March Part 2

 

I'm 5 episodes into this series and love it a lot.

Without revealing spoilers, I'll just say that it's extremely well written, acted and directed, with a layered, compelling plot, a nice sprinkling of twists, and a female character that's really toxic.

Some tales revolve around the rich and famous. This one is set in a small town with what seem to be ordinary people, but there're enough true crime cases all over the world - including Singapore - to illustrate that evil is mostly concentrated in smaller, more modest communities, hidden in plain sight.

This is also on HBO and the opposite of DTF, i.e. a light tragicomedy.

But it shares common traits with the former - great writing and a stellar cast.

I've been a huge Steve Carell fan since his 40-Year-Old Virgin days. He continues to age beautifully and effortlessly charms with his trademark awkwardness.

The jokes make me chuckle heartily, which is always a welcome respite from my Monday work shifts ( that's when new episodes are released, together with DTF - double bonus! 😁 ).

I will rewatch the whole series after all the episodes come out, 'cos I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of the one-liners.

Just completed this on Disney+.

I knew a lot about the Kennedys because my mum followed their lives very closely ( she did the same with the British royal family ).

I'm not entirely sure how factually accurate this depiction is, but the 2 leads are spot on in terms of casting, and the script is excellent.

Still making my way through this and am currently on the fence.

It has some Ready Or Not vibes ( new bride joining a sinister rich family ), but the premise seems a bit too implausible for me.

Keep an eye out for the character Portia, played by Gus Birney.

There's an early scene where she tells a story about The Sorry Man, and you can see her slowly losing her mind.

At the end, a single tear trickles from one eye.

I literally went "Wow".

I'll give my verdict if / when I finish all 8 episodes.

I watched this mostly for Glen Powell, whom I adore. 😍

The movie's pretty good, though the plot holes got to me after a while.

The cast alone is worth the time investment, with Glen looking gorgeous and playing his role with oodles of charisma and terrific comedic timing.

Margaret Qualley is one of the most unbelievably beautiful and talented young actresses out there right now, but I worry she's pigeonholing herself into a femme fatale stereotype post The Substance.

I'd like to see her as a prudish / mousy character for a change.

Music-wise, there were recent new album releases from Bruno Mars and Charlie Puth, both of whom I've been a fan of for more than a decade, and seen on stage multiple times.

Bruno's latest offering is a mind-blowing return to his classic pop / doo-wop roots.

Though the tracklist is short with only 9 songs, every single one is a gem. My current favourite is Dance With Me - a slow ballad reminiscent of the '60s era. Goosebumps! 💗

Charlie also went the old school route, channeling a retro '80s vibe.

There are quite a few great ones, but a couple of them didn't gel with me ( e.g. the track that features Jeff Goldblum ). 

I love Cry, New Jersey and Sideways though.

And when Charlie returns to Singapore for another concert ( trust me, he will! ), I'll be there. 😊

Will also be listening to this soon - an album released last year which somehow completely flew under my radar.

Every song sounds spectacular, based on a quick sampling.

Looking forward to his next album, Cinematic, in early May!

3 months have flown by in the blink of an eye.

There's a lot of international turmoil at the moment, and I have an upcoming long tour in a country that's close to the Middle East conflict, but no word of any cancellation so far.

I'm going to be extreeeemely busy until mid-May, so my blog may be quiet for a while. 

Just hope the war won't escalate. We have enough problems already yeesh!

February Part 2 - Westlife, Josh Groban and Take That

I'm only halfway through the month and so much has happened. Feeling very exhausted. 😅

Watched my favourite Irish boy band, Westlife, at the Singapore EXPO on 3rd February.

This concert was different from their usual shows because of the "gala evening" format, which included a small orchestra, a more formal musical arrangement, and the guys decked out in suits.

The result was absolutely wonderful!

While the EXPO isn't a good concert venue - bad location and acoustics, ugly ( exposed pipes on the ceiling ), dining chairs for seats - the event still attracted 6,000 fans with an equal mix of men and women, and everyone knew the lyrics and sang their hearts out.

The lads performed for about 1hr 45 min, and I counted approximately 20-22 hits in the setlist, mostly from their early albums. 

