Ain't No Other Man

Gratitude to the Ex-Tale

2011-03-20T14:20:00.019+08:00

Dates have become much less of a regular event on my calendar these days - by choice, of course. The choice of priorities have made it so. But once in a while, when I do dine with a new stranger, there seems to be a common request for storytelling of the ex-tale.

Based on past experiences, sharing the ex-story has become one of the model ways to win new strangers over. It's called sympathy. It's easy to put ourselves in the role of the victim and feed tragic stories to acquaintances who know no better. "I committed this much... I was taken for granted... I was abused/cheated on... I sacrificed but garnered no return". The subtext to these stories being "soften your heart to my past... love me."

I think that's why my last date was taken aback when in response to the request for ex-tales, I shared that I have great respect for my ex-es; that in spite of the initial anger towards the breakups, I no longer bear ill will to them; that I still see the wonderful traits and personalities I fell in love with; that no matter the context of how the relationship ended, I bear half the responsibility for the conclusion.

Granted, there were reasons to be frustrated, to be consumed by the disappointment of failure. But barring initial emotional responses, I'd like to think there's more to be thankful for than be angst about - growth and the education of life. It makes it easier to just make peace with ones past.

"Be grateful to every person you've ever loved - past or present.

They exercised your heart, made you HUMAN."

Unific's 4th Dance Championship

2011-03-11T14:28:00.007+08:00

It took 3 months of grueling training - 5 nights a week, 6 hours per session - and sacrificing much of our social lives and study time to get to this. But it all paid off.

The 27 of us in Unific formed the biggest group in this inter-hall dance competition. Synchronising such a huge bunch for a 6-minute piece took a lot of work - probably more than other halls did with fewer dancers. So to come through as one of the cleanest acts that night just reflected how much effort we put in.

Performing on stage with a family of dancers so committed to the craft and with immense passion for the art made this entire experience an absolute joy. Among this group were a couple of extremely talented dancers, who've been doing this for years and I've grown to respect them deeply.

Then there were a few newcomers who had never danced in their lives, who entered the auditions with two left feet. Seeing them work so hard to look as good as the professionals and succeeding eventually - it's testimony to the greatness of hard work. If you watch the video (below), it's difficult to point out the newcomers from the professionals. Beautiful.

I was thrilled to be part of this particular performance. Moving the audience and putting up a great show was always our main goal, and with a string of songs that everyone in the audience (being in the same generation) grew up listening and grooving to, the nostalgic effect was guaranteed. Based on the feedback we got from many in the audience that night, it's safe to say that the goal was achieved.

We won champion in the end. For Hall One - a hall that takes pride in our love for the arts - that really meant something, especially since it marks the hall's 4th consecutive championship.

I'm proud to be a Unific dancer. This was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life - performing with a team so committed to the craft.

Tom Ford - The Classic Model of Male Sexiness

2011-03-05T17:24:00.003+08:00

"I am my own muse" - TOM FORD

Janet Jackson's Number Ones Concert

2011-02-09T17:50:00.005+08:00

I was 12 years old. I came home one day all pink with glee after buying Janet Jackson's newly released DVD, which featured all the music videos she'd recorded since her debut. It was a precious collection of some of the greatest dance videos in MTV history.

One of my childhood goals was to learn every dance move, every choreography in all of Janet's dance videos. I'd play the DVD in "slow motion mode" 1,236 times each day to study every step down to its last detail. That's how I learned to dance. And it was terribly fun.

Who would have guessed that 10 years later, I'd get to see the dancing queen perform live those same dance routines to stylish perfection in the Singapore Indoor Stadium?!

It was one of those dear diary moments - to watch this superstar sing all her number-one singles back-to-back in one high-energy, phenomenal concert. There was no space for unfamiliar songs; this was Janet Jackson's greatest hits tour and it featured all the melodies that her fans love her for. And, boy, did Ms Jackson kick ass.

The whole event brought about a great sense of nostalgia with songs that I fell in love with during my childhood days and dance routines that special memories are crafted of. We were on our feet throughout most of the electrifying 2-hour show, grooving and boogying to one timeless upbeat tune after another. Absolute fun.

Fans got to see the different sides of Ms Jackson through her songs. There was Party Janet in hits like Feedback, Pleasure Principle, Miss You Much, and Control. There was Playful Janet in numbers like Doesn't Really Matter, Escapade, Love Will Never Do and All For You. There was also Romantic Janet in mega ballads like Again, Let's Wait A While and That's The Way Love Goes, and Rocker Janet in hits like Scream, If and Rhythm Nation.

At 44 years of age, not only did Janet still look stunningly toned, she was also able to still pull off all those crazy dance routines in exactly the same standard as she did in her videos more than a decade ago. This is testament to just how awesome this music superstar is.

This was truly a dream come true. And I had a blast with every second of it.

The Annual ATW Awards 2010

2011-01-01T18:15:00.006+08:00

Blessed new year to all. Welcome to The Annual ATW Awards 2010. If this is the first time you've come across this yearly blog event, here's a look at the past ceremonies to give you an idea of what it's all about.

The Annual ATW Awards Official Website

The Annual ATW Awards 2000

The Annual ATW Awards 2001

The Annual ATW Awards 2002

The Annual ATW Awards 2003

The Annual ATW Awards 2004

The Annual ATW Awards 2005

The Annual ATW Awards 2006

The Annual ATW Awards 2007

The Annual ATW Awards 2008

The Annual ATW Awards 2009

This is an annual online event during which the Addison Thomas Wong Academy (ATWA) closes the year's chapter and recognises events and artistic work that have made significant impact in the 12 months' worth.

ATW'S Annual Year-End Closing Reflection

I've always loved the number two. I love things that come in pairs, from the concept of twins, salt-and-pepper shakers, socks and gloves to the concept of couples in relationships and twin-pack promotions in the supermarket.

Turning twenty-two this year was, thus, an absolute thrill - an age consisting of a pair of my favourite number. Cheesy, I know, but there it is.

That aside, 2010 marked the occurrence of numerous significant events, including designing, renovating and finally moving into the fabulous new Wong residence, my completion of national service, the beginning of university life, Hilary and Joann's long-awaited wedding, Addwong Productions, plentiful freelance jobs and - for a period of time - romance.

Because the transition between all these events were so speedy, particularly between ORD and the beginning of university, the entire year flew by quite meaninglessly, with hardly any space for even a reflective individual like myself to appreciate the little bubbles of joy that came with each of the aforementioned events.

There were even points in time when I felt like I didn't really know who I was anymore and life motivation was low. It was especially bad during the beginning of university, when new responsibilities were aplenty, friends and family were distant, and the wounds of the failure of a special relationship were still fresh.

There were, nevertheless, achievements that made parts of 2010 memorable. These included honourable accolades from the army, planning Hilary and Joann's wedding, and juggling numerous freelance jobs with school.

I wouldn't consider this one of the best years of my life. What this year will mark in the big picture is the beginning of a new exploration of self and identity.

EVENTS CATEGORIES

EVENTS OF THE YEAR

The Wedding of Mr and Mrs Hilary Hoe

Dannel George's Rock N' Roll 21st Birthday

The Thailand Military Mission

Voila!

Chicago The Musical

Pangdemonium! Productions' The Full Monty

BLOG ENTRIES OF THE YEAR

Some Types of Love Know Boundaries

The Last Army Entry

The Questionable Concept of Self

The 50 Greatest Films of the Decade

The 50 Greatest Performances of the Decade

The 25 Greatest Artists of the Decade

10 BEST THINGS ABOUT '10

Wyson

Rekindling of friendship with Chai

Hilary & Joann's Wedding

Completing National Service with a Best Soldier Award

The MOE Scholarship

The Wong Family's gorgeous new home

My first MacBook Pro & DSLR camera

Christina Aguilera's long-awaited return

Dannel George's 21st Birthday

Eddy Daddy's 60th Birthday

A fantastic first semester in NTU

10 WORST THINGS ABOUT '10

The passing of an old friend

Paranoia

The break up

The occasional feeling of emptiness in university

Alyssa leaves for Australia

Failed attempt to fulfill new year's resolutions

Sandra Bullock winning the Oscar for The Blind Side

Meryl Streep being overlooked at the Oscars yet again

Colin Firth being snubbed at the Oscars with a win for Jeff Bridges

Taylor Swift winning Album of the Year at the GRAMMY Awards

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

University Life

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

Listening to Hilary and Joann's beautiful wedding vows

OBSESSION OF THE YEAR

University Grades

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR

Juggling school with Addwong Productions

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

Black Swan

Inception

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

A Single Man

The Social Network

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception / Shutter Island

Aaron Eckhart - Rabbit Hole

Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Ben Whishaw - Bright Star

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right

Abbie Cornish - Bright Star

Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Andrew Garfield - The Social Network

Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Inception

Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right

Paul Schneider - Bright Star

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams - The Fighter

Marion Cotillard - Inception

Mila Kunis - Black Swan

Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Julianne Moore - A Single Man / The Kids Are All Right

DIRECTOR

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan

Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Christopher Nolan - Inception

David Fincher - The Social Network

Tom Ford - A Single Man

SCREENPLAY

Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg - The Kids Are All Right

Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Tom Ford & David Scearce - A Single Man

Christopher Nolan - Inception

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

ORIGINAL SCORE

Mark Bradshaw - Bright Star

Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland

Abel Korzeniowski - A Single Man

Clint Mansell - Black Swan

Hans Zimmer - Inception

ORIGINAL SONG

Alice - Avril Lavigne, Alice in Wonderland

Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls, Eat Pray Love

Cinema Italiano - Kate Hudson, Nine

New York is Where I Live - Steve Tyler, Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Take It All - Marion Cotillard, Nine

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Dion Beebe - Nine

Greg Fraser - Bright Star

Eduardo Grau - A Single Man

Matthew Libatique - Black Swan

Wally Pfister - Inception

FILM EDITING

Claire Simpson & Wyatt Smith - Nine

Lee Smith - Inception

Joan Sobel - A Single Man

Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter - The Social Network

Andrew Weisblum - Black Swan

PROMISING FILMS OF 2011

127 Hours

Biutiful

Blue Valentine

Burlesque

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hanna

The King's Speech

Never Let Me Go

The Tree of Life

MUSIC CATEGORIES

RECORD OF THE YEAR

F**k You - Cee Lo Green

Like a G6 - Far East Movement

Love the Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna

Not Myself Tonight - Christina Aguilera

You Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger - Beth Rowley

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The Adventures of Bobby Ray - B.o.B

Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars

Jason Mraz's Beautiful Mess: Live on Earth - Jason Mraz

Loud - Rihanna

Recovery - Eminem

SONG OF THE YEAR (a lyricist award)

Lift Me Up / You Lost Me - Christina Aguilera

Glitter in the Air - Pink

Hey, Soul Sister - Train

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

The Only Exception - Paramore

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

B.o.B

Bruno Mars

Eminem

Usher

Travie McCoy

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Beth Rowley

Christina Aguilera

Katy Perry

Olivia Ong

Rihanna

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

Far East Movement

Lady Antebellum

Muse

Paramore

Train

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Airplanes - B.o.B featuring Haley Williams

California Gurls - Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg

F**k You - Cee Lo Green

Love the Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna

Not Myself Tonight - Christina Aguilera

2010'S SONG OF YESTERYEAR

如燕 / 夢一場 - Olivia Ong

Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis

Ironic - Alanis Morissette

Try - Nelly Furtado

Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR

The Big Bang Theory

Glee

The Good Wife

Mad Men

Modern Family

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Steve Carrell - The Office

Hugh Laurie - House

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Glenn Close - Damages

Kaley Cuoco - The Big Bang Theory

Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie

January Jones - Mad Men

Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Chris Colfer - Glee

Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother

Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad

John Slattery - Mad Men

Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christine Baranski - The Good Wife

Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock

Jane Lynch - Glee

Elizabeth Moss - Mad Men

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-12-26T23:06:00.002+08:00

The fulfillment of an ageless, timeless prophesy. A silent night indeed. And pretty much a holy one too.

I'd been looking forward to Christmas all semester and for the opportunity to reunite with close friends and loved ones I'd missed terribly the past few months. So when Christmas eve came round, one can imagine just how thrilled I was. Little did I foresee or expect, though, the dizzy spells that hit after the 9:30pm mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, which rendered me unwell to attend the gatherings that evening.

Christmas day was spent mostly in my room, with the exception of a short lunch with Dannel and an external family dinner hosted by my parents at our new home. Late-night plans that evening was also cancelled.

Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe what I really needed this Christmas was peaceful time to myself - something I haven't been able to enjoy and embrace for some time now. This year has been a real hectic one - both the army chapters and the university chapters - which made quiet, reflective time with myself this Christmas possibly "the most wonderful time of the year".

But I'm still looking forward to meeting up with close friends and giving them each a big hug. And I'm still excited about giving out the presents I had prepared. I've yet to spread joy even once this season. They're all still sitting under my tree. All in good time.

Different Sides of the Same Moon

2010-12-23T01:20:00.010+08:00

I'm in my objective state now. Based on my understanding and analysis, here's the situation from both party's ends, which accounts for the vast difference in opinion between the two.

One is trying very hard to conceal personal feelings, because it takes a lot to be strong when faced with such trials. Embracing feelings can lead to breaking down and exposing oneself, especially in front of family. It's a huge gamble. Therefore, strict formality in tone of speech and messages, neglect and distancing becomes the order of the day. It's understandable. Sometimes, that's what one needs to do in order to stay strong.

The other tries as much as possible to look past the glass cover, to trust that beyond the cold front is the beautiful soul with great interest for friendship maintenance; that the surface appearance is no reliable reference for judgement. But it's not easy to always live life like that - to look past the glass cover. There are times when one becomes weak and can only judge based on context. That's when paranoia takes over.

When that happens, it is very obvious, especially through ones choice of words and tone. And the other is smart enough to detect the weakness. That's when conflict arises.

There is the accusation that one does not trust the other enough to believe that underneath it all, nothing has changed. Such an accusation is extremely valid. At the same time, the other is left with the challenge of friendship maintenance with a non-active cold front, which one has to see past. The party is challenged to trust, even after being dumped. In this case, it's difficult to trust in the words, "you deserve to be happy".

This doesn't imply that the two no longer care for each other or yearn for each other's friendship. They just have different ways of dealing with it. It is a matter of perspective.

The two still try to see each other's points of view. That's when there's peace. But because we're human after all, there are times when one party falters. That's when the whole structure of trust crumbles. It's not easy to live life like that.

However, in the wise words of Nelly Furtado, "all I can do is try".

Golden Globe Nod and a Walk of Fame Star

2010-12-21T16:00:00.005+08:00

Christina Aguilera is wrapping up 2010 with a tumultuous high. First, she fulfilled her gargantuan silver screen dream last month with the release of her first film, Burlesque. Then last week, she received a prestigious Golden Globe Award nomination for it!

Oh, the beat that my heart skipped when I read the list. I was thrilled enough to know that films and actors I was rooting for (e.g. The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Kids Are All Right, Colin Firth, James Franco, Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore) all received nominations that would increase their chances for Oscar gold. But to follow that up with Aguilera's name listed for Best Original Song made it all the more a jubilant event!

I think the nomination's well-deserved, and that's not coming from an extreme, biased point of view. I've been listening to the film's soundtrack the past few days and it's really an awesome record with loads of fun, soulful elements, and featuring Christina as singer and songwriter for 8 of the 10 tracks. It's gotten me hooked.

Burlesque was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy). If that ain't a Hollywood dream come true for Aguilera, what is?

Just last month, she was also honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, an excellent accolade in recognition for her contribution to the entertainment industry the past 12 years. I'm absolutely delighted for this queen of pop. It's a joy to follow someone every step of their journey for so many years and see them make it this far.

I hope she wins the Golden Globe Award, gets nominated for an Oscar next month, and eventually become an Oscar winner in February. Go Christina!

We've Only Just Begun

2010-12-18T04:11:00.008+08:00

Alas, the finishing line of 4 months' worth. What a juggle struggle, seriously. Heavyweight responsibilities from practically every of life's compartments.

I can confidently proclaim, though, that I've worked my ass off, neglected myself from many of life's joys and privileges, and pushed my already-lofty limits to even greater heights. All in the name of reputation and respectable grades. Pulling through the strain I'd inflected on myself has become all the more incandescently blissful.

It's quaint, however, how ones expectations of oneself can decline within such a brief period. And my gosh, it has. Oh, the dawn of reality that fellow students can open you up to.

My absence from the lives of those who matter has been constant in the last few months. They have been missed as dearly as they've been saying they miss me. I have 30 days to make up for that, because God knows what kind of chaos the next semester will bring.

"We've only just begun to live.

White lace and promises

A kiss for luck and we're on our way..."

The Burlesque Way

2010-12-04T23:00:00.004+08:00

America has seen it and was amazed by the body of art that Burlesque encompasses. Come January 13th, Singapore will finally get a taste of the riveting musical experience Christina Aguilera has to offer in her debut silver screen performance.

I could not be more thrilled for this wondrous queen of pop. Her royal highness returns to claim her throne, alongside another queen, Cher! Talk about a juicy, dynamic ensemble.

After following her artistry and career so closely for 12 years now, I'm ecstatic that this is finally happening for her and that it's coming our way.

Examination Period.

2010-12-03T17:29:00.006+08:00

With every minute that you stop studying, you lose the opportunity to revise one more point in your lecture notes and textbook. That one more point could be the answer to one difficult question in the examination. Answering that one difficult question correctly could mark the difference between an A- and an A grade for you.

Don't lose focus. Don't be distracted. Study.

A Change of Heart

2010-11-26T23:48:00.003+08:00

This evening, I reached out to Him. The arena was packed. Physically, there were thousands beside and around me. But spiritually - heart and soul - it was just me and Him. For the first time in 3 years, I felt His warm embrace.

The sign was clear. The man in the mirror.

Beautiful Peeps.

2010-11-25T22:07:00.007+08:00

The still relatively new chapter of university may have opened up many windows for more friendships and activities. It's a thrill to know there's so much you can do or be involved in to make your university life richer.

But life without your close friends and beloved family near you just makes everything so darn empty. That's exactly how I feel about life now. Tons of assignments, readings and examinations, coupled with endless freelance work, CCA commitments and hall committees. Everything's actually going well so far, even in terms of grades, and I'm very grateful for that.

It's a seemingly enriching, complete life. But most of the time, it's still kind of empty.

Try.

2010-11-21T21:46:00.004+08:00

"Then I see you standing there, wanting more from me, and all I can do is try"

- Nelly Furtado

In the Beginning...

2010-11-18T05:22:00.006+08:00

There are some dates that you just don't forget:

23rd February 2000: Christina Aguilera wins her first GRAMMY Award.

7th April 2003: I receive St. Patrick's School's Patrician of the Year award.

28th May 2005: My first day in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Mass Communication.

30th June 2007: Christina Aguilera's first concert in Singapore.

9th October 2008: I enlist in the army.

9th May 2009: Addison's Hollywood 21st Birthday Jamboree

16th May 2009: I become someone's boyfriend for the first time in my life.

8th August 2010: My ORD.

29th August 2010: The beginning of life in NTU.

Today, 5 years ago: I started out an enriching journey with my first blog entry.

Babe, Fly Away

2010-11-06T14:15:00.012+08:00

To let you go, it really bleeds. We both know we've no clear answer to where our dreams may lead. But you can fly so high, keep your gaze upon the sky. I'll be praying for you everyday, every step along the way.

Even though it breaks my heart to know we'll be so far apart, I love you too much to make you stay. So babe, fly away. I'll be here, holding on to patience and hope.

The Joyful Memory of "Voila!"

2010-11-04T16:29:00.009+08:00

It started out as an opportunity for him to dedicate a song to her. He'd play the guitar, I'd sing, and our friend would play the piano. Granted, it was a talentime we were entering, but winning the competition was never the objective - winning her heart was.

