Thursday, April 30, 2009

Big Break Day - 290409

I never knew that life would have such twist of events, nor that my words would ever be prophetic.

I was ecstatic, overjoyed, and totally totally totally over the moon!
but then after some Sangria Blanca at New Asia, 70 floors up high atop swisshotel, iI was a tad exhausted with everything.

Life has indeed changed for the better and i hope this doesnt mean tt i'm gonna have a bout of bad karma coming next. oh well, you win some, you lose some.

i should be more excited than this, but i'm tired la. all i can say is:


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Enough is Enough!

I've decided that from now on I will not be moodyemomelancholydepressedsad anymore la. I'VE HAD ENOUGH. period. It drains my energy away and makes me wana eat more, gain fat, and talk less. It makes me think of unnecessary stuff and gives me a bad shoulder ache. I shall not be envious of all the people who are having it better easier and luckier out there. No more emo youtube clips! ha!

Tomorrow will be the Big Break Day! It will kickoff a change in ill-fortune and bad vibes!









but then again depression does spawn some genius in the meantime. so occasionally i will still go "there" but not so deep la.


smile like i mean it.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Radiohead - Fake Plastic Tree

This is a terribly sad song.



Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth.
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plants
To get rid of itself.
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out.

She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns.
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins.
And it wears him out, it wears him out.
It wears him out, it wears . . .

She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
if i just turn and run
It wears me out, it wears me out.

And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time, all the time.
Oh, oh.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Revolutionary Road



Sam Mendes directs yet another rumination on suburban disturbia, this time reuniting kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio for the first time in ten years since Titanic. Playing April and Frank, and based on the Richard Yates novel of the same name, Kate and Leo play a married couple disatisfied with their lives. Frank has a job that he hates, while April wanted them to be the couple that lives instead of being cooped up in the same trap that everyone else is living.

The movie questions your life and how you are living it.

But I'm not in the right mind to sort them out now cos thoughts are still lingering in my head. All i can say is, Kate and Leo were fantastic.






"we haven't figured out the larger significance of holding on."
now, what does that entail?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Annie Lennox - Many Rivers to Cross

"tell me something good"

That was my nick, which is actually a song Jesse Langseth sang on Idol, which rather aptly described what I am feeling this period. Dearest Lixin then told me:

xin: that we will see everyone at css batch chalet and have a whale of a time?

qj: susan boyle has shown the world that one should never cease to dream because there will be a day it will be fulfilled, in one way or another =)

Lionel: good thing: u are still alive and have every chance to make wadever is making u sad right again!

Starion: "dat u have a friend for RT"

Hanguang: a video

Lionel: "shit. much as i hate him, i tink adam will definitely win. his song damn touching. tink will make ur day!

Nicol: that you are more interesting than the boring guys i've been out with =)





Now, won't you tell me something good too?


Friday, April 17, 2009

Idol (spoiler alert)

What a way to use the judges' save, on a night when Matt's vocals were centre stage on the group medley of "Maniac". And what's with positioning Adam and Danny(!!!) high up there during the medley, like two opposing giants?! prophetic? pure coincidence?!

It's Idol. and it aint over till the Black Diva leaves.


JENNIFER HUDSON KICKED SOME SUCKERPUNCHASS TONIGHT.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Idol

Why don'tthe judges just take fucking half of their pay this week since they are only commenting on HALF the contestants this week?!

Why does Ryan sound oh-so-boring-and-long-and-obviously-dragging-time on the first half of the show, then rushed through the second half with faster talking speed and less "bonding" with contestants?!


why are they being so hard on Lil, whom this week not only got the pimping spot (deservedly this week), but gave one of her best performances throughout her whole Idol freaking time?! STOP TRYING TO ASK HER TO DO MARY. Heck even Mary sang slow songs during her earlier part of her career. Appreciated her trying to do that gospel take in the song.

DANNY GOKEY. run-of-the-mill song choice. incredibly cheesy though.

Anoop. stop singing slow songs cause that will give you good comments. Given this week you were great, but you didnt take the song places like how the great ever constructive Quentin said. Your climax was lacklustre.

Allison. this week, I felt you were over-rated.

Adam. good as always. the one with true stage presence. Compare his going-to-the-background-singers with Danny's Get Ready of a few weeks ago. What.a.difference.

Kris. He reminded me of Damien Rice. I love his song choice. And for once, I'm raving about him. Falling Slowly is a great song. It's from the movie ONCE.



