Tiket Band

This is my story on how I came to like this band called Tiket.

One day, early in the morning when I usually come out from the bedroom, I sat on the sofa, changed the tv channel and lie down while still changing the channel. Suddenly, I stopped in this one particular channel -RCTI, well not that particular, it's been there for a decade now- and saw this guy singing unplugged with his band members. He wore like a green jacket, sat down on a high stool while his hands are gripping the mike and the pole, smiling to the audience, singing soo .. enchantingly.

I thought, "Hmm.. This guy's quite ok. He sings well, looks cute... But is he really THAT good?". I like to criticize everything on my head. From judging people, cursing assholes to being totally crazy about something or someone. Well folks, he made my eyes suddenly sooo wide and clear.
Why is that? Well, here is my explanation. When I saw him, I thought, "Hah, he looks cute but can he really sing?". (pausing to see) Then I thought again, "Oh, ok. He can really sing, but does he have a stage presence?" (listened quitely while judging him in my head) I was mesmerized. "Good gracious! Not only he has the audience hypnotized with his sweet smile, but he was also able to make me watch him-ok, understand that I don't really like Indonesian music shows unless Maia's performing- from beginning to end. I was thinking, "Who is this guy?? Who are these people?? What's the name of the group??"... And so it began the magical world of 'Love at first sight'.

I haven't had that eager feeling of knowing anything for a long time, let alone an indonesian band completely unknown to me, ever.. At all! But that day changed my life completely. Haha..Ok, I tend to over exaggerate words. Obviously, the only person making me completely ga-ga is the vocalist. I don't think I knew his name back then, but of course, with the magic of internet power, I was able to google them down and found out that they are called...*inhale*...Tiket Band. The vocalist? His name is... *inhale again*...Christian Bhaskara.

Honestly, I don't remember how I ended up adding the bassist, mas Opet Alatas, on Friendster and Facebook, but I surely thought this is great! I got myself a friend from a band! Of course, the only reason why I did that, is because I tried so hard to know more of Christian, and it kinda led me to be friends with Mas Opet and his cousin in Facebook. Oh, Bex! What have you become....!

When I had my Christmas-Nu Year Holiday, I wanted to at least see the band live once, but the time never gave. I was totally smitten, overjoyed whenever Tiket performed on TV, made me more excited and eager to meet my prince charming (yes, with the right outfit just like in Cinderella, he does look like a prince!).
The head and guts started churning, longing to see mas Opet and Christian in person, but there was never a chance. I was too busy hanging out with my friends (of course! Isn't that what normal people will do?) and watching late nite movies along with browsing the net. Life was great.. But not that great. A bit geeky that is...

Three more days to go and it was back to school time, but I needed a last time hangout with my bud, Angie, and so we went to PP for lunch at Urban Kitchen. Angie ordered an american fast food and I ordered sushi wait.. Is this really important? Nahh... Ok, back to the story.
Angie and I were both talking, it was about anything of everything (totally not making sense, moving on!)and then I mentioned about liking my dearest. Well, actually at the time, I kinda found out from his Friendster (yeah, yeah.. I added him and read few(all) of his friends' comments on him) that he's gay (!!! I know right??)and I was shocked and felt really down. I curhatted to Angie (oh yeah, more nonsense words, just what I need after midnite-coz I'm writing at 12.30am rite now-) and began making statements on liking gay guys. Thankfully I'm not the only one as Angie likes Rufus Wainwright and he's soo totally gay, so I was not alone in this.
I explained to her that these people started making comments about how they've had relationships with him or saying dirty funny jokes, implying to what gay guys usually like to do. Eyeew...!! Not THAT!!! Just things that you'd understand if someone's talking about gay guys. She said that we just need to learn to accept that all good things can never appear perfect, there must be some flaws in it.
After our chit chat we started making jokes about being in love with gay guys. How if we come over to his house we should not forget to knock otherwise his 'boyfriend' won't have time to runaway.. Basically, I wanted to make myself feel better, and thankfully, Angie was there to add more histerical jokes about the issue.
We walked out the restaurant and we started singing about it, making up words to be sung until we came down and went to the car. Suddenly, I felt like a light turned on in my head and said, "Angie, I'm going to write lyrics of a song about gay boyfriends and will send the words to you tonite". I was sooo into it, I couldn't wait to write something so bad. The longing to write appeared after oh so long.

That night, I made 4 songs. All in english. I was proud of myself. Text Angie my first finished short song and then started to make more and more, until it was already way passed over my bedtime (which reminds me, DAMN it!! It's 12.42am right now and I'm still awake! I've got school in a couple of hours!!)

