I simply love this scene from Pushing Daisies, 2nd episode.

Kirstin Chenoweth singing "Hopelessly Devoted To You".



I instantly knew where I first saw this actress just hearing her voice - The Music Man, as Marion. Beautiful beautiful rendition of 'Till There Was You...



Apart from the movie scene, the live version is a must-watch too...

And here's the introduction scene to Pushing Daisies... Great stuff.

This is Lee Pace, star of Pushing Daisies and the upcoming The Fall. And from available Youtube videos he seems to play the tough outlaw pretty often, like a convict in Infamous, or the terrorizing brother-in-law to Sarah Michelle Gellar's character in Possession.



And this is also Lee Pace... Not the guy in the picture, I meant that elegant-looking lady played by the same Lee Pace... (!!!)



Goodness, the things actors are willing to go through for their art! Christian Bale lost obscene amounts of weight for his role in the Machinist, now I see Lee Pace who not only lost 25 pounds for the role in Soldier's Girl, but also plays a transgender who gets involved a love affair with a military guy, with tragic results. From the trailer, Soldier's Girl is a tragic love story which was based on true events. It has also been critically acclaimed.

Watch the transformation here, a video clip which I found on Youtbe which sparked my interest in this made-for-TV movie. Movie magic can get pretty creepy too... But it's definitely great to see filmmakers who are willing to push the boundaries on these controversial but real social issues. Kind of reminds me of Torch Song Trilogy, which is by the way a great movie that I highly recommend. I wonder if this lives up to its reputation?



And this is one jaw-dropping scene from the movie. I'll never look at Lee Pace the same way again! Not for the under-18s...

I don't know about you but after watching the trailer of The Fall, I'm really really looking forward to watching this movie:



Synopsis from IMDB.com:
In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman (Pace) begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm (Untaru), a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances

And here are some clips from the movie. Isn't that little girl just so cute?? A natural! I totally liked her reaction in the clip "I touch your big toe", and the last part in the clip "Your wisdom will save us all". She's from Romania, by the way. Lee Pace from Pushing Daisies looks good in here too. Very good indeed.

Speaking of Pushing Daises, it has gotten me hooked! I like the whole whimsical feel of it all.

But back to The Fall and the clips...

"Boys, she's mine"


"May I be frank with you?"


"I touch your big toe"


"Things I like"


"Your wisdom will save us all"


Another movie added to the "to-watch" list!

I never knew Edward Norton sings! Haha cute video!

Ed Norton looks very young in here. Unfortunately, eh, quite a terrible dancer :P, but I'm sure that's how his character was supposed to be lah. A very Broadway feel to this movie by Woody Allen, entitled Everyone Says I Love You.

Another side of the new Incredible Hulk!

As someone who line dances I get to hear lots of Spanish songs as many line dances are cheoroegraphed to these songs. One of the dances I liked was titled "Plain Spanish" to the song Ave Maria by a singer David Bisbal. It's funny cos all this while I had the impression of David Bisbal as someone with a certain age... As in, not old, but probably someone who has been a singer for many years and was probably in his late 30s or even 40s.

So when I searched for the video for Ave Maria recently, I was pleasantly surprised that David Bisbal, a Spaniard, was in fact a young chap!



Ave Maria was released in 2002 and was his debut song. My guess is David Bisbal was marketed at that time as this young, romantic heart-throb. Pretty good looking fella, but I wonder who directed that terrible video?? I'd fire the dance cheoreographer also, if one was involved in the making of the video. Have lots of issues with that curly mop of a hair too... But I guess that became his trademark as he kept it for his subsequent albums.

Fortunately, I have discovered that he chopped off that mop for his latest album released in 2006. Much more handsome, I would say. Seems like he has changed his music style too. Now he has gone on for a more rocker image, as can be seen in this song Silencio.



He is, by the way, only 29 this year. So much so for that impression of a veteran singer in his late 30s or 40s.

Hahaha... trust the Japanese to come up with such an act!



Save for the poor English diction, this was actually quite a nice impersonation! Particularly liked the guy who played Bruce Springsteen.

Anyone know Japanese? Was this a talent show or a variety show with actual singers playing the roles of Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and co.?

This is the original video - We Are The World. Another iconic song of the 80s. Very few come close to the impact this has made on many who grew up during the 80s.



Thanks to the guy (or gal) who added the singers' names to the video! I finally know who all these people were!

One of the first singers I got to know since I took Spanish classes was Columbian rocker Juanes. He was the favourite singer of my first Peruvian teacher and just recently, my new Spanish teacher got us to fill up the lyrics of one of Juanes' songs. He quite a hit, apparently, in most of the Spanish-speaking world, with numerous Latin-American Grammy awards to his CV.