I've been a fan for 25 years and seen them on stage at least 5 times, but it never ever gets old.

Although I flew solo for this one, I didn't feel lonely at all. We were on our feet for most of the show and the mass karaoke made it a communal experience. I guess being squashed together like sardines in a can also helped - it's tough to feel isolated when you don't have any personal space. 😄

This was the first time Mark wasn't around, but Shane, Kian and Nicky were more than capable of whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Plus, they still look boyishly handsome despite being in their mid-40s. 

They mentioned a 25th anniversary world tour lined up next year. I'll definitely be going! 😁

Last night, I saw Josh Groban at the Star Theatre.

It's been 7 years since he last performed in Singapore. During that time, he released another album ( Harmony ) and received his 2nd Tony nomination for his lead performance in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd.

The ticket prices this round were positively eye-watering, even with my high threshold.

But I went ahead and splurged on the VIP soundcheck experience because it was the first time this was offered, and included not only an acoustic performance but also a Q&A session and group photo.

The experience was totally worth it. Josh was extremely friendly and answered lots of questions. I tried to ask one but sadly, the guy next to me raised his hand at the same time and I think Josh got distracted, 'cos he didn't circle back to me after that, and moved to the other side of the stage instead.

But I'm surprisingly zen about it haha. Sticking to my 2026 mantra: go with the flow. 😎

The concert itself was mind-blowing!

Like Westlife's, Josh ramped things up with a small orchestra and a choir, both of which were absent in 2019.

His voice has also gotten even better, and I kept having goosebumps every time he sang.

The setlist was significantly different, with fewer selections from his early albums. 

There were, of course, fan favourites like To Where You Are, You Raise Me Up and Alejate.

But I welcomed newer additions such as Bridge Over Troubled Water ( from his Bridges album ), Pure Imagination and Over The Rainbow ( from Stages, which I love so much ), as well as The World We Knew and Angels ( from Harmony ).

But there were 2 major highlights for me:

First, Nathan Hartono's guest appearance for a duet with Josh on What I Did For Love ( from A Chorus Line ).

I literally felt my adrenaline level surge because (a) I've been such a huge fan of Nathan's since I saw him in Pangdemonium's fantastic 2012 production of Spring Awakening, (b) Nathan is sooo handsome, and (c) the duet blew my mind into another galaxy!

I have no idea if Josh has dueted with anyone on this song for his other shows, but this particular combination was so perfect, I think I stopped breathing a few times.

Thank you so much for the beautiful memory. 💕

Second, Josh's medley of 2 songs from an upcoming movie music album.

One was a Sicilian version of The Godfather's Speak Softly Love, and the other, a cover of the title song from Skyfall.

The latter is best described as astounding, with the trademark James Bond theme's dramatic arrangement, numerous glory notes and kickass backup from his band, the orchestra and choir.

I can't wait to get my hands on his next album aaaahhhh!

Like Westlife, I've also been a fan of Josh's for 25 years. Way before he came to Singapore, I was so desperate to see him that I flew to Sydney twice just to watch his shows.

It's been a privilege to follow his journey from a shy teenager to consummate performer. 

Please come back soon.

Last but not least, a short review of this documentary, featuring my favourite boy band of all time, Take That.

With never-seen-before footage and in-depth interviews with all its members, it was a very enlightening - and moving - experience for me.

All these years, I think many of us were under the impression that Robbie Williams was the bad guy, that he made the first move to leave because he was arrogant, egoistic, etc.

But Gary Barlow openly admitted that he was equally to blame for being selfish, for not allowing other members to contribute or give input, which also stemmed from his youthful ignorance and pride.

Although I knew the story ended happily, it was heartwarming to see the group heal and reunite after a period of personal struggles. Watching them triumph again with hugely successful albums and world tours was immensely rewarding.

That's it for February blog entry part 2.

Not sure if there'll be a part 3 - maybe... if another exciting incident occurs haha.

Coming up: the second installment of Bridgerton season 4, and 2 more concerts, including OneRepublic's first gig at the Indoor Stadium ( plus a meet and greet! ).

There's also a great book I'd like to review once I finish it.

Thanks for reading! Till next time. 😊

2016!

