Journey to the 3rd Conducting Workshop

People always say "Practice makes Perfect". You may think that after doing the workshop for 3 times, it will be an easy piece of work. I would love to think it that way as well. Then I realised that was also the very reason I think I didn't do well enough, because of complacency. I knew that everything will turn out just fine.

I made a few mistakes this time round, in my own opinion. But no one reprimanded me in any way, not yet. But I will reflect upon it myself first. To be fair to everyone and myself. But I'm thankful for people who came in to help at the very last minute. MD, the conductors, the composers, the colleagues, and the participants as well. No one was being difficult at any time of the workshop.

Let's recap.

The first time I heard about and knew I had to do this project was 2 months into my job here, 4.5 years go. I was afraid and nervous all the time. Because I wasn't close to anyone it was really hard for me to get any good help. When my boss handed the news and all those things to me, she told me that people have been informed, and all the information are available... To my horror when I approached the people, nobody knew what was going on. No pianist engaged, no conductors involved and what else I can't even remember. Actually I think even the repertoires wasn't confirmed. I was told in July, the workshop was due to happen in end-Nov. I had about 4 months to get everything together. Meaning, to get colleagues to contact composers to have their composition reduced to piano version, get the pianists to commit their time, do a write-up for the event, draw out the timeline, put up the application form for people to sign up, coordinate with the conductors to view the application videos, eventually choosing suitable applicants as active participants. As well as, do all the emailing work, seating plan, schedule planning, etc. and the actual execution of the workshop.

At the end of the day, the workshop completed with some glitches, esp. when I didn't manage to control the timing for the podium session, due to many reasons. Haha! Also, all the participants were drained due to the long long hours every day, trying to squeeze everything into those short 4 days. That was when I promised that I will make it better for the next one.

I would also like to think that doing this contributed greatly to my promotion 1 year later.

The 2nd workshop happened in 2017, nothing much changed, I had slightly a little more time. The challenge was that we were having it in a less than satisfactory environment due to the hall undergoing renovation. All orchestra podium time were held in the Exhibition Hall, including the Final Presentation. The concourse was undergoing works so the building honestly didn't really look safe to be in. It was embarrassing I must say, though the participants didn't say it. And everyday I get complains from my colleagues about the lack in space in the hall and yet I wanted to add in more and more chairs.

Another challenge was when there were a lot of pull-outs from the programme and eventually we only had 6 participants. But, with lesser participants, it also gave us more leeway on the extra time allowance so there were less worries each day. Allocation was also pretty straight forward because there weren't so many pieces. The only constraint was really the room space, for participants and observers. We could only house very very few observers and they are all seated behind the winds section, which means they probably can't hear a lot as well. The good thing for me was that I had to sit next to MD and it was easier to manage his time. At the presentation, all the pieces were repeated; poor soloist also had to play extra although we cut the piece so that he only play one of the movements twice.

And then... after that workshop, again, I tried to suggest some other ideas and first and foremost is to make the final presentation an evening show so that we can draw more audience to support the participants. HOWEVER, dates were given without negotiation and obviously we were consulted, so the idea had to be compromised because there was a major concert going on the same week by the sub-CO, sy. Planner didn't even consider anything. Yup, the workshop may not be planned by them and they may think it's just an extra project that the company is doing, but well, I think that other than the programme itself, there are many other factors to consider. SY thinks that they are not the priority, but I felt the same way. Maybe then it's time to do it themselves so that there will not be clashes like that?

So just when I thought everything was planned out properly for this year's workshop, there were many many uncertainties, because there were too many variations available, a lot of things can happen and there is no just 1 formula for it. I blame myself for delaying a few things. But was also a little frustrated that some of the things were not done by other departments supporting. Of course, of course, even it's not my fault that I have already informed them earlier, it's my fault that I didn't follow up and caused things to be done last minute. And some of the things still was never done till the very end, and I also think that they have conveniently forgot about it altogether. At the end of the day, I really thought I single-handed managed the entire thing, except for some stuff that I really cannot do myself. I'd probably do them on my own if I have the resources. It was little of a pity that we couldn't reach out to more people but I was glad it went well. With a little overrun on 2 of the sessions. But honestly, I thought I have tried to make changes, but looks like I haven't done enough. I feel that I have made conscious effort to review every single session and provide views on how we can do better for the next one, but it wasn't recognised. Oh well... we will see for the next one then.

Just Sharing Thoughts

是的. 一年又過去了. 沒想到一年比一年寫的少了. 結果因為這樣好像很多的東西可能都忘記了. 那天在電台聽到一首晚班DJ介紹的英文歌曲. 她直接提到了歌詞有一句"I always try to not remember rather than forget". '忘記'也許就是一件多麼難的事. 發生了就是發生了, 有些事不是說想忘記就可以忘記. '不記得'又跟'忘記'有什麼不同呢? 好像有點難分辨. 也許, 分別就在, 你可以選擇不去'記得', 但不能選擇'忘記'. 有些事情, 不去觸碰到, 你就不會想起來, 但不代表你已經把它忘了. 如果我以前不再是他的朋友, 也許我就不會常常想起那些事. 但現在想想, 有很多事都已經模糊了. 我也不是非想起來不可, 但也許這樣情感上有一點點的寄託. 還沒有找到下一個不代表不會有, 我也相信, 那天的到來會改變現在對他還有一點懸念的感覺.

