Muse In Hong Kong

Muse In HK

Last Saturday we went to Hong Kong to see Muse play in concert. It was one of the most amazing live concerts I’ve ever seen, and over six thousand people came to see them at the Asiaworld Expo centre.

We went there about 7 o’clock (concert starts at 8pm) and already fans were queuing up and hoping to get a good position. The setting was perfect, with stars on be the background just like “starlight”. The drummer sitting in the middle, Matt standing on the left, and base guitar on the right. There was very little space between the stage and fans so the early queuers got a real treat.

Muse played most of the new album, with a good selection of earlier music (including one from the first album). Matt Bellamy is an extraordinarily musician and singer, leaping from guitar to piano without blinking. The crowd feedback peaked during “Time is running out” with everyone joining in. The last song saw five giant balloons descend from the sky, with everyone trying to jump and hit them. There is no doubt that they deserved the award for Best Live Band at the Brits, as well as Best British Band from NME.

2 hours passed far too quickly. I didn’t expect Muse would be such a big hit in Hong Kong, but everyone was very energetic and responsive. Being on the small side I didn’t see as much as I would like, and often found myself being crushed by jumping guys, stepping on my feet and swinging their sweat next to me. Beside that everyone was awesome and you could feel their love of the music.

It was an outstanding concert to watch and I’m glad I went. Even though Jazz has an irreplaceable place in my heart, Rock is now part of my rebellion and I wish more concerts will be held in Hong Kong (even better, in Guangzhou) so we can appreciate talented musicians. Their music is a work of art.

Here is their MySpace

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YouTube

YouTube Logo

I know it’s a late discovery, but I’ve recently found YouTube and have spent far too much time watching music videos.

Many music fans like me sometimes go to great lengths to find band’s music video online. Before YouTube, your only options were to either hope the band’s website had a few videos, or to try and find it elsewhere (such as on MTV). Most of the time these options were incredibly slow, didn’t work, or were a real nuisance. In YouTube, however, you type your favourite artist and the song and it’s all there. Click on the video, pause it until its all loaded (otherwise it may stutter while it downloads), then play it; the quality of the music video might not perfect, but it’s acceptable and at least it loads fast. You will find various music videos, including the original video as well as live performances.

YouTube also has a lot of home-grown videos, ranging from people recording themselves doing funny things, to students wanting to make a break in the movie world. Google thought enough of YouTube that they paid $4 billion US for it… a staggering amount.

It’s good news for music fans but don’t use it too often – you will become addicted. Enjoy!

也许发现得比较晚,但一但被你知道它的存在,你会情不自禁的坐在电脑前疯狂的使用它,我叫它是(录像点唱机),它就是YouTube。一个让你随时查找你喜欢的乐队或歌手的最新的Music Video(音乐录影带)。

许多喜欢音乐的歌迷像我一样有时候疯狂的在寻找自己喜爱的乐队或歌手的录影带,在YouTube诞生之前,电视播放的音乐录影带往往都不是你喜欢的歌手或乐队,所以都是上MTV 或其他网站查找我喜欢的歌手的MV,超慢打得开或缓冲太长,打开几分钟,之后最终还是打不开,索性不看了。但有了YouTube,找寻最新最快的音乐录影带2-3分钟搞定,有现场的,原版的音乐录影带,满足各位音乐迷的渴望,我的秘诀是,打开,按暂停,然后等它全部下载后就可以享受不缓冲的音乐录影带了。

You Tube的创意是提供平台给大家把自己喜欢的音乐录影带传上去分享给其他人,甚至有些录制自己的录影带传上去也有;有些人觉得这样有点违法或有点盗版行为,确实如此,但音乐迷们对YouTube得如痴如醉,这也使全世界的音乐迷对它的热衷支持。

好消息就得和大家分享,别像我一样爱不释手,或看上瘾了!

Dexter – The dark defender

dexter_season_3

I’ve been watching “Dexter” a lot recently and have to say that it’s become one of my favourite TV series. It’s based upon a novel and Michael C. Hall (of Six Feet Under “David” fame) plays the lead character so smoothly and perfectly that the accompanying stories grab your attention from the start.

