Little guitarists

This performance is simply unbelievable and amazing! It looks like some sort of camera trick but I think this little kids are for real. I love the way they moved to the music with big smiles on their faces - so cute that I want to pinch the little girl in the middle. Oh, I just can't get enough of them when I saw this video being circulated widely on FB that I've got to post them up here too. Damn - they are SO GOOD! Watching them helps me to de-stress and really brightens up my day - period! I haven't shown this video to Carmen and Chardon yet but I will shortly and I'm sure they will also be in awe. Just something to inspire these two - they might want to learn to play the guitar too (just wait till they are lil older and ready for guitar lessons hehe).

The month of I Do's

The wedding couple with some of the many talented musicians involved/performed at their wedding - thumbs up to the music coordinator, Adsone Gabu. (Photo courtesy of Romeo Bangkuai)

There's been lots of wedding ceremonies of friends or people I know this December month. It's the time of year again - weddings & singing & x'mas mood! And last Sunday, I was invited by a childhood friend, Carol Stella to sing at her wedding. I was again requested to sing Lea Salonga's 'Two Words' but this time with a violin accompaniment by Kyunghwan Hwang, a Korean. Hwang is a volunteer teacher at our mission school in Tamparuli and he's really good with the violin and singing with his accompaniment was really lovely. Reminds me of my violinist cousins, Sherwin & Miclen Thia.

I'm not sure if I sang well but go ahead and check out the video here which was uploaded by Pammie. (To Pammie - thanks again for this video, you are the best!) Will post more pictures later....

Another singing invitation...

Another friend invited me to sing for his cousin's wedding come this December. He actually has a special request if I could sing this broadway song 'Someone Like You' from Jekyll & Hyde (great - it's one of my fav song) and will be accompanied by a strings orchestra - cool! I told him I shall try my best and will go learn the song first. I heard Barbara Streisand sang this song (I have her CD of her best hits in my collection) but I particularly like Lea Salonga version (see video below) - I'm just totally in love with her voice!



Singing makes me happy!

What song to sing?

A friend of mine will be getting married this weekend and she requested me to sing at her wedding ceremony. It's been quite a while since I last sang at a wedding or at church...I was still pregnant then. Even during my maternity period, I was invited by a friend to sing at his wedding but have to turned his invitation down. Last night I went through all my wedding song books/files and I still don't know what song to sing. I'm bored singing the other wedding songs I used to sing for people's wedding. Anyway, I came across this song 'With You I'm Born Again' - I thought why don't I try singing this song as a solo, but I love how John Legend and Mariah Carey sang their duet version of this song. I've not been practising my vocal lately (well, except singing in the bathroom) and I hope my vocal range could suite this song well although it's pretty simple & easy - if yes then this could be the perfect song for my friend's wedding.

Wish me luck - I could still change my mind though.

Charming Treat

Suria Sabah Shopping Mall was officially opened by the Mayor of KK City yesterday. Since both of us are quite flexible with our working hours, my boss and I went to Suria Sabah to check out the also newly opened Metrojaya, the anchor tenant of Suria Sabah (one of my fav retail store)...lots of pretty stuffs there (households, clothes, children section, etc) with some good prices too. The mall is still 70% empty, with only a few stores started operating and it was still bit humid and dusty everywhere. I didn't get to really shop at Metrojaya cos looking at the long que at the cashier made me think twice...oh well I did buy a piece of jewellery, a charming bracelet for about RM23...suppose to be a bday gift for a friend but I think I'm falling for it too - so cute (just look at the pic). I will definitely come back to shop there again sometime soon - need more time to choose & try on some of those pretty dresses (just loved the Somerset Bay Children clothes - for my CJ).


Anyways, my weekend will be - to go see the Charity Christmas Program at Sutera Harbour Resort on Saturday nite, I was given a RM20 voucher - there will be bazaar going on and then on Sunday - singing for my cousin's wedding at the Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort's Wedding Pavilion, and IF I have time - to transform these plain notebooks to a creative & unique look. My sis, Debbie done hers.



