Nostalgic.

Listening to: Michael Bublé // Home

We just received our school magazine, Nostalgia today. And I can tell you, it was an extremely surreal moment.

The moment that blue-hued tome was placed into my hands, I couldn't help but feel a sudden pang from deep within. Despite my moans and groans about how my name was spelt wrong on several occasions, how biased the Hall of Fame was and how some of the features did not live up to my expectations, seeing the faces of my Form 5 companions in the final section of the magazine evoked certain feelings in me concerning our impending departure from the gates of SMK Damansara Jaya.

I came to this school in 2006 with renewed hope after having had a dreadful experience in my previous school. It is fairly safe to say that I was not disappointed. I made a whole bunch of new friends, gained an unforgettable experience venturing into the world of businessmen thanks to ExxonMobil's Young Entrepreneur Program, learned about how complicated it was to run a club and made my mark as a budding entertainer. All in a period of nearly 2 years.

Being in this school has granted me a vast ocean of life experiences, knowledge and companionship. It is definitely hard to believe that all of us will be leaving our so-called "Wonder Years" behind in just a month. It's hard to believe that all of us will be traversing to different parts of the globe in search of our dreams.

Gosh, even I can't imagine myself living life as a college student after wearing those infamous uniforms for nearly 10 years. Despite complaining all the time, being in school all this time has become such a routine for me that I can't picture not being subjected to screams from a teacher or disciplinary head.

However, I shouldn't dwell on matters as trivial as that as what matters is the experiences we've all had during that last decade. Everything we've learned will be playing a pivotal part in the moulding of our futures. So, rejoice! For it is merely the end of an era and the dawn of another. Oh, and there's prom night to look forward to so start getting ready. I should stop before I start gushing on about my lovely dark, forest green dress.

Good luck to all Form 5's for the SPM!
Especially me, because I need it a lot more than you do as I can hardly be considered as "smart".

You've left a trail of red and crossed it on your front door

Listening to: Fightstar // One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours [ALBUM]

Unarguably, one of the best albums I have heard in ages. Fightstar never fail to impress me. I love how they're able to amaze me every time I listen to their music. Also, I greatly admire their frontman Charlie Simpson of ex-Busted fame for sticking to what he believes in and not succumbing to the pressures that the music industry is able to impose upon a musician. I mean, the man literally "tore up his contract" with Island Records after the big shot music moguls told the band to write more pop-oriented songs. That is something definitely worth emulating.

After having been slammed by music critics before their debut, they shocked the public with their stunning album, "Grand Unification". Thanks to that album, they were heralded as "stunning post hardcore" by popular rock magazine Kerrang and Charlie Simpson finally managed to shed his former boy band image for a more serious and darker one.

Their sophomore effort "One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours" is undeniably an amazing piece of work complete with Simpson's signature husky vocals and Alex Westaway's falsettos. The album practically screams for you to listen to it with its beautiful album art.

The radio-friendly first single from the album "We Apologize For Nothing" has a catchy bridge that transitions smoothly to an even catchier chorus that is reminiscent of anthems about maintaining ones integrity and not conforming to the norm.

The song "Floods" begins with a beautiful piano melody and the crushing guitar riffs that follow adds some depth and shows how smoothly Fightstar are able to jump back and forth from piano to guitar. The emotions in this song are clearly heard as Simpson sings "to make the floods seem still".

One of the heaviest songs ever produced by the band, "Deathcar" starts off with Simpson gasping for air and follows up with an onslaught of guitars and tormenting screams. It then effortlessly switches to a crooning bridge and chorus before unleashing the guitars and screams once more. The lyrics for the chorus and verses are a stark contrast to each other. For instance, the verses seem to be filled with extreme rage due to it containing lyrics about torture. But, the chorus sounds more melancholic and sad, rather than the former.

"You & I" is another track that shows off Westaway's and Simpson's ability to vocalize harmoniously. But, Westaway's vocals evidently overshadows that of Simpson's and shows how much he has to offer as a vocalist. Bassist Dan Haigh's deep and resounding bass lines add a little something. Also, the track boasts one of the deepest lyrics on the album along with the song "Amaze Me".

Omar Abidin's percussions for "Tannhäuser Gate" showcases the best drumming on the album. Again, the vocals for the song are amazing as Simpson and Westaway both use falsettos for half of the song. Simpson's heart wrenching screams during the chorus and towards the end of the track are further highlighted by the heavy guitars and heavy percussions.

