Songs for Your Weekend

November 26, 2010

Hi Friends,

Dr. Kamsiah and I were absent from the music scene for the last 2 weeks. We were preoccupied with political developments, especially the Azmin-Zaid saga and its effects on Parti KeADILan Rakyat and Pakatan Rakyat. At this point in time, the idea of a two party system seems to be under threat and there is a talk about a  Third Force (Independents and Civil Society personalities). Be as it may,we should  not prolong and belabour the issue.

It is time for  Dr. Kamsiah and I enjoy with you  a few old tunes by some of the most outstanding female vocalists of all time. We are bringing back for your listening pleasure Dame Shirley Bassey, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Connie Francis, Joni James and the immortal First Lady of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald who sings Mack the Knife from her Grammy Award winning album, Ella in Berlin. Unfortunately this video is barred, so we hope the alternative can be played.

Din saw Ella perform live in West Berlin in 1963 when he was in Germany on a student exchange programme, and this tune was particularly popular at that time.  After her performance, Berliners gave Ella a standing ovation.

We are saddened at the passing of the last of Malaysia’s Founding Fathers, Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, the dynamic chief minister and founder of Modern Penang. As our tribute to this great Malaysian and Penangite, we wish to play Ode to Joy (Beethoven Symphony No.9) conducted by Leonard Bernstein as the opening  number.  Our condolences to his brother and Din’s good friend, Dato Lim Chong Keat and the family members of the late Tun. –Dr. Kamsiah and Din Merican

Leonard Bernstein–Ode to Joy (Beethoven Symphony Nr.9)

Shirley Bassey–Never, Never, Never

Doris Day- Autumn Leaves

Rosemary Clooney–Sisters

Connie Francis–You always hurt the one you love

Joni James –Little Things Mean A Lot

Ella Fitzgerald –Mack The Knife

Music Time

August 28, 2010

The Weekend is upon Us again: Music Time

Dr. Kamsiah and I always regard choosing tunes for your listening pleasure as one of bonding with you through music. It is not an attempt to “impose” our taste on you.  We are happy that our choices in the past meet with your approval. For this weekend, we will attempt to choose tunes from way back to 1950s to the present day. May they bring back memories for you as your journey through time. We have a wonderful time in choosing them for you.

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.— Abraham Lincoln

McGuire Sisters–Sincerely

Tommy Sands—Two Young To Go Steady

Frankie Avalon–Venus

Bobby Vinton–Blue Velvet

Connie Francis-Where The Boys Are

The Carpenters–Only Yesterday

Barry Manilow

Happy Mothers’ Day: The Power of Love

May 8, 2010

Elia and Dr. Kamsiah on Mothers' Day

To All devoted Moms and would be Mothers everywhere and in memory of my Late Mom Hajjah Fatimah Merican (nee C. Dorall).  We honour you today with a Hadith, which puts in clear and concise manner the Prophet (pbuh)’s respect for all mothers:

A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?  The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

A mother is more than a good companion; she is the symbol of  love, goodness, emotional strength, quiet sophistication, and sacrifice and, therefore, she deserves our deepest respects.

For this occasion, I asked my wife, Dr. Kamsiah who spent today with her daughter, Elia, at the Bangsar Village 2, Kuala Lumpur to select a few tunes in honour of all mothers, wherever they may be.  Elia and Dr. Kamsiah had lunch together and it was a sheer delight for me to witness this bonding between two lovely people, a mother and a daughter, as they celebrated Mothers’ Day.

I too remember my late mother well, although I was not the easiest of sons to deal with. I am eternally grateful to her for her sacrifice and devotion. It was not easy for her to be a single parent (my Dad passed on when I was 5 years old) and a career woman. I miss you, Mom.–Din Merican

Martina McBride—Tribute to Mothers

In My Daughter’s Eyes

Celine Dion–A Mother’s Prayer

I Love You

The Power of Love

Dato Shake–Tu Sais Je T’Aime

Hetty Koes Endang—Kaulah Segalanya (Dr. Kamsiah and My Mom)

M. Nasir–Bonda

Music for a Special Weekend

Friends,

This weekend is rather special for all of us. The Hulu Selangor voters will decide the fate of  Tuan Haji Zaid Ibrahim who is now seen as the Underdog in the race to represent them in our 12th Parliament.   For that, we have to count on the wisdom of the voters and the vigilance of all observers and pachas.

