A SLICE OF MY PIE

Much Ado About Nothing ...

2006-12-10T18:11:00.000+08:00

Once again I find myself alone on a Sunday afternoon after what seems like such a long time. My wife and daughter have gone out for a Christmas party and my sister (yes, she lives with me) has gone for Sunday mass. I do not need to be in the studio today because the young Chinese lady we are currently recording has other appointments and I also don't work tonight (yippee), so I do actually have a whole day free. I've had a very busy but productive week and today I've decided that I shall not do anything but vegetate in front of my TV (with season 3 of the 44100) or write an entry for my blog. Well I guess I'm writing my blog first ha ha ... oh well, TV will seem so much more enticing by the time I'm done here. I'm also pretty sure that when this entry is ready for posting, some of my family will be home, but that's ok because these past few hours of quiet is all I needed to get 'ME' back in line with everything else not work related!

I was actually toying with the idea of writing about my favourite pastime ... 'FISHING'! How some 'fishermen' fish with a line and tackle and others fish with nets. I think I'm more of a line and tackle man!!! Ha ha ... but then I realized that there's actually nothing much to say about that topic because;

1. Most of the fish who've actually taken a 'whiff' of my 'bait' have been a little skittish

2. Some of them have actually been 'small fry' so I've had to throw them back in

3. Some have been too large to reel in

4. Some have already felt the hooks of other fishermen but can't resist the lure of fresh bait (no ... this is not an autobiography)

BUT most importantly ...

5. All my very close friends would know that I'm not really talking about 'fishing' ... because I really do hate that hobby!

So I thought about that other title I had in mind, 'THE AMERICANS & THEIR BUSH'. Well I have since found out that not all Americans support a Bush ... so that idea went down the drain too! Besides, the political connotations and ramifications of that topic feels a little uncomfortable for me to handle at this point in time LOL!

OPEN SEASON ... that's what I'll write about! Heck, which one, the cartoon or the actual act of hunting! The cartoon is fabulous and there's nothing more anyone could say about it except ... 'WATCH IT'!!!!!! So it's 'hunting' then, well with the exception of carrying the bag of cartridges/ammo for my late grandpa when he used to go hunting for green pigeon, flying fox, squirrel or wild boar ... I actually know next to nothing about it! That's another idea going up in flames!

TOM FOOLERY ... now that's a name that's fascinated me ever since I was kid! It's not just a name, it's an implication! So should I write about 'TOM'? I don't think so because most Toms I've met have not been interesting enough for me to even remember them. Besides, the 'toms' that are really closest to my heart belong on a drum kit! Oh well, 'FOOLERY' then! Now that's an interesting topic, don't you think??? Would you call what I'm doing now 'foolery' or would it be a desperate bid for attention!! Ha ha, a little of both you think? Well it's either this or a picture of a half naked individual to go with the entry. LOL ... I think not! I do want all of you to get past the picture and actually read, even if there's nothing here. Ha ha I think I'll leave the option of a sexy picture open for when I'm really scraping the bottom of my literary bowl!

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to resign myself to writing about my day and other developments with regards to my life as a musician, and being 1/3 of my band BIG GAME! Hope all you people out there have not forgotten about us, we actually have a few surprises in store for all of you this Christmas and guess what ... it's going to be free too. No paying for anything ... YET!!! :o)

Well it's a wonder I've actually got so far with this entry. Ha ha ... everyone should try this because it isn't difficult at all, especially when you have no idea what you want to write about. Just remember to split your subject matter (if any) into as many paragraphs as you can ... I find that gives the illusion of volume. 'Take care and God bless all of you' at the end of your entry makes people think you care ... supposedly, it portrays your sensitive side ha ha ha. A little 'P.S.' after you sign off helps too, it gives the impression that there was something really important you almost forgot to say, a little sense of urgency always helps LOL!

Voila ... like magic, I now have another entry ready for posting. Ha ha, ok so it gives new meaning to the phrase 'much ado about nothing' but at least you now know what my 'nothing' is! Take care and God bless all of you.

Gerard Singh

P.S. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time and trouble to check the BIG GAME clips out on YouTube. We've not had time to post any new stuff there yet but there should be something new by Christmas! For those of you who haven't visited us there, here are the links;

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTd32dkp1is

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYvnDsip9Zg

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojmo3-DsJ1E

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Ikh98E8zI

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyr5Ba4WIOQ

Focal Point ...

2006-12-02T11:22:00.000+08:00

All my life I've never had to compromise very much! In my family, I'm the eldest of three children and I'm also the oldest grandchild on both my maternal and paternal sides. In most Asian cultures that pretty much means I'm the 'KING OF THE HILL'!!! Ha ha ... I think because of that, I grew up rather spoilt as I was used to getting my way most of the time. I was very content living my life that way for many years and even the friends I kept almost always deferred to me when it came to decision making. Even when I was not around and there was a decision to be made, friends and family would always consider my interest first before making most decisions. All I needed to do was focus on myself and what I wanted to do. It got to be quite comfortable for me until the day I left my parents home in JB (Johor Bahru - to the uninitiated) for KL (Kuala Lumpur) to work.

A whole slew of different individuals slowly but surely illuminated me on this little concept called COMPROMISE! Working in a completely unfamiliar and sometimes unfriendly environment made me realize that at times you just have to go with the flow. That was very difficult for a person who previously spent his life making an art out of going against the grain! The first thing I had to do was to deal with the issue of PRIDE ... or more accurately put, HURT PRIDE! Leaving the comfort zone of JB where people already knew who, what or how I am, for KL where no one really gives a shit, was a real eye opener. I came to realize that I needed to get with the program in order to get a 'toe hold' into the scene. Thus began my unlearning of almost everything I thought of as my GOSPEL before. The unnecessary attitude and juvenile pride were the first things that had to go. I also exchanged my rather short fuse for a longer one and believe me that was achieved under much duress LOL! It made me realize one very very important lesson ... maybe all my friends before this only tolerated me! My God, that was a scary thought and it made me feel insecure for quite a while. I needed to focus on improving other people's perception of me as a person and a performer ... and even as a friend.

I learnt to adapt to the new elements in my new life reasonably well or so I thought, when I was introduced to another aspect of re-learning called HUMILITY! Local production houses started calling me into their studios for 'jingles' (advertisement - to the uninitiated). Months and months of lending my vocals to numerous jobs with unsuccessful results made me re-evaluate my worth as a singer/musician! I think that was one of the hardest things I've had to endure because when you've decided on a career, it's really difficult to deal with the fact that maybe you're just not good enough! As fate would have it, I was finally excepted into the local jingle industry as a voice talent. Just as I was starting to get a little comfortable with my achievement, my real lesson in humility began. CLIENTS!!! We've all heard of how 'the customer is always right', well in the jingle industry the client is GOD! In fact I believe that the client is more GOD than God ever really is! They treat you like a 'musical instrument', a 'thing' and believe me that isn't good because singers are seldom that way. So sometimes you get stuck in the recording booth for hours on end, trying your level best to achieve something humanly impossible just because some producer is trying very hard to please a client, who in reality is a musical dunce in the first place! Where was that short fuse when I really needed it? Focus Gerard FOCUS!!!

I thought that was the pinnacle of all my lessons in life, and that what was in store for me from that point on was a smoother ride. How wrong I was, along comes Colin Jansen (guitar/vocals), Sherman Tan (bass/vocals) and Mark Felix (drums/vocals) to persuade me to form a show band for the local club scene. So along with Marfante Haridass (keyboards/vocals) and Regina Panizales (Vocals) we formed STAINLESS STEEL, I must say ... one of the better show bands in the country at that time. Playing in a band where everyone is an artist in their own right was never easy. Everyone had a strong opinion and we very seldom agreed with each other but it was a great band so we stuck it out for almost 2 years before calling it quits ... STAINLESS STEEL finally rusted! Some of us left for different bands and solo careers, and most left in disappointment (I know I did too). Once again I was left with re-evaluating myself. Trying to figure out what went wrong and desperately trying not to lay blame on the other members. It wasn't an easy task but I think some of us managed to achieve it as we have an even better time working together now. I learnt not to be petty and to put past grievances aside ... well at least for a later date LOL! So I focused on picking up the pieces and thinking up a new game plan, career wise.

In the midst of the band breaking up (at the end of May 1998) and armed to the teeth with all those valuable lessons on life, I embarked on the single most important thing in my very own life ... FATHERHOOD! It's amazing how a bouncing baby girl can be responsible for all your preparation and pre-conceptions going out the window. It was on the 8th. of May 1998, the day Gillian was born that my whole life changed. Almost everything I had learnt before didn't seem appropriate anymore ... nothing seemed enough. I didn't have enough cool, patience, tolerance, knowhow, time, money, even focus ... you name it and if I had it, it was never enough. I remember thinking to myself then, 'what is this little bundle of wrinkled skin and flesh that demands so much'. Heck the sum of my life up to that point just wasn't enough ... I just wasn't good enough for this new life I helped bring into the world. It took me a long while to settle into my new role and I believe I never really have ... not completely. I just do the best that I can all the time and pray that it's sufficient for her. Everyday with her is a NEW experience and in my life of reasonably consistent inconsistencies ... she is still, the WILD CARD! I thank God for her every minute of everyday, because she is my FOCUS in a world that is sometimes MAD!

Gerard Singh

New Post ...