Here are two songs which I particularly like, both from his album Un Dia Normal (A Normal Day).

Fotografia (photograph), a duet with Portugese singer Nelly Furtado


A Dios Le Pido (I Ask of God), the song that made him an international sensation.


Just something for a nice Sunday morning, before the dreaded Monday sneaks in...

Think it takes too long to learn a new language?

This guy managed to squeeze one semester of Spanish into one catchy love song. Silly, definitely (just look at the translation), but funny and very easy to learn too. Heh...

Oh man, this guy has such a 'qian bian' (asking for a beating) face...



One word was wrong in the entire song though. I'll let you pick out which one :P

Translated lyrics:

Hi girl!
What's your name?
My name is Mike. My name is Mike.

Where's the bathroom?
Happy Birthday!
What time is it?
What time is it?

Ladadadada.

I like the library.
I live in a red house.
I have two bicycles.
Thank you and you're welcome.

How old are you?
One moment please.

It's the one semester of Spanish spanish love song.

My mom is pretty.
My cat is very white.
Excuse me, excuse me.

Ladadadada.

One, two, three, and four.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Nine, ten ... I don't remember how to say eleven.

Antonio Banderas.
Large nachos and cinnamon twists.

It's the one semester of Spanish spanish love song.

Goodbye.

No 'remembro' how to say 'eleven'? It's 'once' (pronounced: on-say).

Makes you wonder what went on in the mind of Paula Abdul...Just feel that thick, awkward atmosphere.

Sigh...

Once upon a time, children's cartoons were sooo wholesome that taught some really nice values...

First Episode: Care Bears - Land Without Feelings part 1


Care Bears - Land Without Feelings part 2


Many years back when I was packing all my stuffed toys, Mum only allowed me to keep a few which are particularly memorable for me. I picked a dog puppet to keep for special reasons. Along with the dog, I also kept two Care Bears. I don't remember their names, but they have stuck with me through childhood. The green one with the sleepy face and a moon on its tummy belonged to my brother, while the blue one with a star and a rainbow on its tummy belonged to me.

Oh how I miss the Care Bears!

I loved it when Funn brought out that David "Awwwwwchuleta" quote from an article she read. What an apt name for the teenager from Utah who always has that awwww-shucks look whenever the judges praise him for a stunning performance.

Unlike past American Idol competitions, I actually do have a favourite since early in the competition, and that is David Archuleta.

I'd be devastated if he doesn't at least get into the finals. Nevermind if he doesn't eventually become the American Idol cos I heard the deals for the champion aren't so great. But at least be the runner-up.

Beautiful, beautiful rendition of Angels for the Idols Give Back show.



Here's the original version from Robbie Williams:


Though I'm ashamed that I never knew that Robbie Williams was the original singer! The first time I heard this beautiful song was actually the Italian version by Patrizio Buanne and I instantly fell in love with it:

This is a really cute and funny clip of Andrea Bocelli and Elmo, where Bocelli sings Elmo a goodnight song.



Time to... say goodnight...
Lie down, here is your bed...
You had such a wonderful day
Playing and counting to twenty...

What a change to the lyrics!

I've got some mixed feelings about the upcoming movie The Forbidden Kingdom. On one hand, from the trailers themselves it does look like it contains some really awesome gungfu cinematography, decent storyline and of course, Jet Li and Jackie Chan. On the other hand, I really can't stomach the fact that they are all speaking English in ancient China, and there's an American kid in the middle of it all who travelled back in time! Uh-huh... so much for originality...

I like Michael Angarano who plays that American kid. He's a talented young actor who makes very wise movie choices, from the family-oriented Sky High to independent films such as Lords of Dogtown and Man in the Chair which I am looking forward to. I even liked him way back in Seabiscuit. But everytime I see him appear in this trailer I always think of The Karate Kid, which, by the way, is not a good thing.

I like Jet Li as well, but I've been disappointed at the projects that he has been getting in Hollywood. Just look at Huo Yuan Jia and you realize how much of his talents have been wasted in America. I wonder if this American production can do any justice to his talents this time... Try as I may, this movie still has a hint of a B-grader to me...

Still, I think my biggest grouse is still the English-speaking part of the movie. As if it's not enough watching Jet Li and Jackie Chan sprout ancient Chinese wisdom in accented English, we even have a Chinese emperor, ancient kungfu experts and villians speaking perfect English. It's like wtaching Braveheart that's set in England but everyone speaks Mandarin... It's just... not right...



This clip below is quite funny actually. But again, Jet Li and Jackie Chan giving commands in English which really really work so much better in when Chinese...



