Coffee Dumbo and The Chairs

serendipity on a sweaty saunter

It’s been hot in Taipei this week. The last two days the heat index has hit 106°F but it hasn’t kept me inside. Today some of my 15,000+ steps took me to MOCA Taipei and on a sweaty saunter around the Zhongshan district, where the museum is located. After getting a text from T-Mobile telling me I’d used up 80% of my high-speed data plan this billing cycle, I ducked into a little cafe called Coffee Dumbo where they serve delicious cinnamon rolls, excellent ice water, and fast WiFi.

Coffee Dumbo and cinnamon roll. Cinnamon roll photo credit: https://globalfoodelicious.com/coffee-dumbo-taipei/. I forgot to photograph mine!

They were also streaming some sick beats. The song “Kaleidoscope” by “The Chairs” caught my ear. Turns out they are a Taiwan-based band that writes lyrics in English and Mandarin. Their profile on Spotify says:

“Formed by Jing, Zhong and Benson, The Chairs is one of the most critically acclaimed bands in Taiwan. With a bit romantic, acid, retro and a bit naughty music, The Chairs received the Best Group Award from Golden Melody Award 30th, which is one the most prestigious, significant awards in Taiwan. Influenced by sixties and seventies psychedelic music, The Chairs write sunny, cheery sounding tracks that flit between somber love poems and joyful, laid-back summer anthems. In 2022 July, The Chairs released new album “Shangri-La is Calling” and started a tour over 20 cites. This year, with a extension of the tour around the world, Shangri-La will calling from the US, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and more…”

“Kaleidoscope” is a catchy tune. The lyrics, which I often don’t pay attention to, are upbeat and encouraging. Here they are:

Stop and stare at the world, you’ll find

It’s a kaleidoscope of various style

It takes you to the highway waiting for a drive and

Keys on your hand, come on and have your own ride

Don’t stand still waiting, come on add some color to

Your masterpiece, oh lift your hand up now

Keep on painting, add some color, add some color to

Your masterpiece, oh yeah, oh yeah!

Wake up, dude, don’t keep stick [sic] to your bed, I

See you waste your fun time like Coke overnight

Now grab my arm, and twist your body, and wear your smile

Cuz’ world’s such a kaleidoscope of various style

Now, Mama says, ‘Little Johnny you’ve enjoy [sic] the great day,

Dinner’s ready don’t you wanna go back inside?’

And I say, ‘No!’

I won’t stand still waiting, come on add some color to

Your masterpiece, oh lift your hand up now

Keep on painting, add some color, add some color to your masterpiece, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah! (Written by 裘詠靖 Qiú Yǒngjìng)

So, just like that, I finished the first of my five weeks in Taiwan. Now, to keep on painting, add some color…to my masterpiece, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah! You do the same!