Friday, November 11, 2011

Lover's Concerto

Kelly Chen
陳慧琳

Lover's Concerto

1998
The butterfly followed its antennae and found the blue flower pattern on her dress. She looked at it curiously wondering what it was doing on her lap. Before she can find an answer, the butterfly fluttered away. She watched it floating towards a new purpose. When the florid pilgrim flew out of site, she turned to me and smiled. At that moment I looked into her eyes and time ran askew. We were able to capture the instance in a floating loop of infinity. All the seasons blended together as the entire spectrum of the rainbow spiraled around us . Nothing else seemed to matter. We were untouchable, we were immortal... so it was... until, a few droplets of rain broke the spell. It's uncanny how such a delicate allurement was able to create such a powerful feeling. Disenchanted but still enamored, I reached for her hand. As our fingers touched, we felt the ozone ionizing. Like a scene from a movie we might have shared, the radio played Lover's Concerto as the smell of rain and the caress of summer's breeze hinted nostalgia. While we were reminiscing about the future, Kelly Chen's haunted voice transmitted from the radio and escaped into the atmosphere, swimming up against the rain. It fought the electrical barrage of the incoming storm. Up and up it went, penetrating through clouds, breaking Earth's gravity well, it reached the freedom of space. While holding onto the promise that "everything will be just as wonderful," the song traveled through void and vacuum, grazing the meadows of nebulae and stars. For what might seemed to be forever, it broadcasted its notes as it echoed through the desert of space and time. Near journey's end, the mathematical equation of harmony still stayed true to itself even when it flirted with the spiral of a galaxy before entering the solar system. It aimed towards a blue planet, surrendering itself to the pull of gravity and, breaking into atmosphere. The song serenaded the clouds as it floated down in a wave like gentle rain. The melody reached a pair of antennae and softly whispered to it, "keep this day in your heart eternally."


I like this fan made video more then the official one.
Thanks to nalmun for the sweet video.


Kelly Chen's Video


Here is the original from the Toys.
Be sure to check out FunkSoBrudda's channel.
A collection of interesting vintage videos.


歌手:陳慧琳

How gentle is the rain,
that falls softly on the meadow.
Birds high up on the trees,
serenade the clouds
with their melodies.*

Repeat *

Oh!
See there beyond the hill,
the bright colors of the rainbow.
Some magic from above.
Made this day for us, just to fall in love.
You'll hold me in your arms,
and say once again you'll love me.
And that your love is true,
everything will be just as wonderful.

Now, I belong to you,
from this day until forever.
Just love me tenderly
and I'll give to you
every part of me.

Oh!
Don't ever make me cry,
through long lonely nights without us.
Be always true to me,
keep this day in your heart eternally.

You hold me in your arms,
and say once again you love me.
And that your love is true,
everything will be just as wonderful.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

R.I.P. Joe Frazier (1944-2011)

“You don’t win fights by talking. You win fights by fighting.” - "Smoking" Joe Frazier

I'll just let the video do the talking:
Thanks for sharing gigdrax!

For more on Joe Frazier:
Boxing legend Joe Frazier dies (ESPN)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

R.I.P. Ricky Hui (1946-2011)

難忘的許冠英


It's usually cool to be a fan of more than one pop culture. The benefits of having cross cultural fandom is being able to enjoy movies, music, and at the basis, culture in more than one language and perspective. Then there are times when it's tough. Twice the happiness, twice the sadness. With the passing of Joe Frazier and Ricky Hui (許冠英), it's a rough week already and it's only Tuesday! Ricky Hui passed away at age 65 on November 8, 2011 from a heart attack. Ricky is the middle of the Hui Brothers, Michael Hui (許冠文) being the oldest brother and Sam Hui (許冠傑) being the youngest. All three brothers changed the face of Hong Kong pop culture in the 70's and 80's using their talents as prolific writers, musicians and starred in a bunch of movies. Ricky was not in the media spot light as much as Michael and Sam. He said that he was very shy and that is the reason why he doesn't do more movies and sing as much as his other brothers. You might remember him in Jackie Chan's(成龍) Project A (A 計劃續集). It didn't matter if he had a small role or a fleeting cameo, Ricky Hui was a lot of fun to watch and he made a lasting impression in Chinese Cinema and enriched Chinese Pop Culture. 多謝許冠英!


More Ricky Hui videos after the "JUMP!"

Monday, November 7, 2011

MORTAL KOMBAT!

Hello Youtubes!

This is a very special edition of "Hello Youtubes!" This can not wait. It must be shared now! I'm actually jealous that these guys thought of this first instead of me:


Well done... well done...

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Warping Time (sort of)

Hello Youtubes!

