This is The Song.
This is not from the musical, i think it's some charity show. But it's equally good. :D
Monday, December 25, 2006
This is The Song.
This is not from the musical, i think it's some charity show. But it's equally good. :D
vane farted at 10:33 PM
"Excuse me, excuse me..? Do you have one pound?" He mouthed the words to me. Really softly. He asked me very weakly, as I was paying for my DVD.
I was stiff. I didnt quite know what to do. I've always have a soft spot for beggars (I use this word very scientifically), and I always try to drop them a couple of pennies if my wallet is within reach. But there was something about his look that made me stiff all over, and all I could manage was somewhat a shake of my head. And he mouthed again, "No..?" I looked away. And he left.
I was so guilty after that. He begged me. I have always admired beggars for their ability to humble themselves. As compared to theives. Although of course there are those beggars who demand for money like they're king.
If I'm not wrong, there's a law in Singapore against beggars. Correct me if I'm mistaken. This move has somewhat made me unable to react sanely when I meet a beggar. Inside me, I just go hysterical as to why these people are begging. Some of them are seriously young. Like the man who approached me earlier on this morning. My parents have always told me to just ignore them. Because if you donate to one of them, the rest will flock to you. My aunt tells me that they're lying and you should just shake your head and walk away. And that we dont print money. Same thing with the buskers in Barcelona. I wanted to give them all one euro or fifty euro cents. But my aunt just pulls me away. Why??? I mean, I admit I come from a financially comfortable background, so what would those few dollars do? Afterall, those buskers made me smile and laugh. The beggars, well, they made me feel sorry for the state they're in. I mean, if I could give them some hope in humankind, and some hope for their future, and some hope they could retire from the streets, why not?
Yea I know I'm no Santa Claus or Robin Hood. But if there's one power I want, it is the power to make people smile. Yea I know, how cliche. One busker in Barcelona, who dressed up as Charlie Chaplin, had a placard by his box, and it says "A day without a smile is a lost day." And indeed, he made his massive audience, smile and laugh. It's truly a gift! Not so much having the ability to solve mathematical sums. Nor being able to talk politics and cite history. It's just the ability to toss your hat and have it land perfectly on your head. And well, many more.
The young beggar's face really haunts me. If possible, I'll go up to him and apologize. Drop him a pound, and wish he'd find a job. Heh. How noble. But HONESTLY. If only I can brainwash that rich Russian tycoon who's selling VODKA, or Bill Gates to give up half their fortunes. I suppose such help is given, but not quite enough.
But one thing for sure, I wish that the world did not expose Africa to the world. I mean, ignorance is bliss. Whoever said that they wanted clothes to wear and shoes to walk on? Whoever took those photos of the skinny kids with the forelorn faces? I bet they're really happy in their villages, away from the rest of the world. Away from civilisation and industrialisation and globalisation. Screw the sations.
O' Merry Christmas.
London is dead.
nene.
I was stiff. I didnt quite know what to do. I've always have a soft spot for beggars (I use this word very scientifically), and I always try to drop them a couple of pennies if my wallet is within reach. But there was something about his look that made me stiff all over, and all I could manage was somewhat a shake of my head. And he mouthed again, "No..?" I looked away. And he left.
I was so guilty after that. He begged me. I have always admired beggars for their ability to humble themselves. As compared to theives. Although of course there are those beggars who demand for money like they're king.
If I'm not wrong, there's a law in Singapore against beggars. Correct me if I'm mistaken. This move has somewhat made me unable to react sanely when I meet a beggar. Inside me, I just go hysterical as to why these people are begging. Some of them are seriously young. Like the man who approached me earlier on this morning. My parents have always told me to just ignore them. Because if you donate to one of them, the rest will flock to you. My aunt tells me that they're lying and you should just shake your head and walk away. And that we dont print money. Same thing with the buskers in Barcelona. I wanted to give them all one euro or fifty euro cents. But my aunt just pulls me away. Why??? I mean, I admit I come from a financially comfortable background, so what would those few dollars do? Afterall, those buskers made me smile and laugh. The beggars, well, they made me feel sorry for the state they're in. I mean, if I could give them some hope in humankind, and some hope for their future, and some hope they could retire from the streets, why not?
