Top musicals

Watched Les miserables last month. It's a good show with powerful story line. But I think I like Phantom of the Opera more.

Body, Heart and Spirit

Of all different forms of arts, I enjoy a beautiful voice most. Much more than paintings, poetry and music. A great voice can bring many thoughts and stir emotions, uplift the spirit and revitalize the body, heart, and mind.


And this is Olivia Newton-John. Though I wasn't a fan of her music, but this night made me hopelessly devoted to her voice. Her songs have a catchy tune and her voice brings physical life to the words. It's magic, making me feel a little more love in the summer night.

I honestly love her voice and songs, and listening to her live. It has been great fun.

Good + Good = Better?

I love Star Wars. Yoda is cute and Darth Vader is cool.

I love Phantom of the Opera too. Music is enchanting and the storyline is bittersweet.

I'm sure some of you out there love both of these at the same time.

But I'm not so sure when we do get "best of both worlds"

This is extremely funny. Watch it.




I am your father...

Haunting...

Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night

Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night

You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night

No more talk of darkness,
forget these wide-eyed fears;
I'm here, nothing can harm you,
my words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry your tears;
I'm here, with you, beside you,
to guard you and to guide you.

Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime;
let me lead you from you solitude.
Say you need me with you, here beside you,
anywhere you go, let me go too,
that's all I ask of you.

I should tell you

I was asked by a friend if I would spend time just listening to music only and do absolutely nothing else. I used to do that, listening to songs, going through the lyrics booklet and doing nothing else but enjoying every beat of the music. "Used to", that's the phrase. Things have changed since then. Other than the typical "not enough time" syndrome that hits almost everyone now. One more thing changed the way I enjoy music now. We have the Internet, search engine and ...



This is how I enjoy every beat of my music now. Keep it visual as well. :P

No Day But Today

This a really wonderful made-up clip with great scenes from Rent. Better than the trailer.

End of Year 2006

I think it is most appropriate to put this song down here at this moment of time.

Dedicated to all friends, lovers, families and even people whom I don't know but happen to visit this blog.

ALL

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love

JOANNE
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?

COLLINS
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.

ALL
It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!

JOANNE
Oh you got to got to Remember the love! remember the love,
You Measure in love know that love is a gift from up above Seasons of love.
Share love, give love spread love Measure measure you life in love.

May your coming year be filled with LOVE!

Amsterdam - Boom Chicago

OK, you have me here after the show by Boom Chicago.


Today's show is entitled "Me, Myspace and Ipod". There are spoofs about the uses of Internet like online purchasing, YouTube, Wikipedia, ITunes. And about 60 to 70% of the show is impromtu. It's pretty nice for a social event after meeting.

Live (for the One I Love) / Vivre

Celine Dion did a cover for one of the best songs in the musical Notre Dame de Paris sung by Esmeralda in English. Titled: Live for the one I love



Vivre

Le Temps des cathédrales

This is the title of the opening song for Notre Dame de Paris. It describes a love tragedy and obsession of Man.

Watched it last night and was glad I decided not to give it a miss. Was thinking of that cause I don't understand French.

In the end, though there is English subtitles, I can't be bothered with it after some time through the musical. I rather enjoy the stage - songs and performers. The dancers, I must say, are experts. Really love their dances.

The idea of using a wall backdrop is indeed ingenious. Reduces props movement and gives a very strong scene setup for each part of the musical when work together with the lightings.

Some of the acts are good in the sense that really portray the emotional state the characters are going through. One of them I remembered vividly is Phoebus being torn between 2 women and he himself is confused and taken by obsession.

Notre Dame de Paris is a great performance. Watching such a marvelous musical is a good way to relax at the end of the week. I had a surprise too bumping into one other friend. Enjoyed this Friday night thoroughly. It's been a long time since I feel so relax out on a Friday night.

Now, if I may, introduce the opening song to you.

Celine Dion Part 2

pic from www.celinedion.com

One of the highlights of my US trip is the show "A New Day... ...".

With no doubt, we have the powerhouse Celine Dion herself. Hearing and seeing her live is already a great experience for me.

The props and their use are just unexpected. Then there's the whole backdrop display generated by computer graphics which further satisfy your vision appeal.

Kudos to the dancers too. With their beautiful and graceful dance movements (I think they are really excellent as compared to other shows I have seen), they create the perfect picture and movie on stage to portray the emotions and feelings of the songs and their passion for the show.

I just feel teleported to another world enjoying the 1.5 hr with all my senses. It's a must see show and I would really love to watch it again.

Some trailers to watch here:







You have to see it before it's gone from Las Vegas! Hope the DVD will be out.

Rhythm of the Night II

Got this from the Net. A short clip on BTF when they preview at J8. The music used was the same.

Rhythm of the Night

Went for Burn The Floor premiere gala last night.

The array of dance styles through the approx. 2 hrs show is enough to dazzle me. Waltz, Hop, Rumba, Tango, Flamenco, ballroom, salsa, street... and many many more which I don't recognise.

Starting off strong with Rhythm of the Night. The song reminded me of the dance scene in the movie Moulin Rouge. The dancers came dancing and running down the aisle onto the stage. For a moment I wish I was seated nearer to the aisle so I can have a closer look. :P

The next song by the female vocalist (my, her voice is really superb with a great timbre and wide tonal range) in combination with the dance greatly serves the purpose of pumping up the heat. Fast-paced and loud dance moves, the crowd just get warmed up soon.

The Fantasy Waltz is up next. Very contrasting, this is soft and elegant. Skirts almost floor-sweeping with twirling of the couple across the stage, it creates a sea of blue. The whole dance seems to sing of their courtship, separation and reunion.

There's another dance which created a naughty mood (think Austin Powers). Dancers dressed colorfully and presented fun, humor. BTF called it "Jump and Jive".

I love the finale dance the most. I could feel the strong stage presence and the "high" of the dancers right from my seat. Tapping my foot and clapping along, I just feel I'm part of the dance movements, rhythm and music. Thumbs up for the co-ordination and choreography for this finale. :D
(Pic from http://www.burnthefloor.com.sg/gallery.html)

The reason why I loved to watch such dances is because I loved to feel the sensual chemisty between the dancers. A lot of practising efforts and trust has been put in.

Secondly, I just love the smooth flowing movement of body curves. Dancing is one of the most natural and native way of presenting this art. Photos or paintings can't tells you everything about the beauty of the body curves because it is static, but dancing can. I think it's sensational, sexy and graceful at the same time.

Thirdly, I loved to see how the skirts just sweep and twirl with the leg and waist movements. I think it takes extreme skills to master the art of getting your skirts to beautifully flow in which ever direction you want it to go. Can you imagine the whole stage of 10+ dancers in a ballroom dance with flowing skirts and graceful movements? How majestic!

Took the chance later on to have autographs and take pictures.
They are Hayden Escobar and Sharna Burgess.

On the whole, the show is enjoyable and I just felt that it is a bit short (hmm, the dancers would really shacked out if it is 3hrs). The intermission actually breaks the momentum and when the show resumes with the ballroom dancing, it doesn't serves to engage me as much previously. But this is not a big issue with the singing and more "formation dancing" coming back shortly. The show ends on a high note with the finale. I have to say this again, I love the finale!