Seeing Double This November!

+New albums galore! But it seems like we are seeing double this month, here I have 3 pair of albums, that share some similarities with each other! But of course there are differences also! Let's take a look!

#1 Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment VS Kris Allen - Self-titled Album

+Okay other than both being from the Idol Alumni, there aren't any other similarities between these two albums at all!


+Adam's album first. Isn't he supposed to be a glam rocker? (See album cover above, LOL.) Then how come this album sounds more pop than rock? Here's what I think of the album. The first half of the album is pop, and the second half is more rock. Haha! But it's true! And the cover art is erm...should I say...erm attention grabbing? Not in a good way. LOL. That said, Adam delivers each and every song flawlessly, hitting all the unbelievably high notes effortlessly. The best track in the album has to be the theme of the movie 2012 (which received mixed reviews, the movie, I mean), Time for Miracles.


+Kris' next! This self-titled album is so smooth, I have no idea how to classify it! It's not rock, but it's not pop either. So what it's called? Anyone knows? LOL! Anyway, his voice is truly clean and smooth and if you have grown sick of Heartless, try No Boundaries, or if you have grown sick of that too, try Live Like We're Dying!


#2 Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster VS Rihanna - Rated R

+What's so similar between these two albums, you ask? The album art DUH. I think they hired the SAME creative director and graphic designer, and they ran out of ideas for new album art designs. Look at the covers! Both are in grayscale, emo, dark and guess what - same kind of make-up. So now they have got the same make-up artist as well? LOL!

+That said, the musical style is very different in both albums. Lady Gaga is more pop and dance, and Rihanna has graduated from the dance beats of Umbrella and Don't Stop the Music to R&B and more soulful songs like Russian Roulette and Photographs (feat. will.I.am), very much like Take A Bow. I love Russian Roulette! It's the kind of song that grows on you the more you listen to it!


+Lady Gaga, meanwhile, has stuck to her pop and dance hits formula which has proved to work, propelling her to super-stardom. The hit single Bad Romance gets stuck in your head after one listen, in a good way of course! And she proves she has the singing chops in Speechless, a ballad. Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster also has a deluxe edition, where in the package, among other things, contains a lock of her own hair. How crazy is that!

Here's a video showing just how crazy she is! A very recent performance at the American Music Awards 09, singing Bad Romance and Speechless, where she sets her piano on fire. Literally.




#3 萧敬腾 - Love Moments 爱的时刻自选辑 VS 方炯镔 - 坏人.情歌.遗憾

+Alright there are so many similarities between these 2 albums I don't know where to begin! LOL! First of all, both singers are male, newbies in the industry, and this album is a collection of covers of songs they like. And they did covers of ALL female songs. Yes, both of them. Coincidence? Hmm. Oh yes, they both chose 1 张惠妹 and 孙燕姿 song to cover in their album. Not the same songs, of course, that would be really freaky. Haha.


+Okay song choice wise, I would prefer Jam's album. But in terms of bringing a new life to the song, I think neither of them has done really well. Erm, the albums get boring after a while? Because the music arrangement from song to song sounds the same! Especially A-Bin's album.


+I like both their voices! Both put a lot of emotion into singing and you can hear it. Best song in Jam's Album would be 我怀念的, 新不了情 is just disappointing, he lost the 爆发力 of the competitions in the studios, and best song in A-Bin's album would be 天黑黑. No, I'm not being biased towards Yanzi, just because I'm a fan, but it's true! Go and listen and you'll know! Haha!


BEST WEEKEND FINDS!


The Taylor Swift's Holiday Collection
+I can't get enough of Taylor Swift! This album released in 2006/7 just made me very happy! =))) Featuring White Christmas and Silent Night! Erm country style? Haha!


Spongebob's Greatest Hits
+Who can resist Spongebob and his nonsensical songs?! Haha! In this Greatest Hits collection, favourites like The Goofy Goober Song, The Campfire Song Song and F.U.N Song are included!

AND UNTIL NEXT TIME -

+The Dancing Diva article is proving harder than it is to write! But I'll do it up! =)))

WOOHOO!!!

+It's been so long since I last blogged! Hello everyone, do continue to support this blog! =)))

+So what have I been up to since I came back? Listening to good music of course! There have so many good albums recently and I must really recommend a few. Oh, before I continue, I must annouce to the world that I have moved over to the MAC side!


The new MacBook 13"! With the same(or even better) specs as the MBPro and costing about $500 cheaper, this notebook is a killer deal. So now I'm blogging from my mac and loving it!

+Alright, enough of that, the first album that I highly recommend is 林宥嘉's《感官／世界》.


+I had such a joy listening to this album, although many may find it too hard to swallow. This time, Yoga has stuck to his own music preferences and decides to do an alternative rock album.

+Does it rock?

+You bet it does. Yoga, in a recent interview about his album, said that he prefers this album much more than the previous one (神秘嘉宾). When listening to this album, he continued, one's senses would feel stimulated, by the flow of this album. Well, I don't really feel stimulated per se, but the songs in this album really touches you. Polished singing techniques aside, his raw emotions and passion sweep over you like a wave. I particularly love the music arrangement of this album, it's very Coldplay + Sodagreen, if you get what I mean. What joy to listen to, really.

+Here is the 2nd hit from this album “说谎”, take listen and be won over. (There's a reason why this song is the second hit - it's not as alternative as the rest.)


+Is it worth my $19?

With this album, it's make or break for him, as it will certainly test the patience of his fans. For those who like their sugar-rush, they will have no doubt migrated over to 萧雅轩 and her《钻石糖》. LOL. Don't get my wrong I love that album also, just that I like this one more. The packaging of this album is really special too. I have never seen anything like this. The "lyrics book" is made of a few posters folded into "album size" and then put together. The whole stack is then placed inside a Ziploc bag. It's hard to decribe, just go take a look. Hahaha storing this is going to such a pain.

