Finally some new music from Stefanie Sun, since her recent concert, and her last album which was 2 years ago. “Mu Lan Qing” is the theme song for “Hua Mu Lan”. I think it’s not too bad; listening in context with the movie would probably serve a better review. And she’s definitely become a better singer!

Yanzi seems to have been busy with other stuff in addition to her concert tour. She has designed a collection for The Carnaby London. I have not really heard of the line, though I think I have been to Carnaby Street when I was in London. Anyway, it seems like a great collection (visit www.thecarnaby.com for more information). Just hope that she releases her new album soon!

ELVA has just released her new album, “Diamond Candy”, and here are 3 of the videos from the album:

Enjoy!

So much for Happy… It’s really quite the contrary…

If I had to compare this album (sound-wise) to one of her previous efforts, I would choose “Charmbracelet”. To me, it sort of reminds me of that album, though it’s more like an urban-sounding. It also sounds like more personal than her previous efforts, and it sort of takes time to get used to (at least for me). Anyway, she looks stunning on the cover, and inside there are pictures of her re-creating the pictures of her debut and “Butterfly” albums, which is really nice!

“Obsessed” needs no introduction at this point of time, since it’s already such a huge hit worldwide. To be honest, I really did not like the record at first, but after some time I really got hooked on it. Not to mention her performance on America’s Talent, which was superb! “I Want to Know What Love Is”, the second single, is for me, the most mind-blowing track on the album! She’s created hits with covers of “I’ll Be There”, “Open Arms” and “Without You”, and I think “I Want to Know What Love Is” will go down in history as one of the best covers ever done as well! Great job Mimi!

“H.A.T.E.U.” is also one of my favourites, and on heavy airplay on my own CD player! Let’s continue with my favourites of the album. I am loving the ballads more this time round, and these include “Inseparable”, “Angels Cry”, “Languishing (interlude)”. “Languishing” sort of reminds me of the “Rainbow (Interlude)” she did back in 1999 on the similarly-titled album. And it links seamlessly into the big remake of “I Want to Know What Love Is”. “Angels Cry” sounds to me like a “Bye Bye part 2″. I haven’t read the lyrics but i hope it’s not too far off! Anyway, it’s another classic in the making in my opinion.

Now onto the other songs which I like: “Candy Bling” and “Up Out My Face”. The latter sounds like a fun song, and I think she sang it at the Palm venue. The songs that did not work for me at the moment are “More Than Friends” and “The Impossible”. I just cannot get it.

Overall, it’s really a classy album by Mariah Carey. There are more hits than misses for this album, and she’s really getting more consistent in writing and producing good music. Definitely one of the must-buys for the year, especially more so if you love R&B!

4 out of 5

Favourites: I Want to Know What Love Is, Angels Cry, H.A.T.E.U., Candy Bling, Obsessed

Amit will be coming to Singapore as part of her first world tour! The concert will be held on 30 January 2010 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium at 8pm! Tickets will go on sale from 10am tomorrow (1st October 2009)!

Click on the following link to get tickets online:

http://www.sistic.com.sg/portal/dt?retry=1&dt.windowProvider.targetPortletChannel=JSPTabContainer/sEventsCalendar/Event&contentCode=amei0110&dt.isPortletRequest=true&dt.provider=PortletWindowProcessChannel&dt.containerName=JSPTabContainer/sEventsCalendar&dt.action=process&dt.windowProvider.currentChannelMode=VIEW&dt.window.portletAction=RENDER

In the mean time, some clips from her recent performance at F1 Rocks Singapore:

Feeling very “Close My Eyes” now…

I was a wayward child
With the weight of the world
That I held deep inside
Life was a winding road
And I learned many things
Little ones shouldn’t know

But I closed my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raised my head to the sky
And though time’s rolled by
Still I feel like that child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up
A little too soon

Funny how one can learn
To grow numb to the madness
And block it away
I left the worst unsaid
Let it all dissipate
And I try to forget