2006-11-25T14:16:00.000+08:00

Sundays & Mondays are supposed to be my days off, but on Sunday I ended up being in our little recording studio from 2 pm till almost midnight and on Monday it was from 3 pm right up to 3 am the next day. I am so close to forgetting what it's like to have a complete day of doing absolutely nothing but sleep, eat, drink, surf the net and watch TV!!! I sleep in snatches now and have also resorted to cooking up excuses to the clients of our little enterprise, just so I can steal a few moments of rest! Ha ha ... blogging has also started to feel like a distant friend. Always there ... 'lurking' somewhere in the background but not quite sharing the same camaraderie we used to when we first met! Oh the joy of 'first love' ... how I miss it!

Today is the first afternoon that I've spent at home ... all week! So the first thing I did after my standard morning regime was, pig out on a heavy dose of GILLIAN (my 8 year old daughter)! I sat with her and watched some TV, hugged and kissed her as much as she'd let me before she finally told me to back off coz she couldn't breathe, ha ha ha! Now I'm here, desperately trying to jot something down simply because I NEED TO WRITE ... I AM SO DUE A NEW BLOG ENTRY, it's like I've been pregnant toooo looooong! Ha ha ... metaphorically speaking LADIES, I would never ever be presumptuous enough to even claim that I know how a pregnancy feels like :o) Anyway, some 360 friends of mine really amaze me with their consistancy when it comes to blogging. Deep down I know that that's the only way to go about doing anything in one's life. I have had this little formula all worked out for ages ... CONSISTANCY WITH NO COMPROMISE ON QUALITY! That's how I want to do anything and everything in my life. I'm just having a bit of difficulty keeping in line with that at the moment :o)

DISCIPLINE ... that's the key word here! Normally I think I am quite regimented in the things I do, but this whole fatigue phase I'm going through now is simply OVERWHELMING! I've heard people talk about how tired they can get and I've always thought to myself ... YEAH RIGHT!!! Now I know ... and boy do I KNOW! Is there a lesson in here somewhere for me? I think so ... food supplements, multi-vitamins and revitalizing drinks like RED BULL!!! Ha ha ... seriously, I realize now that my management skills are lacking, for I have not been managing my time very well. Yes I am one of those people who truly believe that any 'realistic' amount of activity can be achieved AND MAINTAINED with the proper management of time. Ha ha ... I guess I just need to calm myself enough to reach that 'ZEN' like state you do when your body realizes the only way you're going to get thru this, is if it surrenders completely to the mind. LOL ... for some reason LOBSANG RAMPA comes to mind (anyone remember him?). Oh well ... best to have too much work as opposed to nothing at all I guess!

One other reason for my ardent urge to pen a new entry, stems from the fact that I've also made some groovy new friends here ... thanks to the ones I already have. Ha ha ... it's very important that I impress them. You know what they say ... first impressions are great impressions! One question though, after that brief confusion about the mature rating and stuff (didn't realize I was missing out on so many delightful blog entries because my settings weren't right ... but it's all been sorted out now), I realize that I'm still pretty confused about how to add friends. Why is it everytime I click on 'add friend' it says this, "Error: At this time you cannot invite the person as a friend". Please ... I am not interested in asking Yahoo for help, so may I impose on one of you friends to explain that to me?? By the way, for those of you who are currently not on my friend list but have drooped ... ooops, dropped by my page and read my blog, please by all means ADD ME if you're thinking about doing so. The way I look at it, that's the whole point of being here ... to make friends!! You never know ... for if you are as blessed as I have been, you will have a friend list like mine, full of wonderful, colourful, intelligent, interesting and caring individuals. Ok ... so maybe you already do but add me anyway!!!!!! God bless all of you.

Gerard Singh

Songwriting ...

2006-11-14T19:06:00.000+08:00

Ha ha ... that's a pretty presumptuous heading for a blog entry but for lack of a better title, let's leave it. Ok here goes ... first the disclaimer! Everything you read here is my personal opinion and in no way am I making any reference to persons dead or alive or their methods. If by chance that happens, it really is purely coincidental. Ha ha ... seriously though, here's my take on what I think songwriting is, and also how I go about doing it. I have written quite a few songs over the years and I get people asking me all the time if there is some secret formula to doing it. Well no ... but over the years I have developed sort of a system for songwriting. I don't think of it as a formula or such, and it's definitely no secret ... in fact I don't think of it at all! I just write when I feel like it. Let's see if I can break it down cohesively so that anyone reading this can have some understanding of what I'm trying to say. Difficult to do really, when there are so many things going on all at once in my 'noggin' ... but I shall try.

Firstly let's define songwriting, remember we're not just talking about lyrics here (that would be a 'lyricist') but also melody. I would consider someone who comes up with both the lyrics and melody, a songwriter! Yes, I think that's a reasonable description. Now in order to be one, you would need to have a reasonable grasp of language and at least a working knowledge of melody. Most people have a great grasp of language but not everyone has a knack for melody and some don't, even after years of musical training. Which brings me to this little theory I have about why there still is such a thing as a badly written song. It was probably done by someone who in my books, does not have a knack for melody and lyrics (but hasn't realized it yet). Having said that though, I also think that music is very subjective ... so 'one man's meat may be another man's poison'! I'm pretty sure you would not like everything I like, but isn't that the beauty of music? It's like poetry but with the added dimension of sound, and the best way to appreciate it is to derive your own meaning from it. As long as it works for you and gives you that effect you're craving for ... then it's all good!

I wrote my first tune ages ago! I had limited chord knowledge and grasp of language then, so what I wrote reflected how much I knew. Ha ha ... looking at that song now, I have to say that it wasn't bad for a lad of 11. No, I will not post that song here!!! Over the years I've learnt so much more about music and so I went from writing in one style to another and so on. I've also been asked this next question quite frequently. Does the instrument you play define the way you write? Yes, I would have to say that the kind of intrument you play would definitely influence the material you come up with and also a person who's a musician would write differently from one who's not! Remember that I am a musician (a guitar player) so how I write is defined quite a bit by the guitar. I've also learnt to play some keyboards over the years and so when I write with the keyboard, I actually do tend to write differently. All instruments have their own sound/tone and the whole approach to playing them is also technically very different. The music is only one of the elements that binds all these instruments together but they are still harmonically different. It's like having completely different individuals from different parts of the world speak a common language (eg. English) but in their very own accents!

It's the same thing with lyrics, your increasing grasp of language would change the way you write. I find that in general, one would start by writing love songs of maybe 4 or 5 chords. After which you would move on to another love song but with a few more chords thrown in (besides the regular ones you use). Eventually you would get to a stage where your lyrics would get a little verbose and poetic then finally after you've experimented with that, you actually do get back to a stage where you would think, 'less is best'. I believe that is a natural progression for most songwriters before they find their centers and settle down into their own distinctive styles! Still ... I believe that songwriters should try and 'think out of the box' every now and again. It's always refreshing to be able to expand one's musical horizons. Music has evolved over the years because of the few who have thrown caution to the wind and pushed its limits and boundaries and Mr. Donald Fagen is one of them. All I can say is, his songwriting is pure genius!!! 'The Royal Scam' by Steely Dan is one of the best albums I've ever heard ... ever! Mr. Billy Joel is another one of my favourite songwriters. Songs like 'She's always A Woman', 'Piano Man', 'Just The Way You Are' and 'You May Be Right' have excellent chord structure and the words are simply beautiful. He's also always experimenting with different genres of music. I rate him as one of the best songwriters of all time! He does have one of the best marriages of lyrics and melody ever.

So how would I write a song? Well ... I really don't know how to explain that! Most of the time I come up with the melody and some key sentences at the same time. Sometimes I write the melody first and worry about the lyrics later and I very seldom do it the other way around. I find it easier to write lyrics to a melody than to make a melody fit words that are already written. Why? It's simple really, music has its own set of rules, and sometimes when you're just writing words it may not make sense musically! What I mean is, you may end with a line that has one too many syllables for the melody you are about to compose. So when you look for an alternate word or line to replace the original, you may find that it doesn't quite fit (rhyme) with the rest of the song. So I find it's always better to have a melody in the back of your mind when you're writing the words. Like I said ... I'm a musician who writes, so I tend to think about the music a lot when I'm writing songs! Always remember though, that you do have 'poetic license' and we've also established the fact that music is subjective ... so write as you feel. It is after all a form of expression but remember, the real challenge comes when you're actually writing to get a point across ... musically and lyrically! So as it is with everything else in life ... a good balance between the two key elements (words and melody) is tantamount to a great song!

