Too bad it had to be the same week as finals though. My luck in matters like these just blows my mind. I mean, finals at UTAR had been going on for a whole month. And Short+Sweet was from the 18th to the 21st of September. So of course my papers had to be on the 19th and the 21st. What....what.....what. Are. The. ODDS??
So there I was, lugging my books to KLPAC for technical rehearsals and sound checks and basically looking like the nerdiest and most antisocial 'artist' ever. While everyone was jamming and joking around and trying to get into the zone for their performances, I was trying to figure out the probability of a person leaving a temporary care unit to a permanent care unit and how much they'd have to pay for it depending on whether it happened the first or second year they spent in there. Fascinating stuff, really. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time -_-
Let's do highlights again, shall we?
Highlight #1
My brother.
He is a crazy person. He was constantly more nervous than I was for goodness knows what reason. He would stress himself out so much that by the time we went on stage (where it was as cold as death) his fingers would be sweating and they'd be slipping and sliding over his guitar strings. Of course he's Indian and I should have understood that our awesome genes mean that we can sweat on demand. But still, while at risk of hypothermia? It was nuts.
Highlight #2
JORDI WON SECOND PLACE FOR COMEDY!!!
I was so shocked/delighted that I gasped very audibly when it was announced. I was worried that Jordi would have heard me and gotten offended that I was so surprised but he knows I'm happy and so madly proud of him, right Jordi Bordi? :)
Highlight #3
The sandwiches at KLPAC.
They are crazy delicious.
The end.
Highlight #4
Larry.
He was the first to perform every night and the look on his face whenever he was told to be on standby was priceless. He'd freak out almost every night and proceed to hyperventilate.
Highlight #5
Realising Cambodians are funny.
So one of the comedians, Ui Hua, who called himself Kyat (the Cambodian) for the duration of Short+Sweet totally stole the show apparently. I wouldn't know, I never got to watch him since I was stuck backstage. But if his antics backstage was any indication of his set, I'm sure it was funny as hell.
Once when one of the musicians, Stefan, tried to block his way by shuffling sideways, Kyat gasped and started to shuffle in great delight. After they did it for about a minute, Kyat with the Cambodian accent and all said, "You know traditional dance of Cambodia?"
It was hilarious. I guess you had to be there.
Highlight #6
My favourite song.
The contestant who went on to win for Short+Sweet Song, Lynell, had the awesomest song ever. When I heard it I wanted to cry. And NO it was not because I realised there was no way in hell Joash and I were winning anything. It was just such a nice song. I would download that for sure.
Oh and she's a medical student too. Smart and creative. Must be nice :)
Highlight #7
I'm leaving this part to the middle of the post to show that this is not a big deal.
So, at home, in church, at uni, everyone thinks Larry and I are together. Or about to get together.
Obviously at KLPAC also tak lepas la.
One of the comedians, Helen, was asking me where I was studying and I said UTAR. And when she asked if it was the same place as Larry I said yes, that's where we met. And suddenly she asked, "Oh you are boyfriend, girlfriend is it?"
Cue the voice in my head that went "Here we go again."
So I laughed and said no, we're just friends.
It was all forgotten until the next day when Larry wanted to borrow my charger. It was in my bag in the girls' dressing room and I told him to go get it himself. So he goes in there and is looking for my charger when Helen says, "Yesterday she said you are not together, and today you're rummaging through her bag."
And that was it. The whole dressing room started to refer to him as my boyfriend. Lol. What else is new?
Jeez Larry. Bring your own charger next time.
Highlight #8
Would you believe I didn't take any photos? At all?
But oh well, here's everyone. That's right, that's me in the bottom row looking all excited that I'm sitting next to Faridah Merican lol.
Highlight #9
Pre curtain call entertainment.
So during the last performance, all of us would be standing off stage with nothing but a curtain between us and the stage. I'm willing to bet that the curtain was not soundproof.
Anyway, while the last performer, Vale, was performing his song, Ui Hua aka Kyat would be getting all emo to it and acting out shit and holding Joash's or Jordi's face and singing out the words. It was hilarious. And all of us, especially me and Joash, were trying hard to laugh silently. Especially when he started stripping to one song. Damn the fella is funny.
Highlight #10
Well I didn't win anything and I was stressed out most of the time because I was worried about finals. But it was one hell of an experience.
Everyone was so nice and so friendly. It was such a great environment and everyone was so supportive of each other. I met people who were lawyers and writers and medical students and...well Actuarial Science students, who all had a passion for the arts, be it comedy or songwriting or playing musical instruments. And that above all kinda surprised and inspired me. I loved the company and the entire competition was a lot of fun despite my stress :)
And of course a special thank you has to go to Larry for suggesting I join up in the first place and attempt to put music to some of my poetry. And thanks to Larry and Jordi who musketeered up with me and kept me company throughout our backstage adventures. I love you guys.
I also wanna thank everyone who came to watch me and Joash. You guys are awesome :)
And yes Joash thank you for playing for me even though you were such a pain about it and complained a lot :p
I'd definitely do it again. I hope my singing/songwriting/composing wasn't too horrible.
Til next year, Short+Sweet ;)
