hahax that somehow sounds like a merge of winnie, and the pooh. XD

Anw, it feels great to clear the bulk of your homework, although we all know, the next pile is on its way here. >.<>.<

Hence, to give myself a temporary break, I shifted everything aside, to watch Roger Federer up against Andy Roddick. Classic battle actually...calm Swiss gentleman against the hard-hitting yet always cheerful American A-Rod. " Roddick was later defeated in the semi-finals by Roger Federer, 2-6, 5-7, 5-7, bringing his head to head record against Federer to 2-16." It's amazing that wiki has this so quickly updated. Well, there you have it. The result of the Australian Open semi-final 1. :D

A straight sets win for Federer did seem as though he was cruising through, and cruise he definitely did. Probably wiv a cocktail beside him too. Federer was in total control, serving up an awesome 51 winners!!! His footwork was brilliant; his serve was precise yet still powerful; the spin he generates from his racket just keeps you wondering how he ever does it with such consistency, so wad can he not do? He definitely played like a real winner and a serious contender to win this year's Australian Open final. Roddick did all he could, huffed and puffed, but couldn't blow Federer's sturdy house down. Good job Roddick. If you continue playing like this, you'll definitely do well this year. ;)

Hahax but while others are admiring his awesome strokes, I am looking at how to 'open up' Federer's game. :D Courtesy of Roddick, I am able to see how to counter Federer! ;) Definitely I can't do it, but either Verdasco or Nadal (the Spanish semi-finalists due to play tomorrow) can do so. What they actually have to do, is simply to force Federer into running along the baseline. 

Why? Coz Federer's style of play is to take the shot on the rise. In other words, he loves to take his shots really really early so that the opponent can't react in time. Everything has a weakness, and the flaw to this kind of play is that if your opponents return shots too close to your body, it's hard to get the right spin, the right contact point to hit it back the way Federer wants it.

Hahax case solved! And given that both Verdasco and Nadal are both awesome athletes who can give Federer a run for his money (pun intended :P), they should be able to make good use of the entire court and tire the older Federer. ;)

Jia Yous for semis tmr!!! Mostly to Nadal though, although I like Verdasco's T-shirt this Australian Open. :D :D :D It's hard for Verdasco, but it's not a tall order, given that he dumped the oh-so-hot Ana Ivanovic presumably to concentrate on his tennis. ;) 

Eh you don't want her, I want! XD

19:34

How happy can this NCY be for me, I somehow beg to differ. :S The amount of homework, again, is drowning me!!! 

Well these few days made me think of 1 thing. A few days ago, someone told me that it's the chinese tradition to visit the paternal side 1st before the maternal side. But dun you feel that it's weird? Your paternal side definitely have aunts who are your dad's sisters, and vice versa. So why do they come to our house 1st and not your uncle's house? 

The Chinese really didn't think enuf before they came up with the tradition -.-

Btw, does anyone think it's a must to learn dialect? >.<

(and i dun mean the vulgar words! -.- -.- -.-)

Will you think that you’re all alone,
When no one’s there, to hold your hand?
When all you know, seems so far away
And everything is temporary rest your head,
I’m permanent.

~Permanent by David Cook

11:22

Dose no. 1:

Anyway, first and foremost, this is coming from a band whom I have always been a fan of their sentimental songs, though they are kinda more famous wiv their more pop-punk songs (with the exception of the ironically titled song, Untitled) Who am I talking about? Of course it's Simple Plan! And they're moving on to a real emotional song this time round. The title is simple, yet effective as it tells you straight to the point. Save You...

The video:

The video basically shows the band performing in an open space, with people shown lying on the ground. As the video progresses, the people slowly rise and their names appear near the end of the video. Only at the end of the video do we realise the people are all cancer survivors. Among those shown in the video are Sharon Osbourne and Pierre Bouvier's (the lead singer of Simple Plan) brother.

