The (public) pianist is not like a lone barista, who sits at a shop counter, waiting for customers to approach him for a dose of caffeine (which is a legal psychoactive drug, by the way).
People gather up the courage – or recklessness – to ask the pianist to play their favorite songs. Is the pianist up to the task of playing a song that he has, quite possibly, never heard of, until this encounter with a stranger who is now gazing at the pianist expectantly?
Now, then, gird your loins, (as the writers of 2000-year-old texts like to say), and let us investigate the scary ocean of Song Requests.
Polski drogi (translated as: Polish Roads)
“She's a lady”, a song by Tom Jones
Theme from The Godfather (a film)
Aerith's Theme, from Final Fantasy VII (a video game)
“Tadhana”, a song by UDD (a Filipino band)
“Exodus”, by Maksim
Theme from The Bund (上海灘), as popularised by Frances Yip. A television series goes by the same name: The Bund (上海灘).
“Song of healing”, from Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (a video game).
Golden Hour, a song by JVKE.
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You, a pop song.
No, this wasn't rock-climbing, this was bouldering – just like her colleagues have done, in Thailand.
But this time, she was stranded on an island in the Indonesian archipelago. She looked at her son beside her, who had just produced some faeces in his baby-blue pants; the poor infant had been born blind. He was howling.
In her hair was still the hibiscus flower her husband had given her, when he had tearfully waved goodbye to her at the ship-port. Where was her husband when she needed him?
I met someone who runs workshops on Guided Journalling. She shared a prompt with me: “What would be the sweetest and kindest thing that someone can say to you?”
Uh... I have to admit I have to think a bit, for that one.
I know! Why don't I look up what others have already said about me?
I feel shy though.
Here's something from J, a poet:
Thank you for your gentle, kindly presence and the warmth you bring to every space you enter.
I saw a few fascinating birds. Words cannot do them justice. Neither can photos nor videos, for that matter; the form is not the same as the substance. But, oh, what wonder!
And, on a more than one occasion, a butterfly has floated past me, like a visitor from a far-away planet. I recall a humorous quip: “Life is like being stuck in a traffic jam, and moments of beauty are like the butterfly that floats past your windscreen as you stew inside your car: rare but much-needed.”
new-to-me stuff
the Bhairav scale, in an Indian raga. What is a raga?
I have provided some hospitality to visitors from southern Germany, as best as my weak mind and feeble body could.
With the help of a few wonderful and illustrious women, I managed to serve them with salad, and lentil soup, and pizza, all of which were vegan or at least vegetarian.
I shall apply Chatham House Rules, where no names nor affiliations may be revealed, though discussions may be reproduced outside of the discussion room.
Q: How do you handle fame? It's so easy to get lost in ego and fame. Bon Jovi said: “Fame is a liar and a thief. I've seen it ruin people. It is what I do, and I do it well, but it does not define me. I have a family, a business, and tennis.” Fame can be so destructive.
A: Don't define your worth based on who takes a photo with you after red-carpet events, or how many followers you have on social media. Find the people you look up to, such as directors or other actors, and ask them for their feedback on your craftsmanship as an actor. If you believe your own publicity, then you will also believe the negative comments.
Q: do you think your roles represent you as the person you want to be? You have worn many hats – you have been an actor, a producer, and a director.
A: [chuckles.] That's quite a meta- kind of question. [pause] I bring my best self to work. I show up on time. On set, I give everyone the time of day: the AD (Assistant Director), the ADPA (Assistant Director Production Assistant), and the caterer. There are so many people on set. And, I like tequila, [audience laughs] but 48 hours before a shoot, I avoid drinking. If you can hold your liquor, that's fine, but that's how I conduct myself. I don't know if this behaviour represents my race, my ethnicity, and my nationality, but that's what I do.
Q: how did it happen? How did you get inside the world of [redacted]?
