Night 41 - Yesterday

My illness and pace from yesterday was noticed in a feedback form. How sad. But we did fresh songs: "All I Have To Do Is Dream", "Yesterday" and Ben E. King's "Stand By Me".

The songs worked out beautifully although I had never sung them before, even on my own. I guess being careful in new territory helps. :-)

I don't have time to blog after this. I am sooo tired, drained and stretched out. Will try... but no promises. Thanks for reading!

Night 40 - I Wish You Love

I was sick when I arrived. Part of that was due to a lunch I had with a friend. Because of me, we performed the songs too slow for the first set.

But after a lot of throwing up and a bit of dinner, I felt better. Then sweetly, I was ambushed by a visit from my brothers. I managed to get them the happy hour deal. Besides them, some close friends joined in too.

My brothers gave me their honest opinions that I rattled on a bit too much for their liking. And that my Mandarin and Japanese needed much more work as they heard "Sukiyaki" (you know what it really means...) and Teresa Teng's "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin". We shared fun moments in "Condo Condo Condo" and "Fallen". Before the night ended with "I Wish You Love", a song that Siok loved a lot of at one point. :-)

After that, we all had supper. How fun!

Night 39 - Time After Time

Tonight was strange.

I somehow had a smooth, confident, controlled voice. As if it had a life of its own. I guess I should be grateful, and confident! We did a fresh song: "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper.

Amongst our guests tonight was the most adorable little 2 year old boy who was dancing to the music. I spoke to his parents and learnt that they were from Singapore. If I had known I would have done some local parody songs. Haha... He shook my hand a few times, clasped his little hands into a fist and wished me gong xi gong xi. Then as I left, he waved goodbye and blew me a kiss. :-)

Awww how sweet and adorab... Hey, why is he staying out longer than I? Wow maybe I am due for another party. Anyway, I shall leave you patient readers who don't mind my WOT with a new original song of mine (I mentioned it once but here is a video with lyrics, like a cheap karaoke, hehe) about learning to see the truth from the wishfulness. Accepting, growing up and moving on. This song will be part of my production in May 2010 "Stand Up And Sing!". More on that later.

Special thanks to Kevin Foo and Nigel Tan of Loft Studios. To EZ for helping me print the lyrics! :-)

Thanks also to the ones who have broken my heart for this song now has a voice.



Also available on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zXo67aEMe4

This song will debut on 9.38 Live FM, Singapore on March 12th 2010, Friday, after Bharati's short radio interview with Gillian Tan under "Passion People". That should be around 2:10pm.

website: http://jilly.co.nr
© Gillian Tan, 2009

Night 38 - Out On The Weekend

What a wonderful night after a a long break for Chinese New Year!

For me. I was "Out On The Weekend", but unlike the Neil Young song, I was not a lonely boy. I was busy with the family, as the season should be. I even found time to go out to a club!

I had Adi's wife and my friend sing in place of me on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights over CNY. Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Tonight, Adi and I opened our first set with "The Nearness Of You". Then we performed "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" (moon represents my heart) which I think improves each time I do it. Everyone seemed to enjoy "Fly Me To The Moon" as well.

My voice seemed more confident and brighter. Perhaps it was the rest I so badly needed. Tonight our regulars were there and one of them gave me a hongbao, or a red packet with money inside, mostly for good luck and prosperity. How sweet!

I had nice hair and makeup on since I came from a long day of filming as Helen. Not the longest I have experienced though. Today was to begin at 9:30am but the office was only opened at 10am. I claimed I didn't receive the script in my email so learnt my dialogue all on the spot (I later found out the script was indeed sent to me, a little after 2am that very day). I was to end about 4pm but due to so many prop (un) preparations, my last scene wrapped at 6pm. That left me just enough time to get to HIA.So many outfit changes for all the scenes from episode 2 and 3. Ok, one outfit here is from ep 1, can you guess which? Click on the picture above to enlarge it. :-)

Night 37 - Rose Rose I Love You

Sooooooo excited! My last day of work!

And then I return to work on Wednesday. The Chinese Lunar New Year is upon us, with its first day being February 14th 2010. That happens to also be Valentine's Day. So I sang the Chinese version of "Rose Rose I Love You" which is "Mei Gui Mei Gui Wo Ai Ni". I put it in a blender with my pitifully pronounced Mandarin. But you gotta laugh when there was enthusiastic applause from obviously non-Mandarin speaking guests.

