breathe!

I'm taking a breather from my struggles with the project that I'm doing so last-minute now.

The Corrs Lough Erin Shore posted by orionisprime



Another of my favourites from The Corrs.

The Chieftains & The Corrs - I Know My Love posted by tarodnet



What a fun song haha..

My mum told me she too didn't know how I spent my break. Ok la, 1+ hour playing with my pet bird, 3-4 hours playing with my dogs, 1-2 hours walking around the house or stoning, 2-3 hrs trying to do work, 7-8 hours listening to music, 3-4 hours surfing the net. Of course I multi-task here & there. Yap that's how I spend my break I think.. sigh..

Mid Sem break...

Aiyoh! It's already Thursday! Why so fast... Didn't do much this hols also.. Watched The Banquet and didn't quite like it. Although the costumes and settings were nice, like the bamboos and the palace. Can't appreciate this type of movies..

Anyway, went lunching with my lao3 peng2 you3 at this Wiener Kaffeehaus near Cantonment Road. Quite a nice place, with decent food, and great coffee heehee..

Lee Hom's coming on Sunday for an autograph session @ Junction 8! But don't think I should waste time going to queue up.. sigh... haven't done so many things yet.. but just can't get down to sitting at my desk. Once I try to hit the books, I feel super sleepy.. 眠い！勉強をしたくないです！学校が行きたくないです！

Ohh and I think the duet sung by Van Fan ( 范逸臣）& Tong En (同恩）is beautiful! 新鲜的组合，声音还蛮配的！ Very romantic, although a little mushy, the lyrics. But it's composed by 黄舒俊！I think it will go down well with couples who are very in love! haha..

相爱
词,曲制作∶黄舒骏

（男） 他们告诉我 爱是个恶魔
要你一颗心 还你一场空
我们的爱与众不同 推翻他们的胡说

爱上你之前 我懵懵懂懂
现在我明白 我生的理由
原来我已睡了很久 是你用爱叫醒我

（女） 你要我什麽 你爱我怎麽
只让你拥有 我的完美 我的娇柔 我的悸动
你要我什麽 你爱我怎麽
只要说出口 我的深情 我的不悔 我的执著 都是你的

（男） 做什麽都对 说什麽都感动
天地都有情 连山水都温柔
爱对了什麽都不愁 别人为何都不懂

牵著你的手 我什麽都不求
抱你在怀中 一生就已足够
不管是天堂是宇宙 就是你我爱的时候

（女） 你要我什麽 你爱我怎麽
只让你拥有 我的完美（完美）
我的娇柔（娇柔） 我的悸动（悸动）

你要我什麽（你有的全部都要给我）
你爱我怎麽（我爱你的每一个动作）
只要说出口（我已经无法说的尽）
我的深情 我的不悔（不悔）
我的执著（执著）都是你的（都是你的）

Why like that??

I know it's so childish. I know it's just a show. But I just couldn't help feeling so sad for that guy, especially after that particular scene.

(Spoilers ahead for Princess Hours aka Goong ! haha..read on if you don't mind!)

-----------------------------

Who was the one who lent a listening ear when you felt so down?
Who was the one who made you laugh when HE made you cry?
Who was the one who cared so much for you, he felt so pain when you fall sick?
Who was the one who sang for you with all his heart?
Who was the one who drew your beautiful portraits?

And now you are telling him that, even if you were to meet 25 million years later, you wouldn't want to see him cos you will still be loving someone else? Or even ask him to run away, cos he will never have a place in your heart?

Feel like slapping her man...

----------------------------

(End of spoiler! )

Hmmm... why do I always feel more for the supporting actor? haha.. It's the same situation with Han Kui 韩葵 in The Rose (蔷薇之恋). Even though these 2 guys (Han Kui in Qiang Wei & Lee Yul in Goong) fell in love with someone they shouldn't and cannot have, I still pity them, and like them even more. haha...

Anyway, 蔷薇之恋 & Goong are nice shows. Although a little draggy haha..Enjoyable, cute, funny and touching. ( Lots of pretty faces too haha..)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

So, as you can see, I think I'm going to waste away my 1 week break again. Had so many plans, like revision of course, going out with friends, movies， picnic and all, revise my Japanese, go karaoke etc etc. Really wonder how many of these I can tick off my list?

song recommendation

Hooked on 2 new songs now...