最近, 林俊傑的《可惜沒如果》是不是也把你打動了呢?

假如把犯得起的错 能错的都错过
应该还来得及去悔过

假如没把一切说破
那一场小风波 将一笑带过

在感情面前 讲什么自我
要得过且过 才好过

全都怪我
不该沉默时沉默 该勇敢时软弱
如果不是我 误会自己洒脱 让我们难过
可当初的你 和现在的我 假如重来过

倘若那天
把该说的话好好说 该体谅的不执著
如果那天我 不受情绪挑拨 你会怎么做
那么多如果 可能如果我
可惜没如果 只剩下结果

如果早点了解 那率性的你
或者晚一点 遇上成熟的我

不过

全都怪我
不该沉默时沉默 该勇敢时软弱
如果不是我 误会自己洒脱 让我们难过
可当初的你 和现在的我 假如重来过

倘若那天
把该说的话好好说 该体谅的不执著
如果那天我 不受情绪挑拨 你会怎么做
那么多如果 可能如果我
可惜没如果 没有你和我

都怪我
不该沉默时沉默 该勇敢时软弱
如果不是我 误会自己洒脱 让我们难过
可当初的你 和现在的我 假如重来过

倘若那天
把该说的话好好说 该体谅的不执著
如果那天我 不受情绪挑拨 你会怎么做
那么多如果 可能如果我
可惜没如果 只剩下结果
可惜没如果



很多事情都是沒有'如果'的. 如果我那時不這麼衝動, 如果那天我能夠冷靜一點, 不受朋友誘惑, 不讓他們主宰我們的事, 如果我從來沒有對任何人說的話... 這麼多如果, 可能如果我, 可惜沒如果, 沒有你和我, 只剩下結果... 結果就是我自己不肯放過我自己. 我放下了, 但我沒有原諒我自己的執著. 雙子明明就是三心兩意的人, 為甚麼我要對一件事堅持那麼久? 兩件. 另一件是工作.

我覺得有時我對這些事的執著是過於我能承受的. 我也想知道, 我到底是哪一步走錯了? 到底怎麼挽回? 也許能挽回的就是現在好好的工作. :x

I can only say, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'. I'm faced with disappointment every single day and every single time I apply for something. I don't know if I'm getting stronger, but I'm definitely getting used to it. And I'm just gonna try again.

Music being the Center of my Life.

If anything is blog-worthy in my life, it must be the concerts: either those I performed in, or those I went to watch. And just so happened that they happen to me quite often to me. HAHA!

Ever since I don't remember when, there are times I just won't be able to meet anyone on saturdays because I have a concert to attend. LOL! But it's not really my fault, is it? :)

A few to name these few months. (Actually I might just list all)

1. Our People, Our Music 2014 (OPOM)

I don't know why I signed up for it, but well, it has to be memorable somehow even though I'm not part of SYCO anymore. It made me seems like I'm still part of sy, at least for a while. Haha!

It was a lot of waiting and waiting, standing and sitting around, oh wells, I asked for it right? Haha! nonetheless, we are already the lucky lot. So I shan't complain. And aren't all of us proud of breaking the 2 Guinness Records? I guess that's worth it then. :)

2. "孫天后" 孫燕姿的《克卜勒》
全民共樂過後的一個禮拜, 又回到了國家體育場, 參加第一個在那個場地舉行的流行音樂演唱會. 因為前一個禮拜才去過, 所以知道裡面的空氣不流通, 也許會很熱. 只是沒想到, 隔一排的差距就是前一排較高價位的位子有手扇, 從我們這一排就沒有了. -.- 而且早就知道那個場地的音效是沒辦法做到很好的. 況且沒想到, 舞台搭建在很遠的地方, 所以我們離地上的座位和舞台都非常的遠, 少了的是親近感. 就少了一些'身在其中'的感覺. 但是, 感覺天后的表演又比上次好了許多. 不知道是不是因為當了媽媽, 幽默感多了一些, 膽識和信心也多了, 所有的演唱都平穩. 況且, 那天她是帶病上陣的. 真的辛苦了! :) 幸好沒有因為上次的小失望而這次沒去! 還有, 真的喜歡新專輯裡的《克卜勒》，《天使的指紋》，還有《尚好的青春》! 太好聽了!

3. MCO Beautiful Sunday 美麗的星期天
隔天就是自己的演出了. Haha! 很久沒有這麼緊張的上一場表演. 說實在, 我要是真那麼棒, 早就去讀音樂了. 我就是知道我沒有那個料, 所以只可以玩玩. 在樂團這麼多年, 我沒有一次逃不過拉板胡的, 除了這一次. =.= 而且我有的時間是如此的短啊! 還有一段高胡solo, 差一點沒死掉. Haha! 我得承認, 板胡是我比較緊張的部分. 還好, 最後的表現還是可以的. 沒有我以前需要獨奏的時候那麼緊張. 不知道是不是上了年紀, 心情比較平穩, 呼吸不會那麼急促? 或者現在慢的東西我還是應付得來的. 哈哈! 最近聽到錄音才第一次聽到那天的表現. 不能說非常好, 但至少, 我在錄音中聽到了讚嘆聲. 哈哈! 而且, 香港的朋友還私訊說我拉得好! 真的非常高興. Hehe! :D 結果那一段我自己聽了好幾遍. (自我小陶醉一下沒關係吧) 其他的就別說了. Haha! 心知肚明就好. 第一次感觉自己赞自己到这样不要脸. (说真的，现在脸皮好像真的厚了很多). 还有开心的是，和那边的朋友聚一聚. :)

