Sleepy night. But happy and relaxed!
I just wrote so much for Friday night, or last night. So I will keep this short. (yeah right.)
Soul-pal came by, as she did yesterday right after the final set, but this time caught a lot more. :-) I did "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" especially for her. I hope she liked it more than I did. Hehe.
Someone asked for "Vincent" but he wasn't working tonight. Kidding. I sang a little bit with my own made up lyrics, meaning no disrespect to the song, and also promising to learn it for the next time the requester visits. I shall have it ready by Tuesday.
We tried "Round Midnight" tonight. Interesting. I was so sleepy that I was in limbo while performing some songs. Then I slept like a baby on the train home. Ah... and woke up in another town, not too far from mine but still a distance away. And the last trains had all gone home by then. I wasn't upset at all though. Very calmly, I wandered through the bus interchange hoping I will find a bus to bring me home. Just as I was about to resign myself to a cab, I found a bus that was going to leave in 5 minutes for my home! I chatted with my soul-pal on the bus, who tried to wake me while I was on the train. Thanks dear but sorry I am such a sleepy snail. After the little chat, I fell asleep and woke up perfectly at my stop!
I must admit I am a little worried about next week when I will virtually not have any time to rest. More on that later. I will be at Noh rehearsal, tango and maybe, just maybe, a jam session tomorrow.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Night 13 - Unforgettable
Now I was soooo tired I couldn't blog tonight so this is written, or typed, over 24 hours later. And now we travel baaack in time to Friday night.
It was a lovely evening, except I felt a wee bit nervous about my mom coming to watch with her friends. Would I screw up?
Thankfully, no! And there were a few imperfect starts which were great for challenging improvisations and twists to the songs. I even sang an original song a capella, and it is called... I haven't figured out a title yet. This is how it goes, an old very simple poem written sometime over the course of my childhood:
The nightingale sings her lonesome song,
Her tunes are never wrong.
The moonlight dances across the lake.
Here's my hand for you to take.
The watch on your wrist tells us you must go.
My heart is breaking oh so slow.
And just one last time, please hold me tight,
And darling, kiss me goodnight.
(Copyright, by Gillian Tan, can you hear the melody too?)
I can never remember lyrics to my songs but this one was easy for me. I wonder why. Maybe cos it was so simple and short? Well, people seemed to like it. My mom's friends from Australia were there. One of them was a professional performer and came up on stage to duet with me on "Unforgettable" and "Let There Be Love". He also delivered "L.O.V.E." as a solo. Amazing quality and command in his voice!
Now I think the cutest thing about my mom visiting was that most of the guests, who were either friendly regulars or travellers who have been coming by consecutively for the last few nights, were very excited to meet her! She joked with them and they loved her. :-)
I had a wonderful photo shoot in the afternoon at the Furama Riverfront (I sang at a wedding there once) right across the street from the Holiday Inn Atrium. The photographer was such a sweetheart to not just offer me the keys for the room that night (which would otherwise go to waste, which I also gave to my mom), but also take care of me by calling me a cab for my next meeting and getting me lunch. Then he came by for an overpriced cola (I shoulda taken care of that but he beat me to it!!) even though he was so tired from a day of shoot and was going to work at 6am the next morning. The sad part is that when he walked in, I had just finished my set with "Blue Bayou" done in a key higher than my usual which I could only describe as strained butchering. Sigh!!
No point kicking myself, you schizo. I shall return with a vengeance when I next perform that song and it will be stellar! Ok Jill whatever you say. I say? Just you wait and see. Or hear.
It was a lovely evening, except I felt a wee bit nervous about my mom coming to watch with her friends. Would I screw up?
Thankfully, no! And there were a few imperfect starts which were great for challenging improvisations and twists to the songs. I even sang an original song a capella, and it is called... I haven't figured out a title yet. This is how it goes, an old very simple poem written sometime over the course of my childhood:
The nightingale sings her lonesome song,
Her tunes are never wrong.
The moonlight dances across the lake.
Here's my hand for you to take.
The watch on your wrist tells us you must go.
My heart is breaking oh so slow.