The GOOD, and the bad:

Gosh I think that was one of the shortest 'video summary' I have written. XD Anyway about Save You, to me it's a simple video, simple plan (pun intended :P), but really meaningful song! xD This is another of those songs which you really have 2 just stare at the lyrics and admire it. Umm 2 be honest, I can't remember a song that I don't want people to look at the lyrics! HAHAX! There's only 1 reason for that: Most of the songs I listen to have very strong

, sentimental lyrical meanings in them. ;) That's actually why music so impacts my life! :D Ironically, I heard it on Nicholas' hp as his message tone during tennis training today which prompted me to post this song this week! I was actually thinking of posting it a few weeks later! XD

Ok ok, back to Save You. The lyrics are obviously good, as it really captures the essence of saving someone when you are feeling so helpless yourself. The song is written primarily about Pierre's brother on his battle with cancer. When I first saw the lyrics, I was so emotionally touched, my heart kinda just ached. You know, like wanna cry, but just holding it back so it's crying in the heart. Yea that kind of ache. I personally have a few friends I wanna help, but I can't attend to every single person, you know? So I try my best, but in the end for t

hose that I can't help, I feel really disappointed, like I wanna kick myself for not being able 2 help. Oh btw, I dun juz mean people who have illnesses that kind of help, as in any kind of help. :D

Away from the lyrics, Simple Plan have really grown up, in a much much more mature manner. (wow alliteration to the max! xD)

Compare this: 'past picture'

And this: 'present picture'

It used to be the punk-ish, casual bad-boy look. But now, it's also casual and bad-boy, but with a much mature presence in it. A little emo, maybe? xD And somehow, I feel that the look of them in the past, make them look like 5 individuals standing together, whereas now, they look more like a band. Maybe it's the baggy jeans in the past that's the problem. xD I think the most change is in Pierre ba. (the one in the centre of the 'past picture', and the one on the far right of the 'present picture'.) Impressive! ;)

Oh and I luv the part of the video when the drums start to play. :D So cool! Hahax...

However, the real show of this piece of music is actually the guitar and the piano. Listen carefully to the background music and u'll know what I mean. ;) A close-up of the guitar play would have been much appreciated by at least one audience here. :D And probably, I think a video with a story line (maybe happening in a hospital rather than an open space) would be a better plot.

Adding to that, the co-ordinator really have been slacking his job off. So obvious that Pierre's lip synching! For all who know about the procedure and format of music videos, they are all lip-synced, but the very least don't make it so obvious, right? Slacked off job which almost ruined the song >.<

Current Music Playing: Save You by Simple Plan

Take, a breath

I pull myself together
Just another step

Until I reach the door
You’ll never know, the way

It tears me up inside to see you

I wish that I could tell you something
To take it all away

Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there’s so many things that,

I want you to know
I won’t give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever,

I want you to know

When I hear, your voice

It’s drowning in the whispers
You’re just skin, and bones
There’s nothing left to take

And no matter what, I do
I can’t make you feel better

If only I could find the answer
To help me understand

Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there’s so many things that,

I want you to know
I won’t give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever,

I want you to know, that

If you fall, stumble down
I’ll pick you up off the ground
If you lose, faith in you
I’ll give you strength to pull through
Tell me you won’t give up
Coz I’ll be waiting if you fall

You know, 

I’ll be there for you

(Guitar Solo)

If only I could find the answer
To take it all away

Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there’s so many things that,

I want you to know
I won’t give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever,

I want you to know

I wish I could save you
I want you to know
I wish I could save you

Dose no. 2: 

This next track is coming from one of my favourite male soul artiste of all time. His voice may be the rough type, but he uses it magnificently. And in a duet, his low voice, which in these days are really hard to hear from guys :S (even me! :P), is just AWESOME. No other words to describe it. The song? Well those who know the UK chart well, it's Broken Strings by James Morrison featuring Nelly Furtado.

The video:

The video shows James Morrison performing the track in a hotel room, while Nelly Furtado performs it in another darker room, where both rooms are separated by a piece of glass. According to Wikipedia, the video was inspired by the movie, "Paris, Texas". (Hahax not even I heard of this movie. xD)

First, we see Furtado walking into the darker room and picking up the phone, and Morrison's room starts to light up, showing him sitting on the bed pondering on something. As the song approaches the chorus, he picks up the guitar beside him and starts playing it (while he continues to sing). The first half of the video did not have Furtado singing.

In the second half, Furtado puts the phone down on hold and then starts singing. As the song approaches the chorus for the 2nd time, Nelly puts her hand on the glass and so does Morrison. (hand-to-hand, watch the vid if you dun understand! XD). By the time the song reaches the chorus, things in Morrison's hotel room start to break. First the flower vase, then the TV exploded, followed by Morrison's guitar.

After this, the video moves between 2 scenes frequently: When the room starts to burn, with Morrison still singing while playing his guitar! And also, the scene of Furtado and Morrison at the piece of glass, hand-to-hand. 

Near the end of the video, the reverse process of the broken stuff is shown. Everything in the room returns to original shape. The video ends with Furtado putting the phone down (ending the call), and the hotel room becomes pitch-black.