It's funny but I've also noticed that most of the time, songwriters will be asked how they came up with lyrics to a certain song. Ha ha ... no one ever really bothers to ask how the music/melody developed! I know because I've also been asked that same question many times. Well ... to be honest, most times I just write because I need to and want to very badly but sometimes things happen that really affect me in a way that I just have to write about it. I've always been expresive that way, always had an opinion and the urge to voice it ... as 'artistically' as I can most of the time. Playing with words has always fascinated me and I've found that the best ways to indulge myself is thru' poetry and song but alas I'm no poet! So with regards to the subject at hand, this brings me to another point. I guess in general people are actually a lot more interested in what you have to say 'lyrically', rather than what you can do 'musically'. I think that is a good thing for me because I've always considered myself a songwriter first as opposed to a singer or musician, but I also firmly believe that that's the beauty of a great melody! One that's written so well it just sits behind the lyrics, not very noticeable but it's right there to support and help push the words of the song to the forefront. Sensibility, that's what it is! If people are not going to listen to the words, why put them there in the first place? Ha ha, write an instrumental then... that makes more sense, doesn't it? Mr. James Taylor is definitely another one of my heroes because the music to his songs is so well written, it gives you a lot of room to appreciate his lovely lyrics.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to you. Like prose or poetry, music is also a form of expression. So please write to express yourself and/or if you have something you desperately want to say. Write anyway you want ... you are allowed (in most cultures)!!! Just remember that even though music may be a lot more complex than it's made out to be, at the same time it's simple too! Complex because to create it, you need to have some understanding of, or feel for its mechanics. It's simple because the finished product can actually be appreciated by anyone, regardless of what language it's written in. I'm sure we all have songs we love in some language we don't understand. That's the beauty and power of music ... it really is a language all on its own! So for those of you who are starting out as songwriters, my advice to you would be to develop your own style and not worry too much about 'what's in' because these days everyone strives to do it differently! So when you next write a song, don't worry so much about the rules ... make your own! Like fashion ... individuality and originality go a long way in this business.

Gerard Singh

Anagram ...

2006-11-05T20:31:00.000+08:00

Here's another quickie! I had this in my e-mail some time ago. Some of you may have seen this before and some of you may have not but I thought it was pretty cool. In fact I still do, that's why I'm posting it here. Besides, I'm also still recovering from 'cavorting with the spirits' on Friday night/Saturday morning ... ha ha, so I just thought I'd post another quickie to let you guys know that I'm still alive and kicking (weakly but still kicking nevertheless)! Anyway someone with a lot of time on their hands went to so much trouble doing this so I'm sharing it with you. Please feel free to use it if you want and send it to as many friends as you'd like. It's a really really clever play of words! Enjoy ...

DORMITORY:

When you rearrange the letters:

DIRTY ROOM

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PRESBYTERIAN:

When you rearrange the letters:

BEST IN PRAYER

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ASTRONOMER:

When you rearrange the letters:

MOON STARER

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DESPERATION:

When you rearrange the letters:

A ROPE ENDS IT

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THE EYES:

When you rearrange the letters:

THEY SEE

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GEORGE BUSH:

When you rearrange the letters:

HE BUGS GORE

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THE MORSE CODE :

When you rearrange the letters:

HERE COME DOTS

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SLOT MACHINES:

When you rearrange the letters:

CASH LOST IN ME

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ANIMOSITY:

When you rearrange the letters:

IS NO AMITY

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ELECTION RESULTS:

When you rearrange the letters:

LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

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SNOOZE ALARMS:

When you rearrange the letters:

ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

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A DECIMAL POINT:

When you rearrange the letters:

IM A DOT IN PLACE

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THE EARTHQUAKES:

When you rearrange the letters:

THAT QUEER SHAKE

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ELEVEN PLUS TWO:

When you rearrange the letters:

TWELVE PLUS ONE

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And for the grand finale ...

MOTHER-IN-LAW:

When you rearrange the letters:

WOMAN HITLER

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Cool ya ... ha ha, I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did and if anyone knows where it originated from please do let me know, coz I really would like to congratulate the person who came up with that. Well take care and God bless all of you. By the way I only just realized this today, but there actually is a much clearer video clip of BIG GAME on YouTube performing 'Daddy's Little Ashtray' live at BERNARD'S. Here's the link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTd32dkp1is

It's also on my 'BLOGROLL' on my yahoo 360 page;

http://360.yahoo.com/dgerardsingh

Once again thank you to all of you who have actually taken the trouble to visit my page, my blog and also those of you who have checked BIG GAME out on YouTube. Words cannot express my gratitude so I shall say no more ... ha ha! For those of you who have yet to do any of that ... please do so soon and tell us what you think. Raymond and Sherman (the other 2 members of BIG GAME) are on my friend list, so feel free to check out their pages too or just say hello, I am very sure they would appreciate that very much. Ha ha ... and for those of you who read this blog expecting one of my usual entries, do not despair for I will be back in my true presumptuous long winded form after this. Adieu ...

Gerard Singh

The Birthday Bash ...

2006-11-05T13:17:00.000+08:00

I know I said I'd not do this but what the hell, I'm going to ... ha ha ha ha! Yes people, this is my 1 st QUICKIE! Ha ha ... no I'm not talking about 'you know what' but some friends of mine here call what I'm doing now a QUICKIE! For those of you still in the dark (what the hell are you doing here anyway ... LOL), that's what we call a short entry ... ha ha, that sounds bad too, doesn't it? Honestly, no pun intended ... so please don't put this one on the chain gang too! A SHORT BLOG ENTRY ... that's what I really want to say! :o)

Seriously though, my friend Colin ... who also happens to be one of the better guitar players in the country is celebrating his birthday today at the ONLINE pub where he performs. He's 43 today and that's also a reminder that I'm not too far away. Anyway, it feels like it's going to be a great night. Booze and music and more booze ... see what I mean! I have to shower in like 5 minutes so LITERALLY, this is a QUICKIE!

I'm taking my G & L guitar with me tonight and my teenie weenie ZOOM GFX 1 floor guitar effects unit too. Yes, I will be hooking up to jam with my musician friends and personally I think any musician in his right mind looks for an excuse like this to have a good time ... and I intend to have a WHALE of a good time, a rockin' good time!!!! Sherman will be there and I'm hoping, loads more musicians too.

So don't leave a light on for me coz I will be out till the crack of dawn and I will have lots of stories to tell when I do get back . Cheers everyone, God bless all of you and may the Spirit guide you in your daily meanderings. Me? Ha ha ... don't worry, I intend to keep the spirits close to me all night!

Gerard Singh

P.S. That's Colin in the pic above

The Space Between Blog Entries ... :o)

2006-11-05T13:12:00.000+08:00

Since quite a lot of people have actually been asking me for lyrics to some of the songs on the album 'A SLICE OF THE PIE', and I also happen to be suffering from an acute case of 'NO APPROPRIATE SUBJECT MATTER FOR MY BLOG' syndrome ... I've decided to post more lyrics here. Well here they are, the lyrics to 'DADDY'S LITTLE ASHTRAY' and 'CALL ME'. These 2 songs (newer versions) can also be found on the 'JOURNEYMAN' compilation album released by the indie label, DEATHSTAR PRODUCTIONS in June, 2006. For those of you who have yet to check these 2 songs out, the link is at the end of this entry. Please give them a listen when you have the time because I would appreciate that very very much. I shall not say anything about the songs this time around, you come to your own conclusions ;

DADDY’S LITTLE ASHTRAY

Babies with cigarette burns on their little hands and little feet
Learning all about pain before they learn how to walk
They’re daddy’s little ashtrays and mommy’s little punching bags
They learn how to hate before they learn how to talk

While society tries to be fair
A little boy’s on life support
He had a long day in intensive care
And daddy has a field day in court

@ We breed the men of war,we breed the hate
We breed the abuser then we blame it on fate
First impressions are, great impressions so treat your children well
We need more prophets, scholars and men of the arts
(We need more Gandhis, Muhammads and Jesus Christs)
Not Hitlers or Mansons with hate in their hearts (eyes)
First impressions are, lasting impressions so love your children well

You've been given a gift, why can't you treat it with care
The seeds of your future right in front of you, right there
Immortality in the shape of a child
Trusting you implicitly with all the hope in its eyes

Still you fail to realize
You can seem to understand
Your children live thru' you
Their fates like china in your hands

(Repeat @)

(Solo)

Badly beaten and brutalized
Our children grow with the rage in their eyes
Is this the legacy that we leave behind?
This is hell this is not paradise

(Repeat @)

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CALL ME

One conversation too short was all we had
A brief touching of thoughts was all we shared
You breathe my presence in the evening air
Within your mind you can find me there
You feel the breeze I am caress your hair
Won’t you let my current take you anywhere...call me
Now threads of reason whisper gently within your head
You try and grasp the significance of what was said
With your velvet dreams full of my sensuous schemes
The very fiber of your passion screams
The river’s warm coz’ we’re both two extremes
Go with the flow love, we’re a likely team

* I can sense that you’re tired
But I’m not to be blamed
Since you started the fire
Why don’t you let me feed the flame?
Can you smell my desire?
Does it drive you insane?
I can take your soul higher
To a completely different plane

@ (Call me) I’ll be right there by your side
(Call me) Like a spirit in the night
(Call me) Get your incantation right
(Call me) And we’ll be floating in free flight
(Call me) I promise nothing but delight
(Call me) Use your inner sight
(Call me) How long must we fight
(Call me) Let your need for me decide
Call me...

(Solo)

(Repeat * and @)

(Repeat @)
-----------------
Thank you so much for your time and trouble and remember comments are always welcome. Ha ha ... good and/or bad :o)

Gerard Singh

P.S. Here's the link ;

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm

If you like my music ... TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

Master Of Time ...

2006-10-30T07:58:00.000+08:00

I thought I'd do something a little different this time around. Most of you know by now that I'm currently working on an album with my band BIG GAME. Some of you may also know that I released a solo album called 'A SLICE OF THE PIE' in June, 2004. Well it did not do as well commercially because the production company only pressed a thousand copies (yes, the local English market in Malaysia isn't very large). It did get reasonably good reviews and was nominated for 2 AIM (Anugerah Industri Malaysia) awards :o)

Anyway I would like to share the lyrics of 2 songs on that album with you. The first one is called 'MASTER OF TIME' which I co-wrote in college with another singer/songwriter friend of mine, PREM NARAYANAN. Prem currently lives in the USA (where I was supposed to go to finish my degree but couldn't because I ran out of cash and ended up playing music here in Malaysia ... ha ha) and he also happens to be on my 360 friend list. Yes he is, he's been pretty quiet, that's why a lot of you don't know he's around. Well I shall speak for myself when I say this song is what I think God & Religion is about. You are most welcome to intepret it anyway you want, I think that's the beauty of music and prose.

