I’m going to put this video here although I know no one else will listen to it. Just because it saves me the trouble of going to Youtube to play it over and over again.

Incidentally, this song by Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim (the pianist in the video) and Vinicius de Moraes is considered to be the first bossa nova recording ever made. Tom Jobim, together with João Gilberto (the guitarist and vocalist in the video), was one of the creators of the bossa nova style, a style evolved from samba and whose name means “new trend”. Jobim, Gilberto, Gilberto’s then wife Astrud Gilberto and jazz saxophonist Stan Getz then went on to record the veryveryvery awesome Getz/Gilberto, which has since come to be regarded as the definitive bossa nova album of all time. The title of this song directly translates to “enough homesickness” or “enough longing”. There’s a literal translation of the lyrics into English on the web somewhere and it sounds a bit corny – “Cause there are fewer fish swimming in the sea Than the little kisses I shall give her on her mouth” … er? But I’m sure in the original Portuguese meaning it is really poetic and beautiful, haha.

Give it a listen, you will like it! I could be biased but I fail to see how anyone could not like music as accessible and pleasant to the ears as bossa nova!!

On another note- I will stop posting video after video and start writing properly again after my exams, hopefully!

Here’s a beautiful worship song by Indonesian band GMB, hope it blesses you.

saat kudatang
kuhampiri singgahsanaMu
kuhanya mampu
tersungkur di bawah kakiMu
dan Kau naungi hidupku
dengan kekudusanMu
Kau buka jalan
melalui tabir diriMu
dengan darahMu
kumasuki tahta kudusMu
dan Kau curahkan semua isi hatiMu
kepadaKu
ku mengangkat hatiku
kumenyembahMu Yesus
pujian hormat, pengagungan bagiMu
jadikan aku saksi
penebusan darahMu
ini hidupku
hanyalah untukMu
s’lamanya

and my incompetent translation:

when i come
near to Your throne
i can only
fall at Your feet
and you protect my life
with Your holiness
You opened the way
through the veil
by Your blood
i approach Your holy throne
and You pour out Your heart
to me
i lift up my heart
i worship You Jesus
praise and majesty
to You
make me a witness
of Your redeeming blood
this is my life
only for You
always

N/B= Does anyone else think the lead singer kinda resembles Patrick Leong?

there aren’t very many things i’ve done which i’ve instantly regretted. most of the time because i put a lot of thought – too much thought in fact – into something before i decide to do it. but as always there are exceptions. perhaps i read too much into your apparent nonchalance, and before i knew it this ugly automatic defense mechanism had set in. do you not know the feeling of wanting to lay claim to the very things which you yourself gave up the rights to? it’s crazy and it’s unreasonable and it’s wrong, but it’s true.

this one’s for you. because i thought it would fit in perfectly with that ‘collection’ you perhaps rather more thoughtlessly than i’d have liked to think, put together for me. if you still remember. (=

Waltz for Koop by Koop

x

[Author's note: Please read this]

Watching this video moved me almost to tears and I’ll burst if I don’t share it with someone.. The emotion is just so raw and the improvisation wild and bold, but not without structure. The more airy, atmospheric bits are excellent as well in a very understated kind of way. Many label this as a marriage between classical and jazz – think along the lines of Chopin/Debussy/Satie meets Bill Evans/Keith Jarrett sort of thing. Enjoy the video, the interview at the end is also very worth watching. There are 7 parts to this documentary which you can find on Youtube.

I can be very involved in it, and also one part of my brain can be thinking about some really banal stupid shit, like I have to go the bathroom… or you know, did I leave my wallet in the hotel..

- Brad Mehldau, on what happens in him when he plays

the airy tinkling of the vibraphones pierces through what had been silence before, now replaced by some sweet and familiar atmosphere.

somehow the notes of the vibraphones must have picked up the overtones of the strings of this heart. how else can it be possible, that in a moment this longing could resonate at so large an amplitude?

tonight is one of those nights. the ones where i am ever so content to just be sitting in my room listening to my favourite music, reclining from all the doing and going. and just being.

on my playlist right now is Amy Winehouse – her type of sound really does it for me somehow. here a hint of the Supremes and there an Aretha-esque quality, very very unique and distinctive. i just love that. i love the subtle 70’s vibes it exudes. and i love when you can’t put your finger on the genre of the music. it’s probably also the most poppy/mainstream stuff outdated-me has really listened to in recent times, haha.

saw a live theatre production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill Gate today. nothing spectacular – small stage, music provided by one keyboard, and no amazing props or effects. in fact the cast was made up of but 5 people. but it was a good effort, heart-warming and sincere in its simplicity.

it is 3 days to Christmas day and outside it’s misty. under the street lamp vapour and dust rise like a swarm of tiny fireflies. i’m wondering how much colder it is where you are right now. (=

i wish i could say no regrets / and no emotional debts / cause as we kiss goodbye the sun sets / so we are history / your shadow covers me / the sky above a blaze that only lovers see

he walks away / the sun goes down / he takes the day but i am grown / and in your way / in my blue shade / my tears dry on their own

[tears dry on their own - amy winehouse]

I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too

Oh, take my love, take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down

- Stevie Nicks

This song is dedicated to Chuan!!! The jazzy piano-backed version of Stacey Kent’s, no less. (=

I was never a fan of Hanson (okay fine maaaybe a closet fan but that was a long time ago haha) but their song ‘Weird’ is particularly good I think. I like this line:

when you live in a cookie-cutter world being different is a sin
so you dont stand out and you dont fit in

So I went to my first jazz gig in KL.

Having had my expectations raised by the fact that the acclaimed jazz chanteuse Anne Weerapass from Singapore would be accompanied by two of Malaysia’s most iconic in the scene – Michael Veerapen and Lewis Pragasam, plus the fact that Alexis is reputed to be the jazz venue in the Klang Valley, I guess it was inevitable that I would be let down. The food was disappointing, the sound system left much to be desired, Anne Weerapass’ pants were too tight, the music was too loud, too electronic and came off sounding like hotel-lounge-music-only-with-better-vocals. Basically I think I’ve been spoiled by Ronnie Scott’s lah. Lol. Oh and only one bossanova tune was performed that night. )=

Saturday we drove to Bentong – Eng, Em, Chuan, Jin and myself. Pa gave a crash course on ‘how to eat your local fruits like a kampung boy/girl’.. we visited Chamang waterfall (it has proven to be an indispensable part of the itinerary whenever friends come to Bentong, haha).. we watched the World Badminton Championships at home.. and other than that we just ate. And ate. And ate.

Yesterday morning I left home at 6am for KL and came straight to work after dropping off my things at my aunt’s. It’s Tuesday today but I’m still feeling the Monday blues.

that autumn leaves fall dry and sweet
tells me everything is not broken
no everything is not broken
if everything’s not fine
if everything’s not fine

more weddings then funerals in time, in time
if everything’s not fine
’cause everything is not broken
no everything is not broken
everything will be fine
everything will be fine