Month: January 2005

Categories
J Pop Music Reviews

I Bought Eriko Imai’s CD By Its Cover

Do I buy CD by a cover? Hell yes. Lately I have been quite desperately looking for new Japanese artists rather than my usual Ayumi Hamasaki, Love Psychedelico, Mika Nakashima, Aamie Amuro, Aikawa Nanase, Utada Hikaru … (now you know my favourite J-Pop artists). I was pleasantly stopped by a new single collection by Eriko Imai. I certainly haven’t heard of SPEED although according to one of my friends, SPEED was the big thing before Ayumi Hamasaki.

First thing first, the record company is Avex Trax – same as Ayumi’s recording company – so it can’t go wrong right? Upbeat music with very nice melody. Well, in terms of singing. Eriko Imai does exhibits the typical Japanese style – high pitch at certain point. But if you can look beyond this, the CD is pretty entertaining. There are a total of 12 songs and I do enjoy most of the songs in this collection. Believe it or not, I listen to this album more than Ayumi’s new album.

And if anyone want to know, Eriko was born in September 22, 1983 and will be 22 years old this year. Currently weights at 48kg with a height of 1.60m. Enough bio-statistics … (where did the research come from??)

Together with the CD, there is a DVD with 3 music videos and the off-shot videos – seems like the trend nowadays for those who can’t get enough of the artist.

I have translated one of the songs in her album Stairway from the Chinese translation that comes with the CD. It is roughly as such:

Stairway

Please put your hand on my chest and feel my heartbeats
It’s going to be broken into piece
Before dawn, please be by my side.

Don’t want to lose to that unbridgeable distance
One day, we shall be together

Stairway, I am approaching you
Even though it is far but I won’t give up
Stairway, the road the leads to you
No matter how far, I will continue to climb

Because I was used to be hugged by your warm embrace
This love that is accumulated through these years
If I was never discover it, I would have regret a great deal

You better love her well
I said that because I was forced to …

Stairway, cast away all the fear of mistakes
I only want to go over the obstacles with you
Stairway, each step is leading into my heart
Let us two to be as one

Stairway, I am approach you
Even though it is far but I won’t give up
Stairway, the road the leads to you
No matter how far, I will continue to climb

Stairway, cast away all the fear of mistakes
I only want to go over the obstacles with you
Stairway, each step is leading into my heart
Let us two to be as one

Categories
Music Journal

Hard Life to be a Vocalist

was just sharing with my friend TK tonight that it is hard to be vocalist. To be able to sing well on any particular day if you are not as gifted as my band members, you’ve got to …

  • Stay away from alcohol as it dehydrates you
  • Stay away from coffee as, again, it dehydrates you
  • Stay away from spicy food as it irritates your throat
  • Have enough sleep otherwise your voice will tell
  • Have enough exercise otherwise you will easily run out of breath
  • Do the 30 mins warm-up exercise prior to any recording or performance
  • Last but not the least, drink plenty of water throughout the day because it takes 30 minutes for the liquid to be absorbed and travel to your throat

See, it’s not easy to be a vocalist. Not to forget to mention that some day your voice sounds worse than others and you will feel quite down because of that (again, if you are as gifted as …)

Categories
My Favorite Whacky Thoughts

My Trip to Geylang (Red-light District in Singapore)

Note (2009.11.20) – For some strange reason, the search engines really like this post.  Well, if you are looking for information on the sex industry in Singapore, this post is not the one.  More like a comic relief.  But since you are here, prostitution is legalized in Singapore, only within designated areas.  Please practice safe sex.  Cheers!

My wife is on business trip again so what do I do? I called up my friend for a trip down to Geylang, the red-light district in Singapore.  Ya! Geylang, the paradise for some of us! On the way out of my home, I was contemplating to wear or not to wear my wedding ring.  Nah.  This sort of things don’t mix.  Too messy.  All geared up I was, I picked up my friend at his home and heading to Geylang we went.

As we were walking along the streets of Geylang, we were debating which place to go.  Familiar places we have a few in mind.  In the end, we have decided not to go for the expensive ones, nor the cheap ones, just the mid-range ones would do.

Couple of months ago, there was used to have plenty in stock.  This time round, the choices are significantly lesser.  Perhaps it was the timing.  We could be too early and they just haven’t arrived.  It couldn’t be that so many got taken so early, right?

