Let's Make Our World The Most Beautiful Home

Nice music video by our very own National Environment Agency and the title speaks for itself. Let's all do our little part and make our world a little better by being more conscious in reducing waste =)

若你碰到他

Bought this recent release couple of weeks back together with another album 陶喆 - 69樂章, 2 of my favourite artistes.

But i find myself really drawn and listening to 若你碰到他 by 蔡健雅 more often. Not to say the other album by 陶喆 is no good cos he is definitely one of the most creative singers of our time. But i suppose this time round 健雅 really got to me with that mellow feel to her songs. Can't really put my finger down but its a little something here and there that portrays a sense of lost and found in the midst of a crowd of people. As if searching for something that is calling out to us which is so near yet unidentifiable.

Like what my pa used to tell me when i was a kid, "A picture speaks a thousand words." Look at the album cover and it seems to say it all. 健雅 in the midst of a crowd blurred out to the background which appears to be a train junction of sorts where tons of people pass through day and night. And there she is, appearing to have heard something or someone calling out to her and yet not knowing which direction it came from. Marvellous isn't it? Listen to it, it is that lovely and well worth listening to =)

Sweet Camomile

Since her first concert here in Singapore 4 years ago, Emi Fujita will be holding her second concert this Sat 13 Dec 2008 in Esplanade.

Because of my indecisiveness, I missed the first concert. I was left with choices of the most expensive seats by the time i made up my mind. It was too late. Back then, i simply do not have the budget to get a pair of tickets at 100 plus each.

Now, i'm 4 years older and with a little more spending power. So, i'm not going to miss it if i can possibly help it. Yup, i holding a pair of the Cat B passes. =)

I can still recall the time when i first heard her voice in Music Junction at Plaza Singapura 5 years back. They were playing the song "What a Wonderful World" from her second Camomile album, Camomile Blend.

It touched and i was so absolutely captivated by it. From that moment, i knew i was going to walk out from that music store with a copy of the album in my hands. The album surpassed my expectations and i keep recommending it to my colleagues. For those who heard her, they may not become a overnight fan like me but they definitely did agree that she was gifted with a most soothing voice. As for me since then, i've been looking out for her new works each time i pop into a music store.

Yes, i am so looking forward to this Sat! =)

好久不見

好久不見 by Eason 陳奕迅 - a most heartwenching song that i find reflective of my mood over the last few months.

向左走.向右走

向左走.向右走 by 梁咏琪 is one of my favourite movie theme songs and i love this line 两条平行线总有交汇的一天.



How can 2 parallel lines meet? Is it possible? I can think of 1 way. Maybe you can think of another?

Imagine these 2 lines on a piece of paper just like below.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

Draw dotted a line between them at equal distance.
____________________________________________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
____________________________________________

Fold the paper at the dotted line and the 2 lines will meet. Parallel lines do meet =)

这一秒你好不好

A song by 许志安 that was released way back in 2001 but a song that i still find light and soothing to the ears even today as i hear it.

想你风就停了
刚好不迟不早
想你会在做什么呢
会不会也孤单呢

这一秒你好不好
希望你会微笑
有你我觉得我重要
我会努力成为你的骄傲

如果这一秒钟你想起我的笑容
那是同一秒钟你浮现我脑海中
如果当寂寞穿透思念是一种痛
亲爱的没有人比我懂

世界这一秒钟多少爱都已落空
庆幸这一秒钟我们仍心意互通
言语虽无法形容却真实的可以触碰
我的世界只为你转动

Especially the words highlighted in yellow, that's how i hope you are each time i think of you.

愛我

A very special song.. keeps growing on me everyday.. =)
found its MV on the web - 愛我

蔡健雅 Goodbye & Hello

In my opinion, one of the best album she has to date.. maybe its just me but i really like the overall style and presentation of this album =) much better than her previous albums.

Not that her previous albums were no good; they are actually some of the best albums that our local artists produced to date.. but she seem to be in her element for this..

How should i put it? It was as if she found a deeper sense of inner self, opening a new chapter in her life and this sense of being can be felt through the way she performed the songs. She seemed more at ease with herself, more relaxed, somewhat with the flow..

My recommendations (or rather my favourites):
1) Track 03 当你离开的时候
2) Track 05 越来越不懂
3) Track 06 如果你爱我
4) Track 08 It's True
5) Track 09 晨间新闻
6) Track 10 走过的路

思念是一種病

这次只唱情歌 - 張震嶽。

Overall album's good, some of the tracks are still a little too rap or rock for my liking. But when he goes slow rock, his act just came together beautifully. Music is strong with a solid bass and the lyrics are subtle and meaningful.

