Wanders x Puma @Tangs

Dutchman, Marcel Wanders, he of the knotted chair fame has collaborated with Puma for a range of gear for "stylish outdoor living in the city". What the fuck?

Exactly.

But they are really great looking products (including a tent) for their said application (see within quotation marks above).

The range of products include aforementioned tent, flipflops, cooler (that doubles up as an all-terrain weekend lug), beach towel and a man-bag.





wanders & Puma is available at Tangs.

We cleared!

Yes!

Level 2!

I think the promise of a treat was not the main factor haha.....it was because finally we could field a team comprising an optimal number of members and an assessor who was a wee bit benevolent.

Everyone put in their 2 cents worth. Some of whom were feeling under the weather but chipped in.

The first in the squadron (this class anyway) to clear!

A clue:

satellite view taken off Google Earth

yes......

Winter

Winter

If we hold onto each other
Life would be so sweet
If we hold onto each other
Life would be complete

All this time
Winter was coming
All this time
December air was blowing
All this time
Leaves of fall were stirring
All this time
Winter was coming

We can't hold onto each other
Life would be so sweet
We can't hold onto each other
Life would be complete

All this time
Winter was coming
All this time
December air was blowing
All this time
Leaves of fall were stirring
All this time
Winter was coming

This time
How can I take no
This time
How can I take no

If we hold onto each other
Life would be so sweet
If we hold onto each other
Life would be complete

All this time
Winter was coming
All this time
December air was blowing
All this time
Leaves of fall were stirring
All this time
Winter was coming
All this time
All this time
All this time
All this time



Caroline

National Stadium Time Capsule Lost

Supposedly a time capsule laid down in 1970 by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee at the National Stadium (Kallang Stadium).

Channelnewasia.com article here.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Singapore treats her history.

How sad.

The voice of Suddenly, Tammy!

When I was in Sec 4 and Tower Records at Pan Pacific was a favourite hangout place, I heard the voice of an angel.

Her name was Beth Sorrentino and Suddenly, Tammy! was the name of her band.

I found a site that shares with everyone the magic of her voice.

here......

Caroline @Esplanade Recital Studio - Not a proper review

I bought tickets to Caroline Lufkin's performance at the Esplanade's Recital Studio because I thought the embedded track in the Esplanade website sounded really good. It was Where's My Love that got me hooked.....

In the bare studio, a table was placed in the middle of the stage with a macbookpro and a macbook (i think only one mbp) with Apple Pro Logic, an AKAI MPD 24, Korg Kaoss Pad, a guitar, a keyboard (Korg K series??) and assorted buttons, switches and knobs.

I didn't really check out what she looked like so when a little pixie skipped out from behind the curtain, I was a little surprised.

Caroline and Jason Greenberg (aka Repose) settled down and with a twiddle of the thumbs (him) and a little clearing of the throat (her), we were off!

They played a set that exhausted Caroline's debut album, Murmurs and included some tracks from her two singles. There was one other, as yet, unreleased track.

Starting with Sunrise, All I Need and Pink & Black, Caroline was trying to be as chatty as she possibly can. She was saying she is more used to dirty music bars and not a studio like this one. Hoping for friendly faces as she introduced an untitled new track by Jason under his solo moniker - Repose.

A brief pause and then she breathed the words of Where's My Love? Continued on to Drove Me To The Wall and explaining that they were really shy talking to the audience.

She sang Winter as well which is now fav of mine. The music is like a bricolage of Jason's influences. Bits of Lamb, Massive Attack, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Thievery Corp, Craig Armstrong....trip hop and down tempo. The best bit of each song is Caroline's voice which is well-pitched, at times wispy and ethereal and melds with the music and beats really well. A little bit of Elisabeth Fraser at times, Bjork, Beth Sorenntino....nice...

She was wooed back by the applause and sang Everylittlething as an encore.

Overall a very enjoyable performance and I got both their signatures on my CD. But the best thing was being so close to a real-life pixie and having a photo of us together. Blurred but it was already a bonus.

Lesson 2 and you're what?

A fellow crew is taking driving lessons as I am. The difference being that he is with a private instructor while I'm with a school. My second lesson was about moving and stopping. He's second lesson was about moving off from a slope. What gives?! I won't get to cover that until the next lesson or so....wah lau....

Temptation - music to let world go by

As I was walking from Ohsho ramen stall at Cuppage, I thought to myself, feeling as I was, what music would really go well.

And this was what I chose.

Temptation

Heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
And though it hurts me to treat you this way
Betrayed by words, I'd never heard, too hard to say

Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home.

Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
From time to time, I find I've lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe

Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home.

Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got gray eyes
Oh, you've got green eyes
Oh, you've got blue eyes
Oh, you've got gray eyes

And I've never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I've never met anyone quite like you before

Thoughts from above hit the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Oh, it's the last time

Oh, I've never met anyone quite like you before



New Order

I've a crush on Caroline Lufkin

The public loo, even at artsy places like the Esplanade isn't the best place to introduce yourself. Even as Littlefish.

I thought I saw Mykel two urinals away but you know, when guys are at live range, they don't monkey about.

