Over the past couple of months, we've been blessed with having many more people getting to know about us and (shy shy) liking us in the process.  To all our new frans (fans+friends), we'd like to thank u for (1) being brave enough to like us; (2) supporting local talent.  I thot maybe it's time to re-introduce Budak on this opening page of our blog.  I'll do so with a Q&A:

Who are the members of Budak Pantai?

Gordon, the facial contortionist, is the one without hair on your left when u're watching us on stage; he sings most of the high parts and some lead vocals.  Mike, the mouth and walking National Geographic, is the XXS guy next to Gordon; he does most of the instrumentation and strange sounds.  Then there's me, Joe, in the middle with the spiky hair; I do most lead vocals only becos the rest reckon I remember lyrics a lot better than them.  Kah Keh is the group's bass, so pardon that bulge below his chest....it's needed to store all the air to drive that very important bass sound.  On your extreme right is Danny, our vocal percussionist and music director; he rarely talks and occasionally sings but plays a mean guitar.  Then there's our guitar, we adopted it only becos it's Danny's security blanket, without which he goes into a fit.  So, since we have the guitar on stage, we might as well use it.

So, why the name Budak Pantai?

We used it to win over the judges' patriotism in a TV talent contest (Rollin' Good Times) back in 1994.  It's a rough Malay translation of Beach Boys, the theme of that contest, which we won.  We kept the name but stopped singing Beach Boys songs since, which gives us the right  to introduce ourselves as "5 Chinese guys...Malay name...singing English songs". 

How many CDs have u recorded and where can they be purchased?

Our first album "Nearly Live at BlueMoo" was launched in 2000.  Then came "Budakumentary", "The Cattle are Lowing at BlueMoo" and "Assorted Nuts".  That last one "Assorted Nuts" is actually our very first 'compilation' album....u can call it "The Best of Budak Pantai" (shy shy).  The latest situation, we understand, is that of our 4 albums, only "Assorted Nuts" is available and u can find this at The Esplanade Shop and Sinema Old School (11b Mount Sophia).  Becos we fund our own albums (no one wanted to be our producers....sob-sob), we probably will not be re-printing any of these 4 albums again.  In other words, Budak CDs are now officially sold out worldwide!!  [Although I saw a copy of Budakumentary at an outlet of Cash Converters recently....could be my mother's doing]  But fear not, we are working on our next album this year.

U mention BlueMoo many times....what is this?

BlueMoo is a virtual cafe located on the rooftop of the YMCA Orchard.  Virtual means during the day, u see just an empty roof next to the swimming pool.  On some Friday nights, it transforms into a cafe, complete with bar counter (no alcoholic drinks, though....we're very family friendly), beach umbrellas and live music acts.  Budak perform there once every 2 months.  But becos of our work schedules, I cannot tell u the frequency of our performances; u have to come to this site (or www.bluemoo.com.sg) to find out the actual performance dates.  But I have to warn u that we have a cap of 200 seats and that reservations are usually snapped up within minutes of opening.  So, be kiasu - be very kiasu - if u wish to make a reservation to watch us.      

To everyone who attended Budak Jumps Over the Wall (Esplanade's Flipside event) last weekend - 14/15 June - thanks so much....u guys were awesome.  We had a flippin' good time on stage, thanks to your cheers and love.  We hope it meant u had a blast too.  We were honoured by the visit of Stephanie Sun and Electrico's Desmond at the show.  In fact, Stephanie even made a cameo appearance on stage which had the crowd going wild.  There was also this lady from America - a teacher by profession, she told me - who bought a Budak CD after watching us and had us sign it.  She said she was going to play the CD at her school when she got back to the US and added that she wanted to show what "Singapore culture" is like (God help us!).  We hope we will not be hearing from the Ministry of Culture anytime soon.  Anyway, if u missed the 2-nite shows, we will be giving a repeat performance (and then some) this Friday at blueMoo.  If u even missed getting a confirmed booking for blueMoo, uhhh....get someone to record the show for u.  So, once again, thanks so much for making last week at the Esplanade concourse such a memorable experience. 

Joe

Hi, all.

Yes, we're doing Bluemoo on 20 June but we're also doing a show called "Flipside" at the Esplanade concourse (they call it The Living Room - the open space between the Theatre and the Concert Hall) on Sat, 14 and Sun, 15 June.  We're calling this show Budak Jumps Over The Wall and it's free!!  I believe all seats for Bluemoo on 20 June have been booked, so if u missed it, why not come catch us at the Esplanade?  There are two half-hour shows per night - the first one starting at 7:15 pm and the other starting at 9:00 pm.  

