I have been gearing up for the festival (it’ll be the first time I’m attending one) by listening to their songs. You know, get my groove going and stuff. Here below are the songs. If you’re coming, see you at Rock and Roots! If you’re not, please do enjoy the songs from these fantastic musicians!

Imogen Heap

I came to know Imogen Heap via Mac OS X Leopard demo/trailer (I can’t find the video on Youtube, sadly). It was just a simple guitar hook. Her name was on that commercial, so I Youtube-d it, found it, and loved it, and still loves it. The song was “Goodnight and Go”. Afterwards, I started to listen to more of her songs and has been mesmerized by the richness since. Listening to Imogen Heap is an experience.

Here are the songs from her latest album, Ellipse.

Ellipse by imogenheap

And this is her latest song called Lifeline. Ms Heap created this song using “crowdsourcing”. Sound bits and solos were contributed by fans, and so were the images used for the video. She plans to create her whole new album using this method, which I think is a very creative and intimate way to connect with her fans.

Lifeline by imogenheap

and this is the video clip of the song that started it all for me..

John Legend

I first heard John Legend’s Ordinary People during my high school days and found it really touching. I liked it a lot I made that song my ringtone during high school! If you have read my blog for some time and read my music entries, I suppose you’ll know that I generally like music that has a “richness” on it, a complete package of musical efforts (auto-tune is NOT effort) and emotions. I think John Legend embodies that perfectly.

Here’s the song that started it all for me..

Here are some of his songs via Grooveshark.

This widget might not work. Link to playlist on Grooveshark – John Legend.

Here is his awesome rendition of an already awesome song by Adele, Rollin’ in the Deep. Awesome square, baby.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

I only came to know Trombone Shorty from Rock and Roots and boy I’m glad that I did! Troy Andrews aka Trombone Shorty calls his music Supafunkrock. Yeah, fits into my “richness” theme again. I haven’t known much about him, but from the artist write-up, it says that he’s a multi-instrumentalist (the write-up even mentioned him as a “prodigy”) that puts a lot of soul into his music. Just my kind!

Here are some stuff from grooveshark:

This widget might not work. Link to playlist on Grooveshark – Trombone Shorty.

and here’s a video of him live!

The Sets Band and 53A

To be honest I’ve never heard of these Singapore local bands, but if they’re selected to play at Rock and Roots they should be awesome! I’ve found some of their videos, and they sound really well!

Can’t wait for the festival!

PS Sorry for the inconvenience sizes of the players… My theme is not really flexible. You can always click on the video to watch it on Youtube

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You Were There by Libera.

I hope I’m not the only person that thinks the video is cheese sandwich. I mean, ugh. It’s like somebody just took their pictures and tinkered around with iMovie or the likes (Windows Movie Maker? Eeks).

But it IS a really beautiful song, kudos to Takatsugu Muramatsu. I just think that the song (at least in the mp3 I got) got too much enhancement, echo and stuff, that it lost some of its magic. Also, the strings. Ugh, the strings. The piano was fine, but the strings was downright “ordinary” for the amazing song.

By the way, this song is actually a soundtrack of a Japanese movie called “Dare mo mamotte kurenai” which seems to be a very interesting movie. This is the plot summary (from Eigapedia)

When the older brother of junior high school student Saori is arrested for murder she is separated from her family for her own protection. She ends up living with a police detective named Katsuura and his family. Katsuura has to get information from her without making her already-troubled mental state any worse.

Can’t seem to find the trailer with English subtitles, but I think the movie (trailer) is powerful enough without subtitles.

Intriguing, eh? I wonder where can I watch this movie…

Btw I found another video.. I believe this was the opening of the movie?

BTW, I totally have a crush on You Were There’s soloist. Hehe! His name is Tom Cully.

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I know it’s not a school exam or something, but let me tell you, piano exam is much much worse than school exam. Because unlike in written exam when you can try hard to access your memory, practical piano exam is a one-off, now-or-never thing. Once you slip when doing something – that’s it. That is it. From passing with distinction to passing with merit in just one slip.

A little more technical here, one thing I hated the most (because I’m no good at it – simple, right?) was the 6th apart scale. Just for you laymen, basically you have to play a scale (something like doremifasolatido-dotilasofamiredo), but your hands/fingers start on different notes (6 steps apart). And you have to play it 4 octaves up and down (simply saying, you play it 4 times continuously).

Wait, what? So difficult?

Oh, yes, apparently. Now, I understand the importance of playing scales in order to play piano well – it’s all about balancing the power and making the lines as smooth as possible (if you don’t get this, don’t worry, not important), yet I don’t understand making it compulsory to test these freaking scales on piano exam. At the end of the day, playing these scales requires more brain-teasing work instead of paying close attention to how I play my piano correctly. It’s more like they’re trying to test my brain, or muscle memory, instead of my musicality.

As per my title, it’s just like they ask you to do a spelling bee or a tongue twister and you’ll be graded for it in your English exam. It’s not how you can use English or how you can play piano anymore!