How would you feel if I recognise you as a blogger, go up to you, while you have got the whole world in your hands, and extend my hand out, perhaps before I wash them and say, "Hi, I'm littlefish, you're theseawithin right?"

Not even on an easy Sunday.

Met him and peiling eventually while waiting to get in. I got myself a copy of Caroline's album - Murmurs, because I don't own a copy and there is a post performance autograph session.

Nice!

Mykel and peiling kindly reserved a seat for me while I settled my bills. It was right in front and I was staring right at Caroline almost all the time.

She is so sweet! And very giggly.

Reviews later.....

And Mykel took a photo of Caroline and me, up close! But darn, it's blur....oh well. When I finally get another chance, I'll take photos with her again ..... or so I dream.

Mykel, if you're reading this, yes, would really love to have the photo....I pine.

1234

The video for 1234 by Feist looks like what a typical Michel Gondry video is about. No, I'm not discounting Patrick Daughters, who directed this video, as a mere copycat.

Patrick Daughters also directed the other video, Mushaboom, which had former roommate, Peaches in a hot pink tracksuit top, dancing in high heels. Yes, that Peaches as in Impeach My Bush and The Teaches Of Peaches and Fatherfucker. Weird! How bizarre...

Imeem!

I decided to have a new tag.

Imeem!
My profile here.

Waking To The Dream Of You

Waking To The Dream Of You

They say nothing lasts forever,
but in my heart I still believe
that two people can stay together
maybe my thinking is a bit naive.

Now I'm living in this brand new world,
the one without you by my side,
and I'm getting all this good advice
on making it an easy ride.

They say don't call him up (no)
Don't be alone (no)
Don't be up waiting for him to come home
Well I'm not calling, I'm not waiting, I'm not crawling
but I'm aching and crying
Waking to the dream of you.

I wake up to the dream of loving you,
no matter what I do.
I wake up to the dream of loving you
do you feel it too?

Hey baby, do you think about me?
Do you miss me like I'm missing you?
Are you getting the same advice from
friends who want to help you through?

They say don't call him up (no)
Don't be alone (no)
Don't be up waiting for him to come home
Well I'm not calling, I'm not waiting, I'm not crawling
but I'm aching and crying
Waking to the dream of you.

I wake up to the dream of loving you,
no matter what i do.
I wake up to the dream of loving you,
do you feel it too?
Well I'm not calling, I'm not waiting, I'm not crawling, I'm not breaking,
I'm not bleeding, I'm not falling,
but I'm aching and I'm crying and shaking,
Waking to the dream of you.

I wake up to the dream of loving you,
no matter what I do.
I wake up to the dream of loving you
Waking to the dream of you
I'm waking to the dream of you.....



Lori Carson

Semantics won't do

I like words. Written or spoken. Especially when they are stringed to form a sentence that is heartfelt and concise. Not drowning in verbosity. That captures only the essence and nothing more.

Words are important in communication. But words lead to miscommunication as well. A well-chosen word can fill your heart with joy. Corollary to that, a careless word can wrench your heart.

A true master lets you read between the lines. What then is one who gives clarity to a situation by saying nothing?

Sometimes a single insouciantly chosen word is already too much to bear. Much less need be said for a sentence. I listen to what other people say and sometimes I think about what they could have said otherwise, but did not. I wonder if they are conscious of what they are saying. And at times, more importantly, what they are not saying.

As much as words are used for communication, its absence does not render communication impossible. Instead, so much more can be used to fill the silent void. In a manner of speaking, communication is not just about saying the right things. Communication can take place in the absence of words when everything that needed to be made known can be told without the parting lips.

Just the parting of hearts.

In A Manner Of Speaking

In a manner of speaking
I just want to say
That I could never forget the way
You told me everything
By saying nothing

In a manner of speaking
I don't understand
How love in silence
Becomes reprimand
But the way that I feel about you
Is beyond words

Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me nothing
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me everything

In a manner of speaking
Semantics won't do
In this life that we live
We only make do
And the way that we feel
Might have to be sacrificed

So in a manner of speaking
I just want to say
That just like you
I should find a way
To tell you everything
By saying nothing.

Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me nothing
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me everything

Nouvelle Vague

Distance

Distance

Distance
I'll keep my distance
These things I never seem to mean
So I'll leave the murder scene

Honey
What got broke here
Won't go back together again
So I'll leave this while I can

Here.....

Nothing
To be scared of
My dreams they keep a hold of me
My guide when I can't see

Call
I will be there
I'm sure you're passing the test
I wish you all the best

Here.....



The Editors

Editors - An End Has A Start

It's tough being a Brummie. It's worse than being a Yorkie.

In an informal poll of Britain's Worst Accents, the following were the results:

You see, Brummies got the shortest straw because there are enough of them scattered around Britain. Unlike those from way up north - Geordies and Yorkies who don't travel well. Look at the results again and you'll notice that Brummies were included TWICE. A third of the poll thought they had the worst accents. A college mate living two doors down was always bemoaning the fact that because she is a 2nd generation Indian from Birmingham, she's pretty confused by her own accent.

