Chinatown Walk 2008

Night walk around Chinatown - 19 Feb 2008

All photos property of The Conscious Beat.

Singapore Airshow 2008

Singapore Airshow Trade Day - Feb 24th 2008

All Photos property of The Conscious Beat.

Incubus @ Fort Canning Park - 7 March 2008

Lights! Camera! Transaction! The Incubus concert kicked off at 9pm sharp, after opening band Saosin from California psyched the crowd up with a one hour set and the obligatory waiting for the rock stars. I haven't heard of Saosin (don't you just love the pronounciation?) before until the media started to give them some attention but they definately had their own fans out there in the sea of Incubus fanatics. People who were already jumping and mouthing lyrics to their brand of emo hardcore rock.

Speaking of the fans, what a crowd I'm telling you. We reached Fort Canning a little past 8pm and the sloping grassy area before the stage was already packed to the brim. And so I conclude that we do have plenty of Incubus fans in the country (just that I don't happen to know alot of them) and they were out in full force that night. I got the concert T-shirt which they were selling @ $40 before we weaved into the dense forest of people to find a good spot. The idea was to try to squeeze to the front when there was an opportunity.

The concert people decided to treat us to some 80s retro music while we waiting for Incubus and well, at least there were some people who were enjoying the good memories.

Once the band burst onto the stage with the very charismatic frontman Brandon Boyd, they began with introducing two songs from their latest album Light Grenades, "Quicksand" and "A Kiss To Send Us Off". "OK now the monster is awake..." crooned Brandon and how apt that line was. The built up was fantastic to the energetic chorus of AKTSUF and the band cleverly followed up with old favourites like "Nice To Know You" and "I Wish You Were Here". I wish you were there to experience that sort of phenomenon whereby you have the whole Fort Canning singing along. It was like some hippie movement whereby everyone was obsessed with the Incubus cause and where happiness permeated all the molecules in the air, which started to thump with the deafening beats of pure adoration. Who knows...maybe the security guards and bouncers were head-bopping too. It was that infectious.

One of the highlights has got be when Brandon sang one of their biggest hits "Drive" acoustic when the crowd's voices almost threatened to drown out his voice. The sound system was fantastic and the band were in top form, despite their intensive tour schedule. Brandon's vocals were solid, lead guitarist Michael Einziger stole the show at some points and DJ Kilmore added the unique factor with his turntablist skills. Mr Brandon showcased his guitar skills and played the bongo drums during one of the songs. We got to experience some serious guitar riffs and amazing combinations during the longer than usual Pistola. Phew. Their secret arsenal must be an infinite ageless passion for music.

The crowd went berserk (including myself) when Megalomanic was played. Even back where we stood, some 4 metres away from the stage, there was some minor moshing going on. I got shovelled a few times and Siv tried to ensure I didn't get any broken bones lolz. Oh well, if not for the wierd sickness that overcame me during the last third of the gig, I would have lurged forward, joined in the moshing, whatever. So yeah, that was a little disappointing for me. Being at such an amazing occasion but trying not to faint from the sharp pain in the stomach, accompanying nausea and stifling whiff of sweat and cigarettes that wrapped around us like a thick blanket.

Brandon made some lusty fans very happy when he stripped from his red pleated shirt, to grey singlet and to topless. Blame our notorious humidity but I think he does that quite often during their concerts. During one part of the concert, this guy from behind actually shouted something about wanted to (censored word) Brandon and coincidentally, Brandon muttered "thank you". Siv and I just looked at each other and laughed. So Brandon is certified hot and his appeal extends to both sexes. I mean some groupie wannabies were definately there for him but I'll like to think that most of us were united in our love for their talent and distinctive music.

Megalomaniac was the last song of their 14 song set but after much cajoling for an encore from the tireless crowd, the boys returned with an encore set which comprised of "Stellar", "Circles" and "Aqueous Transmission".

I’m building an antenna
Transmissions will be sent
When I am through
Maybe we can meet again
- Aqueous Transmission

So it was of the best concerts I've ever attended, though they didn't play "Warning". It was nice to know Incubus, live. I hope we can meet again.

