My iPod's Playin'... [12.08]
State of Being : Happy Holidays!
Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Album: The Hotel Café Presents... Winter Songs; Genre: Holiday
What an apt timing to present you this single "Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson on this festive season. Taken from the holiday compilation album "The Hotel Café Presents... Winter Songs", the album features both original recordings as well as classic holiday tracks sung by a lineup of female singer-songwriters.
An original composition, listen up for the beautifully harmonies between Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson as you ease into the holiday mood with "Winter Song" this week. And while you are at it, be sure to check out the adorable new, winter- and friendship-themed video as the girls’ rosy-cheeked avatars lean on one another to get through a long, cold winter - by looking ahead to spring. In fact, This may just be the sweetest & poignant video you see all season. Animated, rosy-cheeked yet sad, wintery and also a valentine to friendship, love and survival. Stay warm out there!
My iPod's Playin'... [11.08]
State of Being : Controversial Video
Sober - Pink
Album: Funhouse; Genre: Pop Rock
Following the success of her last album "I'm Not Dead" which gave us the hit singles "Who Knew" & "U + Ur Hand", Pink is back with yet another smashing studio album. Already her first single "So What" has claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, her first solo #1 to-date. Now with the release of her "terrifically catchy" second single "Sober", Pink looks set to mark a place on the US Top 100 chart once more!
Darker & edgier, "Sober" is simply packed with atitude from start to end. Coupled with the accompanying controversial music video that shows a very sexual lesbian scenes with Pink and her doppelgänger groping and kissing passionately, this is one music video that defintely won't make it "uncut" to our "clean" TV shores!
THE ONE
State of Being : Extremely Pleased
Presenting "THE ONE"...
Having had enough of my Casio EX-Z700 which gives me crappy photos, especially for indoor pictures, what better time to invest in a new camera than to dive in among the crowd at the SITEX 2008. Comparing Sony Cyber-shot T700 with the Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS, it was a real no-brainer that I would choose the latter. Though I must agree that the Sony T700 is a real beauty with its sleek design, however, it fails rather miserably in terms of the specifications especially so with no wide-angle lens for photo-taking.
Left: taken with my old Casio EX-Z700
Right: taken with my new Canon IXUS 870 IS
The Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS on the other hand, stands out with features such as a 4.0x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom, ideal for large group shots, atmospheric interiors or architecture, a high-resolution 3.0” PureColor LCD II, and its optical Image Stabilizer technology, for blur-free shots throughout the zoom range and in low-light conditions.
IMHO, the Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS is definitely THE camera with the best specifications and is clearly unrivalled amongst all the latest digital cameras out in the market now!
SITEX 2008
I sure hope the organisers for next year SITEX 2009 will improve in this area as it is really ridiculous that consumers have to queue for so long in order to "give money" to the sellers...
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Kylie Minogue
State of Being : Wow Wow Wow!!!
Kylie Minogue's very first concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Tuesday was truly awesome. Belting out hits after hits like "Better The Devil You Know", "Can't Get You Out Of My Head, "Spinning Around" & "Step Back In Time" from her total ten albums recorded over the past twenty years, she was simply the Aussie Princess of Pop and had the audience dancing and singing along to her songs the entire night!
As expected from live concerts, most artists would usually choose to perform their previous hits in a totally new arrangement. I was especially impressed by her stripped down version of "I Believe In You". Originally an upbeat disco single, Kylie's acoustic rendition of the single was equally mesmerising. Noted with the only exception of "I Believe In You", all her other songs performed that night generally were mid to fast tempo. This I reckon is understandable since dance-pop is her forte afterall.
Overall, Kylie certainly did not disappoint the Singapore audience for her X2008 concert. Performing for full two hours, inclusive of encore, it was really value-for-money. Judging by the hysterical screams of the audience towards the end, when Kylie performed her signature tune "I Should Be So Lucky", I dare say that the concert definitely ended on a high note!!
Alas, my only complaint of the concert would be the pared down stage backdrop for her concert here. Apparently, according to online forums, she had more elaborate setup for her European leg of the tour and even came out on a hoola hoop in the opening act. Also, her Manga inspired costume and performance of the song "Nu-di-ty" was evidently missing in the Singapore concert! And that's a real bummer!
