spb tribute

Loving someone means being able to let them go, and it is time to let this beloved singer of ours go too. 

I can only thank God for giving us this man, with his voice that touches us directly in our hearts. 

The last time I mourned a public figure was LKY. Then I mourned with a whole country. 

Today I mourn with a people,  a generation of people whose lives were touched by the golden melodious voice of SP Balasubramaniam, SPB as he was known. 

 

You know, we often mourn those whom we feel belonged to us, and I am blessed to count myself among those who feel SPB belonged to them. He belonged to me, as he did to countless others who grew up listening to his voice. 

I mean, those who know me, know that the radio used to be on all the time in every room in my house! This was so I could walk into music, and it was SPBala's voice I was walking into most of the time.

He was ever present in my childhood, dominating the airwaves in the 80s and 90s, he was there as I grew up and started work in the 2000s, and he is there as I play his songs for my children today.  

He didn't only sing heart-wrenching soulful melodies that brought tears to our eyes. He also sang playful, cheeky numbers that we would sing to our lovers and friends, soothing lullabies that we play for our children, resounding numbers that inspired us to believe in ourselves, fast paced numbers we danced to at clubs, and divine songs that made us feel closer to God.  Seriously, he was everywhere!

It is not just him as a singer that we miss, but also him as a person. He was always lifting people up and encouraging them, with his gentle and humble presence - his fellow singers, the musicians, and upcoming child artistes. That little lilting laugh he adds to his songs.. ah! 

If it is true that the soul is eternal and the body but temporary, I can only say, we are the blessed generation to hear that soul sing so sweetly in our lifetime. 50 years, 40,000 songs across languages.

Thank you for the music sir. May you ever rest in peace.

#spb

Grief

 Grief takes many forms

for me, now, a quiet weight

tears brim every now and then

every day I shed a few tears sob a little as i think of your demise 

share some links with friends 

watch some videos 

grief is distracting and exhausting 

with a figure like spb, one could watch reruns of interviews and recordings of songs all our lives and not be done there is such a wealth out there. I need to move on. 

it doesn't do to Dwell on dreams and forget the living 

SPBala

today, SPBala passed away. 25 sep 2020.

a legend has passed us by 

leaving us only his songs 

his voice evergreen 

even in his recent years 

I'm at the pool now

I just want to listen to his songs all day

I haven't mourned a public figure since lily. 

then I mourned with a country 

today in mourn with a people. Tamil people in particular. 

how do i describe his voice 

to say its melodious does not do it justice. 

I'm at the pool crying now

tears no one can see

wonder if he can 

I remember wondering the same thing about peri uncle 

could he see me crying for him over a cup of coffee 

when he has so many to shed tears for him 

he has kind eyes

a voice that lifts you and speaks to you inside

is anyone else crying for him today

I feel sheela, kavitha, should be

not sure about others whom i know. 

sometimes though we need to grieve alone

my daughter came to sit next to me just now and made me feel so much better just by being with me

I miss his voice 

cheeky, cheerful, soulful, playful, angry... just with his voice he does wonders 

the tributes are pouring in. to have grown up with a voice all your life and know it belongs to this amazing man... and then no more.. it is hitting many many people... esp those osnus who gre up in the 80s and 90s

saro didnt grow up with music they way we did. a song for every situation. an immersing into various song worlds. I pay attention to lyricis. to rise and fall, inflections..  to him hes a great singer but songs are background to life. for me songs are more than background 

working from home

They run past me, 

giggling, chasing one another

as I sit 

hunched over my laptop 

at the dining table

babbling brooks in my 'office'

reminding me of play, ice-cream and simple joys

I cannot squeeze from excel spreadsheets.

I let the laptop alone,

follow the laughter into the bedroom. 

They stop for a moment..., anxious, have they disturbed me at work?

I jump on them saying, "Time for a hug!"

and they are all over me,

playful puppies.

10 minutes later, 

body pummeled 

but spirits high, 

I return to work.

This could work.

‐----

Working From Home

They run past me, 

giggling, chasing one another

as I sit hunched over my laptop 

at the dining table,

babbling brooks in my 'office'.

I close the laptop,

follow the laughter into the bedroom. 

They stop, anxious, 

have they disturbed me at work?

I jump on them. 

"Time for a hug!"

and they are all over me,

playful puppies.

10 minutes later, 

body pummeled 

but spirits high, 

I return to work.

This could work.

A few minutes later 

the puppies turn savage.

Snarls, growls, yelps, whines 

emerge from the room

I sigh back in, 

to broker peace 

wipe brimming eyes

kiss damp cheeks,

then return to work 

again.

Maybe not.

dsa

an so thrilled. akshaya has secured a place in cedar ip programme! she needs to score well enough to get I to express course. either general or at her school. it's such a relief. 

she worked hard and this will bring great relief. she already said she will continue working hard for the exams. 

thank you god for your guidance!!

we had not thought of trying for dsa at first at all. it was a late idea then we got the letter from the school inviting her to apply and only then we started. 

and it's on social innovation which is nice and broad. it must not feel like a drag you know. so best for some broad area. 

my baby aishu was so curious to k ow why we were celebrating like this. she asked if we celebrated like this when we knew she got into hougang primary! 

there is joy at akshaya getting into the school of her choice. there is slight worry too about the other two. of course will be best and ideal if aishu goes to cedar too and ashwin gets to a good boys school too.