Nov 21, 2009

Same Song. Same Lyrics. One Simple Message

When we speak of these countries what usually came in mind is the Philippines, Indonesia and probably China. However, the Malaysian Insider reported on November 10 that 2 out of 3 Malaysians working abroad are professionals. I see two implications from the brief but shocking news - more Malaysians are working abroad then ever, and our country really need to rethink on how human resource is managed.
So this morning when the unstable dorm internet can only turn up youtube and blogger on my computer I started wondering aimlessly (exam's over, for the time being). I might have shared this one song during my previous post, but the simple lyrics hit me hard again this time. Partly because I'm destined to become a Malaysian working abroad myself, and that I made a promise to return home one day, no matter if my medical degree is not recognized or how harsh the conditions are. I can very easily camouflage and mingle in with the locals here. I can very easily learn their ways of expression, share their taste for bland food, learn their hardcore studying methods. But I figure I can never leave my roots in Malaysia, or Penang for that matter. So, quoting the lyrics (though things seem real bad right now) "but my heart lies waiting, over the foam. I still call 'Malaysia' home!"
What hit me this morning was a simple song by Peter Allen, an Australian whose homesickness churned up 'I Still Call Australia Home'. Magnificently popularized by Qantas after his death, this song had been with the Australian airline for more than a decade.
To all overseas Malaysians, listen to the lyrics. To the Malaysian government, please stop tobogganing around and practice good governance. I'm sure a large fraction of the 785,000 overseas Malaysians yearn to come home, it's just the protectionist and nepotistic people in Putrajaya that's impeding them.

1997 "I Still Call Australia Home" - jazzy solo, all Australian singers. A 3-minute TV commercial costs two fortunes then, I imagine.


1998 "I Still Call Australia Home" featuring Australian Girls Choir and National Boys Choir. The most expensive Australian ad ever made (USD 3 million). Note the still standing World Trade Center in New York.


2004 "I Still Call Australia Home" by the aforementioned choir. This time it sounded more like a pop jingle, but still countless beautiful scenes from Qantas' destinations.


2009 "I Still Call Australia Home" with stronger emphasis on Australia's outback and deserts. The choir is less impressive this time but the message is clear enough.




Let all overseas Malaysians not lose heart in their homeland. And that 'someday we'll all be together once more', working and fighting for a country we truly call home.

15 comments:

ziyi said...

It's so weird that Malaysia produces new patriotic songs every single year but never one seems to have any impact as this one Australia produces.

JYSim said...

We do have some really nice songs but that was during the 70's and 80's. It's also worth mentioning that the first version of Negaraku was recorded in Studio RTM with a choir of all races, all wearing their own costumes. We hardly have that nowadays, except in tourism ads.

Anonymous said...

Hey juz finished my Add-Maths paper today...PP1 left us am-chuo-ing but PP2 left us crying....
Finally. BYe-bye add-maths!!!! ( God how i hate you)

yiu said...

wow, nice

JYSim said...

@yiu The 1998 choir edition is very velvety ya? Love the harmony.

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