The second song is something I call 'PRAY' and I think it's pretty self-explanatory. Enough said ...

MASTER OF TIME

In worlds of illusion, time is immaterial
You’re slaves of delusion, you believe everything is real
Life’s one big equation, don’t need to be an Einstein to solve
You’re slaves of an aberration, all it needs is resolve

You look but you don’t see me
Yet I’m there beyond your mind
But if you listen close you’ll hear me
I’m the master of time

@ Ever changing, reaffirming
Contemplating the roads you’re taking
I’m on the edge of obscurity, in all forms of purity
You confuse what I really am
With what you think I’m supposed to be

If you want to know my true nature
You must first learn to still your mind
And when you’re steeped in the rapture
You’ll know me the master of time

Repeat @

There was a time when I was alone
No one to love me and nothing was known
I was in need of finding expression
So I dreamt creation in an act of affection
Soon my dreams longed to be real
You begged of me to set you free
And in my love did I let you go
And you in turn now dream of me

Solo

This is the riddle and cause of creation
It’s up to you from that dream to awaken
Know that in shadows I am concealed
That I am the only, eternal and real
-------------------------------------------

PRAY

There’s an old man who sits at the edge of the world
With eyes that don’t see
And he anxiously waits for a sign of the one
Who will set him free ... and he said to me,
"What good is a clear strong vision
In a world that refuses to see
I’d rather be one with the mountains and trees
Feel the strength of the cool ocean breeze
While I wait and pray"

There’s a lady they say she’s been touched by an angel
She speaks incoherently
But in a moment of pure and unbridled lucidity
She whispered to me,
"What good is a clear strong mind
In a world that refuses to reason
I’d rather be one with the birds and the bees
And feel the change of all the four seasons
While I wait and pray"

So forgive me Father, for I have sinned
It’s been so long since my last confession
Believe me Father, I was led astray
So caught up in my worldly possessions
Now I wait and pray

Now I sit and I wait for the one called ‘Salvation’
And I hope, he passes my way
And as the first rays of light touch the eastern horizon
I hang my head and I pray
---------------------------------

Thank you so much for taking the time and do let me know what you think for it is much appreciated!

Gerard Singh

P.S. Ha ha ... try to be kind though!

Innuendo ...

2006-10-30T07:49:00.000+08:00

I have said that I do prefer people to speak their minds but after much thought, I have come to realize that that only applies to certain situations. When you have a certain point to get across, it's always best not to mince your words too much. Also, tact must be employed to a certain degree when dealing with another's feelings. That has been dealt with in a previous blog entry and that's not what I want to talk about this time around.

There is this game of 'wits' that people play with each other, especially when there's an attraction involved! It has all the allure of the proverbial apple in the garden of Eden. It has been played by the best of them over the centuries and it is still being played today. I choose to call it INNUENDO. It's the art of not being obvious, of saying and doing just enough to peek another's interest. Even in the dictionary, the meaning of the word is elusive. Look under INNUENDO and you will be told to refer to another word ... INSINUATE, which means to insert gradually or craftily and/or to hint artfully. A 'gradual insertion', in a certain context ... does sound like a lot of fun after all! Ha ha ... that would explain why millions of people spend hours upon hours of their lives perfecting their game. Like a 'hunt' ... it has always been about the thrill of the chase. Two prize fighters circling each other, not wanting the other to know exactly what the next move would be.

Once again technology has given mankind new avenues to take things to higher levels of playability. The computer and internet AND ALSO, the cellphone and text messaging. These two pairs have been responsible for taking the game to heights never possible before. Instant messaging, e-mailing, text messaging and the like have achieved almost 'art' like status. People are not even restricted by distance anymore ... in fact to many, distance has become THE comfort zone. When playing over great distances, the 'hunt' lasts even longer ... 'sweetening' the play and strategem. Some games have been known to last for years but some end almost immediately after they start. Players range in size, age, colour, gender, sexual preference and even marital status. Anyone can play anyone these days! You can be anyone you choose to be in the game and you can play the game with anyone at all, and with as many as you like ... and you never even have to meet!

People toy with each other all the time in the game and once you get caught in its web, it feels like that habit you always want to give up but never really can. It consumes you like a hungry beast. It almost always sends a thrill down your spine and you shiver with the anticipation of your opponent's next move. Waiting for that response, the reply to your message ... for a sign that the game is still ON! You spend your days cooking up new strategies to advance to the next level but always in the back of your mind ... you do not want to be too obvious! You take it to bed with you at night ... trying to think of your next play as you fall asleep. That is the game after all ... and it's all about keeping the butterflies in your tummy. Some have even progressed to levels where their senses are so acute that they almost know if the game they're going to play will be a good one. Like grand masters of chess ... they are always on the look out for worthy opponents. Opponents who will take them to the limits of their ability ... and sometimes even leave them out to dry when they lose.

I believe all of us go thru our lives playing the game to some degree and honing our gaming skills as we progress. A flirtatious look, a suggestive word or gesture can get us into all sorts of situations, some we don't want to get into but most we do. Some of us play the game to escape, some play out of boredom and some actually play for the love of the game. Whichever group you belong to, there is no denying the fact that the game is addictive, because the game is FUN. Having said that, I must say that I do dip my hand into the cookie jar every now and again, it is after all a deviously delicious use of free time ... :o)

Gerard Singh

A Better Sense Of Civility!

2006-10-16T12:25:00.000+08:00

I don't claim to be the most civilized person in the world but I think a lot about how I can go through my day just being myself and without stepping on too many toes. I just wish more people would do that! In the course of my 18 year career as a pub musician (yes, it's been that long), I have come across all sorts of individuals, most of them very very nice but a few who aren't so considerate! I just fail to comprehend how some people can end up being so mean and rude ... especially to people in the service industry. I have seen waiters/waitresses being insulted by customers for petty reasons. Is it really that difficult to be kinder? Would it be so hard to speak politely? There is such a thing as 'using the proper channels', isn't there? An inefficient waiter/waitress could simply mean ... bad management! The management is almost always to be blamed for inefficient staff. Why? Because the management hires the individual in the first place and they are supposed to train them well. So if someone is dissatisfied with the service shouldn't he/she complain to the mangement? Why deride the individual in public? Does it mean you have bigger b_lls (ladies...this applies to you too) when you do something like that? I don't think so ... you just come across as an a_ _ hole in the 1st degree when you do that!

Just the other night while we were at work, we had a request to play a song by 'Egland Dan & John Ford Coley'. Ha ha ... fine, most of you may not like their music but I happen to think they write wonderful love songs. So being the accomodating musicians that we are (we're predominantly a cover band after all) we comply and what do we get? Some a_ _ hole in the crowd who actually thought his b_lls were big enough, shouting 'boring'. What rubbish, you're not the only person in the club so stuff it already! Well I let it by the 1st time around, simply because I wasn't sure who it was (maybe his b_lls weren't all that big after all). The next week it happened again, this time after we performed 'When The Children Cry', no request this time ... I just happen to think that's a very good song, so we played it. Same thing happens and this time I know who it is so I don't let it slide. I literally tell him to f_ _k off and he doesn't like it, but do I care? Not a bit! Yes I know, maybe I should have spoken to the management about it but I couldn't help wanting to give that a_ _hole a dose of his own medicine. I have since found out that the culprit sells toilet bowls for a living ... ha ha, that would explain why he's so full of S_ _T (pun intended)! For those of you who have done something like that to anyone in the service industry, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Never do that again because it is just not civil! If you don't like something/someone in a certain place go somewhere else. Don't expect changes to be made just to suit your fancy ... if you want that, start you own joint! :o)

Having said all I've said above, this brings me to another issue. 'Oh ... I'm sorry, I was drunk!'. Haven't we all heard that line at some point or other in our lives. That's about the lamest excuse ever! That's why there are laws against drunk driving. If you can't handle your alcohol then DON'T DRINK!!! What's with saying, 'Sorry I didn't mean to do or say that ... I was irretrievably drunk!'. Get real ... isn't there also a saying that goes 'DRUNK PEOPLE DON'T LIE!'? I believe that's so much closer to the truth ... so please save yourselves some embarassment by getting in touch with your inner selves as intimately as possible before taking on that all exposing pastime called 'HAVING A FEW' or to some of you early birds ... 'HAPPY HOUR'. It certainly would save those around you the trouble of cooking up excuses for your errant behaviour!

Another thing that sits at the top of my 'Human Traits That Bug Me The Most' list is this, why can't people just be straightforward? A lot of problems can crop up when people don't speak their minds. There'll almost always be a lot of apologizing later that way! When confronted about their lack of 'straight forwardness' a lot of them say this famous little line that really really irks me, 'I'm sorry...I didn't want to hurt your feelings'. Rubbish ... then why insinuate in the first place? Fine, a certain level of tact must be used and a certain level of diplomacy practiced ... so when you've got that magic balance right already, just spit it out! Come on...I'm a musician, not a mind reader. If you are reading this and you don't know the difference between the two, please stop now and go away! Don't be offended because I only have your best interest in mind. We all know that time is precious and I honestly do not want to waste yours!

