Vultures-John Mayer

I am hooked on this guy....especially watching his live videos on youtube. Can you believe that every live version of 'Vultures' is different?? That's how solid their musicianship is! This video on amazon is my favourite thus far.....its the slickest and features a short but great keys solo!! I like!! Wish there was more....oh, it's so bluesy and soulful! *swoon* It's just amazing watching these brilliant musicians go at it.

Was telling Andrea....a guy get hotter (in our eyes) when he's got great musicianship. But when he looks like he's really enjoying the music (like John Mayer)...he scores! haha! (Pardon the bimbo gushing....heh!)

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000H0MKGK/ref=s9_asin_image_1/102-8018872-0948912

John Mayer- "Continuum"

"Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good." - "The Heart of Life'


"Down to the wire
I wanted water but I'll walk through the fire
If this is what it takes to take me even higher
Then I'll come through like I do
When the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me" -"Vultures"

"When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part
You roll out of bed and down on your knees
And for a moment you can hardly breathe
wondering
was she really here?"
-"Dreaming with a broken heart"

John Mayer's new album "Continuum" is absolutely fantastic!!!! (mind you, this is coming from someone who is not a John Mayer fan) It's just really great music! Every track on this album is strong on its own! This is pretty huge, considering how much rubbish is being released these days.

I'm really surprised at how much he's grown and evolved as a song-writer/singer/musician. His new album features such creative instrumentation (old school rock, blues, pop, jazz all fused together seamlessly)....and I just love how bold, soulful and richly textured his new sound is. (smart guy has surrounded himself with excellent musicians) His singing has improved a lot....he sings with remarkable tenderness, sincerity and a well-controlled falsetto! (Amazing, considering how limited his range used to be.) His lyrics are showing greater maturity, insight and wit as well. I LOVE IT!!!! A very strong effort dude! Or as Andrea has described "FIERCE!!" haha! I so agree.

I've uploaded some tracks on multiply, but because I believe that this album is soooo good, I will only upload 3 tracks as a preview. Please buy the album proper. It's definitely worth your money.
http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music
1) Waiting on the world to change (current single that's being played on radio.)
2) Vultures (this is sooo groovy and sexy!!)
3) Dreaming with a broken heart (very tender and wistful. It'll break your heart. The piano playing-quite unusual for a John Mayer track- is very mesmerising and plaintive)

Simple Pleasures

It's been a good day, filled with simple pleasures. :) I'm like on a little bit of a 'high' now. haha!

Met Audrey for dinner...and we tried out this new restaurant at Citylink mall, "New York, New York". It resembles NYDC cafe....but i think the food is better, and more affordable too. Go check it out! It's been attracting long queues. We ordered "mushroom cuppaccino" soup and calamari as appetizers, then we shared a turkey and cranberry sandwich on sun-dried tomato bread. Yummmy! They gave us free apple-flavoured cotton candy for dessert! SWEET!!! (shrewd promotion strategy...but definitely a pleasant surprise that brought child-like smiles all round) Look at the grin on Audrey's face...haha!

After dinner, we headed to the esplanade library for a dvd rampage. Heh! It was such a beautiful, cooling night too....after the rain this afternoon. Just revelled in the evening breeze, gazing up at the poofy white clouds in the night sky...singing silly tunes and reminiscing about wrapping ourselves up in snuggly jackets while strolling through the streets of Australia by night....even doing a spot of grocery shopping at Cole's. haha! Oh Pammy!!! It's strawberry picking season there....ahhh, i wish i could join you!!

I also managed to grab a copy of John Mayer's brilliant new CD!! Was waiting for it all week! More on that in the next post...

All in all....thank You God for good company, good music, good food, and refreshing weather!

"Let's Forget About It"-Lisa Loeb

"The time between meeting and finally leaving is sometimes called falling in love"

"I was quiet, and I was tired. and I wanted you to bring me up
I wanted you to make it stop, yeah I wanted you to bring me up.
So I was wrong and you were right.
Bring me home.. "

Lisa Loeb...she strikes me as this quirky, urban troubadour. It's easy to lose yourself in her songs, cos they're very relatable and cathartic. Her observations on life, love, and relationships are refreshing too, and she's really brilliant with her fluid, storytelling song-writing style.

I've uploaded some lesser known acoustic songs from John Mayer's old album "Room For Squares" too. Can't wait for his new album to come out!

http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

"Not Myself"

Not Myself
=======================
(by John Mayer)

suppose I said
I am on my best behavior
there are times
I lose my worried mind

would you want me when I’m not myself
wait it out while I am someone else

suppose I said
colors change for no good reason
words will go
from poetry to prose

would you want me when I’m not myself
wait it out while I am someone else

and I
in time
will come around
I always do
for you

suppose I said
you’re my saving grace
would you want me when I’m not myself
wait it out while I am someone else
would you want me when I’m not myself
wait it out while I am someone else

WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE

Crap! Is John Mayer getting cuter (must be the hair) and even better at his song-writing?? I'm annoyed....cos this an obviously talented and witty musician who is currently dating dumb blonde bombshell, Jessica Simpson. Respect for the music and smashing video...but the whole Jessica affair, not cool dudeeee!