Over here in the U.S. we are at the end of Daylight Saving Time and returning to Standard Time. It means we turn our clocks back one hour (fall back, spring forward). The way I see it, I get an extra hour of sleep or, I'm time traveling back an hour and with that hour gained, I get a second chance at something or another. Kind of like Back to the Future. Which by coincidence, the flux capacitor was conceived by Doc Brown on November 5, 1955 and we turn our clocks back at 2am on November 6th hmm (eyebrow raised)? If only I can figure out what it is I want a second chance at. Anyway, on the subject of warping time... as we turn our clocks back, it's kind of like time traveling and isn't that like folding time? Kind of like how the Battlestar, Galactica warp space and time as it "jumps?" I'm really REACHING here! I just want to make a connection with turning the clocks back and how the composer for Battlestar Galactica, Bear McCreary finds exciting ways to "warp" his music. Bear McCreary is the most exciting composer working in television right now. Aside from Battlestar Galactica, you can also find his music on The Walking Dead. Check out the video below as he plays the entire composition of "Prelude to War" on an accordion. A frakking accordion! I wonder if Steve Urkel has that type of accordion skill?



The original "Prelude to War" composition:


Bear McCreary also has a blog. He updates it regularly and talks about how he comes up with ideas on his music. If you like Battlestar Galactica, The Walking and Human Target I highly recommend checking out his blog:
Bear McCreary Official Site

And if you are a fan of Daylight Saving Time:
Daylight Saving Time

Friday, November 4, 2011

100 Possibilities

100 樣可能

The good old 90's... 1997 to be exact. When the 4 Kings reigned over Hong Kong pop and Hong Kong itself faced uncertainty as they were being handed back to China. Literally, Hong Kong was facing 100 possibilities at the time. I remember hearing this song on an AM broadcast that was organized by some MIT Asian students. As they gave me a slice of Asian culture every night for an hour. I hope I can give you a slice of Asian culture from time to time on this blog. Mostly 90's Asian culture. I don't know much of the new stuff. I'm an old man.

100 樣可能 (100 Possibilities) was first released on one of Leon Lai's (黎明) EP's in 1997. The CD or cassette tape single (MP3's were still trying to catch on) was appropriately named Leon's... Leon Lai is one of the 4 pop kings (四大天王) in Hong Kong during the 90's. He was criticized for his mediocre singing and acting abilities. I'd always find that a bit harsh. I like his music. He has a classic tone, a melancholy to his voice which gives a retro vibe. He does extremely well with some of his more bluesy songs. I'd always believe that they are sort of a throw back to the 60's and 70's era of Chinese music. There is no mistake that Leon belongs in the pantheon of Hong Kong's pop culture. With a ton of music awards and numerous nominations for his acting, you can say he is good at what he does. Even here in the U.S., you might not recognize his name or face but, if you are remotely interested in Chinese culture, most likely you'd heard his music or watched one of his movies.

I'm a little long winded and a lot nostalgic tonight. That MIT radio broadcast which ran during 11pm or was it12am? In any case, it's 12am here and I guess sometimes, with the right trigger, the past can catch up to us. Tonight's trigger is 100 樣可能 (100 Possibilities). So, step through that time tunnel with me into the late 90's and sit back, enjoy the video, the cheesy 90's morph effects and the pretty girl or the pretty Leon.

Thanks to MrAriesy

歌手:黎明

作曲:劉諾生 填詞:周耀輝 編曲:劉敦

內內外外 從來沒有過記載
愛到要超出一般人人認識的愛
自自在在 能同時向你說愛
卻分開 沒有不應該
在現在 活在後現代
我叫你 蓋上你眼蓋
將身心 超出能承受的感慨
越另外 越是後現代
要去到最遠和最外
讓意識張開
不知怎麼抑制 要超過一切
記得愛得美麗 別理會慣例
轉載來自 魔鏡歌詞網
甚至令到自己 要超過一切的世人
然後 ya-ah-ya-ah....
Say You Say You Love Me
超出親與近
Say You Say You Love Me
超出真與實
Say You Say You Love Me
即刻的愛人
Say You Say You Love Me
超出一百樣可能

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Doctor Who: The Ballad of Russell and Julie

"Let's Do It!"
John Barrowman, Catherine Tate and David Tennant teams up for something that might be more extraordinary than the Doctor Donna

It's been 33 days since Series 6's finale. Again Who's counting? (see what I did there?) Luckily we don't have too much of a wait between Series 6 and 7. There will be a Doctor Who Christmas Special on... guess which day it will air... Christmas Day! In the mean time, I do what I always do and get my Doctor Who fix on youtube. But for Doctor Who: The Ballad of Russell and Julie, I found this gem on a site I visit everyday:
Topless Robot

This tribute to Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner was done for David Tennant's wrap party as the 10th Doctor. It celebrates the fantastic regeneration of the classic show. The music is from Victoria Wood's "Let's Do It" and the lyrics were rewritten for Russell and Julie. Check it out:

Thank you GuarroRock for sharing!


Here's the original version of "Let's Do It":

Thanks KevMull for this one.

The lyrics for both songs are after the "JUMP!"