Recent Faves

Been listening some happy uptempo songs for a whole day. Feel so refresh for having such good mood to fill myself a great time. These are what I listen to,

1. Connected by Katharine McPhee
This is a song from Barbie The Movie. It's hard not to move my body a little bit when listening to this one. I can hear Kat's voice quality has become richer than before, love Kat's current voice.

2. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce
Another big R&B piece by Beyonce. She rocks this kinda music, this is her element. This song really sounds like her "Get Me Bodied" from her last album "B'Day". And i love the MV of this song, the dance is so interesting, 3 girls wearing super shorts and high heels moving the steps. I saw her singing this at American Music Awards which is awesome, she's so cool. A big kiss for Bee.

3. The Little Things by Colbie Caillat
This one is her recent single. This song isn't sounded like her previous 2 singles, "Bubbly" and "Realize", much more interesting with its easy-to-remember phrases, "back up, back up...mess up, mess up...wake up, wake up...give up, give up..." A different eye on Colbie apart of her pop folk genre.

Hope you have a good mood like I always have.


xoxo.

gniroB

Currently at my lovely hometown, Nilai, a peaceful small town. Good to sleep, good to eat but nothing to have fun, kinda dull, super boring right now. I listened and shuffled songs in my phone for a thousand times, really had a deep realization to the songs, from the voice to the music, surprisingly I've got another joy to know more about my fave music. It's the good one.

I read an interview by a China Actress, Zhou Xun from newspaper in this morning, this is personally meaningful to me. She said "everyone is borned to be distinctive, that is why every single people has his/her different name from the others, thus there is no point to compare yourself with the others. You are you" I'm so much agree with what she said. I am me, my name is Lim Kok Joo, nobody has the name like mine. I want to do everything with my distinctive ability. I'm still believe in myself no matter what..


xoxo.

One night in Brussel

I, my guitarist, Hui Hsing and pianist, Shu Chyi went Brussel to have an audition for the coming christmas eve show. Quite enjoy the time I had tonight, though there are technical problems and I was a bit nervous, I really had no idea with what the hell I was crapping up there but overall still alright. As always, imperfection is good. And I really happy with the compliments I had.

Not to forget, thanks to Hui Hsing and Shu Chyi for playing such beautiful music for me to sing. I wouldn't have done this so well without you both. Also, thanks to my big brother, Yafu for letting us to use your guitar and Lu Ling for always being our listener, I've known you better, we have something in common. Haha!

Don't know why, I just love the feelings I had tonight.

xoxo.

Special credit

Been practicing some songs with my guitarist, Hui Hsing and pianist, Shu Chyi this afternoon. Everything sounded right, really appreciate the time we had, got to sing with accompany instruments. Here to specially thank to Hui Hsing, he's been exhausting for both his job and our collaboration, I know all the transposing jobs odded you most of the time, but you're the most emotionless music people I've ever met, just feel so grateful for what you guys have done with me. Thanks Yafu for sending me back to home and Lu Ling for being so friendly, giving me some food when I felt hungry.Haha!

I was like this is the moment I should appreciate, appreciate my passion towards music for years, friends around me being so helpful whenever I need help, encourage me whenever I feel skeptical to myself, and not forgetting my family always being so supportive and proud of me though their action sometimes do not show what they really feel. I mean all these are too huge for me, a thank doesn't really show how much I appreciate the efforts you guys have given to me. No matter who you are, any positivity or negativity you've done to me, you are just like my siblings, love human beings around me, you are my rock.

xoxo.

A standing ovation performance

I spent almost my whole day surfing Youtube today, finding inspiration for our demonstrative speech and of course watching my favorite live performances. I've watched Mariah Carey latest performance in UK X-Factor, she sang her international hit "Hero", her voice was so awful, she was like trying to hit the notes and did a bundle of flats which is gosh! she couldn't sing live since she has strained too much with her voice, feel bad for her.

So, here comes my fave Christina Aguilera in 49th Grammy Awards performance. This was a performance tributing to Prince of Black Soul, James Brown, she sang Brown's trademark song "It's a man's world" which earned standing ovation. She has true lung, babe!