4. SSO @ Re-Opening of VCH
Very exciting event as we all re-visited the site, with everything refurbished so nicely, to give us a modern yet classic feeling of the place. Some of the things may have changed, but it feels really good to be back to place where many concerts were held at. A pity that I have never performed there before, and I don't know if I ever will have the chance to, but I was definitely privileged to be there on this occasion. But I have to sit, sitting under the covered area on the stall seats is still not satisfactory and doesn't justify the sound from the stage properly. A pity. I still remember the days it was the performing venue for SCO, East zone camps, and other schools/community centres concert. We spent so many weekends there. Even though toilet queue has always been a problem and there's absolutely no food around as well, and that the seats were in bad condition nearing the end before the renovation, it was the memories. I still remember the concert I watched someone I liked perform on stage. I still remember the watching some talented people I admired at some concert. The memories of secondary school life. And you haven't realised, but I haven't said a thing about the concert. Other than Ng Pei-Sian, I don't really know what else to say about the concert. HAHA! :x Oh ya, I already talked about the sound. Hopefully I will get to perform there one day.

5. The Sound of Music Musical @ MBS Theatres
One of my favourite films since young. Probably because my sister always watch it, all the lovely songs, and me listening to the soundtrack countless times. I was a little confused with the plot and songs selection/sequence, only to find out that was closer to the original broadway than the film. Oops. Looks like we were all brainwashed by the film. Nevertheless, most of the songs remained the same and it was a joy to be there.

6. 苏打绿's 十周年演唱会 AIR Singapore
名字非常長, 就這樣吧. 可以說這場演唱會絕對是這年最最最迫不及待想看的演唱會. 自己一個人很早就到了會場, 可惜這裡的氣氛果然不比台北的, 沒有人這麼早就去排隊買周邊商品啦. 所以很快就買到了. 值得高興的是演唱會並沒有延遲很久才開始. 沒有AIR watch 兼螢光棒的手環,  但有贊助商的熒光棒和一些贈品, 也算不錯. 他們場的每一首歌都好喜歡喔, 對我來說, 最興奮的莫過於那個360度旋轉舞台. 之前看到台北場視頻的時候, 他們唱著《相信》, 旋轉舞台突然升起的那一刻, 我眼淚直接流了出來. 沒想到可以在新加坡場看到它. 真的非常棒! 好像那也是暐哲最驕傲的事. Haha! 但新加坡這場, 不管什麼時候,'高興'的感覺都勝過了一切. 我好像只有一直大聲的笑, 還有對自己傻笑. 哈哈! 尤其是小威bai kah 的事, 就一直拿出來講. 太好笑了! 當然, 還有演唱的部份啦! 大概喜歡的歌都唱了吧. 或者說, 反正我沒有什麼不喜歡的歌, 他們唱什麼歌我都很開心! 雖然主唱大人真的不喜歡大家說他們很好笑, 比較想聽到他們唱的好好. 可他骨子裡就喜歡有點搞笑. 明明自己總是忍不住要搞笑, 然後又說我們不要什麼都笑, 會不會太過份了一點? 哈哈! 尤其拜託我們說因為演唱會結束硬逼我們說'YAY'的那段, 任性極了! 但, 是我不會忘記的一場演唱會.

7. 香港中樂團 @ Esplanade
期待已久的音樂會, (是不是很跳tone? Haha) 反正因為去年十二月到香港去的時候朋友就說了, 所以真的等很久. 演出, 就只能說, 很喜歡閻惠昌! HAHA! 還有演出的曲目. 可惜我們的位子也許比較不好, 在3樓, 音樂廳的音響沒有調好, 所以弦樂的聲音無法完整的傳達上來, 管樂就略為大聲. 不過後來聽坐在一樓的朋友說, 他們聽到比較大聲的是弦樂, 管樂則比較小聲. 看來管樂的聲音都被打上來了. 確實有點浪費了這樂團的實力.

除了看演出, 還有當導遊帶朋友到處走. 在香港的時候就答應了. 而且不管我們誰去, 他們都熱情招待的. 結果我們安排了三天的環島吃喝玩行程. 說真的, 有些地方我們自己都沒去過. 哈~ 而且吃了大概一整年才會吃到的量的本地食物. 結果, 朋友回國後, 我完全沒有想吃任何東西的慾望.

