"People should not be afraid of their governments.

Governments should be afraid of their people"

– V for Vendetta

Today's BERSIH 3.0 RALLY BY THE NATION, FOR THE NATION

IN THE STREETS OF KUALA LUMPUR

Photo credits : Alangraphy Syazwan Alangraphy

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTGogMq9NZ0&feature=g-logo

Television news reports : What the government doesn't want you to know :O

Been really busy! Hence lesser updates in this month. 

Anyway, what rocked Malaysia's music scene?

It is the first ever Asian installation of the famed Future Music Festival – an outdoor, world-class rave party originating from Australia.

As I mentioned in this previous entry, Malaysia was the first ever venue to host Future Music Festival outside of Australia, boasting 70 international, regional & local acts on our party-grounds in Sepang International Circuit.

The FUTURE IS NOW.

If you missed the fabulous 13-hour rave event, then take my hand and I'll show you what happened through my eyes & party-feet 😀

I started my journey south to Sepang International Circuit right after lunch with my partymates.

Pam & I (and a wild, random distraught face) in the backseat

Emily & I 🙂

Okay so.. that wild, distraught face wasn't exactly that random after all.

It was theboyfie photobombing us 😀

We arrived just as Stafford Brothers set ended. Bummer! 🙁

But at least we could hear just how awesome they are – collaborating with Timmy Trumpet – as we walked to the event from our car.

Partying at Future Music Festival Asia in First Class thanks to Future Music Entertainment, Livescape Asia & Ecosphere

My partypeeps for the day! 13 hours of non-stop raving.

Let's do this! 

Got our rave essentials ready : our Ray-Bans & party shades, slapped on lots of sunblock, brought disposable raincoats (just in case!), tissues, fully-charged mobile phones & cameras, LED finger-lights and ourselves of course – brimming with energy! 😀 😀 

Camwhoring with theboyf while waiting for others to arrive!

More camwhoring!

Met up Sueann! 🙂

Finally when everything was over and done with at the entrance, we proceeded to go into the grounds.

There's no backing out once you get in there as a no re-entry rule was imposed.

Once you're in, you stay in 😉

With the Aussiemates!

Watching The Potbelleez at Future Stage

The crowd went crazy when they sang their single 'From the Music'

The other half & I (LOL look at Jane & Ray photobombing us!)

LOL Ash wore his shades upside down

Prolly can't see Jane's hat in this photo but she was wearing an epic feather headgear ala red-Indian!

With Shannon & Jane (and Joanne photobombing!)

The 4 piece Irish-Australian electro music group gave us a swell performance!

Managed to spot Jonny Sonic backstage! I ran outta the VIP lounge room to catch him for a photo

Sehati-sejiwa and I with Jonny Sonic! 

After Potbelleez, we stayed on at Future Stage to watch Flo-Rida spin right round, right round 😛 😛 

Flo-Rida!

Flo-Rida performing 'Low'

The popular American rapper bringing the house down with 'Club Can't Handle Me' 

Flo-Rida interacted with his audience pretty darn well! He came down to where the audience was and stage-dived.

Grabbed my friend's waterbottle and poured everything on himself too! 😀

Next up, we headed to Flamingo Stage to watch Grandmaster Flash

No prizes on guessing why it's called the Flamingo Stage

The legendary American Hip Hop pioneer, musician & DJ – well known as King Grandmaster Flash!

Boyfie and I

We be lovin' his 90s gangsta rap music! He even dropped beats by Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

Joe and I at the VIP deck

Bumped into a few other friends during Grandmaster Flash's set, Leonard & Belle!

So happy when Aaron and I *finally* met each other!

We haven't seen each other ever since I left Australia to come back to Malaysia 

Bumped into a former collegemate, Theresa! 🙂
I just had a hunch that she will be there, knowing jolly well she's an EDM fan too!

Also met up with Chris, my first few buddies here when I first moved to KL!

When we walked past the art wall, Pam & I couldn't help but to run to the graffiti and take a picture with it!

Beautiful street art. Major loves!

We crossed to the other side to get to Las Venus stage to wait for Sneaky Sound System.

Look at everyone behind us waiting on the field!

Boyfie and I waiting too…….

Why are weeeeee waiting!!?

Getting darker and darker! Still waiting..

Jon, Jason and I…… still waiting

It was already 15minutes past 8PM and we have been waiting for 45 minutes! 🙁

We could no longer wait and dashed to Future Stage to quickly catch the last 15 minutes or so of Eddie Halliwell's set

We made it in time 😀 😀 

Loved the deep & heavy sounds of his house and trance mixes 

On the same stage after Eddie Halliwell was Pendulum, an Australian-British Drum n Bass/Rock band.

Rob Swire in action!

He was so lively and bursting with spirit and vigor – jumping, headbanging and beckoning us to follow suit.

We DnB revellers were practically feeding off his infectious energy! 

Pendulum performing ''Witchcraft'

I daresay that Pendulum stands strong as my favorite act of the whole event, a tie between Cosmic Gate & Eddie Halliwell.

They were so amazing and their performance was resonating with intensity throughout their 2 hour set.

