Hug-A-Fwen-Day

My classroom door was open this afternoon as I waited for my students to arrive.
There was only one student in the class, and I was chatting with her.
Out of the blue, Erica walks in with a big smile on her face.
Without saying a word, she just hugs me.
Then she walks out.
Totally random.
My student laughed, and then so did I.
So cute and random lah...but it totally made my day. haha!

Go hug a fwen today too! :)

Alarice@ The Waterfront

"Away, away, away

Here is where I wanna stay
away, away, away
With you my love"
- 'Away' by Alarice Thio

Last Sun evening, a bunch of us made our way down to watch S'porean-Aussie-NZ singer-songwriter Alarice at the Esplanade outdoor stage. Nigel was playing guitar for her once again, so I went down to support my bro too. :) It was a relaxing and breezy night filled with great music as Alarice enthralled us with her original compositions (and such little gems they are too), plus some covers such as "Love will keep us alive" (by The Eagles), "Man the mirror" (MJ), and "Bless the Broken Road". Alarice even did a cover of Brooke Fraser's "Indelible". I gave an involuntary squeak of excitement when she introduced the song. Muffin was very amused by it. haha! Do you know how hard it is to sing Brooke Fraser's songs??? But Alarice pulled it off. *respect*

I must say, it's really encouraging to see such genuine young talent emerge. And I think mebbe the folk singer deep inside of me is still holding fast to the rule that the best singers are those who can shine in the acoustic setting. eg. Sarah MacLachlan, Brooke Fraser, Paula Cole. None of that overly engineered stuff for me. And I think Alarice really proved my theory. Her voice is just gorgeous live... and so versatile. She doesn't need much more than an acoustic guitar to pull off a gig really. Inspiring stuff!

[Dawnie...we must jam lah when you come back from HK!! Itchy liao! You go practise 'Colour' hor? hee!]

Here are some snapshots of the evening....photos courtesy of Bassist Boy aka Jason W, who got a lovely, personalised autograph on his cd from Alarice for being the official photographer. I also want. *jealous*. Ah well, but Nigel did introduce us to her, so it was nice talking to her for a bit. :)

[You can view the rest of Jason's photos and his blog entry on Alarice's gig here: http://darkred.multiply.com/ ]

Alarice tuning up

Taking the stage

The full band, rearing to go

Alarice

Nigel...playing his fierce looking Gibson guitar. He had many other cool guits for that nite too

The rhythm section

Leonard on bass

Audrey Tang on percussions

Nigel!!! :) Playing from the heart.

Nigel, myself, Muffin and his frens

Group shot with Alarice!

Stars, tonight

"So I'll check the weather wherever you are,
Cos I wanna know if you can see the stars tonight"
- 'Split Screen Sadness' by John Mayer

My Insane Fwens (Pt 2)

I went down to the Esplanade to watch Alarice & Nigel again.....thank God for holding the rain clouds! It really looked like a storm was brewing, but it didn't rain in the end. Was just really cool. Phew!

Anyway, I was happily watching Alarice sing....Jason got to be their official photographer, so he was up and about snapping away....and then Muffin was next to me when this unreal conversation unfolded. *shakes head in disbelief*

Mich: Eh, I think Alarice is really a better vocalist than Corrinne May leh.
[but I think Corrinne is better at songwriting.]
Muffin: *pause* I don't think I want to be your fwen anymore!
Mich: !?!??! siao!! Just cos I said that? You're super biased lah.
Muffin: But Corrinne rocks my world! Ok I mean God rules 1st. Corrinne rules 2nd.
I mean Corrinne rules 2nd part (a), Brooke Fraser rules 2nd part (b)....and Jason Mraz
rules 2nd part (c).
Mich: Siao lah u...spend too much time in NUS taking exam ppers liao.
Muffin: But then still got John Mayer ...and Damien Rice...Switchfoot, Marie Digby. Cannot
lah. A-Z also not enough.
Mich: ......

My Insane Fwens

Mich: Eh Abiiiiii!!! Muffin said he has the new Coldplay album! He'll pass me tmrw and I'll send it to you. I'm trading with him for Corinne Bailey Rae Live in NY and Maroon 5. Oh, and Glenn might be getting the new Hillsong album from Sydney!
Abi: Ooohh!! Hail Muffin! Hail Glenn!
Mich !?!??!?! hahahah! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You should add on, "Long live Muffin, long live Glenn!"
Abi: Aiyah, wot's dumb??
Mich: "Hail Muffin, hail Glenn!" You're actually defending your statement?
Abi: hahaha! Too sleepy to defend myself. Tmrw we'll talk again. Sweet John dreams! Nite!
Mich: Ok, may the Mayer be with you!

[Yes Glenn, apparently you've turned into royalty during your vacation in Sydney.]

Rejuvenation

Today was the most rested Sat I've had in months!! *happy*
I woke up at 12.30pm....something I could not do all week....and have never been able to do during term cos I work Sats. It was a good time for me to catch up on my sleep debt. Then I had a long lunch, drank my coffee & read the papers. *shiokness!* I logged on to the internet and blogged a bit.....then watched my "Corinne Bailey Rae Live in New York" Dvd. Good stuff! After which, I lazed on my bed to read The Chronicles of Narnia while listening to Alarice and John Mayer on my iPod. :)

I made my way to City hall to meet Jason for dinner. He finished his last day of work yesterday, coincidentally Independence Day (haha!)...and is now officially free to live a life of leisure until he does his Masters in Melb next year. So suffice to say, he was in a pretty happy mood. Dinner was simple & relaxed, a good time of catching up......we browsed around some photography bookshop after that....and then I met my doom at Sembawang Music. I actually told him I didn't want to go in....but he wanted to. Aiyah...so inside, I ACCIDENTALLY spotted the "John Mayer (Live in L.A)- Where the Light Is" DVD, which I thought was not out yet...cos HMV said so. So what to do right? Have to buy mah! It was only $25, cheaper than the cd! Hiyah....all Jason's fault lah!

