The Pensieve

I’d watched the musical when it first played in Singapore in 1995. And in April 2007, I was to watch it again… It’s always been my favourite musical, I guess cause it was the first musical I’ve ever seen, and so it etched a deep impression. On the contrary to the first time, where I was sitting right at the stalls (that what it’s called?) and real close to the front, and the chandelier had been precariously hanging above my tiny head, I was sitting in circle 1 this time round… The view’s still quite good though, just a bit skewed.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this musical as much as I had expected. Whether it was the events immediately preceeding it, or just that I’d grown up so much that it would now take much more to impress me, I don’t know… Or perhaps, the cast this time was exhausted by their continuous and extended run here? Anyway, it was rather anti-climax because the audience did not give as rousing an applause as it did before, the applause and whistling (was there even any?) did not ‘bring the house down’, and sadly, there were no calls of ‘encore!’.

Still my favourite scene is the boat ride the Phantom took Christine in his lair, and later on, where he sang ‘Music of the Night’. Incidentally, Brad Little’s rendition and ending wasn’t as powerful and lingering as I’d remembered… Nevertheless, he is doubtlessly the best of this lot! Rebecca Knowles was casted as Christine Daae, our female lead, and she wasn’t really that good… I remembered tearing towards the end of the musical when I was a kid then, it was so heart-wrenching to see the Phantom’s heartbreak… But for this one, the ending eh…. not really that tearful… Sigh. Anyway… I think Sarah Brightman sang much better as Christine Daae on my CD… Heh heh…

Crystal clear voice! Tugs at your heart strings! It’s not the perfect clip I could get (just listen, nothing to watch), I have the actual mp3 song for those who’re interested!

Carry me away from this dark and lonely room
Light me in your arms - all I want to know is you
Chase away the darkness with everything you are
I will find my strength in the beat of your heart

Picture book of memories, how we used to be
Some people spend a lifetime waiting for their dreams
But I won’t find the answers by looking at the stars
I will find my strength in the beat of your heart

Time held in our hands
Will change into years gone by
If I can hold on to you
I’ll leave all my fears behind

Holding on we drift like two flowers on the sea
Riding on the waves letting go of what will be
I won’t find the answers by staring at the stars
I’ve found all my dreams in the beat of your heart
I’ve found all my dreams in the beat of your heart

Yay! The long-awaited CD!!! I must say it was really worth the wait! Actually I’ve been prowling the shops periodically for some of my fave artistes, but then, spacefan beat me to it. Patrizio Buanne’s debut album ‘The Italian’, was a tad rough around the edges, and his English sounded really ‘italiano’ at times… making the song sound a bit artificial, but he has improved tremendously since his first project, to reward his listeners now with a much more polished performance when he sings in English. As for his Italian renditions… they have more ‘feeling’ now…

PS: He looks much more handsome in this photo. But anyway, I don’t think he is that handsome when compared to the standard Italian guy. :P

Some of the tracks in this album:
Forever Begins Tonight: the ‘key’ song of the album, for which it was named after. Quite a good piece of work, Buanne’s English diction is much better when he sings slower songs…
Io Che Non Vivo: A very popular Italian song, and one of the saddest songs I’ve heard so far. It doesn’t matter even if you don’t understand the language, music is a universal language.
Maledetta Primavera: Originally sung by a female, (and this song is really more appropriate for a female cuz of the content) It speaks of a woman’s ONS, which she wishes to treat like an erotic dream (that it wasn’t love at all), but when she closes her eyes, she can’t help but think of him. (hehehe, very beautifully said in Italian - the language of love!)
Bella Bella Signorina: Waaaa, very swing! Can dance to it! I think maybe Wenky will like it… (unfortunately, some parts are in Italian, and just a little bit odd sounding cuz of Buanne’s accented English, but still, it’s an awful lot of fun!)

A hauntingly beautiful and sad piece by Yann Tiersen, together with a very meaningful animation.

I’ve shown quite a few people this clip already, sadly, a significant number cannot appreciate it. It’s sad how many people these days let their precious ability to think n feel go to waste…

PS: Thanks to Jae, who discovered it first! (and for the mp3 too)

Don’t know what you do to me but
Everytime I’m with you it’s a natural high
It’s like re-discovering Eden
with chocolate -coated rainbows and cotton candy skies
And everytime you look my way
I wish I had the guts to say

There’s something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Something in the way you move me
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
Make me want to cry
I’m falling in love with you.

