National Day fever has hit and every year we see posters and banners being put up all around our neighbourhood. Now while i don’t appreciate driving around seeing cars with the nation’s flags sticking out and flying about, blocking half my view, i have nothing against this somewhat force-fed nation-loving ideologies that are impressed upon us year after year during this time.
I remember being 9 and watching how the bespectacled man talked on the telly about different races thriving in our wonderful country. I laughed to myself then, right there in the living room. I admit i was a cynic, and being called ‘blackie martin’ (Ricky Martin was famous then) did not help me love the whole ‘multi racial’ ideas being put in my head from these men in white.
10 years on and i find myself not watching that telly anymore, because i do not need to be told how ‘wonderful’ it is to love each race as they are, to believe it. I was in the train not too long ago when i passed by a poster which struck me. The advertisers and PR people never fail to miss the spot when it comes to teaching young kids and youth of today about racial integration.
We youngsters cannot deny the fact that there’s nothing we love better than idolizing someone. Now whether or not that’s healthy is an argument best left for another day, but what i do know is that there is nothing stronger or more impactful than having an idol. Somebody we look up to, someone we admire and would stop at nothing to strive to become that person. Now for me this has a stronger pull then any top-dollar advertising company can afford to give our nation.
Before i confuse you further let me come back to the title of this entry. Jack and Rai. If you haven’t already heard of them (i strongly suggest you leave your cave), these are a pair of friends who are singers, song-writers, musicians, and music lovers. I met Jack and Rai a year ago, when they were performing at Timbre (Arts House) and i was immediately enthralled. Here were an Indian and a Chinese man, who were wearing slippers, berms and t-shirts. They were perspiring like cows but oblivious to their appearance, the crowd lapped them up like dogs to a treat.
Their music is a humble kind. They perform a mixture of covers from famous artistes, and also a whole load of their own originals. All unplugged, all acoustic. Both of them can sing, and both play the guitar, and together i have not seen better chemistry anywhere.
And that is exactly what i mean. In front of me were two men, amazingly talented but full of humility and respect. A love for music was their binding factor that made them oblivious to the fact that they came from very different cultures and traditions. Now this is something you cannot teach a kid in school because he has to go out into the world and learn it himself. Along the way, we can hope that more talented individuals inspire youngsters like how Jack and Rai have done to me.
While i’m not asking all musicians/athletes/celebrities in Singapore to forcefully find a partner of a different race and then blossom, if it happens, that’s the beauty of it isn’t it?
Jack and Rai came down to Ngee Ann Polytechnic last monday for a 45 minute live performance. They were humble, polite, and very down to earth. Also, from a 10 minute interview with them you could see that these two shared a bond that transcended all things lyrical or musical. They were pals.
Jack and Rai perform at Wala Wala @ Holland V every sunday nights from 10 30pm. If you’re below 18 and cannot enter, you can still hear them every weekday from 5-8pm on cartunes with Jean Danker on Class 95. Their website is www.jackandrai.com
Here’s the poster i saw and a quick read of the text on the poster would tell you just what i mean. It’s the most powerful message about racial harmony you can tell a kid. Well at least to me anyway. And if you’re still a non-believer on racial harmony, just ask any ‘Jack and Rai’ fan what they think. (:
