Top 10 Movies of All Time

The following is MY PERSONAL OPINION:

For the 10 Best Movies of all Time

The following movies will either make you really sad, or really happy, but either way, if you’re depressed or if you’re feeling emo (keep eyes out for a really emo post coming really soon – CCT period what) these movies will make you think and reflect on your life and humanity in general.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you got different opinions pls tell me or tag, cos I haven’t seen ALL the movies in the world, mind you.

10) World Trade Center
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Maggie Gyllenhaal
One of three movies that ever made me cry. Still, though it is really emotional and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Nicolas Cage put up phenomenal performances, the movie gets slightly one-dimensional toward the end. Still, the smooth transitions between the trapped-in scenes and the worried family member scenes were beautiful.
You’ll think about how fragile life is, and to treasure every moment with your family.

9) A Walk to Remember
Starring: Mandy Moore, Shane West
The scene were Jamie Sullivan dies is freaking touching. I nearly teared up, but didn’t. It was beautiful to watch Landon Carter, played by West, try to complete Jamie’s wish list items.
It makes you appreciate life’s little treasures more, and to love everyone equally.

Adaptation
Starring: Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage
Second Nicolas Cage show I have featured, and showcases Streep’s phenomenal acting this time. Adaptation is a movie that takes you on a journey of discovery of concept, and what the human mind can hold. The beauty of Adaptation is in its subtle plot and dialogue.
It’ll make you think deep about Man’s foolishness and the cycle of life.

7) The Last Holiday
Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J
Queen Latifah steals the show here as the woman who’s been told she only has a month left to live, prompting her to try to fulfill all her dreams, and she does so by withdrawing all her money, not taking any shit from anyone, and living it her way.
Queen Latifah’s amazing acting will make you reevaluate life’s priorities and make you live life the way you want it to.

6) The Bodyguard
Starring: Whitney Houston, Kevin Costner
The soundtrack to this movie was the best selling soundtrack of that year, narrowly beating Titanic OST to the top spot of all time. Whitney can act as well as she can sing, and the torn love between Costner’s character and hers is magnificent.
You will learn more about yourself and appreciate love in its finest and most beautiful form.

5) AI
Starring: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law
AI is the proverbial story about a robot child who tries to gain his mother’s love, but eventually does not succeed. Contrary to other good-moral-tales of the time, the mother never does reappear, but she reappears as a futuristic image, just for Osment’s character to love.
The beauty of AI is for you to learn to love your parents and friends more.

4) Walk the Line
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
Reese undoubtedly steals the show here, bringing forth a marvelous June Carter Cash to the movie, showcasing the character’s weaknesses, strengths and every thing else at the same time. The movie is clear cut and its purpose is not lost through the song numbers sang.
Walk the Line makes you realize that nothing in life is impossible, and one cannot just give up upon failure.

3) Donnie Darko
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore
The other Gyllenhaal is the show stealer here, as the lead character Donald Darko, who is a slighty-insane, eccentric kid who seems to know what is happening. Donnie is chosen to save the Universe from collapsing, and Donnie Darko’s theme is as dark as its title.
After watching this, you get the strange feeling to curl up in a corner and never come out into this world again. There’s definitely some evaluation of humanity involved here.

2) Sister Act
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith
Goldberg’s phenomenal acting and singing here is documented well, and it remains one of the most favorite movies of all time to date. The nun situation is funny, light-hearted and at the same time teaches some of the most truthful values of standing up for what you believe in.
Integrity, love, and acceptance of others are just some of them.

1) Titanic
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
DiCaprio and Winslet make the perfect couple ever, the couple of beautiful love. The ending is most touching, as Winslet’s character Rose returns to the ship where she found her one greatest love, and as she joins Jack for one last dance, the ship is restored to its magnificence.
The greatest love of all, shown in Titanic, is one not to be missed.

Other good movies I wanted to include were Sam I Am, Ghost, amongst others, but these 10 are my top favorites. You have to catch them during the holidays.
You won’t regret it.

