 |
 |
|
|
The latest patriotic campaign by Mahathir's Malaysia is well under way, and it seems that in an inspired moment of creativity, the powers-that-be came up with a song writing contest. It's a great idea, as Malaysia has very few evocative Malaysian songs, apart from a nice national anthem, and Western songs hold sway over a local music industry that has never been highly encouraged. In fact the only song that even starts to make me misty-eyed is "Flower of Malaya" penned by a foreigner - and the background for that is a long one, ..and an old one. A couple of decades back, a nascent promising BumiRock industry died a death, and now Malaysian bands almost exclusively copy Western hits, though Canto Pop (imported again from Hong Kong), and some original Malay bands do have their small dedicated followings. Compared to the local Thai music industry, indigeneous Malaysian popular music remains poorly supported by government and patrons alike. Hanafie Imam (Vice President of Institutional Development of the International College of Music) has provided some advice for the Millenium Patriotic Songwriting and Performance Competition. In fact, it's pretty difficult to disagree with his first words of wisdom. According to the New Straits Times, Hanafie advises that contestant aspirants "...should either compose the lyrics or think of a melody first..." Well, we cheated a bit and stole a melody, got to thinking what would happen if the Prime Minister himself wrote the lyrics. The following is the result. It is intended to be sung to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan's "I've got a little list" from the "The Mikado", an operette which would be seen as politically incorrect in Japan as "The King and I" is in Thailand, if it wasn't penned well before political correctness became di rigeur. Within the context of the popular opera, the song was originally sung by Ko Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Titipu. The disclaimer of course is that the words are not penned by PM Mahathir himself but are a mixture of W. S. Gilbert's original lyrics, and some of the more colorful statements from PM Mahathir. Those who are of sufficent age to know the Sullivan tune, are welcome to sing along... If not, here is your karaoke accompaniment.(small midi file 5 to 20 sec download). Click the link, wait for the music to start, grab you're fave GRO, and sing the lyrics, just like a real Karaoke bar! Keep drinking the Kickapoo Joy Juice as you go along, and wait for the effect to kick in in the last few stanzas.
I've Got a Little Listby W.S.Gilbert, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and the Damanasara Vision School Choir.As some day it may happen that a victim must be found, CHORUS: (Delivered by the sweet angelic choir of the Damansara Vision School) Moronic jewish financiers and intellectual geeks
CHORUS: (Delivered by the angelic choir of the Damansara Vision School) The excruciating foul mouthed Northern laureate novelist CHORUS: (Delivered by the angelic choir of the Damansara Vision School) All Demonstrasi advocates block roads to Sungei Wan CHORUS: (Delivered by the rather tired choir of the Damansara Vision School) The IMF, the BBC, and Time and ABC CHORUS: (Delivered by the very tired less-than-angelic choir of the Damansara Vision School) You idiotic juveniles, you got the words all wrong
FINAL MASS CHORUS: (Sing your hearts out with the right words chillun! then you can go home!)
|
 |
© Asian Business Strategy & Street Intelligence Ezine 2001
The views expressed here may not necessarily reflect those of partners, publishers, editorial board nor sponsors of the Asia Pacific Management Forum
| email updates | email this page | discuss | search | today's asian business strategy news | advertise | about |
| daily asian news, research & commentary for the international business strategy, market research & strategic management professional |