At the end, Jamie Foxx was like "Wow, this white chick can sing".

This is one of the most mind-blowing live performances I've ever witnessed. I swear I've watched this for a zillion times. What kinda woman is this? How could she sing like that? Salute for Xtina. You rock!! Love ya.


xoxo.

Music is still my life

My mom called me last night, I thought what was happened. After I realized the purpose my mom calling, I initially laughed for a few seconds, but then I became so conscious to turn my mom down. My mom was actually calling to ask me singing a few songs in my cousin's wedding on this coming Sunday.

I found this is very funny because my mom always calling me only for some serious purposes (or maybe this is quite serious for her, about her "face"(proud)). I was ceaselessly turning my mom down in the phone about doing this is because I hate singing in the wedding, in other word, I hate singing in front of my relatives, feels a little weird, don't know why. After argument with my mom, I still have to sing in the wedding, no turning back. Fine, singing is just like talking. No big deal!

Quite obviously, music is still occupying most of my life. When comes to singing, once you sing the song nicely, you're actually coming your way demanding more on singing whether it comes from you yourself or by requested. This can be really fun.


xoxo.

Inspiring Pieces

Today is a very inspiring day. Quite honestly, I wouldn't be so encouraging without music. As always, I'm here to share my fave music again, songs that brought me along my life and keep telling me believing myself. Powerful inspiring song can make people goose bumping and feel so positive. I mean for me it's like a magic, such strength flows under your skin, feels like a puzzle is suddenly completed.

These are the songs inspire me all times:

1. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera from the album "Stripped"

"This song is one of the greatest pop songs ever written", Simon Cowell said. I totally agree. I must admit that Christina Aguilera's songs are all great for me. But this one is her icon, a song for every single discouraging and unconfident people out there. "I am beautiful, no matter what they say, words can't bring me down..."
Inspiring rate: 98%

2. The Voice Within - Christina Aguilera from the album "Stripped"

Yeap, Christina again. This song kicked off my love to Christina, this is the first song I heard from her. Not "Genie in a bottle" nor "What a girl wants", but this. "When there's no one else look inside yourself, like your oldest friend just trust the voice within..." This tells me to be a true believer, believe in yourself.
Inspiring rate: 95%

3. Anyway - Martina McBride from the album "Waking Up Laughing"

Country music is always inspiring. If country music can contribute a lesson, I think it's moral education. "You can pour your soul out singing a song believe in that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang, sing it anyway..." The lyric is awesome, it writes my heart out, do anything anyway though you already knew the consequences.
Inspiring rate: 95%

4. I Believe - Fantasia Barrino from the album "Free Yourself"

This used to be my personal theme song in 2004. I love the arrangement of song especially the bridge part. "I believe in the impossible, if I reach deep within my heart, overcome any obstacles won't let this dream fall apart, see I strive to be the very best, show my life for all to see, 'cause everything is possible when you believe..." You can also try the version by Diana DeGarmo and Syesha Mercado.
Inspiring rate: 90%

5. Freckles - Natasha Bedingfield from the album "Pocketful Of Sunshine"

When talking about Natasha Bedingfield, you might only know her "Pocketful Of Sunshine" or her very famous Pantene commercial song "Unwritten". This piece is from her newest album "Pocketful Of Sunshine". A very meaningful phrase, "why waste a second not loving who you are?" Imperfection is good, it makes you beautiful, lovable, and valuable. "They show your personality inside your heart, reflecting who you are..." This song tells me not to be sad if there's a remark on me because that's me. Like what Kevin has told me, the uniqueness of me, no one can replace me. Just be myself.
Inspiring rate: 85%

6. Can't Take That Away - Mariah Carey from the album "Rainbow"

This is Mariah Carey's theme song. An inspiring beginning "They can say anything they want to say, try to bring me down but I will not allow anyone to suceed hanging cloud over me..." Similar to "Beautiful", no matter how people think or say about you, just follow your own way, believe the path that you initially used to take. Break all the rules and search your own niche.
Inspiring rate: 90%

