Don't You Know

Have been up to no good by Youtubing too much. Came across another song that I really love, for now.

Don't You Know is sung by Han Hyo-Joo and No Reply for the 2010 Grand Mint Festival in Korea. Han is an actress while No Reply is a duo in the Korean indie music scene.

Love the guitar intro, the lively rhythm, catchy tune and the chords arrangement. Have been trying hard to find the chords - nearly there. Too bad my guitar skill is too limited  to identify the chords that the guitarist is playing - they are beyond me.

(Youtube upload by koreanpride3, Sept 28, 2010)


Here's a recording of their live performance on Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook which airs on KBS2 on Sundays. I thought Han's vocal is too weak though.




(Youtube upload by bhhanhyojoo, Oct 22, 2010)

Sang Myung Master Choral Concert

I had the opportunity to attend the Sang Myung Master Choral (SMCC) Concert which was held on Jan 19 at the Auditorium of Sabah Theological Seminary. They were invited by the Sabah Council of Churches and it was also their inaugural performance outside of Korea.

Deb picked me up and drove up the lil hill to the STS hostel. From there we walked up the steps to the new auditorium.

It was my first time there and the spanking new auditorium was impressive!

 

The 25-member choir were led by Chang Eun Im, the conductor, and accompanied by three pianists. The SMMC was founded in 2004 and is composed of vocal major students from the college of music of Sang Myung University.

One of my favourite songs, Nella Fantasia, was sung that night since it is all the rage now in Korea. It is due to a KBS World variety show, The Qualification of Men, which had featured the process of an assembled choir practicing for and participating in a choir competition.

I enjoyed myself so much that night! It was indeed a world class performance of beautiful voices in harmony.

Your Love Is Everything

A good cover of the song, Your Love is Everything from Jesus Culture.



(Youtube upload by Jayesslee, Dec16, 2010)


Lyrics:

When I am dry and thirsty Lord,
And I'm crying out for more,
I know I can trust in your love.
In the darkness in the night
When I'm starving for the light
I know I can trust in Your love

You keep no record of my sin
and you don't remember all my shame

Your love heals every disease
Your love fulfills my every need
Your love is everything to me
Your love is everything

I will not forget
I won't forget your promises
I will not forget
I won't forget your love

I will not forget
I won't forget nothing is impossible
I will not forget
I won't forget your love

Lyrics source here.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

(Youtube upload by miniachilles, Dec 11, 2010)

Say Goodbye (说了再见 )

(Youtube upload by ycm321 June 4, 2010)

Nella Fantasia

Such a beautiful Italian song!




(Youtbe upload by CelticLadies, May 26, 2007)

(Youtube upload by crediatv, Dec 5, 2008)

Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo giusto,

Lì tutti vivono in pace e in onestà.

Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,

Come le nuvole che volano,

Pien' d'umanità in fondo dell'anima.

Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo chiaro,

Lì anche la notte è meno oscura.

Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,

Come le nuvole che volano.

Nella fantasia esiste un vento caldo,

Che soffia sulle città, come amico.

Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,

Come le nuvole che volano,

Pien' d'umanità in fondo dell'anima.

English Translation

In my imagination I see a just world,

Everyone lives in peace and in honesty there.

I dream of souls that are always free,

Like the clouds that fly,

Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

In my imagination I see a bright world,

Even the night is less dark there.

I dream of souls that are always free,

Like clouds that fly.

In my imagination there exists a warm wind,

That breathes on the cities, like a friend.

I dream of souls that are always free,

Like clouds that fly,

Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

Source: Wikipedia

Acoustic Version

Found this video which was downloaded by my bro in the Recycle Bin. Glad I heard it.

Here's IU's acoustic version of SNSD's 'Gee', Big Bang's 'Lies' and Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry' on Yu Hui-Yeol's Sketchbook. The talented girl is only 15 years old. Admire her guitar-playing skill and vocal.

Just love how an acoustic guitar can change the feel and mood of the usual K-pop music.

Youtube source unknown.

Mister

Am currently listening to a catchy tune by KARA, a 5-member girl group from Korea. I just love the accompanying dance to one their songs, Mister.

Some may shun their routine and question why these sweet young girls, between late teens and early twenties, are dancing so sexily, but I choose to view their dance purely as a form of creative art, matching the current K-pop culture.

(Youtube upload by listenjessi, Oct 2, 2009)

This song which was released last year has gained such popularity in Japan that they have recorded and released a Japanese version to cater to the market.




(Youtube upload by Naituir2007, July 27, 2010)


And here's a dance version of Mister.



(Youtube upload by eeling1, Aug 13, 2010)

La-la-la-la-la-la...

My Life, Your Song

Oscar led us this song during worship team's sharing session two weeks ago.

Been playing this song over and over again. Tears just stream down my face whenever I sing the chorus. 

These lines strike a chord in my heart:

Let all earthly crowns,
Fade in the shadow of the cross.

There seems to be so many other 'priorities' in my life that fill me up - our earthly crowns. How often have we been blinded by earthly pursuits that God takes the second or third or maybe the last place in our life.

I want to be reminded always that God is my first love.