The story is a little bit bloody, creepy, quirky, dark, and constantly gives you surprises; it’s an emotional and a psychological struggle. Unfortunately it’s only been released on American TV so far, and the story may be a little too risqué for TVB Pearl or ATV World. However, if you get chance then don’t miss this amazing show. I’m definitely looking forward to Season 2.

The story is about Dexter, a blood spatter specialist in Miami who investigates murders during the day and commits his own murders at night. Dexter isn’t just your typical serial killer though, he’s a vigilante killing those who seem to deserve it. At the beginning of the film Dexter tracks and violently murders a child molester. It makes it hard to hate him for his acts because he killed someone who deserved it.

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Prison Break

prison-break1

I have a confession. I’m addicted to Prison Break. It’s one of the best dramas I’ve ever seen, and is currently being shown on TVB Pearl every Tuesday night (10:30).

The story centres around Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), sentenced to death for the murder of the Vice President’s brother. We quickly discover that Lincoln is the fall-guy for a vast political conspiracy and, conveniently, his brother Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) is an architectural designer working at the company that designed the prison. As you would imagine from the title, Michael takes it upon himself to use his knowledge to break his brother out of prison.

The series starts with Michael holding up a bank, being caught, and sentenced to the same prison as his brother, where he has to deal with an assortment of prisoners, prison staff, and surprising events. Running parallel to this is the story of Lincoln’s ex-girlfriend, a lawyer, who realises that Lincoln has been framed and decides to clear his name.

The story is a wonderful mixture of suspense and unpredictable plot twists that is guaranteed to make your heart beat faster and keep you watching week after week. Both the prison and the political outside world are full of memorable characters, many of which you love to hate.

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A Change of Life

New Things

People always like new challenges, new ideas, new music, new experiences and new friends. It’s part of our life to make new things happening. It makes us grown up; it makes us long for new experiences tomorrow. It’s the nature in our blood and it’s the things we look forward to living for.

New things enhance your horizon; it opens your eyes; it pulls you out of your own circle; it makes your jump; it makes you feel different and it makes you contribute something to this world. Of course don’t take things for granted, it needs you to make it happen, to make it yours. People are scared of changing or loosing. But we are young. Young people like creating new things; To be personal, I like people changing; I like those always giving surprises and new feeling; I am trying my best to surprise them back as well. I love life to be more colourful, more passionate, more energetic, not only white the black. We only have one life.

Take an example, do you realise the new generation singers on TV always make the same type of music? —boring tune, always sad songs about breaking up with lovers; same music video has a man and the woman chasing each other or posing and making themselves look pretty. I hope new generation singers can use their talent to impress us, not only beauty.

The world is changing; it’s moving; it’s pushing us to walk with it. Daily life is never new at all for us; we wake up, go to work, off to work, eating dinner, watching TV or relaxing at night, then go to sleep; it looks like we are doing machinery job, but this is simple life that everyone experience days and nights. We are repeating the same thing over and over time; it’s true, but if we slightly notice, we know we are contributing things to make this world move faster. The world is moving because we are moving; we are creating new things in our work, in our life, in our technology. This world has what it is because everyone is producing new stuff without noticing.

I will feel bad if I am not learning or create new things in a day; it doesn’t matter that you should make a big change. Could be a new dish, a new idea, or a new look!

Everyday is a new day, a new start, a new life! Let’s have a change of life. Enjoy…

新生活

人总喜欢新的挑战,新主意,新音乐,新体验和新朋友,我们常常创造新惊奇的事情。人讨厌觉得自己落后了,总想跟随新时代的欲望使我们总想创新。这种欲望让我们不断的成长,让我们总期待明天的到来,这种欲望是自然的在我们血液中循环,也是我们所盼望的。

新事物能提升我们的眼界,也开阔我们的视野,让你跳出出自己的圈子,让你迈出更大一步,让你觉得与众不同,让你为这个世界做出更多的贡献;不要理所当然的觉得事情就会从天上掉下来,新事物都是自己去创造的,变成你自己的东西;人总害怕去改变或怕失去很多东西,但年轻就是我们的资本。年轻人爱创新—个人来说,我喜欢人总改变,总给我新鲜的主意,新感觉或给我意外惊喜;我也在尽自己最大的努力给朋友们惊喜。我喜欢短暂的生命多姿多彩,充满激情,活力,生活不只是黑与白,而是灿烂缤纷的,因为我们只有一条生命。