Some of tracks i pretty much enjoyed -
Track 03 路口
Track 04 很難 (esp this number)
Track 06 孤獨的夜哨
Track 07 再見
Track 08 小宇
Track 11 再見 ~ 真情版

Lyrics for 很難 =)

又一天的一个晴天
阳光印在这张旧沙发
躺下来闭上眼
恍然不知寂寞枕着蔓延
昨天的激情今天的空虚
还有一张惨白的脸慢慢改变

一杯水和一支香烟
混合安静孤独的气味
是纯情是谎言
星期天的早晨别太绝对
疯狂的世界不想这些
锁在门之外

有时候想把自己关起来
还是学着把心门拉开
人与人之间的关系变得不理不睬
习惯无关紧要的冷淡

又一天的一个晴天
阳光印在这张旧沙发
躺下来闭上眼
恍然不知寂寞枕着蔓延
昨天的激情今天的空虚
还有一张惨白的脸慢慢改变

一杯水和一支香烟
混合安静孤独的气味
是纯情是谎言
星期天的早晨别太绝对
疯狂的世界不想这些
锁在门之外

有时候想把自己关起来
还是学着把心门拉开
人与人之间的关系变得不理不睬
习惯无关紧要的冷淡
有时候莫名其妙哭起来
难道这就是自愿自挨
谁不希望像飞鸟一样自由自在
谁不希望啊
谁不希望只是很难

有时候想把自己关起来
还是学着把心门拉开
人与人之间的关系变得不理不睬
习惯无关紧要的冷淡
有时候莫名其妙哭起来
难道这就是自愿自挨
谁不希望像飞鸟一样自由自在
谁不希望啊
谁不希望只是很难

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Emi Fujita, a Japanese jazz singer. I noticed her about 2-3 years back. It was the way she rendered "What a Wonderful World" in her second album that caught my attention back then in Music Junction.
It was the way she sang some of her numbers that brings out a magical feeling to the listener.

Absolute joy to hear. Some of her songs if i may recommend, are:
1) What a Wonderful World
2) Fields of Gold
3) Desperado
4) True Colours
5) Every Breath You Take

In her latest release Camomile Classics, she did a good job with Over the Rainbow, Leaving on a Jet Plane and Try to Remember (at least in my opinion). Think i'm going gaga with Leaving on a Jet Plane, keep listening to the song this few days. =)

In anycase, here are the lyrics. Thumbs up to John Denver for writing such a beautiful piece of song. =)

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin
It's early morn
The taxis waitin
He's blowin his horn
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
E'vry place I go, I'll think of you
E'vry song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyesI'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

But, I'm leavin on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Quite Another Version of 向左走 向右走

向左走 向右走 is one of the more well known works of 几米. It was first published in 1999 and made famous a few years back by its screen adaption.

Listening to one of songs in the debut album of 蔡淳佳 released in 2000 titled 他和她, i cannot help but feel a sense of familiarity. Somehow, it seemed to describe the situation that the lead characters are in. They were meant for each other but even though they are living in the same building and just 3 windows away, they somehow managed to miss each other. Isn't that very 向左走 向右走? Well, the lyrics are just below, you decide for yourself. =)

他习惯把自己丢在热闹的场所

他以为这样可以掩饰掉落寞

她喜欢往这个城市最安静角落走

担心脆弱被人识破

他和她住同一栋楼

遗憾的是爱擦肩而过

他们孤独时候

都望着同一颗星球

他和她都在城市飘流

遗憾的是心无缘邂逅

他们彼此适合却无奈的错过

在人群中掩没

他渴望能有人分享夜晚和失落

她最怕独自面对黄昏和脆弱

其实他们彼此距离才两三个窗

不同的心一样寂寞

蘇慧倫 - 蘇慧倫 同名專輯

蘇慧倫 - a name that i'm sure most of us will find familiar with. The name of a young bubbly lady that captured thousands of hearts with catchy tunes such as Lemon Tree, 鴨子, 傻瓜 and classic love songs such as 我一個人住, 滿足. It has been quite a number of years since her last release, the latest being the compilation of her greatest hits in 2003.

This time, Tarcy chose a very different approach for this album and results? An absolute joy it was for me. I even find the album cover and fotos most complimentary to the general feeling the album is trying to achieve.