It's tougher still to be a Brummie band because not only are you Brummie, you're not seen as cool as the London folks. But Brummie band - The Editors seem to run contrary.

I bought their first album - The Back Room because while I was in Phuket last October, I heard their single, Munich on MTV. Tom Smith's voice and the band's music sounded like a cross-breed between the Bravery and Interpol. The drumming reminded me of Joy Division. I think it's super passe to mention Joy Division when describing bands these days. I should refrain from doing it. Cause there are enough bands out there now to form Joy Premier League, Joy Division 1, Joy Division 2, Joy Semi-Pro Division and Joy Sunday Football League - not funny at all.

Their second album is out tomorrow. The single, Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors is brilliant. An End Has A Start hopefully can generate as much positive reviews as their. You can go check out their website and probably still catch their performance on the Jools Holland show. Hmm...with so many talented new bands alongside established ones in Singapore, perhaps the idea of a late night live show featuring these bands should be revived.

On the road!

After going round the industrial estate area, finally got to get out to the road around AMK.
Feel that I should really pick up the pace cause 2 weekend lessons a week is really quite a drag. A drag because I can't wait to get pass the practical and get my license.

And weekend lessons cost a bomb. Especially so when I am learning in a school.

It's so weird la, before I signed up for a manual course, people were saying it's better to do manual. Then after I got started, more and more eople are telling me that Ithese days more and more cars have automatic gears. Before, people were saying that learning in a school is better because of reasons A and B. Then more and more people are asking me why didn't I learn from a private instructor.

Hahaha....opinions....

Who?

I read from a popular blog that only sad people blog.

I think there is no point agreeing with this statement. Neither is there a point in refuting it.

It's just an opinion so I'll just leave it.

I was at a CD shop last night and found two excellent albums by two of my favourite female singer-songwriters. Actually I can't say that cause I only have one of Lori Carson's album and none of Aimee Mann's.

Aimee Mann's The Forgotten Arm is probably my forgotten album because I mentioned it in passing way back in 2005 but got it till last night. As for Lori Carson, I've been looking for her albums at "nice prices" for such a long time. Well, the two albums add up to about$25. What a steal. There's always something nice in the bargain bins.

Albums by Lori Carson and Aimee Mann are not recommended for lonely night listening.

Hmmm...

Reminds me of a Placebo song.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Sometimes it's faded
Disintegrated
For fear of growing old
Sometimes it's faded
Assassinated
For fear of growing old

How we are wired.

I can no longer remember how I stumbled on KittyStar's blog. In fact, that statement could be wrong. Maybe I can no longer remember how KittyStar stumbled upon my blog.

But that's besides the point.

Besides sharing a weird interest in cats (and most things feline), the music we listen to have overlaps and between the two of us, she is the more accomplished photographer having had her prints exhibited publicly before.

So the other day she posted this entry:

What Is So Wrong With This Picture??

And that's it. It was open for comments.

Along came some pervert who made a comment like this:

Ok, here goes.....

Mr Blue and Madam Rouge are a couple. But Madam Rouge is having an affair with Mr Green. So one day while Mr Green is humping Madam Rouge from the rear, he spots a very red Mr Blue, with arms raised and fists clenched, threatening him from a distance. As Mr Green shields his eyes from the afternoon glare so as to see Mr Blue better, Madam Rouge is enjoying her afternoon delight, wearing nothing but a wide smile on her face.

And that was the exact moment when Kitty Star, on an afternoon voyeuristic spree, too[k] aim on her viewfinder and SNAP!

KittyStar replied cryptically:

heh heh heh

(='o^=)

To which the commentator admitted:

I think I just confirmed myself to your readers that I am a geeky pervert.....

But she was kind enough to say:

Naah...u r fine.

I was thinking along the same lines too when I spotted the image.

hee hee hee

(='o^=)

Seriously, what would YOU have thought was wrong with the picture????

Freshmen

Oftentimes I wake up in the morning not really sure at which point of my life did I choose the path which had led me here. Have I always trod on the "one less travelled by and that has made all the difference"? Straight out of a Robert Frost Poem.

I figured life is too accidental to have a destiny, preferring to believe that what I am about to do today will make a difference to the rest of my life.

I'm not yet so rash to make the mistakes in this song. I think I'm old enough not to make mistakes like these so easily yet young enough to be wary at all times.

The Freshmen

when i was young and knew everything
and she a punk who rarely ever took advice
now i'm guilt stricken,
sobbing with my head on the floor
stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice

i can't be held responsible
cause she was touching her face
i won't be held responsible
she fell in love in the first place

for the life of me i cannot remember
what made us think that we were wise and
we'd never comprimise
for the life of me cannot believe
we'd ever die for these sins
we were merely freshman

my best friend took a week's
vacation to forget her
his girl took a week's worth of
valium and slept
now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his
head on the floor
think's about her now and how he never really
wept he says

we've tried to wash our hands of all of this
we never talk of our lacking relationships
and how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our
heads on the floor
we fell through the ice when we tried not to
slip, we'd say

i can't be held responsible
cause she was touching her face
and i won't be held responsible
she fell in love in the first place

for the life of me i cannot remember
what made us think that we were wise and
we'd never comprimise
for the life of me cannot believe
we'd ever die for these sins
we were merely freshman

Verve Pipe

Layered

After you've known me long enough, you'll realise that I am quite a boring person.

