My D medley

I sang this medley at my defense (promotie) party at the eve of September 1st, 2005. When I was asked to give a speech, I sang instead. The lyrics were written with much help of Marco (Polo), who has a distinctive linguistic talent. He can make rhymes of everything! Thanks, dearest!

The lyrics were done one day before my defense. So, instead of preparing myself for the defense, I spent all of that night and morning before the defense practicing the song! No rehearsal with musicians, but fortunately everything went well. Thanks to Araz who played piano so well.

More than the singing itself, is the acceptance of the audiences. How they smiled, laughed and dropped some tears with my singing, that really meant a lot to me. Oh yeah, of course it’s very nice to be able to thank my advisors and my examiners and tease them at the same time! No other way can be more perfect than doing it with songs… hehehe!

notes:
The big D = the big Dissertation
Nico and Patsy were my advisors
Arie was a kind of advisor as well, yet formally he was a reader.
Joshua was the one who introduced me to socio-technology research world.
TDG is the name of my department
PPIE, ITC, BS-Twente, all were my communities in Enschede
Panopticon is paralleled with surveillance

#1: Melody from Begin the Beguine
(piano gives a tune, Mer sings acapella)

When I began the Big D, I was so young and my mind was so tender
I thought of the joy my studies would render, I thought of the bliss of a Ph.D. degree
But I didn’t know the torment ahead, or how my mind would be kept swaying
And into night I would be praying, oh, why did I begin the big D?
To meet Arie’s critique was past all endeavor, and Patsy, too, kindly made me insane
Nico took charge, my Panopticon forever, promising help as he boarded a plane…

[Mer waves to a departing plane…then the music starts playing, shifts to Mack the Knife…Mer looks directly at the audience with a straight face and starts to sing again … ]

#2: Melody from Mack the Knife

Oh, my committee seems so very kind dear
And their smiles are so pearly white
But they change their shape dear
Behind closed doors when out of sight

They mark my pages with bright ink dear
And scarlet billows start to spread
Words I cannot even read dear
But all I see is red, red, red!

[this is a play on words – seeing red also means angry]

It all started, yes in Bandung, dear
Joshua talkin’ changed my view
“Architecture ain’t no use kid,
Cyberspace is just for you! ….

[Mer looks up again into cyberspace and the music shifts to My Way]

#3: Melody from My Way

…And then the end came near,
and so I faced the final curtain
My friends all came here
To hear my case.
Of which I’m certain!
I’ve lived some years so full
I’ve carried on – all work and no play ……. oh well, not really
And more, much more than this, I found my own way

Regrets, the list is long(!)
There’s quite a few I’d like to mention(!)

[Mer just speaks the next 2 lines rapidly without singing]
Dutch Immigration, Twente administration,
Dutch weather, and coffee addiction
[then sing again]

But more, much more than these,
Well, I just had to do it MY WAY

Yes, there were times,
I’m sure you know
When I had my fill
Of the committee’s musings
But now in retrospect, well
It is all quite amusing
Because the record shows
That through it all –
They did it my way! … Yes, it was my way!! — well, sort of…

[Mer looks humbly down then looks up again to sing “Unforgettable”, but before she days, she makes a small speech about how grateful she is for everyone’s love and support, for those who are here and those who could not come yet are never far away]

#4: Melody from Unforgettable

Unforgettable, that’s what you are
Unforgettable though near or far…

[talking voice: Nico, Arie, Patsy, Joshua, Peter Paul ...., TDG gang, ITC Fellowship, BS Twente, PPIE, all my music friends in 4U and this great band, and of course my mom and the beloved ones who aren’t here]

Like a song of hope you bring to me
How the thought of you inspires me
Like never before and never more …

Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, my friends, it’s incredible
That so many people are so unforgettable
Might allow me to be unforgettable too

Thank you everyone….
You bless me more than I can say..

Fine.