Way Back

Day in and day out feeling like a miserable little twat hit in the face with a mid-life crisis. The latter pretty much describes the situation I'm in right now. However, I've decided to forego doom and gloom for this particular blog entry. Instead, I'm going to let you in on the other side of my favorite songs from back in the days. I shall in this post describe the significance of each song, what it means to me back then and how it has shaped the way I entertained myself in times of need. Most of these songs were once played on local radio stations so some of you who aren't citizens of this country may not be able to relate to what I am about to say. Okie dokey. Here goes nothing.

Gala - Freed from Desire

I can't find the radio version of this song on YouTube for some reason. Anyway, this song was a huge hit in Brunei. It was also one of the songs played at Jerudong Park simulator which is all the more reason for its inclusion on this list. Freed from Desire also ties in with other similarly popular tunes that came out in 1997. Most of which I also am going to include further down this list.

Des'ree - You Gotta Be

I've spent nearly two decades searching for this song. At first I thought it was sung by Gabrielle. The vocal style is a little bit similar to one another. I remember listening to this song when it was first aired on a tv commercial back in the mid 90s. God I can't exactly recall but it was probably some time in 1995? Either way, this is one of those long lost songs from my childhood and thanks to the internet (and my ex-wife), I'm finally reunited with You Gotta Be.

Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack

Not sure if this version represents the exact same song that I enjoyed a lot listening to as a kid growing up in the 90s. Return of the Mack also received a good amount of airplay on our local radio stations. Listening to it now in 2017 surely brings some good old memories.

Ultra - Say it Once

How about twice? Or a few times? This song doesn't get old but it has aged very well for certain. Simply one of my all time favorite. Whenever I listen to this song, things that immediately come to mind will be Tommy Hilfiger perfume for women and Volcano starring Tommy Lee Jones. One of the members looked a lot like my cousin from Singapore.

Diana King - Shy Guy

Oh Lord have mercy mercy mercy! How can anyone forget this song? While Shy Guy is a one-hit-wonder, the tune has made a lasting impression to those who appreciate good music and nostalgia.

Seal - Kiss from the Rose

Batman Forever has never made it to my list of favorite superhero films but the primary soundtrack that accompanies it does. The film is nowhere near iconic as the main theme that comes with it. This is one of two songs recorded by Seal that I really love to listen to whenever I get the chance, the other being the remixed version of My Vision with Jakatta.

Ini Kamoze - Here Comes the Hot Stepper

Again, I can't seem to find the actual music video for this song. This song is definitely memorable and I only realised about it after having forgotten it for over two decades. That 'na na' part is the reason why I remember this song because there was another song that used 'na na'. Both are ancient! Murderer!!

Inner Circle - Games People Play (Joe South Cover)

This is the song I previously hinted in the list above. While I haven't heard the original, the version performed by Inner Circle is one soul-lifting reggae tune. It's hard not to sing along to as well.

Fun Factory - I Wanna Be with U

So yeah, this is yet another addictive sing-along tune to ease your troubled mind. It is memorable, it is catchy, absolutely fun to listen to.

La Bouche - Be My Lover

The beats are simple. The hooks are catchy. This song is pretty much your average dance floor shaker from the 90s but it is simply nostalgic to listen to after all these years.

Bon Jovi - Always

I've never been a huge of Bon Jovi but they have such a phenomenal success in the industry which sees them gain massive following around the world. For this one, I consider myself as a casual listener. Nevertheless, I appreciate the band's effort in making this song because it sticks with me from the get go. And of course, as a kid I was curious as to what those man and woman are doing in the music video. It's not until 9 that I began to learn what it actually was! Damn I was innocent.

Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back

This song without a doubt was a massive hit worldwide. I loved it back then, I sang to its lyrics and I still pretty much do now. Seriously, who would forget the chorus? The atmosphere is rich with nocturnal delight and the spacey synthesizer effects help to further prove its worth as one of the best songs to have ever come out in 1997. Period.

Fun Factory - Do Wah Diddy (The Exciters Cover)

Originally written and performed by a girl group based in Queens, New York, Fun Factory dance remake was and still is a memorable gem that stood the test of time.

Fun Factory - Take Your Chance

We're still here at the dance floor and Take Your Chance is yet another tune that you can gyrate to. Fun Factory definitely had a fair share of chart success thanks to its unique and addictive music.

East-17 - If You Ever (Featuring Gabrielle)

"From the very first time that I saw your brown eyes, my lips said 'hello' and you said 'hi'. I knew from there you were the one"... Not sure if I got it right but this instant classic is way up there on my all-time favorite playlist. The music is simply beautiful. There is a lot of room for growth within its four minute run and Gabrielle's powerful vocal works in harmony with the rest of the boys from East-17. I mean, come on, this is way better than the garbage churned out by Kanye West and Nicki Minaj combined.

The Cranberries - Salvation

As much as I love listening to 'Zombie', it wasn't until I first heard Salvation that I began to truly appreciate The Cranberries. Salvation didn't actually reach chart success on local radio stations but the song was a staple for much of 1996. Like most of the songs listed here, this is simply nostalgic.

Gabrielle - Give Me a Little More Time

I think this is the first song from Gabrielle that I have ever listened to. It has a massive sound but the overall pace is replete with grace and humility; a fitting debut from lovely Gabrielle. I was listening to this song while waiting for The X-Files to air on local tv.

Bryan Adams - Do I Have to Say the Words?

We downshift the gear all the way to 1991 but it wasn't until two years later when Bryan Adams released a compilation titled So Far So Good that 'Do I Have to Say the Words' became my all time favorite. Not gonna lie, I didn't know who he was until after I listened to the compilation. I was really a small kid at that time.

Celine Dion - Falling into You

You think I'm kidding, right? I'm not. Although I kind of observed how lots of people are making fun of her on the internet, Celine Dion is one hell of a singer. Her voice is mesmerizing. This is the song where she shines the most and it's a lot less cliched than, say, My Heart Will Go on (although I love that song too). The title track is sung in ethereal passion (that's as close as to how I think it is). The saxophone solo is also very effective in letting your mood sink into the song's majestic composition.

I'm going to continue the list for another entry on another day. I'm currently typing this around 0204 hours in the morning and my revenant-like mother is as restless as ever, rambling about things that are so difficult to comprehend. Expect more nostalgia coming your way on the next episode!