A Day in 2020 (Part 3)

A Day in 2020 (Part 3)
Note: The work here is entirely fictional, and the author HAS used the following names mentioned purposely, but with no intention of harm or maliciousness. =)

Another Day in 2020. It’s funny how this year has been so full of memories and full cycles lately. First I got in touch with all of me old primary school mates, and then getting into contact with my ex-1G/2G lower secondary friends. And believe it or not, this month I happened to get in touch with all of my upper secondary friends that WEREN’T in my graduating class 4C! Weird, or what?

Let me tell you how it all began. Marcus Tan and I were at Wala Wala for our weekly drinks night, when I actually recognized this fellow, who had just come in from America! Adriel Chang had informed neither Marcus nor I that he was in Singapore for a business deal. Coolio Adriel’s a high-ranking employee in an American firm, and he’s so cool he impresses the girls. He’s married now, with this ‘hot American chick’ (his words, not mine).

Anyway so we sat down to talk about stuff, and Marcus, who works in advertising now, was saying how Mathan Prasad, that ol’ bitch of our time, is the personal dance choreographer for Nicole Scherzinger, in America, who had come up with 5 follow-up albums after her solo success after The Pussycat Dolls’ 3rd album back in 2010.

It was really good, to hear about old friends whom were in your life. I mean, for some, like Alaric Ng, it’s not called ‘hearing about’ because like Marcus, I still keep in touch with him, though its tougher, since that high-flying pilot’s work takes him to places like Europe and basically all over the world.

The one who really has gone around is Louis Lim, who has paired up with his brother Colin to form this really cool duo, storming Taiwan, China and Hong Kong markets and even now, their work has hit America, and is being noticed by famous Grammy-winning artiste Solange Knowles, who wants to work with them.

Shawn Lee’s also a pilot, by the way, remember that tall prefect from 4A last time? Yeah, SIA really got a lot of my friends, and he’s one of them!

Anyway, I got home from the bar, and I recieved an email from Nabil Aliffi, whom I still talk to nowadays at least and apparently his Aliffi Fashion for Business is finally opening in New York! His clothes are high-class ‘couture’ or something, and the best part is that they can actually be worn to work! My girlfriend and I will be going to his new collection showcase next month in conjunction with Singapore Fashion Week.

Sadikin’s also going, and it’ll be great for him to get away from his work. Being a doctor, it’s nuts how many patients he sees every single day. Not that he’s complaining, he loves his job and he’s good at it too. Speaking of being good at his job, Ng Yu Hui’s job as a biologist is excellent. He’s doing some great research on taking stem cell cloning further. Cool stuff.

Jarrell Goh has racked up an amazing name for himself too, him being in Japan now handling his Japan-based company and Singapore. He won’t be flying back to our ‘little red dot’ any time soon, but he loves it in Tokyo and Hokkaido, last I heard from him.

Well, if there’s one person that is influencing, it’s Bryan (Chia) who’s a politician AND an inspirational speaker. He’s a pioneer in that field, often going around youth activities and churches to inspire people to do well with their lives, like he did with his.

Jonathan Lim Eng Sze is doing well with his life too. It’s as if his life as a deputy head prefect preempted him for his job as Minister for Education. He and Chia are the most well-known ones I know that are in politics, and doing a good job out of it.

Daniel Lee Zhen Rong is also meeting up with Chee this week. The two of them I remember so well, and how. Jeremy Chee’s CEO for a known international bank, and Daniel’s taking his picture this week for Newsweek. Yep, LZR is a great photographer for Newsweek Asia. Finally found his calling in photography after so much hassle…

Zhang Yi Tao is also in the music industry, by the way, and I’m really amazed at the way he was able to be producer for TWO famous artistes’ albums, and that he’s really carved a name for himself as a pop track producer not only in Asia, but in America, especially Los Angeles, where he’s worked with big names. He’ll be in Singapore to talk about piracy and illegal downloading, and why teenagers should not do it. He’s good, he is.