What about the songs? They were carefully selected (in my opinion) to portray the sense being of a girl who has walked through the paths of life. And in the process, she has grown wiser, stronger, more elegant and sensual. The general flow of the songs is good except no. 3 and 6 which i felt did not fit in all that well. Not saying that they are no good on their own (they are good songs to listen to individually) but somehow it seems to elude the general sense of smoothness in flowing from one track to the next.

As for the fotos, you'll find Tarcy in a simple white dress and most of the time, in the mood of reflective thoughts. And to be truthfully honest, i'm quite enthralled by these pics portraying a simple sense of elegancy in the nature of pure simplicity. =)

01. 不想想太多

02. 愛了就懂了

03. 我的勇敢我的快樂

04. 輪廓

05. 愛情華爾茲

06. 找到幸福那年

07. 告訴我

08. 我們

09. Hey Boy

10. 失眠特快車

潘嘉丽 - Love Me, Kelly

I did not follow the competition Project Superstar, pretty much did not know what to expect from 潘嘉丽 first debut solo album. Only time i heard her sing before this album were the numerous promotion clips for Project Superstar aired during TV commercial times.

It's definitely an album worth listening to. She carried the songs well. =) Hmm, i felt that there's a tinge of sandy lam in her voice. Sweet and soothing, excellent type of vocals for singing love ballads. Can't say much for her album cover and the pics provided. Pretty sure that she could have been made to look better in those album shots. Haha, it's pretty alright. Afterall, it's the songs and the voice behind them that really matters. =)

Just a bit of nit picking. The last song, 关于爱情, duet with 洪俊扬, does not fit into the overall theme. Sort of broke the tempo.

Recommended Tracks :
Track 2 爱, 无力
Track 3 答案
Track 5 有些爱
Track 6 非爱不可
Track 7 那一秒说的话
Track 9 美丽笨女人

郭美美 ”不怕不怕”

Owned the album for sometime. Been wanting to write a quick review on it but just couldn't find the time to do so till now. So, here goes ~ I did not take a fancy to her first two singles, 老鼠爱大米 and 不怕不怕. It just didn't feel quite right and most likely, due to the songs themselves. It wasn't her, not quite her style.

If you have the same opinion as me, then i'm quite sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by her current album. Of course, her two singles are found in the album. What's more important are the songs that can be found within this album that truly showcases her talent. Her strong and distinct voice that wonderfully fills the sense of hearing of the listener. =)

Overall, a joy to listen to if you can bear with that 2 singles. =) Haha, there's always that skip button around, isn't it?

Recommended tracks:
Track 1 愛是你眼裡的一首情歌
Track 2 大聲說愛
Track 4 剪刀石頭布
Track 8 兩難
Track 9 回家真好

Amarantine by Enya

I can still clearly remember the day when i first heard Enya. It was early 1995, a chalet a couple of close friends held, during the break after our 'O' levels. How can i forget that voice of hers? It was rich and soothing beyond anything i heard in my first 16 years of life.

You can credit her for starting me on New Age music. Yet her style is unlike any others that i have heard over the years. They include some of the best composers like Nicholas Gunn, Tim Janis, Frank Steiner Jr, Loren Gold, etc..

Pick up this album, listen to it. If you've heard her works before, i'm quite sure you'll agree with me that it is just so "Enya". An excellent album by any standards. Great for listening anytime of the day. Music in one of its best forms. Favourite tracks? All of them! =)

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam

Got the album last week. Yup, it's the one that was heavily advertised quite sometime ago with the hit single - You're Beautiful. Have to thanks C for giving me the pleasure of hearing a few tracks while getting a ride from C. =) Made up my mind to get it after the sampling.

On the whole, the album has a good mix of songs. Depending on individual taste, you may find some tracks not as well done though and you need some time for those to grow on you (after a few times). In my opinion, i'll recommend the following tracks:-

Track 1 - High
Track 2 - You're Beautiful
Track 4 - Goodbye My Lover
Track 5 - Tears and Rain
The one that grew on me:-
Track 3 - Wisemen

One to One

Had a quick lunch today and with some spare time on my watch, i went to a nearby music store and laid my hands on Fan Wei Qi's new cd album, One to One.

Yup, listening to it rite now. (",) Fan's one of the singers that i listen to fairly frequently. Like her for the jovial, cheerful style of singing in catchy pop tunes and also the classical way she sounds in love ballads.