Pendulum performing 'The Island'

Wish I could stay longer though! Loved their performance so much 🙁 

Unfortunately, we were all famished and thirsty as we had not eaten ever since we arrived the event at 3PM.

We had meat pies and delicious ice cream!

Laying on the couches inside the VIP lounge room after dinner

Pam & I ran all the way to Las Venus stage to catch Chase & Status!

Alas, we only managed to hear their final song performance and a thank you speech from them

Shortly after, Pam, Konzy & I headed to Gnome Stage to catch Super 8 & Tab.

Geez! We felt like energizer bunnies running from stage to stage making sure we get to watch our fave acts!

Woot woot watch the Finnish duo of  trance music producers go!

The laser lighting & flashes at this stage was extremely glaring! It was difficult to take photos or to watch the DJs

But fret not! We had our rave shades on us – it sure came in handy!

Shades and LED finger-lights!

Bumped into XinXian! 😀 😀 

Finally, my Konzy came to join us right after he finished playing

his racing game at the interactive game hut

Oh, and he won himself a kick-ass lighter in red & silver! 😀 

We all then headed over to the Las Venus stage to catch Alex Metric soon after.

Watching the British musician & DJ drop the bass! 

Bumped into my other Aussiemates, Michael and Chris standing right in front!

And the rest of the girls chilling on the field listening to Alex Metric from where they lay

After Alex Metric was over, we roamed about before heading to watch the Chemical Brothers

Fun fair rides! There was a Ferris Wheel and a Reverse-Bungee Jump ride!

From the initial 5, we spread out and so the 3 of us made our way to the front  to watch 

Chemical Brothers as well as our favorite of the night, Cosmic Gate!

Part of the Chemical Brothers!

The transition between Chemical Brothers and Cosmic Gate was so quick that many of us didn't quite notice the sudden switch!

But here they are, the final act of the night…. the German trance duo behind the ever-popular 'Be Your Sound'

Cosmic Gate

Raise your hands for Nic Chagall and DJ Bossi!

Their 1.5hour set was phenomenal

All 5 of us reunited again after the 13 hour rave – fully exhausted and drained yet ecstatic that we have lived to rave through the first ever installation of Future Music Festival in our home country, Malaysia!

First of many to come, I hope? 🙂

Final photo! Tired but happy faces 

Bought myself a Future Music Festival Asia tee as a memorabilia of the fabulous night!

I had recorded so much footage and was going to make a kick-ass video summarizing my FMFA 2012 experience, but it got deleted by accident as I thought I had already transferred them to my computer (but I didn't yet). Goddamnit! Was so pissed 🙁

But at the very least, theboyf happened to put together a simple video containing the footages he recorded! 

So here it is – 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv_XdchLMFA

Thanks for the footages, hun!

A big KUDOS and thank you to the organizers of Future Music Festival Asia 2012, Future Entertainment and Livescape Asia as well as its sponsors for making this event a tremendous success!

FMFA 2012 has certainly set the bar for world-class rave/music festivals 

If you were there, you definitely will remember this for life!

She's Avril Lavigne – a name behind the songs almost every 90s kid grew up with in high school.

And Avril performed right in front of my very eyes! 

I wouldn't know about you, but I certainly spent my angsty teenage years rocking to her songs.

I used to be that 14 year old punk-rock girl clad in a neck-tie & fooling around with my guitar.

Almost a decade later, if you dig hard enough, I still have that streak within me, albeit suppressed.

At 9pm sharp, our fave Canadian punk-rocker Avril Lavigne turned up the heat when she ran up on stage and kick-started her 'Black Star Tour' concert with a very apt song – 'Black Star' 

Roars, cheers and whistles arose from the crowd – mostly comprising teenagers (and some parents!) as well as young adults.

She's sucha darling!

Do not be fooled by this petite lass'. 

She threw the crowd into a frenzy with her energetic and rockin' demeanor!

Avril performing 'What the Hell?'

As Avril's Black Star Tour was initially scheduled to be held on Valentines Day, the entire VIP section was decorated in lovey-dovey heart-shaped stuff all in red! 

Comfy couches, yummy food – I enjoyed the bruschetta! – and free flow of drinks 🙂

Happy Valentine's Day! 

The next song was something each and every Avril Lavigne fan will headbang to –

Avril rocking out with 'Sk8er Boi' 😀

Whilst singing the song midway, she surprised the crowd by breaking into cartwheels!

Squeee! Now that was cute 🙂

Avril singing 'He Wasn't' from her 2nd album, 'Under My Skin'

The next thing we knew, she disappeared from stage and brandished a bright red electric guitar when she re-appeared.

And voila! She burst into the rockin' guitar-driven 'I Get What I Want'.

It was wonderful watching her deftly strumming and plucking on her guitar! T'was so flawless 

When the scene faded to darkness, a huge piano was placed on stage 

Avril belting out 'Alice' with the melodious piano accompaniment

Trivia time!

If you didn't know, 'Alice' from the 4th studio album – Goodbye Lullaby – was written for Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland'.