It wasn't an easy song to sing, and especially so in this case, considering my semi-tone deaf nature. But the two weeks of hardcore constant practices, drilling the right notes in my head and getting accustomed to using my falsetto - something I'd never done before when performing in front of a crowd - paid off big time in the end. The girl was extremely moved and we took the 1st runner-up place. What an unexpected thrill!

I'm glad we did this cause I had a ball singing on stage. And to think that I originally pulled out the day before due to emotional instability. Thank God for the surge of confidence that came two hours before the event that caused a change of heart. Imagine the fun I would have missed out on.

It's been some time since I've accomplished something big enough for me to feel a sense of pride. Considering my history of bad singing of simpler songs on stage, pulling this particular song off and the wonderful feedback I got after the performance made for a reason to quietly feel proud of myself this week.

A big thank you to the lovely band mates and friends around for the guidance, advice and tips that made the whole thing work. Voila!

Halloween 2010: The Rare Night Out

2010-10-31T13:46:00.001+08:00

I wasn't in the state to go out or have fun, and I didn't want to, given the emotional instability, the pile of freelance work waiting for me and tons of readings to catch up on. But returning to my beloved social circle was what I needed. I'm thankful for them.

"With An Unselfish Love that Respects You"

2010-10-25T01:25:00.014+08:00

This trying experience and chapter may have laid in front of us a test of endurance with an indefinite deadline.

I apologise for my selfishly tending to and embracing my own emotions towards this so far. My situation pales in comparison to yours. I can't imagine what you're going through. And though I'm sure the strength and independence which I've always admired you for will help you pull through, know that whenever you need me, I'll be there.

I'll reach out my hand to you and have faith in all you do. I'll be there to comfort, to fill your heart with joy and laughter, to build my world of dreams around you, for I'm so glad that I've found you. So I'll be there with an unselfish love that respects you.

If you need me, I'll be there.

If You Lift Me Up...

2010-10-24T02:15:00.011+08:00

There's only so much that music can drown one's emotion, particularly sorrow. So the pain begins as the music fades. And I'm left here with more than I can take. When the static clears and all is said and done, we all need someone.

We had magic, and this is tragic. I feel like our world's been infected and somehow it's left us neglected. We find our lives' been changed.

If you lift me up and just get me through this night, I know I'll rise tomorrow; I'll be strong enough to try. So when you see me crashing and there's nowhere left to fall, won't you lift me even higher to rise above this all. If you please just lift me up.

Dreams of Thy Royal Prima Donna

2010-10-22T16:55:00.001+08:00

Of late, I've been having frequent dreams of Christina Aguilera. In the last month, I'd say there were easily 5 or 6 instances when the queen of my music world entered my sleep. It's a reflection of how much I've missed her.

A couple of days back, Dannel informed me of news of Christina planning to do an unplugged session with MTV (exactly what die-hard fans like me have been waiting for... our diva live and acoustic with her powerful vocal). This accounts for the dream I had last night of her performing live in an intimate setting, with lucky me in the front row, of course. Haha!

During the performance of "Beautiful", Christina burst into tears, and so did a number of girls sitting near me. I was baffled for a while, until I realised it was the emotion stemmed from her recent divorce surfacing.

It was difficult to come to terms with the reality of it when I heard the news recently. After 5 years of marriage with no signs of unhappiness, and then the joys of a baby boy 2 years back, a divorce was the last thing I expected from her.

But life goes on. Christina and her fans have many things to look forward to, including the release of the musical extravaganza, Burlesque (watch the latest trailer here), in which she delivers her debut film performance. And then there's the Bionic tour next year. I can hardly wait!

The Questionable Concept of Self

2010-10-18T00:43:00.016+08:00

There comes a point in ones journey where an unfortunate clash in multiple chapter openings causes the lowering of ones self efficacy. It's an awful, demanding and trying experience to go through - to counter the gargantuan waves of adaptation simultaneously.

It strips off most of the joys of branching out to a new path. And though you know in the big picture there's only growth to be reaped, at this point in time when everything is new and ambiguous, you can't help but question your ability - talents that many before have affirmed you of - and re-think the concept of self.

I think of the numerous labels that I'm currently holding - a linguist, a freshman university undergraduate, a scholar, a teacher-in-the-making, a dancer, a boyfriend, a son, a friend, a brother, a member of a hall community, a freelance photographer, freelance cinematographer, freelance film editor and the owner of a new company - and I start to question if I bring justice to these labels, especially the new ones.

Am I smart and capable enough in this competitive field of academia to graduate with first class honours? Has the standard and quality of my freelance work reached a level high enough for me to be proud of? Why is it that I suddenly find dancing so difficult? Am I a turnoff as a boyfriend? Do I have what it takes to be a respectable teacher? Have I in any way been a disappointment to my friends and family?

It's easy for others to resort to patronising in their response and simply say "don't worry so much... everything will be fine... you can do it". Here's a situation that testifies to the cliche, "actions speak louder than words".

I observe my course mates and their level of intelligence; I reflect on how well I'm able to catch up in my dance CCA classes; I consider the dynamics of my relationships; I study the kind of work I produce for my clients; I look into the eyes of my neglected friends and family outside university - they all tell me otherwise, that there is a need to worry, that everything won't be fine and no, I can't do it all.

Affirmation needs to come with some sort of physical and evidential assurance.

Into University, Into Oblivion

2010-10-08T16:11:00.005+08:00

It seems like it's been eternity. What's been my treasured space for writing therapy for half a decade suddenly became a thing of the past the moment university began.

Ever since, I've been devoid of much of my social life. I haven't met up with many of my close friends for more than a month. And when I briefly ran into two of them last week, I was told I looked real exhausted.

I can't say that I detest the life I'm living now. It's exhilarating getting a taste of university academia. Couple that with staying in hall and finally joining a dance club as my CCA after 11 years of dancing as a hobby, I feel like I'm truly experiencing university life in its entirety.

But adapting has been a challenge. The hundred odd pages of readings I've to complete each week has turned most of my weekends into a reading festival in my cosy room at home. Projects, essays and tutorial preparations have made it even more "interesting". Time has thus been racing past and I'm now nearing the mid-semester point.

I'm thankful that I've chosen to stay in hall. It gives me the option of taking power naps when I have long breaks between classes. And I've found a roommate with a personality almost identical to mine. Late night heart-to-heart talks and hilarious bitching sessions with him has made hall life a joy for me. I've met many wonderful, intelligent people in the past few weeks.

But to secure a room in hall in the years to come, I would need to gain enough hall points and that means actively participating in hall activities and helping with the organisation of hall events, especially the major ones. So that's going to be consuming.

Juggling between all these and my freelance work has been the greatest challenge. Job opportunities have been coming in like nobody's business to the extent that I'm now rejecting any work that's due this year.

I miss my friends, my family, my personal introvert time, my film appreciation time and the ability to do many things that are within my interest. The worst part is that there's too much on my plate now to do anything about it.

But life's still good. I feel a wonderful sense of growth within me as the days pass.

The Great Modern Mr. Darcy

2010-09-01T22:10:00.012+08:00

From Noah Calhoun (The Notebook) to Sir Lancelot (The Lady of Shalott); from Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind) to Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights); from Shakespeare's Macbeth to John Keats, one of the greatest love poets in history.

In the world of literature, countless are the number of gentlemanly figures who, until today, still have an intoxicating, bewitching effect on women all over the world; women who love immersing themselves in art.

But when it comes to Mr. Darcy (Pride & Prejudice), his charming ways are in a league of their own. Jane Austen created a protagonist so perfectly alluring that centuries later millions are still falling head over heels for this fictional character.

In today's context, the great modern Mr. Darcy overwhelms you constantly with an unconditional love so ardent, you'd feel the need to question what you've done in life before to deserve it. Hands down, he's the most extraordinary gentleman around.

He gives you a priceless sense of security and makes you absolutely comfortable in your own skin. Whatever aspects of your personality you were too embarrassed to show others before, he embraces adoringly. He takes great effort to understand you in your entirety and expresses deep appreciation for the great things about you that no one else really noticed before. You become radiantly exceptional as an individual.

He remembers. Everything. Every word you've ever exchanged. Every memory you've created together. Every story in your history that you've shared. There's a label of significance painted on your being when someone like him takes such great interest.

No one you know can match his status as the epitome of trustworthiness and reliability. He's emotionally and financially stable. And he's a fantastic listener.

Mr. Darcy is also extremely street smart. He either has the answers to everything or has the resources to get them. When you're in a pickle about something or lack knowledge, he'll quietly do the research to ensure you know everything before making a decision. He's that sweet. As sweet as a gorgeous pumpkin.

His skin is flawlessly beautiful. Through his kind eyes, you can vividly see a soul full of humility, compassion, generosity and grace.

He is gentle by nature but has a loud and larry sense of humour. Amiable manners that entrances witnesses, together with intelligence, maturity and diligence, makes him one of a kind. And he works hard to get to places and never takes others for granted.

He has a way with you, giving you faith to find your dreams and inspiring you through his various passions. He gets you to firmly believe in everything that you could be (but were too scared to even dream of being before) and the things that you can accomplish (but were too afraid to reach for before).

He's got a way with words. He gets you smiling even when it hurts. There's no way to measure how much his love is worth. It's in the way he wants you, in the way he holds you, in the way he shows you just what love is made of.

With an enthralling connection that you've never felt before, common interests that makes no space for awkward silences, a love that makes you feel more important than the rest of the world, and a true promise of commitment and fidelity, you can't help but see a beautiful future ahead of you.

There's a delightful, precious beauty in being dangerously in love.

Incredibly, Incandescently Beautiful

2010-08-30T22:55:00.001+08:00

Artists have their high and low moments. There are times when singers give great performances while other times they fail to make magic on stage.

And then there are instances when they shine like never before, delivering a tour-de-force rendition of a song that mentally transports the audience to a whole other world of art, even though they've heard that number a thousand times before.

A grand, genius music arrangement that reaches to the soul of the lyrics and powerful vocal styles intertwined impeccably to embody the brilliance that live performances can bring. Now that's what I call music.