Made do with what was left, we were pondering to go for the Thai ones or the Malaysia ones or the God-knows-where ones.  My friend asked me how “hungry” I was.  Hungry of course I was!  The last time I had any was back one or two months ago!  At first he suggested one each and I counter-suggested to have three to be shared amongst both of us.  He gamed for it and so three we have!

Staring at one after the other, it was so hard to make a choice.  You really don’t know what’s underneath and they all kind of look the same to me.  In the end, we asked the boss to make the choice for us.  Just bring us three would do! And of course, we specified the price range and the nation they came from.

I have totally lost track of time.  It must have been a half-an-hour session (although the boss would be happier if we stayed longer and have more) and me and my friend seldom talked.  All action.  He was having a good time with his and I with mine.  Time must have flown when you are having fun.  Number one was nice.  Not too big, not too small.  I just loved it.  So soft and just melt into you.  Then again, perhaps not fair because according to the law of diminishing margin of returns, the first one is always the best.  Number two was relatively more “meaty” while number three was a very petit size – hardly a hand-full.

After the act, we both agreed that number two was the best and the most satisfying out of all and number three was just too small.  I commented that next time we shall make the choice ourselves – have all like the number two type.

I actually wanted more but my friend couldn’t take it anymore.  Okay then, some other days return we shall!  I am sure we both stink like crazy but who cares!  It was pure indulgence, the price was right and I have hell of a good time.  Value for money.

*     *     *     *     *

It’s a pity that my wife doesn’t like durian (a tropical fruit in Asia), which in my opinion is one of the best fruit that God has created.  S$20 for 3, what more can I ask for?  Looking forward to the next feast.  And dare I say the durians in Geylang are the best in Singapore.

Categories
Diary

Old Necklace Found After 8 Years

When I left Hong Kong to study in UK, my uncle has given me a golden necklace and my mother given me a piece of jade to go along with the necklace. According to Chinese belief, jade is a good indicator of the wearer’s health as well as taking the damage for the wearer. (Now you know why granies give jade wrist bands for new born babies).

I have been wearing this necklace since 18 and for the past 8 years, I had no idea where it has gone.

And today, as I packed the blankets that my mother and sister used during their visit in my home into the wardrobe, I have spotted two wooden treasure boxes that I bought in Jakarta (and I have spotted a new bolster that has been hidden for the past 4 years too together with two very nice little clay jars!). My necklace was in one of the boxes.

Surprisingly, the gold was as shiny as ever. I thought it was be tarnish like silver. Now, I see the value of gold. As for the piece of jade, I brushed it using toothpaste and old toothbrush. It works!

When I left Hong Kong to study in UK, my uncle has given me a golden necklace and my mother given me a piece of jade to go along with the necklace. According to Chinese belief, jade is a good indicator of the wearer’s health as well as taking the damage for the wearer. (Now you know why granies give jade wrist bands for new born babies).

I have been wearing this necklace since 18 and for the past 8 years, I had no idea where it has gone.

And today, as I packed the blankets that my mother and sister used during their visit in my home into the wardrobe, I have spotted two wooden treasure boxes that I bought in Jakarta (and I have spotted a new bolster that has been hidden for the past 4 years too together with two very nice little clay jars!). My necklace was in one of the boxes.

Surprisingly, the gold was as shiny as ever. I thought it was be tarnish like silver. Now, I see the value of gold. As for the piece of jade, I brushed it using toothpaste and old toothbrush. It works!

Categories
Music Journal

Eternally Thankful – Launch Date Unknown

During the Bandung trip, I have come to the realisation that the old songs of mine better kept within myself. Besides, instead of practicing my songs during my stay in Bundung (Indoesian), I have written new songs. So, for this new solo album of mine, why not?

After much consideration, I shall record the latest songs for my friends and families. And there you go, I am now practicing hard on these new songs. Hopefully, my NoEyeCandy band take some of the songs into our band core list.