She proceeded with the popular 'When You're Gone' and the crowd sang-along with her with full gusto.

Yours truly included! 

'When You're Gone'

'Wish You Were Here'

Like an energizer bunny, Avril jumped onstage and threw the crowd into a frenzy with her upbeat and quirky song, 'Girlfriend'

Everyone took her lead and jumped along while screaming the lyrics 

'Girlfriend' topped the Billboard Top 100 hits the moment it was released

off her 3rd album 'The Best Damn Thing' in 2007!

Hey hey, you you!

I don't like your girlfriend!

No way, no way!

I think you need a new one

Hey hey, you you!

I want to be your girlfriend!

Here's a video encapsulating a few of the songs she performed that night. Enjoy!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctg5MnXcr2A&feature=youtu.be

A montage of Avril's Black Star Tour in Malaysia

Everyone waved their official green starlight in sync with her song!

I've always found the lyrics really brash and something that depicts a girl knowing just exactly what she wants

Well, that girl is Avril and I love her gutsy personality.

She then sang a beautiful cover of 'Airplanes' by B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams before fusing it with her popular number 'Happy Ending'.

It was lovely! 🙂 Both songs seemed perfect when sang together.

She then strapped on her kick-ass guitar again

And taught the crowd how to rock real hard!

Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you, this time?
Did you think that it was somethin' I was gonna do,and cry?
Don't try to tell me what to do
Don't try to tell me what to say
You're better off that way

 

A line from 'Don't Tell Me'. One of my favorite songs of Avril's! 

She then introduced her bandmates to the rest of us

Jim McGorman on rhythm guitar, Steve Fekete on lead guitar, Al Berry on bass,

Rodnew Howard on percussions and Steve Ferlazzo on keyboards

She also announced to all of us that today was her last day of the Black Star Tour and that Avril, alongside with her band are gonna gonna give it their all! 🙂 🙂 Can you take us any higher Avril?

She then dedicated a song "to all the crazy bitches out there".

Any guesses on which song it is?

"You know that I'm a crazy bitch!

I do what I want when I feel like it.."

Ring any bells yet?

It's her 2nd single from her 4th studio album 'Goodbye Lullaby' – 'Smile'! 🙂

Even her tank top bears the word SMILE!

Her next song was lovely, no doubt. Avril tweaked her song 'I'm With You' into a more personal version dedicated to the people she was performing for today! 🙂

I'm with you, Kuala Lumpur!

The crowd went into a nostalgic mood and held hands while waving left to right.

Avril's with us, alright. Right here at Stadium Merdeka in our city, Kuala Lumpur! 

The bestie Joyce and I had an amazing time yelling, screaming and jumping along to her songs!

Oh and guess what happened next?

Something that caught us by surprise!

Jim and Avril swapped places and he entertained us with a rendition of 'Pumped up Kicks' 

while Avril did the back-up vocals and guitars!

Now, that was refreshing 

He did a pretty good job as well 😀

She sang 'I Love You' next

It was the end of her concert…but the crowd was pushing for more!

After a thunderous encore and a roaring chant of a popular favorite 'Complicated', Avril ran back up onstage and made our wish come true.

She sang 'Complicated'. Her first ever single released from her debut album 'Let Go' from 2002!

Now that really brought us back down memory lane 

Someone gave her a bouquet of flowers onstage! 

Happy Valentines Day, Avril!

It was no wonder throngs of crowd started as early as 3 hours before the event!

I had a lovely time that evening

Thank you Tune Talk for bringing yet another amazing act! 🙂

Stay tuned for more international favorites throughout the year – think Jessie J and Avenged Sevenfold!

Better grab your tickets fast before it sells out like hotcakes! 

Avril Lavigne was simply brilliant.

A true talent with powerful vocals and fabulous showmanship!

Cheers to Tune Talk once again! Keep 'em coming 

I'm coming home, I'm coming home,

Tell the world I'm coming home,

Let the rain wash away,

All the pain of yesterday

A beautiful and warm homecoming to come back to.

Thanks mom and dad.

Those 8 hours of my life in the plane from Melbourne – Kuala Lumpur was and another 1 hour from Kuala Lumpur – Penang was by far the worst journey of my life. Leaving Australia was the hardest thing to do. 

I spent the bulk of my whole flight crying to sleep, waking up, crying again, listening to my iPod, falling asleep, woken up to eat the inboard meal, cried again to sleep, woke up, made friends on the plane (like I always do) and cried again to sleep, woke up and cried again.

It's beautiful. I need to get used to this.

Why do I still feel so empty? 🙁

Don't wanna sound like a whiny bitch; but I'm seriously homesick.

When you spend half a year of your life finally discovering where you belong, no where else feels the same.

[Rant begins]

Everywhere I go I see you. Everything I do reminds me of everything I did back in Australia. I miss you so much it's dreadful. Talking to anyone reminds me of my amazing Aussie mates on and off rez. I don't feel like doing anything. I'm sweating from the crazy weather that I need to re-adjust myself back to as well. 

[/end rant]

Countdown : 67 days till my return to Australia

Gawd, please let it not feel like fucking forever  Please.