I think I’ll hire Cupid
He’ll make you see I’m more than your friend
You’ll be tossing and turning
Counting the hours till you see me again
And when we meet you’ll
Kiss my hand and say the words I’ve longed to hear

There’s something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Something in the way you move me
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
Make me want to cry
I’m falling in love with you
You make me want to sing,
make me want to dance,
make me want to cry
I’m falling in love with you.

Oooh great song! Very appropriate to use to express your feelings for someone that you like!

I think I have to start paying more attention to the lyrics of songs I’ve been listening to. Never know when they might come in handy!

These days all songs revolve about love or heartbreak, so this was a really fresh set of lyrics…

I barely take note of what the songs I listen to actually mean, as long as they sound nice. But this one somehow stuck…

Mr Beasley - Corrinne May

You don’t have to drive a fancy car
Don’t have to quote me Shakespeare
Just to woo me
Yeah I see your nervous laughter
When you’re trying to crack some joke
Well you don’t fool me

I’d like to see your eyes through those goggles that you’re wearing
Don’t try to hide away

*Just be yourself Mr. Beasley
I don’t need your show of attitude
Cos it’s your soul that makes me fall in love with you
Fall in love with you*

You don’t notice but I see you
In the church when you were praying
You just move me
And my friend Sue she tells me
You’ve been teaching kids for free
Mr Philanthropy

I’d like to see your eyes through those goggles that you’re wearing
Don’t try to hide away

*repeat chorus*

Comments:
I appreciate the message it transmits… I realise that most people project themselves differently to the person they like or to their significant other. However, most people don’t realise that the other person may have fallen for them precisely for who they are (ok, I’m a bit cynical, I’ll say, they fall in love with whoever they ‘think’ you are, which sparks off the whole ‘I must change myself to be the perfect bf/gf blah-blah-blah-whole-load-of-crap) bottom line is… you shouldn’t make yourself into what you are not… unless you are 100% confident you can remain the new-you and never get tired of being what you’re not, your relationship will probably break down once your S.O. realises you’re not who you seem to be… or if S.O. cannot accept you for who you are!

So after this convoluted reasoning, somehow growing old makes you think in so many varied ways that you can never come to a conclusion… sighz… too many choices… too many possibilities…

Aside, I felt that the phrase ‘Mr Philantrophy’ sounded a bit sarcastic. I’m sure it’s not what she meant to portray, nor did her voice seem steeped in sarcasm, but it reminds me of the many times where people use the phrase ‘Miss goodie-two-shoes’ or perhaps ‘Mr Kind-man’ to mean some sort of sarcastic connotation.

Ok, if anyone wants the song, ask me! :)

A rather interesting and varied collection of songs, ranging from tango to alternative… big difference right?
- Mondo Bongo: the real smooth piece playing in the background whenever the couple relives their hot and fiery honeymoon dating days
- Assassin’s Tango: sexy, seductive and explosive, the dance in the hotel, the first public encounter between both when they find out each others’ real identities.
- You Are My Sunshine: lolz, this was cute… the well-known oldey done in Rock.
- Tainted Love: quite a unique song

- Debut CD, in the styles of Mario Frangoulis but definitely NOT as handsome and NOT as good.
- have to give him credit for trying a tad too hard
- can’t express himself as well in English as in Italian…
- the Italian pieces are catchy though, and ‘A Man Without Love’ is probably the best song in there.
- his second CD (i think he’ll probably have that) should be better!

- Newly released, just this year
- more catchy tunes, faster, more upbeat
- unfortunately one song sounds like one of those national day songs… eh, i hope she doesn’t have anymore of those coming up.
- ‘Free’ is rather interesting… especially the phrase - ’six degrees of separation’ haha…
*there’s something really wrong with me this two days, i keep spelling six as SEX! Urgh!
- the birthday song is quite meaningful, finally something different!
- ‘if i kissed you’ has a catchy rhythm but the chorus is the typical one.

- Jazz vocal, local singer
- she’s probably the ONLY local talent i’ve ever thought of supporting. (er, in this case it would mean convincing erhem to get the next album if one comes out and then borrowing from him hahaha…)
- I liked ’something about you’… but i think i like ‘journey’ best!!!