Cruz

Oh man, do they miss me or what? I had been busy with examinations, working trips and two award ceremonies in the last few weeks, I didn’t have time for anything/anyone else. The series of impromptu meet-ups began the day after I returned from Beijing. I guess it’s the most effective way to guarantee my attendance, since I’m likely to say “TBC” initially, and follow up with a “TMD” when something crops up.

Upon rising from my mega snooze marathon at 5pm last Sunday, I texted DN & JT. My chicken rice dinner was awful and I wanted something else. They had plans, but brought me out for supper later that evening. There’s a reason why they are my ultimate bestest friends for life. Haha.

Speaking about food, CL was complaining that everything she ate last weekend was horrible. I suggested we meet for a good lunch the next day, and FM joined us for an afternoon of dim sum and roasted duck noodles. Lovely.

While the meal was going on, SN messaged if I would like to meet up for lunch the following day. Sure, why not? The Japanese restaurant was mediocre, but it was good catching up with with DC and JO. I found out that we would never have ended up as polymates, if not for several coincidences. For instance, DC and I chose Tourism and Leisure Management in our third year because of the study tour on board Star Aquarius. What a lousy reason!

That same evening, I sent a SMS, “Threw in all my money for the 5.5m toto draw. And didn’t win. Nothing left for dinner. Who can save me?” Hahhha. I was whisked to town for some mussels and pork knuckles. I repeat, DN & JT are my ultimate bestest friends for life.

HYJ was the last person I met before the long weekend. I can’t reveal the circumstances surrounding our dinner date, in case she loses her job.

To prepare for the star tour of The Storm Warriors, Peifen, Jiafa and I watched the movie at GV Plaza on Friday morning. We had lunch afterwards, which is a rare event, considering we are all so busy and that we don’t see much of one another in the office. And as I headed out for pasta and a late night movie that night, I realized it was my fifth time in Orchard that week. Oh, I got my new year countdown accessories just before the show. For only $10!

The week culminated with a birthday party for SC, with laughter all round. And I had my Horlicks ice cream.

Life is great.

It’s midnight, and I’m getting all stressed up for a presentation next week.

The five-day workshop organised by Singapore Media Academy will take place next week. It aims to give participants a comprehensive view of local radio operations, and perhaps act as a stepping stone for them to enter the industry.

I’ve been given this mammoth task- to be a speaker. Yes, I talk for a living, but condensing my stuff into a 2.5hr powerpoint presentation is a nightmare. And people are paying a few hundred bucks, so I don’t want to give them a session so superficial that they gain nothing at the end of the day, nor a lecture so superfluous that make them all disappear after the toilet break.

It’s tough being a student, and it’s not easy standing at the other end of the room either.

站在台上的人，往往都得等台下的人上載照片。以下圖片取自北京人民廣播電台－《第九屆全球華語歌曲排行榜頒奬典禮》網站。

謝謝北京音樂台的接待與照顧。

娛樂圈潛在的規則或許只有當事人才能體會。每年全球榜頒奬典禮最後頒發的是“最受歡迎男女歌手獎”。按慣例都安排東道主的主持人，搭一位海外主持人。今年有幸主持壓軸環節，確實給足了933面子。謝謝。

After months of preparation, the 9th Global Chinese Music Awards took place in Beijing on Thursday night. Heartiest congratulations to JJ Lin for winning his first Most Popular Male Artiste trophy at the GCMA!

JJ was at another event earlier in the evening, and couldn’t receive the Outstanding Singapore Artiste Award personally. As the record company didn’t send any representatives up on stage, I was pushed forward to accept the award on his behalf. How hilarious. I went, “代表俊杰感谢大家对他的支持。” Hahhha.

China Artiste Li Yuchun won Most Popular Female Artiste on homeground. Judging from the number of fans present that night (plus the response from her guest stint at JJ’s concert in June), all of us wouldn’t be able to leave the hall if Li Yuchun didn’t win! Meanwhile, Eason Chen and Joey Yung retained their Best Male and Female Artiste titles. Woohoo!

I don’t have the official pictures yet, but I’m sure you can google them yourselves.

I’m absolutely thrilled to have completed my GCMA tour- having been to events in all 7 organising cities. The first time I was in Mainland China in 2003, the production of the show was borne by Radio Television Hong Kong. And I was told to do my own hair and make up, in case the standards were vastly different from Singapore’s. Six years later, Beijing had its own professional production crew, and I was extremely impressed by the stylists backstage. And they had such a huge team of hair and make up people to take care of the seven hosts- something which wouldn’t be possible in Singapore.