Mr Pang Jiahao Jason is one serious bugger, and him opening up a restaurant lately in Clarke Quay is one of his business ventures, apart from real estate and the various other likes. He’s really cheerful and optimistic and still loves soccer like mad, and nothing’s changed in him.

Well, there are also surprise collaborations. Wenjian and Yuzhou have gotten together and set up a company! Taking it a step in invention and sports, they’ve come up with some really cool sports function products. The launch will happen soon, and I expect *ahem* invites…

Lao He, Brian, is the vice-captain for the national polo team, and he’s kicking some ass with yet another gold medal won at the recent 37th SEA Games. Very good fellow, and a damn good leader.

Tze Kang is a businessman involved with establishing global trade strategies, and he’s going to compete in this year’s Olympic Games in the Czech Republic, because if nothing, he’s still a swimmer. He never changes lah…

Leonard Lee is a lawyer, like me as well, and although we’ve never gone up against each other in court before, but I hear he’s a good one, combining character with case. He’s really good, and I hope I never go up against him! He still keeps in touch with Daryl Teo though, and that fellah’s one question mark ever since he migrated to Australia. Wonder what he’s doing now? Their old classmate Lionel Lim is working in Live Nation Asia now, responsible for bringing renowned acts like Ringside and Chantal Kreviazuk down to Singapore. I still remember going to Gwen Stefani’s show with him back in 2007.

Chris Kwan is a doctor too, but he’s more renowed in circles as not a specialist, but a surgeon, working on cases involving limb structure. He’s one of those who always appears on the news as some savior of life. Ng Jiahao became a model right after he got out of university, and he’s now managing his own talent and modelling agency. Then there’s Jotham Tay, who also appears in the news, particularly as a playwright and actor who’s carved a name for himself in USA directing a Tony-award musical on Broadway. Those three are leading amazing lives too.

Though I’m a lawyer, I still miss the days I spent with RJ Astronomy Club, drawing up constellation charts…
Those old dreams… they really catch up to you at this point in life don’t they? Those old times seem to live again when the memories all return. But time never does turn back.

P.S I never did hear from other schoolmates who weren’t in my class! If you read my blog and found your name not here, please contact me and let’s get back in touch! Thanks!

I admit, I was wrong

ALLRIGHT ALL RIGHT!

I admit it I admit it!

Since you people are just aching to tell me I’m wrong…

FINE! I ADMIT IT!

I-M-W-R-O-N-G!

Why? See here: http://fineattitude.blogspot.com/2007/06/singapores-got-talent-sure-or-not.html

Earlier in June, I was lamenting about the menagerie of talent shows that had been hitting our sunny ‘little red dot’ shores, when the talent pool in this ‘little red dot’ was rather limited.

I was extremely skeptical about the quality of Live the Dream, yet another sing-and-dance talent show on Channel 5. How many times could this concept be re-used?

As it turns out, it’s surprising how amazing the talent is on Live the Dream. I guess the old saying, “The ginger is spiciest when it’s oldest’ (rough translation) actually IS true.

If you’ve heard singers like Robert Sunga, Eka Mairina, Shauna Simon, Razlina and Rani, you would know I’m NOT KIDDING.

This isn’t just some Jasmine Tye, Paul Twohill, Joakim Gomez kiddy-kiddy fun-fun stuff.

This is like an entire show full of Mathilda D’Silvas and Jessea Thyidors, all armed with full figures and fuller voices, good looks and better baritones.

They’re all going for the powerhouse songs, with Donna Summers, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and TWO Whitney Houstons sung by Eka and Razlina ALREADY. I can imagine Mathilda doing Whitney, but can u imagine anyone else?

This is GOOD STUFF. Or Hot Stuff, like Rani sang. These contestants are all superbly fantastic! And I’m really sorry and wrong to say I even questioned the show’s talent. Or Singapore’s talent pool, for that matter, though it could really fool us.

Though the show shouldn’t have such dreary 1970s has-been lighting, but without a doubt, the contestants are more than making up for it with amazing performances.

HOW DO THE JUDGES EVEN CHOOSE?

It’s such a tough call!

