the one reader that's been following this diva's footsteps (yes you WMW), you'll know that I've been spending my days over at KLDP. Now you can join me on my wanderings at Vision 20/20, see over at Mirrorball for the link.

Work also seems to be on the brigther side of things. This years looks set to be quite a busy one for me. I have a fund-raiser to plan for my company. I was fortunate to have HSBC in the Arts include Sumunda in it's sponsorship programme. Not very much but enough to get some balls rolling. So, if you have any ideas, please feel free to pass them over.

Now back to the luscious holiday I just came home from. Sydney in Summer. I went because a dear friend got married. In the park on a lovely saturday afternoon. Had a drunken night with another friend as we consumed two bottles of white in an hour while we flirted with the waiters. She was infuriated that one of the waiters touched my shoulders instead of hers each time he walked past. Is it my fault I'm the better flirt? The man was straight. The power I wield. Aaaahhh....

There were so many moments on this trip. Most of the spare days we had after the wedding, I left the girls to go mad in the shops while I sat on park benches under trees drinking latte after latte. I can't seem to get enough of Aussie milk. One day, my friend Pod took me on an early morning coastal walk which went from Bondi to Bronte all the way down to Cavelli. It was absolutely breathtaking views of the clear sky and crisp waters lashing against the rocks and sand. There was even a graveyard on one of the cliffs. All the tombstones faced the sea. Nothing spooky about it. There was a sort of serenity when I walked past. Of course, Pod and me stopped for a latte. Stupidly, I forgot my swim shorts. Luckily, the girls and me had decided the day before that we'd all meet at Circular Quay and head to Manly beach. I called them to pack me a towel and shorts.

Then whoosh! I dived into the cool water and the rest they say, was the best holiday I've had in my history.

I would like to thank Bills for the ricotta hotcakes and coconut bread. And Longrain for the Gin Sin and Stigmata cocktails. But most of all, thank you for waiting.

It's good to be back.

I'm Back???

Zoë asked me whether I've abandoned The Diva Series. No no no, just taking a sabbatical, as all Divas must evry now and then. However, I have this feeling I won't be away for much longer. Any day now...any day.

god bless the child

Some of you may remember how this blog got it's title. Two days ago, the last of the great jazz divas that was featured on Verve Records 'The Diva Series' passed on. A woman of immaculate style. Anita O'Day.

And the music plays on. Rest lovely lady.

connected

Lots of madness, tons of fun and a bagfull of wonderful memories. Thank you for these pictures Puteri. Thanks Old Man.

MUST BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!

W!LD RICE in collaboration with Five Arts Centre and The Actors Studio

present
SECOND LINK
THE SINGAPORE-MALAYSIA TEXT EXCHANGE


“The most satisfy­ing two hours I have spent in theatre… Encore please.”
SPH The Straits Times LIFE!, Singapore

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International Herald Tribune


Directed by Ivan Heng.

Curated by Eleanor Wong, Alvin Pang and Leow Puay Tin.

Featuring an All-Star Singapore-Malaysia cast!:
Anne James
Edwin Sumun
Fahmi Fadzil
Gani Abdul Karim
Jonathan Lim
Karen Tan
Lim Yu Beng
Neo Swee Lin
Reza Zainal Abidin
Sukania Venugopal


SECOND LINK is a provocative, insightful and humorous performance celebrating the work of Singaporean and Malaysian writers. Directed by Ivan Heng and featuring a stunningly accomplished company of 10 actors from the two countries, SECOND LINK will surprise, delight and reveal the obsessions and concerns of the cities' denizens and artists.

This explosive physical theatre showcase of more than 50 celebrated texts was a hit with audiences and critics in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore. Expect laughter and fresh points of view as the Singaporeans and Malaysians perform each other's stories, icons and idiosyncrasies, even as they playfully invite you to make up your own tale of two cities.

Venue: The Actors Studio Bangsar, Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Dates & Tickets: 8.30pm, 30-31 August ’06 – special 49th MERDEKA price RM49!
8.30pm, 1-2 September ’06 – RM57.
3.00pm, 2-3 September ’06 – RM57.

Student & senior citizens (55 and above) – RM25 for all shows.

Box-office: The Actors Studio (tel 03-2094 0400 / 2094 1400).