Joe

You'll be happy to know that Budak will be back at the virtual rooftop cafe of Blue Moo on 20 June 2008 Friday, 7.30PM. Booking details can be found at "Our Shows" !

So, we'll see ya then !

=) cheerios

BP blog creators

Budak will be back to sing at blue Moo (located @ rooftop of YMCA Orchard) on 18 Apr 2008, Friday @ 7.30pm. Go to "Our Shows" for more info. Booking starts from 4 Apr @ 12 AM onwards till all seats are taken.

=) cheerios
BP blog creators

Gordon (lead, hi, mid)

Michael (lead, hi, mid)

Joseph (lead, mid)

Kah Keh (bass, lead?)

Danny (rhythm, must I sing?)

[ more on us ]

Among our other notable projects, Budak were featured on Arts Central programmes a few times (including Bandwidth) and even made a cameo appearance in the local movie titled "The Leap Years" which is slated to be released in mid-2007. We even composed a song (Leap) specially for that movie, although it was never used. Through all that, we released four self-produced albums, all limited editions. We've had the honour of performing at the Esplanade Concert Hall four times and once at the Esplanade Theatre (well, twice, if you count one time we performed there to launch a product). Today, Budak Pantai are probably the longest lasting vocal bands in Singapore.

Described as "professional yet eccentric & believers of the freedom to express (read "butcher") almost every song they arrange, with a big dollop of Budak humor", we trade in business attire and etiquette to entertain those in the know, once every month* @ blue Moo cafe on the rooftop of YMCA Orchard. The fact that we do not perform to musical scores means you may not hear a song sung in the same way the next time we perform it!

Budak Pantai are certainly one of the best kept secrets in the local entertainment circuit.
*Visit www.bluemoo.com.sg for actual dates of Budak performances or www.budakpantai.motime.com to read more about the guys.

