The Umpteenth Journal Attempt (Version III)

Another month, another issue of Rolling Stone Indonesia finally wrapped. If you pick up the issue when it comes out later this month, you’ll find that I’ve written two feature articles. One is some of the best work I’ve ever done, while the other ranks among the worst. One of them is about The Beatles, the other is on Coldplay.

In case you can’t be bothered to guess which is which, I’ll just come out and say it: The Beatles article is shite, at least in my opinion. Maybe when you get to read it you’ll disagree and say that it’s actually pretty good, which will be nice, but I doubt it. I won’t go into details, but I’ll just say that it was the definition of phoning it in. The Coldplay article, on the other hand, was a pleasure to work on, and hopefully that’ll show when you read it. If you’ve scrolled down to the previous post, you’ll see why in the visual equivalent of two thousand words.

Obviously I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve been turning in lousy work, so I thought I’d better get that out in the open beforehand. I really wish I could’ve done a much better on that one article, especially as I’m a big fan. How could you not like The Beatles? But on the other hand, maybe that was the problem: it’s The Beatles, what else could you possibly write about them, especially in a limited amount of space? What new angle could you come up with? I actually had an idea of writing about how I got into them and what they mean to me, but I don’t think anyone wants to spend money on my rambling. Might as well read it for free on a blog. Hey, now that’s an idea…

Whereas in Coldplay’s case, they’re pretty much still an ongoing concern, as opposed to The Beatles. Their story hasn’t been completely written yet, so there’s still space for someone like me to spin their own yarn. In Singapore I was fortunate to get close enough to gain some insight on the band and use that in my article. And then there’s the fact that I actually love their music. Add it all up, and naturally there’s more for me to do, unlike on the Beatles piece where I basically just rehashed their history.

I guess it all boils down to passion in the end. I had a great time on the Coldplay assignment, so how could that excitement not translate into my work? Meanwhile, as much as I love The Beatles, I just could not muster the will to do something different with them, within the parameters I was working in. Maybe when I get the chance to write a Beach Boys article, it’ll turn out much nicer - but first I have to come up with a way to make it nicer.

As an aside regarding the Coldplay trip and an unrelated recent encounter, I find it fascinating that I can have the balls to get Chris Martin to strangle me for a photo, and yet those balls promptly disappeared when I found myself in the vicinity of some girl I had a thing for and was with her boyfriend. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk up and say hi; I was wondering if she’d notice I was around and acknowledge my presence, which would mean I wouldn’t have any other option but to say hi. But that wasn’t the case, either way.

I think I can explain: I’ve never ever felt that Chris Martin could ever be a significant part of my future, nor do I expect to meet him in person ever again. The girl, however, is another story…at least until I feel otherwise. Considering my balls still go AWOL whenever she’s around means that otherwise hasn’t happened yet.

…I think my job’s pretty damn cool.

And it’s back to that little island state somewhere above and to the left of the map from Jakarta - assuming you know where to find Jakarta on the map - just a few months after the previous sojourn. Initially, this was going to be like that last trip, as in asking my brother Hanief who lives in Singapore with his family to score me a ticket before they sell out, and then starving myself so I can save up enough to pay for the travel arrangements. But if the office wants to send me there on assignment, to cover the very thing I was going to watch anyway…hey, that works, too.

In case you’re wondering what I’m going on about, tomorrow morning I’m flying to Singapore for the Coldplay gig. The gig’s on Monday night, but I figured why not use the weekend for extra relaxation and spend some time with the siblings (Halief will be coming down from Malaysia too). I enjoyed my last time in Singapore, and I have a good feeling that this time is going to be great, too.

It’s a shame Jakarta isn’t on Coldplay’s itinerary; it doesn’t seem to be on any decent, relevant act’s itinerary of late, as a matter of fact, all we keep on getting is bloody Toto again. And apparently Westlife, too. The Singapore Tourism Board will be making a killing due to the amount of upper-middle-class-and-higher Indonesians heading over there just to catch a decent gig by a decent international act. I’m quite sure I’ll see a boatload of familiar faces over there.

And just as decent bands start coming over again, some arsehole terrorist blows stuff up again. Obviously there are more important things to worry about in the wake of a terrorism incident than some trivial concerts, but wouldn’t it be great if Indonesia didn’t have that irritating travel warning stamped on its metaphorical forehead? But as it is, it’s like we’re the lepers of South East Asia.

Ah, well. No point in worrying about something that’s entirely out of my hands. I’d better think about what I’ll say when I meet Coldplay in order to avoid babbling like a total idiot.

Oh, bollocks.