I don't follow any particular football league. I have never owned a single football jersey.

I have interests that come on and off. I was into wines but I have to cut down my alcohol intake because I am hypertensive.

Currently I am into denim and within the last 6 months, I have gotten myself a pair of A.P.C. New Standards, a pair of Nudies Dry Black Slim Jim and a pair of Nudies Dry Selvage. I like dry jeans cause they have a nice sheen. I am hoping to get my first pair of Japanese selvage....I don't like Cheap Mondays.

I have more than a dozen Threadless t-shirts. And I most probably will get more.

This past 6 months I have been collecting classic shoes sports brands. I got a A.P.C. X Nike Court Tradition then it was a Onitsuka Tiger Snow White Mexico 66. After that was a pair of Adidas Gazelle Original Classic. I then got a Puma V-Star and most recently it was the New Balance 320 mod Classic. Aunt Bubbly thinks the New Balance has an "eeeewwwww color" and I agree.

I think I have 1/3 life crisis. Mid-life crisis is when adult males start buying sport cars. 1/3-life crisis is when males start to buy collectible toys, random pieces of designer furniture, contemporary art and more jeans/t-shirts/sneakers than they really need.

I like taking photographs and really want to be better at it. Fast lens with excellent bokeh excites me.

And if you've been following this blog long enough, you should realise that music and lyrics play a big part in my life. And music+lyrics is perhaps the sole constant in my conscious life.

So taking myself apart, I don't think there are facets of myself that can interest anybody much.

I still don't have a witty reply to girls who say that all nice guys are either taken or gay.

I realised something

This is through and through a very random post.....

I was listening to these songs......

For Me This Is Heaven - Jimmy Eat World (2001)

Title And Registration - Death Cab For Cutie (2003)
Passenger Seat - Death Cab For Cutie (2003)

Konstantine - Something Corporate (2003)

And I realised this: And try to tell the difference
Between shooting stars and satellites

Previously I mentioned that Konstantine by Something Corporate referenced For Me This Is Heaven which contains this line: The first star I see may not be a star.

You see, the reason why the "first star" may not be a "star" was explained later by Death Cab For Cutie in Passenger Seat, "to tell the difference between shooting stars and satellites" . So the first star could be.....a satellite! Hahahaha.......

Ok ok, and you do realise what do you have on the side of the Passenger Seat - The Glove Compartment! Which is described as inaccurately named in Title And Registration!

Hahaha.....I am reading TOO much into this...

New Balance 320 - Nawt! (rehashed)

The New Balance 320 is out and about in New Balance stores all over the island. Ok, there is the one main New Balance store at the basement of Raffles City....but a number of specialist stores stock them as well.....heavily advertised on the local Juice magazine.

Voted the No.1 running shoes by Runners' World in October of 1976, the 320 is vintage. Very easily recognised by the two oblong ridges along the uppers and a sleek overall profile. Following the re-release, the colour scheme is also quite an eyeful...

Didn't want to buy into the hoopla but hey, it is a classic(k) afterall.....

So today, while on a investigative trip for photography equipment, I came across the chapalang shoe shop opposite St Andrew's Cathedral. Decided to go in and take a look. Most stuff on 40% sale. And saw a very familiar shape.......

yes, in the background you see my Onitsuka Tiger and Puma. Two cats fighting!

It was a 320 with a very weird colour combination. The yellow was more dull than the one expected to be part of the re-release. The sole was not ridged but more like a waffle runner (Nike). And the midsole had a brown instead of blue trims. Took a look at the tongue, it said, "CROSS COUNTRY" and "CLASSIC" on the insole.

It was going real cheap and decided to try them on.

Great fit.

Wicked are the ways that your mind employ to trick the heart.........

Title And Registration

I don't drive a car. So I don't have "souvenirs from better times" stowed away in an "inaccurately named" glove compartment.

Title And Registration

There's no blame
For how our love did slowly fade
And now that it's gone
It's like it wasn't there at all
And here I rest
Where disappointment and regret
Collide
Lying awake at night (up all night)
When I'm lying awake at night

Death Cab For Cutie

Show your love people!

Yuka Yamaguchi (aka plastique monkey) has given birth to a boy!

Now, be nice and go send your well-wishes! clickety click click

Hmm, I'm rather pleased with myself. Two of my favourite artists are getting lots of publicity recently with exhibitions and media coverage. Lin Baoling (it was definitely worth viewing your work.) and plastique monkey.

Like what YS said, better to get them now while they are still affordable....damn....I need my own place. Then I shall have it look like an art gallery....but first.....car license. Go! Me! Go!!

Leads me to wonder, again, if I should get their art pieces now before their value skyrockets.....

If anybody wants to get me a gift for my birthday/X'mas......

I Can Wait

There You Are!

