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AOTW [41] : Jason Walker

Jason Walker – After listening to his song ‘Down’ on Vampire Diaries, I was really smitten by his voice and decided to search for more songs. (More like, I broke down over the song and decided to do a search on it and came across other songs. haha) Surprisingly, there isn’t one song from him that I’ve disliked so far and I really like the lyrics from every song. It really speaks from the bottom of his/my heart. Such heartfelt emotions through the lyrics and melody, great stuff !

I personally love ‘Down’, ‘You’re Missing It’ and ‘You Fill My Heart’. But featuring one of the my upbeat song from him on this entry. We’re all afraid of being more alone I guess ?

More Along – Jason Walker

It’s just another day
I’m a little scared
Don’t want to walk away
Completely unprepared
I wonder what it’s like
I wonder how it feels
To see the other side
To see it all so real

It seems like I’ve been here so long
I don’t know how I’ll ever leave
I can’t imagine moving on
And giving up everything
Just to be more alone

I’d believe a lie
It’s all I really need
To get me through the night
It’s all the same to me
I don’t need your closure
I don’t need your plan
Don’t tell me that it’s over
Just tell me there’s a chance

It seems like I’ve been here so long
I don’t know how I’ll ever leave
I can’t imagine moving on
And giving up everything
Just to be more alone

More alone
I don’t want to be
More alone
I don’t want to be

It seems like I’ve been here so long
I don’t know how I’ll ever leave
I can’t imagine moving on
And giving up everything
Just to be more alone
Just to be
More alone
More alone
Just to be
More alone

Tags: aotw, down, jason walker, lyrics, melody, more alone, search, upbeat, vampire diaries, you fill my heart, you're missing it

“Does it matter?”

Elena: “Things are different this year. Everything that used to matter doesn’t anymore.”
Damon: “So don’t let it. Quit, move on. Problem solved. Ta-da.”
Elena: “Some things could matter again.”
Damon: “Maybe. But… seems a little unrealistic to me.”

I recently discovered this yet another vampire series (slow, I know) called ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Hate to say this but it’s equally ‘trashy’ as Twilight is to me. The only thing I like about the show is Nina Dobrev whom I think is pretty and Paul Wesley with his really gorgeous eyes. Oh, the soundtrack isn’t too bad either. Will watch a few more episodes before I decide if I like it or not.

In this scene, Elena was talking about how she is tired of cheerleading and suddenly things that used to matter doesn’t really matter anymore. However, we see that a part of her is still holding on with the belief that perhaps it could matter again. Damon (Ian Somerhalder), as Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) elder brother, was convincing her to quit cheerleading and move on as he sees that she is not longer passionate in it and it is unrealistic to hold on.

Sometimes there are moments in life where we keep that thought of ‘ Hey, perhaps I should still hold on because I think things might change.’ or ‘Perhaps one day it’ll matter to me again, it was important afterall.’ I guess as much as we ought to be sentimental or giving ourselves second chances – sometimes it’s better to let go and move on, especially when nothing really matters anymore.

Tags: damon, elena, friday night bites, Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, season 1, stefan, the vampire diaries, twilight

‘He’s Right.’

Bizarro: You spent the last month telling me that you finally felt like we were meant to be together.
Clark: Don’t listen to him, Lana.
Bizarro: I know what’s in his mind, Lana. He doesn’t love you like I do.
Clark: That’s a lie!
Bizarro: You’re lying, Clark – to yourself! You’re so worried about doing the right thing, you don’t even see it.
Bizarro: [to Lana] You know he won’t commit his life to you like I will. You know that.
Lana: He’s right, Clark.
Clark: What?
Lana: I’ve never been more in love than I have the past month. Only it wasn’t with you. It was with him.
Bizarro: [extends his hand to Lana] Nothing will ever come between us again.

Was watching Smallville (kinda watch some episodes here and there, on and off basis) Season 7 Ep10 ‘Persona’ whereby Bizarro was playing the role of ‘nice Clark’ to Lana who was obviously unaware and smitten. Honestly, as much as I like the idea of Lana and Clark being together, I do think Clark treats her like crap sometimes. The way he ‘protects’ her is not what I see as love but created more misunderstandings as well as problems between them. If he has been honest with her right from the start, well..I guess there won’t be so many seasons ? (haha)

I think it is rather sad for Lana to come to realise how happy and in love she was for the past month with the man she thought has changed to someone who is completely new in her life. (Obviously she chose the right guy, else there won’t be any seasons after season 7 here!) But I guess in reality, there are times whereby you wake up to reality and see the differences – be it in a relationship or friendship. Whatever you were happy with, may not be entirely true or sometimes, it may revert back to how it has been (we see at the end of the episode, the relationship between Clark and Lana worsens)

So why didn’t Lana choose Bizarro instead of Clark ? Is it out of love for Clark or was it just morally right ? (since in the show, Bizarro is the ‘bad guy’ )  Why be in love with a guy who can’t commit to you or love you as much as you see as how it’s ‘meant to be’ ?