As I closed my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raised my head to the sky
And the time rolled by
Still I feel like that child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up
A little too soon

Nearing the edge
Oblivious I almost
Fell right over
A part of me
Will never be quite able
To feel stable
That woman-child falling inside
Was on the verge of fading
Thankfully I
Woke up in time

Guardian angle I
Sail away on an ocean
With you by my side
Orange clouds roll by
They burn into your image
And you’re still alive
(You’re always alive)

As I closed my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raised my head to the sky
And the time rolls by
Still I feel like that child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up
A little too soon

I like how she used “roll” in the chorus differently. I forgot what they call this type of usage in English…

Here are some upcoming releases for those who are interested in Mandarin music!

9/25 -蔡淳佳, 回到最初 (her brand new album in 2 years)

9/25- 張韶涵, 第5季 (her brand new album in 2 years)

9/25- 陳奕迅, 上五樓的快活

10/9 – ELVA蕭亞軒, 鑽石糖 (she’s apparently launching her world concert tour towards the end of the year!)

After watching the DVD, I sort of regretted not attending his concert while he was in town back in 2008. Then again, it would not have been as good as that held at the Taipei Arena, the site where the DVD was shot.

In comparison with his previous tour, “Heroes of the Earth”, this is definitely much smoother in terms of transition, and much better I would say (not that his previous tour was at all bad). His vocal control and musicianship has also become better, or should I say, more refined and polished. The same goes for his showmanship.

Now onto the music. I like the re-arrangements of the music, especially those that were infused with rock, e.g. 花田错, 龙的传人. My favourite songs have to be 安全感 and 爱错。  For the latter, he replaced a certain vocal bit with a guitar solo, which was amazing! As for the former, a track from his “The One and Only” album back in 2001, it was quite touching the way he sang it. Besides that, he introduced songs from his then new album, like 爱得得体, 我完全没有任何理由理你, as well as playing on various instruments- guitar, piano, violin, and drums (?). Then we also have the amazing musicians, some who have worked with him for quite a while, while others a first time. I think it is really inspiring to play with such accomplished musicians. Oh yes! He has an amazing guitar! I have no idea what it is called, but it really looks cool, like something you would only see in comics. Apparently, it was a made-to-order guitar from Ireland! I wish I could own one of this, though I do not even know how to play a guitar. Alright, maybe a made-to-order piano would be good!

Back to the concert, the visuals were a spectacle as well, with amazingly-timed pyrotechnics, and graphics that were done really nicely, to suit the theme of Music Man.

The concert ended with a 6 song encore. I have no idea why encores have become another segment to concerts these days, unlike the past where encores had a maximum of 2 songs! It was still great and enjoyable nonetheless.

For the bonus features, there are behind-the-scenes stuff to show you how the concert was put together, the musicians that were involved, the concept behind the concert etc.

All in all, I think this is really an amazing concert to own on DVD, especially if you missed it.

It’s about time we heard from Sun Ho since she left for US to prepare for an English album! Firstly, I would like to say that the music video is really awesome! It’s really nice, and a great job by award-winning director Joseph Kahn! Secondly, Sun looks amazing in the videos as well, except maybe in that dress that looks like 2 long pieces of cloth. Now onto the song itself. “Fancy Free” sounds more sophisticated than her previous works, “China Wine” and “Kill Bill”, though they were rather nice as well. I’m not very convinced by the ’spoken’ part towards the end section of the song; it just sounds a bit weird to me. Anyway, it’s a nice song, and I hope it does well on the charts! Go Sun! Can’t wait for your new album, “Cause a Ruckus”!

The one-and-only Mariah Carey performed her 2nd single off her upcoming album, “I Want to Know What Love Is”, on Oprah. It’s quite heartening to find that her voice is still in good condition, and probably means that she needs to be quite rested and not nervous and such to perform well. She looks stunning as well with the curls, reminiscent of the good old days where her voice really soared! Really look forward to “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel”, which will be out in a week or so.