I know, I know. Maybe I’m just bitter coz I didn’t do well on my 6th apart (and my 3rd apart) scales. Whatever. I hope the examiner is nice enough not to let me repeat this hellish grade 8 exam. Ugh.

Image by myself! Press on Deviantart

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I’m pondering about this since my choir (visit SMU Chamber Choir Fan Page if you’d like to) was visited by a vocal coach from Philippines. He did technical stuff like breathing, posture, sound production that I would not go into detail else I’ll bore a lot of you out. Not that there’s a lot of you in the first place.

After all technical stuff, before he left he said that the way to improve our singing is to listen to more choral works. He then went on to recommend some people, or rather groups, to listen to. And I just couldn’t stop pondering.

You see, if you have followed my blog from the beginning, you would know that I don’t only listen to choral or classical stuff. Review my music category. I listen to some pop, some rock, some electronica, some lounge music, and every other thing as I feel like it. In fact, I think my choral music collection is like… 5% of my whole collection?

Do we really have to listen to music that defines who we are? Do they have to match?

I don’t think we should choose a music, or any interest, first then decide how we should act. If I like emo songs (I do like some), do I have to sport the over-one-eye hair cut and write sad poems? If I like rock songs, do I have to sport studs and funky hair? If I like classical songs, do I have to act all nerdy? Do I really have to fulfill all those stereotypes only because I like a type of music? And is it fair to judge a person just based on what music they listen to? (or based on their interests?)

All I’m saying – sometimes people identify a group, and then identify themselves. Isn’t this backwards? I think we should identify ourselves first and then join a group.

But then again, this is only a personal opinion. But I’ll stand true – I don’t want to listen to choral music just because I sing in a choir. I don’t want to limit my choices – there is a lot of great music of any genres out there.

What do you think? Do you think you define yourself by your music – or does your music define you?

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Check this out: Bobby McFerrin (ahem, I bet you know “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, right?) “hacks” your brain.

He gives 2 or 3 starting notes, and then voila! Like magic, the audience sang together with him. Confused? Not clear? Just check out the video

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Perhaps somewhere deep inside, we’re really all musicians. After all it’s one of the oldest form of entertainment isn’t it?

Thank you BoingBoing for the link. (and thank you, StumbleUpon! :P)

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I’m pretty sure some of my loyal readers (thank you for keep visiting my site even though I don’t update it hahaha ) will hate me now. After missing for so long (busy lah, sorry), now I’m back just to shamelessly PLUG PLUG PLUG my oncoming choir concert!!!

But actually it can’t be categorized as plugging since this blog is my own blog

Ok so here it is~

Yes darlings, I’m going to perform in a concert by SMU Chamber Choir.

Details:

Date/Time : Tuesday, 10 February 2009. 7.30 PM.
Venue : Esplanade Recital Studio
Ticket : free seating, each at $16

Yes the tickets are only at $16 and revenue from the tickets will be used to aid our fund to go to Russia! Wheeee! After Poland, now Russia!

If you want tickets, you can either contact me or email them at chamberchoir@smu.edu.sg.

What are the songs?

Ah yes, this is the question most people asked. So here’s the info. We’re going to sing songs from all over the world in so many languages. Basically, in the concert there will be small sections/themes and songs will fit that theme. We have songs from Latin America (Argentinian tango, Brazilian folk song), we also have gospel songs (in English), and we also have English and French folk songs. I shall say no more, that will be too much spoiler

So if you want to see me singing, if you want to see some cute girls/guys singing, or simply want to enjoy our musical journey, I look forward seeing you there! (please reserve a ticket first though ) 

I thank those blogger friends who are going

• Daphne Maia
• Hendri Budi
• Robert (Brokenshardz)
• Krisandro
• Nathalia (singingcoconut)
• Xiao Ling (secretss)

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The song was based on Rabindranath Tagore’s poem from “Gitanjali”.

The poem is very beautiful so I thought I would share this little literary gem to brighten up your day.
(translated poem found in School of Wisdom. Find more poems in “Gitanjali” in that link.)

If the day is done,

if birds sing no more,

if the wind has flagged tired,

then draw the veil of darkness thick upon me,

even as thou hast wrapt the earth with the coverlet of sleep

and tenderly closed the petals of the drooping lotus at dusk.

From the traveler,

whose sack of provisions is empty before the voyage is ended,

whose garment is torn and dust-laden,

whose strength is exhausted,

remove shame and poverty,

and renew his life like a flower under the cover of thy kindly night.

I hope my choir will learn this fast and I’ll be able to share our performance with you. It’s a very beautiful song

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Just because I <3 <3 <3 you guys, and because I was in the top position in ping.sg yesterday (just because of my awsum photoshop skillz which is not that awsummm anyway!)...

….. here is my painstakingly arranged playlist!

