Goodbye and Thank You, Whitney!

Singapore - Sunday, 12 February 2012, I woke up to the news that the diva (positive way) has took her last breath and left this earth. What a sad news, but may be it's just the hours for her to leave.

The first thing came to my mind were her songs ... so many of them. I grew up literally with her "presence". My very first exposure to her song was - "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", an upbeat and dance-able song. I saw it on MTV and I don't think I knew who was Whitney when I was still so little. The rest is history ... she sang ... her songs became #1 hits and remained in my heart and mind. I believe most of you will feel the same way too. Wasn't she amazing?

At the moment when I found out about her departure, "The Greatest Love of All" spoke to me.

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

What a beautiful words, I thought to myself ... "Why didn't she love herself more?", I wondered.

But come on, who am I to judge. Nobody is perfect. She lived her life, her way. It's not easy to be someone whose life were constantly under the public eyes. Think about it, does it really matter if she stumbled and fell? Most important of all, through her imperfect life, she has shined her brightest through her God's given talent - her voice. She has touched lives and inspired millions through the writings of others - her songs. Some of her songs are not originally hers but she made them better ... she added "value", tuned it up, made it her own and voila ... created a legacy.

She has lived a life that contributes, and for that I am so grateful that I lived in the era that she shined the brightest. Thank you for your voice, your songs and your spirit to keep on living despite your difficulties that I will never comprehend.

As it has been sung by her in "One Moment in Time", she said ...

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will be
I will be
I will be free

She did have many moments in time and finally, she's free now.
Rest in peace, Whitney.
Thank you for making a difference by being the best you could be.



PS. Someone has compiled all her hits on this Youtube playlist. If you are like me now, drowning and emo-ing in her voice, hope you will enjoy it.

When One Wonders, One Gets Some Answers ... Sort of

Strange how questions are "kinda" answered ...
Just as I was "being lost" in my own wandering mode, a song just spoke me through its melody (at first). I'm not a very lyrics person. Tunes will speak to me louder than words. Then this song come along and the lyrics are just amazing. Great wake up call to just live the uncharted life as it is.

Check out the MTV at the end of the post. If you can't view it you may click here.
The MTV is really unique. In a blog entry on Sara Bareilles' site, she mentioned the reason behind the concept;

"This video is about my journey as an artist who looks up to the people around them. This is about being a fan of people who take chances, who are fearless, who have integrity, and go off into the world saying yes to what's around them. It's filled with some of the people in my life who do that everyday. They have impacted my world and are not only incredible artists, but great friends as well. They all worked this giant favor into their very busy lives and helped me out more than I can say."^[6]

Uncharted - Sara Bareilles

No words, My tears won't make any room for more,
And it don't hurt, like anything I've ever felt before, this is
No broken heart,
No familiar scars,
This territory goes uncharted...

Just me, in a room sunk down in a house in a town, and I
Don't breathe, no I never meant to let it get away from me
Now, too much to hold, everybody wants has to get their hands on gold,
And I want uncharted.
Stuck under the ceiling I made, I can't help but feeling...

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...

La la la-a-a-a.
Oh-h-h.

Each day, countin' up the minutes, till I get alone, 'cause I can't stay
In the middle of it all, it's nobody's fault, but I'm
So lonely, Never knew how much I didn't know,
Oh, everything is uncharted.
I know I'm getting nowhere, when I only sit and stare like...

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, of foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted.

Jump start my kaleidoscope heart,
Love to watch the colors fade,
They may not make sense,
But they sure as hell made me.

I won't go as a passenger, no
Waiting for the road to be laid
Though I may be going down,
I'm taking flame over burning out

Compare, where you are to where you want to be, and you'll get nowhere

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
Oh-h
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...
No words, My tears won't make any room for more,
And it don't hurt, like anything I've ever felt before, this is
No broken heart,
No familiar scars,
This territory goes uncharted...

Just me, in a room sunk down in a house in a town, and I
Don't breathe, no I never meant to let it get away from me
Now, too much to hold, everybody wants has to get their hands on gold,
And I want uncharted.
Stuck under the ceiling I made, I can't help but feeling...