In addition to that, Adi and I did more Chinese songs for Chinese new year such as Teresa Teng's 1977 trademark song "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" (which means the moon represents my heart) and the lovely "Ye Lai Xiang" (which means... uh...) and they worked out a bit better than "Mei Gui".

For fun, we did "Sway" which in Chinese meant bad luck. But hey, I told everyone how we were not superstitious so we wanted everyone to have a good time and enjoy this inviting dance tune. Yes I am so not talking about techno here.

A couple of friends popped by with some relatives and I told a few jokes and did my "Condo Condo Condo" song. To celebrate the season and my last day of work before my long weekend, I wore a cheongsam inspired dress in black with a cute hairband my cousin got for me as a Christmas gift. I got this dress years ago for $8 and never wore it till now. How lovely.

Yay, now that I'm home, I can relax until Wednesday! Not updating until then. Enjoy your holiday everyone! How bizarre... that now I, the perpetual freelancer, should finally know the feeling of a long weekend. Not bothering with full sentences. Much needed REST coming up. Happy. Bubbling with excitement. Sleepy. Done. Ok. Out.

Night 36 - Route 66

Thursdays for me usually mean 3 hours of teaching in two schools spread out from 8:30am till 2pm.

Today I had a shoot as Helen right after teaching ended for the day. My calltime was 3:30pm at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) building. So I arrived on time as the producer had requested, but a previous scene required more time than they had catered for, so I entertained myself by chatting with fish and strolling about. I also sent some random text messages to friends after browsing through the books in their tourism library. Here is what I found out about Holiday Inn.

In 1994, Holiday Inn had the highest number of rooms in the world with over 390,000 rooms across the globe. At that time, it was the 5th largest hotel chain with 171 hotels. Yet it failed to make the top 20 list in terms of room sales that year. I guess it makes sense. If I had a hotel with just one room, It would probably be sold out everyday (perhaps to myself, haha).

We finally began on my tiny scene at 6pm in the driveway where there's a happy little Merlion (so don't forget to include this one when you count them), and I left at 6:20pm for the train. Yes I had just enough time to walk to the train, hop on, grab a seat on the bus, and make it in time.

I arrived quite relaxed and it didn't feel like a high pressure journey. More like a swinging "Route 66". Nothing much to report at HIA tonight. But I still don't recognise myself in the mirror right away. But I do after 1 or 2 seconds. Haha. It's not a big deal. Just a new hairstyle.

Night 35 - I'm Gonna Wash That Girl Right Outta My Hair

Goodbye to hair from four inches below my shoulder!

Yes I had my first day of shoot as Helen, a series regular and supporting character, in the Suria drama "First Impressions". And before the cameras rolled for my scene, the makeup artist and hair stylist, a girl who loves her job, ran back and forth between me and the other actors on set for two hours... Till my hair was cut the way they all wanted it. Well, kinda. She felt she was rushed and would've done a better job if she had more time.

Now it turned out to be very much shorter than what they had promised me (bra line). Since hair grows back and I rarely bother with the mirror, I don't really care. Or else I'd have thrown a hissy fit and sued them. At the time, my soul pal seemed more concerned about it than I. While filming, the fringe got trimmed a little more. As you can see in this before, after, and after picture. Hehehe...

I drove and arrived at their office at 2:30pm after teaching. My hair was ready by 4:30 and after makeup and wardrobe, the cameras rolled for two scenes with my character from 5 and I left at 6:30pm. Cutting it soooo close though I had told them I had to leave by 6 in order to keep the car at home, and still get to HIA to start my first set at 7:45pm. Everything worked out just in time. Phew!

Now this new hair surprised a few people at HIA. Some liked it, saying I look better with it. I suppose it does sport a more youthful bounce now.

Now for the title of this post... I didn't sing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" but I was thinking of a past relationship since people say it is common for people to cut their hair when a relationship has recently ended. It is funny too since this person just got a haircut, and had also always wanted me to cut my hair a certain dictated way, but never the way I wanted it myself. At that time, I said that if I were to get a hair cut, my new hair would end just below my shoulders and I would have a fringe. Which didn't sit well with my fussy ex. But I've washed you right outta my life, and hair... And what a surprise... This is it!