8. Ruan Chamber Concert @ Esplanade Recital Studio (by SCO)
Only went to watch because of Minhui. Seems like many things have changed in our lives, but not the music. It's always been a pleasure to hear some of the musicians play: Minhui is one of them :) The music, though simple, is very captivating. Just like how she played Yu Hou Ting Yuan. Could only say, I went there just to watch her. <3

9. Kalakan @ The Voices by Esplanade
Not really knowing what we were in for, I went because Ekjun and Yvonne recommended them. Saw a short clip of theirs when dymc went to Sarawak for Rainforest Music Festival. It turned out that they were really good. Even though they are from this small country called Basque, I have no idea where that is (somewhere in or near Spain), and can't understand their language. But, music really doesn't depend on language. With some simple explanation on the numbers, and the power of their vocals, it's not difficult to feel the music. Couldn't resist but to stand up, clap along and sing along. It was not a long concert, but definitely an enjoyable one. :)

10. MCO 10th Anni Concert @ Esplanade
My last performance for the year. Never felt I put in so much effort into a concert before, I wanted to make it the best one, but then again, it's always about everyone, and not just 1 person in the orchestra. Or even, majority. You just need 1 person to ruin it. (just a saying, not pointing at anyone). No matter how many practices I went to, (actually all the practices since Oct) and a number of extra practices on weekday night, it doesn't make a difference if the section hasn't even come together once until the rehearsal. Yup, I understand that everyone may have their own commitments in life, I used to have mine as well. And I burnt all my Saturdays to go to practice at somewhere so far even though it's my only free day all week. What I'm saying is, well if you have so many commitments, you ought to choose the priority, and give up some of them some times. It doesn't hurt, really. More so if in the end you tired yourself out and also drag the others with you. There's a possibility of finding more players at an earlier stage rather than every week having hopes that this person will come, and the person just doesn't turn up at all. It's an issue of responsibility. An orchestra isn't an orchestra if the players don't play together most of the time. And that's probably why we need to add practices and tired everyone out and had so many 'surprises' at the end of the day.

有時我覺得是老師太縱容大家了. 如果是我, 至少最後一個月的練習大家都應該來, 不然就別上了. 這是以大局為重, 而不是因為個人欲望的事.

And kids nowadays, have to be spoon-fed with answers. They are supposed to be smart, so it's not that they don't know, more or they don't want to try. We the seniors were practicing hard even though we already know our stuff and trying to perfect it, but they just sat there and did nothing. They didn't even attempt to try on their own when the scores were given months ago. Don't understand why we are still teaching them at the last week before the concert. I was practicing right beside the girl just to motivate her to practice also, but she just sat there and did nothing. Hello! I don't even need to practice anymore. -.-

In the end, can't say I didn't make any mistakes, in fact, I made quite a few, though not major, but I feel bad enough. I would have played much better if it wasn't for my sore back. :/ Need to remind myself to get muscle patch the next time I perform because sitting straight-backed for a whole day is a no-joke.

But this concert has made us bond better, think of solutions to savage and not immerse in the so-called good image from people who doesn't play the music at all. Happy that at least we get to play some traditional music, although a mix will bring more audience. Well, I've done my job. I used to be quite hack care about such things because I'm just someone who plays occasionally in the orchestra, I don't know where the sense of responsibility suddenly come from. Perhaps I just wanted them to be more efficient. Super waste time some of the time. Glad that it's over, but then again, kinda miss the music playing time. Till the next time! Hope it's not too soon, so that I have more free saturdays.

With the year coming to an end, just 1 more concert to go! i.e. Jay Chou's Opus II, which was supposed to be on 8 Nov, but it's going to be tomorrow! :D Excited! But not crazy over it. Well, first time, just to experience it. :)

Ok, maybe that's not the last. The last will be on 31st Dec in Taipei! ;)

And due to budget constraints to save up for the much awaited trip, I resisted and had to give up a few other interesting stuff this year, like Mamma Mia musical. Oh well, I'm sure I will get to catch it in future, maybe in London? Who knows.

Till then! Good bye for the year! :D

三登《天冷就回来》

今年看了第三次的《天冷就回来》音乐剧，也就是说，他们上演了三次，我三次都看了。记得我看第一、第二次的时候都说‘不知道下一次我还会不会要看’。但是，票一出，就忍不住要买票了。哈哈！所以就去看了咯！

这次的演员又很不一样了。 但说真的，除了 George Chan 和 Joanna Dong 三次都演回一样的角色，其他的演员都换过了。尤其阿强和小静更是次次不同。喜欢或不喜欢就见仁见智了。本身当然是喜欢第一次演阿强的陈瑞彪。哈哈！至于小静：也许是石欣卉吧。

看到现版的成叔出场，突然想起上一次演成叔的林燮毅，更想起他的声音的确是无人能比。

故事没有变，也许编曲变了一点，也许加入了一些更流行的元素，但我始终没有买该音乐剧的原声带。可以说我有点老古板，我一向比较喜欢听原版的歌曲。除非重唱的人真的唱得很好。

看了三次，发现自己最喜欢的歌还是那几首。哈哈！无非就是《让夜轻轻落下》，《从你回眸那天起》。哈哈！Ok, 我又得承认我喜欢比较冷门的歌，其他的也都好听，都是我会听的，只是偏爱。

还没有看过此音乐剧的朋友，不要再拖了。快点买票去看啦！听说过了这次，也许不会再演了。而且周末的票好像都售完了，买不到票，以后又没得看，到时可不要后悔！还有，当然是要支持本地的音乐剧啦！