Dr Kamsiah and I wish Tuan Haji Zaid all the best. Good luck also to Mr. Kamalnathan, the BN candidate. May this by-election be clean and fair and the best candidate win.

Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, is now  in town to deliver a lecture. We wish Mr Blair a warm welcome and hope his stay in our country will be a pleasant one.

Dr. Kamsiah and I would like to assure Mr. Blair that we Malaysians are hospitable and generous people respectful of our guests and that the planned protest against you is the action of a few publicity seeking political types. We are sure you are used to this sort of thing in your own country and  trust that you will take this in good humour.

Let us be sensible and rational in our thoughts. Has Mr. Blair been charged by any courts in the UK and internationally? If he has not and you think he is guilty of certain crimes, please launch a complaint. Please do not take the law into your hands.

If you do that, what is there to prevent people for example in the UK to do the same to Tun  Dr. Mahathir or any of our leaders visiting UK or other countries based on certain people’s perception, real or imagined.

We have to follow certain basic rules or else we would become a lawless nation. Let good sense prevail.

To the voters of Hulu Selangor, Dr. Kamsiah and I wish you all the best. May you make the choice that will serve your interest best. Let there be peace and order when you all go to your respective polling booths. The country is watching you and so is the rest of the world. –Dr. Kamsiah and DJ Din Merican

Abba -Money, Money

Abba- Dancing Queen

Susan Boyle –Wild Horses

Elton John–Candle in the Wind

Abba- Winner takes it all

Weekend Entertainment for Frank, Bean and the Gang

April 9, 2010

Frank, Bean and the Blogging Gang,

For this weekend, Dr. Kamsiah (picture) and I have to chosen to feature Celine and Pavaroti, and the famous duets by Frank Sinatra (dec.1998).

Celine Dion has powerful voice to complement the great Italian tenor Luciano Pavaroti in a suggestive song. Together, they bring out the passions of a man and a woman who are in love.

Frank Sinatra will always be a favorite. Din saw Frank at the New York PlayBoy Club in June,1970 when the crooner dropped by for some  drinks. He was an unforgettable entertainer and crooner, acknowledged by his peers as the Voice of the 20th century. Listen to him and you can agree that he is a super crooner.

Dr. Kamsiah and I decided that we should feature Frank’s vocal partnership with Natalie Cole, Julio Iglesias (who was in Kuala Lumpur recently), French Armenian entertainer Charles Aznavour and the incomparable Tony Benett. Please have a good weekend and we hope you like our selection.We all have had rough week, and now it is relaxation time.–Dr. Kamsiah and DJ Din Merican

Celine Dion and L. Pavaroti

Natalie Cole and Frank Sinatra

Fank Sinatra and Julio Iglesias

Frank Sinatra and Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour–Venice

Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett

Weekend Entertainment: Dedicated to Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

March 20, 2010

Friends,

 

For this weekend, I have chosen to pay my tribute to Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives. They are wonderful people and we often take them for granted. Sometimes,we choose to insult and ignore them, and create jokes in poor taste about them. The reality is that they give our lives meaning and purpose.

We tend to be self centered to admit that as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, they are examples of love and sacrifice. For this reason, I should play some popular tunes of a bygone era (except the one by Voxtrot–I admit I don’t know them) in their honour.

I want to tell them that I respect them as my equal. If I still have that anti-feminist streak, I want to assure them that I am fighting hard to remove this cultural hang-up, which I inherited from my Dad’s generation.

To my own sister, Khairoon Merican, I would like to say how  sorry I am  for not trying to know you better, and hope it is not too late to make up for that neglect. I think all mothers, sisters, daughters and wives are very special people. Without them, we men are lesser people.

I also dedicate these songs to my wife, Dr. Kamsiah and her daughter, Elia with a big “Thank You” for being my friend.–Din Merican

Voxtrot-Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives

Rosemary Clooney–Tenderly

Doris Day–Que Sera Sera

Joni James–There must be a Way

Joni James –To Each His Own

Din Merican’s Favorite  Song by Joni James

Shrek’s Choice for the Ladies