A Million Love Songs Later

Yeap, still keeping with my trend titling with song titles or lyrics.

This song has been stuck in my head for 2 days. I haven't actually sung it out loud (why haven't I?), but it's been there alright. Not sure what triggered it. Perhaps something I read on FB.

So, this morning - no wait, it's afternoon cos by the time I woke up it was already noon.

So, from the moment I woke up to now, which has been all of 1.5hrs, I have had a few realisations:

1. 1990, was 21 years ago. More than 2 decades! Oh man, oh man, oh man.

2. There is too much negativity online. Not just the things people say, but the way they say it. There is so much cynicism, bragging, sarcasm, envy...and the list COULD go on. I've been asking myself if I really want to read stuff like that. Do I? No, I don't. So what can I do about it? I could be selective in what I read/comment/like. I could try to post stuff that do not emit a negative vibe. Or, maybe, I could get off social networking sites altogether. The last one is, for now, just a thought. I could do the first two though, and I WILL!

3. I am perfectly contented. Not envious of anyone, of their lifestyle, of their career, or what they've got. I know, so surely, that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be in life. It doesn't mean it's all bubbles and strawberries all the time, everyday, but once again, I can't deny that I am truly, unabashingly, undoubtedly and knowingly HAPPY about my life, and where I am in life. And I wished everyone, especially the people that I love, would get that same perfect contentment in life and get to know how this feels. Because baby, it feels good! It feels victorious.

Right, so it's a rainy day in London-town. Great day to stay in. I'm gonna make me some lunch and let the words come right through my fingers (thesis!) until I am all hungry again.

Missing all my peeps! :)

Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

I like putting lyrics as the title of my posts. I don't think I have done much of it, or any at all, but perhaps today is a good day to start.

Seems kinda appropriate since it's been a while since I last blog. I blame it on my iPad2. Although, it's too lovely and wonderful to be attributed blame, so I take it back. But the point to make is that I can't seem to type a blog post on my iPad, like some other blogsites can or have apps for. So it ain't my fault!

It's a beautiful morning in London. Errr...it's morning for another 6 minutes. Then, it'll be noon. I decided to sleep in a little today since I'd been up bright and early at 8.30am the last couple of days. Took crazy early morning trips to the Mail Delivery Office to get my parcels TWO DAYS IN A ROW because for SOME OBSCURE AND IRRITATING REASONS, they failed to reach me at home. I don't get it. I'm at home almost ALL of the time.

Bygones. Did I mention, I still use "bygones" like how Richard Fish does in Ally McBeal? I like it. It facilitates an abrupt change of topic quite seamlessly.

It's been an interesting 2 weeks. I moved to a new nook. I went to the Glee Live concert at the O2. I saw Take That, the entire five-piece, at Wembley (and Pet Shop Boys too, since they were the opening act). Had a blast. Someone told me that the places I've been and things I have seen/watched/attended this one year has made it worth the trip. Did someone also mention that I came here to get a Masters degree? Prob' not. HA!

I love my new nook. It's so much more self-sufficient, beautiful and cute than that hole of a dorm room I was in. Even the view is better! At least, I don't get drunkards from across the street shouting and cussing at each other or pretending they are rock stars. Now, I get cute doggies of all shapes and sizes run around and doing their business, kids and families walking down the footpath going about their business, or a squirrel jumping up and down the branches of this huge tree in front of my window picking up some business (nuts). It's a nice view. Can't complain.

You know, I could live here forever. :)

往事只能回味

From when I was a little kid, my mum would make us sing. I think she always liked music, but cause she has...how shall I describe this...a tone-issue, so she doesn't sing when there are others around.

She used to make us sing ALL kinds of songs, especially those she can't sing. Like Mandarin oldies, and Japanese songs. She can't read Chinese characters. So she'd tell us which songs she like and want us to learn. Then she would write down the hanyu pinyin of the Japanese words (cos at one point, she could read Jap) and make us learn the songs. After that, she'll make us sing the songs over, and over, and over again!

往事只能回味 was one of the songs she made me learn. And learn I did. I learnt the song so well that I knew every 转音, pitch and tone. My mum also knew exactly how to make me sing it over and over again; she'd say things like "Wah! You sound exactly like the singer!" and it'll boost my ego that I didn't mind singing it so many times over.

Recently heard the song on TV, and felt so tempted to sing it. No chance to, so I can only blog about it. One of these days, I should record myself singing all the old songs I used to sing. LOL.

I'll stand by you

Thanks to glee, I'm currently infatuated with this song.

I'll stand by you, okay? :)


I'll Stand By You

Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

So if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you

And when...
When the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

My 'Endless Love'

I've recently got my hands on the Glee soundtrack and I've been listening to all my favourite songs on Glee. And this "little" ditty has been playing in my songlist, and now, it's stuck in my head.

THAT brings back some memories of how I learnt to sing Endless Love, and sorry, but I haven't actually found someone who can sing this song with me. Oh wait, there is one: Peter laoshi...but other than him (since he can sing ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING), nope, there is no one to duet this song with.

Like I said, it brings me back to the time I learnt this song. I'll try to be objective about it because err...well, the person whom I sang this with...well, you'll see. I'll TRY okay?

So, that was a few years back I think, when I was still in MS. We had a gig at a wedding, I don't remember where but some posh hotel in Singapore. So the couple wanted 4 couples to sing duets and love songs for their wedding dinner. We had gowns and suits sponsored, and it seemed like a fun thing. So you probably know where I'm getting to now...after a few rounds of going through songs, we chose to sing Endless Love. I sang it with somebody I shall politely refer to as X, and we thought it would not be too tough. (Kidding ourselves, as I see now, in retrospect.)

So, first, we had to learn the song. I'd heard the song a few times before, so I wasn't totally unfamiliar. However, I'd never sung it before, so, I started listening to the version by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross a few times, over and over again. I think I catch on to melodies and harmonies pretty quickly. After the 4th or 5th time, I kinda get the drift. Not Mr X though. He could get the melody, but couldn't get the counter-melodies or harmonies. I had to learn them, and try to "teach" it to him, and still be all nice about it since he had a HUGE ego. Can't TEACH him, no, no...or else it would seem as if I'm trying to be Miss Know-it-all. Fine. I'm not Miss Know-it-all. I'm Miss Know-it-more-than-you. Honestly.

It was SUCH a chore! I couldn't show that I was exasperated cos he was SUPPOSED to be IN the industry and was SUPPOSED to be good in it. Obviously it was all a farce, which most people eventually found out. Some...probably to this day, never will find out. Still under the veil, or under some 'magic potion'. Thank God I've got the antidote. Ah...but I'm drifting off point.

So anyway, eventually we (I) managed to simplify it such that X didn't have to do a lot of counter-melodies or harmonies. We also had to transpose the song by 2 keys cos...err...somebody couldn't reach the notes. Oh by the way, at that time, I said that WE needed to down the key. Well...let's just say...I've tried it a couple of time in original key and it was okay.

So we performed during the wedding, and boy was I relieved to get it out of the way. I think that was probably my most nervous duet performance ever.

And here you go...