再遇见

当朋友提到你以前喜欢的人和他现任女友的时候，你的反应会是什么？

也不能说我超不想听，也不知道听到好的还是坏的比较开心，哈哈！

对这个人，我没有疑问的说我早就放下了。况且，我们不是完全没有联络的朋友。只是，只要有朋友提起，心还是会不经意抽动一下。也不知道我在担心什么。

现在每当听到这首歌，就会不禁想到那个人，只是，我觉得我是那个停留在原点的那个人。可是，我也会想说谢谢。


有一天我也希望我是那个继续往前走的人。

我愛台灣 (2013年版, 第二篇)

Yup, the anticipated trip since the friends started become closer in SYCO few years ago. It's a pity that those people have already left the orchestra for various reason. But still, I was still looking forward to it, because there's won't be anymore chance. HAHA!

It's not an easy trip to come by for this one. And I appreciate every effort. I would love to ask if this trip had happened last year or the year before, would it have been very different from what I have experienced? Answer is most probably! Why? The people, maybe the repertoire, the end result.

CNBLUE, JJ and Sodagreen = the Favourites!

最近無可救藥地迷上了韓國樂團CNBLUE. 並且很慷慨的砸錢買他們的商品。Ok... 也不是算很多，不是非全部都買的那種，但不會想的太多。我會像支持林俊傑一樣想支持他們的音樂，i.e. spend money to buy their album. 我總是覺得他們跟其他的韓星不同的是，他們不需要賣弄包裝，華麗的舞台或服裝，更不需要賣弄不必要的‘姿色’就可以攏絡很多人的心。真誠，帥氣，歌唱實力，舞台魅力就是本錢。

 Cutie Jungshin! Loving him more and more now. He's so cute! But still... Yonghwa is my love! haha!

I could really see his face! He's so charming when he sings and actually all the things he do! Even the little funny dance he does. And when he smiles. Totally melts. <3

In our fan-mode while queuing for the merchandise! Might as well since they are there along the queue. Haha! So in love! Hehe. 

跟蘇打綠一起走過的演唱會

I was really excited to know they are having a concert in Singapore. Quickly gathered my concert khakis. Actually the usual ones didn't really want to go, so had to extend to the main group. Eventually I went with Siyih, Qin and her brother.

不記得是什麼時候開始喜歡蘇打綠,但愛上了就停不下來.哈哈! 也許是從一些他們專輯的主打歌起, 也許是那一首《無眠》。真的很喜歡那首歌, 只是這次它不在演唱會的歌單裡, 有一點小失望. 哈哈! 但是, 點歌的階段第一位點歌的觀眾就點了這首歌, 也讓我興奮不已.

很多細節都不記得了, 但是一定能說我完完全全在享受中度過. 每一個環節都有自己的魔力, 身材嬌小的青峰真的很了起, 唱功也太厲害了吧! 所有的歌曲都在他的掌握中, 就算是現場點的歌他都能唱好。但他也太好笑了，通常歌手讓觀眾點歌就會‘來者不拒’，就算聽到不想唱的也會當作沒聽見，就直接跳過。青峰他卻很直接的說‘神經病啊！’、‘才不要’、‘最不想唱的就是那首’（小宇宙），等等狠狠拒絕的話。可是很真實、很可愛，大家聽了都只會笑得很大聲，效果滿分！

好笑的是，工作人員很困難的控制站起來的觀眾，青峰卻喊了一句‘全場站起來’，大家都樂的！站起來狂跳，狂喊。還有就是青峰搞笑的虧贊助商位子上的觀眾，說他們沒勁，以後不要給贊助商那麼好的位子，也太大膽了吧。

讓人激動的是他們在台下的時間也太長了吧! 倒是家凱來到面前是讓人興奮的！哈哈！後來青峰也有走到我們的區塊，算是有看清楚。在2012年看來，也是我期待以及滿意的演唱會之一！

看過了演唱會，我更清楚我會繼續的愛蘇打綠，繼續支持他們。有些歌我更是從演唱會重新認識，從頭愛起！很驕傲我看了這一場，很高興我實現了自己的諾言，有一次我錯過了，說道：‘下次蘇打綠來新加坡，我一定去要去看。’ :)

One of my most crazy and high concert of the year. Truly enjoyed. :))) And you won't believe I'm actually thinking of going to HK to watch their concert in April 2013. But I think I will be busy during that time. How sad then.


BTW, this post is VERY outdated I know I started the post long ago but seriously I don't know why I don't have the motivation to finish typing it. So there it is, done 3 months after the concert. The concert was on 19 October 2012. HAHA! :D

Esplanade is 10!

I was quite surprised when I first heard about the whole event. "You mean Esplanade has been there for 10 years already?" - My first thoughts about the 10th Anniversary event. The method of participation in the weekend's 'Dedicated to You' programme changed from time to time. In the end I was quite involved in the whole thing!

At first my role was just an audience for SCO's programme and staff for DYMC's programme. And then I left DYMC, so that left me with just being the audience for the former and I was still contemplating for National Broadway Company (NBC) because I didn't know what it will be like.

王力宏's Music Man II 《火力全开》

Definitely one of the most awesome concerts I watched this year! Totally love his whole performance.

