A chance meeting with a Gallagher

Sometimes an event is just too significant or important to pass without being written down. So here it is.

I was on a weekend trip to Bali to attend one of my colleague's weddings. I remember this was a saturday night (Perfect timing for me since I had to be back in Singapore by Sunday night). This was a typical banker wedding too - lots of champagne (good ones I have to admit), martinis, and what have you. I saw several high profile guests. I think there was Lee Hsien Loong there (Singapore PM), James Riady (or was it Stephen?), Sofyan Djalil, as well as some famous artists including Diana Krall (famous Jazz musician/singer), and some TV show hosts. They were having this party at the marina you see, and there was this yacht race or something similar.

That was when I noticed him sitting all alone at the bar sipping his whisky. The rock and roll icon Noel Gallagher himself.

Now i met Noel several times already in the past. In London a few years back when he did a local gig, we caught a couple of drinks down at the local pub after the show ended sometime around midnight. And then another time was in Singapore. But I never struck any real conversation. In the past I would probably hesitate to start a conversation with someone so important. But heck, when else will you ever get a second chance for these kind of things right?

"Hey" I said as I pulled my chair. What is a rock and roll icon doing in a Bali in a banker's wedding party on a saturday night all by himself? Anyway this was a chance for me to ask him everything that I've always wanted to ask....

"So how did you write your songs? Some people like Cobain said Melody first, then Lyrics. But for others it was the other way around"

"Melody. Chords first. Never was another way around"

"I noticed you like using the chords G, D, Em more than any other keys. Wonderwall, Live Forever, you name it." (what the heck, why did i even ask this question)

"Yeah mate. You know Beatles was our inspiration" (well well.......)

He didn't seem bothered with me asking all these crappy questions. I think it's because i could sort of connect with him? or maybe he was just a little drunk and feeling mellow or something...

I couldn't remember the rest of the questions, but it was all good. I was so lucky to have this conversation. How many people had the chance to meet Noel himself huh? I know a young Ronnie O' Sullivan once did, he wrote in his biography. Noel's a real nice guy.

Maybe one day I get to meet him again.