And just one last time, please hold me tight,
And darling, kiss me goodnight.
(Copyright, by Gillian Tan, can you hear the melody too?)
I can never remember lyrics to my songs but this one was easy for me. I wonder why. Maybe cos it was so simple and short? Well, people seemed to like it. My mom's friends from Australia were there. One of them was a professional performer and came up on stage to duet with me on "Unforgettable" and "Let There Be Love". He also delivered "L.O.V.E." as a solo. Amazing quality and command in his voice!
Now I think the cutest thing about my mom visiting was that most of the guests, who were either friendly regulars or travellers who have been coming by consecutively for the last few nights, were very excited to meet her! She joked with them and they loved her. :-)
I had a wonderful photo shoot in the afternoon at the Furama Riverfront (I sang at a wedding there once) right across the street from the Holiday Inn Atrium. The photographer was such a sweetheart to not just offer me the keys for the room that night (which would otherwise go to waste, which I also gave to my mom), but also take care of me by calling me a cab for my next meeting and getting me lunch. Then he came by for an overpriced cola (I shoulda taken care of that but he beat me to it!!) even though he was so tired from a day of shoot and was going to work at 6am the next morning. The sad part is that when he walked in, I had just finished my set with "Blue Bayou" done in a key higher than my usual which I could only describe as strained butchering. Sigh!!
No point kicking myself, you schizo. I shall return with a vengeance when I next perform that song and it will be stellar! Ok Jill whatever you say. I say? Just you wait and see. Or hear.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Night 12 - Do That To Me One More Time
Night of wine and gobbles, laugh and run away...
Well, this was my dinner. I realise I am terrible at uploading pictures. So here. :-)
I always segment my food to protect the integrity and flavour of each dish.
Don't the fried worms look good?
Kidding, it's mee tai bak (of course it can be spelled and pronounced a few hundred other ways). A Chinese (ethnically, not nationally) hawker flour noodle dish literally translated as mouse tails.
Speaking of Chinese, I was asked to sing a Mandarin song. I had cleaned up my file and not included any Mandarin songs but I searched and found Teresa Teng's "yue liang dai biao wo de xin" (The Moon Represents My Heart) and did a heartfelt rendition of it with Adi. It was heartfelt because I couldn't allow the focus to fall on my less-than-perfect enunciation of the words. Haha!
The requesters were happy with it and asked for more Mandarin ones for their next visit. They were locals, applauding every song. They even offered me some red wine which I believe is healthy. I also had tea which created a good balance I think. :-)
I was a little absent-minded today and forgot my contact lenses. So I sang without my glasses, challenging myself with my own private game of Don't Forget the Lyrics. I must say I did pretty well. Not that absent-minded after all. Well, some single words were a little far off but I recalled in time when I had to repeat those verses or choruses. I got through "Do That To Me One More Time" with the tiny lyrics in front of me and squinted only a few times. Phew! Now I hope to do it one more time without the lyrics in front of me.
I spoke a lot tonight between songs relating facts and personal stories. A trio of Scottish travellers, who came by last night as well, told me tonight that they enjoyed watching us and said that we made the atmosphere very cheery, happy and inviting. That has to be one of the kindest and sweetest things I have heard since starting my gig here. Thank you...
Well, this was my dinner. I realise I am terrible at uploading pictures. So here. :-)
I always segment my food to protect the integrity and flavour of each dish.
Don't the fried worms look good?
Kidding, it's mee tai bak (of course it can be spelled and pronounced a few hundred other ways). A Chinese (ethnically, not nationally) hawker flour noodle dish literally translated as mouse tails.
Speaking of Chinese, I was asked to sing a Mandarin song. I had cleaned up my file and not included any Mandarin songs but I searched and found Teresa Teng's "yue liang dai biao wo de xin" (The Moon Represents My Heart) and did a heartfelt rendition of it with Adi. It was heartfelt because I couldn't allow the focus to fall on my less-than-perfect enunciation of the words. Haha!
