Simply Mei Chern.

Two weeks ago I was at Midvalley with DD and happily bought myself a copy of Mei Chern’s self-titled album. A talented indie singer-songwriter, Mei Chern first started playing at a student folk club in England, where later she wrote her songs and have them performed at various notable venues; Actor’s Studio Bangsar and KLPac, Acoustic Routes in Cambridge, UK, and The Esplanade in Singapore.

One of her songs ‘Feels like Falling’ was pre-recorded back in 2003 and won top download award on musiccanteen.com (a now defunct site where you can downloads songs by local indie artiste/band for a minimal fee). She then wrote ‘Do you see me like you’ for Ong Julin’s self-directed indie film Alice Lives Here (a.k.a Clean Shit) in which the short documentary subsequently won an award at Freedom Film Fest KL 2005. ‘My Time’ was also written for another documentary that reflected on the collapse of Highland Tower 13 years ago. [source here]

She’s the latest discovery on my list and I really like her effortlessly crisp voice in the songs. She’s the reason why less is really more. We should have more talents like her to represent our country in the music industry, despite the fact that there have been a lot of successful artistes whom we might not have heard of or know about but who’ve made great achievements out there. Mei Chern may seem, to me, a shy-publicity musician, but take a listen to her songs and you’ll know why she didn’t need the spotlight, if ever.

Recently, Mei Chern has been selected to perform at Womyn’s Music Festival held in Michigan, an event where acoustic musicians alike i.e. Sarah McLachlan had performed there. It is a fest that celebrates women musicians and their significant involvement in music and this is definitely one of the highlighting moments for Mei Chern to shine as an independent musician. I love the album and I look forward to attend her future gigs soon when she gets back to Malaysia.

You won’t be able to get her CD at any Rock Corner or Tower Records. Hop over to her site here.

[Updated!]

There you go Zewt

Mei Chern performing Good Intentions in KL Sing Song 2006.

 

Nelly Furtado feat. Keith Urban - In God’s hands.

This song has been playing in my head all week.

Originally it was just lonely Nelly Furtado by the sea. There’s even a Spanish version for the song (En Las Manos De Dios) but, for some reason Keith Urban’s scruffy country voice did complement well with hers. I like it better in duet.

When love ended, all’s not lost.

Now our love’s floating out the window
Our love’s floating out the back door
Our love’s floating up in the sky in heaven
Where it begins
Back in God’s hands…

Click here to listen.

 

Happy Smiley Saturday!

Cheesy title. At least it sounded better than the lame old ‘I’m back!’ or ‘I’m alive!’. After some time, the girl who stares at cactus has trouble getting back into the shwwing of things in the blogosphere.

Hence she decided what she does best. Youtube. Yael Naim. Talented French/Israeli singer/songwriter. She even did her own rendition on Britney Spears’ Toxic. That not really my cup of tea, but eh perhaps guys would find the song a turn-on? I dunno. Personally, I love her French take on Paris (click to listen) better.

One of Yael Naim’s English songs titled New Soul was featured in the MacBook Air ad which, btw should explain that persistent déjà vu lalala ringing in your head. Can be quite addictive I tell u. So enjoy the video and have a good weekend.

 

A delectable evening.

Probably the first time tonight (last night) in the last few months, I feel like I’m being my whole self again. Realized that old sarcastic ‘charm’ is still around where we left off a year ago, surprisingly. But I loved them to bits. Them being my good time friends. I might only have an overgrown bang for a change whereas others slide on the ride of transition fairly well, be it in their career or knowing how a near mid-20 aged lady should dress. But thanks for taking me in just the way I am. Thanks for the evening. Thanks for everything.

We shall do it again soon. Within another 5 years down the road maybe. By then I wonder, will I still keep this overgrown greasy bang on my head?

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.

Oh, here’s something I’d like to share. Clay Aiken’s latest On my way here. Beautiful, beautiful song. Btw, has anyone seen his latest cover album? You should. Looks quite dashing (despite his proclaimed sexuality heh) and peter-pan like, in my opinion.

Click to listen.

 

An affirmation.

It’s my life
It’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I’m alive
It’s my life

Remember this Bon Jovi famous hit back in the early 2k? I remembered screaming my heart out loud to the lyrics in th MTV when I was younger during schooling days, together with my like-minded mates. Such is a heart-felt affirmation. Such is a calling for self-conquest of life. But I’ve been wondering a lot lately. Hmm.

Anyway. Do you know there are two versions of them? One was the original in hard rock, as we so often heard over the radio and their album.

And the other, an acoustic, mellowed version of it, with a bit of melancholic touch from the harp instrument in the opening. But the first different version I’ve heard was just the sound of electric guitars working quietly in the background, accompanied by soft humming tune from the piano. Either way, they kinda give away a slight chill when listening to the song. Like the wind on your shoulders before taking that leap of faith?

I’m simply bemused by the mechanism aspect of songs. You know, how different music arrangements applied can indirectly affect how we feel about the songs we’ve heard? Take a listen to them below and you’ll hear what I mean.

Click Bon Jovi - It’s my life
Click Bon Jovi - It’s my life (acoustic vers.)

So which one is your likely pick?

 

Savage Garden vs. Jay Chau?

I know. Weird, you think? Who would’ve thought that Savage Garden’s Truly, madly, deeply can ever be mashed with any one of Jay Chau’s old songs?

Pretty good I think. Except the tempo, in which Savage Garden part sounds a bit awkwardly ‘rushed’ upon the first few listening to the song. But then again, I’m not the one who did the remix thing lah (Panda seems to ‘believe’ I had the talent though hahah). Just happen to bump into it while searching for songs to dL last night

Let me know what you think. Happy Weekend.

Click Savage Garden & Jay Chau Remix

 

Lenny Kravitz - I’ll be waiting.

I Love I Love I Love.