There goes my source of THC

I read in the papers that a number of Japanese style spice/pepper were found to contain *gasps* poppy seeds and levels of THC.

My trusty S&B Nanami finished recently and I was a little too late in replenishing my supply. I was over at Carrefour just now and I think they they pulled this product off from their shelves.

My precioussssssssssssssss............

I was into my third bottle. But of course, like any good junkie person, I shared it with my fellow addicts family.

Save Your Day

How do you deal with a situation that is moribund and exudes a funereal gloom?
As if its very existence is to suck the life out of those around. To slowly consume and never to give back. A symbiosis that is parasitic in nature.

José González sings about this in his penultimate track from his album Veneer. Man, I still remember his concert few months ago at the Esplanade. Amazing....and also the weird comments from Lena's medical doctor boyfriend....

Save Your Day

Poke the body with a stick
Roll it down
Ignore the moaning
As it tumbles to the ground
Be brave and save your day

These days are cold
Numbers rule
I've been told
The pattern's clear
Better fit in the mold
You need to be brave and save your day

You need to be brave and save your day

To cough up sympathy
Isn't hard but it costs
Hold tight to your life savings
You have to do what you must
To save your day

So poke the body
And roll it down
The grave looks cold
But we're still young
We're still young

José González

Before GST

I'm gonna make some purchase before GST strikes....

namely:

SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)



and

SP AF17-35MM F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF)


and finally after much waiting.....

a Speedlite 550EX and BG - E3 battery grip. All these should set me back pretty well. Next month when GST finally hits, I can eat at the cookhouse everyday.

Yah, maybe next time I can do weddings. Hahahaha.....

I might regret this but......

This was written way back on 29 Apr 07.

I don't get really personal in this blog. The earliest entries might have been but usually I either try to make the references to my personal life obscure or just use song lyrics.

That's probably cause I know who reads my blog and so it makes sense to have some stuff remaining private.

But in my current stupor, I suppose I should quickly make more obtuse references to my life. Before I regret later. Which I probably will.

But everything looks perfect from far away, come down now, but we'll stay.
~ Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

It's not easy to find a person that I can live with for long. That's cause I get bored easily. Even with people. Although I do have sets of friends whom I can relate to on a weekly basis, to really spend a long time with another person is not easy for me.

Is it wrong to be swallowed whole? To disappear in her? To give her the priceless peace of giving up control.
~ Annie Dog - Smashing Pumpkins

V and I have gone through more than three years together and it's not always smooth sailing. But we always try is to work things out rationally and with a level of maturity that sometimes simultaneously amazes and worries me. It's amazing because we can be so lucid in our thoughts and intentions. But at the same time it's worrying because being rational can sometimes lead to decisions that pleases our minds but nobody else.

I wish I could've given you lightness. The lightness that you deserve.
~ The Present - Bloc Party

It can be really trying when making decisions. Yet because of our similarities in things that matter, we've managed that well. But the present and past is no guarantee for the future and that's why we continue to work hard on it.

They can take what they please. They can take the blame. Everything, everything is free. Have it on me.
~ Help Me Please - Hard Fi

There are gonna be changes ahead and I have faith that we'll work things out, like we always have.

I don't think it did.

Our conclusion

While at Timbre the other evening, Poof told Serene that I maintain a blog. I said in return that Poof keeps one too. Hers is now "privatised".

Poof quickly jumped to the conclusion that people who blog are secretly exhibitionists. I qualify that statement by saying that people who put sitemeters (or any of the like) are exhibitionists. And went on to add that people who follow blogs of people they don't know are voyeurs.

I think that's not very far from the truth.

But then again, if I am an exhibitionist, why do I prefer to take the lift alone and when I get in a lift, I'll press the "DOOR CLOSE" buttonly quickly just to make sure I get the lift to myself. Does that mean I am like exhibiting privately? Is that an oxymoron?

Clarity

For Me This Is Heaven

The first star I see may not be a star
We can't do a thing but wait so let's wait
For one more
And the time's such clumsy time
Deciding if it's time
I'm careful but not sure how it goes
You can lose yourself in your courage

When?
The time we had now ends
When?
The big hand goes round again
Can you still feel the butterflies?
Can you still hear the last goodnight?

And the mother's comfort grows
When I'm alone with my "big" plans
And this is what she said gets her through it
"If I don't let myself be happy now then when?"
"If not now when?"

The time we had now ends
And when the big hand goes round again
Can you still feel the butterflies?
Can you still hear the last goodnight?

I close my eyes and believe
That wherever you are, Angel
For when the time we had now ends
And when the big hand goes round again
Can you still feel the butterflies?
Can you still hear the last goodnight?

Jimmy Eat World

I've found relevance in using album names as titles which was the case for the last two posts.

Ready.....Break!

A song that can register 1486 comments on songmeanings.net is pretty amazing.

A song that is often referenced by other emo bands is usually a fan favourite.