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...

La la la-a-a-a.
Oh-h-h.

Each day, countin' up the minutes, till I get alone, 'cause I can't stay
In the middle of it all, it's nobody's fault, but I'm
So lonely, Never knew how much I didn't know,
Oh, everything is uncharted.
I know I'm getting nowhere, when I only sit and stare like...

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, of foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted.

Jump start my kaleidoscope heart,
Love to watch the colors fade,
They may not make sense,
But they sure as hell made me.

I won't go as a passenger, no
Waiting for the road to be laid
Though I may be going down,
I'm taking flame over burning out

Compare, where you are to where you want to be, and you'll get nowhere

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
Oh-h
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof idea, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...

[ These are Uncharted Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Eyé àdaba

There are singers who have great hype.
There are singers who have great fame.
Then, there are those rare ones who have no hype nor tremendous fame, but what they have is a sincere voice with soulful message.
This time I found it through Aşa, Paris-born Nigerian singer-songwriter.
Even though I don't understand the lyrics of the song - Eyé àdaba, but it just seems to speak to me.

I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do. Below there's the lyrics and translation too. What a beautiful song about peace.

If you are unable to view the video as you are subscribing to my email newsletter, do visit the following link to listen to the song.
http://www.donnadaritan.com/2008/09/ey-daba.html


Lyrics:
Eyé àdaba
by Aşa

Oju mo ti mo
Oju mo ti mo mi
Ni le yi o o
Oju mo ti mo - mo ri re o

Eye adaba
Eye adaba
ye adaba ti n fo lo ke lo ke
Wa ba le mi o o
Oju mo ti mo mo ri re o

Translation:
I wake up at dawn
As it dawn’s upon me
I wake up to the sun
Shining upon me

I see doves in the sky
Birds flying high
Then in silence
I pray for peace
For my people

Les Champs-Élysées

This following French song - Les Champs-Elysees will always remind me of my very first French teacher - Linda Hung. Not only it's my ringing tone but it's a basic song where you can really pick up a lot of words and not to mention, if you've never gone to Paris (like me), will make you dream about it more. I hope you'll enjoy it and as I'm going to share it with fellow classmates, I'll paste the meaning below too. :D Enjoy!



Les Champs-Élysées
by Joe Dassin

Je m'baladais sur l'avenue le coeur ouvert à l'inconnu / I trotted on the avenue my heart opened to the unknowns
J'avais envie de dire bonjour à n'importe qui / I wanted to say hello to no matter whom
N'importe qui et ce fut toi, je t'ai dit n'importe quoi / No matter whom, it could be you, I'd said anything to you
Il suffisait de te parler, pour t'apprivoiser / It was enough to speak to you, just to calm down.

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Tu m'as dit "J'ai rendez-vous dans un sous-sol avec des fous / You said to me "I was pinned in a basement with fools
Qui vivent la guitare à la main, du soir au matin" / Who live guitar-in-hand from dusk till dawn"
Alors je t'ai accompagnée, on a chanté, on a dansé / Then I accompanied you, one sang, one danced
Et l'on n'a même pas pensé à s'embrasser / Any one who did not even think of embracing oneself

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Hier soir deux inconnus et ce matin sur l'avenue / Yesterday evening two unknowns and this morning on the avenue
Deux amoureux tout étourdis par la longue nuit / Two in love all dazed by the long night
Et de l'Étoile à la Concorde, un orchestre à mille cordes / And to the Star of Concord, form an orchestra with thousand cords
Tous les oiseaux du point du jour chantent l'amour / All the birds at day-break singing for the love

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Just Fine

I think everybody should wake up and listen to this song everyday.

The first time I heard Mary J Blige singing in The Ellen Degeneres Show, I was like ... "huh ... what kinda song is that?" ... then I paid attention to its lyrics and I realize ... wow ... what a great song to wake up to every morning.