Tags: bizarro, clark kent, lana lang, Love, persona, relationship, season 7, smallville

AOTW [40] : Tyler James and The Exchange

Tyler James and The Exchange - brownie points for these University of the Arts students from New Jersey. I like how down to earth these guys are, from a basement band who puts up all their videos on youtube and recording their debut album last April.

I think they have a pretty unique vocal, reminds me alil of Maroon 5 , in my opinion. What do you think ? Featuring one of their live gig and my favourite song from Kelly Clarkson’s new album.

Oh, check out their cover of Katy Perry’s California Girls on youtube too ! Cuteness !

Cry – Kelly Clarkson

If anyone asks

I’ll tell them we both just moved on

When people all stare

I’ll pretend that I don’t hear them talk

Whenever I see you I’ll swallow my pride and bite my tongue

Pretend I’m okay with it all

Act like there’s nothing wrong

Is it over yet?

Can I open my eyes?

Is this as hard as it gets?

Is this what it feels like to really cry cry

If anyone asks

I’ll tell them we just grew apart

Yet what do I care

If they believe me or not

Whenever I feel your memory is breaking my heart

I’ll pretend I’m okay with it all

Act like there’s nothing wrong

Is it over yet?

Can I open my eyes?

Is this as hard as it gets?

Is this what it feels like to really cry cry

I’m talking in circles

I’m lying they know it

Why won’t this just all go away?

Is it over yet?

Can I open my eyes?

Is this as hard as it gets?

Is this what it feels like to really cry cry cry

Tags: band, California girls, cry, debut, gig, katy perry, kelly clarkson, maroon 5, new jersey, tyler james and the exchange, university of the arts, vocal, youtube

AOTW [39] : Sick Puppies

I discovered Sick Puppies by chance a couple of years back but came across them again when their song ‘That Time of Year’ was featured on NCIS (Yes, I’m still pretty much a TV junkie – GREAT show I must say!).  This Australian band even engaged in a documentary film by Robert Knight and I think the DVD will be out pretty soon later this year. Looking forward to that !

White Balloon – Sick Puppies

I’m holding on to white balloons
Up against the sky of doom
Tell me you see them
Cause whats inside of me is invisible to most
Even in clear view
Im sending out a signal
To the possibility of you
Cause right at this moment
I know youre connected to a part of me
That I dont even know myself

The changes in me
Are likely to be like the weather
Stormy and clear
Strength into fear bound together

But I’ll break my silence
If I believe that you and me
Could ever be more than just
What’s been behind us
I tried and left they came and went
I got rejected out again
But no one believes me
I’ve worn a hundred faces
Of the characters and placements
And now nobody sees me

The changes in me
Are likely to be like the weather
Cloudy at best

Angels lift me
Are you with me?
I’m holding on to you like
I’m holding on to white balloons
Carry me away
I hope that you dont break

Cause what’s inside of me is invisible to most
Even in clear view

Tags: australian, documentary, DVD, Film, myspace, NCIS, robert knight, sick puppies, tv junkie, white balloon

‘Rough Patch’ vs ‘Relationship Chicken’

Marshall: If they can’t stand each other, why don’t they end it?
Ted: Neither one wants to be first. They’re playing relationship chicken.

Disclaimer : I really love HIMYM and I am actually re-watching episodes from  the 5 seasons when I have the time to, so bear with my random quotes/reviews of the episodes.

I think in ‘How I Met Your Mother” season 5, Barney and Robin’s relationship was mainly to  satirize everything couples  go through – from the mushy stage to hating each other’s guts.  The episode mentioned the term  ”relationship chicken”  which refers to the situation when neither person wants to admit the relationship isn’t working out.  On the other hand, Lily pointed out that all couples go through the ‘rough patch’ – getting used to each other and understanding each other better.

So when do you know you’re being ‘relationship chicken(s)’ or just going through a ‘rough patch’ in a relationship ? If there are times when you feel unhappy about everything – but that not exactly bad enough to kill the relationship – are you just undergoing this so-called rough patch?  Or are you playing the ‘relationship chicken’ by refusing to see the depth of the problems and brushing it off as it is probably just the usual lows that couples go through and that you should be working out over? When do you know you should hold on to that faith in the relationship ?