The GOOD, and the bad:

Ok. 1st thing's 1st. Till date, this song is the most successful song by James Morrison, peaking at number 2 on the UK singles chart! His previous smash hit was You Give Me Something, which peaked at only number 5 in the UK. Both are great songs though, and you just gotta hand it to the man. His voice is something not many would really get used to listening, as his voice is the more umm 'sore' voice type. But he puts it to great use this time round - IN A DUET! Nowadays you hear duets where the guy's voice is sometimes higher than the gal's voice. -.- You get the picture. It's just...freaky! The lower the man's voice, the more the female's voice would stand out. ;)

I really think it's worth seeing Morrison performing live. Imagine him serenading everyone with just the guitar. I so like the way he sings while playing the guitar in the video. :D Also, I duno how true this is, but in my context, he sounds like he is leading Furtado in the song when they are singing together. Partly b'coz Furtado has this sort of 'fantasy-sounding' high-pitched voice that is more often heard Dance-pop tracks. In general, it's heard in theme parks! XD So I think Furtado has Morrison to thank for leading her in one of the slower songs I have heard by her. ;)

As for the video, hahax when I 1st watched the breaking and burning scenes, my eyes nearly popped out! Hahax I definitely remember saying 'Woah!' when I 1st saw it. Man, that's cool! In a boyish kind of way. Breaking stuff's cool! XD Oh but dun worry, I dun break stuff at home. :P Probably is b'coz of the IHE (Literature) lessons that I've been learning in school about films, I have learnt 2 appreciate this video more and more! :D The usage of lighting in this video is really really strong, especially if you include the usage of a mirror reflection to show the face of Furtado from the other room. Love this kind of use of lighting. ;) Also, slow motion is used for the breaking of the various items to give it a dramatic feel, and a purposely elaborated showing of the stuff slowly breaking into many many pieces. :D Yay IHE! XD

Once again, you gotta go look at the lyrics!!! I really love this: 'Oh the truth hurts, and lies worse' Oh and I only just realised, both You Give Me Something and Broken Strings are about giving! XD In Broken Strings, after 'Oh the truth hurts, and lies worse', it's 'How can I GIVE anymore, when I love you a little less, than before'! Woohoo! And to end off the 'good' section, I think it's pretty worth buying Morrison's album. This song totally fits into the album name 100% (maybe even more!). Songs For You, Truths for Me. I can tell you, given that this guy's only 24 and able to write lyrics like these, he's gonna be one of the best singer-songwriter of out generation. At least he made Straits Times eat their words, coz the review for the album was only 2.5/5 if i remember correctly, and they (the person reviewing the album for ST) even found this song very odd. Eat your words, ST. Eat your words...

However, PUT YOUR HANDS UP if you feel Furtado doesn't have much expression when singing the song! My oh my, she seems unfeeling when singing the song. Ok give her credit when she sings near the end. Hahax but like I said, lucky got Morrison to save you, Furtado! :D

Besides that, I duno wad kind of fault to find from this song. :S For the 1st time ever, any comments? XD

Current Music Playing: Broken Strings by James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado

Let me hold you
For the last time
It's the last chance to feel again
But you broke me
Now I can't feel anything

When I love you
It's so untrue
I can't even convince myself
When I'm speaking
It's the voice of, someone else

Oh it tears me up
I try to hold on, but it hurts too much
I try to forgive, but it's not enough

To make it all okay

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything

That your heart don't want to feel
I can't tell you something that ain't real
Oh the truth hurts
And lies worse
How can I give anymore,
When I love you a little less, than before?

Oh what are we, doing
We are turning into dust
Playing house in, the ruins, of us

Running back through, the fire
When there's nothing left to save
It's like chasing, the very last train when it's too late

Too late, oh it tears me up
I try to hold on, but it hurts too much
I try to forgive, but it's not enough

To make it all okay

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything

That your heart don't want to feel
I can't tell something that ain't real
Well the truth hurts,
And lies worse
How can I give anymore,
When I love you a little less than before?

But we're burning through the fire
When there's nothing left to save
It's like chasing, the very last train
When we both know it's too late (too late)

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything

That your heart don't want to feel
I cant tell you something that ain't real
Oh the truth hurts,
And lies worse
How can I give anymore,
When I love you a little less, than before?
Oh, you know that I love you a little less, than before

Let me hold you

For the last time
It's the last chance, to feel again

17:17

If I think of it as a mountain, I wanna try and MOVE it.

If I think of it as a game, I wanna play it till the very last level AS FAST AS I CAN.

