I think it was two years ago when I first listen to a song by a melodious female voice (nice vocal, man!). This song, which entitled Cinta Hello Kitty (Love of Hello Kitty) was played over and over again on Hot FM (Malaysian’s hottest radio station indeed). After some search, I was soooooooo (many o’s are used for emphasizing, ha3!) surprised when I know that song was sung by a hot Chinese artist! Later I discovered this female artist not only sings well in Malay songs, but also in Mandarin and English songs! Eureka (I know how Archimedes felt now)! I found a true Malaysian named Karen Kong!

Before I write further, lets indulge in her sweet voice. Some of my lecturers love to make a  break with funny or scary short videos to wake those sleep-heads up (sorry, this including me).

This song talks the encounter and feelings of a little girl ran from home with her Hello Kitty, then want to go home (as tomorrow is her birthday). Important lesson for teenagers nowadays (especially teen girls).

Karen Kong has her own history. She nearly give up her pursuit in singing after kicked out from Malaysian Idol, yet under the encouragement of her friends, she stood up again! After winning the National University Singing Competition (first Malaysian Chinese to win!), the meteor starts to burn and glow! You may still puzzling why we (Malaysians) should proud of her.

In Malaysia, I think you will note that most of the Chinese parents will teach their children, “Learn Chinese songs, don’t sing Malay songs!” For me, I will not listen to Malay songs too if I did not fall to a Malay girl. Hence, being a Malaysian trying to be a true Malaysian, I feel so excited with Karen Kong who can sing Malaysian songs (I mean songs in all languages). So far, she showed some of the characteristics that a true Malaysian should have. I hope I can do better than her one day. Karen Kong shows patriotism in a way that can melt everybody’s heart, music definitely is the best.

Above is the music video of 离岛, which expresses the longing of home and loneliness of Malaysian far from motherland.

“靠坐在陌生的床 牆角還擱著行囊
Sitting on the foreign bed, the luggage sitting in the corner
窗外的霓虹燈搶了 月亮的光
the neon lights outside the window shining brighter the the moon light
來自大海的方向 從地圖的另一端
coming from the sea, from the other side of the map(world)
背著夢想 也帶著揮不去的牽掛
carrying my dreams, and also bearing the longings that I can't leave behind

風啊風 把我帶到這地方
wind, oh wind, who brought me to this place
藍色的記憶還留在我海上的家
blue colored memories still left in my home on the sea.
輕輕躺在這城市的中央 寧靜的夜晚 眼角淚未乾
gently lying in the city's central, in the still of the night, my eyes still wet with tears
墜落在被月色撫摸的窗台上
falling onto the moonlit window ledge.

喔喔 風 啊 風 吹送著我的牽掛
oh oh, wind, oh wind, blowing away my longings
伴著海浪指引方向送到你臂彎
accompanying the directions of the sea waves into your arms
走啊走前往夢想的路上 每次感覺孤單 看著月兒彎
moving towards the dreams, whenever I'm feeling lonely, I look towards the crescent moon
彷彿笑著說 "你要勇敢 別害怕"
who seems like smiling and saying, "you must be brave, don't be afraid"
擔心月兒會孤單 星星守護在身旁
worried that the moon might be lonely, the stars watched over it by it's side
安靜地陪我夢了一段 家鄉
Silently, accompanying me, dreaming a dream of my hometown.”

Definitely, I am now longing for the sun and cheap prices in Malaysia. Whenever I miss Malaysia, I play this song, ha3! Finally I understand “absence makes heart grows fonder”. Longer we (my friends and I) stay in New Zealand, our love to Malaysia grows stronger, and of course proud to be Malaysian.

How I hope that I will be able to be a Malaysian that Malaysians proud of, like Karen Kong.