Holiday Parade - Success Story:

We played "Konstantine"
And I walked you to your doorstep
And you kissed me in the rain, my lucky day
I still spell konfusion with a "k"

Amber Pacific - Poetically Pathetic:

Reference to a song you love,
Spell confusion with a "K"

I don't really remember when was it that I first heard the song "Konstantine" by Something Corporate. But I'd suppose it was about the same time I heard Death Cab, Jimmy Eat World and the rest of the emo bands. Who was really whipping up the airwaves then? Hmm...Dashboard Confessional I'd think. Erm.......Something Corporate is from Orange County, California. It's got to be the O.C. effect. (Jade - don't laugh.)

Finding out that the song attracted so many comments on songmeanings.net kinda piqued my interest. Reading the lyrics and noticing that it referenced For Me This Is Heaven by Jimmy Eat World kind of sealed its fate. I was definitely gonna get a copy of this song. For Me This Is Heaven is such a rare gem of a song that fits a lifetime of "what ifs" and "what might've beens" into 4 minutes. Seeing that Konstantine was a whooping 9 minute plus song.....I'm always wary of long songs, set of some alarm bells. Either they are real good or they just sound boring after the 4th minute.

I don't think I will post the lyrics here....nobody reads them anyway.

Well, JEW performed at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas before. Which was also where local band The Great Spy Experiment showcased themselves to the world recently. And their next performance at Timbre, damn, I can't go see cause I have a wedding to attend. Go Saiful!

Live! Friday!

Promised to check Serene out at Balaclava and finally after about a month of busy Fridays, I managed to heaved my bum over to the bar I dread going the most.

Balaclava.

The place reeks of new money and money grabbing. Seems like a place you can't go beyond a "hello" introduction without a name card.

But was there to check Serene and her "friendster face" friend, Kewei out. Kewei sings back up for David Tao and so she's not always around depending on David Tao's tour schedule. Serene was in the first Singapore Idol but being more pop bias, she didn't advance after the top 20 round.

They call themselves "Little Black Book" and perform at Balaclava every Friday night during Happy Hours. I was only able to make it to the second one-hour set which starts at about 7:45pm. Was there with PrincessPoof and had a last minute impromptu meet up with chiewmei. Met karnee there as well. Surprise surprise! Never knew I'd meet so many familiar faces there. Didn't really mingled much cause Poof and I were there to check Serene out mainly. Hmmm.. Serene sessions for A Little Dream as well. Was featured in Cleo I think.

They did a pop-jazz set which included songs like Desperado, Moon River, Way Back Into Love, Happy Together and was generally easy-listening. The crowd wasn't lapping it up cause they were probably busy schmoozing. But there were a few who really dug (past tense of dig?) the music and bobbing along. Friendly banter between the few of us helped to make us look less like groupies.

After the set, we asked Serene to join us at Timbre to check Timmy! out. Very enjoyable set. Serene introduced Poof and I to Eric (poof was eyeing Ngak, of course. Oops!). Eric works with people like steph sun, tanya chua, a-mei etc...but he is so humble! I thought he was wearing a tshirt with Jim Morrison from the Doors -

I thought, cool, Jim Morrison. Baby, light my fire!

But it was Marc Bolan instead.....


I know they don't look at all similar but when it's a on t-shirt and given a graffiti twist, it's not that easy to tell apart.

Faux pas!

I got my wish

I was going on about wanting to try having driving lessons when it is raining, when it is at night and when the traffic is heavy.

Well, today I got my wish. Rained for much of my lesson.

Night driving....that I can control.

So.......

Why won't anyone put in some comments? Faze me with your wit!

Fantastic 4

The movie wasn't too great.

Laurence Fishburne sounded like he's trying too hard.

One of the saving graces was the chase sequence between the Silver Surfer and Johnny "Human Torch" Storm.

Special effects was excellent.

Yes, Stan Lee appears in his own Marvel creation again. This time as an old man trying to gatecrash the wedding of Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.

I know, this is one of my most lousy post about a movie. In fact, it sounds like what you'll find in blogs belonging to people who don't think too much into things they experience. They tell you about the movie and make mundane sense out of it all - "the movie had excellent special effects" is one of those statements that reflect you brilliantly you twerp!

But then again, Fantastic 4 : Rise of The Silver Surfer is one such movie you can actually accurately say that the movie had excellent special effects and not be blamed for being superficial. They won't want to go in deep about Faustian bargains and stuff like that, you know, saving your own world by becoming a Herald of Galactus (Silver Surfer is just one of many). It's the fucking summer and I can't wait for Optimus Prime.

It's that dense.

Temptation

This song could be about everything and nothing at the same time. Well, for some it's about something and at times, anything.

That is the beauty of Temptation by New Order. Which alot of people my generation never really listened to until, say, they heard Diane singing the lyrics in the movie Trianspotting.

The lyrics talks about heaven and hope, finding one's soul...like some form of redemption.
Then there is the bit about the colour of eyes; green, blue and grey - envy, sadness and ambiguity?
What about the parts on thoughts hitting people down below, people with no place to go? And about having never met anyone quite like "you" before. Whoever you (the listener?) are.
Up, down, turn around? So what got him so high that he fears hitting the ground?

