Wednesday, December 17, 2008

My Nonsense.

These are the nonsense that I've made during my free time since primary school. As I'm extremely free now, I've started to do some hands on again.

Pink-purple bracelet

Green-blue bracelet (This is my very first bracelet I've made, around 6~7 years ago)

Red-pink bracelet

Blue bracelet with pearls

Pink zig-zag bracelet

Haha, this green one has 'leaves'
Blue bracelet
Another bracelet

Black-white anklet

An entire set, very Chinese New Year. haha
Colourful bracelet
This took me days to complete.This too.

Another simple bracelet

Looks like a DNA strand huh?

Pink bracelet

Blue bracelet

Ring

Next up, the FOOD section.
Hehheh, earrings.
Hot dogs

Doughnuts

Cake

Muffins

Fruit tart
Hamburger

Chocolate
Erm, mushrooms.
Next up, my guitar pick collections:)
White picks as earrings
More! I made these for my mum's colleges.
Black picks as earrings

As necklace

2 picks together.

Whatever the colour combinations...

I love this black-red one.

Yeah. Nice.
Next up, buttons.
Buttons as rings.

More buttons!
Buttons are small, so I wore both rings together.
A heart-shape beaded pendants.

It glows in the dark too.

A very distorted purple star. haha.

Another pendant.

Something silly I've made to prove to my mum that Angels are not difficult to make. She said it looked weird though.


I saw someone make a pair of origami earrings on youtube, and so I tried making them too. Success! But I doubt I'm going to wear them out. Haha.

Beyoncé I am... Sasha Fierce


Beyoncé- I Am... Sasha Fierce Deluxe Edition ★★★☆☆

There are funnily 2 editions of this album, the standard, which has 11 tracks, and the deluxe edition, which comes with 5 extra tracks. Duh’ the Deluxe la.

Disc 1
[If I Were A Boy] – An interesting song with a very interesting name, especially in the era now when the androgynous reigns. Anyway, it’s a highly debated song, with netizens claiming that this song rightfully belongs to this lass named BC Jean, who apparently wrote the song and sang the demo… BC has the huskiest/roughest/sorest/sandiest voice I’ve ever heard. Some chronic-cough-with-copious-phlegm sufferer. No doubt, I prefer Beyoncé’s version by an entire lot.
Here's BC Jean's version:

[Halo] – Yeah, just like what the title says, Halo-ish and saintly, like an epiphany, where Stephen Dadelus meets bird girl. A smooth and pleasant song.
[Disappear] – It gets kind of irritating when songs of an album revolve round a same genre, and that’s what’s happening here. [Disappear] sounds very much like the previous track [Halo], with the same sort of singing techniques and equally-saintly lyrics.
[Broken-hearted Girl] – A song with more, but still lacks somehow. Slow R&B with a fairly catchy chorus, but let’s not waste Beyoncé’s powerful vocals with such mellow numbers. Something more exciting please.
[Ave Maria] – This song sounds almost like a church hymn, or probably it already is. Quite a pleasant song, with ultra-soothing effects.
[Smash Into You] – A punchy title, but yet another SOUL. That missed-a-beat singing technique is quite cool, but this song is quite empty, didn’t register in me.
[Satellites] – The Soul genre continues, and leaves me almost confused as it transits from the previous track to this. They sound sadly similar with not much surprise either. Beyoncé did this in an almost acoustic way, clear and simple, in other words, very hypnotic.
[That’s Why You’re Beautiful] – Another song that didn’t manage to leave any impression on me. Tunes are simple, lyrics are ordinary, after listening to it, and one will go “That’s it?” Sadly, yes. Apart from the awkward changing and stretching of notes, the song is hollow with no ‘soul’ in it, despite the lyrics saying “Diamonds used to be coal/ Look young cos’ they got soul/ That’s why they’re beautiful/ And my heart used to be cold/ ‘Til your hands laid on my soul…

