I don't Get It

My niece R just couldn't be bothered by her school's fund raising assignment as she continued to play on her mobile device.

Her mum was more excited and keen to gather donations from every family member in the household to fill up the donation slots.

The donation card was printed on thick paper with high-quality graphics and a SG50 logo. Minimum donation is $2 and there was at least 50 slots to fill. But the card didn't state how the raised funds were to be used.

These days, I see that some schools are exploiting young children.
The kid learns or gains nothing from such fund raising process except that money comes easy without the need to do any work for it.
Why like that ? I don't get it. Sigh !



 

Music to my ears



When I'm stressed, I either paint, draw or listen to music.

 

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence".
Leopold Stokowski (British Conductor) once said.

But I'm no music person.
I remember playing the harmonica & the recorder (vertical flute) in schools as part of the learning curriculum. Now, I think such subject is not compulsory & one needs to join special groups in schools to learn music or art. Sigh ! 

Over my growing-up years, I lean towards some kind of music that appeal to my ears.
Here are my preferences. 

I remember this English pop music group captivated my attention in the 1980s with their unique singing / vocal style. I liked their songs, especially :
Staying Alive
Too much heaven
Now, there is only one surviving member left. Sigh !

After 40 years in this industry, this Australian soft rock duo are still performing everywhere.
This year, they are still returning to Singapore to perform & make some more "retirement money".
I like their numbers :
All out of love
Unchained melody
Goodbye Girl

I do not remember how many new songs they have released since the 80s.
It seems like they are still singing the same old songs all these years. This is called "recycling".

Both men have grown & aged.
But I preferred to draw them in their prime years when I first bought their CDs.






During the same time, there was also this Swedish pop group.
ABBA is an acronym of the first letters of the band members' first names and is sometimes stylized as the registered trademark ᗅᗺᗷᗅ.

The females' vocals were very strong & always masked the males' vocals.
Songs I liked were :
Money, money, money
Chiguitita

This April, they are also returning to Singapore to make some more money with their re-cycled songs.

I was too young to know this King of Rock & Roll.
In Chinese, he was known as "Cat King". Not sure why he's got this nickname.
It was in later years that I listened to his songs of the 60s & 70s.

I liked his songs, especially :
It's Now or Never
Are you lonesome tonight






More than ten years ago, my "boss" bought his CDs.
My "boss" was learning to play the piano then.
She even gotten the CD autographed on the spot when KK was at bishan J8, Singapore.

I started to listen to his music to relief my stress after work.
His music has a soothing & calming effect on me.









By accident, I bought his CDs & liked his music. 
His music is quite different & unique from others. Part contemporary, part new age & part tranquilizing with soothing effects.
My favourite albums are :
Faithful
Miracles
He has a life story to tell before he went into creating music.

Kenny G

This American saxophonist has a unique hair style. I must draw him no matter what.

His music has a soothing effect too.
I listen to them also for stress relief or when the room is too quiet.
I like to play them on my cheap hi-fi set with my mini-speakers. I do not like to use ear-pieces.

I avoid listening to them when I need to keep awake for something. I'm afraid I would doze-off & hit my head.....

I remember he came to Singapore to perform a few times. But the expensive tickets blocked me from seeing him perform live.









Jacky Cheong (Kong Kong)

He is known as one of the four "heavenly kings" in hong kong.
I grew up listening to his canto-pop songs, mainly slow numbers.

Some times, I would sing his songs in karaoke behind closed doors(to avoid laughter and comments as I dislike publicity) even if I could not mimic his high key notes.

He has only released limited edition of english songs that I could remember :
Let Me Go (Chinese song with English title)
Life is like a dream







George LAM (Hong Kong)

I grew up listening to his canto-pop songs.
I like his songs, especially the slow numbers. It's very challenging to sing his songs as they are mainly in very high-pitch or high-key notes. I would end up with a soared throat after singing his songs. Most memorable number :
A real man (cantonese)
















This man doesn't create or play music. Yet he could make a statement about music.

I do not know what his statement meant. I believe it had some "hidden" agenda.
So, it's good to know how to "read between the line".





These days, I listen to music much less after my hi-fi system broke down due to old age.
Just like us. When one gets old, every body joints seems to break down,....Sigh !
When things get old, they are more fragile.
It's faulty component (spin-head) could not be replaced due to obsolescence.
So far, no handyman could help me to fix it.
And I still refuse to throw it away & keep thinking of ways to fix it.
Call me old-fashioned, it's okay, pal.