At least there’s no worry of the public favoring a cutey-butey little boy like Singapore Idol. In this show, all the singers are professional people who can REALLY sing, and any one that makes it through is fantastic enough. Besides, I hope, and do think, that the audience this time is a much more mature bunch.

Excellent, excellent.

Now this is what a talent show should be like. Though of course the name still evokes some thoughts of musical horror and comical laughter, but I assure, this show is not going to do that.

Catch my favorite SOLO performances here:

Eka Mairina:
Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

Robert Sunga:
Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered

Shauna Simon:
Christina Aguilera – Reflection

Razlina:
Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You

Rani:
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff

P.S. Nothing about groups. Groups are okay, in my opinion. No standouts, but not terribly dreadful either.

P.P.S I just realized I haven’t blogged in six days! Amazing or what!

P.P.P.S Can scientists have FAITH? Big question of the week.

Hopefully no more long blogging breaks! But I’m very busy this two months, as is everyone else, but as you know, I luuurve me blog.

Dashed Dreams

Funny how it’s so weird that during the busiest period of the whole year (or at least until the EOYs and Os come around) I have the greatest urge to blog. Three or four posts already this week.

Anyway, this post comes today right after I got my APR (REALLY lousy grade), screwed up English Showcase Portfolio Oral Defense and am preparing for my RE presentations, script submissions for SYDA and having listened to tons of professionals for Career Forums Day.

I realized in Singapore, there’re no such thing as a “Dream”.

Out of all my subjects on my APR, everything is brilliant except the one and lonesome MATHEMATICS.

It’s dreadful that I have to screw up the one subject that has double weightage.

I’m very close to giving up, having screwed up Maths for the whole of my Sec 4 life. Which is why I need to depend on my other subjects to pull me up. Ironic then I had to screw up Oral Defense because I didn’t mention my FAILURES throughout RP.

I realized in Raffles Institution, particularly the RP system, there’s no such thing as a “Dream”.

Close friends who know me well know what I want to do when I grow up. It’s so sickening that that won’t work out because of certain failure subjects. Of course not that if I meet the requirements academically, there’ll be any opportunity to do what I want in Singapore, this ‘tiny little red dot’.

God forbid that life is all about self-pity and dead ends, because that’s not what I believe life to be.

I believe life to be open, full of hope, full of expectations and futures, and full of emotions and new beginnings.

In Sec 4 year, after a long and ardous journey through this so-called RP programme, I feel that I really understand what academics is supposed to do. Studies and grades do nothing for you except drain you of all your energy and leave you empty and tired after 4 x 365 days. At the end of it, you realize that there is no saviour in life, no great plan, no wonder guard.

And everything suddenly begins to seem so pointless and round-the-bush with no purpose.

Here comes religion, with all of its grandeur hidden meanings, higher orders and divine plans.

I feel that faith and religion is important when it comes to times when a person feels like he is about to give up, and when he is about to drop all he has when it just won’t work out.

Everyone must have faith. It’s impossible to say someone alive doesn’t have faith.

Here comes atheists, to debate that your dreams do not come as a result of God. Your dreams are yours only, and they start getting all Darwin on us.

I really believe Darwin and his theories make perfect sense, but why not have faith?
Is it impossible to be a scientist AND believe in God, or a higher power?

Why do people assume it is contradictory for a person to believe in Science and have a religion?

Don’t get all Scientology on me. That’s not the point.

The point is, can’t someone put his faith in something else, just so his dreams seem closer to him? Can’t everyone?

Isn’t that all the purpose of faith? When one is about to go bust, he puts his hope in someone else, be it higher than him or not, and trust in that person to help him.

If one does not have faith, wouldn’t it be so much more likely for the person to end up bleak, depressed and disillusioned?

That’s where dreams get the basis from. Like when someone wishes that perhaps he wasn’t born in Singapore, that opportunities would come knocking on his door — that’s all the work of faith and trust.

Why can’t everybody have a faith? Is it so beyond belief that it makes better psychological health if someone is able to forget his worries for a minute because someone is taking care of them? Would it be so unacceptable?

