Why U So Like Dat

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R-Rated Movies

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One of the things that the UsDudes hold a uninamous opinion on is that early 1990s Singaporean comedy classic Why U So Like Dat? by Siva Choy and the Kopi Kat Klan (released by Pony Canyon in 1991, I believe). I actually had the original cassette release of this, with the inexplicable cover shot of some people (who knows if they actually were on the album, although I think Siva Choy was on the cover as well) holding up what were then the brand new two dollar notes. I’m still very sure that this is with Farhan, along with my copy of The Dark Knight Returns. Maybe I’ll get them back some day. Maybe monkeys will fly out of my ass. Who can say, really.

DJ De Souza

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In any case, it was really good. I used to listen to it all the time when I was a kid, and while it’s a little dated (due to subject matter and such) it’s still quite listenable. I remember it selling quite well and inspiring a number of knock offs, including the Wah Lau Gang whose cassette I also used to own at some point. Azmi and/or Farhan can back me up on this, but a few years back someone got a hold of the (not as good) CD release and ripped the tracks and there was a sort of Why U So Like Dat renaissance. We’d pretty much make references to it all the time in conversation, and when you actually came across someone outside the UsDudes circle who knew what you were talking about it was something like a phenomenon. Sketches like The Tunnel (ad libbed, by the way) and the Debt Collector are the type of things that make you laugh for hours.

The Tunnel

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There was a CD reissue from a few years back, but it’s by far inferior to the original because the added tracks were basically your typical Reader’s Digest type of jokes and having a voice as familiar as the Flying Dutchman’s just didn’t have the same appeal that the anonymity of the people doing the original skits had in my opinion. Inexplicably they also changed the backing track for the title track, which wasn’t horrible but it didn’t make it any better either. What would be nice is if the original tracks were available again. Siva Choy doesn’t do comedy anymore as far as I know, and the only media presence he has currently is his column in The New Paper. If it’s not possible to get it out in physical form, it would be great to have the tracks up for download, with a page with the original cover and inlay available for viewing, as well as DVD styled commentary on the sketches and songs. I think it would be unfair to let this gem remain forgotten.

The Debt Collector

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Peace.

Update:
Part 2 posted here.
Part 3 posted here.