Ryan, and whichever producer that cut down the comments from the judges and made Ryan look like an irritating fool (i felt for the first time), with him dragging every alternate syllable he utters and having that extended interview segment, YOU. CAN. SUCK. IT.


the rest of the world that irritated me today can suck it too.











I REALLY WANT THE GLAMBERT TEESHIRT ON RICKEY.ORG. ANYONE CAN ORDER ONLINE FOR ME? =(













i feel ... small.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

"instant gratification"

This phrase got me puzzled for a while. Is it a self-empowering act of happiness, or a selfish and immature response?

Or is it something else?

"一切是那麽的温柔但残酷"


蜜月期
作词:林夕 作曲 编曲:alex san

缠绵时期可不可爱上你
但不需要不停不止
不眠不休想你
忘形时期可不可不要接近你
但向天空吹一口气
人便风一般轻抚你
人顽皮时准不准抱抱你又抛开你
忽然欢喜忽然不踩不理
人无聊时准不准装作吻别你
换过一口新鲜空气
然后再次过蜜月期
只想轻轻微微
和你试试分分离离
然后让我害怕没法一起
谁叫我太喜欢你
但求永远也留在初恋世纪
每次要转天气
就如每次我和你冷热对比
我要你喜欢我
就如我爱你爱得朝生暮死
我最爱剌激你
就如你也最爱飞
人顽皮时可不可爱煞你
但准许我忽甜忽苦
忽长忽短亲你
人无聊时可不可不去约定你
但每一分钟都等你
期待再次有蜜月期
多么好期
la....



天不变地变
天空不变短 地为何变暫
海水不变枯 为何石变烂
一去的你未返 一切带走
然而留下冀盼
不变的思念中 感觉浮进眼
温馨的记忆 漫燃流满面
仍走不去昨天 跟过去纠缠
想我的生命中 只有你手从来是最暖
不要漆黑夜深 冰冷如永远
这分一分我在变 这一刻我在变
这一天我在变 去不变地为你生存
天它不变地变
海它不变地变 心它不变地变
從不变地变 却又未变 未令你改变
天空不变短 地为何变暫
当初不变的 竟也要改变
海水不变枯 为何石变烂
当初不变的 终也要改变

Friday, April 10, 2009

Pictures Remembered

V.

We resort to words,
the comfort of them. Even the stray
cat among the brushes knows more
purpose, crouched in darkness

the small sounds it makes
testing the silence for echoes.

Alvin Pang, from his book of poetry "Testing the Silence"

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Idol

Paula made me cry for the first time, with those beautiful words she said to Scott during tonight's elimination.

And if Scott's sister cry, I will bawl. Every single show I see Scott's sister, and sometimes his mother and brother, there. She reminded me of that girl from EVERWOOD, with that endearing geek quality to her.

Americna Idol Season 8, first drop of tear this year.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

ADAM.LAMBERT.SANG.MAD.WORLD!!!



ADAM.LAMBERT.SANG.MAD.WORLD!!!
ADAM.LAMBERT.SANG.MAD.WORLD!!!
ADAM.LAMBERT.SANG.MAD.WORLD!!!


I am wayyyyyy elated because ADAM.LAMBERT.SANG.MAD.WORLD. Now that is one of my favourite songs of all time, and i mean ALL TIME. I first heard it when Keay introduced the song to me, together with the movie Donnie Darko, in which it was featured. It's the Jake Gyllenhael movie with that freaky rabbit suit about time travel and the apocalypse kinda mind-fuck movie. Now Tears For Fears were the original singers of the song, with a very sucky 80s disco kinda arrangement. For the movie, Gary Jules turned it into a haunting track, which is the version I love. Adam Lambert today improved on that version with more theatrics and drama, most haunt with those high notes. I thought the rendition was STUNNING and his voice suited the apocalyptic element that Gary Jules unearthed so well.

For once, Simon gave a standing ovation, and after which ALL 4 JUDGES stood up. Now I didn't know if they all stood up because they wanted to make up for the lack of critique (because they were running out of time), but that has NEVER happened on Idol, except when they crown the winner. WTH!

Now I can ONLY HOPE that Simon's ovation was given on the account that he knew Gary Jule's rendition already existed. I think he should, since I kinda remember Gary's version going to number 1 on the UK charts. If not it would be down to last year's situation when David Cook was accused of taking all the credit for Chris Cornell's arrangement of Billie Jean. keeping my fingers crossed for that, and for a make-up critique tomorrow.