Categories
Diary

Eventful Day – Police and All

Today (Thursday 13th) was bizarre. Perhaps it was too much Vodka I drank the night before. It was so surreal. First, my computer crashed this morning – after quite a while of false sense of stability. And I was full of sarcasm on virtually every topic. Next, I needed to work till midnight that voided one of my less than glorious plan (not going to elaborate, sorry and plus the computer crashed that disable me from retrieving the needed info). On my way back after a drink, I have nearly overshot a police car travelling at 90km/hr while I would have caught driving at 110km/hr had I not jam brake. According to my friend JT, the police starred at us. Exited from the highway, we were met with a police block which is kind of unusual and I swear my face was all red due to alcohol effect. I was holding my breath till the police let us go.

Eventful day …

Categories
Whacky Thoughts

Don’t You Wish You Could Clean …

Today I have this sudden thought that there are many things around us that we do clean regularly or even occasionally. But there are just some items that we don’t clean at all (besides coins and money notes that we keep passing around and don’t count). Well, at least I don’t. Don’t you wish you could clean …

  • Your handphone
  • You belt (especially buckle)
  • Inside of your shoes

Perhaps I shall start wth my handphone …

Categories
I See I Write

Messy Western Baby

took the above photos when I had my lunch at the Botanical Garden. I was in shock when I witnessed the baby just playing with the plate of rice by pounding the spoon onto the plate for a good half an hour or more. Rice flying everywhere and if you think that the table was messy, the floor was worst. The poor waiter has to clean the floor a couple of times while the baby was having fun and the mother was just not giving a damn!

What shocked me more, besides at one time the baby dropped the spoon onto the floor and his brother picked it up from the floor and gave it back to the baby (guess what, the baby licked the spoon clean!), was the baby’s mother after seeing much of the rice was “eaten” refilled the plate with even more rice. What sort of motherhood is that?

I was used to admire the way Western culture brings up the children – teaching their kids more independent and all. Now, I really admire the Chinese way of upbringing – discipline and respect.

Well, I may be bias but you must understand the emotion I am going through with these pictures.

Categories
I See I Write

More Similar Than I Thought

I remember towards the end of the the show “Something’s gotta Give”, the mother said to her daughter that they probably have more similarity than her daughter have thought ever since she was young. Having my mother and sister flying from Hong Kong visiting me over the weekend surely reminded me that amongst us, we do have a lot of things in common. Walking in the Botanical Garden after lunch was like having three of me walking together. All three of us took our time strolling in the park, observed everything from flowers to tree shapes, taking photos on every unique locations, and just walking till dusk. The entire experience was so enjoyable.

Back at home, my mother was showing the photo album that my father has composed in video format. My father must spent a lot of effort in making a 40 minutes slide show with background music, the photo selection and arrangement, and the title texts and effects. It must have been an obsession for him. And according to my mother, this video copy is already the “Greatest Hits”. I wouldn’t be able to image for a full length video will look like. At times, I have no doubt that all my passion and obsession in everything that I do – right now it is music making – comes from my father.

And back to the Botanical Garden trip, I have taken a total of 180 photos not counting those that I have deleted on the spot. Of course, that is nothing compare to my mother’s reputation in taking thousands of photo whenever she has a holiday overseas.

Categories
Music Journal

Baby Step on Jealousy?

Interestingly, whenever I listen to my old vocal recording, I always find it horrible. Looking from past to present, it is an improvement. Looking from present to past, it is pure embarrassment. Good thing or not? I would rather be like Cynthia who is born with a good voice and no need to do 30-40 minutes warmup (like I do) before recording.

Just to further elaborate, my band member Jason for instance would politely ask me to lower the key of the song or suggest (sometimes subtlely) someone else to sing the song if he thinks that I can’t make it. And he suggested that Cynthia should sing the high part of the song Jealousy.

Today, I sang the song Jealousy with the new technique I have learnt over the last month (read: I have not been singing that song for a month) through the acoustic amplifier and my new classical guitar. Surprisingly, Cynthia found it ok to listen to. She mentioned that I am relax and consistent. (Just for the record, the last time I sang that song, Cynthia pointed out at least 26 words I went flat. Horrible.)

That is indeed an achievement because to earn that ok (and not great as cautioned by Cynthia) is not at all easy. I guess it is indeed a baby step. I do really want to able to sing the entire song without lowering the key or pass it to another vocalist again (like what I have done for 2 of my songs for the band already). After all, the instrumental track of the 16 minutes and 32 seconds song has been recorded so the key cannot be lowered.

God help me so …