It was in 2008. I was watching the CNN Heroes special on TV when this performance came on. It was the most beautiful interpretation of this song I had ever heard and it ended on a magnificent note, followed by a glorious standing ovation. Watch it here.

It Happened One Night

2010-08-25T00:28:00.007+08:00

If music be the food of love, play on. After hours of hearty conversations, soulful acoustic tunes, palatable pizzas, delectable delights and delicious cocktails, we took a stroll around cultural buildings with our DSLRs, delighting ourselves with night photography. It was exactly a month ago.

In front of the exquisite Fullerton hotel, incandescent lighting that defined the beauty of romance, under a rapturous sea of palm trees, light breeze against our faces, beneath the gorgeous midnight sky, it happened.

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. I look forward to the next five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes and the next five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear.

"Eh Waddap, Brother!"

2010-08-20T12:45:00.005+08:00

In an age when change is upon us, when we find ourselves chasing pavements in an effort to accomplish extraordinary things, some things remain as they always were.

The countless hours' worth of heart-to-heart in our petite office, the daily exchange of his favourite peanut-filled m&m's and my strawberry-flavoured Pocky, and the deep exploration of our respective eccentric characters made for a brotherhood I can proudly and easily proclaim as one that was like no other around us.

The calmest, "chillest" officer and the paranoid, work-round-the-clock office boy. It was one of the strangest pairings for a friendship, especially since he was such an anti-social being towards low-ranking dudes like myself. But it happened. And crazy, delightful memories were built from there.

Prior to yesterday's lunch, we had not met for 6 months, and a lot has happened to us as individuals during this time. But it's comforting to know that his 3-month trip to New Zealand, work and family matters and university hasn't changed him much.

I can't say the same for his hair, though. Neither will I comment on it. It speaks "volumes" for itself already.

NTU HSS Freshmen Orientation Camp 2010

2010-08-16T14:30:00.003+08:00

I've never been able to see eye to eye with the rationale behind having an endless series of dirty games during camps. I still can't. I understand that it provides individuals a significant memory to share, keep and bond them. But many a time, I prefer if conversations and laughter were the order of the day.

Nevertheless, building friendships with this bunch of genuinely lovely people I was fortunate enough to be grouped with during the freshmen orientation camp by NTU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) made for one of the most blissful experiences I've had in a long time.

We spent many hours singing songs randomly and providing our seniors with "special services" (serenading services) and "special packages" (sexual cheers/dances) to gain group points. That was one of the funnest aspects of the 5 days and it earned us the award for "most melodious group" at the end of the camp.

Rolling in mud (mixed with soya sauce and peanut butter), games with sexual innuendos and carrying a girl on my back up and down the beach 752189843 times may not have been the ideal camp experience I had in mind. Neither was having only 3 hours of sleep each night after a day of grueling, never-ending games sessions for 5 days straight.

But the friendships I forged during this time were worth going through all that for. And winning many of the competitions during the big finale - including the ultimate cheer-fight competition - made it an even sweeter experience. Nothing more exhilarating than sharing proud moments with new friends. I'm glad I'll be able to begin my university life already with a bunch of real awesome pals.

Ferrum, Ferrum! chio bu, yan dao de superheroes!

Starring Christina Aguilera in Burlesque!

2010-08-15T22:36:00.008+08:00

Christina's always expressed that since her childhood days in The Mickey Mouse Club, she's been interested in acting, especially in film.

It took her years to finally fulfill that dream because, I quote her, "it has to be the right script". That right script finally came last year and so did the opportunity for her to star alongside Oscar-winner, legendary singing sensation and ultimate diva, Cher!

What better genre of film for my queen of pop to kick off her acting career with than a musical with explosive, raunchy dance numbers? That's exactly what this film is about. It's called Burlesque. Aguilera will play a small town girl who finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club.

Filming began in November last year and now, the long-awaited trailer's finally out. It's looking fantabulous. It's nothing like Britney Spears' Crossroads in 2002 or Mariah Carey's Glitter in 2001.

Christina's looking to breakthrough to the silver screen with a big bang and I can hardly wait for it. The film opens December in the USA. Watch the trailer here.

The Last Army Entry

2010-08-08T12:30:00.018+08:00

My battery mate was kind enough to drive me in his van as I made my last trip out of camp on Friday (today's my actual ORD, but since it's Sunday, it was pushed forward).

And as I looked out the window when we drove past the buildings in which most of my army memories were created, with my pink I/C in my pocket, my certificate, testimonial and a prestigious award in my hands, the radio coincidentally and very aptly played "Home" by Kit Chan.

That's when I felt for the first time what many people shared with me before - that memories of their army life are bittwersweet. I never thought I would feel that way. Yet, even before I stepped out of the gate back to my civilian life of freedom, I felt it.

There were many pleasant surprises that made my ORD an exceptionally joyous event. Receiving the Best Soldier of the Month award was one of them. Receiving a lengthy, stupendous testimonial was another. And receiving the very rare top grade of "Outstanding" for both my Performance and Conduct assessments filled me with so much gratitude for the respect my superiors has for me.

There's nothing like closing a chapter with a big bang. And all these made my last day of service an extremely memorable one. This is it. Goodbye army. Hello freedom.

Fred Perry

2010-08-03T23:21:00.025+08:00

It happened in April this year. I was strolling around Isetan in Lido when this gorgeous shoulder bag caught my attention in the Fred Perry section. It stood out in a shelf full of the brand's usual single-coloured bags with neither any pattern nor flamboyance.

I'd always wanted a Fred Perry signature polo tee. But I decided on this tartan/green beauty since the bag and the tee were of the same price. You can't wear the same Fred Perry polo tee everyday, but you can carry the same Fred Perry bag everyday!

My heart was set on buying it. But when I returned the following week, the last piece had sold out!

I checked every other outlet, only to find out that the bag was a limited edition and that it had been discontinued. Bummer! I felt terribly blue for months after that.

It wasn't until 3 weeks ago that I decided to do a random search for the bag online. Can't believe it took me so long to think of that. But I found it on Amazon UK! I was ecstatic, of course, and instantly clicked on "buy now".

Surprisingly, the bag plus delivery turned out to be $40 cheaper than what I would have paid off the shelf. Cool, eh?! The discontinuation turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

The Fred Perry came a week later and for the past 2 weeks, I've taken much delight in carrying it around. It's big enough to fit my Macbook Pro and DSLR, which is fantastic.

Everyone who's seen the bag seems to love it. Well, except Sean Chew. Haha! But it doesn't matter. I'm very happy with this purchase. My first Fred Perry. Awesome!

July's Good Fellows That Nobody Can Deny

2010-08-01T15:50:00.014+08:00

As the mid-year point blows past and Matthew Heng's birthday approaches at the end of June, a strong realisation dawns that a month of bountiful birthdays is upon us. That's what July is all about every year.

From Matthew to Yvonne, Jerome to Rachel, Joann to Joyce, Adriel to Joachim, Desmond to Gracie Pup (Karen Pereira's dog). On average, that's one birthday every three days.

After spending nearly half a grand on gifts, drinks and dinner treats, my wallet is sadly now light as a feather. But there's hardly a sting to it considering how joyous it's been spreading love to loved ones the past few weeks.

One can't help but wonder, however, what it was about the month of October years ago that resulted in so many of our parents giving birth to children the following July.

7 Days. Blissfulness.

2010-07-31T00:27:00.004+08:00

In my years as a passionate blogger, once in a while I'm able to churn out an entry that strikes a chord with readers. A few weeks ago, Isabel mentioned to me that this particular piece, 7 Years, 7 Months, 7 Weeks, 7 Days, 7 Hours, is one of those that she remembers well even after 2 years.

As of today, I officially have 7 days before I reach the finishing line. It's been a wild ride. But I can't wait too see the reflection of my gleeful smile - in pink colour.

Hallelujah, God Bless the Child

2010-07-29T23:31:00.004+08:00

Oh Sacrament most holy. Oh Sacrament divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

One can't help but be amazed by how much this child has grown. It wasn't too long ago when he was just this petite 12-year-old with an all-endearing nature, full of innocence and adorable naivety. Wisdom, time and maturity has changed this lovely individual and it was such a joy to see him receive the Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday.

Joyce and I were talking about the immense growth in faith and sensibility (and yes, height) that we've witnessed in this little angelic pal of ours and the fact is we could not have been more proud. The same goes for his biological parents, of course.

Some things never change, though, and we're glad that his gentle nature and his big heart are two of them. In time to come, I hope to see a Jerome Jude Matthew Lim who's a gentleman in every way and a passionate servant of God.

May the little fearless light in him shine in all its splendour for the world to be inspired.

There She Goes.

2010-07-22T16:54:00.005+08:00

That's one more name thrown into the bucket; one more Mass Commer-friend gone overseas for university.

It's such aspects of growing up - of having everyone move on in life - that makes the journey of life sometimes morbid. There goes our little angel, our party gal pal, our lovely Ally. Herein is the heart of our friendships.

With her already being an Australian PR and plans to settle down there after university, who knows when next it'll be when our Mass Comm group can have a full reunion or when next it'll be when Joyce and I get to party with her at the place where they don't get "disturbed".

Oh the power and greatness of distance; the challenge it bestows upon families and friendships. Tears, melancholy and heartbreak. Don't it always seem to go? That you don't know what you've got till it's gone. We'll miss you Ally, dear. Take care.

You Give Me FEVER.

2010-07-21T16:50:00.010+08:00

Oh spasms and heartbreaks. I've been terribly ill for an entire week and five days now. And counting!

The previous Saturday, a dear friend accidentally passed me her contagious cold sores, a skin infection by the Herpes virus (no, not the STD kind). Since then, I've had gross blisters developing all over my mouth and been suffering from high fever, flu, cough, splitting headaches, giddiness and, worst of all, the loss of my voice.

Recovery has been steady but the skin infection, cough and flu are all still haunting me. It's exasperating being so ill for so long. I feel like death has warmed up and my mind, body and soul have been getting immensely weaker by the day.

Last week marked the beginning of my long-awaited off and leave clearance that lasts pretty much until my ORD. In 2 days, I would have officially wasted 2 weeks of leave and off that I had waited all year to clear and enjoy.