The playlist features singers (mostly female) with the dreamy, throaty voice. The “in” voice now!
Yes darL33ngZ, I have l33t music tastezzz okayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Including : Regina Spektor, Kate Nash, Adele, Imogen Heap, etc.
Do listen to Imogen Heap’s “Let Go (Solo Piano)”. It’s awsuuuuuuuum.

Have fun slacking in work! Chu <3

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Ah.. This is one great song I remember!

Celine Dion with That’s The Way It Is.

I remember singing this song when I was just at elementary school (!), without even knowing the meaning of the words. Lolz. Sure I tried to open dictionary and all that, but it didn’t give me any clue. I couldn’t even understand what’s the meaning of the phrase “That’s The Way It Is”! haha. Oh of course I know it now.

My music library has always been invaded by English songs. Well apart from some Japanese songs (which my boyfriend loves a lot), some classical and instrumental tunes, and well… Some tiny pieces of Indonesian songs here and there. I know I’m not patriotic or whatever.. Sigh..

The thing is.. I’m just too used to listen to English songs. Despite the fact English is not my first language (at least it’s my second). My mom likes English songs, especially the retro ones, you know.. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey with their wonderful wonderful voices before they turn into some R&B “Touch My Body” chick with tight skirt and tight bra. Ok I know I’m only referring to one.. But you’ve got the idea. My mom keeps a collection of cassettes. Even when she’s already had children she still buys cassettes of singers she likes. My mom is anti-piracy! Woohoo! Oh, now she’s moved on to CD already, so I heard from my siblings. LOL.

I digressed. Okay anyway, I’ve listened to English songs more often that Indonesian songs. Sad but true. I’m sorry, my dear home country. It’s not that I don’t like Indonesian songs, you know! I like them! Although I think the new ones are a bit “cheap” and distasteful… I mean the lyrics! Oh holy mother of songs the lyrics!! I can’t stand them!!!

Example…

T2 with OK
Yes I know the music and the melodies are nice. But the lyrics. Oh no….
If you don’t understand Indonesian, please drag some of your Indonesian friends to translate them.

One snippet…
“Kau terlalu lama mengulur waktumu, aku jadi capeeee deeee”
“You have held on for too long, I become very tired laaaaa” (translated into Singlish)

And what’s with the video, splashing around beach with beachwear? Haven’t FPI (that’s an extremist Moslem organization that thinks women wearing revealing clothes are devils. Like, real devils. Like satans) said something about this? Nay? Hmm.
Oh FPI was also the one who wanted to ban Playboy Indonesia! Lolz.

Another example..

Ussy with Klik
This girl was a soap opera star if I’m not wrong. No job already, dear girl? No good job offer until you decided to torture my ears with those horrible lyrics..(Can you hear “I will do it… I will do it.. Ahhh…”????)
I’m not even gonna translate it (unless there are pressing demands to do so).

Just one snippet.. Of the chorus
Ku memang punya trik,
buat kau klik,
dengan diri ku
Bukan dengan magic,
cuma asyik,
saat dengan mu

(I have a trick
to make you “click”
with me
Not with magic
Only fun
when I’m with you)

As you can see this is a pathetic way to rhyme.. Oh goodness.

Anyway if you’re done with horrible lyrics (I AM done), let me present you some goodness that’s still available!!

Letto with Ruang Rindu
Ruang Rindu literally means “Longing Room”.. A room with all your longing feelings inside.. hahaha.. So poetic right? Right. I mean, why can’t every songwriters spend just some time more to come up with better lyrics? Those songs with horrible lyrics have catchy tunes and melodies! Just write some better lyrics and I’ll like it a lot lot lot.

Neeway, here’s a bonus.
A song that I’ve learnt how to sing without knowing the meaning of the words!

And the song is called Words! Lol. This version (from Boyzone) was the one I listened to.
In fact I think this song was the very first English song I learnt to sing. LOL.
Da da da da da da da da~

Enjoy my choice of songs~

Note : please excuse all the spelling errors in the Indonesian lyrics. Yes, Indonesians need to be educated more about their own language. Geez.

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This new girl is my new love. (not that I’m turning not-straight. not that kind of love)

She goes by the name Kate Nash and she’s super pretty.. Look at her picture here.

Pretty girl with a guitar.. Reminds you of some musicians, right? KT Tunstall? Colbie Caillat? YUI? Anya Marina? Never heard the last two? I won’t blame you.

But anyway, the point is.. Kate Nash is nowhere near those I mentioned before.
I expected her music to be kinda sweet, relaxing, soothing, insert any thesaurus here…
Well… Not.

Here’s a video of her.. The title is “Caroline’s a Victim”. (hence the title of the post)
I use dailymotion so that the streaming is smoother..
Please do load.. I assure you it’d be worth it

Lyrics can be found here

She’s seriously different, no?
Those kind of girls rock my world.

And coz I’m so kind.. here’s another video of her singing live. The song is called “Birds”. Lyrics can be found here. Super cute.

Kate Nash is officially in my favourite musicians list.

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