220 - 8.8.26 - -9: David Byrne and the Celebration of Being Human
The David Byrne yesterday was excellent. So near Singapore's annual fest of tired old tropes of nationalist fervour, often accompanied with some of the most contrived songs shoe horning patriotism into every quaver and demi semi quaver, his fantastic concert was a tribute to the human spirit.
He covered fascism, ICE, celebrated the human condition, the contradictions and complications, repression and the thirst for freedom, animal rights, environmentalism and the destruction of forests, etc. There was impeccable choreography and instrumentalism, the musicians carried their instruments the whole time, the visuals and graphics were state of the art - it was utterly utterly inspiring.
It was the perfect antidote to the constant blaring of Count on Me Singapore and other 45 year old propaganda which everyone is subjected to when all shopping centres and supermarkets are turned into our own personal Guantanamo Bay for two weeks at this time every year. I can't imagine what the Massive Attack gig was like last week. Every now and then something comes along to remind you about your mission as a human being and what can be done about it. We are more than eating, shitting, consuming and obeying machines. We are uncontrollable and effervescent and irrepressible. It was so nourishing. So needed.
Ghin came along with me and I said, I hope you have a good time. He said, grinning, it's a concert - it's going to be good. Have you ever been to a bad concert mum? True my son. True.
Photo from Variety magazine. I took only 1 photo right at the end.
This brings us to the end of an incredible week. The theatre was not full at all. It was only half filled and it wasn't sold out. And it was mostly middle aged white people which made Ghin make fun of me and say that I had the taste of a middle aged white man. He also said that the theatre was proof of the Oxford study which was that white men prefer Asian women. Apparently, quick search says this is untrue - that it was actually trying to show negative stereotypes of Asian women in media. Which is very funny because then Ghin said, but I don't think applies to Singaporean women which are not subservient at all. It was all in all a great day.
I went for a run in my sandals and then for my swim. And then we went for the gig. Well I'm off to the club for run then swim. And then I'll come back and tidy up this table. I am so inspired by this gig - this week. Singapore doesn't only pour concrete on her jungles. It also pours concrete on the souls and spirits of the people who live here. The madness of living in Singapore cannot be understated. It is an open air prison with invisible bars. Thank god for the occasional visitor.
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