Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech, la nuit. Music, lyrics, musical and vocal arrangements by Kennie Ting. Photography and artwork design by Kennie Ting.

In the mid-2000s, I took a trip with some old friends – the same ones who would live in Dubai later – to Barcelona, Lisbon and Marrakesh.

It was to be a rather memorable trip if only because I came down with chicken pox mid-way through the trip and had no idea what I had! I thought it was an allergic reaction.  In any case, we happened to still have a magical time of it, especially in the two short days we spent in Marrakesh.

I remember experiencing, for the first time, that epic square, that centre of the whole world – so it seemed to me at the time: Jemaa el-Fnaa.

At the time, I thought, how wonderful it would be if the square were an immense open air club, and we could dance all night till dawn right here.

It didn’t happen for obvious reasons. But some five years later, I remembered that thought, and composed a song that would turn out to be GLOWING.

GLOWING, together with MISTAKEN and the next track I will release, almost did not make this 2019 incarnation of THE FACTS OF LIFE because I thought they had been rather ludicrously constructed, and completely over-the-top.

However, mid-way through this year-long process of revisiting these songs, I thought to give it a shot editing and re-organising these three numbers.  It went rather well, and so, instead of releasing 11 tracks from the album, as I had initially planned, I will have released 14, by the time I’m done this year.

Talk about commitment.

*  *  *

GLOWING is a totally self-indulgent, completely frivolous Maghreb-ish, hip-hop-ish number about dancing all night long dans les boites de nuit à Marrakech.

Our main protagonist is all dressed up and eager to head out for the night, but his main squeeze is late, as usual.

He couldn’t be asked to wait, so he hits the clubs on his own and has the time of it, all night till dawn.

It’s a super-simple set-up and storyline.  LOL.

Best with earphones.

LYRICS:

It’s late at night, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting! / I’m all dressed up, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting!

It’s 2 a.m. The streets are silent. The city is glowing. / The night is young. An empty square. Two lovers embracing. / The sound of footsteps. The metro still runs. I’ve nowhere to go. / Is it tomorrow? Or is it today? I’m sorry, but I don’t know. 

Let’s dance.  

It’s 3 a.m. The club is heaving. Thousands of bodies. /  The night is young. The heat is stifling. Bare bodies touching. / Breath on breath, and skin on skin. My hand on someone’s… / Is it just me? Or is this club, getting much too hot!  

Let’s dance. 

It’s late at night, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting! / I’m all dressed up, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting! 

It’s 4 a.m. The music’s pounding. We’re just getting started, baby. / The club is heaving. Heavy breathing. Push me up against the wall! 

Let’s dance. 

Let’s just dance.

It’s 5 a.m. The city awakes. The streets are glowing…

Glowing… Glowing…

Glowing!

Glowing! Glowing! 

It’s late at night, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting! / I’m all dressed up, but you haven’t called, and I’m so tired of waiting! 

© 2010 / 2019 Kennie Ting. All Rights Reserved.