TK Band

TK Band, otherwise known as Tanjong Katong Band, was a large part of my life from 1997 - 2000. Yesterday was the biennial event of the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) competition for secondary schools display band. Though I'm not physically there myself, I was there at the National Stadium Spiritually. In the end, my spirits were not sufficient for the band to clinch their 6th consecutive "Best Display Band" title, losing also the "Best Drum Major" title to Deyi Secondary. Is this the fall after the golden age?

Watched the band's performance on youtube, and was disappointed to say that it didn't make my hair stand. Maybe I wasn't there physically, maybe the video and sound weren't clear. From my very very personnal point of view, the last formation had too many things/distractions. Chaotic! I agreed with some of the comments made from the guy shooting it. "They didn't move me", "Show me something new". What I was certain was that there were many reused formations and music. From 1998 - 2006. The london bridge, forbidden city, "Nessun Dorma", "New World Symphony", ... ... ...

What happened? Deyi had a stronger desire than TK? Complacency? Panel of adjudicators didn't like it (thailand, US, canada, netherlands, denmark)? Management? From what I heard, only 1 cheer was heard from the alumni throughout the competition. How sad. What happened to the batches from 1998 to 2006 and earlier? No sense of belonging? the sweat, the tears, under the hot sun, in the muddy fields?

For me, I seemed to have distant from the alumni. I prefer to call myself "ex-member". Still remember vividly when I was in sec 4, after the July competitions. My buddies and I were so eagerly waiting for us to "O.R.D" so that we can all put on the alumni T-shirt, which was exclusively for the alumni. But now, I'm not sure. The shirts have changed, and only the selected few are allowed? to wear it.

I was there for the past 3 competitions (2002, 2004, 2006) to show my support, and even "helped". This year, I wasn't there, and so were many other ex-members. Even my senior of 5 years who was there to help out from 1996 - 2006 didn't turn up. Hope someone from the alumni committee do something about this failure, and make sure the band WILL win in 2010.


Disappointing... So disappointing... Anyway, found a couple of pictures from 2000



Last "Killer" Formation - The Forbidden City with lanterns


See me??? There !!! There !!! There !!!

Don't know why Sec 4 stand at the corner of the formation. Most end somemore... Was 1 - 2 steps from the center line for most of it. I have to say, thats how the steps work from the previous formation which was.... i forgot... oops! Lets see.... Camera... hour glass.... naboo fighter... sea horse... Ks.... Forbidden City... form up... that should be it... so.... ya... the kaleidoscope, and we (my mirror image) was supposed to wheel out, therefore, outmost of the formation. "Tadaa!!! "