What a time to fall ill. Seriously.

To An Athlete Dying Young

2010-07-20T21:57:00.005+08:00

The time you won your town the race

We chaired you through the marketplace

Man and boy stood cheering by

And home we brought you shoulder high.

Smart lad to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay

Early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than a rose.

Now you will not swell the rout

Of lads that wore their honours out

Runners whom renown outran

And the name died before the man.

And round that early laureled head

Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead

And find unwithered on its curls

The garland briefer than a girl's.

It's A Man's Man's Man's World

2010-07-18T00:40:00.007+08:00

In 2006, music lost one of her greatest soul legends - James Brown. And at the Grammy Awards in 2007, the academy wanted to pay respect to the King of Soul. There were dance tributes and affirmations from his colleagues.

But one person was needed to pay tribute to the man as a vocalist. And Christina Aguilera was chosen for this honour. Some people were not happy about this decision. Jaime Foxx was one of them. He claimed he was more suitable because, like James Brown, he sings soul and he's black. What an idiot.

So anyway, in spite of people's comments, Christina nailed the performance and blew the crowd away. It was said to be her best live vocal performance in her career. And it shut all skeptics up.

When the Grammy Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary, this Christina performance was voted 3rd place in the academy's list of 25 Moments in Grammy History. Woohoo!

Check out this amazing performance.

Take special note of Jaime Foxx's idiotic face at the end.

I Believe in Yesterday

2010-07-11T02:55:00.009+08:00

If you can't recognise the legendary band in the photo above, then you may have become one of the individuals trapped in today's parade of trash music.

The other day, I chanced upon a news article that said great talents like the Eagles, Colbie Caillat and U2 are cancelling tour dates due to bad ticket sales, while acts like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have no problem performing to sold-out arenas.

That's a reflection of the sad shift in music taste that the general public has gone through of late.

In the past year or so, "musicians" like Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have collectively shattered my interest for mainstream, commercial music. They are the reason why today's music scene has become a list of who's who in meaningless R&B, Dance and Hip-Hop playlists.

By the day, I sense an evolution taking place in me, from the boy who was head over heels for all that was commercial and mainstream in the entertainment industry years ago to a young adult who's garnered a strong appreciation for all that's classic, art house and "yesterday".

I've found much more joy spending time with The Cranberries, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Corrs, Sade, Oasis and Edith Piaf. These artists gave us deep and meaningful songs and taught us about love through soulful songwriting.

There are, however, current names that I still indulge in. Artists like Beth Rowley, Imogen Heap, Ingrid Michaelson, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Corrinne May give hope that today's music industry can still produce beautiful records like it did in the past.

Still, in the big picture, I feel we're living in a sad chapter of music history. There's so much trash currently being released that billions of people are brainwashed to think that it's good music we're listening to on the radio today.

While such music can be addictive (e.g. Ke$ha's "TiK ToK") and we need such music for clubbing, the fact is that people's perception of good music has been tweaked, thanks to the likes of Miley Cyrus and company. And to think there are people who think of these so-called "musicians" as talented. That's brainwashing at its finest.

Not brainwashed like the others? Have you figured out who the band in the photo is?

Happy 29th Birthday, Brother!

2010-07-08T13:35:00.002+08:00

After all we've been through - countless wrestling matches and trips to the playground when we were kids, you constantly giving me advice on so many things in life, showing on numerous occasions that you love me, the many gifts you've bestowed upon me, and the joyful events and dramatic storms that we've journeyed through together - I don't think I could ask for a more loving brother to share my life with. Happy birthday!

Jerome Turns Sweet Sixteen

2010-07-07T20:47:00.003+08:00

Because having children isn't in my plans for the long-term future, Jerome is probably the closest I'll ever come to having a son.

Granted, it's been tacky having a role-play wife and child the past few years. At times, I shudder to imagine what others think of my married and fatherhood status on facebook. Nevertheless, here are two beautiful individuals whom I'm thrilled to have close relationships and friendships with.

And the little one just turned 16 years old last Monday. So on Sunday, Joyce and I brought him to the Singapore Botanic Gardens for a picnic celebration. It was one of those lovely family outings that we organise once in a while. No, we're not just a family by role play and name. We have actual family outings. Haha.

Catching up with how each of us are doing while enjoying the sandwiches that Joyce prepared, presenting Jerome with 2 ties to mark a closer step to maturity and adulthood (and that he can use for his upcoming confirmation), and snapping photos with the greenery made for quite the awesome day out.

Here's to you, Jerome boy. To happiness, sensibility, love and a deeper faith with every step that you take in life. Love you much.

Pangdemonium! Productions' The Full Monty

2010-07-04T19:46:00.012+08:00

There's a spicy, exhilarating, raunchy and wonderful world "down under". That's one of the joyful discoveries of Pangdemonium! Productions' first offering, The Full Monty.

News broke earlier this year about Adrian Pang leaving Mediacorp to start his own theatre company with his wife. To sacrifice a stable income for his own theatre company, one would think Adrian Pang must really have a passion for the stage.

And that passion shone through so exuberantly through his first production, a musical about 6 guys, fresh from retrenchment, who put on a stripping show to earn themselves a living.

It was by far the most sexually charged production I've ever watched. And for local talents, this was one fantastic musical extravaganza. Not since Beauty World have I come across a production by our own boys that's as titillating as The Full Monty.

Granted, it was an adaptation of the British broadway piece based on the 1997 Oscar-nominated film. But I have to give it to Mr. Pang for having the sheer "balls" to attempt a remake of something already so classic, and for pulling it off so fabulously.

Kudos to the ensemble - a string of talented "packages" - who were spot on with comedic timing and flair. I was very impressed by the performances, especially Mr. Pang's seemingly effortless delivery. Though a tad bit slow a certain points, on the whole, this was an energetic piece, flavoured with wit and soul.

And talk about a killer finale. Three hours of anticipation for that saucy strip show and the boys gave the audience exactly what they wanted.

It's just a matter of whether you blinked or not.

Christina Aguilera Returns to the Pop Throne

2010-06-30T01:05:00.008+08:00

Today marks the 3rd anniversary of a magnificent, legendary experience.

On this day in 2007, Christina Aguilera took the stage for the first time at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and the first note she belted out at her 90-minute Back to Basics concert instantaneously took the audience's breath away (watch it here).

Rachel and I were so blessed to get tickets for the first row of seats. Watching the "goddess of my music world" perform live was easily the most breathtaking experience ever and a titanic dream come true for me.

The Bionic Nature

Today, Aguilera, who has repeatedly been hailed by critics as the "greatest voice of our generation" and the heir to Madonna's pop throne, returns with her 4th album, Bionic.

After listening to the album the past 3 weeks, I've become hooked. Maybe cause it's Christina. Maybe cause I've missed her so dearly. Maybe cause the music's simply addictive. Either way, I'm glad she's back and that I'm loving her new record.

From the dance notes of "Not Myself Tonight", the smooth rhythm of "Glam" to soulful ballads "You Lost Me" and "Lift Me Up" where Christina boosts her signature mind-blowing vocal styles, Bionic has fully satisfied my constant craving for more Christina since the release of Back to Basics in 2006.

Wait a While, Love Takes Time

Close friends and followers of my blog will know that I've been skeptical about her futuristic, electronic look and sound since the release of the 2008 single "Keeps Getting Better". It's taken me some time to appreciate the new image.

Then again, that's always been the case for my romance with Ms Aguilera. It's never been a love-at-first-sight relationship.

I've always taken my time to get to know Christina's new image before I fall in love all over again. That was the case with her debut album, Stripped and Back to Basics. And now, with Bionic, once again I'm taking my time to fall in love. That's the way I like it with my personal romantic life, and that's the way it is with Christina.

Meeting Christina Again

90 minutes was hardly sufficient time for me to get enough of Christina during the 2007 concert.

So I've made plans with Samuel Francis Jones Jr, a close friend of mine living in Paris, to travel to either Europe or America next year for a reunion with my idol when her Bionic tour kicks off. Oh, to hear her powerful vocals live again. I couldn't think of a better way to make 2011 an awesome year to remember.

It's going to be another great milestone in my life. I can hardly wait!

Coffee and a Month of Conversations

2010-06-27T22:00:00.004+08:00

When Oprah Winfrey premiered her Oprah Primetime show a couple of years back, there was an advertisement featuring her bawling to George Clooney "there's so much to talk about!" in the most animated of ways.

That's exactly how I feel now, after being too busy to update my blog in the past month. So much has happened since my 13th May entry, I feel like I won't be able to pen down accurately all the emotions and details of the monumental events that have taken place.

But I'm going to try. Some events are too important to not document for memory's sake. The following entries are dated accordingly and respectively. There's, of course, much more to talk about than this. All coming in the next week or so.

My New Canon EOS 500

(click here to read)

Durian Drama at Batu Pahat

(click here to read)

The Wedding of Mr & Mrs Hilary Hoe

(click here to read)

7 Parties, 4 Cakes for a 22nd Birthday

(click here to read)

Dannel George's Rock N' Roll 21st Birthday

(click here to read)

The Thailand Military Mission

(click here to read)

My New Canon EOS 500

2010-06-27T21:52:00.005+08:00

Sometimes, it can really hurt to have expensive hobbies and dreams. Just look at how much money's been invested into my gadgets the past year.

It started with my Sony HD camcorder ($2,200) last year, followed by my Macbook Pro ($3,300) last month and now, after 4 years of dreaming, my first ever DSLR ($1,950) two weeks ago at the IT fair.

But what a thrill it is to finally have a gargantuan dream come true. Many of my friends know that photos mean a lot to me. No, wait. Correction. Crystal clear photos with fantastic resolution mean a lot to me. Haha.

After doing much research for the past 2 years and learning as much as I could about photography and the DSLR technology, I finally felt ready for a professional camera. So I did it. Ten hours after I touched down in Singapore after my 3-week training in Thailand, I went to the IT fair and whipped out $2,000 for the Canon EOS 500 with the EF-S 18-200 IS lens.

Two weeks down that road and I'm still feeling the pinch from spending that kind of money. But it's also been such a joy playing with my new toy during my off days.

