Singing Musicals

After hearing Susan Boyle taking a shot on I dreamed a dream (Les Miserables). I suddenly find myself singing musicals from my collection of musicals on iTunes. 

So what am I singing now, hmm Dancing Queen from Mam

ma Mia: The Musical. 

Ahhhhh, how wonderful it is to sing something from the musicals. I've always liked singing musical numbers. And I'm glad I have this shared interest of watching musicals as well as listening to them as my dear :) I know I've always wanted to share this with someone I love. I know she is the one, the one I've been searching for. In fact we just have a discussion on what musicals to watch together which includes:

• My Fair Lady
• Les Miserables
• Phantom of The Opera
• Sound of Music

List could continue to grow, but as far as we know, this is by far the list we definitely wanna catch up with once we make our trip to London to saturate ourselves with musicals galore to our heart's content. These are some possible places to book tickets. 

London Musicals 1

London Musicals 2

Ooh I'm going back to sing what my dear things is great for me to sing. Hehe, I like this number too :) 

Our Last Summer, Mamma Mia: The Musical

HARRY:
I can still recall
Our last summer
I still see it all
Walks along the Seine
Laughing in the rain
Our last summer
Memories that remain

We made our way along the river
And we sat down in the grass by the Eiffel tower
I was so happy we had met
It was the age of no regret
Oh, yes
Those crazy years
That was the time of the flower-power
But underneath
We had a fear of flying
Of growing old
A fear of slowly dying
We took our chance
Like we were dancing our last dance

HARRY & DONNA:
I can still recall
Our last summer
I still see it all

HARRY:
In the tourist jam

DONNA:
Round the Notre Dame

HARRY & DONNA:
Our last summer
Walking hand in hand

DONNA:
Paris restaurants

HARRY & DONNA:
Our last summer

HARRY:
Morning croissants

HARRY & DONNA:
Living for the day
Worries far away
Our last summer
We could laugh and play

DONNA:
And now you're working in a bank
The family man, a football fan
And your name is Harry
How dull it seems
Yet, you were the hero of my dreams

HARRY & DONNA:
I can still recall
Our last summer
I still see it all
Walks along the Seine
Laughing in the rain
Our last summer
Memories that remain

Read More......

Overnight Sensation!

If only the world was less cynical on appearance, the world could be a better place?

Hmm, I've yet to prove this theory, well at least one video will definitely demonstrate that being a cynic in the music industry has led many people to believe that looks translates to performance?

Watch this on YouTube....

Susan Boyle - I dreamed a dream


I think this is absolutely and amazing performance by an unknown! And to present a BROADWAY number certainly does require a lot of guts or preparation. Not going to spoil the bits an pieces of this video. But this certainly will go down in the history books as the most sensational performance on a talent show as well as generating an immense number of hit views on YouTube :)

Read More......

Slow nesss.........Anxiety........ and Everything else....

I can't quite remember when I used to have so much time in my hands and got myself busy later. (Wat am I talking here???) Actually doing research is kind of like a whole new experience. When I started my research, I was like WOW!! I'm doing research and I'm going to get BmedSc. Ok NO BIG DEAL HERE!! But its great doing something different after flipping through thousands of lecture notes and pages of textbooks. (exaggerating)

And I was so convinced that I can finish my work on time, get blardy good results out of it and present my topics in seminar and conventions. This is my real dream. Somehow things changed halfway. First it was the Canticle Singers. Ok they didn't actually rob my weekdays away for research. They juz took 1 weekday and 1 weekend which I absolutely hate! I luv my weekends and if there was any better time to enjoy my weekends, it had better be now cos when next year comes, I would be busier than the most diligent bee of any bee hive. Comments and feedback from a senior don't actually paint a rosy picture.

8 weeks of a single rotation, and every day begins at about 8am till 5 pm. Everything is self-directed learning. As in literally self-directed. Back in those good ol' medical days when they say it was self-directed, Queensland seriously redefine it according to him and if you happen to take the kind of lepakking attitude like those dudes in Seremban where u can actually skip rounds in the morning, you'll be DEAD! Ok this din come out from my mouth but from this senior. Its challenging, tiring and he lost weight...3kgs Breaks in between is 1 week. Probably I'll get use to it.

Already digressing....

Back to the weekends. Seriously weekends have always been a time where I'll take some rest but that doesn't mean I absolutely not do anything. Going out with friends, lepakking was seriously gone for the past two months. Ok I guess in life sacrifices are meant to be made to achieve some good results. Singing with The Canticle Singers isn't a bad experience. It juz wasn't as enjoyable as in the previous group. LOL AJ, Aariye could be laughin at this. It did teach me quite a number of things on singing, technique, diction, pronunciation and connecting words all for the sake of singing in an ensemble which brings me to the point of singing.

