Lightyears

Only less than 2 weeks more to the Semester 2 final examinations and Mathematics is up first, followed by Marketing (the next day), Business Finance, Mechanics of Materials and finally Aerospace materials. I am about to pass out I guess. Imagine cramming your brain with so much information in 2 weeks, and considering that I did not do too well for my Mathematics CAs and Marketing Presentation, I think I really have to pray for a miracle and work hard so that it can actually be achieved!

So looking foward to the semestral break!

It is probably the first time I attended a “rock” concert, and my ears were deafened after the concert. Nevertheless I was quite impressed with Maroon 5. I never had doubts about their musicality and Adam Levine cruised through every song as though it was effortless. My only complaint that the rock act performed for only about 1 hour, which, if one is the calculative sort, e.g. me, did not really justify the $125 ticket that was paid. This would probably be a norm in the States I guess, but in Asia, artistes usually have concerts that lasts at least 2 hours. Maybe they didn’t have enough songs to sing longer (I mean they only released 2 albums till date)? Also, the stage design was rather simple.

Anyway, I really like the song “Won’t Go Home Without You”, which I think was a crowd favourite as well. Since I am not really a Maroon 5 fan (was there to accompany my sister), it didn’t help that I did not know the lyrics to their songs, maybe except the choruses. Oh yes, another complaint: there wasn’t much interaction with the audience, and the songs kept on coming one after another.

But all in all, they showed why they really deserved their Grammy Awards through their performance.

P.S. Didn’t take any pictures at the concert…

A*Mei just completed her first performance in a Japanese Musical “Turandot” yesterday in Tokyo, and heard it was very successful!! I want to fly to Japan to watch her too, if I am not having examinations at his point of time. Anyway, below are some pictures of her in the musical. And she looks stunningly beautiful!

Visit this website for more information on the musical: http://www.turan.jp/index.html

In addition, there is news there she may hold concerts in Japan after the end of the musical. And her “Star World Tour” Concert DVD will be released on Blu-ray DVD in May. So looking forward to it!! Also, she is supposedly remaining in EMI Music Taiwan, as opposed to rumours saying that she might return to Warner Music. However, there is also news that EMI is scrapping its Asia branches. Not sure how true it is, but we shall see.

You’ve heard “Touch My Body” and “Migrate”, now comes “I’m That Chick” from E = MC ^2, Mariah Carey’s forthcoming release due on 15 April. You can watch a live performance of that song on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaSKL4VKPUU . It’s a rather simple song in my opinion, but it’s nice anyway.

Anyway, just in case you have not seen the new album cover, it is this:

I’m not sure whether dropping of the classic Mariah Carey fonts is a good idea, but it probably signifies a change for her.

Mariah Carey will also be a mentor on American Idol this season, and singing live on 16 April if I’m not wrong!

Also, “Touch y Body” is finally available for downloading! Make this song her 18th number 1 single!

Below is the youtube link for her performance:

Personally I think she did fine, just that it could have been better, because we have all heard her sing better. I think she was quite nervous when she played the piano and sang at the same time.

It was a good performance nonetheless. She has definitely established herself as one of the best singers of our time!

I cannot wait for Utada’s new album “Heart Station” which will be released this coming week in Japan, and one week later in Taiwan, and hopefully the rest of asia. Her last offering “Ultra Blue”, which was released back in 2006 was amazing, and I think HS would be a great follow-up. Her album would include singles that were released over the past year, including the world number 2 (for digital sales) “Flavour of Life” the recently released “Heart Station”, “Stay Gold”, as well as “Boku wa Kuma”, “Beautiful World” and “Kiss & Cry”. One would probably have heard half her album then, but it would be still worth buying nonetheless! Her music is ever so different from other artistes in the world I dare say, and it is amazing that she creates new “sounds” on each album!

In addition, she is rumoured to be working on her sophomore English album, a follow-up to “Exodus” which was released way back in 2004. It wasn’t really well-received, although I think that was an amazing album, and sounds more futuristic than Justin Timberlake’s “Futuresex/Lovesounds” album. Anyway, 2 more weeks to getting her album!!

 On another note, Ken Hirai has also released a new album, titled “Fakin’ Pop”, his first studio offering since 2004’s “SENTIMENTALovers”. He is another Japanese artiste whose music I enjoy a lot. Probably one of the finest male singers in my opinion, at least in Asia. Similar to Utada, most of the songs in his album are made of single that were released over the past year(s), including the “Elegy”, an amazing heartfelt track. His album is out now! Go get it!

Migrate, by Mariah Carey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3L6kyonHx8

Very hip-hop, and not like anything she’s done. Her performance for ‘Migrate’ on SNL definitely outshines that of ‘Touch My Body’. And do not let the track title fool you- the song is actually very good!