Though costly, in the long run, this will be a fabulous investment. It's just a matter of time before I earn the money back with my freelance jobs.

Durian Drama

2010-06-19T23:30:00.000+08:00

On Saturday, 19th June, my dad's company organised a one-day trip to Batu Pahat in Johor for their annual office cohesion. Family members were invited. Due to work commitments, however, my brother and mom couldn't make it. So it was just Eddy Daddy and myself.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to a durian plantation owned by one of my dad's colleague's family. We were given a tour round the plantation with a deeply interesting lesson about the fruit. This was followed by a glorious feast of durian that the owners prepared for us.

Being avid durian lovers, my dad and I naturally had quite the wild time indulging in all the different types and categories of the fruit. My dad's colleagues must be great durian lovers too, seeing that all 30 of us finished 90kg's worth.

The delectable durian feast, spending quality time with my dad and getting to know the company that my dad's been working for the past 2 decades and the people he works alongside with made for one fantastic day out.

The Thailand Military Mission

2010-06-11T09:49:00.007+08:00

I won't consider my efforts in trying to explain to civilians the experience my camp mates and I had to go through in Thailand to be very successful.

Some accuse me of exaggerating. Others can't believe that it can be that bad. But a few, including my family, can see from my face and the weight that I've lost that the experience was probably as tough as I claimed it to be.

Everyone knows that in spite of the "awesome and cool" advertisements we see on television about the army, life in there is not always as they publicise it to be.

But image is important to the army. So here are some photos of people smiling. You believe what you want to believe.

The end of the simulated war triggered the words "never again".

Dannel George's Rock N' Roll 21st Birthday

2010-05-29T10:26:00.003+08:00

In season 6 of the hit sitcom, FRIENDS, Chandler puts on this huge act in front of Monica, pretending to be completely uninterested in marriage in an effort to magnify the surprise when he finally proposes.

And magnify the surprise I tried my best to do when, for months, I kept my schedule insanely tight so that Dannel would have the impression that either I wasn't keen or couldn't afford time to help him with his 21st birthday celebration.

After he did so much for mine last year, I found myself irritated that he would expect the same from me for his big two-one (not that he didn't have the right to expect... it just made surprising him so much more difficult). So I kept my distance to throw him off the expectations track while I planned his twenty-first birthday film tribute.

The birthday boy seemed taken aback when the video was presented late in his party. So I'm thinking the dozens of people involved successfully kept mum about it, which is fantastic.

Unfortunately, the video cannot be posted online for all to see because it features a few of our secondary school teachers, whose privacy should be respected.

There's nothing like sharing the joys of a friend celebrating a significant milestone in his life. And for the last 8 years, Dannel has been a magnificent friend in so many ways. So I'm glad to have been able to share in his happiness. And I'm so grateful that he pushed his party forward so that I could attend it before I left for my Thailand training.

Dannel darlin', may you continue to shine so valiantly in the lives of the many loved ones around you and be that awesome fashionable dude that you've always been. May you also grow beautifully in wisdom and maturity as the years roll by, become an independent superhuman who's great in integrity and lives a complete, fulfilled and meaningful life. Love ya, brother!

7 Parties, 4 Cakes for a 22nd Birthday

2010-05-17T23:39:00.009+08:00

I had no intention of celebrating my 22nd birthday this year. But because I've been blessed with such great friends and family members, I ended up celebrating the occasion 7 times and blowing 4 sets of candles. Talk about love overload.

Thank you, lovely people, for all the effort and time invested into organising the many surprises and meet-ups. It's a fantastic life to live.

16.05.10 Family Dinner at No Signboard Seafood

17.05.10 Sushi Tei Lunch with Hilary & Joann

17.05.10 Shopping with Dannel George

17.05.10 TCC & Brewerkz with Pamela & Linus

17.05.10 A Late-Night Family Surprise

18.05.10 Soup Restaurant with Army Mates

20.05.10 Harry's Bar with Joel, Isabel & Sean

The Wedding of Mr & Mrs Hilary Hoe

2010-05-15T23:30:00.005+08:00

I would easily call this the event of a lifetime. To witness two exceptionally important friends be joined in holy matrimony after 11 years of dating is not something I'll ever come across again.

From their spiritually-filled vows that got me weeping to Joann's gorgeous wedding dresses; from the collection of wedding videos that they asked me to produce to being the AV manager and backstage emcee for the dinner; from the beautiful song performances to the affirmations from many friends who took turns to emcee the dinner, the experience of this wedding celebration in its entirety was simply heartwarming.

Planning this wedding with Rachel was truly joyful and fulfilling from start to end, because of the magnitude of the event as well as the significance of the two individuals in our lives.

And although I've irritatingly said many times that it was a crazy time for me, having to juggle the wedding with many other commitments, what I've failed to also stress is that I was more than happy to do it for these two wonderful friends. People waited 11 years for this wedding. I was so honoured to be asked to help plan it.

Here's to you, Hil & Jo! May you discover new realms of happiness with every new day you venture into as husband and wife.

iLove, iAdore, iMacBook Pro.

2010-05-13T11:30:00.012+08:00

It was painful to spend - at one shot - almost all my earnings from the last 6 months of freelance film editing jobs on this. But considering I've been waiting 5 years to get it, it was absolutely worth the splurge.

Thanks to my brother who agreed to split the cost with me, last Saturday, I finally became the proud owner of a 15-inch Macbook Pro!

As a passionate (and currently professional) film editor, it's been embarrassing for me to tell people that I've been using Windows Movie Maker to edit my films.

Thus, it's such a joy to finally be able to advance from that basic software to iMovie and Final Cut Pro, which can do so much more, like colour correction, quality control and volume tracking.

Since I got my hands on it, I've been having non-stop fun working on my first film editing job - Hilary and Joann's Wedding Project. What an awesome project to begin my new Macbook Pro journey with! People have been waiting 10 years for this wedding.

To see many of my friends move on to Apple laptops in the past few years while I've had to stick with my Compaq due to financial restrictions has been difficult. And a number of them don't use it for designing, composing or editing, which are the signature delights of owning an Apple laptop.

It's the same with my DSLR dream. To see friends advance to a professional camera not because of a greater love for photography than mine, but because they're more financially able, has been equally saddening. But it'll happen. All in good time.

I'm already halfway to fulfilling 2 of my biggest dreams with my purchase of the Macbook Pro. And because it's something that I really need (and not just want) and I've waited 5 long years for it, I'd like to think it means more to me than it did for certain others before me.

CHICAGO The Musical

2010-05-08T13:00:00.006+08:00

For the past few years, I've been drawing up a plan to travel to New York or London just to watch all the broadway musicals I've been dying to catch, and Chicago has constantly been on top of my list.

I've been waiting 8 long years to watch this stage extravaganza known as "the most exciting musical of its generation". It's been a massive dream of mine ever since I watched Rob Marshall's film adaptation back in 2002.

With that, one can imagine how absolutely thrilled I was when I found out late last year that London's West End version of the musical was coming to Singapore. I remember opening the Life! section of The Straits Times one morning to see an advertisement of it and screaming out loud like a little girl receiving her first barbie doll. All sitting around me at the time thought of me as a complete psycho.

Tomorrow evening, that massive dream of mine will finally be fulfilled. I bought tickets for the last show for the Singapore run and got 2 of the best seats in the Esplanade house. They're located in the first level, right in the middle of the front section.

And I'm going with Pamela, a close pal and one of the few friends I talk a lot about the arts and films with. It's going to be such an adventure sharing this experience with her. I can hardly wait!

Waiting on the World to Change

2010-05-05T21:00:00.010+08:00

Waiting can be such an annoying thing to do. Whether it's at an MRT station expecting a friend or counting down the days to the end of a series of examination papers, the act of waiting can be psychologically traumatic.

It places you in a mental vacuum where the second hand on your watch never seems to move.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

Life as of now constitutes a whole lot of waiting; waiting for my world to take on a different direction in the next couple of months.

The current destination date is 10th June, which marks my return from a Thailand mission and the end of months' worth of horrid outfield! By that time, I would be 2 months away from my ORD - 2 months of relaxed army life that I foresee will blow past easily.

June will also mark the start of my journey towards getting a driving license, something that I've been wanting to do for the last 2 years. I'll finally have time to work towards it once life becomes more relaxed in June.

But I seriously can't wait for August to come. Aside from ORD, there's the beginning of my university life, the completion of a new and grandly furnished home, and a whole new blissful life of freedom awaiting - all at the same time! What a life-changing month that's going to be.

The Icing on the Pavement

But before all of these, there are a few exceptionally significant events to look forward to within the next 3 weeks.

First, there's Chicago The Musical at the esplanade. I have tickets to the very last show for the Singapore run this Sunday evening. Then there's Hilary and Joann's wedding next Saturday, an event many people have been waiting for for years. And the weekend after that, I'll be celebrating dearest Dannel's 21st birthday. What a thrill that's going to be!

I can't wait for my life to change in the next couple of months. But for now, I'm stuck in that mental vacuum.

Tofu Square

2010-05-04T06:04:00.002+08:00

Some people can be surprisingly square. They live in a closed-up world where only their own beliefs and morals seem righteous to them. They're inflexible to difference and variety. And they're quick to judge because of their inability to accept lifestyles, interests and personalities foreign to them.

My hope is that I won't ever be as square as that.

That Impudent Voice Message

2010-05-02T20:10:00.006+08:00

I was 11 years old and bored stiff during my December holidays. One day, I decided that recording a voice mail message for my home phone would be fun. I was kind of a brat then, mind you. So the message went like this...

"Hello. We're unable to answer your call. Please leave a message. If you want to fax us, then buy us a fax machine."

We got a number complaints from family friends in the few days that followed. That's when the message got deleted.

Yes. A brat at 11 years old. Kind of still am once in a while.

To a Place Where She'll Be Safe

2010-04-28T18:57:00.000+08:00

My prayers have been and will continue to be for you.

May you be safe in His loving hands.

Rest in peace, my sister in Christ.