It's a very positive upbeat song which emphasize on loving yourself and living your life the way you want to and being happy with it. The lyrics I love the most is when she says

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me
Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it's raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad that it's fine

No matter how tough life may have been, when you keep listening to such words daily, I believe you can get through it with your head up high. Enjoy



Lyrics
Just Fine
By. Mary J Blige

You know I love music
And every time I hear something hot
It makes me wanna move
It makes me wanna have fun
But it’s something about this joint right here
This joint right here
Its makes me wanna…..Woooh

Let it go……
Can’t let this thing called love get away from you
Feel free right now, go do what you want to do
Can’t let nobody take it away, from you, from me, from we
No time for moping around, are you kidding?
And no time for negative vibes, cause I’m winning
It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
Don't stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my vibe right
I aint gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me
Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it's raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad that it's fine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
Aint worried about you and what you gonna do
I’m a lady so I must stay classy
Got to keep it hot, keep it together
If I want to get better
See I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
See I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

I ain't gon’ let nothing get in my way
(I ain't gone let nobody bring me down, no, no, no)
No matter what nobody has to say
(No way, no way, no way)
I ain’t gon’ let nothing get in my way
No matter what nobody has to say

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
It’s a really good thing to say
That I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
See I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
Don't stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my vibe right
I ain’t gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

So Small

Hi All

I'm sorry to be absent again for so long. Guess I'm the only blogger in the world that needs a kick on the butt by one of the faithful reader to kick start the blogging flow again. (I'm so ashamed hoho) ... Anyway, I'd like to share this song with everyone. It's a country song by one of the winner of American Idol - Carrie Underwood. She's definitely one of my favourite idol, not only she's pretty, vegan, down to earth, original, blah blah blah ... her songs speak to the heart every time ever since her first album is out. She's a special girl indeed.

This song, if you pay attention to the lyrics and relate them to any of your most difficult moments (or you think it's difficult) of your life ... look back and think through, it can really bring you to tears that you've been wasting life worrying and wrestling with things that seem so small compared to what really is important. And those burdens that you think it's heavy, suddenly appear so small.

And now ... hope you'll enjoy the lyrics of this song and you can view and listen to the music video from this link on my blog. Enjoy and remember this ... (quoting from the lyrics)

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And when you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else seem
So small

You may watch the original MTV at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUtFEKhtB30&feature=related

So Small
By. Carrie Underwood

Yeah, yeah

What you got if you ain't got love
The kind that you just want to give away
It's ok to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out and just be left alone
But don't run out on your faith

Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And when you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else seem
So small

It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river that's so wide it swallows you whole
While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change

And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count cause you can't get it back
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, and when you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else seem
So small, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And then you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh, it sure makes everything else seem
So small

Yeah, yeah

Little Wonders

It's not a very new song - Little Wonders by Rob Thomas - Soundtrack of Meet the Robinsons, but it's something I gotta share. Listen to the words, for those of you who are weary I hope this song can lighten you up. It did to me.

I simply love the words when Rob Thomas said ...

Let it go ... let it roll right off your shoulder ...

Let it in, let your clarity define you in the end, we will only just remember how it feels....

Yes ... these small hours ... these little wonders ... those seconds that we tend to take for granted because we keep thinking of the big future ... the big miracle that we tend to forget that in these small hours, little wonders do exist.

And in the end ... those achievements ... those belongings ... in the end, only the feeling remains ... the thought ... and the essence of every single thing in our life that matters.

So, Enjoy .... Don't let the little wonders slip away.



Let it go,
Let it roll right off
your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just
remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And i don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really
matters in the end

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But i can not forget
The way i feel right now

In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away but
these small hours
These small hours, still remain,
Still remain
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders still remain

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time

I know I'm a bit out-dated by now. It's been popular since early 2000 but only now I'm hooked by it. It's a song that will cheer you up and laugh in the most silly manner. I just gotta share this. :-) And .... it inspires me to eat peanut butter jelly for dinner tonight. :p thanks to my "not-so-dear" friend for introducing this song to me. -.- GGRRR! Anyway he never really reads my blog so heck about him. :p ... enjoy!