Dashed dreams can only be mended by someone else.

You can’t mend your own dreams.

At least that’s what I believe in.

At least that’s what happens in Singapore.

So find someone else to mend your dreams for you.

Because if we have nothing, at the very least we have someone else. If that someone else were to be scientifically proven NOT to exist, well, at least we have our faith. And our dashed dreams.

Out on the Town – A Concert Review

Out On The Town

presents

A CONCERT REVIEW

The Sweet Escape Tour
Gwen Stefani
Presented by Live Nation and Nokia N Series

What’s the point of organizing a concert review, you ask, when the concert’s one night only and it’s over?

Well, I just loved yesterday night’s The Sweet Escape Tour so much that I couldn’t help but review it, since it’s such an excellent and marvelous show. Gwen Stefani has been here a couple of times (or 3) before, notably her last appearance was in 2002, a double-bill show with her band No Doubt and rocking along with The Cranberries.

This time around, she’s solo, with two albums’ worth of material under her fashionably Oriental-designed belt. Not that solo means anything, because she brings with her a HUGE backing band and dance team, showing off her four Harajuku Girl dancers, five male hip-hop and pop dancers varying from The Bronx to Osaka, Japan.

Take note though, there will be no additional photos unless upon request, because some anal ass security guard was watching beadily and getting people to stop taking photos and to move away from the main aisle, which many people were using to dance. Stupid idiot who nearly ruined the first part of the show. Also, it’s very troublesome and annoying to upload photos on Blogger.

The show started close to twenty minutes late, because firstly, many people were late, (there was the BIGGEST JAM outside Singapore Indoor Stadium) and there was no opening act for the show, which was rather disappointing because opening acts get the crowd going enough for the main act to carry the energy onwards through the night.

As it turns out, Gwen didn’t need it at all, as her show had already been well-planned and designed. First, each one of her four Harajuku Girls appeared within the audience stands, pretending to run around, commit some crime and then try to escape. Then four out of the five male dancers, dressed as policemen, grabbed the Girls and roughly brought them onstage. Then they started dancing to a marvelously-played opening tune that sounded very familiar.

The last male dancer appeared now, bringing with him the mastermind of the whole criminal act, which was none other than Ms Stefani herself. She leaped onstage, bouncing and bounding with endless energy, as the familiar opening tune exploded into the even-more-familiar “Weehooo, Weeehooo,” of The Sweet Escape.

Gwen was nervous, that was certain. She began her singing on shaky ground, her voice going unnaturally deep, and one could see that she was daunted by the huge crowd, all energized and excited, that was cheering, whooping, yelling and basically doing everything possible to react to the song. Her moves were rather rough at first, and one could see that she was trying to focus.

Eventually, however, as she moved on to song 2, Rich Girl, she was in her element and she started interacting much more naturally, shouting out, “What’s up, Singapore!” in her unique voice that was very suitable for ska punk. She exploded through the song, then moved on to less familiar songs such as Danger Zone, Don’t Get It Twisted, Yummy, and two familiar hits, Luxurious and 4 In The Morning. Her natural presence overflowed and filled the entire stadium, bringing the crowd energy to greater heights.

Now, I’m not a stranger to concerts. I’ve been to Fall Out Boy’s, Simple Plan’s, Avril Lavigne’s, and more, but this concert stood out very much for how much Gwen interacted. She noticed what some audience members were wearing, even going so far to recognize that someone was wearing an L.A.M.B shirt, and holding up the L.A.M.B logo. She bounded from one end of the stage to another with enormous amounts of energy, matching that of her dancers’.

The backing band was equally beautiful as well, with skilful trombone, trumpet and drum beats stealing the musical limelight, giving most notably, The Sweet Escape, Hollaback Girl, and Wind It Up a wonderful jazz-swing feel to it, likening a grand marching band-style performance, which Gwen and her Girls emulated gladly by marching along to the music.




The crowd reacted likewise, with everyone screaming “Cos I ain’t no Hollaback Girl!” when Gwen shouted out to her Singapore female fans.