Sometimes you have 3rd parties who comment (be it knowing the details, or not) and you stop to ponder if they have a ‘clearer view’ over the situation than the deluded self you’re being. In chinese, there’s a saying that goes ‘當局者迷，旁觀者清’ which roughly means ‘the onlooker sees more of the game’. However, I think it is really up to the two parties involved to actually see for themselves for what they truly are. Like Barney and Robin, both of them were starting to lose themselves and you could tell that they were unhappy – even if they seem to be happy in each other’s companionship. They were better off as friends – and the breakup ? We know that it was not the end but just returning back to how it has always been for them – friends.

Would that be possible to happen in reality ? Does it really means happiness when Barney returned to say ‘Daddy’s home.’ ? (Of course in later episodes, we see that Barney isn’t entirely truly happy after returning to his old single self.)  It’s really kind of hard to tell isn’t it ?

Tags: Barney, daddy's home, HIMYM, How I Met Your Mother, lily, marshall, relationship, relationship chicken, Robin, ted, the rough patch, 當局者迷，旁觀者清

AOTW [38] : Christina Grimmie

I’m not a fan of Miley Cyrus but this 16 years old did a great job on this Miley Cyrus medley, topping it up with a almost-like-MV music video. She certainly has a great voice to begin with and as usual, I like to feature cute girls who can play their own instruments ! Of course I wouldn’t be so cruel to feature just a Miley Cyrus song (hur) ..so enjoy the other video ‘Pyramid’ !

” Pyramid” – Charice

Shawty’s love is like a pyramid (ooh)
We stand together till the very end (eh ooh)
There’ll never be another love for sure (ooh)
Iyaz and Charice let we go

Stones, heavy like the love you’ve shown (shown)
Solid as the ground we’ve known (known)
And I just wanna carry on
We took it from the bottom up (no no no)
And even in a desert storm (yeah)
Sturdy as a rock we hold (oh)
Wishing every moment froze
Now I just wanna let you know
Earthquakes can’t shake us
Cyclones can’t break us
Hurricanes can’t take away our love

Pyramid, we built this on a solid rock
It feels just like it’s heaven’s touch
Together at the top (at the top baby), like a pyramid
And even when the wind is blowing
We’ll never fall just keep on going
Forever we will stay, like a pyramid

Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh (ooh)
Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh (ooh)
Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh eh (oooh)

Cold (cold), never ever when you’re close (close)
We will never let it fold (fold)
A story that was never told
Something like a mystery (yoh! )
And every step we took we’ve grown
Look how fast the time has flown
A journey to a place unknown
We’re going down in history
Earthquakes can’t shake us (oh)
Cyclones can’t break us (oh)
Hurricanes can’t take away our love

Pyramid, we built this on a solid rock (hey! )
It feels just like it’s heaven’s touch
Together at the top, (at the top baby) like a pyramid
And even when the wind is blowing (wind is blowing)
We’ll never fall just keep it going (keep it going)
Forever we will stay, like a pyramid (eh oh)

Like a pyramid girl let me show you
That I love you so much
That we gonna get through (oh oh)
Even when there’s storms
I will never go, Ima be the one to keep you safe (hey)
Before was our love back it up more than enough
Holding on to one another be the cover when it’s rough (oh oh)
Mother nature (hey) or disaster won’t stop at happy ever after

Pyramid, keep it going (like a pyramid, like a pyramid)
Oh oh ooooh (like a pyramid, like a pyramid)

Pyramid, we built this on a solid rock (solid rock)
It feels just like it’s heaven’s touch (oooh)
Together at the top (at the top baby, at the top girl), like a pyramid
And even when the wind is blowing
We’ll never fall just keep on going (keep it going)
Forever we will stay (Charice), like a pyramid (what what)

Pyramid, we built this on a solid rock
It feels just like it’s heaven’s touch
Together at the top (at the top baby, at the top girl), like a pyramid (pyramid)
And even when the wind is blowing
We’ll never fall just keep it going
Forever we will stay (ooh), like a pyramid

Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh
Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh
Like a pyramid like a pyramid eh eh

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsty.com/lyrics/c/charice/#share

Tags: aotw, charice, christina grimmie, medley, miley cyrus, music video, pyramid

AOTW [37] : The Starting Line

Love the acoustic version of this song by The Starting Line who just recently had a reunion concert in end 2009. They have toured with some of my favourite bands such as Brand New,  Fall Out Boys, Boys like Girls, Yellowcard etc – looking forward to hear more from them. This song is almost 8 years old but I would say it’s still radio material ! Enjoy ! (Ignore the first part, song starts at 0:12)

