Someone Like You

I can’t remember when I first heard this song. It wasn’t very memorable and I remember wondering what the fuss was about. To Adele fans out there, please don’t stone me – I think a great deal of her songwriting skills, just that the tone of her voice doesn’t appeal to me. Liking a voice is much like liking a person’s face – very subjective.

So anyhow, I heard this song again while youtube surfing for X Factor videos.

And this time, I got what the fuss is about. Song starts at 1:05.

Jade Richards on X Factor- Someone Like You

Then I started looking for all the covers on the song and found a few I really like. Like the version by this couple, and this man, and this version by 10yr old year Connie Talbot.

I’ve always known that pitch perfect voices makes good singers. But being able to convey feelings and touch another with a song? That makes great singers.

I wish I could…

Beautiful lyrics… For all the mommies and daddies =)

I Wish I Could
Artist : Collin Raye

Looking out my window
See you playing in the leaves
It’s amazing how a little girl
Means all the world to me
When I tell you that I love you
I love you more than words can say

Smile, say cheese pretty-please
I wanna take your picture
How’d you ever get so big
I gotta take your picture
Hold on to the memory before the whole thing slips away

I wish I could save these moments
And put ‘em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can’t, I know I can’t
But I wish I could

When you kiss me for no reason
It goes straight to my heart
When I feel your arms around me
I almost fall apart
It’s time for bed you whisper
Daddy, we forgot to pray

I wish I could save these moments
And put ‘em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can’t, I know I can’t
But I wish I could

And when I watch you sleeping
All my worries fade away
A little bit of heaven glows on your angelic face

I wish I could save these moments
And put ‘em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning
Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything
Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can’t, I know I can’t
I know I can’t
But I wish I could

Gaga over Lady Gaga

Blown Away. Totally. She owned the crowd last night. Every sound uttered from her lips was music, and every motion, calculated for maximum effect.

This happened last night at the launch of Singtel’s Amped – a new music download service provided by Singtel, and it happened in a dome imported from Dubai.

I thought she was really talented when I mentioned her in this entry, but apparently, I didn’t give her enough credit.  I was all excited when she started on the acoustic version of Poker Face (I really like this one). Midway, she started climbing onto the stool and did part of the song in a partially squatting position. Odd? Not yet – she then stood up with her legs straight and bent her body to create an inverted L. I thought that was about as far as you can stretch a person’s psycho motor skills – singing and playing the piano while in that physically challenging position. She took it a notch further when she sat down and added fill-ins to the song with her high heels!  Yes! She put a leg up on the keyboard and played it with her stilettos! The crowd went wild!!!  There’s a seasickness inducing version here on youtube but it might be better than mere words.

It certainly is very much theatrics, but it certainly worked – I’ll have to take back what I said in the past about gimmicks and music. As if to prove that she isn’t just about cirque du soleil showmanship or plain gimmicks, she also improvised a piano solo not heard in her other performances and it was plain talent.

It may be too soon to tell, but I think Lady Gaga is set to be this generation’s Madonna. She’s bringing the old glamour and fashion of the 70s back, infused with her signature quirky /sexy style. Do I sound like I’m gushing? It’s not very becoming but I am such a fan now J

Here are some pics I managed to get in before my battery died on me – before the show! I was initially annoyed with myself for forgetting to load up on cam juice, but on the bright side, it allowed me to be totally immersed in the moment so I wasn’t worrying about whether I was capturing enough shots *Swoon*

jessica, nat and me

Here’s Jessica Tan (MSU 2007), Nathaniel Koh and me

sarah and kui jien

Kui Jien and his lovely wife Sarah Tan (they like these couple poses -claims it’s how things are between them haha)

dan and young

Dan and Young who did a fabulous job hosting the event (It’s true even from my biased point of view ok)

Rozz from 987FM

Rozz from 987FM all geared up for the showcase wearing Lady Gaga’s signature lightning bolt

The Pussycat Dolls

I was at their concert last night, and it amazed me how diversified the fans of the PCD are. There were many little and big, boy and girl PCD wannabes; there were stylish ladies and gents in suits; there were families who turned up to party; and it was simply, uproariously fun because the crowd came prepared to shout and scream and dance to the many hits of the PCD: “Don’t Cha“, “When I Grow Up“, “Stick With You“.

There wasn’t much of a stage setup except for the video wall in the background. Of course, the PCD were dressed in very glittery lingerie outfits and all that sparkling and shimmering as they gyrated to song after song compensated for the lack of staging – there was just one song with the video wall off and they still held everybody’s eyes. PCD

Come to think of it, they reminded me of Victoria Secrets angels (completed with attire) except that they also sang and danced. Niiiiice…..I enjoyed the visual feast. What’s really impressive too, was that Nicole (the only lead singer) sang everything live despite all that energetic prancing around and she sure can belt it! Kudos!!

There must be an inner exhibitionist within everyone, to want to be sexy and strut/gyrate/prance around without condemnation or judgement. That really explains why so many people not so secretly, wants to be Nicole part of the PCD :D

Lady Gaga

It’s really hard to keep track of new musicians cos they come out in droves. They put their music on networking sites like myspace/facebook, on youtube, and basically anywhere so that they get heard. The very lucky (or good looking) gets signed with a record label, and even then, when you line them all up on MTV or Channel [V], it’s hard to distinguish one glittery dressed up package from another. It’s hard to remember who is or has been or know who’s talented or not for all the pop star manufacturing based more on looks than talents.

Why the rant? Cos I saw a recording of an artist that really impressed me and wondered why I never noticed her before. The below is not it. This is the original version of the song. The glittery package on a music channel that is to me, really forgettable.

 

This is the version that impressed me. Music that is all about the music, sans gimmicks that distracts and detracts from the music.