Yea I know I'm no Santa Claus or Robin Hood. But if there's one power I want, it is the power to make people smile. Yea I know, how cliche. One busker in Barcelona, who dressed up as Charlie Chaplin, had a placard by his box, and it says "A day without a smile is a lost day." And indeed, he made his massive audience, smile and laugh. It's truly a gift! Not so much having the ability to solve mathematical sums. Nor being able to talk politics and cite history. It's just the ability to toss your hat and have it land perfectly on your head. And well, many more.
The young beggar's face really haunts me. If possible, I'll go up to him and apologize. Drop him a pound, and wish he'd find a job. Heh. How noble. But HONESTLY. If only I can brainwash that rich Russian tycoon who's selling VODKA, or Bill Gates to give up half their fortunes. I suppose such help is given, but not quite enough.
But one thing for sure, I wish that the world did not expose Africa to the world. I mean, ignorance is bliss. Whoever said that they wanted clothes to wear and shoes to walk on? Whoever took those photos of the skinny kids with the forelorn faces? I bet they're really happy in their villages, away from the rest of the world. Away from civilisation and industrialisation and globalisation. Screw the sations.
O' Merry Christmas.
London is dead.
nene.
vane farted at 7:00 AM
Friday, December 22, 2006
The consolation of the imaginary is not imaginary consolation.
I'm back.
After a mad week 9 and 10 of term. I jumped onto a train with my aunt and went to london, paris, barcelona, and now I'm back in London again. For the next week I'll be staying in London and roaming about...
Paris:
Possibly and argueably(?) the most beautiful city. Visited the massive Louvre and saw our dear auntie Mona Lisa. She was guarded by two security guards, and flocked to by loads of people -- with their cameras. Please realise the hilarity and the outrageousness of the situation : People taking photographs of the Mona Lisa. Just by typing in "Mona Lisa" in to uncle google or grandpa yahoo, u can get millions of pictures of the aunite. So why take photos?????? Beats me.
But anyway, I finally understand why auntie Lisa is so famous. Although I think there are many other paintings that possibly deserves the fame and title. Who glorified her in the first place? Hmm.. The Effiel Tower was well, huge.
I visited a huge graveyard as well, and guess who I found: Moliere and Oscar Wilde. AHA.
This is Oscar Wilde's station and as you can see, it's completely vandalised with love notes and kisses. LOL.
Some random building:
The Louvre:
Barcelona:
I am currently containing all my excitement about this city, and shall calmly type the amazing stuff in Barcelona.
Mime artists along the streets, not necessarily miming, but just street buskers. Painted in white, gold, silver, grey, metal-colours. Covered in recycled empty bottles, clad in ancient egyptian gowns, adorned with jewels, fitted with a mermaid's tail. There was this guy who painted his face, fixed false teeth and dreadlocks, and he looked EXACTLY like Ronaldhino. Exactly.
Street breakdancers, musicians, stalls selling live chickens, blue roses, live fishes, rabbits etc.... A man balancing a football all over his body, street tango dancers...you get the idea. 
What can I say. Barcelona was just BURSTING with life. With colours. And, really hot people. EVERYDAY, rather, Every HOUR I see someone REALLY gorgeous. And when I dont see anyone good looking, I meet really friendly and funny people. For example, the "assistant" at the hotel. Even though he cannot speak english, he just makes fun of me all the time. And always manages to make me smile. What a charming old man. :) I'm going learn Spanish and make him my grandfather. hahaha. ahem. 