Singing isn't as easy as I thought, Singing in a different environment does involve using different techiniques/methods to achieve a desired result. So if you were in an ensemble, its different in an a capella group except the solos of course. Style of singing differs for different genres. Ok this is quite obvious here!!

There's also something about breathing techniques, support, upper voice, mid voice and lower voice. Chest breathing and abdominal breathing are two separate entities. (U don't need to learn this in medical school. ) Abdominal breathing is used more frequently in singing. Chest Voice is more common among rockers. Chest voice ain't good for singing cos it thins the voice, strains your vocal cords and less power.

The one great guru, who has thought me quite a lot on singing techinques is Doreen Tang. Huh???? You might know who she is....

Doreen Tang was roped in for another one of my wrongly occupied schedule for the year, SPEX. But really now, I don't regret it. I can do a recording and I have a solo...WOOHOO!!! Its an abbreviation for Spiritual Exercise of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. SPEX again met to practice for another performance similar to the one they did last year. But this year, the committee decide they should make an album. Doreen Tang has performed for Broadway Parodieslah, M The Opera! and will perform in the upcoming, Tunku: The Musical. Having her in SPEX was really like a breath of fresh air for everyone. She told us everything about singing, voice colour, tone, projection, head voice, abdominal breathing, chest breathing, breathing exercises all through the 6 weeks with us. Probably the most unusual of all is the breathing exercises which is to basically open up your abdominal cavity to sing. She corrected all our breathing technique including mine which was WRONG. In fact everyone was wrong except for maybe Francesca Peters who's already a seasoned performer and singer

Now that this experience has kind of passed except for SPEX, I'm sick worried of my research.

With barely 3 months to go, I have to complete everything before my presentation. I have no idea what happened to my dream. Seems like it all disappeared in another bad dream. I actually expected something groundbreaking, earth-shattering, thunder-clapping results from my research. But somehow, MCF7 cells are resistant to the anticancer actions of [6]-Gingerol and Zingerone. Right now, I think I should be playing Linkin Park's "What I've done".... Probably at the bridge where the song really climaxes.

Linkin Park's "What I've done"

....
..

"For what I’ve done
I start again
........"

...

Really hoping and praying for good results from my research. Hopefully changing cell lines will get me some positive results. Or else, my research would be another research article for the "Journal of Negative Findings." Negative Findings aren't accepted widely even amongst the scientific community. But really how will you get positive results if you don't know what gives you negative results????

Actually, I really need to pick up the pace. It seems now everything's so slowwwww.....K need to think of fast and quality results from now on.

Read More......

The Canticle SIngers presents

Another performance, this time at Petaling Jaya Gospel House. For ticket bookings, please send me a message or an email at grainej_x@hotmail.com. NO SPAMMERS PLEASE!!!!!

Tickets are at RM30 for adults
Tickets are at RM20 for students.

Some T&C:
Children below age 6 are not allowed into the show.

Read More......

The Canticle Singers Presents.....

Will be doing a show at The House of Suzie Wong, Muse Floor, Starhill on the 21st and 22nd July. Click the pic to find out more.

Read More......

Introducing.........

ESMEE DENTERS

Esmee Denters??

If you have not known, as most of you haven't..Esmee Denters is the first artist to be signed by Justin Timberlake's Tenman Records.


Huh?More questions??


Alright let me begin with a brief introduction of her. Esmee Denters hails all the way from the Netherlands, ok its also called Holland but specifically she's from a small town call Oosterbeek. She's only 18 and she's a really talented singer worthy of a final placing in American Idol. She loves singing all the time and one day she decided that she should give it a shot on Youtube and that was when it really was a matter of time before she becomes one of the biggest, possibly the biggest success stories of undiscovered singers trying to make it through the Internet.

She then posted videos of her singing various songs from Alicia Keys, John Legend, Beyonce, Mary J Blidge Christina Aguilera and recently JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE!!! Her videos on Youtube became so popular that it generated a combined total of 21 million plus views to date. When I first saw her most recent performance "What goes around" by Justin Timberlake on Youtube, it had already 2 million plus views. Now the view counter hits a staggering 3.5 million views!!!

"She sings my song better than me" Justin Timberlake

As Justin aptly puts it,

“In completely unpredicted news to all YouTubers and bloggers, we are proud to announce Esmee Denters has signed to Tennman Records and she will be joining me on tour this summer. Esmee is the real deal and I cannot wait for the world to hear her, but all of her fans on YouTube should not worry…we will keep you in the loop every step of the way,” announced today by Justin Timberlake, Chairman/CEO of the label.

To put it as unpredicted, kinda hit the right spot for me, but generating such a huge fan base and support from people all around the world, its only a matter of time before she hit it big.