The Revolutionary Sex and the City

2010-04-27T00:35:00.001+08:00

Sex and the City, the iconic American television series, has been a constant on my iPod video playlists for the past 2 months.

I'm embarrassed to say that it's taken me 6 years since the series ended to finally sit down and watch every episode chronologically from season 1 to 6. Prior to this, I'd only caught a few episodes from the later seasons. So thanks to Nadia for letting me steal the series from her hard disk back in January.

The show has been a sinfully delightful antidote to my "poisonous" life in army. Everyday, I look forward to setting aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted free time for this massive-ball-of-bubblegum-fun series.

Following the scandalous lives of 4 New Yorker-women in the search for love has never been so titillating, hilarious, jaw-dropping and yet heartwarming.

It's smart how each episode is dedicated to dealing with one relationship issue (and they do it so intelligently), but still there's an endearing story that flows smoothly from one episode to another. We learn so much about love & sex, the do's & don'ts and all that's in between.

Plus, the endless witty dialogue and delicious sex scenes make it all so much more entertaining. Haha!

The best part about Sex and the City is the characters, who hardly come across as fictional. They represent and relate to the many real women that we know in our own lives - the hopeless romantics (Charlotte), the die-hard cynics (Miranda), the strong and confident sexy individuals (Samantha) and the fabulously smart inner-and-outer-beauties (Carrie).

There's so much to learn from a series that is honest, well-researched, unapologetic and straightforward. Four fabulous ladies - with exquisite fashion sense - coming to lunch every episode to discuss and share their sexual lives with each other. It's difficult not to get hooked.

Last Friday, I finally finished the series' final episode, and in exactly one month's time, the second movie will open in theatres. What a fabulous way to prepare for the widely-anticipated silver screen production. I can hardly wait!

What Was I Thinking?

2010-04-16T16:30:00.006+08:00

Sometimes, we look back at photos of our past selves and the hairstyles that we used to wear so proudly, and wonder "what was I thinking?".

I've asked myself that question many times not only with looks, but also with past actions, irrational text messages, my teenage wild temperament, my occasional petty nature, my "emo" phases and many other aspects of my past.

Today, I look back at my last blog entry published a week ago and I ask myself that same question - what was I thinking? After storms in our lives pass and we regain our calm and sensible state, when we look back at our actions and reactions to life, everything comes across dramatic and over the top.

That's what my last post seems to me now. But I don't remember making an effort to sound so dramatic. It was pure honesty. Yet, dramatic was the result.

I'm thinking that's what happens when we truthfully and openly embrace our emotions and our thoughts and lay them out. Sometimes life itself is dramatic. And we can't really help seeming over the top in our response.

What makes it better, despite the drama, is when friends show their support. I returned home after outfield this week to find near a dozen lengthy emails from close friends offering listening ears and shoulders to lean on. Motivational text messages also came in large numbers in the past week. It's overwhelming when people show such great concern.

Love can melt people. My icy cold, seemingly strong front has become a bucket of water. Thank you.

Because Someone Desperately Needs a Hug...

2010-04-09T14:00:00.019+08:00

In the past week, there were unfortunate points in time when I considered attempting an overdose of sleeping pills.

I've had to experience a serious case of extreme emotional and physical hell in army. And this is only the beginning of 2 months of NS craziness ahead. Going outfield the past week and being a slave of insane hard labour continually for days has thrown my morale as a human being with a huge blow.

I can't imagine why one should be resorted to such torture. My strength and endurance limits were challenged time after time with grueling physical work.

Gun drills from 6am to 3am for days on end. Less than 3 hours of sleep on dirty terrains each night. Drills that involve carrying and assembling together more than 100kg worth of equipment for the army's largest cannon and then tearing them apart so that we can assemble them again in the next drill.

And to do all that excruciating work under the blazing sun, which has been extra uncaring and scorching recently, made it so much worse.

My poor skin. After going through an outbreak of pimples early in March, I was finally able to clear all of them in the last few weeks. Last weekend, I went on a date with perfectly clear, semi-glowing skin. But the horrid sun burned me very badly this week. My fair skin is now disgustingly red, dry, peeling and painful.

No phone. No Internet. No iPod. No escape. No connection with civilian life to seek comfort and support from. And no bathing. This was only my first outfield since I got injured early last year. My mates have gone through this "torment" many more times. Still, it doesn't falsify the fact that it's one hell of a torture.

I recall one of the nights during the outfield, in the quiet darkness of dinner time, I sat gobbling my food on the verge of tears as I reflected on the agonizing day. Now that it's over, I can only seek comfort from the fact that I have a 2-day break before it starts all over again.

As I enter the weekend, with endless projects, meetings and freelance work waiting for me, I'm going to try to set aside at least 30 minutes during the 2 days for peaceful quiet time by myself. I need it. I need a peace of mind to juggle between army on weekdays and my projects on weekends.

Close friends, if you're reading this and I happen to meet up with you over the next few weekends, please oblige me with a hug. I may seem alright and be coping well, but as always, deep inside I need some sort of support system. Cause I'm really fearful of not doing a good job for my projects, freelance work and friends' wedding while struggling with army.

A hug would be much appreciated.

Tom Ford's A Single Man

2010-04-04T10:13:00.008+08:00

Last September, news about a film directed by leading fashion designer Tom Ford created much talk in the world of cinema. A Single Man had been selected as a competing entry at the Venice Film Festival and blew film fanatics away.

The Potential of A Single Man
It was said that Colin Firth had received the role of a lifetime as a gay man mourning the sudden death of a long-term partner.

And one can only imagine how visually stunning a film directed by a fashion designer could be, especially with Tom Ford’s experienced eye for capturing and creating things of flawless, exquisite beauty.

Yesterday, after anticipating a Singapore release for 7 months and enduring 4 release date delays since January, I finally had the opportunity to see for myself what Tom Ford had created in his debut directorial effort and the Colin Firth performance that everyone in the film world has been raving over.

Through the Eye of a Fashion Artist
In A Single Man, we explore many singular moments in the last day of George’s life. From the first scene where we see him awake as a soulless individual scarred by the sadness of loss and then taking time to “become” George through his various daily routines, it’s obvious this is a character film with emotional resonance.

There are some moments in this day that include monumental elements in George’s life or are significant in expressing the pain he’s experiencing behind trying to live his normal life. For these moments, Tom Ford slows down and takes time to show his audience in as delicate detail as possible who George is and what his past holds.

I love that there are very few wide shots in A Single Man, but many series of close-ups of different degrees. In one location, you rarely see every object or person in one shot. The camera takes you from a person’s eye to a portion of the clock on the wall to another person’s face, but seldom everything in one shot. This style only reflects the attention to detail that we have come to expect of Tom Ford as an artist.

Couple this great attention to detail with Ford’s photographic eye and therein lies the sources of the breathtaking visuals in this film.

Firth the Great, More of Moore
Equally consistent with the visuals was Colin Firth’s sharp, intense performance and his deep exploration of sorrow. This is a side of Colin Firth’s immense talent that I’ve never seen before. Ravishing and intelligent, there’s just so much to talk about with this portrayal. With that, Firth’s loss of the Oscar to Jeff Bridges last month is officially an unjustifiable snub.

And it’s sad that there wasn’t more of Julianne Moore in the film. She appears briefly in the first half of the movie and then for a good 10 minutes in the second half. But as George's best friend, Charley, Moore showed a flamboyance and style that accounts for why she's one of the finest actresses in the industry.

A Single Man may be slow and confusing to some. It wasn't easy for me to understand why certain things happened or what certain characters represented. But it was definitely easy to appreciate the supreme talent of an actor's actor and the vision of a legendary artist of beauty.

If Pornography Didn't Rule the World

2010-03-30T17:18:00.018+08:00

I think it would be really interesting to do a study on whether individuals who don't indulge in pornography tend to respect people more than those who do. And whether it's easier for those, who don't have a daily habit of objectifying others through video clips, to see people more clearly as human beings.

Quick(ie) Questions and Arousing Inspiration
I was listening to a few friends yesterday expressing to each other their irritation towards the recent ban of pornography websites on the local Internet by the Singapore authorities. That's when the idea of the study came to me.

If pornography didn't rule the world, would there be much fewer single people roaming around? Cause men would have less alternatives to sexual pleasures.

And if we're not constantly encouraged to objectify men and women through cheap visual channels, will people tend to treat people better and respect each other more? These were some questions that came to mind.

Porn Has Become the Real Thing, Babe
I think the existence of pornography might have over the years encouraged the human race to be less sociable.

The percentage of guys who spend most of their daily lives in front of their computers gaming away might find it more convenient to click open a new Internet window to satisfy their sexual desires as compared to going out, falling in love with a girl, building a life together and enjoying the thrills of partnership. Girls, naturally, are affected by this convenience.

Because pornography can never reject us like men and women can, people who rely on this alternative as a lifestyle might eventually make less of an effort to groom themselves to look good or become gentlemen worth admiring. Because pornography accepts us for who we are. Girls, again, are affected by this.

A Saucy Solution for Mr. Spunk
Without the existence of pornography, or any other alternatives to bodily pleasures for that matter, our sexual lives now might just mirror that of biblical times, when it was solely man and woman made for each other.

Without such alternatives, people might then be more encouraged to work on their social lives and etiquette, to objectify less, to treat others with more respect in an effort to find a partner, and be better companions to people.

A world without pornography might just be a great solution to sex addiction, inaccurate education about love to the young and, of course, the many single and fabulous women in society.

Addison and Pornography
For the record, I'm not one who indulges in pornography. And I'm perfectly happy with not having this alternative as part of my life.

I look at some of the people in my social circle and the disturbing ways in which people have become sexual objects in their eyes, and I feel grateful I haven't become like that. This could be the result of upbringing methods or it could very well be because I don't indulge in pornography.

Either way, it feels good to be at least one step further away than others from objectifying every "hot dish" that comes my way.

Keep Breathing

2010-03-28T20:48:00.010+08:00

I'm kinda scared. The stress from juggling between film projects and freelance work - all due in May - has been getting the better of me. Since the new year, I've been sacrificing every single off day I've earned for these projects. Entire weekends have also been burned.