Buckwheat Boys - Peanut Butter Jelly Time Lyrics

It's peanut butter jelly time, peanut butter jelly time, peanut butter jelly time

(Chorus:)
Where he at 4x
There he go 4x
Peanut butter jelly 4x
Do the peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly,
Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat 2x

(Chorus)

Now, break it down and freeze 4x

(Chorus)

Now tic tac toe (uh-huh)
Tic tac toe (let's go)
Tic tac toe (you got it)
Tic tac toe (let's ride)

(Chorus)

Now, freestyle, freestyle, freestyle, freestyle, freestyle, your style 2x

Where he at 4x
There he go 4x

知多知少难知足

I have been a Karaoke Maniac these few days. Went twice in a row. Madness ... but learned something from some of the lyrics and this time it's one of the oldest uncle and aunty oldie song titled - “Xin Yuan Yang Hu Die Meng” by Huang An.

Honestly, the first time I heard this song ... I must be in secondary school. I didn't understand 99% of the song!!! -.- Might as well said I didn't understand anything. Only know the title has the word butterfly dream in it! -.-

I've no idea why my parents are absolutely crazy about it either but guess now I can understand. Though I still don't understand fully but I grasp one of the sentence which is 知多知少难知足 (zhi duo zhi shao nan zhi zhu). It means, knowing much or knowing less will still difficult to make one's satisfied in knowing anything.

How true .... How trueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ....
I totally relate to this.
You can know so much.
You can choose to be totally ignorant.
But you still can't be satisfied.

Guess balance is the key to everything. I hope all of you may find the balance that you'll ever need.

Video:


Lyrics:

昨日像那東流水 (zuo ri xiang na dong liu shui)

離我遠去不可留 (li wo yuan qu bu ke liu)

今日亂我心　(jin ri luan wo xin)

多煩憂 (duo fan you)

抽刀斷水水更流 (chou dao duan shui shui geng liu)

舉杯消愁愁更愁 (ju bei xei xiao chou chou geng chou)

明朝清風四飄流 (ming zhao qing feng si piao liu)

由來只聞新人笑 (you lai zhi you xin ren xiao)

有誰聽到舊人哭 (you shui ting dao jiu ren ku)

愛情兩個字　(ai qing liang ge zi(

好辛苦 (hao xin ku)

是要問一個明白 (shi yao wen yi ge ming bai)

還是要裝作糊塗 (hai shi yao zhuang zuo hu tu)

知多知少難知足 (zhi duo zhi shao nan zhi zhu)

看似個鴛鴦蝴蝶 (kan si ge yuan yang hu die)

不應該的年代 (bu ying gai di nian dai)

可是誰又能擺脫人世間的悲哀 (ke shi shui you neng bai tuo ren shi jian di bei ai)

花花世界　鴛鴦蝴蝶　(hua hua shi jie, yuan yang hu die)

在人間已是癲 (zai ren jian yi shi dian)

何苦要上青天　(he ku yaoshang qing tian)

不如溫柔同眠 (bu ru wen rou tong mian)

How Do You Define Your Days.....?

After knowing David the funeral director who was featured in Oprah show has a way in naming his days, e.g. Marvelous Monday, Terrific Tuesday, etc. I wanna be a copycat! So here are mine.

Miraculous Monday
Tiptop Tuesday
Wondrous Wednesday
Thriving Thursday
Fruitful Friday
Startling Saturday
Sumptuous Sunday

Hhmmm ... hopefully I can memorize all :p. If not, I guess I'll keep it simple like this theme song (first heard when Daniel Ong was still active in Perfect 10 radio - he played it every weekend, Friday if I'm not mistaken) and I've loved the song ever since. What did the song say? Check it out ...



Lyrics:



"Happy Days" by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days.
Thursday, Friday, Happy Days.
Saturday, What a day,
Groovin' all week with you.

These days are all,
Happy and Free. (Those Happy Days)
These days are all,
Share them with me. (oh baby)
Goodbye grey sky, hello blue.
There's nothing can hold me when I hold you.
Feels so right, it can't be wrong.
Rockin' and rollin' all week long.

These days are all,
Share them with me. (Those Happy Days)
These days are all, Happy and Free.
These Happy Days are your's and mine, Happy Days.