Kelly Rowland interview with Deejay Menno Barreveld

"I think its amazing actually how she was discovered. I think it allows the public to make their star. You know what I mean. This girl loves to sing and can do it beautifully. She can sing her butt off and all it takes is one recording. I love how she sits in front of her computer and just sings her heart out and everybody loves that. Its as simple as that and i think that says a lot of about her as an artist as well. You know what I mean, that people just loves her voice. And they love her energy cos she has such beautiful energy." Kelly Rowland

For me, I think she's more of a soulful singer maybe more in the genre of Alicia Keys with a bit of Jojo, cos Jojo kind of have the soulful style in "How to touch a girl" which I think Esmee could do really well.

These two videos are my personal favs.

Esmee Denters will be opening for Justin Timberlake's Euro tour which begins this month. She will also be releasing her album later this year


Esmee Denter site. Click here

Esmee Denter Youtube. Watch here

Congratulations to Esmee Denters fo making it this far. Good luck to you!!!

Read More......

The Final 3

Now for my predictions, which seems to have some uncanny similarities with Simon's, since Sanjaya got booted.

First

Second

Third (would be booted out tomorrow.)

Today's performance by Melinda simply shows that she is such a versatile singer, giving her best, IMO in all her 3 performances. Truly I've never seen any other idol coming close to her consistent performance all throughout the show.

I say Jordin has improved aaaa.... lot, and at the age of 17, I say she has great talent.

Blake is not as vocally secure as the rest, of course he's beatbox style is the first of its kind throughout the talent show. I would say he did fine in today's performance. 1st song was bleaaargh... second song better but I can't decide whether the third or second is better. I say its a tie . But he's certainly not my fav...

Though, this is what I predict, I would prefer these results:

Winner: Jordin
Runner-up: Melinda
Third: Blake

Ahem.... simply bcoz, Melinda is already da best!! Why don't we just give Jordin a chance to win it all?? When she can use all the prize winnings to boost her image and jump start her career.

Read More......

Boh Cameronian Awards

Though I must suppress my inner tendencies to brag, I can't help but announce that I have attended one of Malaysia's premier arts awards, the Boh Cameronian Awards for the first time!!! An award ceremony very similar to the Tony Awards held annually for distinguished achievement in US theatre. Over here in Malaysia, the awards are specially for achievements in music, theatre and dance. There are also special awards for Most Promising Artist award and the Boh Cameronian Lifetime achievement award, etc. This could very well be my last time also.

This year's Boh Cameronian Awards is held in Mandarin Oriental and the theme is "Carnival". Everyone should dress for the occasion but it's not mandatory, after all it is just a ceremony to commemorate the finest achievements in the arts. Some came dressed really for a carnival. But I think if there was an award that says "Best Dress Group for the Night", it would be The Wicked Pitches.

Since this is my first time, it was kind of weird because there were so many people and so many famous people around but I know just a handful out of all of them. Even from those that I know, there are only familiar faces like those from "Broken Bridges" and "Puteri Gunung Ledang".

The red carpet event was suppose to begin at 8.00pm, but then again being Malaysians, tardiness is a major problem. And again, walking on the red carpet is another first with all the cameras staring at us, with their background illuminating lights. Oh it doesn't have the excessive glamour like in Hollywood, where stars stop to pose one at a time for all the paparazzis and cameraman to feast upon. Here it was more like cramped up, bumper to bumper kind of movement with all the major TV networks surrounding us. Astro, and all the local TV channels were there. But then again, it feels nice to be given the "red carpet treatment", even just for a day..

The major winners for the night were Puteri Gunung Ledang, Broken Bridges, Dream n Butterfly and Drum Slices. Puteri Gunung Ledang came up tops among all of them. I think they won 8 awards.

It's sad that our group, "The Wicked Pitches" didn't bag any award for the night. I was so optimistic for the Best Solo Performance Award. But we didn't win anyway. We lost the award to Broken Bridges. I think it's because of bad video and audio quality. If it wasn't for that, I'm sure we could have won at least 1 award!!!

But to sum it all up, it was a great experience walking among the top and talented people in the arts. Oh yaa Tiara Jacquelina and Joanne Bessey was there too..

Read More......

A song in my head.....

Jordan Knight and Deborah Gibson: Say Goodbye

Jordan

Yeah
I've been so lost lately
I don't really understand baby
Where did I go wrong
I wanna talk to you
Please call
Deborah
Where do I begin with you
after all that we've been through
I don't think that it would be right if we
got together so suddenly
Jordan
I wish that I could take back all of the things that I said
and replace them with simply I love you instead

Deborah
You didn't wanna say goodbye
But you never really seem like you wanna try
Jordan
But I really wanted you to stay
and then I let you just slip away
Deborah
If you didn't listen to your heart inside
then it really doesn't matter what was on your mind
and if you need me then tell me why
Jordan
Girl, I never meant to say goodbye
Mmm Oh yeah.....


For full lyrics, click here

Read More......

For all you Switchfoot fans here....Check this out!!

Check out this video by by Switchfoot. Please wait for it to load.........




The song is call "Awakening"

For more info on Switchfoot, go to their Myspace website

Read More......