Wait a minute.....why am I talking about getting high? As in drugs? So Heaven means something else besides the Pearly Gates? A gateway? As in a "gateway drug"? Marijuana? Heaven means cocaine in common street slang by the way. Heaven's dust... And that these give him hope?

Why else would the song start that way?

Heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
And though it hurts me to treat you this way
Betrayed by words, I'd never heard, too hard to say

Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home.

I especially like the line "Betrayed by words I'd never heard, too hard to say." It is not easy to write lyrics that remain relevant for more than 20 years.

Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break this circle that's been placed around me
From time to time, I find I've lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe

So now it is for me to think about how not to let myself hit the ground.

So you see, this song works on so many levels it's pretty fantastic.

Slogan T-shirts

I think guys who look like pigs shouldn't wear slogan Ts that say

I SCORED LAST NIGHT

There is no conviction. People might think you were actually playing in your office football league last night.

I think gals who look like stick insects shouldn't wear Ts that say

ELITE MODEL

Thank goodness it's a thing of the past. But these days I see alot of Ts that say

GORGEOUS

or

If you're rich, I'm available

But if you're dyslexic, just like our beloved Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, this is the slogan T I fully recommend:


I think it is totally befitting of a Singaporean dyslexic. (I must say that the idea is totally original cause I just did a Google search for DIYSEXLA and found ZERO results.)

no, it's me.

I wish I can say something like "I've got about 20 posts that I have not gotten around to finish because I am procrastinating." but I'd be lying if I did.

I have days passing by like it has always been and I am beginning to worry myself because I am wondering why.

I didn't think that life can be so normal. This calm, I wonder if it is the type that occurs before the storm or is it one which happens after.

I just bought more than $40 worth of ZIG marker pens because I felt like drawing but I know I am not Jon Burgerman. I won't even try.

I wish I can be feeling slightly worse for the weather but instead I feel that I am at that edge, just not being able to tip over.

"A dumb mistake!", "Too much to pay!", I was told. Leaving me with "a shattered heart in love's debris" and telling myself "this can't be happening to me". Maybe I'm listening to too much of Erasure.

All I want

is a green lantern t-shirt.

Divinity

You're not as old as the trees,
Not as young as the leaves
You're not as free as the breeze,
Not as open as the seas

And your heart hasn't found a home,
Endlessly it seems to roam

That you're beautiful and always have been
And everybody else can see
The love that you've been looking for
Is right there inside your door

Little Miss Divinity,
You're the one that you've been looking for
Little Miss Divinity,
Won't you lay your love on thee

And if you need direction, the world can seem unkind
So listen closely my love, you have time
You're doing fine

You must have heard about this one

Everything I touched was golden.
Everything I loved got broken.
On the Road to Mandalay.
Every mistake I've ever made,
Has been rehashed and then replayed.
As I got lost along the way.


There's nothing left for you to give.
The truth is all that you're left with.
Twenty paces then at dawn,
We will die and be reborn.



..........


There's nothing funny left to say

Something I Can Never Have

Something I Can Never Have

I still recall
The taste of your tears.
Echoing your voice
Just like the ringing in my ears.
My favorite dreams of you
Still wash ashore.
Scraping through my head
'till I don't want to sleep anymore.

You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I'm down to just one thing.
And I'm starting to scare myself.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I just want something.
I just want something I can never have

You always were the one
To show me how
Back then I couldn't do the things
That I can do now.
This thing is slowly
Taking me apart.
Grey would be the color
If I had a heart.

Come on tell me

In this place it seems like
Such a shame.
Though it all looks different now,
I know it's still the same
Everywhere I look
You're all I see.
Just a fading fucking reminder of
Who I used to be.

Come on tell me

I just want something I can never have

Ravel

Ravel: meaning to tangle and make complicated. To clarify by separating aspects of.

...............

You Don't Want To Hurt Me But See How Deep The Bullet Lies
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Because intentions are actions that are not carried out.

I'm Not The One To Tell This World How To Get Along
Yet we are burdened by intentions that we wish to bring to its' fruition but because of reasons that are too many to mention, they can only remain as intentions. And the actions cannot be carried out even with the best laid plans accompanying the best of intentions.

I Love You But I Am Not God
We are just everyday saints and sinners, fumbling along with our deeds and will, figuring out our destinies. Our paths crossed but the journey incomplete.

Yours Words In My Memory Are Like Music To Me
And with the intentions, those are all we are left with.

Can Somebeody Tell Me Now A Way Out Of This
Raveled in a Gordian knot.

And The Last Thing I Heard Was A Muttered Word
Her words spoken - like a hearse, drawing out from my driveway; the demise of which had already occurred and what remained was only poignant reminder of what was already dead. And the raindrops from the storms that the house had weathered hung softly on the eaves.

I Hope My Love Can Blind You
But who am I to even dare to think.

The Rain Rain Making Me Cry
So that I can have another excuse.

Oh Honey I'm Just A Fool
When you're a fool in love, you'll be a fool till the day you die......

And If I Open My Heart Again
Well.............


I'm ranting again and again. This should be the last...

Hula Girls

I caught the trailer for Hula Girls before the movie The Wind That Shakes The Barley started.

