Allez Justine and an interesting bit of Hwa Chong history

Back from an interesting trip to China. But down with flu so that kinda sucks. More reflections of China later. In the meantime, I'll be glued to the tv for the next two weeks watching Justine Henin (pronounce Joos-teen Eh-nahn) fight her way through the Aussie Open, on top of trying to juggle my last remaining module and FYP.

While in the Shanghai History Museum last week, I heard a song that was playing in one of the museum exhibits on the Chinese communists that was to the same tune of The Chinese High School song. We had to learn how to sing it when I was in year 2 when TCHS merged with HCJC to become Hwa Chong Institution. I never learnt the full lyrics by heart, since it was written is some ulu classical Chinese that was unpronounceable to my kangtang lips. I always thought it was an ultra-communist sounding song, but I didn't realise the tune wasn't original until last weekend in Shanghai. So I did abit of a research and found that the original melody actually came from the west! And I realised it was also part of Mizzou's school song at one point in time. No wonder they always played that same tune in the quadrangle at Mizzou at least once a day now that I come to think of it. I think the person did a great job here digging up all that history and making this video:

And yes, the school band plays the national anthem and school song everyday during morning assembly. I remember having to endure one year's worth of bad singing from TCHS boys. If there's one thing I can't stand very well, it's off-pitch singing. I can't sing, but at least I know it.

PS: btw, the new American Idol season has started. I've watched the first two episodes and I love how stupid and thick-skinned some Americans can be. But then again, there were some pretty good and unique voices so it should be an interesting season.