Disc 2
[Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)] – A faster and catchy number. A definite hit, and I can envision clubs and lounges blasting this song on the dance floor!
[Radio] – Woo, so hip eh this song. “Think I’m in love with my radio/…/ I’d fall in love with my stereo…” and there’s more to it. Let’s ignore that cheesy lyrics, and just listen to this song with your brain turned off. Something that apparel stores like Dorothy Perkins and Topshop would play on repeat mode.
[Diva] – A song that truly gets onto one’s nerves. Besides constantly repeating “Now diva a female version of a hustla/ Of a hustla/ Of a, of a hustla” which is plainly irritating, another trashy line repeated excessively is “ I’m a, I’m a, a Diva”. That line is sung in a chipmunk-oh-im-so-cute voice, which seriously creates nothing cute, but migraine.
[Sweet Dreams] – A previous version of this song released to the public had the name “Beautiful Nightmare”. Not much significant difference between these two versions, just that the newer one has a line “Turn the lights on” which I personally feel sounds out of place. It’s still a good song, with a pinch of oriental essence in it.
[Video Phone] – Another electronic gadget, but not as oomph-y as [Radio]. This song sort of reflects the advancement of technology these days; a mobile phone is all you need to do EVERYTHING. “We can shoot the video right here on my cell phone/ you want me naked? /if you likin this position/ you can tape it/ on ya video phone”, yeah, and end up like Edison Chen.
[Hello] – A nice start, but loses soon after. HELLO? I want more from you Beyoncé! Just as the lyrics suggest, “You had me at hello.”
[Ego] – A super duper song. Haha. Look at those ambiguous lyrics, “Its too big/Its too wide/Its too strong/It wont fit/Its too much/Its too tough/…/I got a big ego/Such a huge ego”. Men, men, men. BIG ego, small BRAINS.
[Scared Of Lonely] – There is a disconnection somewhere in this song; the lyrics do not seem to fit the music. The music’s too loud for the Lonely, a security blanket perhaps? Wanted the last song to be more impressive, although it does have a boom, it leaves me hanging anticipating for more.

A satisfactory album, but definitely lacking in some sense and pales in comparison, especially to her previous singles such as [Listen] and [Irreplaceable] which are such impressive and awesome hits. Disc 1 is good for easy listening; Disc 2 is great on the dance floor. For me, I just want more.

SONYBMG, give me a reason for asking me to check out http://www.beyonceonline.com/for the lyrics; what’s the lyric book for then?

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Shopping!!!

Woa! Out the entire day, shiok ah. Went for buffet lunch at Japanese restaurant Kuishin-bo at Suntec with my aunt and uncle.

The food there's not too bad, apart from the disgusting mini doughnuts that tasted like raw dough made from expired flour with a whiff of cheapo perfume over it.

In short, it was BAD.

Then, my aunt said that she wanted to buy a book to read. When I asked her what book she wanted, she said, "You know the Indian lawyer? Subhas Anandan?". Er, yes I know... I saw him in Kinokuniya last week. And I thought he was a joke. My aunt got so excited after I told her I saw him, she asked if I got his autograph. Like HELLO? maybe only when I reach my forties and have nothing else to do. My uncle was trying to dissuade her from buying that book (it’s called “The Best I Could”, how convincing…), afraid that she might generate evil thoughts and that her nieces and nephews (us) might have skewed minds too. Haha. But nothing is going to deter my aunt's determination in adding that book onto the bookshelf filled with half-read books, we went to Harris and she bought it. -.-''' I was SURPRISED when my dad said I should have gotten this guy's autograph, for what reason I also don't know. My mum insists he looks like 张菲. Haha. Indian菲哥...

Then we continued shopping!

Anyway, around 3 years ago, during this December period, I was at some particular point along Orchard Road with my friend Alicia, with red aprons over our blue convent uniforms and a bell in hand. Yes, The Salvation Army Ring the Kettle Bell.
I did it for CIP then, and of course for the needy. Since then, never was it obligatory for me to throw some coins into the metal kettle, but I will never fail to do so whenever I see one. It just brings back memories. Today, at Raffles City, at a spot so familiar (I once stood there straight for 8 hours), I saw this guy ringing the bell. Whatever this guy is dressed as, he is so COOL. Look at the small little red bell in his hand, muah haha.

