I'm pretty sure most of you have seen this, but for those of who haven't, check it out man. And for those who have seen it, watch it again to motivate yourselves man.
http://www.stomp.com.sg/stompcast/tag24/index_wk1.html
It features some local well-known musicians such as David Tan (eletrico), Linda Ong (lunarin), and many more. These two that I've mentioned particularly touched me.
David Tan's mum wasn't very supportive of him being a "Rocker", but today, he still says he has no regrets.
Linda Ong's parents is likewise too. Coz she is born in a family where his siblings are all lawyers and docs if I'm not wrong. Even though she is a degree graduate, but she is well- known for "a lawyer by day, a rocker for life."
Their spirit and passion towards music earns my greatest respect. And I also respect those who have the guts, spirit and passion to pursue, not just in music, but pursue what they want and make a difference for themselves.
Well, it's inevitable that most parents will not really support their child towards the "Art" thingy mainly bcoz, most of the people grew up being taught that money is one of the most impt things, as everything in this world revolves around this thing call "monetary system". We study so hard from very young till our 20s for what? Not because we really loved studying so much, but for the sake of money. We worked so hard for what? Not because we really love to wake up so early every morning and squeeze into the mrt or buses to work, but it's also for the sake of money. For this world operates using money. And majority of the people would seek for comfort life, luxuries, porsh cars, cards, etc. etc. which to make it simpler, its oso known as material-love/material-life. And it happens that most parents fall into this category because they grew up in such kinda of society. Another thing to take note is that, last time their life are not as easy as ours, not all who wants to study can afford to study. Hence, their mentality in the past are always wishing to have education, then can find job and earn money. They won't even dare to think of other dreams. But right now in our generation, most of us have no prob for education, blah blah blah, hence, our tots no longer jus focuses on study, good job, earn money. In another word is to say that, during their times, they have to worry about basic needs, hence, their mind can't afford to have rooms for other "dreams/passion". But now in our time, we no longer need to worry about our basic needs, hence, we have more rooms in our mind for our "dreams/passion". They were in the era called the Industrial-Age, so their mind-set are all about work-money-work-money, and over the years, this thing is already imprinted into their brain, so we can't blame them for having this kinda mindset. Other than that, most parents would also expect their children to get married eventually, and when marriage comes, babies come, money have to come too. Thats another reason why they are worry for us.
Time have changed, people and mindset had changed as each generation go. So it's pointless to say who is childish and who is mature here, who is short-sighted and who is long-sighted over here. For me, I'd say that life is all about being happy, the process of living your life, and not the results of how rich you are, which income-class are you in, what car you drive, and what kind of housing you live in. Yesh indeed, there are people who go after these so-called the material-life, and there is no right or wrong so long as that thing that you go after will make you happy and brings you no regrets. I just lost a musician friend a month ago. Died from cancer. In his mid 50s. When I visited him in the hospital, despite the fact that he knew his days were numbered, I can see the sparks of happiness and no regrets in his eyes when we talked about his musical journey. And even though people says that music in S'pore is no future, he still managed to buy a 5-room flat and feed his 2 sons and 1 wife up until just. So I told myself, life is really unpredictable as well as short (when you reach your 20s you will know tt time seems to fly very very fast), so I'd never know that the next moment I might be infected by some swine flu and die or what, do I want to leave this world with a smile on my face, or do I want to be like many wealthy man who are so afraid of dying?? One can bring his happiness along with him into his coffin but not his money, landed properties, cards, stocks, cars, etc. etc.
Conclusion, there is no who is right and who is wrong, it's all about choices, what you want in life. No doubt this society operate in such a way that how respectful and sucessful are you is not decided by you, but by others. And these others will judge by how much money you hav, how much cards, big cars, big houses, etc., But to me, everything in this world is created by humans, and they are all just choices. Whether you choose to go with the majority or the minority is all still up to you. And you make damn sure that once you made a certain choice, regardles of sucess or failure, you must have no regrets, and willing to bear the consequences. Every route have consequences, even if you choose to go the parents way of, study hard, find good job in some business sector, and earn many money, there are consequences such as high-stress, lesser time to spend with family, being blinded by material-luxuries and throw parents into old-folks home, etc. etc.
And lastly, I reckon most people here are not so concern about parents not supporting them financially towards music, but rather, their moral support.