Isn't it funny how a guy can make your world go completely ballistic? I thank Christian Bhaskara for giving me mixed up thoughts about you, not knowing for sure wether you're gay, married, or just plain mysterious. That feeling somehow turned something on in me and until now I'm able to write songs I can't even imagine writing about. Well, I could actually, coz it's all about love. Oh my.

Anyway, I don't think Christian's gay though, but I will tell you why I know this later. So weeks has passed since that day and I've met a couple of guys that came into my life..and out. They were just passersby, so no feelings whatsoever. One guy was this indo dude that lives in Nippon country and the other guy's half indo-aussie-rapper-teacher that I met at my cousin's place. He's cute but I do have the feeling he has a girlfriend..So is the Nippon guy *phew*.
Because I briefly knew this rapper dude and wanted to know more about his music, I checked his Facebook one day and saw his status update saying, 'please listen to this band playing featuring him as the rapper on *beep *Radio'. Ok, cool. So I made myself a note about his announcement, and waited till the day comes.

While waiting until him and his band performed live on radio, I heard the commercial. At first, I wasn't paying attention, well, it's not important coz I rarely listen to that radio. Wrong. My ears heard 'Hanya Kamu yang Bisa' playing in the background while the announcer was talking and I was listening, attentively.
The announcement was, 'In conjunction with the Anniversary of Plaza Semanggi, Tiket and Maliq will be playing there on the dates stated.' Oh shiyat! I can't believe I heard that!! I immediately noted that on my calendar and couldn't stop smiling. Yes! I can finally meet Tiket!!

Wow. When am I going to get to the point??

Ok, so long story short, I went to see Tiket Band in Plaza Semanggi. I came 1hour early and waited in the shoe section, coz the stage is honestly right beside the shoe section. Ahh...Tiket came out and I saw Christian. Well, I wasn't hysterical or anything, I was more observing and absorbing my vision in seeing him. Haha.. I still couldn't believe I went there!
The only embarrassing part when I went to see them, is when the Radio Assess were asking the audience about who owned Tiket Album. Being honest and naive, I raised my hand, not thinking that they would call me up the stage to ask me a trivia question about the band. Holy Shit. I went ga-ga-ga when they asked me about Tiket's titled album. I was not thinking straight, so I just answered 'Repackaged' which is true, coz their new CD has that word mention. Haha.. Im not stoopid, you Radio jerks!! Why am I dissing them? Well, that's because they made fun of my english. They don't know how hard it is to be nervous when your favorite person is right in front of you. If I'd knew who they feel nervous about, I'd shove that person right in their faces!

When I came back down the stage, they performed. Suddenly, someone's tapping me on the shoulder, and looked back, I saw Sarah. Dear Sarah who is also that radio's Dj.. Sarah... Who could actually help me out getting closer to Christian!!!
She called up her friend from behind the stage asking her if I could get a chance to take pictures with Tiket. Amazing. And just like that, I was introduced to Christian.
Talked to him and then mas Opet was somewhere in the back and I was waiving at him, madly, thinking,'What in the world? I don't even know the guy!'. In bahasa indonesia, my mind was like, 'Sok akrab loe!' and went up to mas Opet. He's soo nice, really what I've imagined he would be like. He and Christian were the only one that looked friendly, but maybe it's because those are the only two people I wanted to see and the rest of the members could sense my ignorance. Pardon me if I looked like I wasn't paying attention. Actually, I would have loved to meet the drummer and the guitarist, but they chose not be near me, so whatever.
Didn't forget to take a few pictures with Christian dearest, but totally forgot to take pictures with mas Opet!! hehe... I hope he understand that I was in a state of reality and dreaming.
Let's not forget that I did mess up answering the question and so I apologized to Christian that I completely forgot the title of the album, not because I don't know it but because I was so damn nervous. Cute and kind as he is of course, Christian understood completely. *siiiiggghhh....*

Well, that is my story on how I met my favorite band, Tiket. I do like their songs mind you, it's not just about Christian or it's not all about Mas Opet. I really admire this band because they choose to be a down to earth band with no attitude in their back and is able to become their true self. Unlike some indo bands that are just sooo.. lame and too contaminated with publicity. But not Tiket. They're the best.

Oh yeah, I mentioned about why I know that Christian is not gay? Well, I'm guessing he's got a girlfriend already, someone who's been in his life for awhile, and that's why he looks like he's afraid of women, because he's already taken. Awww... Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I'm very dissappointed, but at the same time relieved that he still likes women. Hehe... Girl, whoever you are, whatever your name is... You are very lucky to have him. He's cute, kind, warm and everything and everything else... You better treat him right or else I'll smack you in the head! Ho ho... Peace! Ok, it's now 1.28am and I'm screwed for the lack of sleep for these past few weeks. I hope this blog is useful.

Maybe not.

Bexie the Lady who doesn't cry wolf.