Asking politely also goes a very long way but one should always remember that just because you ask for something politely, it doesn't mean you are going to get it! Ha ha ... this is something I'm desperately trying to instill in my 8 year old, especially when we walk down the aisles of the very expensive TOYS 'R' US store! Like I said she's only 8, most of the people I deal with are adults ... what's their excuse? I think understanding this is really important! Asking politely does increase your percentage for success though but nothing in life is guaranteed! I know God said, 'ask and you shall receive' but I believe He/She meant that for a different time. Those days people just TOOK without ASKING. Try that now and see where you end up!

After all has been said and done, I am a firm believer that no single person exists solely by themselves. We all need one another ... like pieces to a giant jigsaw puzzle. As James Taylor so clearly pointed out in his song 'SHOWER THE PEOPLE', 'it's true what they say about this squeaky wheel, always get in the grease...' . Aren't we all spokes in this giant wheel of life ... so come on, think of civility as the grease that helps our wheel spin squeak free ... SPREAD IT AROUND, coz there's nothing like A WELL OILED MACHINE!!!

Gerard Singh

BIG GAME on YOUTUBE...

2006-09-19T14:52:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone, this isn't what you'd call a standard blog entry ... but then again what is a standard blog entry? :o) I've just decided to share some links with all of you who have taken the trouble to check out my sites and blogs. We (BIG GAME) have posted a few short videos of ourselves performing at various places here and also in Singapore. For the moment it's all just covers but I think there may be a video of us performing our 2 original songs ('CALL ME' and 'DADDY'S LITTLE ASHTRAY') on the deathstar site ;

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm

Anyway like I said we have some videos on YOUTUBE, nothing fancy just us trying our best to play music :o) The videos may be a little dark but I think the sound is pretty ok despite being shot with a lowly handy cam. So do check them out when you have time to spare. We will try and shoot some videos of us performing some original stuff very soon so hang in there and do keep you fingers crossed that they will turn out ok. The links to our videos on YOUTUBE are at the end of this short note. These are of us performing at the BACKYARD pub. Thank you all for your support and precious time. God bless.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYvnDsip9Zg

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojmo3-DsJ1E

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Ikh98E8zI

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyr5Ba4WIOQ

Gerard Singh

The great big 'Balance Sheet' ...

2006-09-16T17:12:00.000+08:00

I just turned 39 a few weeks ago and am now perched precariously on the brink of the fabulous 40's. It's funny how time creeps up on you without you realizing it but I don't mind, I'm not complaining. I'd like to believe that I'm aging gracefully, getting better with age even ... like wine. Maybe it's the fact that I am a working musician and I am already very very happy with my choice of trade that makes me a lot calmer in the face of FATHER TIME! It's true, I think most people spend too much time worrying that they may have not made the right choices career wise ... hence the worry that they're running out of time to make the necessary adjustments. I think we musicians are a more centered, grounded and well adjusted lot. In other words we're basically more cocksure than your average individual ... ha ha! Well it's because we made our decisions a long time ago on what we want to do and now that we've taken that leap of faith to do it, we just do it with a vengeance ... no holds barred! I remember wanting to be a professional musician at a very young age and as soon as I cleared the minimum educational hurdle, even in the face of such adversity like peer pressure, nothing was going to stop me. Oh yeah, talking about education, I have another bone to pick with the general public here. Please don't asume that we're musicians because we dropped out of school. A lot of us have at least college degrees ... ha ha, we just haven't found any use for them ... yet!

Over the last couple of years a lot of things have happened to contribute towards me being the kind of person I am now. I still feel as young as I did a decade ago (yeah ... right!) and the only noticeable change in me...well besides my loss of hair is, I'm a more relaxed individual now. Most of my childhood angst has been replaced by a calmer and cooler (some people say "colder' ... ha ha) exterior. I believe the major factor in this change of mine is GILLIAN ... my 8 year old daughter! She's like the RADIATOR to my ENGINE ... ha ha, for lack of a better metaphor. Everytime I get heated up over something she cools me down ... literally! Kids are wonderful that way ... they just don't give a rat's ass if daddy or mommy has had a bad day. As long as you're home, they give you that look that implies ... "YOUR ASS IS MINE!". Ha ha and Gillian is more so that way coz she's an only child ... these past 8 years with her have taken my tolerance level to heights I never thought I would ever achieve! Hooray for parenthood ... I now look at my mom and dad as heroes! Ha ha ... forgive me if I'm turning all you would be parents off. I mean well and besides, people always say, it's best to be prepared for whatever may come. Yes, one may say that having a child has made me grow up quite a lot :o)

My only worry about getting older is wether I will achieve all the goals I've set for myself, if I would live out my life to it's optimum capacity. Ha ha ... sounds like a Math/Physics or Accounts problem. Actually that's not too far from the truth ... life is like a great big 'balance sheet'. Everyone's been given certain talents (resources) to work with and at the end of it all, we have to tally both debit & credit sides until a reasonable balance is achieved. Some people under achieve & come up short but others achieve a lot in the time they are given. I guess I would like to be in the latter category. Don't mean to sound morbid but I really would like to leave as much of me behind when I go ... ha ha, I really do feel that way! I think everyone wants to be remembered for something good and I strongly believe that that is mankind's take on 'IMMORTALITY'. This is the true 'FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH' people, there is no viscous liquid in a bottle that gives you ever lasting life. This is it! You leave a part of yourselves behind in the deeds that you do ... that is what you will be remembered for and guess what? You only have one chance at it, so don't blow it! Ha ha ha ha ... either that or have bus loads of children. They do say that your children live through you. Immortality in the eyes of your children and your children's children...

Oh well ... for those of you sitting on the brink of what is the end of the 30's and beginning of the 40's, I wish you wealth, health and most of all wisdom! May you find comfort and peace in the company of FATHER TIME and may he grant you above everything else, the ability and persistence to achieve all the goals you set for yourselves ... your little slice of immortality!

Gerard Singh

DUDE...what happened to the music?????

2006-09-01T14:21:00.000+08:00

I don't know about the rest of the world, but in general I believe that music these days is a shadow of what it used to be. Call me a dinosaur if you will but being a musician myself, I can't help but miss all those acts of the 60's, 70's & 80's. They used to write so much then! Acts like The Beatles, Procol Harum, Uriah Heep, Led Zepellin, The Who, Yes, Genesis, The Police, Bad Company, Deep Purple, Queen, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Styx, Rush, Toto, Journey ... etc! Gosh ... even in the 80's with the onset of the 'British Invasion' (when electronica was all the rage), you could still find quite a lot of substance in the music with acts like Depeche Mode, The Eurythmics, Yazoo, The Thompson Twins, Ultravox, Tears For Fears, Madness, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, Curiousity Killed The Cat, Simple Minds, U2, Thomas Dolby ... the list goes on & on! Music then wasn't as formulaic as it is today (oh well, maybe there was a formula but a different one ... definitely a better one)! Songs weren't just written to SELL but produced to evoke all kinds of emotions. Songs were written because the song writers almost always had an inherrant message and mood to convey.A musician friend told me that nowadays music is very 'minimalist' ... ha ha, whatever that means! Well it certainly evokes a minimal amount of interest from me.

It's also really sad what passes for R & B, Dance & Rap music these days.Yeah, yeah, yeah ... I know the new generation has every right to their form of artistic expression and appreciation but come on ... what's happened to musical content??? A lot of them have forgotten what R & B means. It's Rythm & Blues as opposed to R & D ... Research & Development, coz these days that is what it sounds like to me! They've also somehow managed to incorporate some form of porn into audio and video nowadays. Great to watch when your spouse is away but I personally think it would be better if one just rented a 'blue' movie. The 'action' sequences are a helluva lot better and some of them even have great background music! Give me music by Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, Tower Of Power, James Brown, Prince and definitely Michael Jackson anytime. Ha ha ... I don't even want to talk about some of the other greats like Rare Earth, Average White Band, Chic, Rose Royce, Aretha Franklin and The Sugar Hill Gang <--------- (undoubtedly one of the best rap outfits ever!). Anyone reading this should go check out all these people ... trust me, you will come away from it with a wealth of musical experience. Of late, the only albums I really look forward to are ones by older acts trying to make a comeback, or acts that are still active in the scene.You should have seen the smile on my face when Steely Dan released an album called 'Two Against Nature' in the new millenium.What a breath of fresh 'OLD' air ... and I was practically salivating when they did it again with 'Everything Must Go'. Thank you Mssrs. Fagen and Becker for the wonderful pool of cool music that I've been delving into all these years for ideas on composition & arrangement, and also just for simple listening pleasure! The two of you have made my drive to and from work so much more pleasurable. Hats off to you too Mr. Robben Ford for getting back into the blues and infusing it with so much more. You to me are an inspiration to any working guitar player ... your sweet lines, sensible tones and incredible singing solos are an elixir in a world filled with new music that reeks of corporate stench! Dear Mssrs. Lee, Lifeson and Peart, thank you so very much for 30 years of the greatest progressive rock and thank you even more for still doing it and better than anyone else! Rush really does ROCK!!!! I'm also really glad that Mr. Mike Rutherford is keeping the torch aflame with both Genesis and Mike + The Mechanics!