江美琪 - 爱哭鬼

林忆莲 - 相信


2 outstanding singers, 2 beautiful voices, 2 beautiful ladies who sing their way into peoples' hearts and minds.

Sometimes I think, ballads are still the essence of Mando-Pop haha...From oldies made famous by Teresa Teng to the 80s & 90s classic hits by Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau etc till now, ballads can be found in every singer's album. haha..

爱哭鬼
作词∶吴克群 作曲∶吴克群 编曲∶Op.dan

我爱哭 大声的哭 你在身边我敢放肆的哭
电影感人 听情歌我都会哭

我爱哭 偷偷的哭 你清楚却伤我那麽离谱
几句话 我的泪却止不住

你说分手时候 彷佛早就想清楚
留我一个 躲在角落 来不及哭 只能傻住

我是爱哭鬼 我要哭掉对你的思念
看著镜子里面没志气的脸 然後越哭越後悔

我是爱哭鬼 我要哭掉对你的依恋
我也知道自己 这样子不对
却还越哭越认真的 为谁

我不哭 我不敢哭 哭只会让视线变得模糊
视线模糊 记忆却会更清楚
你说分手时候 彷佛早就想清楚
留我一个 躲在角落 来不及哭 只能傻住

我是爱哭鬼 我要哭掉对你的思念
看著镜子里面没志气的脸 然後越哭越後悔

我是爱哭鬼 我要哭掉对你的依恋
我也知道自己 这样子不对
却还越哭越认真的 可悲

Wasting time again..

As I took out F.I.R's album to listen again, I realised that it was not as bad as I thought previously. Loved all the music arrangements, especially 你很爱他. The guitar's really nice. Reminds me a little of Jay's 黑色毛衣 haha..

And I saw F.I.R's concert on tv on Friday. As Faye as singing北极圈 halfway, tears streamed down her beautiful face... 好心痛哦！To think that I thought how come she suddenly sang off-pitch hoo... I think that's what they say singing with all your heart, and singing with 感情 ba.. But all their songs are killer songs! Really admire Faye for being able to sing at so many live concerts and still maintain & sustain her powderful voice.

And last night I saw 樱桃帮 performing in an Anti-Drug Concert in Taipei. A really interesting girl rock band that is up and coming. I mean, the Chinese scene never had a girl rock band before, so they add more variety to the currently hip-hop-&-rapping-laden music scene. I thought it was quite cool. Why? Cos they play their own music, (n I think girls playing drums or electric guitars are supa supa cool!) write some of their own songs, and are pretty girls with pretty voices. Wow if you hear them speak, you won't imagine them rocking on stage. Jia you lo! haha..

(For a review of their album, pls visit Shihui's blog)

Now you know why I still have so much work piling up - lab reports, tutorials, studying for test etc etc. Cos I'm so busy online & on my TV! sigh..Why does Taiwan have so many outdoor concerts? Or why is it that only SIngapore has so few pop concerts... so sad..talking about concert, Juz-B will be performing outside Esplanade next weekend! So exciting!

Lastly, compare this:

Kim Jung Hoon's singing on KBS loveletter posted by hirojiang


and this! haha...

Kim Jung Hoon singing Perhaps Love posted by happifruit


Why so much difference??

Wow..

Wow! Derrick/ Weijian's diction improved so much...after 1 year. Ok la not only diction ba..

Music Express 12, 维健 - 八月三十 posted by ruijun



If you did follow Project Superstar, you probably know what I'm talking about la..

Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress

I finally caught this local musical at the Esplanade on Monday, & am glad that I did not miss it again this time. The last time in 2002/2003, when they first staged it and I heard that Kit Chan was performing, I so wanted to watch it, but didn't. Fortunately, this year, as soon as I saw the advertisement, I quickly asked my sis to go get tickets haha..