My first blog entry of the year comes after a 5-month hiatus.

I do regret not being able to write more regularly these days, but returning to full-time work, plus a series of personal issues, pushed blogging way down my list of priorities.

However, I still want to keep this site alive and kicking, so this post - though short - offers a brief summary of one of the more significant events that occurred recently.

I flew to Sydney to see Josh Groban in concert for the second time in 3 years, and FINALLY met him face to face!

Featuring songs from his wonderful new album, Stages, the show was breath-taking from start to finish, with Josh hitting every note perfectly and demonstrating amazing vocal strength I'd never witnessed before.

I've been a fan for 15 years and couldn't be happier about him scaling new heights. At 35, his voice has fully matured and sounds incredible! This was especially evident during Bring Him Home - an extremely difficult piece for even the most accomplished tenors. Josh nailed it 100% and made my mother cry. How's that for skill? :)

My personal favourite was the encore - Over The Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. That's the song that brought tears to my eyes, not just because of Josh's poignant delivery, but because of its message of hope in the midst of sadness and despair.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Way above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Together with Charlie Chaplin's Smile, this is in the top 3 of my all-time personal favourite songs list.

3 years ago, I went to the stage door after the concert but arrived late and ended up quite a distance away. Josh only signed autographs for a handful of fans closest to him before leaving in his car, probably because he was tired.

This time, I had an aisle seat in the theatre and was very near the exit, so I managed to secure a great spot near the stage door. Josh appeared about 20 minutes later and was so friendly, chatting with fans and signing everything they gave him. However, his bodyguard gently said, "No hugging please." to someone.

When my turn came, Josh signed my concert programme then got distracted by a group of Filipino fans next to me. He'd already spoken to them earlier before coming over, but they were quite selfish and wanted to continue the conversation. Josh being Josh, he talked to them some more, which left me no opportunity to say anything, like the fact that I was a longtime fan and had flown to Sydney twice just to see him argh!

So when his attention was finally on me, I quickly asked for a photo, and he obliged. But it wasn't just a quickie sort of thing - he looked at my phone's screen intently and positioned himself while I pressed a button to focus. My Samsung took a few seconds to do this but Josh was very patient, never once asking me to hurry up or moving off before the photo could be taken.

After the camera snapped the wefie, he even asked if it was okay and whether I got the shot, which I thought was very very sweet. I said, "Yes, thank you!" then he smiled and replied, "Thank you for coming!" before going down the line of excited fans.

I stayed for another 5 minutes and noticed that Josh didn't take photos with anyone else, which made our wefie very precious! He isn't the touchy feely sort either, standing a short distance away while signing items, and yes, the no hugging rule was enforced.

En route to the hotel, I checked the picture and realized Josh had a gorgeous smile when he posed, and looked positively ecstatic for some reason! That was the icing on the cake!

He'll still be on tour for the next few months before making his Broadway debut this fall. Really wish I could see that, but I won't be heading to the U.S. for a while. Especially when Donald Trump is running for president ugh. ( Don't let him win, please! )

That's it for this entry. Will post again another day if I have time.

Catching Up

After more than a month of silence, it is time to update the blog. :)



First, my recent trip to Sydney, which was primarily for Josh Groban's concert at the Opera House. However, I ended up getting much more than I bargained for!



The day I arrived - after severe sleep deprivation thanks to a mistake I made with my roster request and zero rest on the plane - I prepared for an evening of R&R, only to receive a message from a friend based in Sydney about the cast of Star Trek: Into Darkness being in the city at that very moment. A frantic Google search revealed details of their appearance at a red carpet premiere near my hotel, just an hour after I got the notification!

My mum, who travels with me regularly, wasn't too pleased with the last-minute change of plans, but was surprisingly game to accompany me. After a hurried shower and a series of Facebook message exchanges with staff from the George Street Cinema ( they're amazing :)), we had 30 minutes to find our way to the venue.

Weaving through rush hour human traffic was no joke, but George Street is easy to navigate and the directions I got were accurate. Sadly, by the time we arrived, all the spots in front of the theatre were gone, and we had to make do with places across the road. However, it turns out we managed to get a good look at the proceedings, and my camera's zoom lens helped a lot. :)

Despite not being in a prime position, I could see J.J. Abrams, Karl Urban, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto very clearly. Initially miffed that security wouldn't let us through despite the sparse crowd along the red carpet, this proved important when I realized it actually enabled those of us across the street to see what was going on.