I desperately needed a Personal Assistant last night. I was struggling with thick winter gear- taking off the jacket when I went on stage, and swiftly putting it on when my parts were over. I had to juggle so many things- microphone, cue cards, water, phone, etc. Madness. It was so cold I couldn’t speak properly. If anyone saw me shaking on stage, nervousness did play a tiny part- but it was mainly due to the sub zero temperature. What a night!

Because it was so cold, I didn’t go anywhere else. And because I didn’t fancy gearing up to venture out, I had most of my meals in my room. I later discovered that a couple of jocks didn’t utilise the complimentary meal coupons too. Oh well, we radio people are such a pampered and extravagant lot.

We jokingly referred to ourselves as Mayday + Twins. 5 guys and 2 girls hosting the event. As the girls needed more time for their hair and make up, the five of us sneaked out between rehearsals to get a snack before the show. It was a good idea, on hindsight, as the meal boxes they served later that evening, were all horrendously cold.

In Singapore, we do our own cue cards. In China, they have a team to do it. And they had customised cards!

With the DJs from the host station. These guys are huge in the Chinese capital! And I’m rather inspired by them. (How, why, what- I don’t have time to discuss.)

With a sponsorship from Beijing, I got myself a new suit. Thanks! Hohoho. And I finally got a chance to recycle the suit I wore for my birthday.

It’s nearly 6pm. I have a couple of hours to rest before the rehearsals tonight.

Because I had anticipated the weather conditions, I kept myself suitably warm when I arrived in wintry Beijing at 7am today.

A quick nap later, I joined the hosts for a briefing at 1pm. It’s a record breaking year. We have five (out of seven) male DJs on stage this year. There was so much trouble in getting the guys all these years; and the womenfolk almost dominated the scene. Two of the men (from Beijing and Guangdong) are 1.86m and 1.83m respectively. Woah. It’s a good thing I brought my giant Swarovski ear stud. Hahaha.

Mary will also arrive in Beijing on Wednesday to cover ZongGuanXian’s concert on Friday.

We’re monitoring the weather forecast. How exciting.

今年，我不是第一人選。我也不是第一候補。全台DJ都沒空，才輪到我。

是老天的安排。終究還是我去主持第九屆《全球華語歌曲排行榜》頒奬典禮。

不要以為我在埋怨公司不重視我。我可是最快樂的後備輪胎。因為我是完成全球榜大滿貫的第一人！哇哈哈哈！

不只一次說過，《全球華語歌曲排行榜》在我心裡佔據很重要的位置。01年，我還沒成為全職DJ。媒體業開放，競爭對手的排行榜節目安排在《醉心龍虎榜》之前的一個小時播出。公司接受我的提議：《龍虎榜》做為最具權威的排行榜，播出時間不能說換就換。最終讓我開了一個新節目《音樂流氓》來面對競爭。《全球榜》當時不太被重視，是個30分鐘的單元。也因為是京、粵、港、沪、台、馬、新合作的排行榜，它像是個遠房親戚多過像親生子。加上《全球榜》部份歌曲都略顯陌生，所以其地位一直無法超越《龍虎榜》。雖已成為《龍虎榜》的主持人，但《全球榜》始終是我職業生涯中最重要的一個節目。

《全球榜》頒奬典禮每年在不同城市舉行。我印象最深刻的，是在06年以東道主代表的身分主持頒奬盛會。過去幾年，曾在上海和台北與區域最優秀的DJ同台，也到過吉隆坡觀禮，並在廣東出席造勢活動。去年在香港最誇張。老闆都在忙，命我獨自前往。結果，我受到台長級的禮遇。

就差北京了。

兩年前就知道本屆頒奬典禮將在中國首都舉行。我想去，但沒說出口。即使他們第一個問我，我也會建議派另一個人過去。我去了那麼多次，總不能老是讓我霸住這個機會，對不對？

一切彷彿都是注定的。

剛好大家都有事。出國的出國，在國內的，都有事情要辦。我最有空了。

剛好我在星期二晚上10點半考完試，趕得上星期三凌晨1點15分的飛機。

剛好唯一一趟回返新加坡的班機在星期六早上6點40分抵達，我無須推掉下午2點半的活動。

天時地利人和造就了這個機會。更有意義的是，本屆頒奬典禮在起跑城市北京舉行。Full circle, they say.

今年，就讓我帶著厚厚的冬衣面對北京的白雪和低於零度的氣溫。期盼圓滿完成我個人的全球榜大滿貫。

明年，真的該換別人去了⋯⋯