Night 34 - Cry Me A River

Today I taught at two different schools as I do every Tuesday, before a rehearsal for my dear friend's production called Noh Now.

The rehearsal venue was changed suddenly after we had set our dates down for the rehearsal ages ago at a place in Serangoon. I hope the kind folks at the venue in Serangoon didn't make plans just for us that day, only to cancel them.

I was very emotional during one scene in the rehearsal but it didn't spill over into my real life. I had always insisted (for and to myself only) I never want to use much of my personal life in my work, because I felt I would be exploiting it, the experiences and the people around me. Especially intense and private moments. However, this scene seemed to call for it. And so, I allowed it, but I knew it wouldn't go out of control. My tears stopped the moment the scene was over. I tried to clear my blocked nose in time for singing as I ran to the train station.

At the HIA, someone asked for "Businessman in New York" by Sting (now I think he meant Englishman but no matter) so we did fresh song for him, also by Sting. "Fields Of Gold". So fresh that some chords didn't match. Still it sounded snazzy and deliberate. And I led confidently with my vocals and it turned out as a song, though I suppose it is a little strange. Fields of Copper-haps.

We had a few lovely numbers for the rest of the night, like 7, 8 and 9... kidding. Yes I believe we did "Cry Me A River" which might've been perfect for my Noh rehearsal this afternoon. But I ain't gonna cry for my hair which is to be cut tomorrow!

Night 33 - They Can't Take That Away From Me

The memory of my hair that is...

I had a shoot with an old friend in the afternoon simply because my hair is about to be chopped off by Ochre Pictures for a Suria Malay drama called "First Impressions". I do trust them to be professionals of course, but I just hope they don't butcher my hair entirely.

But hair grows back so I'm not biting my nails, or hair, over it. My first day of shoot as Helen, an magazine editor (series regular), will be Wednesday which is also when they will do the snippity snip.

The photoshoot went well, I think. Benjamin, the photographer is very much an old friend and it was wonderful to catch up. He said it has been many years and I still look good, which I am sure is only kindness on his part. Still I can't wait to see the pictures! Should I post them up here? It isn't related to music...

Tonight our fresh songs were "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Isn't She Lovely", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". I always like singing these songs so I was all smiles!

Night 32 - Beyond The Sea

Now Adi and I didn't do this song though we should've!

It would have been perfect for all the sea faring guests. Many had stepped off a cruise ship and a few more were going on one. I guess the hotel is nicely nestled between nightlife and the harbour.

Nothing much else to report today. I had a shoot before that because my hair was about to go for a TV shoot. It needs a cut anyway. :-) After that I had a jam session with What The, a band of lovely friends, before heading to HIA (Holiday Inn Atrium).

We had fun entertaining a joyful little crowd from Scotland, who I must admit, entertained us just as much. They bought me a drink and told me about their cruise as well. I love that they were singing along to "I Will Survive", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". Football was going on so I tried not to be too rude and intrude audibly. I did change a few words in the songs to 'football' to show them I support their love for the game. A few noticed and smiled, but of course they could be thinking, 'She won't leave us alone, will she?'

Because of the many locals tonight, I did Teresa Teng's "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" (The Moon Represents My Heart) since Chinese New Year is well on its way. And someone from China sang along! So many sing-alongs tonight, how lovely!

Night 31 - You Don't Know Me

Moey, the pianist for tonight, didn't know me before 7:45pm today.

Adi couldn't make it so he had Moey play with me tonight. I liked that I was being thrown together with someone else which will keep me on my toes and be a fun, challenging training session. And I loved the fact that though he wasn't the most experienced (as Adi had mentioned, but no matter!), he was so willing to try and do whichever songs I gratefully suggested. And he seemed to know more songs too, or perhaps a different set of tunes. So we performed:

"Call Me Irresponsible" - Simply because I can be if I choose to...

"Time After Time" - The Cyndi Lauper one, though I am dreaming of the Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne one.

"Like Someone In Love" - What a fun little ditty.

"You Don't Know Me" - I last sang this as a wedding march-in at the couple's request. How strange. But what a lovely song.

"Both Sides Now" - Finally performed this for the first time and I love it. Love Joni Mitchell.

"For Once In My Life" - Always wanted to do it and now I have!

"Walking My Baby Back Home" - One of my absolute favourites!

"You Light Up My Life" - I recall burping in the middle of this song at a wedding. I just had to do it again, this time without the burp.

