Defying Gravity...

Thursday was a mixture of drama and miracle...some idiot decided to create Everests out of anthills...and i was the unwitting scapegoat...suddenly i just felt like i've had enough of all this stupidity...all this politics and hypocrisy...can't help thinking that i should stir up trouble so that i have an excuse to quit...

And i woke up on Friday morning from a dream...which normally would have sent shivers down my spine and caused me to wake up screaming, crying and soaked in sweat...i dreamt that i failed my exam...instead i actually felt relieved and happy...i felt that it was a good sign...if i failed my exam then i have a good reason to quit...yea, screw it!! i'm outta here...

And then i opened my FB and saw a friend's link with one of the song from WICKED: the musical...it's the song by Elphaba, "Defying Gravity"...when she started to fly...and i could relate to Elphie...how she was such a nice and loving person but was used by the establishment and when she rebelled, they outcast her and labelled her 'wicked'....when i first watched the musical and heard Rachel Tucker sang this song at Apollo Victoria Theatre, tears were flowing down from my eyes...it was so touching and inspiring....

And i listened to it again...this time, the rock version by Kerry Ellis...thought it was great for dancing...the energy and spirit were so inspiring...and i checked out the lyrics...the song lyrics and the lyrics from the musical are slightly different...but both versions still made my spirit want to break free...anyway, sharing the Kerry Ellis rock version here (though i think Rachel Tucker is a better Elphaba):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-cMh4QjYA&feature=fvst

And here are the lyrics:

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It's time to try defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't bring me down
Mmm-mmm

I'm through accepting limits
Cos someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But til I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love it comes at
Much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy defying gravity
I'm way up high, I'm defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down

Unlimited
My future is unlimited
And I just had a vision
Almost like a prophecy
I know
It sounds truly crazy
And, true, the vision's hazy
But I can see it
I can feel it
I swear I'll be so high
yeah yeah

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves a chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me
ah yeah

It's time to try defying gravity
I'm way up high, I'm defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me
You won't bring me down

Here's to standing up for your rights/faith/beliefs/convictions!!! time to break free and defy gravity!!!

The Little Mermaid....

After googling and youtubing Love Never Dies, i found out that Sierra Boggess, the Christine Daee in Love Never Dies also performed in The Little Mermaid musical (in Broadway) as Princess Ariel...i love The Little Mermaid...it's one of my all time favourite Disney cartoon...i remember that i used to go to my best friend, Jess' house almost everyday to watch it...we even learn the song "Part of Your World" and sang it over and over (well, at least i sang it over and over)...

So i just had to watch The Little Mermaid musical...i found a Pre-broadway version which someone illegally recorded and put up on Youtube...i liked it...they had more songs...and the costumes were great...and most of the actors moved around in skate shoes..for the gliding effect...so fun!!! i love Sierra Boggess as Ariel...her voice is amazing...so needless to say i've been singing Part of Your World in the shower the past few days after i watched The Little Mermaid...though it didn't sound half of what Sierra's version did...hehe...here's a link to Sierra's version of Part of Your World...

The Little Mermaid on Broadway - Part of Your World

Last night my camp 'daughter' Yin Yee posted up a few links on FB...one was this song from Swan Princess called Far Longer Than Forever...brought back so much memories...i loved this song and the cartoon of course when it came out...i remembered going over to my neighbour's house to watch it...and we'll be singing along..."If i could break the spell, i would run to him today, but somehow i know he's on his way to me....Derick, you and i were meant to be...." and i thought that was the most romantic song ever....here's a link to the song...

Far Longer Than Forever - The Swan Princess

She also posted up Reflection from Mulan...i loved Mulan too...i guess i've always identified with characters which always feel out of place, constrained by society norm and are trying to find their place in the world...to be who they really are...i supposed that's why i love Ariel and Mulan...sigh...i missed watching DIsney cartoons...after listening to Reflection and watching the video clip of scenes from Mulan, my tears just came flowing down...made me miss my Pa...don't know if i've ever done anything that made him proud of me like Mulan did...but there won't be any more chance to even try...anyway, here's a link to the song...

Reflection - Mulan

To those who grew up with these cartoons, hope you had a good time reminiscing...

Till I Hear You Sing....

I stumbled upon this song while browsing through my friend's blog yesterday...and i found out that this is one of the songs from "Love Never Dies"....the so-called sequel of the Phantom of the Opera...coz Andrew Lloyd Webber didn't want his new musical labelled as that...after hearing 'till i hear you sing', i just couldn't get it off my head...no wonder Pei is so ga-ga over Ramin Karimloo...this guy's voice is amazing...and he sounds so good singing it live...