离上个Music Man已经有4年了！He's probably one of the singers whom I will keep going to his concert! (Other than JJ) And so, the last concert blogpost is HERE.

田馥甄

Caught Hebe on her 2nd tour concert to Singapore 《田馥甄 To My Love 演唱会》, held at RWS Compass Ballroom. My first time attending a concert there. But don't really like the place though, ceilings too low. And space too wide, so sitting at the sides really cannot see much. :(

First outfit - Photo from xinmsn.com

田馥甄的唱功真的是没话说，而且人也比我想象中的亲切。我以为她演唱会上不会太多话，但是错了! 哈哈! 说话很顺、很诚恳，也很有趣。有歌迷一直喊话，想引起她说得更多，但有时歌迷的话却让人觉得有点不舒服？其实一听就知道这样喊话的歌迷应该不是本地人。她也说了她以为新加坡的歌迷都很保守，没想到会这么开放，其实那个人就不是啊！

刚才说到唱功：很惊人。就算是没听过的歌，也能从她的口里感受到什么。而且背后只有一位和音天使，是很厉害了！连阿妹的《开门见山》都能有完全不同的诠释；先是利用音效变声，有种遥远的距离，后来又回到了原版的摇滚。这身材瘦小的可人儿，不简单啊！

这场演唱会没有过于华丽的舞台，服装更是简单 - 她只换了一次衣服，而且还是天使型连身裙，美！没有舞群，也没有烟火或之类的舞台效果 (也是场地的限制关系吧)，但也有吸引人的灯饰，像是下着雨一样的灯光，配上她的情歌，我觉得是很有小室内舞台设计的心思。

曲目方面，只能说由于只唱自己的歌的话一定达不到演唱会时间的总长，所以唱别人的歌是必然的。可是我们田小姐喜欢的曲风也不是热门的那些，所以结论就是 - 有好几首歌都听不懂。不是语言的关系；是cannot appreciate。 真是不好意思。

最喜欢的还是《寂寞寂寞就好》，《My Love》，《花花世界》，《还是要幸福》，《魔鬼中的天使》，还有最近突然喜欢的《妳》，当场听到真的就想哭了。

I really treat the concert as a birthday celebration though nothing else special happened, but I was happy enough. Really had a great time, though there were times she was so far away that the view was totally blocked. Well, I say, a good saturday night spent! :)

Second outfit - Photo from xinmsn.com

Singapore Arts Festival 2012 (SAF)

This year, I'm purely an audience at the festival. I hoped I was asked to be a festival ambassador, but thankfully I wasn't selected, if not I will be feeling even worse to have to reject them eventually due to my horrible work load and schedule outside work too.

Anyway I chose 4 ticketed shows out of the many, which is considered the most shows I have watched for SAF. 

1st show: The Flight of the Jade Bird. It's the opening act of the festival. I was having high hopes on the production although I have the slightest idea what is going to happen. I was more excited to see the musicians by the way, as we have known a few of them. But I feel it hasn't really reached what I perceived it to be when it started and when it ended. (Sad to say).

2nd show: The Languages of Their Own. I say it's an eye-opener. I've never watched a show ONLY based on words and voice expression. There was very little direct physical contact between the 4 actors (or should I say performers), the only one I was and remember was when Daniel came out and gave Ming a hug. To speak the truth, I was quite taken back at that moment, because there wasn't any close contact in the scene(s) before that. But I would say the character build, atmosphere build was really good. And at the end when they were cross speaking their thoughts, so separately but so together at the same time. It's amazing timing. I didn't know it's originally an English show long time ago until I read the reviews. I was quite surprised that it doesn't feel weird listening to it in Chinese, even though usually 'gay' is associated with the English and more open-minded society, like the place the play was set. But the idea of 4 guys with different background, having the same identity and understanding each other, makes people think a lot eh?

The conclusion of the play is: I seen some friends attending the show and then I'm quite certain of some things?

3rd show: End of the Road. It's kind of a musical but with no story line, sang and performed by a UK group Young@Heart. All the performers are at least 60 years old and the oldest is 90 years old! 90years old and still could sing and dance on stage! It's probably one of the most precious and memorable one. I was so touched and inspired by the whole show. And very impressed too I must say. The effect is kind of the same when Lu Chun Ling came, just that I didn't watch the actual. But, I really have to say I'm very impressed with everyone's voice and energy.

And then I thought, what will I be doing at their age? Not to say in the 90s, I can't imagine what I will be like in my 50s and 60s already. Will I even have the energy to still do what I like and perform like them? Will I even continue to love my passion like I do now? I would definitely wish to. The power they tried to project is so unbelievable. Very very impressed. I really love to be like that when I'm old.