The highlight of the whole show was when she went to the center-stadium elevated platform, and began to sing ‘Cool’. The song was met with enormous recognition and fanfare, and to the crowd’s surprise, she began to move INTO the crowd, entering the stands to interact with the audience.

Gwen was promptly mobbed, but she was so professional she managed to keep her cool (no pun intended) and she fed off the crowd’s surge forward to get an up-close glimpse (or photo) of her by requesting the crowd to sing the song’s chorus with her. Gwen, up close, was sweaty and worked-out, but her face still radiated with energy and she was smiling. The bodyguards aided her as she tried to make her way back down to the center platform, and it was no easy feat, as fans flocked after her as she made her way down. That was something I never saw before in any other performance by a modern pop-rock act in concert.

For Early Winter, Wonderful Life and The Real Thing, her backing singer Nat stole the show, or at least shared the limelight with Gwen. Nat was charming in her voice, beautiful in her style and vocal control, giving a performance reminiscent of a jazzed-up Mary J. Blige, ending off Early Winter and starting off Wonderful Life, as Gwen went backstage to change. Nat was able to keep the energy up, and the crowd recognized this, prompting Gwen and Nat to duet later for The Real Thing, a track I personally found as my favorite on Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Gwen introduced her dancers, and her backing band as well, giving each member of her accompanying team a few minutes to show off their moves and their musical ability while she caught her breath after the exhausting Wonderful Life and Cool. She retreated backstage, seemingly ending the show, but within minutes, the crowd had risen their voice to one word: “ENCORE!”

She came out again, and gave an encore with the earlier-mentioned duet with Nat for The Real Thing, finally ending it for real with a pumped-out, extreme-energized What You Waiting For, sending small sparks into the air and an explosion of lights, sound and that final line, “TAKE A CHANCE YOU STUPID HO!”

Bam! An amazing, excellent and fiery performance by the Queen of Ska-Pop, and she takes it home with her Singaporean fans, giving them, and ME, a night not to forget. The Sweet Escape Tour Singapore leg was without doubt a success, and I am somewhat certain it will be featured on her Sweet Escape World Tour Re-Release and DVD, because it was filmed throughout and it was so good. One can only hope she returns here again, the next time back with her band No Doubt, for something truly out of this world.

The Sweet Escape Tour

The Verdict:

* * * * * FIVE STARS!

Out On The Town – An Album Review!

Another new segment on my blog (well, not new lah, but new name for it CAN!) called Out On The Town, which features new movies, new music, new food (like restaurants) and new lotsa stuff, all reviewed by Yours Truly and Friends of yours truly (especially food. I know this big eater who does a good job inhaling food who goes by initials MZ).

OUT ON THE TOWN

presents

AN ALBUM REVIEW

Album: Send, Search, Retrieve
Artiste: Walter Wong
Label: Point Rewards International

It’s not everyday a 17-year-old releases an album. Nope, nosirreee, nope, those things are hard to come by. At least if you’re not from America and your name is not Jojo.

Send, Search, Retrieve is a new album from RJC student Walter Wong, someone whom I knew for some time and moderately well. From an unopinionated, unbiased point of view, the first time I heard this album, my reaction was mixed. Eight listens later, I’m still mixed about how I feel, but it’s definitely better.

This 6-song EP is something borne out of good lyrics, emotional, soulful music, but lacks vocal strength. Walter has stated before that his music is more of a Damien Rice, Jason Mraz kind, which is a varying degree of fun pop music and emotional, raw soul. The album is exactly that, balancing the fun pop sound and the quiet piano backgrounds matching to a soft, soulful voice.

Track 1, Spare Spaces, grabs you from the start. It is rather catchy, keeping the energy high, and setting a good start for the rest of the album. His voice stands out, though, but not in a good way. It’s rather nasally, and though this is okay for the first track, by the time you get to Track 2, This I’m Worth, you get rather annoyed by his nasal voice. The nasal voice becomes something more like a derailment, drawing you away from his music and his lyrics, and you wish you could move on.