Ok, to the benefit of the filmmakers, it is yet to be seen how well both Asian and Western audiences will take to it.

We'll see...

Being born in 1982, I never actually knew the origins of this song, which was released in 1985. Nevertheless, it accompanied me through my childhood and I'm sure even kids today have heard of it. Somehow the rhythm, the lyrics, the music have turned this song into a timeless classic that to me, has never really been surpassed by any other similar genres that appeared recenty, such as the 2005 Hand-In-Hand 手牵手during the SARS epidemic.

Like I've said before, this song always gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. It's that touching.

Did some background research on this song and made some interesting discoveries to the origins of this song.

• 1984年，非洲埃塞俄比亞發生飢荒。為援助饑民，美國歌手以稍早英國群星合唱的〈Do They Know It's Christmas〉公益單曲為藍本，組成USA For Africa，推出合唱歌曲《We Are the World》，專輯版稅捐作賑災用途，迴響極為熱烈，並募得鉅款。流風所及，世界各地多有仿效者。

In 1984, to raise funds to help famine-relief efforts in Ethiopia, American singers gathered to form a supergroup of popular musicians called USA For Africa, following in the footsteps of an earlier effort by British singers who recorded a charity single "Do they Know It's Christmas". USA For Africa recorded and released a single "We Are the World" which received overwhelming success and gathered an enormous amount of funds. Because of its success, there were many similar efforts made around the world.

• 1985年，恰逢台灣光復（結束日本殖民統治）40周年；1986年則是「世界和平年」。「明天會更好」的創作初衷，即是模仿《We Are The World》「群星為公益而唱」的形式，呼應世界和平年的主題、並紀念台灣光復40週年。

1985 marked the 40th anniversary of Taiwan's independence from Japanese colonial rule. Also, 1986 was also the Year for World Peace (literal translation). Hence, drawing inspiration from "We Are the World", 明天會更好 was written to commerate both the anniversary and the Year for World Peace.

• 「明天會更好」邀集的華人歌手跨越不同地域、不同唱片公司，打破了簽約的限制。專輯製作單位以「明天基金會籌備會」的名義，邀集台灣當時最知名的唱片公司包括飛碟、喜瑪拉雅、新格、歌林、滾石、鄉城、寶麗金、麗歌等參與這張專輯，並由各家唱片公司競標發行權。專輯售出的盈餘，係由後來標得專輯發行權的藍與白唱片公司捐給中華民國消費者文教基金會，為消基會籌募新台幣600萬元的基金，作為公益之用。

Chinese singers from different countries under different recording companies were invited for the song, a breakthrough as it meant that this also broke the boundaries of recording contracts. The production company pitched itself as 「明天基金會籌備會」and invited some of the most successful recording companies to be part of the project. These companies were also invited to bid for the rights to release the album. The recording company Blue and White (literal translation) later gained the rights, and donated all the earnings from the album to the Consumers' Foundation, Chinese Taipei. A sum of 6 million NT were donated to charity.

• 根據當時參與的創作人回憶，這首歌的作詞者之所以多達七位，是因為羅大佑的歌詞版本被認為「主題意識過於灰色消極」，不能全盤採用。錄唱前夕，主辦單位邀集許多音樂界、文化界人士，各自貢獻詞句，以羅大佑的版本為主，逐句修潤，纔共同完成最終的歌詞定稿。

According to the accounts of songwriters who were involved, as many as 7 lyricists were involved. This was because Luo Dayou's original version was seen to be too "dark and gloomy and hence rather discouraging". In the night before the actual recording, the organizers gathered many prominant figures from the music and cultural industries to contribute to the writing of the lyrics. Luo Da You's original lyrics were to remain with amendments made to individual phrases. This resulted in the final product - the timeless clasic 明天會更好.



明天會更好

蔡琴：輕輕敲醒沈睡的心靈　慢慢張開你的眼睛
余天：看看忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨的轉個不停
蘇芮：春風不解風情　吹動少年的心
潘越雲：讓昨日臉上的淚痕　隨記憶風乾了

甄妮：擡頭尋找天空的翅膀　候鳥出現它的影迹
李建復：帶來遠處的饑荒無情的戰火依然存在的消息
林慧萍：玉山白雪飄零　燃燒少年的心
王芷蕾：使真情溶化成音符　傾訴遙遠的祝福

(Chorus)
黃鶯鶯：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
費玉清：讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
爲明天獻出虔誠的祈禱

陳淑樺：誰能不顧自己的家園　抛開記憶中的童年
娃娃：誰能忍心看那昨日的憂愁　帶走我們的笑容
王夢麟：青春不解紅塵　胭脂沾染了灰
李佩菁：讓久違不見的淚水　滋潤了你的面容

(Chorus)
洪榮宏：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
爲明天獻出虔誠的祈禱　
　　　　　　　　
齊豫：輕輕敲醒沈睡的心靈　慢慢張開你的眼睛
鄭怡：看看忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨的轉個不停
江慧：日出喚醒清晨　大地光彩重生
楊林：讓和風拂出的音響　譜成生命的樂章

(Chorus)
合唱：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
蘇芮：讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
齊秦：讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
余天：讓我們期待著明天會更好　

Were you able to recognize all the singers?