4th show: I didn't watch it in the end. Because I double-booked myself for that day. There was another concert going on elsewhere and I thought it would be more worth to watch a world class percussionist who seldom comes to Singapore to perform. Sorry OMM and Rite(s) of Spring! :/

林俊杰之《学不会》

好像又好久没跟大家分享音乐了。不好意思，因为我的人生有太多不同的主题，还真没办法一直往一个方向走。

在12月31日，我最喜欢的林俊杰终于发了新创作专辑《学不会》。还没发我就很期待！虽然没有第一时间买到专辑，而且还因为已经预定了台湾版而斟酌了一下要不要买新加坡的，最后为了帮偶像榜上有名还是买了。还是在出售的头两个星期内买的！哈哈！(现在等着台湾版到达我的手里)。

[Edit] 26/2: 今天去拿专辑了～ 有亲笔签名，还写上了所有人的名字，诚意100分！:) [/Edit]

我見識了蕭氏精神

蕭氏精神，你見識過了嗎？昨天（1月14日），我見識了。很了不起。

每想到他跟我同齡，就覺得自己落在後面，然後很想朝著那方向走。對一個年輕人來說（對，我們都很年輕），是很了不起的事。當然，前後兩個星期都看了演唱會，一定會比較一下吧。以我各人的評價，上星期的Amei依然在我心裡蕩漾著。我想，在看到下一場更震憾的演唱會以前，Amei的那場還是我最懷念的。但是, Amei 怎麼說也是唱了十五年的唱將, 這樣比好像對老蕭很不公平! 哈哈!

雖說如此，我也好喜歡這場‘有一種精神叫蕭敬騰’演唱會。開場是我很喜歡的Four Seasons，利用了4位美女拉奏小提琴與大提琴，好爽！還在想為甚麼要用這首曲的時候他的開場曲便是《狂想曲》。歌詞讓我明白了，舖好了梗。

Photo from xinmsn

Budak Pantai - Assorted Nuts

Been looking for this album for a long time. Sometimes I do hate myself for being indecisive and then regret later on.

SAF 2011

Not Singapore Armed Forces, it's Singapore Arts Festival. HAHA! The theme for this year is - I want to Remember. Nice theme, and nice programmes to fit into the theme! You will see the link with the groups I'm attached to, continue reading.

疗伤歌曲

很久没分享音乐了。最近有几首本人很喜欢的歌曲。排名不分先后喔！^.-

The I AM night WE ARE waiting for!

The 3rd time he's staging a full length concert in Sg, and the 3rd time I'm watching a full length concert of his. :) I'm happy and excited ttm prior to the concert. I don't need to have any expectations of him because I know it will be good. :) And just hoped that he will sing all the songs that I would like to hear although i know not all of them will be sung. But no matter what, I AM there. :D

It was truly a high high high night! :D Enjoyed myself so much, it didn't feel like the night has passed. I'm sure no one there would want the night to end. HAHA!

I know that it's a non-photography event but usually they allow digital camera, so i had some photos in low quality. But most of the time I'm using all my energy to look at him and listen to him.

Great Albums, Great Musicians, Great Music

Bought and listened to quite a few new albums lately. And all of them are local productions? haha.

Yup. I'm in favor of purchasing and supporting local singers, local productions. :) From 雨季, Fried Rice Paradise, Cinderel-Lah!, 请你告诉他 (Instrumental renditions of 梁文福's works) to JJ's 她说 and Kit Chan's 重译. They are all great works. Great great works.

I can't say which one I loved more. HAHA. Probably the last 2 are top of the list. Kit Chan's album is the latest I've got and it's on repeat in itunes at my work desk since (as long as i'm not listening to the radio). And I got to say, I love the cantonese numbers! And they can't be played on the radio. Aww... All of them nice leh! Somehow i think that the english numbers are nicer too. Oops. It goes to show that she's good for everything. Haha! :) Btw, 重译 means a 重新演绎.. re-interpretation. Thus, all the songs are ready. And she does the re-interpretation. The songs are all classics man. And the way she sang the songs, omg, so nice! I'm totally immersed in her voice. :)))

JJ's 她說.. is unfortunately, also a new renditions of songs. Just that they are all his past works. Songs that he wrote for other female singers. So ya, get the idea of the topic of 她說 yea? But I love the only new song in the album, i.e. the title of the album, music and lyrics by him and Stefanie Sun respectively. Nice song! :) The rest of the songs... Some i'm more in favor. Some less. Anyhows, some of the songs really sound so different from the original. And i didn't really know that those songs are written by him. HAHA. Oops. (Just as i'm typing this and watching 星光, 魏如昀 is singing that song. HAHA. I nv liked her, but i LOVE the song! :D) Few songs that i liked in the album: 她说, 心墙, 我不住的他, 一生的爱, 记得. Yup! :D

The rest are more of Musical OST. I LOVE THEM OF COS. Each has its own shine. Super like. And i'm still listening to them on and off now. Fav: Any song that is sang by Sebastian Tan. Not just that his voice is nice, the song is nice too. Esp. the ones in Fried Rice Paradise. Taufik was good in the CD too.. Most of them are really nice!! I still enjoy listening to it now. Fried... frieeed... frieeeddd rice. HAHA! :D And 請你告訴她 is like a long time fav. Love the whole scenic story that is portrayed in the song. The 3 part singing is so perfect. Others songs in December Rain is like LOVE! <3. Cinderle-Lah! is slightly less outstanding than the other 2. It's more family and cheerful, which has its good points too. I keep laughing at the ugly sisters' part. HAHA! And the sri-lankan crab part.