Believe it or not ... I think one of the few genres of music that is actually still consistent is Country & Western. I know a lot of you at this point are probably grimacing with hand on forehead ... ha ha ha. Well I was never a big C & W fan before but performing almost all the time with Sherman Tan & Raymond Chia, literally two of the biggest rednecks in Malaysia has altered my perception of it. I've still yet to grasp the mechanics of it's form of guitar playing but my appreciation of C & W has grown tremendously thanks to Raymond constantly supplying me with an ample dose of listening material. I've come to love a whole lot the acts like Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, Alabama, Albert Lee, Vince Gill (no, he's not a banghra artist ... that's Bob 'Dillon'! Ha ha ha ... sorry, it's a little private joke among us musicians here in Malaysia), Allison Krauss + Union Station, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Randy Travis and many more. The musicians who session for all these C & W acts ... my goodness, simply AWESOME!!! People like Paul Franklin (that pedal steel guitar u hear on Dire Straits 'Calling Elvis' track is him), Mark O'Connor, Brent Mason ... it's a really long list! Ha ha...so from this day forth, let me proudly come out of the closet and profess my affection for Country & Western music.

It's really funny but as much as MTV has progressed these past 2 decades, I still feel the same way about the acts that appear on the tube. The video alone is just not good enough for me when the song has no substance! So I've resigned myself to the fact that it's going to be live concerts on DVD for me.Watched AC/DC live at Donington the other day and they ROCK!!! Good ole rock 'n' roll at its finest! I tried watching one of the newer rock bands (I shall not name names) and...well after 10 or 15 minutes, I switched to AC/DC again! Watched a really excellent DVD the other day of Procol Harum live at Old Chapel ... wow, what a band!Never thought of them as progressive but believe me, their music is out of this world! Rush Live In Rio is another great concert ... still trying to get my hands on their other live DVD though ... A Show Of Hands! I was never really a big Eric Clapton fan before but over the years I've come to really appreciate the man. He's like good wine ... just getting better with age! His LIVE performances are absolutely brilliant and the Crossroads Guitar Festival was a fine excuse to have a little guitar party all under one roof! Kudos to you Mr. Clapton. I also watched Yes do a live acoustic concert on DVD and they were absolutely brilliant. Mr. Jon Anderson is still hitting those high notes effortlessly and the rest of the band are as sharp as ever! It was a real treat watching them treat some of the older suff acoustically!

Well I guess in a way, because of the stuff they're playing on the airwaves and showing on the tube now, I've actually been regressing when it comes to choosing what I want to HEAR and what I want to SEE. I'm actually moving backwards and discovering some of the older acts that I never really listened to then, giving them a chance and finding out that I really do enjoy their music. So maybe what's happenning now isn't such a bad thing! Whichever way you choose to look at it, it still comes back to what I've been saying ... Screw what's New coz Old is Gold! Ha ha ... or maybe my other musician friend was right after all when he said, "Gerard, maybe we're just growing old!" :o)

Gerard Singh

Rekindling...

2006-08-21T20:35:00.000+08:00

<----- Raymond, Prashan, Paul, Sherman & Me at HARRY'S after the gig at the ESPLANADE

The gig in Singapore turned out to be excellent...more than we hoped it would be actually.The first night at the ESPLANADE was one of the best gigs I've ever had.The crowd was really good and responsive, and I was very surprised that they took to the music we played.Ha ha...I never told the other guys this but I did have some doubts when Paul came to us with this idea for a Country & Western night at the open air stage.God...Country & Western...don't get me wrong, I love C & W (maybe not as much as some of my other REDNECK friends) and I do think the genre produces some of the world's finest musicians .Also, the music is in a word...'HEARTFELT', but C & W at the ESPLANADE, supposedly one of the more trendier spots on the sunny isle of SINGAPURA...ha ha, can you blame me for not being a true believer!To my utter surprise, the setting was lovely!Great stage and thousands of people, most of whom came for the fireworks display that happened between our 2nd set but they did stay back when they heard the music.The crowd just loved every minute of the performance and I have to say I loved it even more.The whole evening played itself out to perfection.Maybe I should have trusted Paul's instincts after all, seeing as he is one of our more popular exports!Ha ha...my sincere apologies Paul for my lack of faith and thank you (your lovely wife too) for giving us what we truly needed...a renewed conviction in our beliefs that we have not been barking up the wrong tree with our choice of trade because that is exactly what I came away with from this whole episode in Singapore.I have just been going thru' the motions these past few months and finding fault with everything and everyone else when I should have been looking within.Wondering why I derive so much less satisfaction from performing these days than I used to.Playing in Singapore with 3 other very talented and dear friends has made me realize that sometimes you just need to take that cold walk outside, gather up some more firewood, walk back in again and just throw it in the ole' fireplace...ha ha, hopefully before the initial flame fizzles out!

Speaking of rekindling...I had the pleasure of catching up with some really old but very good friends too.All of them have families of their own now but they're still as hospitable as ever.I have not seen one of these guys for about 10 years and it was very very good catching up with all of them.It's also really good to know that they're all doing well.I've made up my mind that I'm gonna take extra time to keep in touch with each and everyone of them.It's funny but this whole year has actually been about renewing old friendships!Early this year some friends of mine from a college in PJ started a little yahoo group for ex students.So over the space of these past 8 months I've had the pleasure of hearing from some people I never thought I'd ever hear from again.Ha ha...I have to admit that it's a wonderful feeling and a real test of my memory too.I never could have imagined being in touch with so many old friends but with the onset of the world wide web, I guess our world is getting smaller after all!So I hereby pledge to stay in constant touch with all of you...ha ha, SCOUTS HONOUR!!!

Ok ok...back to Singapore...the 2nd day we spent all afternoon specifically in Peninsula Plaza!I think we must have covered all the music stores in that plaza and the one next to it...can't remember what that building's called.So many guitars to see...wow, I could have just died!I tried quite a few and I'm still thinking about most of them...like the LAKEWOOD, PARKER FLY & PEERLESS!Ha ha...maybe when I have a bit of cash to spare...I'll make another trip! :o) Anyway at night, we all converged at TIMBRE...a nice little 'Al Fresco' bar somewhere along Armenian Street as BIG GAME were engaged to perform there for the night.That was a good night too!Danny, the boss who also happens to be a blues musician, came up and jammed a few songs with us.We finished the night there with Paul who joined us after his gig at Harry's (ESPLANADE).Ha ha...I have to say that by the end of the 3rd set, most of the Singaporeans had said goodnight and believe it or not, we were left with quite a few 'relocated' Malaysians to entertain!Nothing like a little 'local' support anywhere in the world, I guess!Anyway after saying goodnight to the crowd, we proceeded to another bar called HOO HA, somewhere in Pasir Panjang Village.Little did we know that the party was only just beginning.We climbed the stairs to the sounds of some classic rock being played and walked smack in the middle of one of the loudest jam sessions ever...GREAT!We jammed and drank and jammed and drank some more and then we jammed and drank some more!Before we knew it, it was time to leave but the boss, Victor (a gem of a guy) insisted on taking us for the best NASI PADANG (it's a local malay dish of white rice and other delectable dishes) in Singapore.Paul and Anne decided to go home...ha ha, actually Anne wanted to join us but I think Paul was just too tired.Victor took us for breakfast (it's definitely not called supper at 7.30 am) and it turned out to be a really good meal.So for those of you on your way to Singapore, do drop by HOO HA PUB for some late night jamming and if you're lucky, Victor may take you for some really great NASI PADANG...or at least he would point you in the right direction!By the way Victor also says that the steaks at his pub/restaurant are the best in Singapore!

My 3rd day in Singapore, I woke up at about 2pm and one of my friends, Dinesh came by to pick me up.We went over to his home for a couple of drinks and basically just to talk.At about 7pm his wife dropped the both of us at Balmoral Plaza...somewhere along Bukit Timah Road and we proceeded to a pub called BOJANGLES.The owner, Amarjit was expecting us for a dinner that he himself prepared and there was also a bottle of whisky waiting for us.Sherman was already there when I arrived so we waited for Paul and Anne before proceeding with dinner.The food was excellent so I really pigged out but I did stay clear of the whisky...ha ha, only because I had been on Guinness the whole day.After the meal and lord knows how many more Guinness stouts, my friend said he had to go.The rest of us (Paul, Anne, Sherman and I) caught a cab to Harry's, Boat Quay.There was another jam session happening there!With the exception of Anne, all of us got up to jam and it was a lot of fun.The bunch of musicians I saw performing at Harry's , Boat Quay were first rate...some of the young Singaporeans can really play!I mean they know their stuff.They decide on what they like very early and do just that!Ha ha...I guess we Malaysians are a lot more eclectic!Well anyway, we ended our last night in Singapore as only Malaysians know how!BAK KUT TEH!!!Ha ha ha ha ha...for those of you who do not know what that is...well it's basically pork cooked with 11 herbs and spices...oh no, I think that's 'Kentucky Fried Chicken'...seriously though it is pork cooked in traditional Chinese herbs.Really good when you've had too much booze...actually that's about all it's good for...ha ha, it's delicious though!I happen to live in the the BAK KUT TEH capital of the world so I do know what I'm talking about!Good ole' KLANG town...ask any hot blooded BAK KUT TEH enthusiast, they'll vouch for me!