The album then ends with a twist due to the song "Unfamiliar Ceilings". The song features Simpson's actual demo recordings and the rawness of the song makes it all the more appealing. Listening to the lines "We need each other like flower pots and dirt, for seven years we've spent growing from the earth.", it seems to be a song Simpson wrote to his ex-girlfriend of 7 years. Clearly, it is a track that is close to Simpson's heart and it is evident when he sings. The presence of The Rentals female bassist Rachel Haden's haunting vocals add to the overall emotion and feel of the song.

This album is a clear example of how much Fightstar have evolved as musicians and displays a level of maturity that is capable of breaking so many barriers. This only shows how much this band is capable of doing and I am eagerly anticipating for more albums like these in the future.
So, if you don't have it, find it. Because it is absolutely worth the effort.

Yes, I am a rather dismal reviewer. I can never find the words to explain what I really feel. BUT, you shall listen to me because I am the all knowing sage of chocolate cupcakes.

RATING: 4.5/5
Recommended: 99, We Apologise For Nothing, Floods, Deathcar, You & I, Unfamiliar Ceilings

Tracklisting:
1. 99
2. We Apologise For Nothing
3. Floods
4. One Day Son
5. Deathcar
6. I Am The Message
7. You & I
8. Amaze Us
9. H.I.P (Enough)
10. Tannhauser Gate
11. Our Last Common Ancestor
12. Unfamiliar Ceilings

A Whole New World

Listening to: Charice Pempengco & Cho Kyuhyun // A Whole New World [LIVE]

Now, THIS is what I call a phenomenal singer.

Charice Pempengco & Cho Kyuhyun // A Whole New World


Charice Pempengco // And I Am Telling You

I'm like kinda amazed right now. Her performance has rendered me absolutely speechless. & she's only 14. BEAT THAT. She is making mince meat out of most professional singers out there.

Wow. I suck so bad. I'd KILL to have a voice like hers.

Ew.

Listening to: F.T. Island // 천둥 Thunder

I just realised how much my voice sucks. Yucky. Whoever said that I could sing, I'm begging you to take it back. YOU DON' T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE I AM CAPABLE OF CAUSING. Your poor ears have been deceived.

Now, what in fresh hell am I going to do with my life now that I've found out this little piece of information?

NYAHHHHH. -tears hair out and bites something-

GREAT. Now, I'm gonna be bald like Britney Spears.

I WANT MY POPORING. -sucks thumb in corner of the room-

A Man's First Love Follows Him To The Grave

Now watching: A Man's First Love Follows Him to the Grave + Only one Person MV // F.T. Island

JONGHUN!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I swear I cried at the end of this video.

My one and only, true love.

Listening to: Music // Epik High & K.Will

Hi. I think Lee Hom looks really hot when his hair looks like this.

And this.Hubba hubba.

*******************

You are my music, my love and destiny.....Music is my life.

That verse reverberated through my entire psyche when I first heard the song "Music" by Epik High & K.Will, although I couldn't understand half of the lyrics. But, the parts that were sung or rapped in English, cried out to me. It sparked something in me that even I could not comprehend.

A realization hit me in late 2005, when I first discovered the joys of Asian music despite insulting it prior to that occasion. It is absolutely amazing how music is able to transcend so many different barriers, whether it be language or even the norms of society.

This sudden revelation proved to be beneficial to me as due to it, my musical tastes have spread far beyond the norm. However, I still do not have the privilege to say that I have the most extensive music collection as I have yet to move beyond the boundary of what I am familiar and comfortable with. But, I believe that with time, that collection will expand by leaps and bounds. Hopefully, I will be able to say that I have explored music and its vast ocean by then and be able to appreciate music in all of its glory.

There are those who say that music does not play a part in the process of moulding ones personality. There are those who believe that one would retain the same traits and characteristics even without the existence of music. Alas! We live a world that is surrounded and fuelled by the power of sound. Therefore, there is no room for "what if's" and the like. I strongly believe that music has the power to change a person. To manipulate their perception of life. Which is why I think that music should always hold a positive message. It is why I think that music should address only issues that matter in an effort to voice out a liable and logical opinion, but in a more artistic way. It is why I think that music should be able to evoke feelings and emotions that a person has never felt before.

To say that music is merely a form of entertainment is a gross understatement in my case along with many others. Even so, it seems to be more than a passion for me. I believe that music has been so deeply imbued in my blood and soul that its become part of who I am and most likely, who I will become.
My love, my destiny. And so it shall be forever more.