Can't Get You Out Of My Head
On A Night Like This
Singapore Biennale 2008 [Part 4]
State of Being : It's finally coming to an end...
With only one day left before the end of Singapore Biennale 2008, I finally went down to the Central Promontory site yesterday and here's my take on the artworks there.
Most Impressive Installation:
Shigeru Ban - Containart Pavilion, 2008
Renowned for creating temporary buildings, which address the problem of the environment in relation to architecture, Shigeru's installation became the temporary exhibition hall for several large installations at the Central Promontory site. Created from stacked shipping containers & reusable paper tubes, it's quite a feat to build such a large scale shelter!
Anthony McCall - Between You And I, 2006
Displayed in Asia for the first time, I had a temporary "out-of-the-body" experience as I stepped into the extremely dark room. With only two light projections emanating from the ceiling that carve out the space beneath with a series of light walls, and with intermittent fog emitted, it was a surreal feeling, somewhat like how you would feel being lost in space in a sci-fi movie.
picture courtesy of www.artnet.com
Alfredo Jaun Aquilizan & Maria Isabel Gaudinez - Flight, 2004-2008
You would never have guessed that the 2000 pairs of slippers were collected mainly from the inmates of our prison by the Yellow Ribbon Project and incorporated as part of this installation. Alongside with some slippers that came from the Singaporean public, Flight attempts to signify community reintegration, compassion and collective goals.
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More photos & videos
Yuan Goang-Ming - Floating, 2000
Singapore Biennale 2008 [Part 3]
Truong Tan - The Dancer, 2005 *** More photos & videos
State of Being : Mirari
Compared to the number of exhibits at City Hall, there are fewer artworks at South Beach Development site. I basically only took half the time to see all the exhibits here relative to the time spent at City Hall. Below are some of the more exciting installations spotted at the former SAF Warrant Officers Mess...
Tse Su-Mei - Swing, 2007
Another interesting piece by Tse Su-Mei, the entire swing, from the support hanging from the ceiling to the seat, is actually built from neon tubes. As it sways sliently in the room, you just can't help but to stop in your track to admire this precariously fragile sculpture.
Leandro Erlich - Hair Salon, 2008
At first glance, you would think it's just a normal beauty parlour. However, on exploring further, you'll be amazed that the artist has actually painstakingly repricate a symmetrical beauty parlour behind the mirror such that you will be led into believing that you are seeing the reflection of the room when you look into the mirror. A definite work of art in blurring the fine line between reality & illusion!
Top: there is even a lateral inverted signage explanation on the installation
Bottom: the seemingly normal looking beauty salon
Left: notice the lateral inverted wordings on the Loreal hair products
Right: the numbering on the wall clock is actually laterally inverted!
Doesn't Tan's interweaving lines of multi-coloured elastic cords that is stretching the body of the dancer across all directions remind you of the stress that we are facing at times?
:(
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Singapore Biennale - South Beach Development
Singapore Biennale 2008 [Part 2]
With just one more week to go before the end of the Singapore Biennale 2008, I finally found some time to go down to the exhibition last Sat and first stop on my list - City Hall.Armed with my handy Samsung Omnia, here are some of the more interesting installations at the former Singapore Supreme Court...
From top left clockwise:
Pham Ngoc Guong - Maggots, 2008
Jane Lee - Raw Canvas, 2008
Desiree Dolron - Xteriors, 2001-2008
Srinivasa Prasad - I Wonder Why?, 2008
Wit Pimkanchanapong - Singapore, 2008
Shirin Aliabadai & Farhad Moshiri - Operation Supermarket, 2006
It's a tie between Zadok Ben-David's Blackfield & Tse Su-Mei's The Yellow Mountain
Zadok Ben-David - Blackfield, 2008
Comprising of thousands of intricate "plants" etched out of thin metal and painted in colour on one side & black on the other, Ben-David's installation is definitely a visual treat for all when viewed from different sides!
the cheerful & liberating side vs the cold & sombre side
detailed "plant" structures when viewed up close
Tse Su-Mei - The Yellow Mountain, 2004
In what appears to be a portrayal of a sunrise in a traditional Chinese-style painting, I was especially memerised by the accompanying song, a stirring Japanese female voice, to this single video channel.
