Peter Hook of New Order will be spinning! (Photo courtesy of Fuel Festival 2009)

Once again, the F1 Singapore Grand Prix is heading our way during the last weekend of September and that only means one thing – PARTY!

Aside from the speedy F1 drivers and the flashy cars, tons of bands and celebrities – Travis, Backstreet Boys, Beyonce, No Doubt, N.E.R.D, Black Eyed Peas and too many more to name – are hitting town with their live performances at the main F1 event as well as F1 Rocks Singapore. But if you are the sort who loves to dance with wild abundance, the Fuel Festival 2009 is one festival you cannot miss!

Park Jaebeom, ex-2PM

As a music blogger, I’m ready for change (although I really love my dollars). So if I must understand the allure of K/J-Pop, I must then, delve right into the belly of the beast. And since the lovely boys from 2AM performed at the MTV World Stage Live In Malaysia’s post party and were ever so charming, I raided one of the designers’ desk and absconded with 2PM’s “2:00 Time For Change” (how apt!) and 2AM’s “Time For Confession” and attempted the impossible – Fall in love with K-Pop.

And while I was looking through the elaborately designed CD sleeves and trying to tell the boys from 2AM and 2PM apart, someone shouted over the desks and disrupted the peace of the day: 2PM’s leader, Park Jae-beom, has quit the group!

The Great Spy Experiment (Photo by: Bryan Soon/Esplanade)

I love my local music. While it’s definitely similar to the international markets with its hits and misses (nope, doesn’t mean it’s local and indie and it makes everyone “good”), the local scene is still something to be proud of. Maybe it’s the undying spirit and never-say-die attitude of the bands. Maybe it’s because we do get some REALLY good bands (The Great Spy Experiment, the Observatory, Astreal, TypeWriter) that deserve so much better. Maybe it’s because that despite all odds, we still have our solid pool of supporters – be it photographers, writers, gig organizers, indie labels, and the fans – who firmly place their faith and belief in the word “LOCAL.” We might not be powerful in terms of numbers, but we are definitely there with spirit. And lots of it.

DJ AM (Photo by: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

2009 will soon come to a close in a couple of months. Good year? Bad year? While that’s purely subjective, bad news seem to hit the entertainment and music world in droves with the passing of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ellie Greenwich, Jay Bennett (ex-Wilco), Allen Shellenberger (Lit), David Carradine to name a notable few. On August 28, news broke about the sudden death of DJ AM, otherwise known as Adam Goldstein, at his New York apartment. He was 36 years old.

Photo by: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

“It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.” – Noel Gallagher

Children who still hold the golden era of Britpop close to their hearts, the dream is over.

Photo By: Tim Mosenfelder (Getty Images)

Back in 2006, the Killers rocked things up with “Bones,” with a video of skeleton army and the lyrics of “Don’t you want to come with me and feel my bones on your bones, it’s only natural.” Well, I guess it’s quite natural indeed if you like bone-y people but I’m definitely not a fan of being elbowed or kneed in any situation. Which goes to say, “Bones” is a funny and quizzical little song to me. And it always reminds me of Tim Burton, which isn’t that romantic, all things considered.

Three years down the year, I just read that Tegan and Sara, one of my favorite duos, are releasing a song with Tiësto and they are naming it “Feel It In My Bones.” Erm, like what? Arthritis?

I’m totally tempted to name this entry “I was backstage at MTV World Stage and all I got was this lousy photo.”

And well, here’s the story, morning glory. I flew in on Tuesday afternoon to KL and broke my phone the very next day. Like, there was way too much star power for my measly little phone to handle that it simply imploded. How brilliant and lame, all at the same time. Probably need to get more tech savvy tips from Rochelle the next time I meet her. We all could do with a mobile phone sponsorship, really!

But I digress.

Back to MTV World Stage, what an amazing gig huh? It felt like a music festival more than anything else. The sea of people! Those little arms up in the air! The sing-alongs! The moshing! Here’s a non-photographic recap:

August 11 – Tuesday
Flew in at around 3pm and arrived at Sunway Lagoon at around 5pm. My hotel room was facing the venue. Fantastic! Went by Surf Beach and the crew was still setting the stage up. Went to the middle of the stage and silently screamed “I’m a golden goddess!” with my arms outstretched. I hope no one saw me.