If I think of it as a sumo-wrestler, I wanna execute it, or pierce it RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART.

What is 'it'? 'It' is none other than

Ai yai yai...I missed playing last week coz I had 2 scram through my work. Thinking that maybe after clearing last week, this week would be better. DREAM ON!!! The next pile is here. >.<>

22:45

You people are real great friends! ;) Thanks thanks thanks!!!

Officially, my newborn cousin's name is now

Like the Chinese name (duno how 2 write yet though :S), but mebbe not so the English.

Some say Hazel's too common, but I shall say that the 'not-common-name part' was my mum's idea, not my aunt's. Looks like my China aunt only knows how 2 say Hazel, so dat'll do, I guess. Definitely I wanna name it sumting special when it's my turn to have a son or daughter. Hahax mebbe my son(s) can be named from Man Utd's soccer team. HAHAX freaky, eh?

22:17

Oh oh! 2 GOOD NEWS!!!

I shall build up atmosphere and say the 'not-so-huge-news-but-still-significant' good news...

Yay to the person who got A1 for chinese O's! :D Jia yous! Don't quit or withdraw or drop from HCL now. So waste of your past few years, you know? >.<>

18:10

Sweet sweet 16! Not bad hor? Can watch NC 16 liaox...2 more years later and more movies for you to watch! :P

By the way, you could plead your parents to let you watch Thursday morning's match against Derby. You could be in to watch tons of goals, don't be surprised. :D

2day was 1st day of lessons. Well, I shall hereby say I don't like Maths teacher >.<>

18:27

Well here it is. Alv's track of the week (last week) was from, I can't believe I'm introducing a song from him, David Archuleta. Archie's Angels, the fans of his are called. xD And no, it's not Crush. It's a much better video this time, and it just points to his 2nd single, A Little Too Not Over You.

The video: 

Basically the video shows Archuleta looking through pictures of a past relationship on a camera, reflecting on the good times he had with a girl, while he sings in a really nice room. He soon sings while playing a guitar. The video ends with Archuleta at a screen on the camera showing "Delete All Pictures: Yes/No" and he hesitates about it. Waa so simple video summary this time round. :D

The GOOD, and the bad:

First and foremost, Archuleta's all grown up! He may only be at a crisp age of 18 (in fact, he just turned exactly 8 days ago!). But in this video, he tries to look as 20+-like as he can, quite evidently by the way he dresses and the way he poses while singing and stuff. And hereby, I wanna say no matter how old he tries to look, it will still MAKE HIM LOOK CUTE. All b'coz he has the looks of a boy. Baby-faced! He has the kind of look that will earn shrieks from his female teenage fans, Archie's Angels, and pinches on the cheeks from the mums for being so baby-looking. HAHAX!

Also, I love the room, especially when it is at a time when I'm painting my own room, and something like this pops up. I like the colour combination between Archuleta and the background when he picks up the guitar. Brilliant!

Ok now for the real deal. The song itself. The lyrics is excellent. It has almost everything about an after-breakup.  In a dilemma about whether she is best with you or another guy, unable to face the truth, memories of the person that wouldn't go away and being strong after a breakup. Unique. Hahax it's an excellent song for anyone who is still thinking about their ex. I dun tink Archuleta is though. xD Overall, the song fits in really well with current teens, which goes to show why it's so well received.

However for the 'bad', weird title! Is it me or did I see bad English in there? xD And I think the 'Ee, Ee, Ee' in the background is suppose to be a kind of musical style, but after a while, it gets a bit annoying. >.<

Another thing would be one of his plus points, which turns out is part of his 'weakness'. I can't really call it a weakness, coz you have to keep in mind that he's only 18. Hence, the lyrics is quite teenish-like. Nothing deep, and easy to comprehend. Straightforward, but Arculeta must thank his lucky stars that I'm also a teen. Therefore, I'll leave the 'weakness' in his lyrics as a bygone. :D Start counting, Archie!

