<b>SYED NADZRI:</b> Face the music, everyone

SOMEONE obviously piqued with what's happening around us and desperately looking for a respite the other day wondered aloud as to which song best describes the current state of affairs in the country. He came out with It's a Sin to Tell a Lie almost instantly and said the title of this old tune aptly illustrates the dirty politics, deception and hatred that have left Malaysians in utter disbelief.

He noted that there should be scores of other songs to reflect the current mood and brashly proposed that I draw up a Top 20 list in this peculiar category.

So, at the risk of being accused of trivialising the ill wind blowing at us, here goes (not necessarily in order of relevance or preference).

1. What's Going On? The Marvin Gaye classic is spot on and asks the question exactly on the minds and lips of almost every Malaysian in the wake of the past week.

2. Say You Say Me. The title of this Lionel Ritchie song seems smugly appropriate too, given the way some issues are gossiped and blown up based on mere hearsay .

3. Apo Nak Dikato. Blues Gang's timeless hit which means, wearily, "What else is there to say?"

4. Games People Play. Joe South's provocative song sounds so relevant even after 40 years.

5. Help! I think some of the main players in the Malaysian political scene today need an inspiration from this Beatles number, particularly the line which goes "I need somebody, not just anybody."

6. Before You Accuse Me. I like this Bo Diddley blues original because of the repetitive but very relevant words "Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself."

7. Menghitung Hari. The popular Kris Dayanti ballad means "Counting the days" which probably can be applied to Pakatan Rakyat's confidence (misplaced or otherwise) of taking over the Federal Government by getting some parliamentarians to switch camps.

8. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. The U2 hit, which is related in circumstances to (7) above.

9. Dazed and Confused. Try to listen to the 16-minute version of this Led Zeppelin song at full blast and you will get a real feel of what's happening around us. Certainly one of my favourites.

10. I Swear. These words in the All-4-One tune have no meaning anymore here since statements made under oath can be absurdly changed at the drop of a hat.

11. Oops, I Did It Again. The Britney Spears song speaks for itself and can be referred to in various ways to poke fun at certain personalities. But I shall not elaborate.

12. Turn, Turn, Turn. The Byrds classic. For obvious reasons, I will not venture to elaborate on this one either.

13. Hips Don't Lie. That's right, Shakira. But people do.

14. Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Tears For Fears couldn't be more precise, and in Malaysia's case now, everybody wants to rule the country too.

15. Nothing Else Matters. Exactly. When everybody wants to rule the country, nothing else matters as rendered so forcefully by Metallica.

16. Paranoid. Black Sabbath made it quite clear about this psychological hang-up in their 1969 hit. And as the political temperature gets hotter, many people in Malaysia are getting rather paranoid. They see shadows everywhere.

17. Keliru. Ajai and Nurul sang about being confused. So is three quarters of the country now.

18. Everybody's Talking. Yes, everybody hasn't stopped talking about one thing or another on Malaysian politics since the start of the year. And be reminded that this song by Harry Nilsson, an all-time favourite, was featured (so significantly) in the hit movie Midnight Cowboy.

19. Brain Damage. Pink Floyd song. I think this is what will happen to you if you try to figure out what is actually happening to the country.

20. Subterranean Homesick Blues. The title of this rattling Bob Dylan song doesn't make any sense at all. But then, many things taking place around us make no sense too.

The above selection is best left open to each individual's own interpretations. And there are, of course, dozens of other songs that fit the bill.

But for good measure, let me add one more -- All I Can Do is Write About It. It is my favourite Lynyrd Skynyrd number which describes what journalists like me do -- write about it. Sometimes.

SYED NADZRI: Face the music, everyone