Before I begin, I’m gonna announce that DJ CharlesMing (that’s me by the way) has done up his 2008 mixshow. Another 5 hours of non-stop dance remixes! I will release it soon enough along with the playlist and you guys will definitely know when it is out.
And now back to the topic of the day. I dug up some old soundbytes of mine and listened to them again and I thought I’d share it with all here if I haven’t already (I actually can’t remember if I did..). What happened in 2005? Lots. The good, and the bad. It was a pivotal point (a term used in technical analysis) of my life. The bad came and came pretty hard. Without going into it, I also went off to UK to finish my studies and this was the main reason why the production of the sound byes ceased cause everything else was back at home in Singapore. Just as well, cause by the time I returned from my studies, loads had changed.
It all began with me and music, and of course my top 20 chartlist which I compiled every month. I decided hey maybe my audience could do with a sample of the top 3 tracks. As time went on, the crazy side of me came on and I decided instead of purely producing it, why not present it out vocally too? Put the stuff I learnt during my stint with the then-known Perfect 10 987FM with Daniel Ong.
And so the first soundbyte was born in March 2005 featuring myself, known as the now defunct name Marky Mark with Feb’s Top 3:
Feb 2005’s Top 3 songs !
The following production was done a month later in March 2005. You know, I looked at the tracks that used to be on my chartlist and I’d say, I still love them loads. In this year, Kelly Clarkson did Behind These Hazel eyes and if I were to put it next to PSD’s When I Grow Up, I’d do Kelly still somehow. Were the old tracks better? I can’t really tell. We have great tracks now but they don’t seem the ‘lasting’ sort save for a few here and there. But goodness knows 5 years from now I will compare PSD with a new artiste that’s huge in the future and say the same. If that were true, could it be music piracy is causing a gradual but sure slow down of the quality? Hmmm…
March 2005’s Top 3 songs !
The following soundbyte was done in tribute of the late Dr Wee Kim Wee. I was actually quite depressed bout it but I didn’t say much. As I drove to and fro to camp and all I kept putting Coldplay’s The Scientist on repeat. It is a great track that I would have used it when my pet dog Diesel died later that year. It was also that year I believe I watched my first gay movie on the screens. It was Sommersturm and I liked that one track from the ST. I still remember, going to watch it, in full army uniform still. The whole theatre was filled with gays and fag hags and stags. I could feel it, and smell it even. I was approaching the tail end of my NS then. Things were busy in camp still as we were in the middle of training some of my camp dudes for a cheerleading competition. It was quite a feat getting the squad formed (2nd one I was leading) but I managed to convince some of them to give it a try and I think most of them never regretted it. I hope. They all did very well accomplishing a lot within a short time. It was them, me as team manager and my partner then as coach. Safety was very important and logistics wise was quite a nightmare but we pulled through and it was good learning ground for me on how to keep morale and strength going. Unlike football or similar sports, I cannot afford to have a single member down or quit on me. If one goes, the whole squad simply cannot continue with the stunt routine. I would have to find someone who would be of similar size and weight, willing to do it, and train him double quick time. It was stressful but I was thankful no one quit on me. I had to retire one guy cause although he was willing, he had a back injury and I did not want him to continue. It was probably a highlight of my NS career where I learnt more stuff in weeks, than in years.
April 2005’s Special Tribute Edition
The next soundbyte gets all ’summery’ and in the heat of things I dumped the top 3 countdown for a bit and focussed on a joke and some interesting but useless info.
May – June 2005’s Summer’s Special !
I’m a July Cancerian and being out of the army for a few months then, I decided to release and share the 2 cheerleading routines that we created. I’m not sure if I can get the full visual routine up here but I will see what I can do. Lots of moves, double quick time and it features my signature favorite basket toss. It never failed to wow the audiences. Our team won top position 2 years running (during my term, though I hear till today they are using the same routine somewhat hmmm..). I definitely need a new mike instead of the $5 one that I have had. Christmas wish list, anyone? 
. Has anyone heard of World On Fire by Sarah Mclachlan? No? I like the track, and is featured in the July soundbyte. July also saw me focus on my gym’s first ever threadmill competition. You know how much I hated to run. But I pushed on and it was terribly painful in my legs I tell you. I can’t remember the exact mileage but it was in the region of 550-600 over the full 30 days. It aggrevated my chronic plantar fasciitis and had mostly retired me from running since.
July Cheerleading and Birthday special !
August saw me having ‘Mr Voice’ joining me on air for some bitching. It reminds me of the time during my BMT (one of the best times in m life) where all of us gathered for the CO Evening (traditionally it was for recruits, by recruits) where performances were put up by the different companies in BMTC. Ruby Siao made a guest appearance during that time when she was just starting out but I don’t hear of her these day so I don’t know if she made it big. But can you imagine, so many guys kept on an island and then you got this sexy girl right in front of you? Goodness there were wolf yells throughout! And I don’t know of any trainee performances that doesn’t have at least 1 featuring boys in drag. And wow, I remember one or two being very pretty! I guess they looked very cute as themselves too and if it weren’t for the botak head showing when the wig was removed, it was anyone’s guess if they were females or not even. I wonder where these fellas are.. BMTC Feb 03- June 03 anyone? I think we all POPed on 6th June though I can’t remember clearly now.
This one was said to be the best I had produce where tribute was paid to my late pet Diesel. Since then I did not get another pet and technically maybe causeI am still in mourning? She was one of my best pets ever. To be fair, all my pets had been great in all their little ways and they are all somewhat shared the same characteristics as me. I still refuse to buy pets till today as I do not condone putting a price tag on an animal. Diesel was adopted from the SPCA after having been back and forth there 3 times. She’s a wonderful dog. Very gentle and affectionate despite scaring everyone else cause she is this huge black Rottweiler.
Here’s Diesel. Today she is in an urn burried in the garden near where she used to sleep. On hindsight it wasn’t a good idea cause if we move house I will have to dig it back out cause I don’t wanna leave her behind. If I do have to move one day, I will probably try and dig it back up and scatter her ashes somewhere. I hope she’s fine in doggie heaven and if what people are saying is true, then someday I will get to see her and Whiskey (my childhood pet) again someday. Will they still remember me? I hope so. Cause I will remember them. Through sight, or scent. I guess I felt sad enough about it enough, that August saw the last soundbyte that I had ever produced. I don’t know if I will do another one again. Should I? So much has changed since then and some stuff are best left as nostalgia. However knowing how unpredictable I am, nothing is ever certain.
Tribute to Diesel feat Mr Voice !
I have probably left out a lot even with this lengthy post. But it reinforces one thing. The value of memory. I know many will wish they had their memory erased to cure the ever lasting pain. But have they ever wondered, if their memories were erased, not knowing who you are, not knowing what happened through your life, that is pure torture. What is the point of having 5 senses when there is nothing to be emotionally attached to? Without a past, how does one know how much he or she has accomplished. Without pain, is there joy? Without failure, will there be success? Without hatred, can there be love? Can we appreciate things, and people, if none of them were ever taken away from us? We are intelligent beings, but we will still need reminders, memories and stuff, to carry us forward. I wouldn’t trade my memories for anything else. Not the good, nor the bad. For without them, I am nothing. Perhaps I am very ‘feeling’ and ‘touchy’ tonight, but you know what, I am glad I can still ‘feel’. The day when I am truly stone cold, I am no better than being dead.
In short, I have lived for nearly 30 years now. So much has come and gone. My dear says I am a very negative person. Perhaps I am. Deep within however, I carry the following thoughts – “I achieved nothing, but I have everything. I got nothing I asked for, but I received everything I needed”.