A Complaint Free World

Yeah right!!!
Just when I'm sitting down here struggling with my own complaining kingdom, here I am discovering there's such campaign featured in Oprah show and ... yes, it does exist.

What is A Complaint Free World?

It all started in a small church in Kansas, USA. Aih ... I'll just cut and paste what the website says :p ... it's much faster and more detailed than me blabbering :p

Rev. Will Bowen of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, MO was teaching a series on Prosperity. Part of this series was helping the congregation to form a habit of gratitude by going 21-days without complaining. In an effort to make the lesson practical, the church purchased purple bracelets and gave them away encouraging them to move the bracelet to the other arm if they caught themselves complaining.

How Do I Know If I'm Complaining?

To "Complain" is defined as "to express pain, grief, or discontent." Surely, it makes sense to express pain, grief or discontent occasionally but most people do so constantly. In so doing, they are talking and thinking about what they do not want in their life and, thereby, attracting more pain, grief and discontent. Instead, think and talk about what you are grateful for. Talk about what you DO want and not what you DON'T want.

How Does it Work?

Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and complaining is habitual for most of us. As Twain said, we must coax our old behavior down the stairs. The bracelet(s) you receive are a powerful tool(s) to remind you of how well you are creating your life with positive intention. Here are the suggested rules:

1. Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist
   
   
2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.
   
   
3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!
   
   
4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving, more positive and more abundant.
   

For more information, you can check out their website at www.acomplaintfreeworld.org

I just think it's such a beautiful concept and I've ordered 6 of the bracelets to give to my friends. I wonder who's up for this kinda challenge here in Singapore when we are kinda well known for being the kingdom of complain kings and queens. :p ... And that will change soon.

Hey ... they even have songs? :o :-) Let me try whether I can get what she's trying to say. EH! She mentioned Singapore!! Yippeee hehe ... Anyway, if you are able to fill in the blanks, please let me know. Can't find the lyrics anywhere. May just message the singer for it too ... trying huhu.



Complaint Free World
By Stefana SD

Mmmmmm....
My alarm clocks rings and I open up my eyes
_____________________ rolls my day's first cry
Complaining that I'm tired to this to that
A complaint free _____ is
where I wanna be at
Yeah ...

Well then one day I saw it on the news
When I read this story about a purple wrist band
A small reminder to whine no more
Is where we gotta be
Acomplaintfreeworld.org

Chorus:
And we say
No more no more
complaining people that are
are changing
we're flying high
creating
a complaint free world

No more no more
complaining people that are
are changing
we're flying high
creating
a complaint free world

Now "21 days" is the goal we are trying to meet
While it's hard to not complain
It's an attitude to beat
So many men and women younger boys and girls
We all wanna live a complaint free life and world

Yeah....

From US to Canada Germany Japan
There is mass complaint in there
in Singapore and Ireland
Billions people from all over the globe just call this ______________
Acomplaintfreeworld.org

And we say
No more no more
complaining people that are
are changing
we're flying high
creating
a complaint free world

No more no more
complaining people that are
are changing
we're flying high
creating
a complaint free world

------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't she great? Her name is Stefana who calls herself a positive music artist and songwriter. It's so cool. You can check out her website at www.stefanasd.com. To hear her full song, check out her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/complaintfreeworldsong

Moon River

Huhu .... D.D. is in a very sentimental mode right now ... May be because I was updating my Ipod (which I called .... "pod pod") looking for nice songs to put and one of them is Moon River by Andy Williams.

It's one of the very first song I sang for Karaoke at home with my parents! HAHA. Though at that time I remembered, whenever they started to Karaoke ... I wanted to faint (hideous, I thought) and I tried to hide too but I secretly love it and sang along with them at my "hiding place". :p ....

Then there's one incident when none of them was around (I thought I was safe) ... I sang like nobody's business with the microphone. When I'm done, I kept everything neatly. Then they were back. I thought .. phew .. what a timing.

