Archives For big vocal chops

Happy Chinese New Year, Zhou Shen and Juan Diego Flores

January 28, 2025 — Leave a comment

Wild things happened at this year’s Spring Gala. Faye Wong awoke from her hibernation for a performance of What the World Gifted Me (世界赠予我的), which CCTV only has in this pre-recorded video presentation.

Ni Ni showed up in this segment on Wuxi Scenery and National Feelings (无锡景 家国情), showcasing Jiangsu as a province. Ni Ni, and I suppose everyone involved in the segment, were born in Nanjing or other Jiangsu province cities.

However, most shocking and most improved was the unexpected collaboration between Chinese vocalist Zhou Shen (周深), Peruvian opera singer Juan Diego Flores and Peruvian multi-instrumentalist Lucho Quequezana for a remix of Lan Hua Hua (兰花花) and the lyric version of El Condor Pasa for The Condor and the Orchid Flower (山鹰和兰花花).

Many would remember Zhou Shen breaking through pop culture in the 2014 season of The Voice of China (中國好聲音), which led to different hits and numerous inclusions in soundtracks like his first ever Big Fish (大鱼) for the Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠) animated film, which is one of my favorite Chinese animation projects.

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Maria Callas Triple Feature

January 7, 2025 — Leave a comment

A while back I was able to catch a viewing of Tom Volf’s Maria by Callas documentary, which I adored. Some time last year (near my birthday?), I got to catch a special screening of Callas – Paris, 1958, which we got to see alongside a very very very tiny group of people ^^’

And, of course, I made sure to watch Pablo Larrain’s Maria before the year was over, because why not.

It’s the perfect Maria Callas triple feature-

  • The divine diva of Callas – Paris, 1958
  • Maria seen through the eyes of Callas in Maria by Callas
  • The human being in Maria.

My absolute favorite sequence in Larrain’s depiction is probably the whole segment at JFK’s birthday party. Though Maria’s scene with her sister is devastating.

In Celebrity, DVD/BR, English, Films, French, Misc., Music, Posters/Artwork, Sharing , , , , , ,
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Na Hosh Chale (Arijit Signh Version) Lyrics

So I did this.

Na hosh chale
Na junoon chale
Dil par kiska qanoon chale

Tu jaan meri
Meri jaan hai tu
Chal jaise ragon mein khoon chale

Tu kya hai
Kya ehsas hai tu
Ehsas ka koi wajood nahi

Main kaise tujhe chhu leta hu
Jab samne tu maujuud nahi

Ae jaan meri
Meri jaan hai tu
Chal jaise ragon mein khoon chale

Palko ki chhaon dhundta hu
Main teri nazar ki dhoop tale
Uss pyaase ka kya hoga bataa
Jo sabnam ke paataal pai palin

Ae jaan meri
Meri jaan hai tu
Chal jaise ragon mein khoon chale

Full version of the audio is available here.

Vishal’s version (labeled as “Film Version”) is slightly different after the first chorus, so might share in separate post.

Translations to English would be appreciated.

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Posted on October 26, 2023 In English, Films, Lyrics, Misc., Music, Music Videos, Sharing , , , , , , ,
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Everlastings Queens Are Back!

October 27, 2019 — Leave a comment

Now this is what we can call a comeback COMEBACK, not a regular Kpop Comeback. xD Years since their last album, Basic back in 2015, Brown Eyed Girls went their personal projects way— GaIn and JeA with solo music, Miryo releasing singles and participating on Unpretty Rapstar, and Narsha with varieties as well as getting married~

It’s good to have them BACK!

If you want to support Brown Eyed Girls’ RE_vive album cover compilation, you can order it at Ktown4u where it counts for Hanteo Sales. Album comes out on the 30th. YesAsia also carries the album with the poster tube, and without it.

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Precious Mamamoo~ gogobebe meongcheong-i

I haven’t been much of an active moomoo lately coz somebody gotta adult, but I got to watch Hwasa’s meaningful 2nd Win accompanied by her members, which was the most satisfying experience in probably all year watching Mamamoo go through their 4 Seasons 4 Colors project.

What a wonderful way to start promotion cycle for White Wind‘s title gogobebe, which I gotta admit have been replaying more in this M2 Relay Dance version, because it reminds me so much of their Girl Crush video mixed with their Dingo Music performance of Um Oh Ah Yeh. Bless these children.

Also, it may be historic seeing an active girl group member winning the day their group is making a comeback. Mam-moo only.