The requesters were happy with it and asked for more Mandarin ones for their next visit. They were locals, applauding every song. They even offered me some red wine which I believe is healthy. I also had tea which created a good balance I think. :-)
I was a little absent-minded today and forgot my contact lenses. So I sang without my glasses, challenging myself with my own private game of Don't Forget the Lyrics. I must say I did pretty well. Not that absent-minded after all. Well, some single words were a little far off but I recalled in time when I had to repeat those verses or choruses. I got through "Do That To Me One More Time" with the tiny lyrics in front of me and squinted only a few times. Phew! Now I hope to do it one more time without the lyrics in front of me.
I spoke a lot tonight between songs relating facts and personal stories. A trio of Scottish travellers, who came by last night as well, told me tonight that they enjoyed watching us and said that we made the atmosphere very cheery, happy and inviting. That has to be one of the kindest and sweetest things I have heard since starting my gig here. Thank you...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Night 11 - Islands In The Stream
We had a duet!
It wasn't planned but it worked out quite alright. One of our guests wanted to sing acapella and after his valiant southern-drawled performance, we did a little duet with classic "Islands in the Stream". He and his friends were quite the country fans. So Adi and I delivered "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" and "Leaving On A Jet Plane" to audibly appreciative guests tonight.
I had a good dinner at work including dessert which for some reason always slipped my mind before. Each set went well. It was casual and fun tonight with guests interacting with me and asking for requests by hollering from the floor. I like that! How lively. :-)
Someone asked for "Even Now" by Barry Manilow. I've heard it and can learn it. Soooo emo. *sob*
On a personal note, I went to the gym with my soul-pal these last 2 days. And for more than just a shower! She is great at motivating me, even patiently teaching me dance moves. We also went to the library to borrow some books with more jazz standards to sing, reaffirm and learn. I also picked up a book of plays by Arthur Miller. For my happy train rides.
Well I had a sleepy train ride home, so I am off to bed. The coming week is going to be quite insane when teaching begins. Yet I'm looking forward to it!
It wasn't planned but it worked out quite alright. One of our guests wanted to sing acapella and after his valiant southern-drawled performance, we did a little duet with classic "Islands in the Stream". He and his friends were quite the country fans. So Adi and I delivered "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" and "Leaving On A Jet Plane" to audibly appreciative guests tonight.
I had a good dinner at work including dessert which for some reason always slipped my mind before. Each set went well. It was casual and fun tonight with guests interacting with me and asking for requests by hollering from the floor. I like that! How lively. :-)
Someone asked for "Even Now" by Barry Manilow. I've heard it and can learn it. Soooo emo. *sob*
On a personal note, I went to the gym with my soul-pal these last 2 days. And for more than just a shower! She is great at motivating me, even patiently teaching me dance moves. We also went to the library to borrow some books with more jazz standards to sing, reaffirm and learn. I also picked up a book of plays by Arthur Miller. For my happy train rides.
Well I had a sleepy train ride home, so I am off to bed. The coming week is going to be quite insane when teaching begins. Yet I'm looking forward to it!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Night 10 - Days of Wine and Roses
It was busy before we even started tonight!
Our first set started slow but was very pleasant. We did a song I had never sung yet, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". I had once heard Adi play it as an instrumental, and thought to myself, why don't I learn the song? It was honestly an experiment that yielded audibly positive results.
The second set was more upbeat and the third set showcased some groovy tunes where I stood up to move and dance (hardly) at the request of some guests. The crowd was made up of mostly travellers, peppered with a few of the regulars. I was very glad that the guests were attentive and seemed to enjoy every song.
A lot of people had the club sandwich for dinner which I haven't tried. Instead, I had my dinner of laksa and little tasty nibbles from the delectable spread at the restaurant buffet on the 4th floor. On the way down in the lift, I told a pilot as he was leaving the hotel, "Have a safe trip!"
Hmm, was that silly?
Our first set started slow but was very pleasant. We did a song I had never sung yet, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". I had once heard Adi play it as an instrumental, and thought to myself, why don't I learn the song? It was honestly an experiment that yielded audibly positive results.
The second set was more upbeat and the third set showcased some groovy tunes where I stood up to move and dance (hardly) at the request of some guests. The crowd was made up of mostly travellers, peppered with a few of the regulars. I was very glad that the guests were attentive and seemed to enjoy every song.