Btw, I love love love the cute keyboard intro/theme on this track. :) Andrea's supposed to figure out how to play it. hee!

Dimming of the Day

Sigh. There's such a lingering, lyrical quality to traditional Irish music. Songs that speak about dales and primroses, starlight and moonbeams. It transports you to a purer, simpler time. I love The Corrs "Home" album which was cut as a memorial to their mother, Jean, a musician and song collector who died in 1999. Here they return to their roots and family legacy with their re-interpretation of some traditional songs. The most memorable tracks for me were those recorded in Gaelic....which must be one of the ethereal languages on earth!

Listen to some tracks I've uploaded onto my multiply site here:
Http://www.jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

===================================================================

Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
==============================

This old house is falling down around my ears
I am drowning in a river of my tears
when all my will is gone you hold me sway
and I need you at the dimming of the day

you pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
you know just where I keep my better side

what days have come to keep us far apart
a broken promise or a broken heart
now all the bonnie birds have wheeled away
and i need you at the dimming of the day

come the night you're only what I want
come the night you could be my confidant

I see you on the street in company
why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I am living for the night we steal away
and I need you at the dimming of the day
yes I need you at the dimming of the day

'Tis a sad day

I was preparing to go to work when I heard the awful news of Steve Irwin, Australia's Croc Hunter, being killed by a stingray. He was only 44, and for me the saddest part is not how the world has lost one of its greatest wildlife icon/environmentalist/conservationist.....but the immense loss for his precious family. Steve Irwin leaves behind his wife, Terri, daughter Bindi Sue 8, and son Bob, 3.

Sigh, my heart goes out to them. His daughter Bindi Sue...is really such a darling, and has caught on her Daddy's passion for crocs. I saw her fearlessly cradling baby crocs on Oprah, and freaking Oprah out of course.

The world will miss you Steve Irwin, and your infectious enthusiasm, larger-than-life personality, and the joy and laughter you've brought.

Join the msn community in a gesture of remembrance for Steve, by adding a turtle icon in front of your msn nick. Just type (tu) for it to appear.

Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_en_tv/obit_irwin

*Poofed*

Work has been unbelievably drama, intense, and hectic. So I really welcomed the arrival of the weekend! Here's what I did in a nutshell:

1) Met Andrea and Berno for a lovely lunch at Sakae Sushi, Citylink...and then we had ice-cream at Ben & Jerry's later. I had my Oatmeal Cookie flavoured ice-cream with my fav RAINBOW SPRINKLES!!!! Yeah!!! They just cheer up my day.

2) Picked up my friend the Macbook from iShop, Club21. (I'm sooooo glad she's back in my hands. It felt so strange without her ard!) Also managed to traumatize and then make friends with some of the Club21 service staff. I'm so glad I met some of the more helpful and knowledgeable ones this time round. They opened my eyes to a whole world of Mac culture. :) I hate ignorant service staff! C'mon, do justice to a great product/brand!
(btw, avoid Apple@Orchard pls.....their staff are so clueless, and i can hardly understand half of their mangled English.)

3) Had dinner with Agents Ninja and Cheerleader, and the sole Gah-men officer at PS cafe at Dempsey Road. Great, attentive service, beautiful decor and setting....but the prices are kinda steep, and you'll need a car or a taxi to get there. Next gathering at Rochester Park gals??

4) Today, I went for work as usual...classes went on until 2pm. Sheer joy (in the eyes of a teacher) is when your students' eyes light up in glee, and they start to smile and clap their hands excitedly/ victoriously after a session of AWESOME HARMONISING!! It's like seeing adults in a rare child-like moment!

I felt sooo proud of them, so happy for them, and so relieved for myself that I finally nailed a method for absolute beginners to grasp the basics of harmony. Thank God man...cos last wk's 1st lesson on harmony was rather messy. Today, these amateurs, were singing like an experienced choir.....to a super difficult United Live song too, "Came to the rescue". Sorry...allow me to gush....but I was just overjoyed and pleasantly surprised. They are accomplishing in 2 weeks, what many vocalists struggle with for weeks and months. All I did was prompt the first group with their starting note, and the other groups were able to find their own harmonising notes confidently in like 2 secs! AMAZING! All systems go!! After that, worshipping with our songs was just so powerful. :)

5) After classes ended at 2pm, I had a training session until 4pm with the new junior vocal coach. It was xiong ah....but time well-spent....praying together, sharing updates on life, and learning together. I feel quite comfortable with him...he's got a very teachable, pure, humble spirit.

6) After training ended at 4pm, I did grading and other admin work until 6pm (started to go into 'screen saver mode' by then), and met Shirley for dinner and shopping.

7) Now Michelle is just *poofed*.....gonna finish up this blog post and watch LOST Season 1!!

Don't say the "H" word!

This seems to be the No.1 question to ask Michelle of late....

So....how's Hougang? :)

*blink*




It freaking SUXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!

Did u actually think it could POSSIBLY be good??
I go to the bathroom to stifle my screams of frustration on some days.
So don't make me count the ways in which Hougang absolutely blows....