In the end, my long 6-month wait for the day was worth it.

Ever since the announcement that The Phantom Of The Opera was coming to Singapore in March this year, I told myself that this is a must-watch for me. It is, by far, the greatest musical in the world, better than some world-class acts like Oliver, Chicago, Mamma Mia and The Sound of Music. Just watching the movie a few years back was enough to grip me from the edge of my seat from the very first scene to the last. I caught the movie a second time when Channel 5 screened it last Sunday, and I was totally compelled by the whole story about how a phantom terrorised an opera theatre and sought to find true love.

I had waited long and hard for yesterday, and it was a truly unforgettable experience at The Esplanade. Everything was just right from start to finish. Every single detail you see in the movie was emulated on stage - the backdrop, the lightings, the costumes, the music. There were so many unbelievable moments, like how the giant chandelier rose from beneath up to the peak of the concert hall, how it eventually fell and crushed down when The Phantom was showing his angry side.

And you bet, the scene that was on everyone's mouth - was when The Phantom took Christine from the theatre, and how they created a river that was so real in every aspect - when he sailed down in an immaculate boat, the fog appeared from beneath, with lights surfacing from every corner. It was truly a magnificent sight to behold that left me captivated.

The actors and actresses gave their all and it showed from beginning to end. Every single note was in tune, especially Christine Daae, who gave the most melodious of performances in songs like Think Of Me and Angel Of Music. Most noteworthy to mention would be the The Phantom's The Music Of The Night and the ever famous All I Ask Of You with Daae - it was by far, the best male vocal I've ever heard that would leave Josh Groban in another league.

This was the best night I've ever had in The Esplanade and I'm sure this musical will live on forever.



The Music Of The Night

Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation ...
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination ...
Silently the senses abandon thier defences ...

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour ...
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender ...
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night ...

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live as you've never lived before ...

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you ...
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you ...
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which you know you cannot fight
the darkness of the music of the night

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me ...

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write
the power of the music of the night ...

You alone can make my song take flight
help me make the music of the night ...

Oh my I can't believe what I just heard on The Arena!

The motion is, The Singapore education system breeds eliticism.

And I keep hearing so much about ST HILDA'S VOLLEYBALL!

Thank you, we are ELITE!!

Music and lyrics - the key essentials that create a song. Such was the power of the movie that I ended up watching it twice and it was truly fulfilling. I could find inspiration in the movie because I've always wanted to write my own lyrics - like Drew Barrymore, and compose my own music - like Hugh Grant. But such is the complexity of creating music and lyrics. Where do I draw my inspiration from?

It's a movie which will leave you in stitches as well, but more importantly, it portrays how music connects everyone together as one.



I didn't mean to fall in love with you,
but then POP, goes my heart!
(Pop goes my heart!)

In what must be a strange occurrence, my ipod, which was certified dead by the ipod service shop at Cineleisure, has miraculously came back to life. It all started when I was returning an old ipod to my aunty, and when she connected it to her PC, my name appeared, and I realised it was my dead ipod which had suddenly resurrected! I saw all my long lost friends - songs that had been with me since the beginning of time, and listening to them again made me reminisce of the god old days in school. Think 911, A1, Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Blue, 98 degrees and of course Britney Spears. POP ROCKS!

I have just applied for the SIA scholarship, which was open last week. If I get it, then it's university for me (again) after NS and a mandatory 4 year bond with SIA. I had requested that my poly lecturer write a referral letter for me, and it didn't really turn out that good! Check out the second para of the letter:

"I have known Jermaine as a care person and a lecturer since her first year at Temasek Polytechnic..."

HER first year.

-____-





Don't go changing, rearranging,
Hold on to a love sensation

The Pursuit Of Happyness

Please please, go catch this movie. I cannot think of a movie that is so simple, yet inspirational and heartwarming. Sometimes we think about how unfortunate our lives are, but when we look at Will Smith's character, who had to endure so much just to live his dreams, then it really makes us sit down and count our blessings. We pursue happiness everyday, in search of true love, more and more money, a wonderful career, a stable family, but we are constantly bogged down by so many obstacles that life puts in front of us. Will be be strong enough to overcome all odds?

'When you want something, you go for it. Period.'





A face of you,
my substitute for love,
my substitute for love,
Should I wait for you?
my substitute for love,
my substitute for love...

Today I attended the Career Fair at Suntec Convention hall. There was a seminar about studying in Switzerland, which is NOT something I had planned in the pages of my life, but was worth considering since that neutral land is the king of Hospitality. It was a very motivating seminar. Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the university is just beside an exciting skiing location. There's tonnes of activities like white water rafting, parachuting, trekking, hiking in the mountains, and the school itself is abound with facilities like football, basketball, a fully equipped gym, outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts. Best of all? The fees include UNLIMITED meals at the school! 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Now now, the million dollar question is, what do the Swiss eat??

Anyway, it would be a great place to go and further my FURTHERED studies, but I'm not convinced that this land where people sit on the fence is an ideal location for me to stay in.

Where's the shopping? Where's the endless rows of shops in a 7 storey shopping mall? Where's the outdoor markets where I can bargain for 99% off the starting price? Where's the hip malls where teens dress in all hip hop bling bling and watch the latest flicks after midnight?

Where's the NIGHTLIFE?? Where's all the music?? Where's all the Wednesday Ladies Nights where the clubs play retro 80s Square Rooms? Where's all the latest R&B tunes spinning from the Chinese American DJ?

NOOOOO...I'm certainly not gonna lead a boring life, as if I've lived for 80 years and I'm retiring by the old rocking chair. I'm not going to sleep at 10pm and wake up before the sunrise to have an early breakfast consisting of, OH, can somebody enlighten me what sort of food is available in Switzerland!?

I have to follow my heart to the land of AMERICA! I sure know what I wanna eat for 3 meals a day - Krispy Kremes!




"I don't like cities, but I love New York
Other cities, make me feel like a dork
Los Angeles is for, people who sleep
Paris and London, baby you can keep"

-Madonna
'I Love New York'