We left Singapore for home the next day,literally said goodbye to all the jazz of Singapore for the blues of Malaysia.We were so tempted to carry on partying at the duty free zone in Johor Bahru (see what I mean by the blues!) but I decided to spend some time at my mom's place in Johor Bahru while Sherman went to visit his daughter who happens to live in JB as well.We only left JB for Kl at about 8 pm.All in all it was a fantastic weekend but it also left me wondering about a few things.I've realized that it was really good catching up with old friends and also that I don't need to wait for a special occasion to be in touch with them!Just have to make sure you have enough firewood stocked up to keep the fires of friendship and music going for long, long time...cheers everyone!!!

Gerard

P.S. Check out the same blog here (more pics) ;

http://dgerardsingh.blogs.friendster.com/a_slice_of_my_pie/

Stress relief...

2006-08-03T18:23:00.000+08:00

I've just spent a 'stressful' but 'enjoyable' past 3 days with some musician friends of mine...

Stressful because we've been practicing everyday since Monday from 2 pm till about 6 pm after which, I would go straight to work.I would leave my home at about 1.30 pm to get to practice and only get back home again at about 3 or 4 in the morning.14 hour work days....aaaarrrrgggghhh!!!!!My eight year old actually said "Daddy, where have you been? I miss you." Ha ha...she's a real terror but she has her moments of sweetness I guess :o)

Enjoyable because I've been practicing for a show on the 11th of August in S'pore, with 3 of the most talented musicians I know!Paul Ponnudorai, Raymond Chia and Sherman Tan.I'm really looking forward to this because it would be like a brief respite from the saturated KL music scene.So if any of you people reading this happen to be in S'pore during this time, drop by.You never know, you may actually enjoy yourselves.Ha ha...what was I thinking, you will definitely enjoy yourselves!!! :o)

On the 11th we perform two 45 minute Country & Western sets with Paul at the ESPLANADE and a third set on our own as BIG GAME...

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm

We'll probably end up jamming with Paul at HARRY'S after we finish our 3rd set, both on and off stage, ha ha...and we'll all be going to bed at 4 am again.Same shit, different setting!!!Ha ha...not that I'm complaining, mind you!It's always a pleasure to hang out with Paul & Ann (his wife) and also to listen to him perform.Definitely one of the best...in all honesty, as good as Paul is (believe me...he's brilliant!), what I enjoy most is having our little conversations.He can be really funny when he wants to be and in a very articulate way.Cheeky :o)

On the 12th, Paul has set us up in an 'al fresco' (I think that's the term they use) bar called TIMBRE, somewhere along Armenian Street.I'm looking forward to that too coz we'll actually be performing our regular eclectic repertoire as BIG GAME the whole night.I'm also very curious about the kind of people we might get there.Paul did give us a general idea of the crowd that hangs out there...ha ha, we're all still very excited about the prospect of playing to a younger audience.He also did mention about dropping by as soon as he finishes at HARRY'S BAR.

...and on the 3rd day, we shall rise again!The 13th of August...that's when the real party starts.We're actually not working but have decided to stay another day in S'pore because we basically want to indulge in one of our favourite pastimes...RANJAUing.It comes from the malay word 'ranjau' which actually means 'boobytrap' or 'mantrap'.So please don't ask me why when I use it in the context I just did, it means 'loafing' instead!Ha ha...you can chalk it down to slang I guess. Anyway, my point is...with Paul & Ann's help, we plan to spend the whole of Sunday roaming and combing the streets of S'pore in search of veritable oases that cater to alleviating the thirst of three wayward travellers from across the causeway (I guess it's better to be VERBOSE here rather than in my songwriting!).Ha ha...what is life if not for the pursuit of fine spirits to soothe one's parched throat.Well, one of its pursuits anyway...believe me, I'm not the only one who feels a certain kinship towards alcohol.Read below...(ignore the fine print)

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." ~ Dave Barry
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.

This last one is the best one yet and it's taken from the long running series CHEERS, I think most of you would remember this...

"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... a herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers...

I rest my case...no pun intended :o) Anyway, if things go according to plan we should be back in Malaysia on Monday the 14th of August.Not KL mind you, but Johor Bahru.Ha ha...we hear that the duty free zone in Stulang Laut is a haven for travelling minstrels!Worth checking out...CHEERS!

Gerard Singh

P.S. For those of you who have not checked out my band BIG GAME yet...SHAME ON YOU!Here's the link again...do check us out and drop us a line...tell us what you think.Thank you and God bless you all :o)

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm

Writer's block...

2006-07-30T14:22:00.000+08:00

I've been sitting at my console trying desperately to write another entry for my blog but words seem to be eluding me for some reason."WHAT the bloody hell...", I say to myself, "ME, Gerard Singh...at a loss for words?".Impossible...or IMPOSSIBIBLE as TIGGER (T-I-double-Guh-Rrr!That spells Tigger!) would say!YES YES...I think all fathers have done the entire WINNIE THE POOH thingy with their kids...ha ha.Anyway, I guess I'm starting to understand just a little bit about that woeful condition called 'WRITER'S BLOCK'!I've not just been having problems writing for my blog but also completing lyrics for songs that I've composed for the album with my band BIG GAME.We've almost finished 'TRACKING' the instrumentation (for those of you unfamiliar with recording term, it simply means we are almost done recording all the musical instruments to the songs), all that's left is to lay down the vocal tracks.Unfortunately...like I mentioned earlier, I've encountered this wall in the middle of my road to completion.It's too high to climb over and too wide to go around.Funny though...nouns, verbs, adjectives and all the other mechanics of lingo, I still have no problem with at all!!It's 'SUBJECT MATTER' that's making me bite my nails!When I got up this morning I tried sitting down at my desk with a hot cup of MILO (I've stopped drinking coffee for quite a while), paper, pencil and a minus-one CD of the original songs I've been trying to finish playing on my hi-fi.Still all I got was maybe 4 or 5 lines for one song.Now I'm at the PC trying despertely to write an entry for my blog and I draw a complete blank!Ha ha...in fact the only thing I can think to write about is my inability to do so!Maybe I should take my own advice and just appreciate SILENCE since I have nothing of consequence to write about.Yeah right!!!Wishful thinking on your part...the one thing you're never gonna get from me is SILENCE!!"But...what about the previous blog entry?", you ask yourself.Ha ha...I only have one thing to say...that's right, DO AS I SAY...DON'T DO AS I DO!!!Ha ha ha...seriously though, this DEBILITATING DISEASE I'm experiencing right now is so frustrating.It's been occupying too much of my mind coz I've desperately been trying to analyze the situation.Could it be I've been pushing myself too hard?Ha ha...I don't think so, since time immemorial I've believed in practising the whole 'Work smart not hard' campaign.Maybe I'm just too tired?Not a chance...working only 3 nights a week has given me ample opportunity to catch up on some much needed 'shut-eye' (I don't mean to rub it in coz I know some of you guys don't get as much rest but I sometimes clock 10 hours a day!).Gosh...it just hit me!Must be the lack of alcohol.YES that must be it!I've been working in the pubs/clubs only 3 nights a week the past month that I've not been meeting my quota of alcohol consumption.Ha ha...don't you guys think it's amazing how certain things are there, staring at you right in the face and still you fail to notice them until it's too late.Thank God it's not too late for me!You people have a great day and God bless you all.I'm going out for lunch now...after which, I'm gonna make a short pit stop at the neighbourhood convenience store and stock up on some BLACK GOLD!!!That's Guinness to the uninitiated...cheers!
Gerard Singh

The empty spaces between conversations...

2006-07-23T19:46:00.000+08:00

"My wife has a slight impediment in her speech.
Every now and then she stops to breathe."

-- Jimmy Durante

It's amazing how so many couples/people associate conversation with caring/love.They think that the moment one stops having regular conversations with a partner/friend means the relationship/friendship is dead.I've also read in magazines that so many couples call it quits because they've stopped 'communicating'.I personally think that's a load of crap!You leave somebody because you don't get along and not because you've both stopped talking to each other!If any of these people who left a relationship because there was a breakdown in communication were to dig deeper, I'm pretty sure they'll find that there was NONE to start out with in the first place! If a relationship is doomed... conversation is definitely not going to save it!

Talking is a form of communication but communication does not necessarily mean talking.Many don't realize this but you sometimes don't need to talk to communicate!Coz SILENCE, is also another form of communication.It can mean so many things like 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND A WORD YOU'RE SAYING...', 'F--K OFF', 'I'M THINKING' or 'I'M DUMB, SEE...I DON'T HAVE A TONGUE!'.Seriously though, it's like the spaces between notes in your favourite song.It makes the song a lot more appealing, because of those spaces you appreciate the choice of notes more.Ha ha...I believe that's why God made breathing compulsory!One has to breathe between sentences, so that's why there's a lot to be said for the appreciation of SILENCE!It is the space between conversations.Believe it...SILENCE IS GOLDEN!

When you've been in a relationship for as long as I have, most personal topics of conversation have been covered by the end of the 1st year (give or take a year) and it doesn't mean that now when there's nothing much to say, a union is doomed!There will always be current topics for conversation but in general, I really believe that two people who've been together for ages should learn to appreciate some silence between themselves...even welcome it to some extent coz it really does go a long way.Oh, don't get me wrong, there's a big difference between being silent and being rude (for lack of a better word).For instance, keeping absolutely quiet and ignoring your partner is rude but being silent when you have nothing of consequence to say is WISE!So remember, one day when you're older and you find that good conversation is hard to come by, you can sit QUIETLY with your loved ones and still appreciate their company all because you've learnt the true value of silence!