So this musical basically talks about this American artist being invited by the Empress Dowager to draw a portrait of her. She wants to be understood by the people, as there had been many bad rumours about how evil a Dragon Lady she is, killing her own son etc..So the old Cixi (or Yeherana) recalled her past, from how she was chosen by the Emperor to spend the nights with him, till how civil wars brought turmoil and trouble. The musical explored a more humane side of Cixi through her love for the Emperor, and later her love for her son who died due in the hands of whores, and finally her love for her country. Also, the antagonist, Prince Tuan played a huge role in causing so much trouble. Besides Cixi's story, Kate's story of love and betrayal was also interwoven quite aptly. It seems to me that one issue brought up in the musical is that journalists cannot be trusted. Oops it's not fair to the journalists lei..Or rather human nature may stoop to so low for their own intrests. (like Prof Kurup said, don't trust anyone hahaha..）

I thought it was good. I enjoyed it and felt for it. Interesting storyline, as it looks at Empress Dowager CiXi from a very different and humane perspective. Great music, pleasant mix of Chinese and Western music. Great lyrics, as they tell the story so well. Beautiful costumes, simple but yet outstanding. Great performances by the cast, as they sang flawlessly ( in my opinion) and put their heart and soul into the whole musical. Great moments of comic relief from Hossan and Sebastian (who acted as the "event-writers").

The last scene of Cixi and Kate singing about lost love was so heart-wrenching..

Anyway, my sis and I were so funny. We opened the programme booklet and turned to the songs list, and thought, "aye how come Empress Dowager sing so little? And This Yeherana has the most songs... Who is she??" So actually, Yeherana is Cixi, performed by Kit! haha... silly us..

Most importantly, 陈洁仪万岁！！！Her voice is just so crystal clear and bright and beautiful and full of emotions. She's really my Singapore Idol. Talking about Singapore Idol, I saw the 3 finalists! Beautiful Jasmine, cool Johnathan, suave Hady. haha...

依然范特西。 我不以为然。

Wow! I collected my album today. Was so excited. So, the first thing I reached home was to play the cd. And I'm playing it now still. Does this mean something? I think this didn't happen for November's Chopin(NC). i.e. I like it better than November's Chopin. But I think it can never be like his 2nd album, Fantasy. It's different. The "fantasical" touch is not there. There are no songs like 威廉古堡，爱在西元前 etc. 已经没有那么天马行空了。我觉得是到了另一个境界。比较成熟的周杰伦，音乐思想也比较广。Jay 竟然尝试唱 BOSSA NOVA! 真的让我大跌眼镜！ 但说他成熟，也不完全是啦！觉得有些歌曲真的很可爱。还是有蛮多惊喜的。

As usual, there are 3 main types of songs: raps, ballads and Jay-style 中国风. Jay actually tried another style this time - Bossa Nova! I was deeply surprised that he actually did this. Can you imagine??

The raps are as usual, very difficult with super long lyrics. I'm still very amazed at his rapping skills. The ballads, rather pop-rock kind. And very difficult to sing. Man! Those guys who can sing his songs, I admire you man! SO high...The Jay-style 中国风, still very Jay-ish.

Overall, I think the title "Still Fantasy" may not be very suitable. His songs are no longer so out-of-the-box. Rather predictable styles. As he said, he doesn't want to change, cos this is him. This album seems to be more romantic, with songs about love and relationships, and lots of songs using the beautiful string arrangments.

1) 夜的第七章：a typical Jay rap song which reminds me of 逆麟 in NC. However, judging from the music arrangment and lyrics, it reminds me of serial killers in Old London. Rather mysterious intro, like written for a thriller. Very interesting music arrangment. The solo violin adds to the atmosphere.I don't understand why he got a female voice in the chorus though. But the layers of vocals, rather interesting. I especially liked the last chorus, where he sang in total falsetto. Although not very strong (haha) but very haunting!

2) 听妈妈的话：rather light-hearted song. Warm and sweet too. What a filial boy, actually dedicated a song to mothers. Nice rap, nice rhythm. Cute rapping in the middle too.. However, the chorus seems very repititive to me.

3)千里之外：主打歌。His diction is so clear here.. Aiya already reviewd this song in my earlier post don't waste time & space haha

4) 本草纲目：This is an OMG song. Firstly, the song itself, I can't really say I enjoy it, but the intro music, sounds so "dancy, techno, hip-hop, bling-bling" type... Secondly, the lyrics. I was drawn to the lyrics! So many names of herbs, some that I know and have taken, some that I never seen before! "山药 当归 枸杞 go!" I laughed hard at this line man! How in the world did Vincent Fang write such lyrics?? My gosh...Thirdly, the music arrangment. They had some kind of flute at the end, quite cute.

