Friday, December 31, 2004

Happy New Year!

A year passes.

I have just visited the blog of the late Grace Chow (mentioned in The Straits Times Article 6th December). Her writing was impressive. I had not known other real-life accounts of fighting diseases, and this is my first time reading one. I'm not finished with it...

Yes. Images on TV bring on the destruction of the tsunami. It is saddening. Brings back memories of Pure Geography...

I hope I have grown wiser. My resolution: achieve GPA above 3.3 this term.

How? I shall start organising my thoughts, and plan for the future - or at least a road map to guide me along the way. :)

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Course selection.

There's nothing more I want to do now, but study.
It's useless thinking about it - Biotechnology or Biomedical Science?

"Begin with the end in mind", I recalled a precious lesson. I should have worked harder last term, if I knew the stakes. But that's past. I thought over my mistakes. Losing pace with the lectures was critical. That cost me. Co-Curricular Activities were not supposed to be a priority. And yet, I let life go where it taketh me.

My GPA sucks. I think over how my coursemates managed to score distinctions. What is it about them that sets them apart from the rest? There's no substitute for hard work. And it's worthless writing here. Should my grades impr-

I find myself in the 3rd Quarter of the cohort. I considered whether I should start doing my homework faithfully. (Undoubtedly, yes.) I have awakened. I am in control of my life. From today, I'll let none steal my time away from me.

Once more in the pits of depression, I look up.
And what do I see? A nightsky filled with numerous stars.
When will I get there? How do I get there?
The quest for greatness.


Rock music always sounds looped... somehow. Looped synthesized music, and it ends with the catchy tune.

Keane - Untitled 1 (from the album, Hopes and Fears)

It's the rhythm that catches my attention. Then there's the notes - the melody, fitting pieces onto the song.

It's as depressing as Kid A. All the radiohead numbers.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Phantom of the Opera.

Just came back from the movie. No movie has inflicted me with so much emotion since the Fellowship of the Ring. For a matter, their songs were so pleasant and affecting to the ear. Here is a believable story with an edge of fantasy! It was easy to identify our hero (Raoul) and the heroine/victim of the phantom (Christine). The visual effects/elements were excellent. By effects, I mean the phantom has some weird technology - which makes lighted candles rise out of a subterranean lake. And the setting was that rowing boat in the subterranean lake.

The world fades into grey in the present, contrasting with the colours of past glories of the opera house. I especially liked the cemetry scene where some or most of the fighting took place. Action/suspense was incorporated there. It convincingly looked like a struggle.

The story was well told too, with comedy in many parts of the musical. *Salute* Andrew Lloyd Webber, producers, and cast - who made it possible.

I still don't understand the last part about having hands above your eyes - when you meet the phantom?

My friend said it was so much like a musical, he could close his eyes. It IS A MUSICAL in the first place! But ah! Knowing him so well, I'd say he's NOT well-suited to musicals. I simply adore the two managers that sing about their business on a regular basis. "Where's my prima donna?" hahaha.. LOL

I love the chord that climbs up and down. It is introduced on cue at every opportunity. (a scene in the movie: the candle flames snuff out, and all the opera house was dark.)

You know I am such a sucker for simple artistic detail.

It would have been the ideal movie for a date. It has a great deal of romance (especially Darkness! hahaha..) throughout. Especially that duet on the rooftop, "one deed, one lifetime.." *cough-cough* I mean, "... share with me one love...", from the song, 'All I ask of you'.

I desire to own the Phantom soundtrack... All of the tracks, "Angel of music, Think of me, Wishing you were somehow here again..." are sentimental feed to the brain.


- Irrelevance -
1. Digressing from the main topic, the 'cheese of distinction' which I bought 2 months ago is now growing microorganisms - green and brown. It is really a waste. It is my wish to examine them under a microscope. Haha. Damn! Stop feeding on my cheese. Yeah. Microorganisms are important for food spoilage...

2. I heard Keane today. Their album this year, 'Hopes and Fears'. I'd say it's not bad at all, on a first listen. I liked Track 3.

3. Does patronising the arcade help body coordination? I've seen people steering 'cars', bashing 'drums', firing 'guns', bashing keys (manipulating joysticks)... But your auditory nerves really do suffer. :) Serious, am I?

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

New philosophy!

I came across a new philosophy of life.

"Dun play-play." In all aspects of life, whether studying or making friends, it is inadvisable to fool around.

It is no exception when it comes to music. When you lose all your notes, you just have to pick yourself up and start over again.

There is also a limit to other people's tolerance. I feel bad, of course. But this serves a good reminder for me to take the wheel, steer and take control of my life, or else it's going nowhere. (truthful advice sounds ingratiating to the ear)

Challenging are the daily demands of life; and this supposedly, speeds up the evolution of humans, as they work under the hectic pace of daily life, finding solutions to a never-ending trove of problems.

*yawn* what am I talking about? I hope it makes sense.

Did I drink too much lime juice?

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Come Support!!

I swear I am going to give my best performance ever!! :D

Many things in life are not to be missed, and this is such a ONE.

I'm practising hard... Meeting up with Colibri in a very fruitful practise. The time is right. The songs are right. And nothing could possibly go wrong...

Good tidings~! Good tidings~!

To Choir Ppl:

My friends, be sure of your parts and sing out!! Once you know the notes, you can sing out with feeling! Know the mood of the song, whether it is a jingly carol or a sombre song (that which depicts the death of christ). There ought to be a difference.

The alleatory device in O Magnum Mysterium never fails to amaze me... It is like a million voices swimming in the head... Mind you, a lot of whispers in the background, like painting a beautiful image of the universe.

O wondrous Mystery!
O awesome sacrament! ... Oops, copyright notice here. -_-"
Full Translation...

What are good standards? Such that we sing until the audience cry... Even the non-christians, auntie and uncles, can understand what we are singing about. We must visualise and paint out the big picture for them - we are artists - or else good christians would just be satisfied with the religious text. Then, can we make our concert what it's worth!

4 Days. We can do it!

This is just a sharing. Feel free to pass it on. =P

Zhong Hao.