TO MY SURPRISE!!!!
My maid told me the next day that throughout all the time, they were watching me singing from the TV in the dining room -.- ..... -.- ..... ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Enough of my embarrassing moment, let Andy does his job for now. :-) He's brilliant ... the song was even used in the movie Kate & Leopold and it's absolutely romantic. :-) Enjoy. (Oh ya ... I also pasted a few other versions ... every compilation shows different emotion. Audrey Hepburn is always stunning and can't imagine Korean actress sang this song too ... wow)


Andy Williams


Audrey Hepburnin Breakfast At Tiffany's



Katie Melua


Diana Ross with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras


Caitlin Smith


Lee Young Ae (Isn't see from that famous Korean drama - Jewel in the Palace???)

Artist: Andy Williams Lyrics
Song: Moon River Lyrics
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(moon river, wider than a mile)
(I'm crossin' you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

A Dream (Soundtrack to Freedom Writers)

It's the first time that I blog about a movie that I just watched into 2 posts (and possibly more) ... Freedom Writers Rocks!

I just watched the MTV to the soundtrack and it's a piece of art. Where else can you find Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's I Have A Dream speech + Holocaust events in an MTV? This is the first. I'm glad I watched it. Hope you'll enjoy the song and the lyrics.



Title: A Dream
By: Common

featuring Will.i.am

I am happy
I am I am happy

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

A search for brighter days
I ride through the maze of the madness
struggle is my address
where pain and crack lives
gunshots coming from sounds of blackness
given this game with no time to practice
born on the blacklist
told I'm a little average
A life with no cabbage
that's no money if you're from where I'm from
funny,
I just want some of yours son
dark clouds seem to follow me
alcohol that my pops swallowed bottle me
no apology
I walk with a boulder on my shoulder
it's a cold war
I'm a colder shoulder
I fight the same fight that made Martin Luther the king
I ain't usin' it for the right thing
in-Between lean and the fiends
hustle and the schemes
I put together pieces of a dream
I still have one

I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
I'ma look deeper than myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

The world see me lookin' in the mirror
images of me gettin' much clearer
dear self,
I wrote a letter just to better my soul
if I don't express it,
then forever I hold inside
I'm from a side where we outta control
rap music and the hood play a fatherly role
my story like yours, yo, gotta be told
tryin' to make it from a gangsta to a Godlier role
and Jewish people in cold caves
hate has no color or age
flip the page
now my rage became freedom right
write dreams in the dark
they far, but I can see em
I believe in heaven more than hell
blessings more than jail
In the ghetto, let love prevail
with a story to tell
my eyes see the glory of, well,
the world waitin' for me to yell
I have a dream

I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

----------------------------------

Another video on how the real Freedom Writer felt when he met Common & Will.I.Am for the song production.

Volver

Volver is one of the show that I seriously can't tell too much ... it'll spoil its beauty. Though I was quite disappointed with the ending, too short ... but the whole movie was very beautifully made. Blossoming its characters just at the right time with the right twist.

Super Short Synopsis

I shall write the synopsis by introducing who are involved in the show:

Raimunda (Penelope Cruz):
A mother of Paula, daughter of Irene and wife of Paco who lives in Madrid. Her life is not as simple as it seems.

Sole:
Raimunda's sister who lives alone and works as a hairstylist. She's the clown of this show ... Love her lots.

Aunt Paula:
Another hilarious character who's old and frail and slightly "delusional".

Agustina:
Aunt Paula's neighbor in the small village they lived in.

The story revolves around these few characters though Aunt Paula had less screen time than the rest.

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

The title - "Volver" means to return. I was thinking ... to return what? A piece of clothes? Haha. Wrong. It has much more profound meaning than that and it was sure described well by Raimunda when she was singing the song "Volver" in the show. (You just can't miss that!).

It is trying to portray, whatever you have done in the past will find its way to return back to you. Hence the title, Volver.

Really, interesting concept.

BTW, Penelope was very very gorgeous. Not to mention how many times she needed to show her cleavage -.- .... But not as comparable as The Curse of Golden Flower though haha.

Trailer



"Volver" - The Song


Thanks to Broom, my dearest friend, for the translated version.