Most "Alien" Installation:
Leeroy New - Teratoma II: War of the Worlds, 2008
I was taken aback by this terrestrial installation at City Hall and not in a good way. Feel that it is kind of amateurish to be displayed together with the other installations. Coming from one of the youngest artist featured in the Biennale, guess it definitely shows in his work.
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More photos & videos
Singapore Biennale - City Hall
Aktan Abdykalykov & Ernest Abdyjaparov - Beket (Bus Stop), 1995
Sergio Prego - Black Monday, 2008
Rizki R Utama - Me vs The Angkots, 2006
Historical Victory
Click here for Barack Obama's full Election Night Speech in Grant Park
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My iPod's Playin'... [10.08]
State of Being : If I Were A Girl?
If I Were A Boy - Beyoncé
Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce; Genre: R&B
Call it intuition, but you'll probably know a song is gonna to be a future worldwide hit if you are already hooked by it after listening to it only once. And that's exactly how I felt when I first listened to Beyoncé's latest single "If I Were A Boy", released alongside "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" as the leading single from her third studio album "I Am... Sasha Fierce".
Lyrically, this stunning ballad was written by an up and coming singer BC Jean, and there are two versions of the song. Compared to the original version, Beyoncé's rendition is more emotive and mournful, while BC Jean's version reeks more of anguish and pain. Of the two versions, I have to admit I prefer Beyoncé's more.
Clearly this is Beyoncé's most affecting offering since her last single "Listen" from the film adaptation of the Broadway muscial Dreamgirls. And in my opinion, she has managed to turn in yet another stellar vocal performance and this song will defnitely be another potential "Irreplaceable-like" smash!
Where's Colby NOW?
KylieX2008
State of Being : The Aussie Princess is finally here!
Another first for KylieX2008... After wowing audiences and critics across the UK and Europe with the KylieX2008 Tour - her first world tour since successfully battling breast cancer in 2005/6, Kylie is bringing her first ever live show to Singapore.
In town for only a one night performance at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the tickets priced at S$100, S$150, S$250, S$375, S$550 are already on sale from SISTIC.
"A show not to be missed", it is definitely an opportunity of a lifetime to catch Kylie in action on 25 November 2008. I've already gotten my tickets, get yours NOW too!
Afterall, who knows when or whether she will ever be here in Singapore again for her future world tour...
Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head (2001)
The One (2008)
My iPod's Playin'... [09.08]
State of Being : Laid back
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Album: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things; Genre: Acoustic
Alright, this single was long already in my ipod and the only reason I'm reviewing it now is the fact that it has been featured prominently recently as the promotional trailer ("Brighter, Bolder, Bettyer") for Ugly Betty Season 2 on Channel 5. Somehow, that trailer has managed to refuel my interest for the song!
Released as the first single from Jason Mraz's third studio album "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.", the song is his most successful single worldwide to date, reaching number one in Sweden and Norway, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart (before sliding to #13 in the following week), and the top ten in Austria, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Prior to this album, his previous offering "Mr. A-Z" gathered only moderate commercial success even though it did churn out the 2006 hit single "Geek In The Pink".
With its acoustic arrangement and "bouncy" tune especially the chorus, it is not difficult to find yourself humming along to it just after one listening. In fact, I can almost imagine seeing an overcast sky suddenly clearing up with a beautiful rainbow hanging amidst a cloudless blue sky as soon as the song is played on the radio. Yes, this single somewhat just has that "therapeutic" effect which will simply cheer you up on a bad day!
Let us all sing it NOW then:
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
We're just one big family
And it's our godforsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved
Vvroooom!!!!
State of Being: The Race is On!
Amidst the F1 publicity everywhere, I can never fathom what is so exciting about the event and why would someone pay as much as S$1,500 per night! to stay at a hotel just so that he can view the F1 race from the room. That is, until I personally witness the racing cars, with their roaring engines doing their practice session this afternoon from our old office!!!
