Why I love local muso Eric Ng (黄韻仁)

First, I must say I was supposed to be at Lunar watching Taiwanese rock duo Power Station (動力火車). But in the end, I decided not to buy the tix. And then, now I find out that my favourite local muso played electric guit with them!!! Oh man, they really rocked the house down man!!! I so should have been there. If only I knew I knew Eric was playing... Anyways, enjoy the two vids. Shiok stuff.

卢广仲 <100种生活>

I was just jio-ing people to go watch 卢广仲 (Lu Guang Zhong) at the Huayi Festival in Feb next year, when I found out that both shows were sold out!!! Oh man. So sad. I won't say I know this quirky, dorky indie Taiwanese singer very well, but I thought he was fab at the guitar and vocals. And a lot of personality too. James Porn would be disappointed at not being to watch him live. Oh well, here's an MTV of his <100种生活>...

Endorphine - Thai rock band



More rocking Thai music to intro :)
As usual, I was doing my rounds on Facebook, and saw some photos put up by local muso Eric Ng. Noticed him raving over this Thai rock band called Endorphine, and decided to check out the youtube link. Wah, I like man. The music is pop-rock, musicianship very good very tight, and the lead singer is this rock chick called Da. I wish I was there at the concert!!! Very happening!!!

Endorphine is...
Thanida Thamwimon (Da): lead vocals
Anucha Boethongkhamkul (Kia): guitar
Thanat Amornmanus (Bird): bass guitar
Thapaphol Amornmanus (Bomb): percussion

If anyone knows of Endorphine performing elsewhere in Singapore, do let me know.

The Genesis Project - A Christian Songwriting Festival

Every time I hear people say "I wrote this song after a breakup", I always think it's so darn cheesy. I mean, get a life dude. But now, I'm going to say the same. Yet at the same time, it's also not really the same. You know how when you say something and there's that uncomfortable nudge that presses against your heart? Yeah, that's how I feel when I say "I wrote this song after a breakup". I did write it after, but NOT because. And that's the difference. I wrote it because I was beginning to realise that I didn't need to belong to anyone except God my Father. Man was created to have a companion, and therefore it is only natural for us to yearn for one. However, I am starting to understand that I can only really "settle down" when I know ultimately that God is the one to whom I belong - no one else. On earth, I am only on loan to my partner, and this nugget of wisdom I gained from Darren and Mel's wedding sermon by that Methodist lady pastor (how out of the blue, but it only proves that God was speaking to me)...

And hence, this song started out with this verse that Chye Aik shared at a sermon...
"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)

I Belong
V1
I'm just a sentimental freak
Standing at the crossroad of hello and goodbye
The further I walk the deeper I'm lost
Where do I begin
Where do I begin

V2
Give me a home where I belong
Somewhere this wild heart can stop running and breath
I need a place to end this insanity
Bring me back again
To where you begin

Chorus
Cos I belong, I belong to you
I belong, I belong to you
You've given me the sweetest hope that I could hold on to
You've given me eternity in my heart
In my heart

V3
I've found a place to lay my head
A sweet salvation for this darkest hour
I would have lost heart unless I'd believed
In your loving goodness
In this broken world

Bridge
I had to throw my faith in something I could not see
When I believed in what seemed like emptiness
You gave me security

Viva La Vida

This post appears on another blog, a private one I share with friends. SH is so not going to read it cos she doesn't read this blog, but I need a context to my post. So here goes.... Haha. :)

This song is dedicated specially to SH, by Dawn FM (pun totally intended, cos FM is for Funkie Monkies - go eric go eric go!!! Hahaha). Ahem, back to my dedication. Ngak and the Ang Mo Pais do a cover of Coldplay's Viva La Vida. At the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. Luurve the song now!!! Thanks for buying the cd (for yourself and letting me rip the song!!! It's my ringtone now. Haha. I'm less emo now too.)

Stay kool and funky gal!!!

For the clueless:
Eric my fav ah beng on electric guit
Ngak on main vocals and acoustic guit
Brandon on drums
Clement on bass
Jim Lim (love his voice to bits) on keyboards

Presenting the Ang Mo Pais - kantangs who try to speak mandarin. And succeed to, well, some extent.