A lot of people had the club sandwich for dinner which I haven't tried. Instead, I had my dinner of laksa and little tasty nibbles from the delectable spread at the restaurant buffet on the 4th floor. On the way down in the lift, I told a pilot as he was leaving the hotel, "Have a safe trip!"
Hmm, was that silly?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Night 9 - You've Got A Friend
Friendly night to begin the week.
I had fun tonight because of everyone else. A few friends and a member from my facebook public page popped by. What a lovely surprise! One of our regulars named me my original songs! What an even lovelier surprise! Made me a bit shy la.
The bartenders and waitresses were great as always. Not only did I get a gorgeous hot chocolate from the bar, I also had a fun chat with the guests. When I went up for dinner, a chef spied on me as I picked skin off some duck slices. He asked if I would like some fresh duck and I said "Yes! But only the skin. I really love skin."
And he appeared a few minutes later with a plate filled with skin! Glorious skin... It was a such a heavenly sight. I was sooo ecstatic, I asked to bring it downstairs to the lobby. Usually this is a no-no but skin can be seen as harmless discards. So they allowed it. The skin was so good I shared it with the guests in the Lobby Lounge. Some enjoyed it. A few said no. Only one person winced at the thought of oily fatty duck skin.
I paid for that later in oil and phlegm felt at the edge of my throat. While I was singing. Haha. Terribly rude to clear my throat on stage but UNembarrassable Jilly did it anyway, coughing and laughing it off. I told some bar jokes since hey, we were all getting drinks from the bar!
Once again, I performed my Condo song to the delight of the locals. Yay! We delivered a request for "Over The Rainbow". And Adi and I did some fresh songs like "You've Got A Friend", Maurice William's "Stay" and "Hold Me, Thril Me, Kiss Me". Happy! I actually had a dream we did some Joni Mitchell. We just might this week. :-)
I had fun tonight because of everyone else. A few friends and a member from my facebook public page
The bartenders and waitresses were great as always. Not only did I get a gorgeous hot chocolate from the bar, I also had a fun chat with the guests. When I went up for dinner, a chef spied on me as I picked skin off some duck slices. He asked if I would like some fresh duck and I said "Yes! But only the skin. I really love skin."
And he appeared a few minutes later with a plate filled with skin! Glorious skin... It was a such a heavenly sight. I was sooo ecstatic, I asked to bring it downstairs to the lobby. Usually this is a no-no but skin can be seen as harmless discards. So they allowed it. The skin was so good I shared it with the guests in the Lobby Lounge. Some enjoyed it. A few said no. Only one person winced at the thought of oily fatty duck skin.
I paid for that later in oil and phlegm felt at the edge of my throat. While I was singing. Haha. Terribly rude to clear my throat on stage but UNembarrassable Jilly did it anyway, coughing and laughing it off. I told some bar jokes since hey, we were all getting drinks from the bar!
Once again, I performed my Condo song to the delight of the locals. Yay! We delivered a request for "Over The Rainbow". And Adi and I did some fresh songs like "You've Got A Friend", Maurice William's "Stay" and "Hold Me, Thril Me, Kiss Me". Happy! I actually had a dream we did some Joni Mitchell. We just might this week. :-)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Night 8 - Let's Fall In Love
Tonight was magical!
Special thanks to the guests. Everyone was tapping along, listening, having a fun time and we also fed off their energy and did some happy up-tempo numbers. Like 7. Kidding.
I even had someone come on stage an try to duet with me and I hope Adi wasn't too shocked by that. I hope we can work something out for my volunteer duet partner on Monday.
Our first set was smooth with relaxed numbers like "Sunny Side of The Street" and "Something Stupid". A regular came by for the first set and gave me some lozenges because I was coughing yesterday. Now I kinda remember that. How sweet! Literally too. :-) A young Burmese waitress told him that she had never heard most of the songs we performed but I think she sang along to the classic "Moon River". That set served as a good precursor to our next set.
