Categories
I See I Write

Tong Kiat, This Is My Shopping List

One good thing about having my own website is that I can officially use this site for my own personal purpose. Here is my friend Tong Kiat going for his Japan business trip and here is my Japanese DVD or CD list for him.

Go get it mate. I am counting on you! Check out my site if you forget what I want from Japan (including some cute Japanese). Click here to read more.

First thing first is Ayumi Hamasaki’s DVD Arena Tour 2002. The picture of the DVD is as above.

Next is Ayumi’s DVD Stadium Tour 2002. Again, picture as such …

I also want Love Psychedelico’s DVD called The Film 1999.12 – 2002-05. I have no clue what’s inside but I don’t mind taking the risk.

Speaking as such, Love Psychedelico is coming out a new album called Early Time 4th Album that will be released on 2005.2.9. Not sure if you are still in Japan by then.

Last but not the least, I want Aikawa Nanase’s DVD Live Emotion 2004 Seven.

To summarise, 4 DVDs and 1 CD. They are:

Ayumi Hamasaki’s Arena Tour 2002 (DVD)
Ayumi Hamasaki’s Stadium Tour 2002 (DVD)
Love Psychedelico’s The Film 1999.12-2002 (DVD)
Love Psychedelico’s Early Time 4th Album (CD)
Aikawa Nanase’s Live Emotion 2004 Seven (DVD)

Categories
Diary

Hit Counter + Stupid PC + Eventful Day

Interesting, the Hit Counter for my site has increased dramatically to 1,333. Honestly I have no clue why this is the case. Could have been the results of some search engines that happened to claw onto my site. However, it seems to me that ever since I have posted one of my favourite stories – One Simple Day – all the old stories of mine somehow got read by someone (looking at the individual counter). Interesting. Looks like my audiences are pretty quiet with no comments on any of my posting. Well, I am still hoping that someone out there will appreciate my stories. After all, that is all we left behind, isn’t it?

My stupid PC just refused to function the way I wanted it to be again. So much pain and hassle associated with this PC of mine. What am I going to do with it? I can’t even get my recording done rightly. What good can it do? Why? Why must I be punished this way? Only God knows.

It was an eventful day because temptation was everywhere. Seems like the morning prayer worked somehow. Perhaps, God does exist.

Categories
Diary

Two Long Posting And More To Come?

Woah … I have just posted 2 writeups to my webite. Kind of feeling exhausted. Especially the one on the year 2004 reflection. Took me quite a while to type them out. Next, I really wish to showcase the photos I have taken in 2004. Just something to share …

Categories
Diary

It’s Gonna Be An Interesting Chinese New Year

My original plan of a Chinese New Year holiday was as such: take 3 days leave and enjoy a 9 days holiday in Hong Kong. Didn’t work out because my work prevents me from doing so; my wife’s work prevents her from doing so.

Then I was thinking of spending Chinese New Year in Bangkok. After much consideration, between trying to kill 3 days on my own in Bangkok while my wife is working and me having 2 days of public holiday in Singapore, I kind of more leaning towards the second option. Afterall, I have been to Bangkok too many times. The greyness and the foreign land in a Chinese New Year … not quite my kind of celebration.

So, I am going to spend Chinese New Year alone at home. That, is new to me. Like I said, it’s going to be an interesting holiday for me.

Categories
Reflection

Reflecting Year 2004

I know this is long overdued. January is almost over and I am looking back in year 2004? Well, believe it or not, I have written all these down on a piece of paper back during the new year period. Hopefully it is not the age that is catching up on me. Kind of felt that I am behind time all the time. Perhaps, it’s just that I have got more and more wild ideas and things-to-do as I get wiser.

Note: Photo taken in Malacca, Malaysia on Jun 5, 2004. A kite flying high up at the sky has always been what I wanted for the photo of my 2004 reflection.

Highlights of 2004

Let’s begin my reflection with my highlights. First and foremost has to be the forming of my new band No Eye Candy. It is like a dream comes true for me ever since I started working in 1995. I still remember my then-manager WN asked me if I should form a band with my colleague back in 95/96 at the bowling alley near the Stadium. Having Jason as the guitarist is a gift from heaven. And with my wife as the bassist and part-time vocalist? What more can I say? All thanks to Jeremy who started the very first jamming session. Oh, did I say that my song output for the year 2004 was fantastic? More than 20 songs were written in that year.

Next and not the lesser is my friend Mark who hosts the website for me. Having WilfridWong.com up and running is, again, like a dream comes true to me. I couldn’t have done it without Mark’s help – someone whom has patiently led me through my learning period with the site. Do visit his business site here and his personal site as well.

And my colleagues at work are fantastic. Never thought that I could have added so many friends into my friend-list in one year. I am pretty new to Singapore and more friends are always welcome. The drink sessions and the parties and all the cool things we have done … man …

  • My Band
  • My Website
  • My New Friends

Exciting Trips I Have Made

Bangkok trip at the end of April and beginning of May was fun. First time stepping into the Grand Palace and first time trying out my new camcorder and digital camera.

