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.
So if you guys follow me on Twitter/@sylvdoanx, you should have seen my public breakdown over my then impending grade 8 piano exam.
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.
We’ve heard a lot of cliches around this : you are what you eat, you are what you wear, you are what you do, etc etc. But are you really what you listen? And do you define what you listen by how you define yourself?
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?
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’m currently singing this song for choir. The arrangement was composed and arranged by Vystautas Miskinis. (I apologize if I spelt that wrongly. Someone help me please).
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
Please don’t ask why I keep using the lolcat/geek language. I dunno man.
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.
I’m currently reminiscing my past laden with wonderful songs. My parents are fans of good music and my TV was always hooked to MTv channel/Channel V (I had cable TV).
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.
) 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!!!
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