Seriously, how many people can just sit there and sing and WOW. This is the first time that I truely believed that Adam Lambert will be THE AMERICAN IDOL. All along i've had doubts because Idol is a family show after all, but with the response so far, he is the one to beat.




Now for the best, and worst, of the rest.

Danny But-the-Go-in Gokey. His voice reminded me of Michael Bolton today. NOT GOOD. its got a nice raspy quality to it, but I didnt really find it endearing. and the judges over-rated him! he was only mediocre at best tonight.
Kris has a nice tone, but that's just it. His voice is kinda limiting actually. and tonight he was forced to stand on the moshpit from hell, surrounded by upclose-and-personal swaybots. after Matt's terrible critique at the same spot last week, I'm beginning to think that spot is jinxed. Not good.
Poor Lil. you know you're in trouble when Paula started the slamming with a serious serious face, followed by a shot at Ricky Minor and the band. I was entertained by Lil though, but I guess that's because I loveeeee that song. I saw the "copycat" comment coming from the way Lil immitated Tina's walk and swagger. Poor Lil.
Scott the wild angel. "Embrace the Braille!". Appreciated his hard work at trying out his punk side, but the song was too huge for him.
"same arrangement" for Allison?! asking her to be "talkative and likeable"?!thankyou Simon, but we love our Allison the way she is, and she has showed PLENTY of personality with those wide-eyed shots and her response during result nights and interviews. Allison is turning out to be one of the most mis-judged contestants ever on the show. and Paula, that was DEFINITELY not the same arrangement. it was more rocked out to suit Allison. Please listen to Bonnie Raitt's song again because that is one of the best songs in the world.and this goes out to everyone:



Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. such a sad song.


Tears For Fear's version of Mad World, circa 1982.


Gary Jules' version.


Adam Lambert's version.




"and I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad. the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had."

a walk

I took a trip down memory lane.

I know that sounded cheesy. But I cant think of a better way of putting it right now. I took a walk around the old CSS building, my old primary school that has since changed its logo, my old neighbourhood, my old flat that now has lifts on every floor, the bridge over the PIE that links my previous home and the school.

My very Wordsworth-ian trip and my various "spots of time" recollections were slightly melancholic. Amongst many, I recalled the morning bustle and the fresh, crisp morning air. School children going to school, me with packed Gardenia bread with ham and egg (my favourite). Going downslope to CSS, always making it in the nick of time and seeing Gerald and Phuimun at the gate. Going upslope to our classrooms. Thinking of where to hang out after school: Jurong Point or Jurong East? maybe just the nearby Mac or our favourite blue-plated chicken rice. Homework? Just a few simple assignments, filling in the blanks, nothing to be bothered about.

I recalled the various spots where I took pictures.

I've not crossed the bridge since I moved to my present home during Sec 2. It felt different, yet all so familiar. Perhaps its the trees that they cleared that made the PIE road much clearer. I miss the mornings.

I entertained the idea of buying back my old house next time and spending my remaining years there, and what a way to round up a life it would be, coming full circle.


I think we all need to take a walk sometimes. Sometimes we get so caught up with everything that taking a walk, just a slow quiet one on a quiet night (without banglas of cos. strangely i saw none), probably alone, probably with a group of friends, and just relive the times. talking it over dinner doesnt give it credit. I found myself energized in a way.

It was so quiet, as if the whole world was asleep. or that time possibly stood still for me. i finally understood how it feels like.

what's lost cannot be retrieved. but memory is a more powerful tool than we give it credit for.

I realised that this is not the life I want to, and am supposed to lead. I am not fulfilling my potential. I need to change.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

I Told You So

ACM 2009


American Idol Top 10 Result Show, with Randy Travis







This song makes me very very sad.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

oh.my.gawd



OMG.

I will be joining a sea of pulsating hormones come Tuesday when I go for David Archuleta's autograph session. Is there ANYONE out there with no raging hormones but just a keen ear for a good voice that wants to come along with me?! I really need someone to have dinner with. And he is cute la. Not Edison I-want-to-sleep-with-him cute, but like, very cute.


ok, i am beginning to sound like a teenage school girl. very omfg.










王菲復出! 王菲復出!

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Caw! Caw! - an AI pictorial dedication to my fellow fans

I wanted to make this entry a pictorial lookback at Idol this season thus far, some of the highlights with pictures that says a thousad words. Then I read Gokey's interview on the official site and cannot resist posting some of them here. Blame Danny for the wordiness.


