Three Times And You’re It!

The Chinese have a saying: “things happen in threes”. And when something happens to you three times, you better listen and do something about it. So, I’ve been tapped -- not once, not twice, but three times… apparently.

Having been off-line for so many weeks, I have no idea what has been going on in the food-blogging world at large, but it seems a meme has been sweeping our virtual land. Nothing to do with food though. Rather, it’s music -- though yet another food for the soul, so I guess it’s all related and relevant somehow, isn’t it?

Anyway, I was tapped by Alberto (so I’ve only now been kindly informed) way back on 20 January 2026 and which I have been totally unaware of (sorry, Alberto; I would never ignore you like this, you know that, right? ) Then, pinkcocoa and Jessica both left me comments telling me I’ve been tapped. Uhh? Tapped? For what?

For this…

… a chain-letter-survey-quiz kind of thing on the music I listen to.

Normally, I’m highly resistant to all things chain-letter-y, regardless of whether they come with profuse promises of overwhelming (and instant!) good luck and blessings or grim threats of eternal damnation if I do or don’t (as the case may be) pass on the letter. I never do, no matter what the promises or threats. My only reaction: “chi bao fan, mei shi zuo” (a Chinese saying which literally translates as: “finish eating, nothing to do”).

And I have to say, my initial reaction to finding out that I have been tapped for this meme-thingy was the same… I simply do not like these chain things. I find them irritating, and time consuming -- especially when I’m still struggling to clear three weeks worth of email-backlog numbering over a hundred emails!

But… in the spirit of sharing that seems to be the trademark of food-bloggers, and since indeed I have been tapped not once, not twice… but three times, I guess I should just do it (as Nike would say).

So, here goes…

What is the total amount of music files on your computer?

None. Not on my new PC. Everything was lost in the transition from old computer to new. I had some music files on the old PC, but not a lot… I can’t now remember how many I had.

The CD you last bought?

Err… you mean a physical CD from a physical, bricks-and-mortar music shop? Wow! Do people still buy these things? Sorry. I don’t mean it like that. But personally, I can’t remember the last time I bought a physical, studio-recorded CD. I just find the newer means of purchasing music a lot more convenient.

What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?

Haven’t listened to any music so far today -- I was working hard in the morning and then have been stuck in the kitchen almost the entire afternoon cooking and baking for a dinner party, and my kitchen is music-less.

Write down five songs that you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.

Hmmm… this is a difficult one -- to have to choose five out of so many. I’m presuming it doesn’t have to be English songs. Okay, here goes…

In no particular order:

1. It Never Entered My Mind -- Miles Davis

2. Never Saw Blue Like That -- Shawn Colvin

3. To Where You Are -- Josh Groban

4. Meguriai (“Encounter”) -- a Japanese song by once-popular Japanese duo, Chage & Aska.

5. Yu Jian (“Rendezvous”) -- Stefanie Sun. When I read pinkcocoa’s list, and saw this song, I was like: “hey! That’s one of my favorites too!” So, pinkcocoa, we do share quite a bit in common, huh? Though I have to say I listen to a lot less (way less) Chinese songs now than I did say 7-8 years ago . I liked the movie “Turn Left, Turn Right” a lot. Not so much for the story-line, but for the deeper philosophical, “spiritual” even… maybe, themes that run through it. Plus Stefanie Sun is a home-grown Singapore talent who has soared high in the region.

Okay, that’s it.

Oops, sorry… left out one final question…

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

Ermm… do I have to do this part?

Let’s see…

ST of CheatEat

Foodpocket of Yukkuri

Simply because they are my two latest (as at the point of typing this) commentators-who-are-not-tappers in the Digital Life post, where I found out I was tapped.

And DC at a-chau…

I’m throwing a curved stick here… taking this meme out of the food-blogging world (how many times has this thing gone round already?!) and into the larger blogging community.

My sincere and profuse apologies to any of you three if you have already been tapped before, or if you are, like me, not really into these chain-letter-y things…

Okay, it’s back to work for me… work-work and cooking-work…

Oh, just a small side-note. What I find highly interesting -- even more intriguing than the answers people give for this quiz -- is the energy and nature of this meme. It is without threat or reward (such as having your dream come true within the next 3 days or some such like), and yet it is being passed on and on. Many say it is to know the other food-bloggers better… but I think the best and clearest way to “see” a person’s personality is by the way they write their blogs. It’s definitely a more holistic and deeper approach. A much larger part of the personality is seen (on a regular basis too). After all, it is said, each time a person opens their mouth (be it in written or verbal form), a piece of their soul is revealed. So, what fascinates me is the motivation and desire to be accepted, to not want to be the odd one out, to do as the crowd does… in this case, the food-blogging community. (And I myself am not immune either, obviously… which is even more fodder for thought). Interesting isn’t it? Fortune or misfortune isn’t necessary as a catalyst for propagation.

Just a thought…

Okay, I’m really off now…