Volver (To Return)
written by Carlos Gardel, performed by Estrella Morente

Yo adivino el parpadeo (I predict a flickering)
de las luces que a lo lejos van marcando mi retorno
(of the lights that went further, marking my return)

Son las mismas que alumbraron (They are the same light that illuminated)
con sus pálidos reflejos hondas horas de dolor (with their pale reflection in deep hours of pain)

Y aunque no quise el regreso, siempre se vuelve al primer amor
(And although I did not want the return, one always return to the first love)

La vieja calle donde me cobijo (The old street where I shelter)
tuya es su vida (yours is her life)
tuyo es su querer (yours is hers to want)

Bajo el burlón mirar de las estrellas (Under the mocking looking at the stars)
que con indiferencia hoy me ven volver (that see me return today with indifference )

Volver (To return)
con la frente marchita (with withered forehead)
las nieves del tiempo (the winds of time)
platearon mi sien (silverplated my forehead)

Sentir (To feel)
que es un soplo la vida (that life is a swift)
que veinte años no es nada (that 20 years is nothing)
que febril la mirada errante en las sombras te busca y te nombra (how feverish, that nomadic glance in the shades looks for you and calls for you)

Vivir (To live)
con la alma aferrada (with a soul that perseveres)
a un dulce recuerdo (to a sweet memory)
que lloro otra vez (that makes me cry once more)

Tengo miedo del encuentro (I am afraid to encounter)
con el pasado que vuelve (the past that returns)
a enfrentarse con mi vida (to clash with my life)

Tengo miedo de las noches (I am afraid of the nights)
que pobladas de recuerdos (that are populated by memories)
encadenen mi soñar (that chained my dreams)

Pero el viajero que huye (But the foreigner that passes by)
tarde o temprano (sooner or later)
detiene su andar (stop her walking)

Y aunque el olvido todo destruye, haya matado mi vieja ilusión,
(And although forgetfullness destroyes everything, my old illusion has been killed)

Guardo escondida una esperanza humilde (I keep a humble hope hidden)
que es toda la fortuna de mi corazón (that it is all the fortune of my heart)

Volver (To return)
con la frente marchita (with withered forehead)
las nieves del tiempo (the winds of time)
platearon mi sien (silverplated my forehead)

Sentir (To feel)
que es un soplo la vida (that life is a swift)
que veinte años no es nada (that 20 years is nothing)
que febril la mirada errante en las sombras te busca y te nombra (how feverish, that nomadic glance in the shades looks for you and calls for you)

Vivir (To live)
con la alma aferrada (with a soul that perseveres)
a un dulce recuerdo (to a sweet memory)
que lloro otra vez (that makes me cry once more)

D.D.'s Rating
8.8/10
1.2 for a better way in ending the show -.-

Suddenly I See

Never I've noticed a song being played in so many different occasions in my life ... until I laid my ears on KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See (guess what, the song even has a page at Wikipedia dedicated to it!!!).

I first discovered it from the show "So You Think You Can Dance" when one of the contestant was being voted off. :-( ... I was not even watching the show. But when I heard that song, I turned my back around and immediately fell in love with it.

Next, I heard it when I was watching Ghost Whisperer!! It was like ... okay ... so what's the universe is telling me this time? HHhhmm.... What am I seeing? Well, I am not really sure yet. I only know I love the song a lot and it speaks to me right through. And it even played when I was watching Season 3 of my most favourite show at the moment - Grey's Anatomy. And someone's Myspace randomly. (She's my friend now because of that song, believe me) Weks ... Knocking 4 times so far.

Then finally, the 5th. ... Just 2 hours ago I watched the first episode of Ugly Betty. Guess what song did I heard at the end of the show? That's right ... "Suddenly I See".

I just sat down and ponder and stunned for a while. What's the message, Universe? What? What do I see?

And then I just got it as the song was played while Betty was walking away, smiling. Happy with her life. I just got it right there and then that what I need to see is that I'm whole at every moment of my life. I am contented. I'm grateful. I'm blessed. I'm who I am and I'm proud of it and most importantly, Life agrees with me. The Universe agrees with me and sending me this message that... Suddenly, I See ... This is what I wanna be.

I'm posting the video and the lyrics of this song here so that you too can see how awesome you already are and you'll be ... Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.



Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me