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Complete Set List

1) Quicksand
2) A Kiss To Send Us Off
3) Nice To Know You
4) I Wish You Were Here
5) Anna Molly
6) Vitamin
7) Favourite Things
8) The Warmth
9) Drive
10) Oil and Water
11) Pistola
12) Talk Shows on Mute
13) Sick Little Sad World
14) Megalomaniac

Encore set

15) Stellar
16) Circles
17) Aqueous Tranmission

Oscars 2008

This is cute - Daniel Day-Lewis, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard and Javier Bardem toasted one another with their golden statues in the press room. Photo by Steve Granitz, Wireimage.com


So yes, I actually sat through the whole 3 hours (repeated telecast) of the Oscars and contrary to the common lamentation of viewers or entertainment reviewers, I didn't find it lengthy or tedious. Getting to watch the finest actors and actresses gathering together dressed to impress and commendable, quality films and their cast and crew getting the kind of recognition they deserved, all beamed right into the comforts of my living room. I mean, seriously, what is there to gripe about?

As I've probably mentioned before, one thing I like about such award shows are how they are able to bring all the best people in the film industry together. We can put faces to the usually unseen and unheralded writers and crew members of deserving works. During the presentation of Best Director in last year's Oscars, they actually had Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas on stage together to present the award to the long deserving Martin Scorsese. That was really a moment. Its impossible not to notice ladies man Jack Nicholson with his trademark shades prominently sitting in the front row, regardless of whether he is nominated for any awards. Where else are you able to find the likes of Daniel Day Lewis, George Clooney, Johnny Depp and co, seated side by side in such a gawk worthy manner?

Thankfully for us viewers and for the greater good of the entire film industry, the writer's strike ended just in the nick of time for Oscar to proceed with his 80th celebration. This year we've got Jon Steward, talkshow host of The Daily Show, as host. He kept the show lively without losing its formality with a balance of measured demeanor and string of tongue-in-cheek jokes. Political potshots were fired light-heartedly and even the "untouchable" celebrities were not spared. His hosting was one of the highlights of the show.

The second highlight is a tie - when Tilda Swinton and Marion Cotillard won in their respective nominated categories. The British and French actresses, together with Briton Daniel Day-Lewis and Spaniard Javier Bardem added to the international flavour that was to dominated this year's Oscars.



Power actress Tilda Swinton trade jabs with George Clooney in the law drama Michael Clayton. Image from Yahoo movies.


Tilda Swinton, whom I think carries off her flaming red hair really well, is known for her unconventional and dark roles such as fallen angel Gabriel in Constantine and sinister witch in The Chronicles of Nardia. She also starred alongside Leonardo Dicaprio in The Beach. Tilda looked genuinely shocked to hear her name being announced but recovered in time to give a priceless acceptance speech.

"I have an American agent who is the spitting image of this — really, truly the same shaped head and, it has to be said, the buttocks. And I'm giving this to him because there's no way I would be in America at all. "George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from 'Batman and Robin,' the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume ... on the set, off the set, hanging upside down during lunch. You rock man."



Marion Cotillard wins critical acclaim for her startling transformation as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose. Image from yahoo movies.


Then came the equally shocked and visibly overwhelmed Marion Cotillard who won Best Actress for her biographic role as legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose". Coincidentally, the same song was used in her earlier film "Jeux d'enfants", which was the film that made me fall in love with her. Though the actress is recognized for her French works, she also gave English-speaking performances in Tim Burton's Big Fish and Ridley Scott's A Good Year. Marion beat favourite Julie Christie, who was nominated for her role as a woman wasting away from Alzheimer in the precious indie "Away From Her". Backstage, she continued to gush in adorable exhilarance.

"It feels so good. I'm totally overwhelmed with joy and sparkles and fireworks and everything which goes like bom-bom-bom."

There were no surprises in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories. Daniel Day-Lewis took his well-deserved prize for his violent turn as an mercenary oil magnate in There Will Be Blood while Javier Bardem continued his winning streak after Best Supporting Actor wins at the Golden Globes, SAGs and BAFTAs. Speaking of violent, most of the top films were of darker material and erm, violent characters and Jon Stewart didn't miss a beat when he commented in his opening monologue,

"Does this town need a hug? What happened? No Country for Old Men, Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood. All I can say is, thank God for teen pregnancy."

Another highlight was when independent musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed the irresistably romantic duet "Falling Slowly" from their film Once. Their winning song certainly outshoned the cheesier ditties from the Disney musical Enchanted.

No Country For Old Men, which had generated alot of pre Oscar buzz, was the big winner of the night. The catchy-sounding modern Western literally strolled away (due in part to the Coen brothers' reticience in displaying their emotions) with 4 awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

So at the end of the day, I'm just left with a violent desire to watch No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

881

Since I caught "881" with my mom and sister some 3 weeks back, I've been itching to catch some getai action. Sadly, I didn't manage to and the Seventh Lunar Month has since ended.

