Music: Still Awesome Or On The Downhill Slide?

Inspired by a question posed over on the Digital Parents forums, and egged on by a segment on my local radio..... todays post is a rant about the state of todays " popular " music. Seriously - i'm no old biddy ( at the ripe old age of 27 i still consider myself a spring chicken... ) but much of todays Top40/pop really gets on my nerves. Aside from the often inane lyrcis, or the beats that have been done to death, its the "obviousness " of it that annoys me. What am I talking about - " obviousness "?


Nothing is subtle anymore, there are no tongue-in-cheek lyrics that you kind of have to be in on the joke to understand - its all so there and in your face, its like being hit in the head with a brick. Its all just panders to the lowest common denominator and assumes that we need everything spelt out to us. Case in point: a song called " Dirty Talk " by Wynter Gordon that contains the lyrics " Tight clothes, lingerie, pantyhose, foreplay ", and also talks about how she wants to get her legs up in the back of the car. First of all - TMI. Secondly, could you possibly try harder with the rhyme scheme next time? Thirdly - TMI again. Its great that you're out there embracing your sexuality and getting it on in public places, but you dont need to be so explicit about it. I dont want to know, and young, impressionable children who are exposed to the radio/tv dont NEED to know.

Or what about when a song does have great lyrics, has some subtlety and mystery to the words, but the video clip is all sex! Boobs! S&M! look how controversial i can be! Yes, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Kanye West, i'm talking to you....

I dont mind when an artist feels the need to talk about sex, or drugs, or violence or death.... sometimes those things need to be expressed and, frankly, sometimes i DO want to hear about them. I just dont want them thrown in my face lyrically or visually - i want to be able to smile at how cleverly you can talk about them without actually going the whole hog and just saying it. You know, like a lyrical game of " Taboo ".

So i enjoy a song like " Right In Time " by Lucinda Williams ( an ode to missing your partner so much you need to masturbate to the memory of them ) or " Slide " by the Goo Goo Dolls ( about abortion and alienation ) or even " Luka " by Susan Vega ( the sweetest song about domestic violence that you'll ever hear... ) because the artist has managed to twist and turn and hide those issues and ideas so that adults can guess at them, and applaud their creativity, and small children will hear nothing more than sweet melodies and kick arse guitar solos....

De Classic Golden Spoon

I just had dinner at De Classic Golden Spoon last Friday and I miss the food already. The tofu with cereal and pumpkin sauce was amazing! I am at this very moment craving for it.



It was a dear friend’s birthday and the 13 of us booked a big table for the occasion. We had heard good reviews and the fact that this was a free corkage “they-provide-proper-wine-glasses place” sealed the deal.



We had the ngoh hiang to start and it was well-fried and fresh with nice chunks of water chestnuts inside. Next came the recommended crab bee hoon (2 large crabs). Although this had less “work hei” compared to the version at Sin Huat, it had a generous amount of flavourful broth which everyone just couldn’t get enough of. The drunken prawns were fresh and the soup tasted robust. The coffee spare ribs were a bit of a disappointment, they came wrapped in an aluminium foil and looked appetizing but upon biting into one, all I got was a whole mouth of fat.



Luckily, the tofu with cereal and pumpkin sauce saved the day. OMG. I know I am gushing but I couldn’t get enough of this. Tofu crispy on the outside, mmm so creamy inside. The combination of cereal and pumpkin sauce was pure genius.



Very attentive service. I clumsily dropped my chopsticks on the floor and the waiter got me a new pair without me having to ask. This could be in part due to the fact that the boss Rodney is an old friend of the birthday girl and he sat with us for drinks after dinner, but still. They even proactively asked if w needed a change of wine glasses when we switched from the whites to the reds.



When are we next going back? I already know what I want to order. The tofu for sure, the crab beehoon, the crispy chicken (was unavailable the day we went), salted egg prawn and oh the steamed fish with garlic and chai por sounds good too!

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Let me ask you this: what makes a good wedding?


As a bride-to-be ( in 12 weeks and counting! ) its a question i've been pondering for a while now. However, after watching this seasons first episode of the trash-tastic " Four Weddings " i started thinking - yes, its my wedding, but how much should i consider the enjoyment of others on my big day?

Mick and I are going for a laidback, casual kind of vibe with our wedding. We're having an outdoor ceremony ( on a cute little deck beside a small lake - complete with fountain! ) and our reception is being held in the private function lounge at the most " boutique " pub bar in town. We're having a cocktail reception - which means no set tables or 3 course meal, just the chance to move around, engage with everyone, and have fancy finger foods brought out for a tapas-style dinner. We're having a jukebox and a pool table, and we'd really love for it to feel like a big party with everyone in pretty clothes, as opposed to the stuffy, formal affairs that some weddings can be. I've had help from a wedding planner with decorations but have organised everything else myself.

I guess what i'm getting at is - of course the bride needs to love the big day, but how much should everyone else love it? I know no-one will be keeping score like the girls on " Four Weddings " but i'd really love for my guests to come away from my wedding saying that they really enjoyed the whole event, that its one of the best they've been to. ( You know, without sounding either too desperate or competitive... ).

What made your wedding special? Aside from the dream dress and the hair and the make-up, what was one thing that "made " the day for you? Or, as a guest, what makes for a memorable wedding experience?

Space Warehouse (HK)

I’ve never been a big fan of expensive bags. It’s a personal choice, really, I’m one of those people who like to throw my stuff (bags, clothes) around and expensive bags make me nervous. What if I spill red wine on that luscious leather?



I wasn't planning on visiting Space Warehouse during my Hong Kong trip. But I’m glad I did. I knew prices would be cheaper at this Miu Miu and Prada outlet but I didn’t expect to find such great bargains there. Erm, yes. I am officially the proud owner of a full leather Prada bag!



Just to give you an idea of the potential savings (though some have argued “real” savings are greater on non-purchases), a bag like this would cost close to $4,000 in Singapore. At the outlet, taking into consideration the marked-down price, no sales tax and the very favorable exchange rate, I got this at only $1,900.



Interested to check out the outlet for yourself? It’s a bit out of the way in Ap Lei Chau but here are step-by-step idiot-proof instructions. Trust me, I went alone and found the place easily enough. Save cab fare so you can buy more *grin*



1. Take the MTR to the Central MTR station and look for the exit that brings you to the IFC (International Finance Centre).



2. Between IFC and (I think it’s) Exchange Square, there is a bus terminus on the ground level. Just ask around if you are not sure where the terminus is.



3. Take bus m590 to Ap Lei Chau.



4. The ride takes about 30 minutes and it involves crossing over a bridge to Ap Lei Chau. Be alert once the bus crosses the bridge. You need to keep an eye out for a sign on the left side of the road that says South Horizon. Once you see it, alight from the bus.



5. Space Warehouse is just a short walk ahead. It’s next to a yellow building which is the Marina Square East Market (see my pic).



6. If you missed that bus stop (which I did), worry not. Simply alight at the next bus stop. Get down, cross the street, and just simply walk back to Space Warehouse. Happy Shopping!



Address:

Space Warehouse

2/F, South Horizons Plaza (East Wing)

Ap Lei Chau, HK Island,

HK