Swimmer.

I was
waiting for you.
I was
standing around.
I was
getting older.
I was
going down.

If you always get up late
you'll never be on time.
If you always make it after work.

Oh the day never comes
and I stand up
waiting on.

I saw you down there.
I know you were tired,
I saw you.
You looked like a swimmer.
I wanna be with you
all of the time.
Why can't you satisfy?

You look good
but you sound better,
you were the best I had.

If you always get up late
you'll never be on time.
If you always get up late,
you're never gonna be on time
and that's a shame.

Cause I like you.
I never see you.

(Broken Social Scene were awesome. Even if Emily Haines wasn't there and they didn't play my favourite song.)

iGoogleMe.

This is a sure fire anthem that will soon invade iPods, Youtube, Walkmans and Discmans at this internet-age of narcissism.

白光 ﹣如果沒有你

My tonsils are swollen as hell. I is very sad. :(

Never Give Up On The Good Times.

I remember on my first few days in JC, during one of those dreaded get-to-know-each-other games we'd play in class, we were all supposed to declare an embarrassing moment in our lives. When it was my turn, I announced sheepishly, 'I used to love The Spice Girls.' The class roared into laughter, and when the commotion died down, one of them admitted that she, too, was a huge fan of The Spice Girls. (Her favourite was Posh, like every other females I know. Except my sisters, whose favourite was Sporty.) Soon, it was like a session of Spice Girls Anonymous.

But what I didn't mentioned after that: I was a Spice Girls Groupie. I bookmarked all their fansites. I own an official Spice Girls LD - yes, Laser Disc, it existed - some of their VCDs, a VHS of their American Tour, a copy of Geri Halliwell's autobiography If Only - which I re-read more times than a normal person should - old copies of Smash Hits and Top Of The Pops with them on the cover,

and I followed them through their solo careers.

Then Victoria released her solo album, and I realised there was no point loving them anymore. It was an album I forced myself to listen because it was the last Spice's solo album that I could add to my collection of solo albums. I had believed I was following the overe of a legendary group. But what I had listen to was pure auricular nonsense. I had to let it go. The Spice Girls, was history.

On my backpacking trip in July, I heard they were reuniting for a world tour and a Greatest Hits album. A world tour. Not a reunion at your local Pan Pacific Hotel ballroom or Star Cruise. An actual world tour in stadiums, reminiscent of their last tour around the globe. It's almost 10 years. Mel B got owned by Eddie Murphy. Geri Halliwell taught yoga and named her child Bluebell Madonna. Victoria Beckham is the new Paris Hilton. Melanie C is huge in Germany, Switzerland and in every sense of the word. Emma Bunton is, well, boring. I was doubtful. I fear they may have to hold their gigs onboard Star Cruise.

So imagine when they sold out their London tour in 38 seconds. More tour dates. Tabloid news of their alleged bitch fights. Yesterday I uploaded their albums onto my iPod. This was the soundtrack of my puberty. This is the sound of the late 90s. Happy, bubblegum pop that we can all sing-a-long to. Never mind their comeback single is a boring ballad (Take the cue from Britney, bitch.). I feel like it's 1997 again, except now I can watch their videos on Youtube.


I really need to get back to my research paper.

"We are all pagan. Let's just march."

So said Bjork.

This is supposedly the most mainstream album by the same woman who gave us that swan outfit. I can't wait.

You can never lose what you never had.

There is something seriously wrong with me. Because the smartest quote I've heard all week is the title above, and it came from Westlife. Well, not that I've been disguising their songs under dubious indie band names (it's possible.) and secretly listening to them. But a very close friend shared that quote with me, and it woke me up from all the silliness that I've been drowning in these days.

Such is the deal that comes with very close friends who go all the way back to primary school. They will always have one-liners that serve to instantly jolt you up from slumber.

And the last ever Poptart tomorrow at Home!

iKnow, right.

• The new iPod line: The 2nd generation iPod Nano - a hybrid of the Nano and Mini (in 2,4 and 8GB), the updated 5th generation (30GB and a whopping 80GB!) and a brand new 1GB Shuffle.

I want my weekend love.

Something for the weekend.

• Final weekend at Cafe Cosmo: Serenaide performs live this Friday, and 10 DJs for Cosmo All-Stars on Saturday. Indie fans, your last chance to check out this fantastic little space before it goes.
• Singapore Portraits: A photo exhibition by New York-based portrait photographer Darlene Li at Basheer Books Gallery at Bras Basah.
  
• Off the wall: SAM's street art party.This Saturday, 9:30pm till late.
  

Check my camp mates out, too. They are performing for the Dumbass Slavery Inc Recruitment Drive at Toa Payoh Hub this weekend.

Those To Come.

• Openstage: Something for the weekend.
  

Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand

• Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness: British Pop meets British Internet-spawned Punk. Sugababes with their new member, Amelle, covers Arctic Monkeys' I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. Surprisingly good.
  

top five O' oh five.

I ain't no music connoisseur, but these are my Top 5 albums of '05. Because I want to do one of those Year-End list nonsense.

5. Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance

After my Ipod Kenny got stolen, I started on a CD buying spree. Hers was one of the first of many and remained in my player for months. Fiona was still on hiatus back then and Rachael sounded eerily like her. Her husky voice that compliments the bittersweet lovelorn lyrics, not that she is anything you haven't heard before, but she made me feel good.

4. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

After Michigan, comes Illinois. Haven't heard Michigan yet though, since Illinois' the first Sufjan Steven sound I heard. Nevertheless, I am in no hurry for the first of 50 American states -named albums he will eventually release. The second one is an emo fanfare with long, bizzare titles yet still interesting enough to last for awhile on my Ipod.

3. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

Need I say more about Miss Apple? Her comeback album is an extraordinary masterpiece, Mike Elizondo or not. Her poetry still astounds. Little Miss Angst is all grown up, and it gets better with each listen.

2. The Shins - Oh, Inverted World

There is something very surreal about The Shins. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain the hauntingness. But they were there during my long MRT rides to camp. Which is equivalent to saying their music could have accompanied you during a road trip down Route 66.

1. Jose Gonzalez - Veneer

Quiet is indeed the new loud. He keeps things bare and simple. Meanwhile, close your opened jaws while you marvel at his innate guitar skills. The way he orchestrated that strumming and insane fingers with his incredible voice to bring you this fantastic album - wow.

Other artists I wished I could list.

Serenaide - I've only heard one song. I want to hear more.
Martha Wainswright - I've heard nothing but good about Rufus' sister. But at 40bucks a CD? I saw it at 18bucks but I just discovered pirating.
Madonna - Madge ventured into the swinging 80s. It's alright to bring the music back, I guess.

But not the shoulder pads or leg warmers, please.

The Apples of my eye, these extraordinary machines.

"If you don't have a song to sing
You're ok
You know how to get along humming
If you don't have a date
Celebrate
Go out and sit on a lawn
And do nothing
-Cause it's just what you must do and
Nobody does it anymore."

Waltz (Better Than Fine)



Paper Bag, from her second album When The Pawn... introduced me to the world of Fiona Apple. I became a fan since. I should be ashamed though, for not being part of the FreeFiona campaign, a world-wide crusade to release her latest album Extraordinary Machine. I didn't even purchase an apple, or a sticker of an apple to be sent to Sony/Epic, Apple's evil profit-from-thrash-hip-hop-making corporate record company.

So this is how the story goes: The earlier version of Extraordinary Machine, which she co-produced with Jon Brion (who composed the beautiful, haunting music of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and When The Pawn... "In short, if Willy Wonka made records, they'd sound like Jon Brion.") was shelved by Sony for being radio-unfriendly (read: not profit making). It leaked on the internet last year and immediately her fans got into action. The news spread and there she was, in her mum's Manhattan apartment, watching TV in her bathrobe with no day job. Her manager called. She cried. The rest, they say, is history. And now you get her gawddamned album.

I've read articles about Apple; about her childhood rape, her rise to popstardom with her magnetic angst-filled energy popular with the mass (think Alanis, pre-Ryan Reynolds, or post-Jagged Little Pill, for that matter.) back in the early 90s, to her infamous 'this world is bullshit!' speech at the '97 MTV VMA, to her many outbursts during her gigs, her breakdowns during photoshoots - you'd think she needs therapy and perhaps some Vicodin. She probably had. But I say do not let her misery-influenced history bound you to her music and beautiful poetry. Do not just be enthralled by her unique, husky voice - they all come together in such a beautiful collaboration.

Nonetheless, Extraordinary Machine showcases Apple in all her holy prowess. Only two tracks originally from the earlier version produced by Jon Brion made it here, the title track and the closing one (Waltz - Better Than Fine). Both are classic Jon-Brions, the hypnotic orchestra arrangement that clearly defines the 20s' and complete with Apple's weary vocals, she sound wise beyond her years. The other tracks fare pretty well, too. Re-arranged by Mike Elizondo, whose claim to fame would be working on Eminem and 50 cent's albums (!), there is a hint of hip-hoppop without compromising the Fiona Apple sound. Her honest words, the beautiful poetry, continue to be part of her ingenuity.



I wonder if the bloody corporate purgatory will ever release the original version of Extraordinary which I was surprised didn't come along with this version (instead, a DVD of her videos and performances are packed into this dual disc set; check out her infamous nervousness she try to hide during an unplugged session of the title track.). But I guess it makes it all the more mysterious, in some sense, the appeal sorta heightens.

Meanwhile, moving on to another Apple.





I finally purchased my Ipod!

It is an extraordinary machine no doubt, a pop phenomenon that I am proud to say I am a part of. I simply cannot live without it, not since the day the muthafucker who stole it and probably sold it to some Ahbeng in Malaysia who probably has EuRoDaNceBeStHITSfOrEvEr1999 in it. On repeat. I've been burning holes in my pocket every month by buying more Cds than ever. Not that this little baby didn't exactly burn a small hole, I will be starving on cornflakes and shalt cease to have a social life from now on till the next pay day.

I would have loved to review it but I shall leave it to the experts. I can only complain about the rather useless video function (which requires me to PURCHASE a software to transfer them to the Ipod. Bloody Steve Jobs. But thank God for BT. ;p)and the battery that didn't really live up to my expectations. I wonder if it is just my Ipod.

[earwax]: Fiona Apple - Waltz (Better than fine)

365 more days. exactly.

One more year before I get out of this hell hole.

*

[earwax] of the weekend, aka Playlist To Watch The World Waltz By On A MRT:

1.The Shins - New Slang
2.Iron and Wine - Such Great Height
3:Beck - Everybody Gotta Learn Sometimes
4:Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
5:Bonnie Sommerville - Winding Road
6:Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
7:Sia - Breathe Me
8:Franz Ferdinand - Eleanor Put Your Boots On
9:Damien Rice - Cold Water
10:Joseph Arthur - Honey and the Moon
11:Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark

(The last track will follow the train into the tunnel.)