“Best Of Me” – The Starting Line

tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we’re still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

here we lay again
on two separate beds
riding phone lines
to hear that familiar voice
and pictures brought from memory
we reflect on miscomunication
and misunderstandings
and missing each other two
much too without you, let go

we turn our music down
and we whisper
say what your thinking right now
tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we’re still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

jumping to conclusions
made me fall away from you
i’m so glad that the truth
has brought back together me and you

we’re sitting on the ground
and we whisper
say what your thinking outloud

tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we’re still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

we turn our music down
and we whisper
we’re sitting on the ground
and we whisper
we turn our music down
we’re sitting on the ground
and next time i’m in town
we will kiss girl
we will kiss girl

tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we’re still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont
feeling that we cant
we’re not ready to give up

we got older but we’re still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Tags: acoustic, best of me, boys like girls, brand new, fall out boys, radio, the starting line, yellowcard

[Giveaway/Event] On The Joys of Skype

Living in a different country from my relatives and some of my friends who are on exchange, I am heavily dependent on what technology can do for me and that’s to keep in touch with them virtually. Skype is probably one of the most ingenious tools I have on my desktop (and phone),  the idea of a free tool that simplifies international calls without worrying about bills is just awesome.

For example, my friends on exchange would call me on my mobile(landline) using their Skype accounts and I don’t even have to be online simultaneously to have a conversation – almost as good as calling our local lines. Sometimes a chat can do so much more than just emails and text messages, not forgetting we can do video calls and conference calls on Skype.

It was great meeting Peter Parkes during CommunicAsia 2010, had the chance to understand better how Skype works and the exciting upcoming features. One of which would be having Skype on your TV ! That’s a great excuse to get a new internet-connected widescreen HDTVs ! *coughs*  Another interesting feature would be how Skype can be your next virtual office great helper ! I think it really helps to overcome the barriers of cost and distance with such technology incorporated into your organization. In particular, I love how ‘Skype is mobile’ – they have it for Symbian and iPhone, I think they are testing out for other phones and platforms as well ! (Can’t wait for the mac version to come out since I want to get a mac but the current version does not support video conference calls yet.)

On a side note, I really loved the event booth at CommunicAsia ! One of the happiest booths with the coolest graphic designs. The kind people at Skype (and XPR) has given me the opportunity to give away these awesome iPhone covers !

Drop me an email if you wanna win these ‘limited edition’ (Don’t think you can buy them elsewhere) Skype iPhone covers home ! Comes in Black and White !

How to win:

Simply drop me an email at ingridmak [at] gmail [dot] come with the title: “ Skype iPhone Covers Giveaway” with your name and contact information.  (Please include your mailing address so that I can mail it out!) Winners* will be randomly picked and contacted via email.

*Singapore Residents Only.

Closing date : 10 July 2010, 2359.

Tags: communicasia 2010, conference call, distance, event, giveaway, international, iphone, mobile, office, online, peter parkes, phone, skype, skype business, skype on tv, symbian, video call

AOTW [36] : Maddi Jane

While everyone is going crazy over Justin Bieber, I think Maddi Jane is one lovely kid who has the voice and total cuteness !  11 years old, I was busy playing stupid games with my friends and this adorable little girl here is already making a success in her career ! In fact, she was invited to The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently too !

Loved her cover of The Script’s ‘Breakeven’, which happens to be one of the songs that was on repeat in my playlist for the past months.

Moving on…as much as I think it’s quite weird for kids like Justin Bieber and Maddi Jane to be singing songs that’s about relationships and heartbreaks,  I really wonder if they actually ‘feel’ what they’re singing about but I guess kids hit puberty pretty fast these days. Here’s her latest with yet another on-repeat songs of mine, enjoy !

Impossible by Shontelle

I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did, I did
And you were strong and I was not
My illusion, my mistake
I was careless, I forgot
I did
And now when all is done
There is nothing to say
You have gone and so effortlessly
You have won
You can go ahead tell them

Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof top
Write it on the sky love
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible

Falling out of love is hard
Falling for betrayal is worst
Broken trust and broken hearts
I know, I know
Thinking all you need is there
Building faith on love is worst
Empty promises will wear
I know (i know)
And know when all is gone
There is nothing to say
And if you’re done with embarrassing me
On your own you can go ahead tell them

Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof top
Write it on the sky love
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible

Ooh impossible (yeah yeah)

I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did

Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof top
Write it on the sky love
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy (i was happy)
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible

I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did

P.S : Thanks to my dearest junior, kr,  for the intro !

Tags: aotw, breakeven, heartbreaks, impossible, justin bieber, Maddi Jane, relationships, shontelle, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the script