The movie brought back good memories though. It made me recall the days when my grandpa would bring me downstairs his Kallang flat, my hand in his, to watch Teochew opera and puppet shows. Every seventh month of the chinese calendar without fail, which is also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, a stage platform would be erected at a wide open space near the flat and uncles and aunties would flock there with children in tow to watch the performances every night. Pavements would be lined with jossticks, red candles and food offerings and there would be circular patches of charred grass leftover by the burning of paper money. These offerings were for the spirits of the dead whom the Chinese believe are released from the gates of Hell for a one month visit to earth. The getai performances are supposed to provide entertainment for these wandering souls and the first rows of plastic chairs are usually left empty for them.

My dad would bring our whole family to watch getais too and I remember it was back in the 90s when evergreen singers wearing colourful outfits belting out classic Hokkien and Chinese songs started to eclipse the painted expressive faces of Teochew Opera and the erhu and cymbals accompanied hand puppet shows.

The getai world along with those florid memories soon slipped into the recesses of my mind. My dad and grandfather left us and the world moved along at breakneck pace. The getais have evolved into flamboyant song and dance performances with multi-talented fast-talking comperes, rambuctious Hokkien techno numbers and lithe dancers scantily clad in sequinned pieces. Even the stages have gone from simple wooden plank and poles setup to sophisticated surround sound system, shiny disco-light balls and fanciful themed backdrops.

This is well-portrayed in "881".

If you haven't caught Roystan Tan's latest film, I suggest you dash to the nearest theatre before the film run ends. This coming from a person who usually shuns local film productions and isn't a particularly patriotic person. There is a reason why it has grossed over 3 million dollars in cinema receipts, outdoing Jack Neo's Just Follow Law and has been selected as our country's official entry in the Best Foreign Film Oscar race. Although I do not believe it'll be among the finalists, the film is truly one of the rare products that has quality and national pride stamped all over it.

"881" is a musical comedy which revolves around two aspiring getai singers and their struggles to make it big on stage. Other than the director's obsession with numbers (Roystan's previous movies include "15" and "430"), 881 also significantly refers to the main characters, the Papaya Sisters, two friends who become sworn sisters after being brought together by their passion for getais. Big Papaya and Small Papaya (played by Yeo Yann Yann and Mindy Ong respectively) are taken under the wing of Auntie Ling (Liu Ling Ling) who becomes their manager as well as a motherly figure to them. The story unfolds through the eyes of Guan Yin (Qi Yuwu), who is the adopted son of Auntie Ling. Although Guan Yin's narration can be heard in some scenes, he has no actual dialogue with the other characters because he is mute. Aside from playing with his pet rooster in his free time and nursing a crush on one (or both) of the sisters, he is also the chauffeur, photographer and caretaker.

Funny moments are aplenty when veteran getai performancers Wang Lei and Karen Tan turned up to banter with Liu Ling Ling's auntie Ling in pure explosive (minus the vulgarities) Hokkien. Their chemistry is evident and even kids were laughing along in the cinema I was in.Then for reasons unknown, there is a cheesy part about Auntie Ling's twin (also Liu Ling Ling), a diety living in a temple who grants the Papaya sisters their wish to be successful getai singers if they abide by her rules. Rules are meant to be broken so the journey for the sisters is fraught with obstacles. Oh and be mentally prepared for the special effects during the battle between the sisters and their main rivals, the Durian sisters (played by MTV VJs May and Choy) and the latter's mangled english.

Still, credit must be given to Roystan for being able to inject serious and heartrending moments into a movie that is mainly steered by music, humour and a dose of craziness. Characters ala Moulin Rouge break out into song and dance numbers to express their emotions on top of the excellent synchronized performance of the Papaya sisters on stage. I reckon a significant amount of the movie's 1 million budget must have been lavished on the outrageous but lovely costumes. The sisters and their rivals went through so many costume changes, I lost count of them. The unbridled showcase of singing and dancing is also equivalent to a trip to getais that are usually found in heartland areas.

I believe a good story reaches its aim when the audience is able to relate to it and the plot achieves this with its strong relationship themes. There are the exceptionally poignant scenes (spoiler!) that deals with Small Papaya's struggles with cancer and the eternity of sisterhood. Whether its the love between the sisters or their fiery passion for getai, you can tell that the film struck a chord with the audience with the unbashful shedding of tears and generous applause.

881, thanks for bringing back the memories.For a traditional culture that may soon be lost with the passing of generations and tweaking from modernization. For the people whom I'll never forget.