Wish List

Just to recap my previous Wish-List (Apr 2005)
http://yung-potpourri.blogspot.com/2005/04/my-life.html

I only bought 3 in that list but now there are more things I want!

1. Hocc’s Leung Jok musical soundtrack (if it is out by then)
2. Anita Mui re-releases (I have started thinking about her more fondly recently...She will always be a great singer!)
3. Joey Yung – Love Joey 3 DVD (Can’t seem to find it here, so annoying!!)
4. Beyond The Story Live 2005
5. Gigi Leung Compilation (Went to the CD shop 3 times intending to buy it but always stopped short each time, think I am put off by her weak falsetto, but somehow it is still lingering in my mind...)

Then I also need to look for something for my sister’s birthday, as well as Bobo albums for Vii!

Josie Ho Rebel

I bought this CD today. Came across it by chance, going for only $10! Pretty cool for a limited edition album, I hope the songs are nice; it's a pretty old album. Thing is I haven’t opened it yet because of the unique packaging. Am I supposed to undo or cut those wires (and spoiling it in the process) or what? Annoying…





Didn’t manage to find her Sickid (with DVD version) in HK last time. Shall have another shot at it this time…I still think Josie is a wonderful but under-rated actress…

Btw, I spotted Anita’s “Cover Girl” but it is damn ex at $55!!! They also have the re-release versions of "Debt of the Heart", "Red" and "Time Goes By" but I shall see if I can find it cheaper in HK first.

Evolution Theory

I know this is very late! Lots of people have already commented on this supposedly ‘goodbye-to-k-songs and back-to-basics' album by Candy Lo. Frankly speaking, I bought this album with some reservation in mind, expecting it to be rather unconventional and perhaps a little hard to stomach after I heard the first plug "阿修羅樹海" (Asura). I found it a bit too weird and not quite melodious enough for me though it has since found acceptance after more than a dozen listenings.

Still, as someone who owned practically all of Candy’s albums, I bought this latest CD without any hesitation. The cover is very pretty! I think she looks best with this kind of hairdo - short, spunky and fresh. With the CD in hand, I looked at the song titles, which all sounded very philosophical and religious, and I was afraid that the whole thing would be too profound for me. So I was pleasantly surprised after listening to the album, finding it neither too weird nor too out-of-reach. I was impressed that Candy wrote the melodies nearly all the songs, save for two by her long-time producer Kubert Leung. Sometimes Candy’s songs tend to sound like they were modified from the same mould, but I think that in this album she showed her versatility better. I tend to play tracks 4 to 8 more than the others somehow. Perhaps I am put off by tracks 3 “Asura” (which I don’t like as much) and 9 "送魂經" (Goodbye to the Departed Souls) (I don’t like the Indian influence on it).

The second plug "露西" (Lucy) made it to No.1 on JSG. I like it better than “Asura” but I don’t really like the way she sings it, kind of too ‘animated’ for me. Candy is one of those who speaks in a lower pitch than she sings, as opposed to Sammi who sings in a lower pitch than she speaks. My personal preference is still lower pitch voices.

Regarding the other tracks, I like the soft melodies of tracks "隔岸觀音", "女書" and "敵托邦的拾荒姑娘"; I also like the more powerful tracks "步天歌" and "笛卡兒的長生殿". The melody of "一念天堂”reminds me of some Leon Lai song. I guess it is the most ‘K’ song in the whole album, to balance things a bit. Someone commented that she is off-pitch on "步天歌", but it sounded okay to me. Occasionally, Candy can sound quite off when singing live, but when she’s good, she’s good. Better than those supposed singers who mime all the time anyway.

Jewel in the Palace

I had wondered what the big hoo-ha was all about when viewers in other parts of Asia were raving on and on about this Korean epic. I didn’t follow it when it started showing here some weeks ago. Sometimes, when things are too popular, I purposely try not to be a part of it. I am a little rebellious in this sense. E.g. when people were going gaga over Titanic the movie and theme song, I chose to give it a miss. I nearly missed Harry Potter too because of the same reason, but thanks to A, I started reading the books.

Anyway, during my MC days last week, I started watching “Jewel in the Palace” and found myself attracted to the series! Now I try to get home on time to catch it, relying on the synopsis in Telescope to keep updated if I miss any parts. I am surprised because prior to this I had absolutely no interest in any Korean drama serials as they are usually too weepy-waily and draggy for me. But this show makes me want to follow and find out what would happen next. I am also amused by the way the older ladies wear their hair – in huge plaits that they wind around their heads!

Although the main character is Chang Jin (she and Lian Sheng are rather cute!) but I think Lady Han and Lady Cui are pretty as well. As one of the ‘bad guys’ in the show, Lady Cui has this annoying smirk about her that greatly decreases her likeability factor. As for Lady Han, somehow I find her attractive despite her being middle-aged and usually wearing a worried/tired look on her face. Haha, maybe I’m a little weird! Too bad I will miss a big chunk of it when I go away...

Flying Man

空中飛人

Right, so after nearly two weeks of feeling lousy and poor appetite, I have to get my act together and start preparing for my trip. One good thing was I finished the materials for my presentation just before I fell ill, so at least now I don’t have to worry about it.

After getting some advice from Goomo, I’ve finally settled my air-tics and accommodation. Thanks to the web-site recommended by her, I managed to find this hotel that’s cheaper and just a stone’s throw away from the conference venue.

It’s kind of exciting to be going to Montreal! Goomo said that it is a very safe and nice place, but Crystal thinks that no major city in North America is safe. We shall see who is right! What a shame to have fallen so ill the last couple of weeks so I didn’t get very far with my French lessons. I’ll have to try to read my French book on the plane. LaLaLa and the others recommended Old Downtown Montreal so that’s one place I must visit. Hopefully there’ll be enough time to do quite a bit of sightseeing.

My previous HK trip was kind of rushed and I didn't get to spend much time in CD shops or bookshops. Guess I’ll be able to do more shopping this time, hehe, I’ll start thinking about my new wish-list! I’d like to spend more time with Chris too, didn’t get to go out much together last time.