7. When You Believe - Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston from the album "Prince Of Eygpt Movie Soundtrack"

This song has meant a lot to me, it's a song for UTAR Talent Night 2008. We sang this together, really miss those training days. This song always makes me goosebumps. "There can be miracle when you believe, though hope is frail, it's hard to kill...You will when you believe..." Everytime my mp3 shuffles to this song, to the intro of the song I'll be so emotional, 'cause it brings a lot of memories, sweet one.
Inspiring rate: 95%

8. So Small - Carrie Underwood from the album "Carnival Ride"

Another country music, the title "so small" has never like what it means, the lyric is so "big". When things around hassle you a lot, bear in mind the people who love you, your family, your friends, your loved one. This song teaches you to look things around calmly, after it's gone, you'll notice it doesn't seem that big enough to swallow you whole and makes you do not able to see the other good things. "When you figure out love is all that matters after all, it sure makes everything else seem so small..."
Inspiring rate: 95%

What's in my mp3?

Just had a short conversation with Yoke Fong in this afternoon before my Public Speaking mid-term test, she recalled me how did I change my view of seeing or listening to music. It's been 2 years ago I started my English song singing. I can still remember the song "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera had changed my direction of singing and the way listening to song. That was an American Idol night, I sat and watched the show with about 20 people in TV room at Millenium Court, listening to Katharine McPhee singing the song. I was like becoming more insane after listening to Christina's rendition. This song has changed my life of music and meant a lot to me.

2006, a dramatical change to my mp3. All true vocals are in my mp3 until today.

11 November @ What's in my mp3?

1. Halo - Beyonce
Newest single by Beyonce apart from her new hit "If I Were A Boy". I got so impressed by the intro, the combination of piano and beats. Its casual and easy-to-remember "Halo.." is another good thing about this song. Not to forget Beyonce's voice, I love the part Beyonce does the "Halo" when she ends up the word with falsetto. I'm sure this is gonna be another great hit from her.

2. Take A Bow - Leona Lewis
Put aside Leona's smash hit "Bleeding Love" and "Take A Bow" by Rihanna, this song is another R&B piece by Leona. This is the last song I stick up from the album, Spirit, kinda difficult to digest the song at first. Her powerful voice hit a G5 for the song in full voice and whistle notes in 3.35. This is a great vocal materpiece.

3. How Far - Martina McBride
A country song by a 4-time Country Music Awards (CMA) Best Female Vocalist of the Year, Martina McBride. This song is damn hard to sing, especially the first sentence of the chorus part, a sudden jump off of an octave "how FAR...", not only about to hit the note but also need to maintain the power. That's not easy, 'cause as the pitch goes higher, our voice will tend to go sharper (an opposition of powerful voice).

Hope you guys can give these songs a try.

xoxo.

My Recording Sharing 1

This is the first time I post my personal singing recording in here. The song is "Anyway" originally sung by Martina McBride. I sang this for practicing on last 2 months, this song is personally inspiring to me. It's a phone recording, that's why the quality sucks. Due to the poorness of Blogspot uploading system, please click here to download and listen. I'll keep uploading the clips.

Thanks.

xoxo.

She's great, she's Martina McBride.

I've just watched some live performance videos of Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill. Wow, country singers are true vocalist, I mean their voice singing live is as good as recording version. Every single performance blew me away, I was so impressed. I love country singers, they really mean what the true singing is. Like Martina, though she's a 40 something woman, the age is never a barrier for her to be a powerhouse. She has great personalities, amazing voice and good inspiration, she's my role model of singing country. She's great!

This is Martina.

True artist for me is actually someone who's not only sing well in studio but live too, and for sure, has great inspiring willpower to push somebody's action and attitudes, kindhearted, humble and never acted like he/she is a star.

Martina McBride is,
Carrie Underwood is,
Leona Lewis is.

Today, specifically, I love country music, I love Martina McBride.


xoxo.