YAY. I'm super looking forward to the Concert!!!!!!!! JJ's Concert.. And hopefully Kit is going to have another concert, full length concert! :D

Aug Long Weekend

I hope i wun be just having 1 post per month. Which is quite sad. I love to pen my thoughts down. In whichever method. Because i'm such a forgetful person. I like to have everyone done in words.

So far, it's almost half a month into August, and, I have to say that I still got my share of enjoyment. :)

First weekend was a quite crazy one.

Jojo's Bday
Started with jojo's 21st bday party. It was like wow! It was at this super nice villa of The Sentosa Resort. But i reached there quite late lah.. Missed all the food. Which was quite sad. Looking at pictures makes me drool lah. Tsk. Anyway, it was still quite an event and he has very cool cake! And they are nice! :)

The guys are having some fun thinking of different stuff to do in the water. They sure are energetic. But of them had their shirts and pants on when they were thrown/pushed/pulled/jumped into the water.. Poor mothers and maid of their got to wash them. Tsk tsk.

Sitting by the pool is a relaxation too though. I had moments of undisturbance at the pool side just listening to music and thinking. It was nice moments.

Stayed over with most of the GGG, while they were giao-ing late into the night and after that ALL of them *pah* and slept wherever they could. And unfortunately, i dun have a place to sleep AT ALL. So i went for a long bath. Shower, bathtub. Another nice relaxing moment. But at 6am. At least i got a place to sit in there. Lol. After that was some camera moments. Haha! Then finally i have some space to sleep when some ppl left. :)

SCO Gala Concert
Went home and after a while out to teach.. And then after that met them again for the jazz concert - 1st of 2 concerts for this month.

It was quite a cool concert. The jazz pieces which they played were nice! Like a total diff exp with them compared to the chris brubeck last time. Cos diff instru after all. They were really good, the bass and drumset and of cos the piano. Damn zai.

The SCO musicians were good too lah.. a few of them had improvisation with the jazz music. Not bad leh... Just that it's unlikely that they really improvise on the spot lah. hahaha! But yea. still cool. Gives a totally different image on some of the instruments. And CO. :)

December rain 雨季
Watched on 8aug night show. Totally love. The first of 2 musicals i'm watching in this month. I was totally waiting for it since the day we bought the tix. Erm. More than 3months ago? Haha! It's like fulfilling something. I'm so happy to be able to listen to kit chan sing again! :D Somehow i miss Forbidden City again. Heh. Anyway she's totally awesome!! Her voice is still as good as ever and it sends goosebumps!

The songs are ALL so nicely written too. Fav is still the theme song - 请你告诉他. Must be written by liangwenfu. As the show goes on, i was like thinking, 'wow! It's so obvious which song was written by which composer!' and ALL OF THEM are nice! 渺小的我 has really nice lyrics.. [edit: Ok. I actually guessed 1 or 2 wrongly. -.-]

“是我选择了被人遗忘，还是遗忘选择了我?”

 :) And somehow reminds me of If There's Seasons again. LOL. Like if they ever gonna stage it again. I might watch again. Depending on the cast this time.

Ahh... so during the show, it was half sensitive nose and half touched, I kept have to take out tissue to clear my nose. And tears. haha! There were parts the singing are so tear-inducing it's hard to control (or at least to me).

I think this is the first time i watched a Toy Factory production.. Although i've always wanted to watch some of their older productions like TiTouDao. Hmm... next time i know who to ask to go for all these if my sis doesn't want to go. I nv knew the sy ppl are like into such too. haha!

So anyway, the stage setting, the costume, some of the scenes are totally contemporary. It's most obvious when only 1 person is singing in front of the string-curtains. And there will be a dancer in the backdrop. Dancing to the song and the actor/actress' inner feelings. I've nv watched the first run of this musical, but from what sis described, it is totally different too. I think the artistic directions changed so ya. Everything changed. Not very elaborate sets, but good enough to represent what they want to represent.

Anyway, managed to grab hold of liangwenfu before the show to get his autograph on the prog booklet. No luck in seeing yeliangjun ard though. :(

“请你请你告诉他
  我永远爱他
  就算大雨一直下
  心中彩虹长挂
  彩虹尽头有他”

Omg.. It's been stuck in my head since i first heard the song on 933. And still stuck whenever the words appear or when i'm not listening to any other music. So catchy and meaningful.

Korean Bbq
We went for korean bbq lunch buffet on national day as a form of celebration for da-jie and er-jie's bday. It was awesome! The meat is so well done. Ok actually the pork are better done than the chicken. But we are all pork-eater anyway. Haha. Although no beef, still not bad liao cos not that ex. Service was good too. So full after that lah! So much so it's was kinda nap time for the afternoon. Lol. Only woke up near to ndp time. Haha!

Managed to get some fireworks photo from home kitchen. :)

And that's like the end of the long weekend. Fantastic although not the kind anyone would dream of. Haha. And i guess there's still more to come?

Till the end of the month i still have like 1 SCO concert and 1 musical - Fried Rice Paradise. Looking forward too! Yeah. Esp. towards Sebastian Tan!!! Still my fav thus far. :D More than George Chan. Hahaha.

But till the end of the month, i have 2 close friends leaving sg for studies. 1 is going to china for 2 years (at least he is cfm coming back). And the other is going to canada forever! :( i'm damn sad.

Update the rest next time.