举个例子来说,你觉得港台新时代的歌手都在唱同一调的情歌不? 平凡无谓的曲调,不是分手的歌曲就是爱来爱去的歌曲,就算MTV也是千篇一律,找个美男美女在里面追来追去,或是女的坐在角落摆个最漂亮的角度,一点新意也没有,我们不再是青少年了,不只是外表就可以蒙骗我们;假如是制作音乐,我们更希望是自创,新鲜的MTV让我们觉得音乐在创新也和世界也在变化;看看资深的音乐歌手或作曲家,他们不断的在发掘开拓新的音乐,创造他们从未试过得音乐类型,因为他们知道,他们不再靠外表吸引观众,是音乐!

世界在改变,在进步,迫使我们追求不用新鲜的音乐,主意,惊喜,要与时俱进嘛!平常的日子总是睡醒,上班,下班,吃晚餐,看电视或晚上休闲下,然后睡觉,不断重复机械般的每一天,但这就是人人每天在体验简单的生活。或许无奈的重复着每天,但我们可以稍微的注意到,大家都在为这个世界作贡献,让我们这个地球转得更快;这个世界有今天的成就,都是我们每天重复着,辛苦奋斗的工作而得来的,因我们每天都在工作上,生活上创新,努力的奋斗,才有我们今天这样的科技,这样的生活;其实,我们每个人每一天都在悄悄地为这个世界做出贡献。

我会自责自己每天没有学习到新的东西;创新不需要从头到尾的改变,而是稍微的在平常上创新,可以是一道新菜,一个主意或是一件新衣服。

每天都是新的一天,新的开始,一个新的生命!让我们给生活多一点新意,大家好好享受它吧。

Stream-consciousness

oil_painting_by_janne_matte

Summer has gone and now it is Autumn! I have noticed that people have changed in autumn clothes, wearing sunglass and having a suntan! I need to apologies to all my friends that I haven’t been updating my blog for sometimes. I have been so busy on Octorber, such as wedding, birthdays and parties, but I had a fantastic time with friends.

Recently, I try to get used to the new job as well as the new colleagues. Another good news is that eventually I am able to get my university degree certificate regardless how hard I worked for it. However, I still need to work hard on my English by reading more novels or practice more. I am glad that I am making progress slowly in my life.

I am trying my best to be a good colleague, good girlfriend, good friend, good daughter (sometimes I’m not good enough at all), good charming Carmen…

Sebastian Schunke in GZ on October

I missed Sebastian Schunke’s Jazz concert last year, which made me feel sorry for myself. However, their manager recently mailed their fans to announce that Sebastian Schunke and his band will be playing again in Guangzhou, as well as,Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Malaysia, in October 2006. This thrilled me. Here is their MySpace website with some of the band’s music, and lots of information.

Due to their successful performances in 2005, this years tour brings together internationally renowned Jazz musicians living in Berlin and New York. They unify the intense energy from their different home cultures to create a complete new song concept in a jazz environment. This is hip experimental world jazz, with musicians from Europe, USA and Cuba – totally new and unpredictable. In the centre is the new vocal star from Cuba – Olvido Ruiz – is member of the new Cubanian generation. This year they present the new songs for the new cd “Seba meets Olvido” exclusively for China and Malaysia.

To all fans who like this new style Jazz music, don’t miss out on this opportunity!