Paris has the Louvre, London has St Paul's Cathedral/Buckingham Palace. And Barcelona has Sagrada Familia. It is THE most amazing structure I've seen. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, possibly the god of Barcelona, this church has been under construction ever since it started in 1882. Gaudi died in 1926 and the construction has yet to end. When we visited it, it was just the most spectacular thing ever. Every stone had a meaning. Every design had a specific inspiration. Every pattern had a function. And guess what, it is not yet near done. It is massive as it stands now. But the design requires another few more decades to complete. 
My aunt told me that every city faces the problem of an ageing population. Well, not Barcelona. There are so many lovely kids around! A city of flamenco dancers, happy lobsters (it's a sculpture that sits on top of a bus stop), narrow streets filled with shops, cafes, museums, graffiti, blue skies, fluffy clouds, and a gorgeous sea. But I have to admit one thing, there is something that Barcelona cant match up to London. (highly possibly because of the language barrier)
That is, the theatre I'm seeing here, in London. I've just about spent all my money on musicals. And I'm not done watching stuff. I just watch Wicked on monday. Staring the really great Idina Menzel who played Maureen in Rent. It was the most wicked stage I've seen. Simply gorgeous. There was a dragon on the top of the stage, and it MOVES. Like a giant puppet. And everything was just so majestic...it was just magical. Again, the singing was just... ... and Menzel was so... green. That must have been a hell lot of green body paint.
Although at one part, Menzel couldnt control her laughter when "prince charming" jumped onto the stage Tarzan-style. The whole audience burst out laughing, and so did Menzel. Which spread to the rest of the cast on stage. And suddenly, everyone on and off stage were laughing. Well, but they controlled the situation really well.
I watched Monty Python's SPAMALOT yesterday. And it was a completely different experience. Anyone who has watched any of Monty Python's will know what I'm talking about. It was based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It was a really camp performance, but it was amazing. The stuff the director added onto the musical (i did not watch the movie, but some parts were just musical-ish) were just so amazing, I was just gasping in amazement throughout the musical. There was one line that particularly stood out and triggered me like a cannon --
"That's brilliant! It's through the fourth wall!!"
Let me explain. King Arthur and his knights were looking for the Holy Grail that "God" asked them to find. For the reason of simply looking for something. And a clue came up as they blew up an enemy. The clue was "DONE". DONE. D-ONE. The holy grail was under the seat D-One in the audience. And one of the knights commented "That's brilliant! It's through the fourth wall!!"
Yea, it may not be as funny as if you watch it on stage. The actors were just blessed with comic timing, and comic. Period. They were simply comic. Naturally. If you havent noticed, people who are funny have this certain thing about them. They are able to twitch, pout, bounce, whatever, in a certain way that's just simply, funny. I'm not too sure if you get what I'm trying to say. But if you observe ... you might get it.
Anyway, plans for other musicals will be The Producers, and Dirty Dancing. To those who watched "The Woman In Black" in SRP last last year, it's here in London as well. Together with Chicago, Cabaret, The History Boys (by Alan Bennet), Evita...blah blah blah. I think there are about 40 shows going on in London, and West End. And there are actually booths in West End where you can buy half priced tickets, although the seats suck, but compared to the S$160 tickets, I dont mind. Quantity over quality.
Anyway. I just started my London extravaganza. With a new piercing. :P I will try to update as long as internet connection exists. And I will try to update this particular post with pictures. As blogger is just a fucked up bugger who has been bought by Google. heh.
One thing this trip has taught me is that, I'm wasting time doing Economics. I dont belong where I am. And that I unfortunately have to find a way out of the circumstances. I have signed up for S$100/hour voice lessons because they are the only ones available on campus.
Good luck to me.
Oh btw, if anyone has yet to watch the movie "Fight Club", I suggest you run out of your house now and go buy it. AYE.
Love muchos,
nene.
And I wish you a Merry Christmas.
"Happy is what happens when your dreams come true." -Glinda from Wicked
vane farted at 4:56 AM