Lady Gaga, who performed during the top 9 result show. fantabulous. see that zipper on her left eye?!?!!




"But the 'Go' in 'Gokey'!"

Danny Gokey Q+A

Who is the person that you would most like to meet?
God. Would he be considered a person or a perfect being?

If you have 24 hours to do anything you wanted, what would you do?
Go to Heaven.

How do you plan on differentiating yourself in the competition?
I'm trying to plan on it.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To many to list.

If you couldn't sing, which talent would you most like to have?
Motivational speaker.

What are your personal goals in life?
Touch, help and bring hope to as many people as I can. I would like to influence the youth of our day.

What other talents do you have?
Working with children

What's been your favorite moment so far?
Singing "Hero" by Mariah Carey.

Do you have any formal singing training?
No

Now, tell me that doesnt sound like the most schmaltzy, weirdly paedophilic, and smug q+a you've ever read. And isnt he a singing teachr?! so he taught without proper training?! hmmmmm. allright, all together now, "BUT THE GO IN GOKEY!"




Norman Freaking Gentle



and who can forget, the one and only, TATIANA DEL TORO, who cried, went on her knees, and begged. really ain't too proud to beg. er her her her her.






Megan (Joy)(Corkrey). all together now, CAW! CAW! CAW! These two are my favourite pics. She seemed to be really caw-ing in the second pic. like, really. caw-ing. hard.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Idol

IDOL SPOILER AHEAD


I have to agree with Slezak when he said he knew that AI S8 will test his patience and his love for the show. I am beginning to believe him, because this season is turning into a tragedy despite the very talented cast. I am not sure if Nigel's departure, leaving Ken Warwick to executive produce alone, was a factor. But the judges' comments were awkward this season, with the exception of Paula who seemed more lucid than previous seasons. Simon Cowell was not as spot-on however.


Am I the only one in the world who actually thinks that Megan of Bob Marley's Turn Your Lights Down Low was her best performance yet?! From the introductory clip it was obvious she loves Bob Marley. And from her interview, I realise she would love to sing a Bjork song on the show, which really says alot about her taste in music: eclectic and diverse, even quirky like her. I really loved her performance. It wasnt forced and contrived like her previous performances, and it was stripped down and there was no awkward dance. All the judges panned it though, and they want her to sing Duffy, Amy, Adele, which totally puzzles me. Its like forcing her to conform to that mould, when all along we've been taught to be an individual and be original (on top of sounding great of course).

They have the same problem with Lil and Matt. They want Lil to sing Mary J and Mary J and Mary J (Simon wanted her to sing One. for real??!?!? When Mary nailed it 3 seasons ago with Elliott?! is Lil really THAT good enough?!) The poor girl is obviously having a tough time with song choice and her personal self confidence. So if she is not performing up to everyone's expectations, maybe she really isn't that great enough and it was all hype on Kara's part earlier on that she herself, together with the rest of the judges, have to sustain.

Rickey is true: The Black Diva lives on.

Matt oh Matt. Matt loves rock, but judges think Matt is soul instead. Matt has compromised for the past few weeks (remember how he said he'll do what the judges say after that horrid Viva La Vida?!) and now he can't take it no more. I don't really like his attitude when he was in bottom 3 last week. He seemed to believe that he has no right to be there when the fact is, everyone is vulnerable! America is voting. This week, props for picking a song from The Fray. But the song choice and that croak did not work for me.

Who are they to say what kind of singers they are?! So now they don't have a choice and we're back to the pop mill that is churning out generic pop stars?! Given that the Idol franchise is already a hit-factory with the success of Carrie kelly Davids etc, but at least keep your integrity intact while at it. Simon is fast losing my utmost respect =(

Anoop did another BEAT IT, and it was terrible. NEVER talk back to the judges; it's a huge turnoff. And his eyebrows are seriously distracting. Danny's first two notes were awful. Allison showed some flaws for the first time with her tempo and lyrics.
Kris is keeping that facial hair, props for remaking Ain't No Sunshine. Scott had lower eyelashes that looked fake. Adam Lambert saved the day again with a rejuvenated arrangement to a 70s song, though I must say his movements were still very cabaret-like.




watching Idol made me reminisce the good ol' days when the show had the privilege of having Melinda Doolittie grace the stage 2 years ago. cut the oversinging (you, lil). cut the big attitudes(you, matt and anoop and danny). bring on the power vocals (go adam!)




NOW I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE ON WEDNESDAYS TO KEEP ME ALIVE: PROJECT RUNWAY!!!