9.10. Guangzhou, BackStreet, Jazz Club, 21.45 -23.45
10.10. Guangzhou, Back Street Jazz Club, 21.45- 23.35
11. 10. Xinghai Konversatorium, 19.00

塞柏斯顿•舒特,出生于1973年的德国塞柏斯顿•舒特从小就学习古典钢琴, 12岁便开始接触拉丁爵士音乐,音乐受到Eddie Palmieris,Chick Corea, Gonzalo Rubalcaba等音乐家的影响;包括他吸收了拉丁美洲的旋律,特别添加到他的爵士音乐中。舒特去了纽约,被多种文化的融合迷住了,并开始从事创作自己的音乐,把现代美国的拉丁爵士与欧洲的传统音乐结合一起。他不仅熟悉运用了拉丁音乐的旋律,创造出自己的爵士曲风。

2005年曾来中国香港/广州/上海/深圳演出;因自己错过德他们首次在广州的表演爵士乐队的表演而感到遗憾,昨天收到他的经理人对广大爵士歌迷的宣布:10月份Sebastian Schunke终于再次到中国,广州,深圳,上海和马来西亚表演。这次到10月9号在广州大使馆表演,11号在广州的后街爵士餐厅表演,我一定不会错过的。如果你想知道他们在其他城市或国家表演的时间表,给我留言,我会在这里告诉你。

Principles of Life(生活的原则)

What are your principles? You may not have thought about it so directly. Principles are what you think is right and wrong. They are the rules that guide you. They are what tells you if it’s right to steal, even though no one will ever know. Whether it’s right to cheat, even though no one will ever find out. Whether it’s right to hurt someone just because you can.

Principles are not only for yourself, they are for your family, for your society, and for your country. I’ve read in the news that China’s economy is becoming stronger and that our life is getting better and better, but when people in other countries still think that our products and our reputation is cheap; that we copy everything, make fake products, pirate DVD, then I wonder how much credibility we really have.

I am positive that our country and some people have made tremendous contributions to China. Take Haier and Shanghai Tang as examples. They’ve both become international Chinese brands. China needs more enterprises like these, more to increase not only our economy, but also our standing in the world.

Sometimes I feel bad about the way we are perceived. A lot of the time the problem is one of principles. People like the easy way to make more money; to make their life more enjoyable; to not work so hard like others. Some people think it’s the smart way, and they believe it’s the most efficient way. They lose their principles or faith when they face the temptation.

Principles also affect our everyday life. Do you work hard because you want to succeed, or do you secretly hope that someone will come and rescue you so you don’t need to do anything? What make your life not empty, so that you are not like someone who has lost their faith and just joins the big crowd? Principles can make you not just like toys or animals. They can make you feel like you have a brain and wisdom to think what is right and what is wrong.

To be in this new generation brings with it new responsibilities. We have better education, a more international culture; we have our own thoughts and our own dream to pursue. We can do better than our parents. However, should we focus only on material gains? Is a new car, house, or TV the road to happiness? Our principles may cause us to ask ‘what can I do for my country?’ As well as taking from the country we need to give back to it. We need to ensure that while we grow economically strong it is not at the expense of reputation. Life is not just about taking; it’s also about giving.

I will try and make sure I stick to my principles.

(生活的原则)

生活的原则是什么?这个问题你可能没有问过自己。原则简单的定义是:你相信什么真理是对,什么是错,然后在你一生中鞭策着你成长,不只是道德原则,是自己的待人处世的准则;比如说考试不作弊,不要因为别人工作偷懒你就偷懒,不要因为赚快钱而去做违法的事,不要因为没耐性就插队或不要报复他人因为别人伤害了你。也许听起来比较可笑,因你觉得不值得这样做,做一个正直的人,在这个世界上它不可能出现或不现实,但请相信自己的原则,象坚持四项基本原则一样,不动摇。

有没有生活的原则,这小到个人道德的问题,再到你家庭教育的问题,大到影响到中国社会的原则。虽近年来,中国的经济实力增长无可否认,人民生活水平也有所提高,但说到中国的名声及产品,给外国人的第一印象还是产品不精致,便宜,仿冒,造假,盗版光碟及信用度不高等;像最出名的(Google-谷歌)中国的版本(Baidu-百度) ICQ变到中国几亿人口都在用的腾讯QQ;站在我们的角度,不是说提倡中国版本不好,外国版本中国化,改装到更适合中国人喜欢的版本,更贴中国人的心;但对外国人来说,不仅是侵犯到他们的版权及名誉问题,还盗用他们的研发劳动成果。

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Imogen Heap

Yesterday I finished watching the last episode of HBO’s Six Feet Under – Everyone’s Waiting. The soundtrack was amazing and I am now trying to find the song ‘Lonely Little Petunia’, by Imogen Heap’s. While looking I discovered she had a MySpace website with some of her music, and lots of information.