4/5

Current Music Playing: A Little Too Not Over You by David Archuleta

It never crossed, my mind at all
That's what I tell myself
What we had, has come and gone
You're better off with someone else
It's for the best, I know it is

But I see you
Sometimes I try to hide
What I feel inside
And I turn, around
You're with him now
I just can't figure it out

Tell me why
You're so hard to forget
Don't remind me
I'm not over it
Tell me why
I can't seem to face the truth
I'm just a little too not over you
Not over you

Memories
Supposed to fade
What's wrong with my heart?
Shake it off, let it go
Didn't think it be this hard
Should be strong
Moving on

But I see you
Sometimes I try to hide
What I feel inside
And I turn, around
You're with him now
I just can't figure it out

Tell me why
You're so hard to forget
Don't remind me
I'm not over it
Tell me why
I can't seem to face the truth
I'm just a little too not over you

Maybe I regret
Everything I said
No way to take it all back, yeah
Now I'm on my own
How I let you go
I'll never understand
I'll never understand, yeah

Tell me why
You're so hard to forget
Don't remind me
I'm not over it
Tell me why
I can't seem to face the truth
I'm just a little too not over you

Tell me why
You're so hard to forget
Don't remind me
I'm not over it
Tell me why
I can't seem to face the truth
And I really don't know what to do
I'm just a little too not over you
Not over you

20:16

2day, Rytha had her 1st tennis lesson at Dover. Hahax honestly, I didn't see her play much, since I was over at the other court. >.<>

20:43

I was just going thru the blogs of people who did the quiz that is on my blog. :P

1st up, Rytha, since I got tagged in the quiz by her. xD

#18 Who is no.6 having relationship with?: He's single

#39 What is no. 6 doing now?: In malaysia enjoying time with his family.

I say: Nothing special, at least they're all facts. ;)

2nd, Yun Jin.

#22 When was the last time you had a chat with no. 3?:
(Alvin) Lol I don't know. Maybe a million years ago xD

#25 Will you woo no. 3?:
(Alvin) Lol no lah! Anyway quoted from his blog, "I dun welcome luv relationships now, so yea. ;)"

I say: Again, nth special. But...COPYCAT :P (i tagged sumting like this on her blog too :P)

3rd, Jia Wen. The most things to talk about, since I was talked about for uhh 11 qns. :D Somemore seldom really hard to speak on MSN coz she uses mobile MSN, and appears off9 a lot. xD Hence, I shall put my doubts here. Answer if you want. :D hehe...

#4 The most memorable thing he/she has done for you: Comment that I eat very slowly.
#5 The most memorable thing he/she said to you: "You eat very slowly"

I say: this is really 1 to laugh at. 1st impression was, "I did?!" O.o And well, after checking my 'sent messages' on my hp, I did! That was when she went out 2 eat with her cousin and her family, rite? xD And that was my mistake, since normally if you eat with a cousin whom u haven seen for a really really long time, it's bound to be eating while long chats. I experience this myself coz I recently met my cousin (ex-cousin actually, coz my uncle divorced :() and we all had a long chat. Swimmers have really really huge shoulder width. I'm guessing hers is like 50cm, and she's only a 12 going 13-year-old girl! O.O I'm losing my point~

#6 If he/she becomes your lover you will: Turn him off when playing tennis by whacking balls at him (Unintentional though).

#8 If he/she becomes your enemy, you will: Whack him with high-speed flying tennis balls during training.

I say: Poor chap, I'm gonna be. Dat's y it's best to be neither this nor that. "I'll just keep on dreaming, but it's cool coz we're just friends"~Just Friends by Jonas Brothers. :D Well, time to get some dodging practice coming up, and hey! This could train my reflexes and anticipation! Thanks Jia Wen!!! :P Oh and just for the other people who don't know when my tennis trng is, it's every saturday, which is TOMORROW!!!

#7 If he/she becomes your lover, thing(s) he/she has to improve/change will be: Stop going online and spend more time with me. Haha!

#9 If he/she becomes your enemy, the reason will be: He tags me for more quizzes.

I say: Spend more time with you? Sure, but how? We live kilometres away! It's difficult, but still possible. ;) And going online have become a habit liaox, hard to change. :S And like I said on her tagboard, I will make her do the 100qns 1. Evil me!!! ~cliché evil laughs~

#10 The most desired thing you want to do for him/her now is: Tell him I like songs by The Script too!!! :D
#11 Your overall impression of him/her is: Funny cheerful tennis-playing guy.

I say: U like The Script too?! Woohoo! 3 Cheers to the masters of love lyrics!!! :D I heard The Script is about to write song(s) for Leona Lewis' second album! Imagine that, great vocals coupled with brilliant lyrics. I smell a hit in the making. ;) Oh and The Script most likely is coming in April this year. YAY!!! results man, results! ;)

and uhh? I'm funny? Anyone else who thinks so? :D

Current Music Playing: Just Friends by Jonas Brothers

Everyone knows, it's meant to be
Falling in love, just you and me
‘till the end of time
‘till I'm on your mind
It'll happen
We've been making, lots of plans
Like a, picket fence and a rose garden

I'll just keep on dreaming

18:39