What Kylie Means

I first got acquainted with Kylie in 2000, with Spinning Around. Since then it's been hit after hit and she has built her reputation with her touring and more often than not, interesting music videos!

I bought her first tour DVD, Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour (2005) in which she performed songs that I was unfamiliar with. They went on to become my absolute favourites - Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi (1988), Hand On Your Heart (1989), Shocked (1991), What Do I Have To Do (1991), Confide In Me (1994). She brought them all to life on that tour... along with some indisputable global sensations like Can't Get You Out Of My Head (2001).

And so armed with slightly more than 10 years of anticipation and knowledge of Kylie's work that spanned almost 24 years, I was finally able to witness her, live, on her Aphrodite World Tour at the Singapore Stadium last night.

Indeed, she was incredible. And incredibly enough, she could possibly have pulled off an acoustic set if she wanted. No doubt, she's no Adele, but she more than competent with her singing. She had an ah lian part where she came out with her feather boa and mini-shorts for a rousing I Should Be So Lucky during the request segment. She also did a ballad where she sang, "if you don't love me anymore..." and the audience kept screaming "we love you Kylie!". Having seen other videos of this on youtube I feel that the Singapore crowd was really disruptive and warm and enthusiastic... it was amazing!


But the highlight for me was a slow-jammed / jazz remix of the already slow, delicious and tantalising, Slow. It got slower, nastier with her vocals positively dripping with sensuality, purring, growling... and then it went down, down, down, down, down and burst into its pulsating, massive, electro sound of the original.

My mind could not handle such wonderfulness in musicality.

Needless to say, the set design and costumes were extravagant and the feast for the eyes. So were the dancers. I will leave you with more photos, here, courtesy of Weetz. Can't wait for the DVD of this tour, which is slated for release later this year.

One of the few artistes to have hits spanning the 80s, 90s, 00s, and now 2011... She was really magnificent and seasoned. I hope I get the chance to see her live again!

Writing

I think writing gets harder as you get older. It's the one thing that doesn't get easier. You expect more out of yourself. To string words that flow together, use the simple to convey the complicated, paint a picture, set the mood, express emotions... You want to be witty and humorous. You want to be impactful. You want to be understood.

For me writing is so much more than taking note of achievements and milestones in life. It's an analysis of life in that moment, something like a time capsule. A good piece of writing is one that has cultural and emotional relevance. Possibly something like this.

This week, inspiration is particularly evasive, possibly because I haven't been up to much. Sitting around at the computer, teaching tuition, barely working my mind. Friends have been returning from graduation trips. It would be great to catch up with everyone and hear their stories.

Need to stop procrastinating. And start writing. Anyway the number of people reading this blog is one-fifth of what it was at its peak. Guess I won't be wasting too many people's time if it turned out to be crap.

Glad You Came

This is my summer anthem.

It starts off with a rather heart-felt declaration of "my universe, will never be the same" and then the beats kick in and it's a non-stop party till the end.

I love the lyrics and the way they rhyme. I like how it's simple and the mood's just fine. I mimic their accents everytime the song hits the pre-chorus bit:

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time
Time is slipping away
Away from us so stay
Stay with me I can make
Make you Glad You Came.

The track has a bit of Ibiza vibe and their video? Fantastically summer-y, messing about in the sun and the sea.

Watch The Wanted's video for Glad You Came here.



The current brit-pop group to listen to, alongside the legendary Take That.

Romanticise

I think I am too romantic. Romantic, not in the popular definition, but being "imbued with or dominated by idealism, a desire for adventure, chivalry etc".

I'm easily influenced by the things that I come into contact with. The movies I watch, the books I read and the music I listen. As with all great creative works, there is a strong element of fantasy, based upon drama, building moods and atmospheres. Clubbing looks really good in music videos, but aren't that great half the time. Instability, troubles, good looks and money make for good TV... but possibly not real life.

I like the notion that I'm the star of my life. I like the notion that love conquers all, makes one feel alive and special. I like the notion that every conversation is witty and leads to some important consequence later on. I like the notion that the good guys will have a happy ending.

Sometimes I even think that there'd be music in the background at some critical moment. Like a cool soundtrack for all the cool moments for all the cool things I've done!

But reality is a little different. Things don't last forever. Sometimes you aren't the most popular person in the room. Sometimes it gets quiet. Sometimes it gets lonely. Sometimes you're by the beach, but it's not a big party. Nobody breaks into song, like they do on Glee.

It's great to indulge in fantasy and fiction. In fact we do it so often we expect these elements to appear in real life.

I know I do, but I'm slowly learning to realise that it isn't like that. My life isn't TV. When I was in Bali, with Lyon, Pamy and Stanley, there was a moment when we were at the beach, where we just laid there. Not on deck chairs, but on towels. No magaritas in our hands, possibly a bottle of mineral water. Our sunglasses weren't Tom Ford. We weren't having interesting conversation. There was no music in the background. The waves weren't crashing dramatically. They were just there.

It would have made for a terrible movie, or book, or TV show.

But such peace, serenity, company and comfort makes for a good life. That moment has been etched into my memory. Nothing happened... but I loved it. I'm learning to embrace it. Maybe my life won't be as glamorous as I thought it would. But it doesn't matter. I'm happy.

X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class is my favourite movie this year. Thus far, of course.

There's a lot of baggage in history, but it doesn't weigh this movie down. Familiar, but with a twist. Gone are almost all the actors from the previous X-men trilogy, save for perhaps Wolverine, who had one line that cracked up the entire cinema. I was unfamiliar with this story too. I entered the cinema with only a vague inkling of the history between Professor X and Magneto.

It was great to see the movie mine the various back-stories of individual characters and throw them into a new narrative. It was all weaved in very well. Every turn a surprise. I guess therein lies the source of a good movie, or a good story even... real characters. The ensemble cast was great and everyone was likeable on screen. Quite surprised by the appearance of Lucas Till and especially, Nicholas Hoult of A Single Man. A bit too pretty boy for Hank, but his acting's convincing still!

And the visual effects and action scenes didn't disappoint either. The final boom boom pow show-down? Nice.

It was also brilliant hearing the closing song performed by Take That. The music is glorious, in line with the recent sound they have explored on Progress. Synths, one-note bass, wonderful lyrics... grand, and epicly so.

I hope for its sequel to be even better.