The experience was incredible! Sure, I've caught celebrities from varying distances and interacted with a few of them previously, but this is a major blockbuster, and I'm a huge fan of its director and stars.

J.J. Abrams - I've followed his career from the beginning, from TV series Felicity, Alias and Lost, to wonderful movies Mission: Impossible 3, Star Trek and Super 8. He is soooo tiny in person, but extremely personable in spite of his A-list status. Even when reporters' attention was fixed on Pine and Quinto, Abrams continued making the rounds among the fans, chatting, signing autographs and posing for pictures. This is the man who's going to direct Star Wars Episode VII!
I also recently realized I've now seen 2 key figures from Alias in person - in addition to creator Abrams, I also met Jennifer Garner at the stage door on Broadway in 2007.
Who's next? Bradley Cooper? :)

Karl Urban - not exactly A-list just yet, but I love his work in Lord Of The Rings, and most recently, was awe-struck by his turn in Dredd. The latter is sorely underrated - I personally think it's mind-blowingly excellent!
The very tall actor towered over everyone and arrived with his wife and children. Quite friendly, but not as sociable as Abrams. It was great to see him. :)

Chris Pine - everyone arrived separately, and Pine was third. Clearly the hottest crowd favourite, he elicited loud squeals of joy when he emerged from the car, and a bunch of Chinese girls were on cloud nine when they reached out for hugs and he happily obliged. That was probably the only moment I was tempted to climb the barricade in front of me and dash across the road heh! Security can drag me away after I get a hug. :D
I too have been following Pine's career for years, from as early as his role in The Princess Diaries 2. Yes, when he and Anne Hathaway were still acting in Disney fairy tale flicks.
He's done very well for himself since scoring the role of Kirk in Star Trek. And after seeing him treat fans with such affection, I hope he achieves even greater success in the coming years. Nice chap. And equally handsome in person. :)

Zachary Quinto - the last to step onto the red carpet, and significantly more subdued than Pine. Didn't hug anyone, but posed for photos with an arm gently placed on each fan's back, flashing a slightly tight smile. I'm not too familiar with his work, having only watched him sporadically in Heroes, and films-wise, in Star Trek and Margin Call. YouTube clips of interviews reveal a strong command of the English language for sure ( "propinquity", anyone? ), but I'm particularly pleased about meeting both halves of a Hollywood couple ( Quinto's boyfriend is actor Jonathan Groff, whom I chatted with after an off-Broadway play in 2011 ).
Interesting how different they are in terms of fan treatment. Groff is unbelievably friendly, loves to converse and gave me the best hug ever. Maybe Quinto warms up under the right conditions. Who knows, if I'd said something he liked, maybe he would've hugged me too. :)




Day 2 was spent recovering from Day 1's excitement! A little bit of shopping after breakfast, then a short rest before heading to the Opera House.

It was Josh Groban's 2nd performance during his stopover in Sydney, and the audience comprised a large number of middle-aged and elderly people, with a smattering of younger fans. It was also the first time I'd ever attended a show which actually started early! Though scheduled to begin at 8pm, Josh and his band appeared on stage 2 minutes before that, without any fanfare, to everyone's delight.

The next 100 minutes were totally awesome! Not only did the repertoire feature songs from his latest release, All That Echoes, he also included popular hits from earlier albums ( his self-titled debut and follow-up, Awake ).

Selections from the former sent me into the stratosphere! Alejate, Alla Luce del Sole, Vincent ( Starry Starry Night ) and To Where You Are are among my all-time favourites, and he sang them flawlessly.

To Where You Are holds special meaning for me because it was mentioned by the fiancee of a young doctor who succumbed to SARS during the 2003 outbreak. She reached out to me on this very blog and we later corresponded via email. The song brought her great comfort and will always be a significant part of that era. When Josh sang it that night, I was overwhelmed with emotion; I swear I could feel my heart breaking all over again.