On top of that, as a result of my recent advancement to Pes B (a combat fit Pes status), I've been placed in the list of gunners participating in a Thailand mission end of May. Because I haven't been training with the other gunners for the past year and a half due to my injury, I'm far behind them in terms of knowledge and experience. So in the next few weeks, I have to do a crash course of everything my mates have been trained with in the last year. With this responsibility, my superiors have revoked my privilege of daily nights out from camp until I return from Thailand in June.

This means that I no longer have weeknights to work on my projects. More stress. This is important work that I'm doing here. I can't expect anything less than perfection. But I'm also hoping for a day off to really rest soon. Because my schedule's been so tight, what was supposed to be a one week break from blogging after the Oscars was stretched to three weeks. That's a record for me this year.

On top of that, I've hardly had time to catch up with many of my friends and family. It's crazy. Here's hoping the next 3 months pass by hastily.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards Series

2010-03-08T14:00:00.004+08:00

It all started 10 years ago. At the beginning of the decade, I watched my first Oscars and fell deeply in love with motion picture and the celebration of it. I've been on a constant educational and passionate ride with film since then.

This year, it's a thrill to be able to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that. As we celebrate films of 2009 - the last year of the decade - here's a coverage of movie's biggest night and a look back at the last 10 years of extraordinary films, performances and Academy Awards.

2010 Oscars: Woman Director Makes History
It was a historical night in so many ways. First female to win Best Director in 82 years of history. A year of numerous strong female performances. And an Oscar ceremony where moving moments were aplenty. (read more)

The 50 Greatest Films of the Decade
It took weeks to compile this list and to ensure that every film from the last 10 years that was exceptionally beautifully crafted was included in it. Here's my list of the 50 greatest films of the decade. (read more)

The 50 Greatest Performances of the Decade
Actors breathe life into the pages of a script. In the last decade, motion picture has seen the delivery of numerous stellar performances. After much reflection, this is my list of The 50 Greatest Performances of the Decade. (read more)

10 Years of Oscar Memories

Watching the Oscars every year and being a part of the celebration of film made for some of the happiest moments in my life in the last decade. After 10 years as a fan, here's presenting 25 of my favourite Oscar memories. (read more)

10 Years of Oscar Fashion
Hilary Swank's dress by Randolph Duke at the 2000 Oscars was the first of many that I fell in love with in the last decade of Oscar red carpets. Here are my personal favourites that will forever remain timeless, classic designs. (read more)

Addison's Picks for the 82nd Academy Awards
It's a battle between Avatar and The Hurt Locker. But with dark horses, Precious and Inglourious Basterds, surprises seem to await. Here are my annual predictions and personal favourites for the 8 main categories. (read more)

In Love with Julia Child
An article about the film, Julie & Julia, from Alexandre Desplat's pleasantly beautiful score to Meryl Streep's tour de force performance as Julia Child, the late iconic American television personality who singlehandedly awakened America to the pleasures of cooking. (read more)

A Feature Article on Legendary Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep has spent more than half her life entertaining on the silver screen and won legions of fans worldwide. ADDISON WONG discusses why this film veteran is one of the greatest actors of all time and recounts the road to becoming an ultimate Meryl enthusiast. (read more)

Carey Mulligan: An Echo of Classic Hepburn
For more than 10 months now, Hollywood has been vehemently abuzz over a young British newcomer named Carey Mulligan. In her first lead role in the film, An Education, Mulligan gives a performance that screams not just talent but Oscar! (read more)

The 67th Golden Globe Awards
Major surprises came in small numbers. The Golden Globe Awards this year was less exciting than usual, with many predicted and deserving frontrunners receiving honours. But that's a good thing. Find out who were honoured by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. (read more)

The Hottest Oscar Contenders for 2009
For the first time in decades, the Oscars will have 10 nominees for Best Motion Picture. And for the first time in years, critics can't seem to have a clear idea on who will win. Find out which are the hottest Oscar contenders for 2009. (read more)

82nd Academy Awards Nominations Predictions
The nominations for this year's Oscars will be announced soon. The months leading up to this event has been a wild one, with so many great performances to select from for predictions. ADDISON WONG predicts this year's nominees for major categories. (read more)

82nd Oscar Nominations Announced!
The ballots have been submitted and tabulated. On Tuesday, February 2nd, Oscar nominees, Anne Hathaway, and the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for this year's Academy Awards. (read more)

2010 Oscars: The Year of the Woman

2010-03-08T13:15:00.014+08:00

I've always had a deep respect for women. Possibly more than I do for men. And 2010 being the year of the woman in film has made it an absolutely exhilarating one.

First Female to Win Best Director

Watching this year's Oscars and seeing Kathryn Bigelow, director of The Hurt Locker, become the first female to win Best Director in 82 years of the Academy Awards left me extremely moved.

Barbra Streisand presented the award, and that made it extra significant because Ms Streisand is among one of the first great American female directors in cinema history. But she never made it to the Oscars as director. In a way, Bigelow and Streisand form a historical timeline on a night when a new window opens for female directors. It was a really proud moment for women in the arts.

The Hurt Locker Triumphs Avatar to Make History
It is also the first time in Oscar history that the winning film for Best Motion Picture is directed by a female. The Hurt Locker beat Avatar for top honours and walked away with 6 trophies, while Avatar took home 3 awards.

This shows that just because a commercial film earns top bucks and is watched by every other person in the world doesn't necessarily make it the best. The Hurt Locker was made with an extremely low budget. The Academy still loved it because of its terrific screenplay, performances and direction.

Avatar was wonderful in its visuals and effects and was rewarded rightfully in the technical categories. But The Hurt Locker was the better film and was rightfully crowned as that.

Tears from the Best Actresses
Best Actress is a constant favourite category for me. Oprah Winfrey made this award extra special this year as one of the presenters who gave testimonies to a specific nominee.

Oprah's testimony to Gabourey Sidibe, a newcomer who scored an Oscar nomination with her first role, was one of the most touching moments of the night. Gabbie cried at her seat as Oprah delivered some extraordinary words to her.

It's been a year of many significantly strong female performances in film. This category has been very competitive since months ago. And although I was against the idea of Sandra Bullock winning, her emotional, eloquent speech pulled me to her side.

However, I still think Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep's performances were more deserving.

An Unexpectedly Joyous Ceremony
Because all the major categories were so easy to predict this year, I expected the show to be boring.

But with the hilarious Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin hosting, and a slew of moving moments that kept coming, I ended up having a really good time. Seeing the predicted winners embrace their Oscar moments were hardly boring at all. After so many years of watching the Oscars, the opening of the envelope and the overwhelming emotions that follow are just as timeless, exciting and thrilling as always.

The Oscars is a life-changing show for many people in the arts. That could never end up being mundane to me.

My Top 5 Favourite Oscar Dresses

Demi Moore

Carey Mulligan

Sandra Bullock

Meryl Streep

Cameron Diaz

The 50 Greatest Films of the Decade

2010-03-08T08:15:00.006+08:00

It took me weeks to compile this list and to ensure that every film from the last 10 years that had an effect on me and that was exceptionally beautifully crafted was included in it. I've been an ardent lover of motion pictures for exactly a decade now. It's been a breathtaking journey for me, exploring one cinematic achievement after another.

This deep passion bloomed on Oscar night 2000. And as we delve into Oscar weekend 2010, I'm proud to celebrate my decade-long love for film. Here's my list of the 50 greatest films of the decade.

01. The Hours (2002)
Director: Stephen Daldry
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore

02. Chicago (2002)
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Richard Gere, Rénee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones

03. Lust, Caution (2007)
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tang Wei, Wang Lee Hom, Joan Chen

04. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Paul Bettany

05. Milk (2008)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, James Franco

06. Revolutionary Road (2008)
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates

07. The Queen (2006)
Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McCory

08. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway

09. In the Mood for Love (2000)
Director: Wong Kar-wai
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung

10. Gosford Park (2001)
Director: Robert Altman
Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Ryan Philippe, Clive Owen

11. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland

12. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

13. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen

14. The Pianist (2002)
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann

15. Gangs of New York (2002)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, John C. Reily

16. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Director: Terry George
Cast: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, Nick Nolte, Jean Reno

17. Doubt (2008)
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

18. An Education (2009)
Director: Lone Sherfig
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson

19. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Director: David Frankel
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci

20. The History Boys (2006)
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Cast: Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Samuel Barnett, Dominic Cooper

21. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Director: Andrew Dominik
Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker, Paul Schneider

22. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
Director: Marc Webb
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

23. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Director: Baz Lurhmann
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent

24. Crash (2004)
Director: Paul Haggis
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dilon, Thandie Newton, Ryan Philippe

25. Mystic River (2003)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney

26. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Wantanabe, Gong Li

27. La Vie en Rose (2007)
Director: Olivier Dahan
Cast: Marion Cotillard, Gérard Depardieu, Sylvie Testud

28. Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Director: Richard Eyre
Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy

29. Monster (2003)
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern

30. Almost Famous (2000)
Director: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand

31. Closer (2004)
Director: Mike Nichols
Cast: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen

32. Bright Star (2009)
Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish, Paul Schneider

33. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart

34. Finding Nemo (2003)
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Cast: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Williem Dafoe

35. Amélie (2001)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Matthieu Kassovitz

36. Adaptation (2002)
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton

37. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly

38. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
Director: Zhang Yimou
Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Takashi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau

39. I'm Not There (2007)
Director: Todd Haynes
Cast: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw

40. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Melanie Laurent, Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger

41. Spirited Away (2001)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki

42. The Dark Knight (2008)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart

43. Ratatouille (2007)
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird

44. Gladiator (2000)
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen

45. Frida (2002)
Director: Julie Taymore
Cast: Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Antonio Bandaras, Edward Norton

46. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Director: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carrell, Paul Dano

47. There Will Be Blood (2007)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano

48. In the Bedroom (2001)
Director: Todd Field
Cast: Sissy Spacek, Tim Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei, Nick Stahl

49. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett

50. Finding Neverland (2004)
Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Freddie Highmore, Julie Christie