Hmmm..but now my JM collection is complete!! :) Dvd and double cd set! Abi is NOT allowing me to watch it without her tho'. Dunno how ah....everyday stare at it. Suffering man!

We took a slow walk to Jazz@South Bridge....and it was a real treat cos instead of the usual line-up with Alemay, there was some special concert going on by this electric guitarist from Hong Kong, Eugene something. Kerong was wicked on the red hot Nord, saw some ang moh saxphonist from Blujazz, and we also spotted Jeremy Monteiro sitting opposite us!! We got very excited! haha! Perhaps he played in the later sets...too bad we didn't stay long enuff to find out. They played some great original compositions tonight. Brilliant stuff! Really rejuvenated our souls I think. :) And there was free Erdinger beer, cos Jason treated...so Mich is very contented.

Camera shy Jason

I'm surprised...but awfully glad that today was such a pleasant, restful day for me. You know how sometimes you have the whole day free, but fatigue just doesn't allow you to fully enjoy it? Today was just lovely though. :) Tmrw has more musical inspiration in store as I head down to Esplanade to watch Alarice. Nigel is playing guit for her again. Looking fwd to it! I think after that...I should rested enough to face the intense new work week. Yupz, it's gonna be crazy as I shuffle between BMI and church for the next few months. God grant me strength! :)

Find the Joy in Your Life

A fantabulous excerpt from Jason Mraz's blog entry on Independence Day:

"I hope July 4th goes beyond political independence and takes over individual lives. We are all free to be. Free to forget. We are free to dream. We are free to scream. So celebrate something in your own way today, this week, and the rest of the year. Light that dormant ruse in your ass and sparkle once in a while. Let me hear the boom from way out here."
- Jason Mraz

Blue Like Jazz

Some of you might know that I've been feeling a bit out of sorts lately....weird fish out of the water kinda feeling, and a tad emo too. Bursting into tears at the slightest trigger/song. But it's times like these that you see close fwens rallying around you, intentionally journeying with you. Thanks for your encouraging prayers, random/funny/comforting smses, phone calls etc and of course your time & company (and not many words are required really when we hang out). :) Some msges really came as a surprise, but it was much needed balm to the soul indeed.

Gosh, I dunno what I'll do without some of you. I'm beyond grateful you know.
For having you in my life, for the blessing of having someone who just gets me and vice versa.
Love you lots! *big hugz*

John Mayer Live in L.A- "Where the light is"

Just when you thought that John Mayer couldn't get any better, he blows your existing expectations to bits and takes it to a whole new level. This new live album which features 3 different sets (acoustic, trio and full band) truly showcases him at his best. I like what this one reviewer said: "It was all his various incarnations on one stage for one night. It's as if he opened up himself all night, and it really gave you a great perspective on his incredible range as a young musician and how much he's grown since Room for Squares." I fully agree, it feels like John's unfolding his exciting, personal journey with you as a musician.

From the first note, I wanted to cry. That's how I judge if an album is a good one. If it has that ability to arrest our oft wandering attention, and make that elusive connection to our heart. John Mayer's got a lethal combination I must say. Watching/hearing him is so enjoyable because his passion for music is infectious! In fact, it feels like you're in the studio with a close fren who's just having bucketloads of fun jamming. At the same time, there's a great deal of artistry and sophistication in what you hear. You gotta give him respect for how much he's laboured at his craft. Finally, his music is undeniably, profoundly moving, often leaving one speechless with its raw confessional honesty and emotive power. Reflective and wistful at times, soulful, bold and fiery at others. John Mayer is showing amazing versatility and maturity for an artist this young.

On a final note, "Where the light is" is an impressive, smashing and timeless album which every self-respecting iPod needs to have. haha! Go out and buy it, then plug in your headphones, close your eyes and ENJOY as John takes you on a delicious ride "into his atmosphere".

I've uploaded 3 songs on to my multiply website....one from each set:
"Belief "(Full band): listen out for the incredible instrumental towards the end
"Who did you think I was" (Trio): fierce bass line in the instrumental at the end too.
"Neon" (Acoustic): Nifty guitar work on this one! It's just way fun hearing John tear it up

(I can't wait for the DVD to come out! That's going to be wicked, I saw a short DVD preview on youtube which showed John Mayer 'opening' for himself. As in, he was his own opening act. Gosh the dude is hilarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHLQSW7bfTA&feature=related)


Groupie Quotes:
====================
[At Plaza Sing Starbucks, Abi and Mich are stoning out and listening to the new John Mayer album. Abi's fren walks past and starts talking to her.]
Abi's fren: You're just sitting there not doing anything!!
Mich and Abi: *both thinking the same thing* We're not doing nothing! We're listening to John!!! (it's one of those albums which demand your fullest attention.)

Abi: *after one of John's amazing solos* Abi thinks she should go to the U.S, find John and marry him!
Mich: Noooo! Me first!
Abi: Hahaha!

Groupie Events:
===================
In eager anticipation of the "Where the light is" DVD launch.....we're seriously thinking of planning a "Where the light is" DVD viewing party! We just need a kick-ass sound system, a bunch of JM groupies (shldn't be hard to find) and well....food and JM t-shirts are optional. haha! Stay tuned!! :)

Like a Star

"Just like a star across my sky,

Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,
Just like a song in my heart,
Just like oil on my hands"
- 'Like a Star' by Corinne Bailey Rae