Aside from the heavenly music, Josh's humour also shone through. Famous for his witty and often corny jokes, the concert hall regularly erupted in uproarious laughter. At one point, he invited a lady in the front row to go on stage and sing a duet ( it was The Prayer ). She did an amazing job, and Josh's attempt to upstage her had us all in stitches. ( I have it on video too, what a treat! :))

Later, he hopped down and ran to the back of the hall to give someone his drumstick. Lucky girl! :D

I wish the night could've gone on forever, but it had to end sometime. When I got to the stage door, the place was swarming with around 200 fans, and Josh was only able to stay for about 10 minutes, signing autographs for those closest to him. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet him, but it was an unforgettable experience nonetheless, and I hope another opportunity will present itself one day in the not too distant future.

Most importantly, please don't bypass Singapore again argh!

On Day 3, we took in the annual ANZAC Day parade - a military extravaganza which we had no idea about until the day before. We also took a ferry ride to Manly. If there's time, perhaps I'll write more and post pictures in a subsequent entry, but I'd like to say a special thank-you to all the wonderful Australians we met on this trip! Strangers offered directions on the street and opened doors; drivers always let us cross the street even though it was their right of way; almost everyone we met was incredibly gracious and kind.

The locals were nice the last time we visited in 2009, but have improved even more 4 years later. Singaporeans have much to learn from other countries. Coming home is such a rude awakening. :(




Next, I need to send some love to Robert Downey, Jr. :)

I've been a fan for decades now, since his heyday in Chaplin, Chances Are and Only You. My support did not wane during his up-and-down periods, and I was hopeful about his comeback during a well-received stint on Ally McBeal.

Regardless of his trials and tribulations, I couldn't be happier when he slowly returned to prime form, notably in Zodiac, followed by Iron Man, which sealed his status as a profitable leading man.

Iron Man 2 was equally terrific, but the franchise scales new heights with Part 3. Don't think I've been this thrilled since Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol!

It's always tough to follow 2 super-successful films, but everything came together perfectly here. The mind-blowing special effects are present, but relatively toned down compared to its predecessor. Still, the plot and subplots move along efficiently, and nothing feels gimmicky. Stripping Tony Stark of his powerful suit is pure genius, and a detour to a sleepy town, with Stark befriending a precocious boy and wreaking havoc on unsuspecting inhabitants, is one of the movie's best highlights.

That, and a certain sky-diving sequence, minus parachutes!

Also, Guy Pearce has never looked better, WOW! :)

My only grouse - a small one - is the purpose of the female characters. Rebecca Hall's Maya Hansen has a pseudo-pivotal role that doesn't optimize her talent, while Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts is suddenly transformed into a super-powered fighting mutant. Err, okay...

Small wonder Iron Man 3 is raking in hundreds of millions at domestic and international box offices. I'll bet the studio is doing everything it can to keep RDJ in the franchise, because who else can play Tony Stark so perfectly? Stay on for at least Part 4, yes? :)




Someone else worth raving about: local actor Eden Ang.

I saw him last February in Pangdemonium's Spring Awakening, and more recently, in Rabbit Hole.

He played polar opposites in both productions - in the former, he was a mohawked rebel who belted rock songs; in the latter, he played a wholesome schoolboy trying to make amends for a tragic accident.

I thought he was remarkable in Rabbit Hole, despite having a relatively small role. Whenever he was on stage, I couldn't look anywhere else, and a scene he shares with Janice Koh is absolutely gut-wrenching.

He also reminds me of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A LOT. That's a huge compliment, by the way. :)

Here's my review.




Last but not least, another upcoming trip overseas, also to catch a show which will not come to Singapore.

The main draw is Ramin Karimloo, a theatre star I've hoped to see since 2011. Purchasing tickets for shows in Japan is a horrible nightmare, and I managed to do so only because a friend who lives in Tokyo kindly offered to help. I initially gave up when 2 websites wouldn't allow seat selection, but for some strange reason, a 3rd site popped up and offered a great location.

I hope attending the show won't present any complications! Also crossing my fingers that I'll be able to meet the cast - a friend who knows Lea Salonga personally may be able to help. :)


Was planning to review Hannibal, but perhaps in the next entry.