Frankly, there aren't many variety shows from TVB that are as much fun as most Taiwanese variety shows in recent years. I think it's the quick wit that really seperates the Taiwanese hosts from the Hong Kong ones. Probably only that Super Trio series by Eric Tseng came close.

So it's really refreshing that TVB came up with a variety game show which not only had a Hong Kong newbie host, actor Patrick Tang, but also a veteran Taiwanese host-cum-singer Harlem Yu. It's called 味分高下, where celebrities compete in a series of games related to food. Waste of food at times, but it's really fun to watch especially when the celebrities join in the banter and the hilarious situations.

Harlem clearly steals the show with his witty remarks and keen observations of his surroundings, but as a host Patrick Tang does a nice job of complementing him. Tang's still learning I guess, though in the episode where the game was brought to Taiwan, it was quite obvious that in segments where Harlem was present, he was completely overshadowed by his more experienced counterpart.

Nevertheless, hilarious results from one of my favourite episodes...

Bollywood movies certainly goes down in history as one of the most unique movie genres in the world. As a young kid I used to laugh at their singing and dancing around trees and bushes, moving from one place to another instantaneously while managing to keep to the song, and the melodrama of Romeo-Juliet-type storylines. But then it's been such a successful formula and still remains well-loved by people all around the world, so I mince my words. There certainly is magic in Bollywood movies.

Still, the unique singing and dancing styles of Bollywood movies still amazes and amuses many, including myself, which is the basis of this really hilarious parody of Bollywood by Winston Spears, a Canadian:



See the original song music video here:



Thanks to Funn's Point2e website for the link!

Thanks to Youtube user usharimau, I am blasted back into the past!!

So many evergreens, wonderful songs from late-80s to mid-90s that accompanied me through my primary and secondary school years! Where do I even start?

齊秦 - 無情的雨，無情的你 (Chyi Chin - Heartless Rain, Heartless You)


譚詠麟 - 半夢半醒之間 (Alan Tam - Half Asleep, Half Awake) I remember constantly mocking his heavily accented Mandarin!


周華健 - 花心 (Emil Chau - Flowery Heart)


杜德偉 - 鍾愛一生 (Alex Toh - Love of a Lifetime)


趙傳 - 我是一隻小小鳥 (Zhao Chuan - I am a Little Bird)


There are 100s more from where these came from: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=usharimau

A tribute to one of the greatest and most iconic figures in Chinese music history - David Luo Da You.

Listen to the melodies. Sing along to the lyrics. Beautiful. Each of them timeless classics. They just don't make music like this anymore.

东方之珠 Pearl of the Orient. A personal favourite.


你的样子 The Way You Look


恋曲1990 Love Tune 1990

Those of you who are frequent TVB serial viewers would have seen this actor before, usually in a supporting role but usually quite good in whatever he plays - Dayo Wong's effiminate colleague in War of the Genders, the scholarly but lazy Sheung brother in Safe Guards, the bumbling NATO (no-action-talk-only) police inspector in To Catch the Uncatchable etc.... Kinda like Wayne Lai in the sense that both are talented but very underrated.



Cheung in the TVB serial Love Guaranteed.

I watched that Stephen Chow movie All's Well Ends Well (家有喜事) again just now and decided to look up the information of the pivotal song in the movie. I was quite surprised that the composer cum singer was none other than Cheung Chi Kwong

相逢何必曾相識. With 韋綺珊.



Hokkien version of 相逢何必曾相識 by Stephen Chow in the 1991 movie 家有喜事.


Sandra Ng goes hilariously out of tune with her version of her favourite song in the same movie.



皇后大道東 - another very familiar song, just never knew who sang it. Now I know it was David Luo and Cheung Chi Kwong! Written by David Luo.


Crotching tiger, hidden dragon, indeed!

Ahhh... that 3-letter word never ceases to amuse.

Especially when it's professional actors such as James McAvoy and Billie Piper talking about the pain behind doing such scenes on TV and in movies on Parkinsons.

That explanation of the "ADR" part was hilarious!



Oh... so that's how they do it!

Billie Piper: "We're going to be disowned after this show!"