Track 3 and 4 are different stories. Track 3, These Days, is catchy again, and it stands out for its backing drum beats, which are well-placed. Again, though, his nasally voice becomes somewhat of a derailment, but the overall track is maintained. Track 4, Nightlife, is very active as its title implies, combining drum beats once more and piano to achieve a very fun sound.

Track 5, Little Things, is, like Track 2, a weakness. The overall song, tune and vocals, don’t match somehow, and the result is a confusing track that when ended, makes you feel like you’ve walked through mud, and you end up stuck and dirty and nowhere.

THE TOP TRACK:
Without a doubt, Track 6, Still People, is the top track, the one to look out for, and the track which takes this album to a whole new level. The tune is beautiful, the piano excellently-played and this time, his voice complements the piano.

His voice is not as nasally, and rather whispery, and the combined soulful emotion and the melodic piano makes for an easy listening tune that is reminiscent more of Corrinne May, Augustana and Damien Rice, less of the Jason Mraz that he had earlier said. In fact, the Damien Rice influence was rather clear, as I found Still People a good match to Rice’s Cold Water, from his album O.

It is 5 minutes 18 seconds of pure heartwrench and calming bliss. It is something that would not come out of a 17 year old, but at the same time, not the perfect track that would have caused it to lose its magic… A few cracked notes and drifted words made for the emotional song that is definitely one of my favorites of this month.

One suggestion though. This album would definitely exist better as a live acoustics album. A live voice would definitely fit clear acoustics better.

Send, Search, Retrieve

The Verdict:
* * * ^ THREE AND A HALF!

BUSY!

Busy times.

Usually I can find it in me to blog.

But not this week.

As everyone can agree with me, Week 8 is nuttily busy.

July-August is never a good time. Neither is September-October. Which is basically a good part of the 3rd quarter of the year.

Damn, it’s nuts.

Sorry for being unable to write my thoughts for some time.

The school work’s got me loaded.

I promise I’ll be back soon.

*********************************

Meanwhile. KT Tunstall’s Another Place to Fall which is cementing itself inside my next Matching Music with Moods.

Usually I don’t take well to lyrics without meaning, or so this song seems at first glance. But really, the lyrics are full of attitude and spunk, and the tune is catchy and KT’s striking tone is strong and spot-on. The song is also full of meaning if you get to know it and what it really is trying to signify.

“Another Place To Fall”
KT Tunstall

Are you blind
Blind to me trying to be kind
Volunteering for your firing line
Waiting for one precious sign
The flicker of a smile
You should try it just once in a while
Maybe it’s not quite your style
It’s simply too easy to do
And you might not see it through
See it through

Find yourself another place to fall
Find yourself up against another brick wall
See yourself as a fallen angel
Well I don’t see no holes in the road but you
Find another place to fall

Are you proud
To have founded a brand new behaviour
With hatred and hurt as your saviour
But nobody’s choosing to follow
So you choke back the tears and you swallow
Men who have ruined your life
You consume them with minimum strife
But now you have got indigestion
The antacid comes as a question

Find yourself another place to fall
Find yourself up against another brick wall
See yourself as a fallen angel
Well I don’t see no holes in the road but you
Find another place to fall

Are you alive
Is there a young woman hiding inside
Does she know that we’re trying to help her
Is she totally frozen with fear
If you let her come out for a day
She might even like it and stay
But it’s gonna take you to invite her
Coz you seem so determined to spite her

Find yourself another place to fall
Find yourself up against another brick wall
See yourself as a fallen angel
Well I don’t see no holes in the road but you
Find another place to fall

Find yourself
There isn’t much more I can say
For I don’t understand the delay
You’re asking for friendly advice
And remaining in permanent crisis
Affection is yours if you ask
But first you must take off your mask
When you’re back’s turned I’ve decided
I’ll throw it away just like I did

Find yourself

Find yourself another place to fall
Find yourself up against another brick wall
See yourself as a fallen angel
Well I don’t see no holes in the road but you
Find another place to fall