(Youtube uploaded by iunspoken, Jan 4, 2009)

City Harvest Church - My Life, Your Song
Words and Music by K. C. Gan
© City Harvest Church

VERSE 1:
Whose hands are these, holding my trapeze
When I fly, You carry me
Whose eyes are these, watching over me
Eyes of love, that set me free

PRE-CHORUS:
Unafraid, what's ahead
You are always there before me
My whole world, Your design
You are always there, just right behind

CHORUS:
My life is Your song
To You my heart belongs
Let all earthly crowns
Fade in the shadow of the cross

My life is Your song
I'll sing for You alone
Nothing in this world
Can take me away from You
Our love goes on and on

VERSE 2:
Whose arms are these, shelter me from harm
In the storm, You are my calm
Whose voice I hear, whisper in my ear
When I'm lost, You're always near

BRIDGE:
In all my life, be glorified
With Christ in me, no longer I
So take my all, consuming fire
Your light in me, I'll let it shine

Stigma

Am currently going crazy listening, over and over again, to one of Chuno's OST, entitled Stigma / Brand sung by Yim Jae-Beom. He has such a manly voice and though initially I didn't know what he was singing, I thought that his feelings were clearly emoted through the song. (The Youtube embedded here displays the English translation of the lyrics).

'Chuno' or The Slave Hunters is currently aired on ASTRO's 303 KBS channel every Wednesday and Thursday night at 9 p.m. Though I don't follow the series, I really like this OST (Original Sound Track) when I first heard it in January.

(Youtube uploaded by changmin510, Jan 17, 2010)

Serenity

I enjoy watching beautiful skies - glimpse of sun rays peaking through puffy clouds against the blue sky.

I tagged along a friend to the mountains. While she had to work, I spent my days driving around and visiting some sites on my own.

Was driving across a bridge on my way back when I saw the view of sunset from the mountain. Just had to stop by the roadside to capture these.

Touch of Heavan
March 11: Kundasang

How peaceful is that?

What You Do

Chanced upon this music video by Chrisette Michele in Astro's Soul Food. Again, it's one of those unexplainable moments when I just like a particular piece of music arrangement. I don't even know what type of music genre is this.



(Youtube upload by ChrisetteMicheleVEVO, Nov 25, 2009)

Regular Friends

I don't normally listen to Chinese songs because I'm a 'banana woman'; I don't read and write Mandarin though I could converse rather fluently in the language.

I chanced upon David Tao's song, Regular Friends, when I dropped by couzie Laine2's blog. She has it on her music playlist.

Surprisingly, I've taken quite a liking for it. I reckon it must be the beautifully-composed classical guitar intro which sounds so romantic.

And no, I can't really understand what David's singing. Somehow I understand the spoken Mandarin better than the language penned for lyrics.

(Youtube uploaded by wenjhe88, Oct 20, 2007)

Say It Again

I like this particular music video of Marie Christina Digby singing Say It Again. It's the props! They are cute and lovely :)

(Youtube uploaded by MarieDigby, May 22, 2008)

Stupid For You

(Youtube uploaded by MarieDigby, Feb 25, 2008)

Verse 1:
It's not everyday
That I meet a person quite like you
Perfect every way
I finally found the nerve to confess

That it's you - that I want
I don't care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you!
Put aside, all my pride
So don't keep me hanging here
Cause this girl is falling stupid for you

Chorus:
Ooh...
Oh, stupid for you
Ooh...
Oh

Verse 2:
The proper thing to do
Is for me to act like a lady and wait
For you to make the first move
But I don't think you're getting the point

That it's you - that I want
I don't care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you
Put aside, all my pride
So don't keep me hanging here
Cause this girl is falling stupid for you!

Oh, oh, oh, stupid for you
Oh, oh, oh

Bridge:
Why is it always feel like I am
Chasing love when nothing's there
And here I go just making the same mistake
I've fallen stupid for you

Updated on Dec 6, 9.59 p.m.:
I am falling stupid for this song! ^^
Ooh... stupid for you... lalalala...

Nobody

Gosh, I really love this song! It's my current favourite. I first heard it on Monday when Jojo, my dance instructor, introduced a new line dance routine to the English version of this song. I just could not get the tune and rhythm off my head for these five days.

So today, I googled and found that it is originally sung by Wonder Girls, a 5-piece Korean SYT (sweet young things) band. I have no idea what they are singing. I only like the melody and rhythm.

(Youtube uploaded by mnet, Nov 18, 2008)

I have also just discovered that the line dance routines posted on Youtube are quite comprehensive. Here's the dance steps to Nobody performed by Nancy (a dance instructor in KL, I think) and her team. The steps and styling are slightly different from Jojo's, more feminine and gentle. Love it!

(Youtube uploaded by senipadu, September 11, 2009)

Officially Missing You

This is a beautiful cover of Officially Missing You done by a pair of twins, Janice and Sonia. I thought that their harmony was really good and Sonia has done a great job singing and playing the guitar at the same time.

(Youtube uploaded by Jayesslee, Sept 28, 2008)

This song is originally sung by Tamia. While the twins sounded sweet, I feel that Tamia's voice is much richer and deeper.

(Youtube uploaded by TamiaWorld, June 12, 2007)

Love Story & Viva La Vida

(Youtube uploaded by onlinesuccess44, May 18, 2009)

However, because of copyright issues, Jon Schmidt rearranged another remix - Love Story meets Love Story.



(Youtube uploaded by carlosian2, Aug 28, 2009)

How cool is that?

If

I Wanna

This song by The All-American Rejects is very catchy. I love this song's intro and musicality. It's great, especially the guitars!

(Youtube uploaded by ninhbac04, Apr 29, 2009)


Check out their acoustic version too.




(Youtube uploaded by oliverashtube, Dec 10, 2008)