As for my wife’s birthday, we have decided to drive up to Malacca. It was during June 6 and we did have some great photos.

The most fun of all I have got to say was the road trip to the Highlands. First we went to Fraser Hill and stayed at the Smoke House. Beautiful hotel and beautiful scenaries (and the dinner was first class – very English tradition). Wish I could just rent one of the house and use it for jamming and recording for our new album. Second, we went to Genting. My friend SW told me that Genting is great. My honest opinion? It’s okay. And we didn’t go to Cameron Highland – supposed to be our third highland destination – as I was quite tired driving all the time. Next time round, I shall consider visiting Fraser Hill and Cameron Highland instead.

  • Bangkok
  • Malacca
  • Malaysia Highlands

Family-wise …

I have visited Hong Kong (my family) during the Chinese New Year in the beginning of the year and have visited Bandung, Indonesia (my wife’s family) during Christmas. I just love both occasions. I have got to see the dog that my family is so fond of and I have got to see my future sister-in-law-in-law (my brother-in-law’s fiance). What more can I say?

  • Hong Kong
  • Bandung

Something To Ponder

Many business ideas have crossed my mind during year 2004 but unfortunately, none of them has come through. Perhaps timing wasn’t right yet.

Not going to church regularly is bad. Wife not around (business trips) and need to eat out all the time (compares to cooking at home) is also bad.

Common room desperately needs some addition of cabinets and still as empty as ever is bad. Having a growing number of backlogs in books is equally bad (because all these new books just ended up in the common room).

  • Business Ideas
  • Church
  • Dietry
  • Common Room
  • Books

My Frustrations

This stupid PC tops the list of my frustration of year 2004. Ever since my PC has come to my place, I have reinstalled the operating system (OS) so many times that I have totally lost track of time. The OS just got corrupted so easily that I have been wondering why Microsoft let this happen at all. Mr. Gate?! Help here please?!

Of course, second to the list is my voice. Both Cynthia and Jason are vey gifted in the voice department while I have just got to go through the hard way. I have almost practice everyday with the scales and all but still, can’t be as good. My voice is definitely one of my frustrations.

And last by not the least is my 12-string guitar. I really need lots of practice to bring out the best from the guitar.

  • Personal Computer
  • My Voice
  • 12-String Guitar

My New Year Resolutions?

And my new year resolutions? Plenty. In no particular order I have listed them all out.

  • Read more books
  • Record an album or two
  • Do something crazy
  • Do up my common bedroom and store room
  • Perform an open-mic in Singapore and KL
  • Embark a healthy lifestyle
  • Learn PhotoShop
  • Take more cool photos
  • Meet new friends
  • Devote more time to families
  • Go to church
Categories
Songwriting

Finished Composing FEATHER

With the lyrics all created, composing the song seems to be pretty easy. Based on the chord progression I have created last night, I spent less than 2 hours to finish composing this song.

Of course, lyrics has to be altered to suit the melody. A very dark song that if I like it, I will add it into the Eternally Thankful song collection. Meanwhile, I have added this new song into my daily practicing song list.

FEATHER

I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that’s fine
Just the way I like it

I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not give a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it

All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheapAll these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please

I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music plays around me
Reminds me of my kind

I am just a feather
In a world of tears
No one lives around me
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … that’s the way I like it

Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.

Categories
Foreign Movie Reviews

French Film Must-Watch – A Ton Image

A Ton Image can be – from my distant memory – translated to “Splitting Image”. It is a movie about a sterile wife and her obstetrician husband going in great length in having a child of their own. Against his belief and without telling his wife, he has cloned his wife as their daughter.

I have not watched any movie that addresses the reality of cloning as good as this one … more.

The possibility that the clone is connected as the original one like the way twins are connected to each other, the possibility that the clone shared some part of the original one’s memory, and the possibility that the clone is, just a clone, a replica that defies God’s will … all these possibilities that are addressed by the film in about 90 minutes.

And the for for cloning? Elimination of gene inequality. Think about it. There may be an element of truth here. Think about all future generation are born free of defects; all look beautiful and attractive; all are smart. Imagine how human species can push the frontier of science and technology and art alike.

Imagine the possiblities … rather than getting so hung up on the religious and ethic issues.

Imagine the unimaginable …

Categories
Songwriting

Potential New Song? Feather

Met up with Jason for lunch and I was inspired to come out with a couple of new songs with titles such as “Not Connected”, “Feather”, “Into The Loop”, and “Pulling The Plug”. For now, I have come up with the lyrics for the song “Feather”.

FEATHER

I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that is fine
Just the way I like it

I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not giving a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it

All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheap

All these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please

I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music played around me
Remind me of my kind
Just the way I like it

I am just a feather
Living in a world of tears
No one care about me but me
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … this is the way I like it

Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.

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 …)