Finally got to watch it. There were two female leads who totally looked the part. Yu Aoi and Eri Tokunaga both possess an aura of innocence found exclusively in girls on the cusp of womanhood.

The movie is about a Japanese mining town facing structural unemployment as the town, built upon the sweat and toil of their forefathers, looks set to face widespread retrenchment. As another mine closes with 2000 miners being laid off, a move to develop a tourist attraction with an Hawaii theme was vehemently rejected by the townfolks.

The Hawaiian Centre, as the attraction is called, recruits a troupe of women with zero experience in hula dancing as they train up in order to go on a promotional tour around Japan to attract tourists to the Hawaiian Centre.

The plot is simple, plot twists are predictable and ultimately satisfying because you get that warm fuzzy feeling when the credits roll. A dramedy that talks about changes; changes to post war Japanese economy as it faces the second globalisation wave to open up trade since Commodore Matthew Perry (not the actor of Friends fame) in the 19th Century. Changes to a Japanese way of life where livelihood must be eked out through hardwork. Changes to a Japanese town built on a commodity that is increasingly being replaced by alternatives. Changes to the young women during that time as they begin to seek a fairer standing in the society. Changes to two girls on the cusp of womanhood and the decisions they made. All done with lots of humour.

Worth the $$$

And just because I am so enamored by Yu Aoi, I shall paste her photo here:


I like take a second look at girls who can carry off the vintage/jeans look. The frilly blouse with tuxedo pleats and button-up collar, fitted jeans that are worn but not faded plus simple flats, MJs or summery wedges.

Too rich for my blood

There is this thing out in London's Selfridges.

There are 600 of these in circulation. Each cost 650€.

None of it seems to be coming to Singapore.

That's pain in any language.

Know what an "aglet" is?

From thefreedictionary.com:

ag·let (glt)

n.

1. A tag or sheath, as of plastic, on the end of a lace, cord, or ribbon to facilitate its passing through eyelet holes.

2. A similar device used for an ornament.

---

[Middle English, from Old French aguillette, diminutive of aguille, needle, from Vulgar Latin *accula, from Late Latin acucula, diminutive of Latin acus, needle; see ak- in Indo-European roots.]

And for these excellent shoelaces by Starks, the aglets are what set them apart.

So much sh*t to do

I'm quite pleased with myself today.

3rd lesson completed. Drove outside on public roads. Nice~

My threadless ts are here.

Bought tickets for Mercury Rev at Baybeats. 2 Aug 07.
Gonna buy The Cure ticks on 13 Jun for their concert 1 Aug 07.
Bought ticks for Caroline 24 Jun 07.

Busy....and oh, passed my theory trial test today. booked an actual on 5 jul. hope I'm free....

Year Of The Rooster

I was thinking about these two brands:





Same chicken, different appeal.

Ayam Brand supposedly came about since 1892. That's damn long ago.

Le Coq Sportif (or the sporting cock) was registered as the official tradmark only on 26 Aug 1950. Although the logo first appeared in 1948.

Why did I suddenly talk about these two brands, I cannot remember anymore...

Hummer

iwasasleep posted the lyrics to this oldie from Smashing Pumpkins just as I was checking out news about their latest release.

the song is titled "Hummer" and it can be found within the Siamese Dream album.

"Hummer"

Faith lies in
The ways of sin
I chased the charmed
But I don't want them anymore

And in their eyes I was alive
A fool's disguise
Take me away from you

Shame my tongue
Fat with promise all along
But when I woke up from that sleep
I was happier than I'd ever been

When you decide
That your life is a prize
Renew and rivive
It's alright honey
It's alright, yeah

Happiness will make you wonder
Will I feel OK?
It scares the disenchanted
Far away

Yeah I want something new
But what am I supposed to do about you
Yeah I love you, it's true

Life's a bummer
When you're a hummer
Life's a drag

Ask yourself a question
Anyone but me
I ain't free

Ask yourself a question
Anyone but me
I ain't free

Do you feel
Love is real?

Mum's Birthday

It was a quiet affair with just Mum, Dad and I at Jackson Centre Kopi Tiam.

Tian Jin Hai Seafood Jackson Centre Kopitiam 39 MacPherson Road, Stall 13.

Even Anthony Bourdain says the stall is worth travelling for.

Not sure if we're up for shark's head. So we were happy to stick with the crabs.

We've had their crab bee hoon twice in a month and with yesterday's black pepper crab, it'll be the 3rd time in 5 weeks. The bee hoon is super nice.

This Sunday is Fathers' Day. Gonna eat out with the folks again. Hahaha!

Zeitgeist

The spirit of a new age.

First single - Tarantula.

Album due for release on 10 Jul 07.

Smashing Pumpkins....

130900H JUN 07

Please be informed that tickets for The Cure concert on 1st Aug 07 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium will start selling at 9am next Wednesday. 13 Jun 07.

MSN

What Are Little Girls Made Of?
What Are Little Boys Made Of?

---

What are little girls made of, made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

---

What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails , and puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys are made of.