• Esplanade shop ~ #02-02 of Esplanade Mall
• HMV @ Heeren

Tracks	Description
[ click to listen ] Abuden (Formerly known as Ese Sentimiento Calido)    [ download ] Ai Hen Jian Dan Baking Song Fann's Song Ai Guo Yi Hou Leap (for your love)    [ download ] Abba medley (the Delhi mix) Qing Ren De Yen Lei (Lover's Tears) All Rice Bukan Cinta Biasa Betcha by Golly Wow/Say Yes The Moon Dai Biao Wo De Heart You To Me Are Everything Wo Shi Zhen De Fu Chu Wo De Ai Sim Ai Eh Jai Huey La Benediction Runaway	Assorted Nuts BP's fourth release, a compilation album which comprises of mostly familiar tunes from their previous albums as well as some new ones. The album was released on 17 Dec 2005, the first day of their two-day concert entitled "Sheep, Angels and the Mexican Guy at the Bar: Christmas according to Budak Pantai" at the Esplanade concert hall. One of the songs, Qing Ren De Yen Lei (a.k.a Lovers' Tears, originally sung by famous 80's songstress Cai Qin) was given a modern feel and was featured in an upcoming local movie titled 'The Leap Years'. Budak also wrote an original song "Leap (for your love)" based on the synopsis of the movie but it was unfortunately not used. In the same light of their signature tune "Abuden" came "All Rice", a lyrical adaptation from pop group Blue's "All Rise". This song was inspired by a rice TV commercial by local singer Kit Chan as Budak hopes that they'll be featured in a commercial on TV one one day?. Many people have commented for a group with a Malay name that they should sing Malay songs. Thus "Bukan Cinta Biasa" originally sung by Siti Nurhaliza was chosen.
[ click to listen ] Angels we have heard in Shanghai Warm more chance The Welcome Can't help falling with or without you 3 kings from Guadalajara The Log Cake Song Oooh God rest ye hearties Jocular, fluffy, fleecy What Child is this taking 5 90's? For Abba n Abba n Abba Tiong Bahru Gor Liap It came upon an island clear No matter we sing Kum siah Silent night (not!) I am's Away in a rollicking manger Christmas song in solo The fix Let it snow dah dah dah Out take 1 I can't! Out take 2 siapa orang?	The Cattle Are Lowing @ blue Moo Finally, an album that is recorded 100% LIVE for Christmas with 300+ fans @ blue Moo ! BP did this LIVE recording with some tweaking of the titles (and the tunes!!) of the carols in July 2004 as a pre-Christmas celebration + the group's 10th anniversary. Other than delivering familiar carols in a jazzed up style, another self-penned offering from Joe is seen in the Log Cake Song, a song about baking. The lifestyle in Singapore/of a Singaporean can be previewed shortly in Silent Night and the last track. Want a feel of a snowy Christmas? Listen to their version of the Christmas Song In Solo which was sung to the President Nathan & his wife while alarming the presidential aide! Everybody seems to like to churn out oldies these days so BP spares no effort in producing an Abba medley. BP also came up with another cheeky dialect wet market tune in Gor Liap, which incidently was sung as part of their TV stint at Tekka market on Bandwidth for Arts Central on a late Sunday morning on 30 Jan 2005. This album provides an unexpected twist for a Christmas album. Give it a listen if you want a refreshing change from the usual Christmas affair.
[ click to listen ] Now those days are gone My cherie amour The moon dai biao wo de heart A drive and a knock Yi bei cha Sim ai eh, jai huay lah My love goodbye)(reprise) Tribute to Titanic Come back to me (Fann's song - Qiu Ni Huay Lai Miscommunication Only wanna be with you/longer Communication Sar tan (blue moon...not that one My cherie amour (the dance) I wanna be with you/drive (feat. ngam) No matter Philosophy by the guitarist End of the road/right here waiting Ai hen jian dan Sim ai eh, jai huay lah (My love goodbye) Ese sentimento calido (aka Abuden Benediction (the Lord whom we love) Reflection The moon dai biao wo de heart (minus one)	Budakumentary This album contains many Budak signature tunes which any Budak fan would be familiar with by now. As of Budak style, they gave David Tao's Sha Tan and Ai Hen Jian Dan a "makeover". The English lyrics penned by Joe + background arrangement in Yue Liang was sung by BP when they opened for David Tao at his mini concert organised by UFM 100.3 in Oct 2002. Here's another dialect offering in Sim Ai Eh (originally sung by Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai) with a choral-like background + a short Italian operatic number. Interestingly, a running translation was provided by Gordon for the dialect-impaired. Notably simple in tune & lyrical composition is Yi Bei Cha, a catchy familiar childhood tune with a nolstalgic feel in lieu of the mood switch in the middle of the song. BP had their hands on penning their own tunes in Abuden and Yi Bei Cha with Qiu Ni Huay Lai composed by Joe. Many of us tend to just listen to the tune but not taking note of the lyrics. In Abuden, you get a catchy yet infectious tune with slapstick (cheeky/cliche/wacky, depending how you see it?) lyrics. A comedic twist can be heard in now-defunct Boyzone's No Matter with a Chinese ge-tai + cha-cha arrangement. A similiar comedic flair can also be heard in Tribute to Titanic performed with a country feel. There's no telling what BP will do next especially to think that they can come up with a Chinese opera-sounding mix in a song!
[ click to listen ] Y2K Hatiku She makes my day Can't take my eyes off you Hokkien 101 Wo shi zhen de fu chu wo de ai Tribute to basses Dindi Change the world Burp, oy! Sukiyaki Intertro In the still of the night Birthday: anybody's Baby come back to me (morse code of love) You to me are everything At home True Ai guo yi hou Winds of change Betcha by golly wow Say Yes Say yes (reprise) Looks like we made it The end	Nearly Live @ blue Moo The debut "nearly live" album (affectionately known as the "Orange") offers bantering among the group as well & a snippet of their rehearsal in track #17. The fact it's "nearly live" because the Budaks sang at Young Musicians' Society and perhaps only a few songs are recorded live in Nov 1999. Other than the familiar easy-listening hits as Say Yes, Wo Shi Zhen De Fu Chu Wo De Ai and Sukiyaki, A noteworthy track #8 - Dindi (a cover bossa nova tune by Antonio C. Jobim), a simple but smooth rendition was delivered by Kah Keh with the accompaniment by a guitar. In Hokkien 101, they offer the FIRST sampling to sing in dialect as well as towards the end in Ai Guo Yi Hou. The uniqueness of Budak Pantai... how many a cappella groups out there actually sing in Cantonese or Hokkien? All in all, this album provides a very relaxed feel for the listener.

• When? 20 Jun 2008 (Fri)
• Where ? blue Moo (rooftop of YMCA Orchard)
• Time ? 7.30 p.m onwards
• Entrance fee ? $12 (adult) / $10 (with student pass shown) / Free (children under age 6) *
  * You'll be entitled to 2 cowpons per person to exchange for either 2 drinks, or 1 drink and a snack item.
• Reservation of seats up to max. of 5 seats per person. Log on to www.bluemoo.com.sg for booking info.

• Please confirm subscription within 7 days to prevent being automatically removed by the service provider.
• An activation link will be emailed to you shortly.