Seriously - why do we go back to the 80s so much? What was it there that captured the hearts of so many? Do I speak for myself, a Gen-Xer who left her heart in Times Square on her first date with 15 friends tagging along and Molly Ringwald at the movies?
Then, there was the Adam Ant mob. Together with the two red stripes on his face, we would feel invincible walking up and down Bangsar's then strip of shops which comprised of the MinMax mini market which stocked my first skate board, Orange Julius burger chain, McDonald's, the handyman shop and several doctors clinics and hair dressers. That's my 80s story. There were Beano, Dandy and pinup posters from imported magazines shipped into the corner newsagency - where I'd spend most Saturday mornings flipping through them while mum was at the markets in Lucky Garden. So, the 80s were my formative years and I can't stop the music in my head. What an era of quirky fashion, electronic beats and nu ways of dancing! Some days I feel I'm still living in the 80s and can't imagine it was 40 years ago! Here's to an amazing era!
Duran Duran
HK's Leslie Cheung & Anita Mui - May their souls RIP
Unpublished / unperformed Written 12 Jan 2009 Copyright Jasmine Low
Some nights, I wish I was lightning A startling flash of light, unnerving and unafraid of consequences as I strike
But I'm not so bright
Or, thunder, that offers no compromise in its loud and crashing sounds as they hit the surface of the black tar road along Jalan Raja Chulan
But I'm not loud by nature
I could dance up the beautiful steel structures of the KLCC like the sensual winds of the South China Sea
But I’m not so graceful
I think of the Monsoon rain, fierce and unrelenting, bravely descending upon the city lights at Teluk Chempedak like how I wish I could stealthily approach you
But I haven't
I could display these attributes the way Mother Nature intended If I was born during December, the last month of the year A time of reckoning, madness and forgiveness
But I wasn’t
So I bask in the consistency of the constant rays from the full moon And instruct it to shine down upon you when you’re asleep
And I call upon dawn to come just as you’re about ready to rouse And invite the caustic sunrays to seep moisture from your skin Leaving you thirsty
For me
I am as vast as the ocean And as faithful as the perpetual rise and fall of the waves beating across the shores, I place my wishes in a bottle, hoping it’d reach you in the next continent of your mind
But this constant chase between the tides tire you
And we find ourselves inside a chamber that is as dark as the darkest night To find only each other and nothing else but a faint flicker of our shadows
A glimmer of light from a tiny red light bulb 20 kilometres away Gather glimpes of my hungry weekends
I sleep a deep slumber And awake midnight And chase your light
At the end of your lifetime, You will realize that there may be a thousand lightning bolts, A million decibels of thunder Endless windstorms would have picked you up in their passionate haste
But there’s only one of me, And it is my consistency That earths you And it is this resonance That lasts forever
This piece was originally written in 2009, reflecting the author's love affair with her country, a country she left at age 18, sponsored by her maternal uncle Dr. James Cheah to pursue continuing education at Bridigine Convent in Australia. That generous helpful hand, has left an impact in most of Low's work. On an identity fence, Low finds herself returning to that same one point at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers, pondering life and her identity at the founding of the muddy estuary of Kuala Lumpur. Having spent equally the same amounts of time in each country, which love will she return to?
Plagiarising will give u callouses and bad breath. Copyright 2009 Jasmine Low.
Enjoy, this beautiful rock ballad rendition by Amy from the band Search. In Malaysia, Amy is a household name. In Indonesia, Amy is also a big rock star. But go anywhere else outside of the Malay archipelago and his name may be unknown. He's six degrees from me I know, and I really hope I'll get to meet this talented man one day. Meanwhile, to whomever who stumbles upon this post and you're not in Asia, enjoy this ballad. I've also translated it for your listening pleasure.
Tiada Lagi
Sia Sia Sudah
Kita Jalin Cinta
Bila Hati
Selalu Berbeda
Sampai Kapan Lagi
Ku Harus Menahan
Rasa Kecewa
Didalam Dada
Seandainya Kita
Masih Bersatu
Tak Mungkinkan
Menyatu
Walau Masi Ada
Sisah Cinta
Biarkan Saja
Berakhir Sampai Disini
Tiada Lagi Yang Ku Harapkan
Tiada Lagi Yang Ku Impikan
Biarkan Aku Sendiri
Tanpa Dirimu
Tiada Lagi Kata Cintaku
Takkan Lagi Ku Bersama Mu
Biarkan Ku Simpan Semua
Kenanganku Bersama Mu
No More
Isn't it a waste
If we begin loving
Yet our hearts
beat differently
For how long
Do I have to hold back
Disappointment
Inside of my chest
If we were
Still together
Yet not
As one
Even still
What's left of our love
Leave it alone
End it here
There's no more
I expect
Nothing else
I dream of
Leave me alone
Without you
No more, my love
I no longer have you
Just let me save all
You go, Kylie! I travelled to Bangkok, Thailand to be there among thousands at the APHRODITE CONCERT. It was fabulousness as Kylie is such a DIVA! Both concerts had beautiful people traipsing from above, suspended to thrill our imaginations, dance like there's no tomorrow, throwing songs at us LIVE or LIP SYNCD. If you're a cancer survivor, even if you're not, the show was just superb! You go, girl!