Imogen’s first album, I Megaphone, was released in 1998. It took her another seven years to follow up with 2005’s ‘Speak For Yourself‘. The British vocalist was far from idle during the interim, having formed Frou Frou with Guy Sigsworth. I then realised that the song ‘Let Go’ (theme to the movie Garden State) is also by her. Amazing! This album, like Frou Frou’s electronica / pop hybrid, also carries a more sweeping and dynamic singer/songwriter aesthetic and presents Heap’s bold-yet-breathy vocals lounging on a bed of electronic effects. Some songs have been used in the popular series The O.C

Heap is an amazing talented composer, singer, and producer as well. Her music is a beautiful work of art; the songs become more and more addictive the more you play them. Her music makes me think. If I travel on a journey it’s the best CD that to pick. She has a dreamy, light, soft voice, before she blasts you with drums and guitars that slowly turn up the volume. It opens your imagination; it opens your inspiration; it brings your memories – sadness, joyful, bitter of life.

Thanks to Imogen Heap for giving us all these remarkable albums and her contributions to music. “Music can be like perfume,” suggests a Frou Frou. “It’s almost a scent, you know, where the right smell changes an environment and makes life more bearable.” So right.

昨天刚看完(六尺之下)的专集看到Imogen Heap’s 的歌曲,上网找了她的歌曲,最终在她的空间听到她的4首歌,首首都很精彩,Imogen 原来是英国乐队Frou Frou其中的主唱,1998年出了个人专集 I Megaphone,事隔7年2005年出了专集‘Speak For Yourself‘’,这张专集真是精品,有点流行电子风格,带有轻快摇摆,柔美,Launch的风格,它那天使般的声音和独特的风格,美国电视剧常拿她来做插曲象明珠台的The O.C…

她的音乐才华是种艺术,自己作词作曲包监制。 听她的这张CD让我沉思,让我沉迷,去哪里旅游我一定带上它。她的音乐让你感到自由,让你飞翔,打开你想象之窗,给你生活的灵感,让你体验到生活带给你的喜和悲。感谢她对音乐的创作,就像Frou Frow其中一员说:音乐如香水 – 一种气味, 适当的气味可以改变环境,且让生活显得更可忍受一些。(或音乐几乎就是一种香水,散发着迷人香味,改变您的环境,让您的生活更加美好)

Sensibility – 感悟

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感悟

窗外滴答雨响,屋内滴答钟摆
午夜的忧郁,寒冷的北风
岁月留情,转眼逝去
墙外多欢喜,墙内愁悲谁可知
念友人伴念,望故人相思
谁解其中味

留雨

昨盼雨, 为何迟迟不来,
今思雨,只因念故
只有故人会知其意
不知它带来慰籍,还是赐于感觉
躺在港湾,心在漂浮
虽昨日旧事不想,但记忆余温还存
心未忘,念你之情
雨未停,懂我之意
深知没有你,日子依旧过,
却逊色一般
你曾滋润我心,
给我雨后彩虹般的快乐
你悄悄地走进我生命
却静静地停止你的雨滴
好一句“思雨如思佳人”
层层语意,每每动心,
今你心之何处
时否曾想故人
怨你不曾多停留
良辰美景虽短
却因故人思雨情长
望念我好,思我长,
应一句“见雨如见故人”

2003年自己的诗集 – 是我写给我曾经很爱的人,现在打这首诗歌的时候我还记得我在半夜躺在床上写的,虽过3年多,但还是历历在目啊。但望故人在他乡安好。虽爱得很深,伤得很深,一切都随风而去了,留下的只是回忆。人永远向前看,往前走,在你生命中有很多过客,有缘分,也要惜缘,缘分已到,强求也没有用,人生苦短,开心才是最重要的,我老和朋友讲,一加一一定要等于二,所以两个人在一起,要等于2份开心,不然,何苦在一起呢?我相信每个人总有一个真正属于他/她的另一半。