5) 退后：typical Jay ballad. Nice lyrics too. Lots of hooks in this song. Definitely a K-song. And again he displayed his large vocal range haha..

6) 红模仿：At first I thought the title was 红磨坊, which I think is Moulin Rouge? Not quite sure. But I noticed the 模仿 later, which is to imitate, copy. So I read the lyrics and saw something about how people are following in his footsteps, with all the 中国风 songs coming up now etc. And plus the dialogue at the beginning, wa kao... He's like so complacent! OK I bet the beginning's just for effect purpose. But this song's quite interesting, and cute. It's just so him. So diao. loved the guitar though. Especially the beginning.

7)心雨：Very romantic song, with the string arrangements and all. Ballad la as usual. And super high. I think it's not as strained as 枫。Very radio-friendly too. 心理的雨倾盆而下，却始终淋不到她，寒风经过院子里的枝亚，也冷却了我手中的鲜花。 oh so sad...Genius 方文山。

8) 白色风车：Another very K ballad, with lots of strings. The lyrics's written by Jay himself, quite touching too..

9)迷迭香： This is my 2nd OMG song. OMGＯＭＧOMG!!! It's so not Jay!!! It's Bossa Nova!! His singing style's so differnt too! OMG. very sexy lei....And the lyrics complement very well too. About sexy lips, about his heart beating very fast, about him cannot taking it.. really sexy aye..

10)菊花台： OH my. This is the 3rd OMG song. It's so .. it's beautiful. And reminded me of CHinese oldies, those that our mothers and fathers would sing. Rather heart-wrenching. Love the music arrangment too. The Gu Zheng, the strings, and the HULU-shaped flute at the end of the song! Very 凄凉，凄惨。 I can imagine him wearing those long robes singing this song. His singing style - diction's clear, played with some zhuan3 yin1s, and the last powerful chorus! Nice!

Ok, it seems now that I'm convinced he can handle multi-tasking fairly well. This album wasn't a letdown afterall. Maybe cos I didn't expect too much in the beginning.

And thanks, if you have read my post up till now! =)

Live performance of Goong instrumentals

Goong OST songs Live posted by kewtmew



Nice video. Great performance! Live performance of the instrumentals from Goong, the Korean serial.

The songs sound so Irish! haha.. with the violin, the tinwhistles, the mandolin and all. Like an Irish reel, especially the 2nd song. Nice!

shocked.. Crocodile Hunter passed away..

I was so shocked when I saw the news on TV today. The famous "Crocodile Hunter", wildlife documentary presenter and naturalist, Steve Irwin, passed away today, after being attacked by a stingray barb.

article found here
Australia stunned by death of "modern-day Noah"

When I first started watching Animal Planet on cable TV, Steve Irwin left a deep impression on me, because he's always so full of energy, enthusiasm and passion when wrestling with crocodiles or tracking down poisonous snakes. Although I didn't particularly like him as sometimes he seemed a bit irritating, especially with the "baby baiting incident", he's nonetheless very inspiring and fun to watch. His excitement when spotting the crocodiles, his exclamations of love for them, his adventurous and daring expeditions and his effort in conservation left me in awe.

Ironically, he wasn't killed by a croc... But at least he died while doing something he really loved..

I think Steve Irwin will always be remembered as the "Crocodile Hunter", and may he be a great inspiration to his fellow naturalists and conservationists.

Prince Lee Yul..

Oh my gosh! Prince Lee Yul actually majored in Dentistry! Wow I think I wouldn't mind going to the dentist everyday if he were my dentist haha..And he actually sings! He's gonna release an album in JaPAn soon.. wow..Talented aye..

Recently am watching a hot & popular Korean show. Ok I know I'm slow, it's out so long already - Goong (Princess Hours) 宫， but I don't like to watch Korean shows actually so I didn't bother about it. Not until my friend, who doesn't watch such Korean dramas as well, told me about it haha... so I trusted her, if she watches, it should be quite good. And voila! I'm hooked on it now.

And he looks so Japanese, so different from all the Korean guys with super small eyes haha...Oh and he looks like Won Bin(元彬） too..

Darn it.. I haven't studied for my test next week & haven't done up my report, but am actually surfing the net online now for Kim Jeong Hoon ( aka Prince Lee Yul). Sigh..