OK, I'm tired. Go sleep now. Goodnight:)

Friday, December 12, 2008

吴克群 《MAGIK GREAT HITS 新歌+精选》Review

吴克群 – MAGIK Great Hits 新歌+精选 ★★★★☆

2008年10月发行的新歌加精选辑收录了4首新歌、26首K个精选、2首remix&20只MV。简单来说,是一张喜欢吴克群的歌迷必定买的专辑,也是一张让没听过吴克群的人买的转机,总之,一张谁都该买的专辑,因为实在太值得了。三张光碟,其中的两张是CD,分别叫‘MAGIK’ 和‘MUSIK’,另一张是DVD。‘MAGIK’ 里收录了吴克群以另类‘音乐玩家’身份创作的歌曲,'MUSIK’则收录了Kenji-式的动听情歌。其中魔术般的歌曲有[大舌头]、[什么东西]、[将军令]、[周星星]等俏皮大胆的创作。被收录的K歌有琅琅上口的[为你写诗]、[不屑纪念]、[牵牵牵手]、[泛泛之辈]、[吴克群]等。


1。[爱太痛] 一贯的Kenji-style情歌。歇斯底里的爱情、崩溃无助的痛,全写在简单的歌词当中。曲子虽然不花俏,但也带出了歌曲想要表达的痛。感情丰富,听了还真想哭。

2。[麦搁憨]闽南语“不要再讲”的意思。‘憨’中文念‘hān’,Hokkien竟念‘gòng’!歌曲参杂了华语和闽南语,我觉得蛮酷的。歌曲第一句的编曲听起来就非常有福建歌曲的味道,尤其是歌词动用了‘眼睛’这词,因为闽南语歌都太喜欢用‘眼睛’、‘眼屎’等字句来代表眼泪、情感等意境。虽然是闽南语歌,但是并没有太‘古董’,但似乎离五月天的摇滚式创新闽南语歌曲如[志明与春娇]&[垃圾車]比起来还是保守了点。

3。[傻瓜] 写给温岚唱的抒情情歌,结果反应热烈,成为点到烂的K歌。如今自己也唱了一个版本,男声唱得比女声还痴情、还感人。喜欢Kenji的人肯定爱死他唱的[傻瓜],这首歌能收入在专辑里百分之百是因为歌迷的热烈要求。可是,我怎么不见其它吴克群的好创作,如[好听]、[男人女人]或[女生]呢?

4。[NANANA] 与王心凌的合唱歌,俏皮的编曲及歌词延续了吴克群‘MAGIK’ 玩音乐的风格。请王心凌来一起唱这首歌真的有点让人吃惊,因为吴克群喜欢王心凌的传言已经传得蛮久了,况且[纸片人]是吴克群写给当初因情变而消瘦而的王心凌写的已是事实。两人唱出的感觉不能算是甜蜜,而是有点小调皮,正在斗嘴的一对小情侣。轻快轻松的歌曲,应该蛮好K的。

收录的两首Remix分别是[男佣 将军令 大舌头 什么东西 Remix] 和 [不屑纪念 残废 吴克群 为你写诗 Remix]。两首都是吴克群历年来最脍炙人口的歌曲所串成的。可惜的是,歌曲也没有很'remix’,只是剪剪贴贴罢了,有些连接的部分还有点不顺,卡卡的,听了不知觉地感到尴尬。
DVD 部分收录了新歌[NANANA]的MV,还有一些吴克群参预演出及指导的MV,如与曾凯诗演出感人肺腑的[牵牵牵手]和搞怪一人扮演多角的[什么东西]等。

总而言之,吴克群在音乐上的认真是看得见的,其实,听都听得出啦!
原本10月18日生日当天的演唱会却因脊椎旧伤复发而取消,对吴克群来说是一个遗憾。可是,休息是为了走更长远的路,休息是对的,这样康复了才能些更多好歌给我听啊!咔咔 :)