Here's a link to his live version of "till i hear you sing"...tell me if it isn't amazing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKajSh084WY

And here are the lyrics to the song...gee, i can really listen to him sing all day...

The day starts, the day ends
Time crawls by
Night steals in, pacing the floor
The moments creep,
Yet I can’t bear to sleep
Till I hear you sing

And weeks pass, and months pass
Seasons fly
Still you don’t walk through my door
And in a haze
I count the silent days
Till I hear you sing once more.

And sometimes in darkness
I dream that you are there
But wake holding nothing but the cold night air

And years come, and years go
Time runs dry
Still I ache deep in my core
My broken soul
Can’t be alive or whole
Till I hear you sing once more

And music, your music
It teases at my ear
I turn and it fades away and you’re not here

Let hopes pass, let dreams pass
Let them die
Without you, what are they for?
I’ll always feel
No more than halfway real
Till I hear you sing once more

Gosh! the lyrics...and Ramin's rendition...so much longing...so much passion...it's almost ecstasy...but i can't help wondering how it would be if Gerard Butler was singing this song...after all said and done, Gerard Butler is still...and always will be...the best Phantom ever...to me that is...after googling "Love Never Dies" and read its synopsis, i can't help wonder why Christine chose Raoul in the first place...i would have chosen the Phantom...

I'm off to see the Phantom, the Wicked Witch of the West and Fantine....

So i've crossed the line and entered the realm of impulsive traveller...this England trip was planned at a time when i was feeling too stressed out and i just booked the flight tickets without thinking if i would be able to take leave to go...but thank God that as i'm typing this post, i'm back home in KL and am just another 6 hours away from my flight to England....

I've also finally received my ipad 2 which i bought like 2 months ago...it's a long story and i shall not venture into it...but my new toy will be my source of entertainment as i suffer through 13 hours of airasia flight to England...

I'll be in Warwick over the weekend to visit my sister...then i'll be going to London for my musical marathon at West End....woohoo!!! I booked my tickets for the Phantom of the Opera and WIcked...which has created a rather huge hole in my bank account...hoping to get cheap tickets for Les Miserable when i get to London....then maybe that would leave me some money for yet another musical...hehe...

My sister said that a lot of shops are on sale now...i do plan to do some shopping while i'm there...retail therapy should be good for stress...hehe...i do hope i don't get a full-blown flu coz my nose is running like it is preparing for a marathon...being sick on your holiday is really a bummer...but that's not gonna stop me from enjoying my holiday...

Cats....

Watching 'Cats' in Adelaide was probably the best way to spend my new year's eve...well, i've been working most of my new year's eves for the last few years...so yea, watching 'Cats' definitely beat the other new year's eves hands down...

I've always dreamed of watching 'Cats' or some of the other more famous musicals live in the theatre but of course the only one that i've ever caught was 'Fame' the last time they came to KL... incidentally 'Cats' has just returned to Adelaide after 14 years...and their opening night was on new year's eve...i was so happy when Esther told me we'd be watching 'Cats'...since John was on call...

So i reached Adelaide on 31st morning...couldn't really sleep on the flight so caught up with my sleep debt till about lunch...then Esther brought me to this place called ETC (East Terrace Cafe) for lunch...then we went shopping coz everywhere was on sale and i was hoping i could get a more formal dress for the theatre that night...unfortunately we couldn't find anything suitable so i had to settle for the white Uluwatu lace dress that i brought along...which was a good thing coz if i didn't then i wouldn't have anything to wear...

By 5pm, we rushed back to John's apartment and quickly bathed and got ready...coz the show was starting at 6pm...we grabbed a cab and went to the Adelaide Festival Centre where the show was...it started pretty much on time..by 615pm, the Jellicle Cats all came out to play and dance...it was amazing...i loved the whole performance...of course everyone loved the song "Memory" which was mostly sang by Grizabella the Glamour Cat...but i also liked the part where magical Mr Mistoffelees came out and made Old Deuteronomy appeared again...it was a fun song and i just love Mr Mistoffelees...although he doesn't sing a solo...but he danced really well...

And the poignant moment was when in the end, Old Deuteronomy chose Grizabella to be the Jellicle Cat who would be reborn....what a beautiful and touching climax to the show...

After that, Esther and i went to this Italian restaurant called Amalfi for dinner...we were back at the apartment by 10pm i think....and i was almost asleep by the time the clock struck midnight to usher in the new year....anyway happy new year!!!