+Recommended Tracks: 看见什么吃什么, 说谎, 心酸, 唐人街, 感同身受
Click here to buy now! From YESASIA.com, free international shipping.

+Okay the next album I'm recommending is Taylor Swift's Fearless! Okay I'm slow and everything, but until recently when I revisited her songs did I realize what spellbinding magic they contain!


+Such a sweet, talented and young singer-songwriter! Her songs are very unique, it's like telling a story: no hidden agenda, no lyrics that don't make sense; everything is written and sung honestly.

+Does it rock?

+Country rock, that is. There's a reason why this teenage girl is one of the biggest selling artiste in 2008/09. She's talented, honest, and has a squeaky clean image - something that many artistes her age is lacking. ( Think Miley Cyrus or Vanessa Hudgens.) Her songs are also easy to sing along to, easy on the ears and easy to relate with. These few reasons have garnered her millions of fans! Her voice is strong when it has to be, wispy and lilty in those quiet times. Her songs are really addictive and catchy.

+Here's the controversial award-winning video "You Belong With Me".


+Is it worth my $19?

+Definitely, since the Singapore version only costs $11.90! Buy it with any of the other CDs on promotion and it's 2 for $22. How worth it is it!

+Recommended Tracks: Fearless, Love Story, You Belong With Me, You're Not Sorry, Hey Stephen
Click here to buy now! From amazon.com, shipping costs apply.

WHAT'S NEXT?

+Okay that's all for now, in the meantime, we can all wait for Lady Gaga's new album, The Fame Monster, and Britney's Singles Collection, and also Rihanna's Rated R. In the mandopop scene we can expect Jam Hsiao's collection of female love songs (I'm really looking forward to this.)and 梁文音's 爱一直存在 - both in November, 杨丞琳's 雨爱 and 王心凌's brand new album in December.

+Also look out for my next entry where I decide who is The Real Dancing Diva in the Mandopop scene.

Goodbye Brunei! (Erm, forever?)

+It's my last night here in Brunei and I think I should blog about it!

+I'm so glad I'm leaving you, yet there are MANY MANY things that I am certain I will miss about you, namely your $1 Nasi-Katok, your pirated DVDs, buttermilk chicken fried rice, the friends I made here and...and...and...I guess that's about it. LOL!

+There's something else I'm certain about. I'M NEVER COMING BACK! =)))

19/10/09 Flight Details

+I heard that Monday, 19 October is a Public Holiday! That's when I come back from Brunei too!

Flight Details
Date: 19 October 2009
Flight No.: SQ 181
Terminal: 2
ETA: 1400

+You guys can come fetch me if you are free!! Can't wait to see all of you guys! =))) Thanks!

I'm a TV Junkie 2

+American TV Series are IRRESISTIBLE. Here are some of the DVDs that I have watched/bought but haven't watch/attempting to smuggle back to Singapore. Haha. I'm taking orders as well. Tag or email me if you want anything. Movies, TV series or anime. But it's illegal ah, I say first. LOL!

Gossip Girl


90210


FRINGE


Lie to me*


Dollhouse


True Blood


Dexter




Damages


The Mentalist


+Any other recommendations? LOL!

9 More Days

+I've just finished my last duty! It's definitely a load off my shoulder, when you know your remaining days (or nights, rather) left in SAF are totally free! =)))


+With the completion of my last duty, it seems like everything here in Brunei is coming to a closure. We're doing preservation work on our tanks, clearing offs and leaves, packing and taking stock of your belongings, and I'll be signing clearances next week! It's so surreal that the day you have been waiting for for so long is finally arriving. In 9 more days, I will bid farewell to Brunei forever. After I'm back in Singapore, I get 4 days of leave, then it's back to HQ Armour to await my ORD, which is on the 10 of November!

+There's so many things I wanna do when I get back to Singapore! And these include revamping my room, getting a new hp and laptop, learn driving, travel, start singing and composing lessons, get a music related job...and so on! There's just so many possibilities! If there's one thing that Brunei has taught me, it's to not procrastinate and take things for granted. When I was in Singapore, I had all these ideas in my head too, but I just wasn't motivated enough to bring them into action. But now, I've learned that you have to just follow your heart and do whatever you want to do! Live your life!

+And for my friends who will still be in Brunei after I leave, take care, good luck and don't think so much. Your time will come soon. Treat Brunei like a train ride, people get on, people get off. For now, the train has reached my station and I'm getting off. The next stop, will, hopefully be yours. =)

+Oh yes, with much irony, seeing as how much I despise SAF, I have been presented with the "BEST SOLDIER AWARD" at the monthly Commandant Parade! LOL! So I'm best soldier for the month of September and my picture is shown in the cookhouse for the entire month of October. Hahaha! Just goes to show that hard work pays off! =)))

Don't write yourself off yet

+I've been playing Rock Band Unplugged on PSP, and it's really addictive! This song came up, and it really connected with me.

The Middle
Jimmy Eat World

Hey,
Don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out
Or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don't you worry what they tell themselves
When you're away

It just takes some time
little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright (alright)

Hey
You know they're all the same
You know you're doing better on your own (on your own)
So don't buy in
Live right now
Yeah, just be yourself
It doesn't matter if it's good enough (good enough)
For someone else

Hey, don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out (feel left out)
Or looked down on
Just do your best (just do your best)
Do everything you can (do everything you can)
And don't you worry what their bitter hearts (bitter hearts)
Are gonna say

+Back in 15 days! =)))