For more information, call/fax Five Arts Centre at 03-7725 4858, email fivearts@tm.net.my
or visit Five Arts Centre Online

for those with the masks

everybody wants to be a winner and take their place at the top
everyone wants their name up in lights, for the good times never stop
sometimes the bad luck will creep up and catch you by surprise
your mind's confused, you feel misused
you've got to leave those troubles behind

sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
sometimes you wanna cry
sometimes you play the fool

when you cry the whole world laughs at you
they don't seem to understand
but the time will come when the tables turn
and you're gonna have the winning hand

hold on a little longer
try to be a little stronger
and you can win
you can win
and everything is gonna be yours

sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
sometimes you wanna cry
sometimes you play the fool

you gotta hold on
the time will come.

~ patrick moten/sandra sully

Like the title of the post says. You don't have to hide behind a mask just to make yourself feel better. People aren't blind to your fears. The more you hide, the easier it is to see. Take off the mask before it all comes crashing down. If you need to be a bitch, then be one. If you need to be a baby, do it. If your insecurities are making you insane, embrace them. Don't brush them aside. Don't pretend that everything is roses. How many diets can you do? How many pretentious Yoga sessions can you go to? How many lies?

The wall gets higher and higher. It's best you kick it down yourself. Because if someone else does it, you'll suffer the consequences. All on your own. Good times are just that. There will always be bad times. It's how you experience what is laid out on your cards. There's enough crap happening around the world. We don't need another friend turning into a stranger.

sorry seems to be the hardest word (for you to tell me)

Roger Federer is KING!!! Italy... too bad France. At least there's Zidane. The news has been depressing for the individual. A RM 200,000 fine for not carrying your Identity Card. Now that's been knocked down but still. Who the hell came up with that figure? Criminals get away with less. Priorities people please!

If some of you are wondering why I'm irregular with my Diva postings, it's because I'm postiing over at Kuala Lumpur DP on a daily basis. Completely absorbed. Head on over if you miss me.

Till then. Go buy The Body Shop make-up. Well, not until the new range comes out in August. Wonderful stuff!

And Rafael Nadal needs to come over for dinner sometime.

blah blah blah-ing

Wimbledon Open women's draw: As expected the top 4 seeds have made it into the semi-finals and what a pleasure it was watching them all win their QF matches last night: Amelie, Justine, Maria and Kim. Let's see how the men fare today.

Then I wake up today to find out that Germany failed to make in into the finals. Tough. There's goes the free meal I made a bet on. Now, I have to pay for dinner.

Not much happening on the local news front (none that I care to shed a word on that is) and that leaves me wondering, where am i going to get my fodder from? No canon blasting for the moment. Well, it has been relatively quiet. Everyone absorbed in a month of hooliganism I think. Notice even politicians have taken a break. For fear no one takes the time to hear them perhaps?

I don't know. I've been enjoying these days and shudder to think how life carries on when Monday comes around. The same or will there be a new twist? Will the end of the World Cup actually bring about a sense of realisation that we are living in a supposed First World country but have the mentality of a Third World nation? Does anyone actually care? Will customer service finally exist here? Will there be taxis when you need one? Where's the next cup of coffee coming from?

That's it. I'm going out to take some pictures.

ps.(for the Malaysian viewers) I'm a guest on NTV7's Thursday Night Live tomorrow night.

ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive

marriage is a conspiracy. read the agony aunt section of the papers.

friendship is an over-used word to describe a selfish existence between 2 or more people.

and people still don't smile enough.

am I having a bad day? on the contrary, I'm having a wonderful day.

today. so how?

Bless Star World Sports for it's live coverage of the Wimbledon Open. My fever is still on the tennis circuit. The rest of you can take your M.C.s from work to do your fancy footwork on the sofa or at the mamak stalls, who, by the way, are making a ton of money while you sleep at the desk. You snooze, you lose.

I'm sitting here pondering the next step in my illustrious photography career. Only just started and already I'm sending in my pictures for competition. Why not? All in the name of finding the perfect balance between theatre on stage and theatre through the eye of a camera. This new hobby has opened my already wide eyes even more to the subtle details of the humdrum of KL life. I even got a chicken to pose for me. I say that's quite an accomplishment! Chickens don't even stop for on-coming traffic. It seems harder for humans to stop though. Everytime I ask someone to pose, they run. Just stand still ok? Where you in a hurry to get to? Football? You can kiss my balls! You may have been the winning picture, twat!

Oh, Steffi Graf is watching her husband Andre play! I love Steffi! By far, the most talented female tennis champion. Ok, time to stop and watch the lawns of Wimbledon. I forgot to turn on the telly. Can't you believe that?