Have a blast this weekend people:)

Weekend's errands & stuffs

Weekend is here again...(TGIF!)and I know for sure I'll be or try to be busy...doing some stuffs like - being invited to sing (2 solos and a duet) for a friend's wedding this Sunday (urgh..I haven't had enough practise yet!), to finish up my company's Committee Meeting Minutes (priority!), if I have time I want to create/design my own MJ's mini white glove key ring (I've bought the embelishments so I've got to do it),

...and then design some greeting cards, watch some movies - The Ugly Truth, My Sister's Keeper, etc, arrange all my books, mags, articles printouts, etc and set up a temporary library corner and activities with Carmen (a must)...I hope!

And as I promise myself I'll put up a picture of my now two weeks old nephew, Arwen. He's adorable and looked so much like his daddy (sorry Chrissie). By the way, his middle name is spelled 'Edel' actually, Chrissie changed her mind. My older bro's nickname is 'DEL', short for Disney Edward Lai.


Well, happy weekend...enjoy yours as I will enjoy mine! Mama Rock love ya people - PEACE!

Lifting up my spirit!

Honestly, I'm not a frequent church goer but deep inside me I still worship the Lord (usually in silence). Pretty sad to hear huh? / what a shame (I know). So I need lots of 'lifting up my spirit' moment...I do that by listening or I normally sings to my favourite contemporary gospel songs. Here's one of my ultimate fav - I've sung this song a few times in church.

From my fav black American contemporary gospel singers (black singers are my huge influences/inspirations in music), here's Cece Winans with Alabaster Box - just love her voice and performance here, enjoy:



The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain, some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper, there's no place here for her kind.
Still on she came, through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last she knelt before His feet. And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard, As she poured her love for the Master
>From her box of Alabaster.

CHORUS
And I've come to pour my praise on Him like oil from Mary's Alabaster Box
Don't be angry if I wash His feet with my tears and I dry them with my hair.
You weren't there the night He found me.
You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped His love all around me.
And you don't know the cost of the oil in my Alabaster Box.

VERSE 2
I can't forget the way life used to be. I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
I spent my days pouring my life without measure.
Into a little treasure box I thought I found. Until the day when Jesus came to me
And healed my soul with the wonder of His touch.
So now I'm giving back to Him all the praise He's worthy of .
I've been forgiven and that's why I love Him so much.

CHORUS
And I've come to pour my praise on Him like oil from Mary's Alabaster Box
Don't be angry if I wash His feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair, my hair.
You weren't there the night Jesus found me. You did not feel what I felt
When He wrapped His love all around me. And you don't know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don't know the cost of my praise. You don't know the cost of the oil
In my Alabaster Box.

Inspiring vocal - now my spirit is moved and lifted up!

My Personal Tribute to MJ

The song 'You Are My Life' is one of my fav MJ song ballad and I wanted to play it during my wedding reception in 2003 but not jadi. It's such a romantic song but I cried watching this fan-made video of MJ with this song - it's just too sad.


You Are My Life (from MJ's Invincible album)

Once all alone
I was lost in a world of strangers
No one to trust
On my own, I was lonely
You suddenly appeared
It was cloudy before but now it’s clear
You took away the fear
You brought me back to life

[CHORUS]
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You’re my daytime my nighttime
My world
You’re my life

Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
‘Cause you love me
You help me understand
That love is the answer to all that I am
And I’m a better man
You taught me by sharing your love

[CHORUS]

You gave me strength
When I wasn’t strong
You gave me hope when all hope is lost
You opened my eyes when I couldn’t see
Love was always here waiting for me

I penned a simple poem for MJ last night and maybe might turn it into a short song with no chorus (ha!). I tried a little bit of the melody on the piano this morning....It will be lovely and soft. I'm not that good so don't laugh ya but feel free to comment. Here goes...



A Poem/Song for Michael Jackson

Like an angel
Such a gentle and loving soul
Like a light
Shining through a hole
Giving hope to all the world
You bring happiness and love within

Just 50 and you're gone too soon
So unforgetable and irreplaceable
You've done so many so much
with love and full grace spirit
Just can't believe
You are here no longer

But remember...
You are not alone
The good Lord is with you
Now beside you in a place called
Heaven...
I see your smile now
May your soul rest in peace.
By Mama Rock/Donna, 2 July 2009.

Tadaa...that's all. Now I have all his songs and music videos as one of my precious collection.


If I ever meet him in person before - I think he's truly charming. I love that smile. Now I wanna learn how to do the Moonwalk. MJ legacy will live on forever! I LOVE YOU MICHAEL - 1958-2009 R.I.P!

Now I will have a good weekend - so happy weekend everyone!