I think it's remarkable when a whole family can sit in a living room and actually keep quiet...so quiet that you can almost hear your own thoughts.Ha ha...maybe I'm just being selfish by saying this coz no two people are the same and to expect another person to feel this way isn't exactly fair.I can't help myself because I happen to appreciate my solitude and the silence that comes with it...immensely.Even when I was growing up, you would find me alone in my room reading, listening to music and the like.With the exception of my brother, everyone else (my parents and sister) loves to read.Most afternoons would find all of us lazing about in our very own designated 'zones' with our favourite reading materials and thus, when we all did get together for conversation, it was most assuredly interesting and reasonably important...well, most of the time anyway :o)

I believe people should not try to have conversations just for the sake of having them...there's got to be some subject matter involved!People can't just talk for no reason at all...that to me is a sign of insecurity!They're afraid of what people might make of their silence.From personal experience, I've never thought of a person who keeps quiet most of the time as stupid.In fact, there have been many a time when I would have liked to shut somebody up for talking too much!I've never done it yet...ha ha, I doubt I ever will but the thought has occured to me more than once.Hmm...after all that's been said I've come to accept that life is perfect but people never are!So you plod on in the hopes of making your own life a little better each day...in my case it's the pursuit of those little spaces between words.Ha ha...I also hope I can get as many of my friends to read this little post so that they may better understand me and not be offended when I drift off to my own little world even whilst in the midst of their company.

Well I guess that's all I have to say this time around and now I'm left with the tough job of figuring out a suitable title for this little entry...ha ha.Before I go, I would just like to say this to all of you who take the trouble to read this;

Send me a message or a comment...do tell me what you think, DON'T JUST KEEP SILENT ABOUT THE WHOLE DAMN THING!!! :o)

Gerard Singh

An empty space at our dining table...

2006-07-18T15:07:00.000+08:00

J. DEVINDER SINGH, my dad was born in Kashmir, India and his family migrated to Malaysia via Port Swettenham (Port Kelang now) sometime in the late 40's when he was about 2 or 3.He grew up here in Klang and became a primary school teacher until he retired in the late 80's.We were close...but not as close as he was to my younger brother and sister.Well to be fair to him, I'm not exactly the easiest person to live with!Ha ha...cocky, stubborn and always looking for an argument...yep, that's ME!In fact I will never forget an argument we had many years ago when he called me an ASS...ha ha, I just turned around and said "I KNOW...I GUESS I'M A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK!"We were famous for our arguments and everybody knew well enough to stay out of our way whenever one ensued.Oh don't get me wrong, I love my dad to bits, I just had a tough time showing him I did!We only enjoyed a closer relationship after my daughter was born on the 8th of May, 1998.I guess you could say that caring for a child made me more sensitive to a parent's plight.I began to understand my dad much better, to see him in a completely different light and we actually shared numerous conversations that I will forever treasure.

I lost my dad in January, 2005 to lung cancer...he was a heavy smoker!My dad's case was a very unfortunate one coz a while before he was diagnosed with the disease, he used to complain about his chest.His doctor told him it was bronchitis and everything else but CANCER!I don't blame the doctor coz knowing my dad, he would have probably told the doctor what was wrong with himself first instead of letting the doctor come to his own decision (Ha ha...now I know where I got that trait from).So by the time they suspected that it was more than just congestion of the lungs it was already too late!It was already in STAGE 4 when they knew what it was!Even then he still refused to admit that it was because of his smoking!He kept insisting it was due to asbestos dust from one of his roofing jobs (Daddy was really quite the handyman).Stubborn right till the end!Anyway...the 7th of May 2004 is a date I will never forget, coz that's the day I found out about my dad's condition.My parents had driven all the way up from JB to my place in KLANG for my daughter's 6th b'day.I also remember my dad hugging me harder than usual when he walked into my home and as soon as everyone was settled, my mom TOLD US!At first I found it hard to believe (I still do) but after a while the truth sank in.I didn't know how to react...in fact I still don't!

During the entire time of his illness, my parents lived in my home coz it was easier for my dad to get treatment at the KL General Hospital.The day he went for his 1st chemoterahy session is another day I will never forget, coz that was the day my solo album was launched!It was a very bittersweet experience for me.I was both happy that my album was out after such a long time but also very sad for my dad.You see and hear of things like this happening to everybody else but you and when it actually does happen....WHAM, hits you right between the eyes!!!I'm just so very glad that I had some time with him before he left us.I used to come home at 3 or 4 am, after my stint and he would be the 1st person I'd see when I let myself in (We had set his bed up in the living room coz after a while he could not manage the stairs anymore).One night when I got home (after I had come to terms with my my fear of showing him my feelings) I actually worked up the courage to tell him, "I LOVE YOU DADDY".I am so glad I had the chance to say that because he died not long after.He went from being a strong 57 year old, to a bed-ridden 58 year old in a space of 7 short months until his death on the 12th of January, 2005.With the exception of my brother who was in Singapore at the time, everyone else was with him when he died.

I think of him all the time and I love him immensely and sometimes, because of this whole experience, I question a lot of things!I've also learnt not to take anything and anyone for granted because time really does wait for no one!!!So swallow your pride and seize the moment.Take the initiative to approach even the most unapproachable loved one because we never know how much time we have left to do and say all that we want!Leave behind as many good memories as we can for our family and friends...that's our true legacy!Also...always remember that your children live thru' you.WE ALL MISS YOU VERY MUCH DADDY!!!

Gerard Singh

P.S. That's my dad and my daughter in the pic.

Refuge!!!

2006-07-09T17:18:00.000+08:00

Over the years I've come to appreciate my car more and more (ha ha, for reasons other than transportation).Oh...don't get me wrong, I do depend on it to get me to and from work but more than anything, it's the one place where I can actually be alone with my thoughts and my music!I've always loved my own company and the fact that I now have my own family (A wonderful wife and lovely 8 year old daughter) means that my privacy has been compromised!As important as my family is to me...a working, composing musician like myself needs a bit of alone time, hence my appreciation for my car!Living in Klang also means I have at least a half hour drive to work and most people cringe when they find that out.Little do they know that I really do enjoy the 30 min drive to and from work. It gives me time to relax and just listen to the music I like (most stuff from 60's to the early 90's...there are very few bands after that period which appeal to me but that's a discussion for another time).I remember when we were in the midst of mixing my solo english album (Yes I do have a solo album out called 'A SLICE OF THE PIE'...hence the title for this blog of mine).We (the sound engineers & I) would get into my car and check all the mixes to the songs .Because of the amount of time I spend listening to music in my car, I got so used to the 'in car' sound system that I needed to listen to the production of the album there to be really sure if I was satisfied!However the best time spent in my car is and always will be the drive back home.After literally 'A HARD DAY'S NIGHT' I always need to unwind before I get home to bed.Nothing like a cool 30 min drive to the sounds of your favourite bands (ROBBEN FORD or STEELY DAN for me) to settle the mind which has been hyped up after three 45 min sets of performing to a lousy crowd that prefers to watch football!Hmm...that's not a fair statement I guess, sometimes they do listen (on truly rare occasions).By the time I get home I'm so relaxed that I'm in bed, comatose...immediately after my shower!After the way I've been ranting about the quality time I spend in my car and if it weren't for the pic above, you would probably think I drive one of those fancy models.Ha ha...I actually drive a Proton Waja 1.6 (manual) and you can say whatever you want to say about PROTON, but I happen to love my car!It helps me cling on to my sanity and DARE I SAY IT...my privacy!Darn I can't remember if my wifey knows about this blog :o)

Cheers,

Gerard

P.S. I have since sold that car in the pic...I now own a newer version of it! ;o)

Back after a brief sojourn...

2006-07-07T18:20:00.000+08:00

Hello people...allow me to introduce myself.I'm Gerard Singh, I am what could probably be termed a performing (struggling...ha ha) musician.I used to try and blog on friendster but after 3 or so posts,I moved into my new home, in a new housing estate, somewhere in Malaysia, sometime in January, 2006.Over here that spells disaster for ardent internet users...no phone lines, so no broadband (don't even think about wi-fi).Well anyway I only got my new phone line and internet account a week ago...yippee!This time around I thought I'd go PROFESSIONAL...that's why I'm here on blogger.com (let's see if I top my 3 posts limit!).So to all you people who have sent me messages and such these past couple of months...I do apologize.Okay...a lot of stuff has happened with me these past 6 months.My daughter is getting older/heavier(so am I...on both counts!) and I can no longer carry her the way I used to.I've ALSO started a little production company with 2 other musician friends of mine called BIG GAME PRODUCTIONS!We have yet to do any commercial work as we're relatively new but we are in the midst of recording our debut English album as a band and GUESS WHAT?The band is actually called BIG GAME!Who would have guessed!We should be finished with the album by the end of the year or maybe a little sooner but for now, we do have 2 completed English songs on a little compilation album called JOURNEY MAN along with music from 6 other bands.So do check us out if you can and write to tell us what you think.The entire JOURNEY MAN project can currently be viewed and listened to at this website http://www.deathstarproductions.com/
I'm gonna keep this short the 1st time around so take care, God bless all of you and please do check the band BIG GAME out at the site mentioned above!By the way the bald guy in white (in the pic above) getting sloshed with friends is ME! :o)

Gerard Singh (dgerardsingh@yahoo.com)