Posted on March 16, 2019 In Celebrity, Clips, English, Fun, Korean, Music, Sharing, Television , , , , , , , , , ,
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Take All my Money, Shiina~

I thought I might have bought my last Shiina bluray last time, but I guess not? It does look like I might add Shiina Ringo & The Others Dwell: The Air Pocket Zone (椎名林檎と彼奴等の居る真空地帯) [HMV JP] to my collection because I cannot resist.

Posted on November 9, 2018 In Celebrity, Clips, DVD/BR, English, Japanese, Music, Sharing , , , , , ,
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Shangri-la Goosebumps with Leehom and Han Hong

I honestly don’t have the time to keep up with variety shows on a regular basis, but this showed up on my YT recommendations and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch Leehom on a duet with Han Hong. It gave me goosebumps. I love Shangri-la (心中的日月) on its own original version, but this arrangement for Come Sing with Me (我想和你唱) just gave me the chills.

Han Hong’s voice goes so well with Leehom’s. ToT

Also, DAMN~ I used to not give much for Hebe’s voice, but girl has continued surprising me all decade. I don’t remember her being much of a vocalist, but I’m shooketh with her performance of Angel Devil (魔鬼中的天使). I wonder if she found Julio Iglesias’ not-so-secret microphone stash.

Leehom also got better. Maybe they’re all getting better sound engineers.

Posted on July 4, 2018 In Celebrity, Chinese, Clips, English, Music, Sharing, Television , , , , , ,
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Jackie Burns’ The Adele Dazeem Medley

So I’m back with a ton of work to catch up with… as you do when you go on vacation for 10-days to two weeks. I enjoyed my visit to the States— first time in Chicago, first time in NYC. Ate a lot, walked a lot, got a sunburn on my scalp as bald people do… in the City of Wind, nonetheless~ I also watched Wicked on Broadway! Saw Ashley Parker Angel xD (I was a pretty big O-Town follower, lol), and was thoroughly impressed with Amanda Jane Cooper and Jackie Burns~ I am most shocked Burns is in her late-30s because her voice sounded so young. I guess green make-up could help~

I ran into this clip of Burns performing The Adele Dazeem Medley for The Broadway Princess Party held last year. It’s mind-blowing. I thought I should share.

Posted on May 19, 2018 In Celebrity, Clips, English, Music, Sharing , , , ,
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Faye Wong & Na Ying – Years

I’m not crying, you are.

Did you get to see Faye Wong and Na Ying’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala collaboration? It’s been 20 years since it happened, and this year’s Years (岁月) was probably the most popular segment [like Tang Weiwei’s two years ago]. I do wonder why CCTV hasn’t uploaded the performance on its own (yet).

As far as I know, it’s only available for high quality download on QQ (though, geoblocked), unless… you know, you do your thing.

And now, someone was awesome enough to provide English translations~

Bless them~

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Posted on February 25, 2018 In Celebrity, Chinese, Clips, English, Music, Sharing, Television , , , , , , ,
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Mamamoo’s Paint Me with Moomoo Tears~

January 4, 2018 — Leave a comment

Well, that was an exciting early morning. I got really hyped 10min. before the pre-orders for Moosical Bluray started because I wasn’t sure I was gonna get a copy, after what people went through while getting Solar’s Emotion. But everything went well, and then I was attacked by Paint Me (칠해줘).

I, obviously, have all the feels. The song DOES get better with replays. It did sound very West power pop ballad to me, which is explained by the fact that the song was composed by Mich Hansen, Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Chelcee Grimes, and Kara DioGuardi, who happened to have worked in Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics, which I loved. What really sold me the song are the lyrics, though. Written by JYP’s Jowul (조울), the structure of the song is telling the story of lovers— the beginning of love, the happiness of being in a relationship, the passion, and the heartbreak, with an abrupt ending that works thematically. It’s also a freaking sexy song, so I won’t lie that I wasn’t thinking that my favorite Kpop MV director, Hwang Soo-ah, should’ve done it. LOL

The song really called for a MV with storyline, but I know Mamamoo’s strengths aren’t on acting (‘Be Normal’ xD) and I also understand that Mamamoo aren’t in the position of not showing their face on their MV yet. But I imagined a very intimate MV with actors xD

I’m really looking forward to what they do in the album, even though I’m not looking forward to Sleep in the Car (잠이라도 자지) [1] AND Paint Me being in the same album [see: making albums].

Having said that— the promo photos. Whee-in, you bias wrecker, you. So I finally decided to put together my favorite era looks for each member ^^ Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, English, Korean, Music, Music Videos, Screencaps, Sharing, Stills , , , , , , ,
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