May 31 2008
On Being in Kelantan but My Mind Being Elsewhere
It was my first time in Kelantan yesterday, and I was quite grateful that THR Radio Pantai Timur threw in flight tickets for me and my manager, Aszuad, because honestly, after the horrifying 12 hour bus ride from Sandakan to Kudat last week in Sabah, I couldn’t bear the thought of a roadtrip anymore. The show was at 4pm, and it was just me and Adam AF, but the flight was at 7.20am. That would mean I have to leave the house at 5.30am. I could hardly sleep that night because something I applied for, and hoped for so badly, was rejected. I was dejected the entire time that I drowned myself in instant noodles and went to bed.
I thought Kelantan would be strict and religious. They are, yes, but it’s not as bad as I thought. I was given instructions that I can’t shake hands with ladies, can’t dance on stage (which I don’t) and can’t bring any ladies on stage. Adam who brought his dance group to Sabah toned down his set and did just his ballads. However, there was a kebaya beauty contest that took place before our performance and during their catwalk, the contestants had jiggled to their favourite Hindi tunes. Not quite the picture of totalitarian Kelantan I had in my head. Nasi Ayam was sweet and we had no time for any sightseeing. The hotel was in Kota Bahru and the family carnival was an hour away at Pasir Puteh, which I think could have been closer if not for the one way lanes and red lights that don’t change for 10 minutes.
Most of the time during my travel up north or back to KL, it would be late at night so I’d miss most of the scenery, but this time, maybe consciously for the first time, I saw the paddy fields. I was reminded of scenes in ‘Kerana Cintaku Saerah’ and how I missed shooting the official video on site because I had to serve reservist that month. It was all I was thinking about.
When I spoke to Razil last week about Singapore music, he felt that National Service is one of the many factors why there isn’t a vibrant entertainment scene back home. I did not strongly disagree but it is true that the best of musicians discover themselves after leaving school, and at their prime, they’d have to leave to serve the country for two years. Some find the path again but some just can’t be bothered because two years of inactivity would just steer them into finding a proper job and starting a family, and not to pick up the guitar and chase a dream. I remained active musically while I was in the army, but I think reservist just burst a bubble. Last year, I flew back to Singapore after doing the Green Earth concert at Bukit Jalil and went back into camp in the morning.
Hafiz Smalls goes into service in 2 weeks and thank goodness that he isn’t a musician but he did score himself a task to take care of some musicians.
I’m not questioning 30 years of military history and effectiveness, but as a passionate musician, I think folks like myself will find every reason imagineable as to why it’s not working for us musicians back home and right now, for me, it’s in-camp training and the failure to turn music into a viable economy hence no matter what we do, if it’s not on Channel 5, we are not recognized. Hence, I have no excuse but to come back to Singapore and prepare for war.
Oh ya, please save your comments on your contributions to society and how you think I should play the game fairly. Stop comparing!
