I was sitting at the “waiting area” at Muzik Sistem (the place where i teach music), kekeke, actually to say “waiting area” is quite funny, cause it's not a clinic or hospital, but i cant figure out any other suitable words, “resting area”? certainly it's not a place to let student to rest or sleep, so, i used the term “waiting area” la… Since it is just outside of the studios and students will have to wait there… kekeke

All right, enough of that crap. I was sitting there, then i over heard a few boyz (about 15-18 yrs old i guess), talking about the Hong Kong band BEYOND, they were talking about forming a band and playing songs. Certainly they were not my students, but i was not sure too whether they are other teachers' students or just came here with friends…

Here's roughly the conversation:

A: Play Beyond song lo
B: What? That band ah? NO want la, so lame, no taste one.
A: Then wat song ni?
C: Play la Simple Plan, Hoobastank, Greenday, Uglymen…

(ok ok…. the last band i added, they din say… kekeke)

then A, B and C went on blah blah blah…..

By looking at the way they talk, I doubt they can play a decent song.

So i kepochi started to lecture them, oh, by the way, i guess they are either new to Muzik Sistem or they never see me before, cause I was replacing classes on Thursday 2pm, (my classes start regularly at 4pm). So I thought they din even notice i am a teacher there, as i was wearing not like a teacher, as always (long pants with Uglymen T shirt, shirt never tug in, hair never comb and wearing the huge oval shape blue tinted spec, plus lousy slippers)

(Forgot which sentence said by A, B or C, anyway, it was from them la)

Me: Hey, you guys forming a band? great! When you guys jemming? can i come?

A: we are just preparing to start la, our frined learning here want to play band

Me: What songs u guys gonna play?

B: dono la, see, green day lo…

C: (this guy looked malu malu but the other two seemed quite confident)

Me: you guys heard of Beyond before?

B: Ya, we dont like that band, lame stuff.

C: beh eong la Beyond…

I asked each of them what instrument they play, and got to know their playing standard more.

Me: Playing in a band is for enjoyment but at the same time you need to improve, or else you will just be wasting time and achieving nothing, but playing at the same level even after 5 years.

They: How to improve?

Me: Well, to start off, listen more Beyond and play Beyond.

I stood up, as my student came and walked into the studio, by the way, i have posters of Beyond and Wong Ka Kui glued to the wall inside my studio

My point above was actually simple, i din mean to force them listen to Beyond, off course every one has their own taste and types of songs which they like to play, but that sentence “Beyond is too lame” really triggered off my appetite of “lecturing” them.

To me, no matter you like or not, Beyond is not lame, just one simple question, off so many Chinese bands outside (amature), which Chinese band has NEVER play Beyond before, how deep has Beyond influenced the music scene not only in Malaysia but all around Asia. I am proudly here to state that I picked up my first guitar note because of Beyond, Uglymen is Uglymen today because of Beyond. I am a music teacher today, well, partly, is because of Beyond. In a way or another, Beyond has “accompanied” most of the youths and teenagers growing up back in the late 80's, early 90's even to the mid 90's. The wonderful melody, soothing vocal (i mean ka Kui), very meaningful lyrics and lastly, simple yet so sweet-listening guitar solo, all of these were a part of so many people when they were growing up.

Ka Kui RIP in Jiang Jun Ao cemetary.

I still remember one of my students had told be long ago, Beyond's solo too simple and nothing to show off. What I answered was simple: Playing music is always about enjoyment, communication, celebration of humanity and way of touching yours and others soul. Not for showing off.

Beyond is not a band, Beyond is a culture, Beyond is a legend.
Well, since they already disbanded, they are now really “legend”, kekeke, u know what i mean, dont you?