Along the way, I came across this wonderful concept of Complaints Choir conceptualized and started by Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. Excerpt from the official website:
It all got started during a winter day walk of Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen in Helsinki. Perhaps it was due to the coldness of the day that they ended up discussing the possibility of transforming the huge energy people put into complaining into something else. Perhaps not directly into heat – but into something powerful anyway.From 1976 till 1998, 2000-2002, I was very active in the arts and music scene, even to the extent of giving guitar and keyboard lessons at one stage. Since then, I have buried my musical side, especially when my two boys started to excel musically. After watching some of the complaints choirs from various countries, I am seriously thinking of doing one in Penang - where there is a wealth of musical talent. Surely there are other ways of reaching out to the rakyat apart from the usual dose of blog posts, forums, literature etc.
In the Finnish vocabulary there is an expression "Valituskuoro". It means "Complaints Choir" and it is used to describe situations where a lot of people are complaining simultaneously. Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen thought: "Wouldn´t it be fantastic to take this expression literally and organise a real Complaints Choir!"
As complaining is a universal phenomenon the project could be organised in any city around the world. Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen offered the concept to different events where they were invited as artists – but it was only after Springhill Institute in Birmingham got excited about the idea that the First Complaints Choir became a reality. Click HERE to read more.
So if you reside in Penang and wish to be part of this dream of musical activism either as a singer, creative artiste, musician, choreographer or artistic contributor
OR
If you wish to contribute resources or a venue for rehearsals at a later stage...
OR
If you are dissatisfied about many things and wish to put it in writing so that we can use it in the lyrics of musical presentations, do send these to me at mwsunplugged@gmail.com by 19th February, 2010.
Based on the response received, I will then write to the organizers to take it to the next level.
In the mean time, please enjoy what the Singaporean Complaints Choir have done in the next video clip. I am sure many Singaporeans, even Malaysians, can identify with the complaints sung in a musically harmonious and creative style.
Do leave a comment if you wish. Thanks and have a lovely evening. If you are in Penang, don't forget to swing by Kompleks Penyayang later for the Forum @ 8.30p.m. Thanks!
A Arthur This is a good idea. This will raise the awareness of the younger people to let them realize that our country has been run by corrupt officials for the past 52 years and is now time to wake up and collectively do something.
I am sure you can write lyrics given the talent that you have in writing, music and your vast experience on the society.
I am not sure of what I can contribute but you can let me know in what areas I can be of help.
All the best of endeavors to you in your effort.