My friends Joe and Li stopped by for my second set and very encouragingly applauded "For Sentimental Reasons", "I Wish You Love", "Blue Bayou" and every other song in that set. Aren't they lovely?
I also performed "Quando" with a longer version of my Singapore property version and my original parody goes like this:
Tell me where do you reside? Is it condo condo condo?
Not a HDB like me, or a landed property.
Is it near the MRT, from your condo condo condo?
Can you walk there easily? Or do you have to take taxi?
Every floor has a lift. Every lift has a mirror.
Can you show me the way, to the sauna and the pool?
I can't wait a moment more, for a condo condo condo.
Get me keys to my own door. And then agent, tell me where.
(Parody Lyrics Copyright by Gillian Tan)
The Singaporeans loved it (the few who were there). Then "La Bamba" was met with dancing and sing-alongs! I did my Japanese number "Ue o muite arukō" ("I look up when I walk" aka "Sukiyaki") again tonight in my last set which went well and the crowd showed their appreciation. At one of the tables sat this lovely couple!
Affable Bob and his lovely wife Nui (I must clarify the spelling of her name) were here with their two adorable daughters who had, by the end of my last set, gone to bed. I guess they enjoyed the show so much they bought me a Piña colada. My delightful soul-pal EZ joined us and we had such fun talking about Thailand, Singapore, the US and more!
One of our guests was leaving for the airport to catch a flight at midnight (!!) since he was only here for a day, yet it was good that he managed to catch Adi and me in action. We delivered 3 requests: "Girl from Ipanema", "Paper Moon" and "Autumn Leaves". One requester was so sweet, he gave me a tip. :-) I was going to split it with Adi but he left right after the final set, but the usually forgetful Jill shall remember this on Monday.
Special thanks to the guests. Everyone was tapping along, listening, having a fun time and we also fed off their energy and did some happy up-tempo numbers. Like 7. Kidding.
I even had someone come on stage an try to duet with me and I hope Adi wasn't too shocked by that. I hope we can work something out for my volunteer duet partner on Monday.
Our first set was smooth with relaxed numbers like "Sunny Side of The Street" and "Something Stupid". A regular came by for the first set and gave me some lozenges because I was coughing yesterday. Now I kinda remember that. How sweet! Literally too. :-) A young Burmese waitress told him that she had never heard most of the songs we performed but I think she sang along to the classic "Moon River". That set served as a good precursor to our next set.
My friends Joe and Li stopped by for my second set and very encouragingly applauded "For Sentimental Reasons", "I Wish You Love", "Blue Bayou" and every other song in that set. Aren't they lovely?I also performed "Quando" with a longer version of my Singapore property version and my original parody goes like this:
Tell me where do you reside? Is it condo condo condo?
Not a HDB like me, or a landed property.
Is it near the MRT, from your condo condo condo?
Can you walk there easily? Or do you have to take taxi?
Every floor has a lift. Every lift has a mirror.
Can you show me the way, to the sauna and the pool?
I can't wait a moment more, for a condo condo condo.
Get me keys to my own door. And then agent, tell me where.
(Parody Lyrics Copyright by Gillian Tan)
The Singaporeans loved it (the few who were there). Then "La Bamba" was met with dancing and sing-alongs! I did my Japanese number "Ue o muite arukō" ("I look up when I walk" aka "Sukiyaki") again tonight in my last set which went well and the crowd showed their appreciation. At one of the tables sat this lovely couple!
Affable Bob and his lovely wife Nui (I must clarify the spelling of her name) were here with their two adorable daughters who had, by the end of my last set, gone to bed. I guess they enjoyed the show so much they bought me a Piña colada. My delightful soul-pal EZ joined us and we had such fun talking about Thailand, Singapore, the US and more!One of our guests was leaving for the airport to catch a flight at midnight (!!) since he was only here for a day, yet it was good that he managed to catch Adi and me in action. We delivered 3 requests: "Girl from Ipanema", "Paper Moon" and "Autumn Leaves". One requester was so sweet, he gave me a tip. :-) I was going to split it with Adi but he left right after the final set, but the usually forgetful Jill shall remember this on Monday.
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