And jazzymoo...thanks for being a closet groupie with me. Haha.

疼傻人

My fav ah beng Eric Ng is again music director for Royston Tan's latest movie 12 Lotus, also known as part 2 of 881. When I first watched this music video last night, I was like oh man, this song is so going to be a hit. Then I bought the 12 Lotus soundtrack today, and listened to the song again, and I had goosebumps man. Love it, though I don't understand the lyrics!!! Haha. But I'm a melody person lah. I was more attracted to the soaring strings by Bang Wenfu...love his strings!!! To all you guys who snub Chinese songs, pls don't. Do, however, enjoy this song 疼傻人... (for the ang moh pais out there, English title is "Love Fools"...)

Performed by Carrie Yeo

Lyrics by Xiao Han

Music by Eric Ng

My Soul Sings

Wayne and Libby Huirua, pioneers of New Zealand's Parachute Band, visited my church again to conduct worship workshops. I had the privilege to play the synthesiser with them, as they lead worship for the congregation. But really, what ministered to me most was Libby's sharing about the song she wrote when she had to undergo an operation some weeks back, to remove 3 cysts from her throat. Being a singer (and a real good one), she was really afraid that she would lose her voice as a result of the operation. It was during that period that God spoke to her, and asked if she could still worship Him even if she could not sing anymore. In a situation like that, worship can only rise from deep within - in silence. And, it is a choice to worship. I've been wondering lately how it is even possible to shift my focus from myself to the others around me, when things have been so difficult that I feel quite overwhelmed. Frankly, I've been trying very hard to be less self-centred. And Libby's song really sums up all I've been trying to say, even if it's just so hard. This theme of worshipping God for who He is, and not what He has done, really seems to run through my life. And may probably run the course of my life.

My Soul Sings
(By Libby Huirua)

Words are not enough to describe the majesty of God
There’s a sound of worship rising up from deep within my heart
In the place of silence
I find a way to praise you
In the place of silence
I find a way to praise you still

It’s a new place from a new heart
It’s a new day
My soul sings
My soul sings
As I reach to God-alive

Beyond the words
Beyond the songs
My soul sings
My soul sings

I will be still and know
You are God
I will be still and know
You are God

Somebody by Depeche Mode (performed by Ngak&Clement)

I have been playing this video over and over again, and I regret that I did not shoot the whole song, because Ngak's rendition is so haunting man. But that's my dilemma! I relish the live performance, and hate watching it through the digital cam screen while recording it. But I also don't want to go home empty-handed, so well, I make do by recording just a little, and watching the rest of it without the camera getting in the way. I don't know why I thought of eug when I heard the song. Did one of the ACS boys sing this during IU Night when we were in Sec 3? IU = International Understanding right? Ah, my memory fails me...but anyways, eug, this song is dedicated to you, and to all who love the songs from the 90s...

Mood: nostalgic (as livejournal would have it)

Ode to Paper Aeroplane (Demo)

First Chinese song I've written: Ode to Paper Aeroplane

Check it out on www.myspace.com/folksie

Thanks to all who gave feedback on the lyrics and melody. Really helped me finetune the song. Thanks to Seng for helping me record it in his home studio and directing me on the vocal arrangements. Pretty fun!

Music: Passion

L to R: Wu Jiahui (best known as singer of 一人一半), Eric Ng (producer/musician/songwriter), me (fan), Ngak (musician/songwriter).

I was at their Huayi gig last night and it was such a great joy listening to such passionate and good musicians. I really wished I was 19 all over again, the year that I discovered I was not bad at singing folk, that I could press my guitar strings properly, that I liked translating my feelings into songs (I even visited a music publisher to sell off my raw raw songs), that perhaps, just perhaps, I could sing and play somewhere.

Alas, like I've said so many times, I've no passion. Only like. So I never pressed on, never persevered, never pushed myself hard enough. Maybe if I didn't have to play keyboards for church, I would have done something about it. So every time I hear such good musicians living their dreams, I feel their euphoria by living vicariously through them.

I must really try harder. One more song to practise today!