"You Belong to Me" - Sang this last a capella at a gig or tour, called War on Wheels, since this song was often dedicated to soldiers going away during World War Two.

Night 30 - House Of The Rising Sun

Or shall I say the singing moon?

Tonight I had a lovely tip after a happy chat. From a couple from Lebanon who now live in Australia. They were part of a cruise. How lovely. They liked a lot of our music, which was wonderful to know, and they asked for "Strangers in the Night". I said "I know it but not the words so is it okay if I make them up?"

They said yes. And I did, a little, along with scatting. Scatterbrain I am.

Another request which we tried to fulfill without the right words were "House of the Rising Sun" where I told the story of how I landed on earth. This came from a table where some were regulars and a few were friends.

Haha, now I know a few more songs to add to my repertoire. :-) Just gotta get the words.

Night 29 - Under The Boardwalk

We got another tip!

For the song, you guessed it, "Under The Boardwalk"! From an affable couple from Adelaide. It's even more interesting that they were staying at another hotel but dropped in here, AND will be coming back again tomorrow! I do not suppose I am very calculative, especially monetarily, but I am glad to report that this is our third tip! It's all about the appreciation. :-)

I promised 2 songs for tomorrow night when requests came in. One was "That's What Friends Are For" which I didn't have the lyrics for and ended up performing "You've Got A Friend" instead. Another song was "The Rose" which I could have done but time had just run out and I always like to end the final set with a closing song that I know Adi and I will do well with, and tonight it was "Imagine".

The guests who requested those songs will be back tomorrow so I will be armed and ready to give their ears a treat! I sure hope they will like that. :-)

A friend popped by (again) which was a nice surprise, and went so far (literally) as to send me home! A couple of people came by regarding work, since I wasn't able to come to them, for an audition. Haha, how kind and accommodating, and I must say thanks to them as well.

I will sleep well now for another long day awaits me tomorrow. I must admit I wasn't my best tonight since I was rather tired. Tomorrow will be lovely, I just know it... Wow, as of now, 5 'tomorrow's in this post. I shoulda called this post "Tomorrow", as in the song from Annie. I'll save that title for another day, perhaps tomorrow. 8 now. Haha...

Vadei Hell am I so positive suddenly? (more on yummy Vadei next time, maybe tomo--)

Night 28 - Little Girl Blue

Tired night but did two fresh songs, completely new to Adi.

Since the day I borrowed two books of music sheet collections, I had wanted to do these songs so I gave them to Adi, who it seems has been very busy. But today I put my foot down and kindly asserted my desires, mostly because I had to retrieve the books from him and return them to the library tonight (which I did on the way home).

I love "Hey There" and heard Rosemary Clooney's rendition so I sing the advice 'like a mother' instead of 'like a brother'. This is the first time I'm reviving this song since my first singing gig in a piano bar named Monaco in Clarke Quay about 6 years ago (but I can get dates mixed up). That was actually a place where some unpleasant things were born. But nonetheless. All part of life. Which led to...

"Little Girl Blue" and blue I was. That song was always a favourite of mine and I know it by heart after listening to Linda Ronstadt's rendition at least a thousand times. Adi had never heard of it and said he couldn't see the music sheet clearly so it turned out quite butchered. Old girl you're through... Quite a few reasons to be blue actually.

Now the books have been returned with no time to photocopy at this hour, and I was thinking: what a waste... someone else might've needed and really used the books this whole time. Sigh.

Night 27 - Rainy Days And Mondays

Tonight was quite a relaxed and lovely one.

Yes it drizzled a little in the afternoon. So we performed "Rainy Days And Mondays". How apt. :-) I wrote a poem when I was 16 called January Rain. Well, goodbye January.

We had a table with 3 Japanese guest so we also performed "Ue o muite arukō", aka Sukiyaki. I think I need to learn another Japanese song...

For some folks from Kuala Lumpur who were staying in the hotel as part of their business trip, we answered their two requests for "Don't Know Why" & "Leaving On Jet Plane". They liked what we did and it was great that they caught us because on Saturday, we regretfully ended just as they came in for a drink.

Now, the only hiccups tonight were actually burps. I have no idea why but something I ate might have triggered a machine gun's magazine of burps! So I was glad we survived through to the closing song "I've Got You Under My Skin", which I affectionately call the Splinter song.