Sean Ghazi - Sabar Menanti (Waiting Patiently)

This is a jazzed up Malay classic by Sean Ghazi, a Malaysian singer, actor, from his debut album "Sean Ghazi Semalam (semalam means yesterday evening or one night in bahasa)".

I'm not an avid Malay/Indon music follower, but I do listen to some local Malay or mix radios, which never failed to introduce me to many good old and new Malay songs, and I'm glad that I heard this one when I was driving somewhere in the city at night.

I hope you enjoy this one, too.

Lyrics in Bahasa & English translation:

Tiada kata bagimu
Sebagai buluh perindu
Kanda nantimu
Bekalku hanyalah rindu walau dipisah lautan
Duhai kasihku...

Kala senja dikau datang walaupun hanya lamunan
Aduhai....
Sabarlah menanti
Ku takan lama 

Daku pergi demi tugas walau apapun beratnya
Oh relakan
Pesanmu tak kulupakan
Sumpah setia demi cinta
Oh percayalah

Bila sinar suria menghampiri dikau
Sabarlah dik sayang
Kukembali.

Percayalah
Bila sinar suria menghampiri dikau
Sabarlah dik sayang
Kukembali.


& here's my translation (direct and indirect, not accurate, ok, time to polish up my Bahasa!):

There's no word for you
Just like bambusa
I'm waiting for you
I'm provided with just yearning though separated by ocean
Alas my love

You came in the dusk although it's just a fantasy
Alas...
Please be patient and waiting
I won't be long

I have to go for my duty no matter how heavy it is
Oh I'm willingly
Not forgeting your words
Swear to be loyal for love
Oh please believe

When sun rays come close to you
Please be patient my love
I'm back

Please believe
When sun rays come close to you
Please be patient my love
I'm back

Read more...

Gonçalo Pereira - Nenufares Cintilantes

Found this original guitar improvisation by Gonçalo Pereira, a Portuguese guitar virtuoso. The title is Nenufares Cintilantes (Google translation: "Sparkling Water Lily", not sure how accurate it is tho).

I really hope Gonçalo Pereira has recorded a studio version of this melodic guitar music, which I couldn't find further info on the internet, it's just so amazing! I'm not gonna talk about his guitar skills and techniques, no one's gonna question about that.

The elements that made this improvised instrumental music sound amazing are his musical vocabularies, and great sense of music, the other thing that I'm not sure is that my guitarist friend said his "big hand" is part of his great music creations because it can stretch so wide to play something impossible to be done by guitarists who have relatively smaller hands... hmm......

Enjoy~

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HALKA - Little Truth リトルトゥルース

I couldn't recall how I found this song, or this singer, although I've been listening to this amazing, soothing voice for quite some time already. There is no further info about HALKA, the singer/vocalist except for the short introduction about her on this page.

If you understand Japanese, please help to translate this song or at least provide the Japanese lyrics, thanks & enjoy!

Read more...

Steve Vai - Being With You (In Paris)

It's Christmas~ and I wish I were in Paris (nope, I've never been to Paris) now listening to this sweet waltz music by guitar great Steve Vai, imagining myself walking down some Parisian streets or sitting in some quaint cafe with someone "special" :-)

*From Steve Vai's live album "Alive In An Ultra World (2001), featuring Scott Palacios on Accordian, and John Pustai on narration.

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Merry Christmas!!

I'd like to take this chance to wish everyone in this world a very joyous, peaceful Christmas & New Year.

And not forgetting about a daily dose of feel good music on this Christmas Eve:

This is not your typical Christmas music, it's Steve Vai's jazzy rock version of "Christmas Time Is Here"~

(From Steve Vai's "The 7th Song" album & Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas compilation)

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Is Stevie Ray Vaughan famous among young generations or non-blues music lovers? To me, he's a legend, a great musician, guitarist.

Here's one of the very first few SRV songs I listened to, it's a nice, soothing, bluesy / jazzy instrumental "night tune" - Riviera Paradise, very easy listening, perfect to go with a cuppa coffee, relaxing in the evening or even midnight.

Let's chillout with the one & only SRV~

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Little Snowflake (from Super Simple Songs)

Yet another beautiful children's song from Super Simple Songs. I ain't sure if my daughter love this song, but I'm sure I'm in love with it! Nursery can be that beautiful!

Music: Super Simple Learning
Animation: Fuzz Animation
Vocals: NAGI Song:
Little Snowflake (©Super Simple Learning 2009)
CD: Super Simple Songs - Christmas



 
Lyrics:  
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling...falling on my head.

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling...falling on my nose.

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling...falling in my hand.

Falling on my head.
Falling on my nose.
Falling in my hand.

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake... Read more...

Beyond - 早班火車 (Morning Train)

This is a beautiful song by my all time favourite Hong Kong rock band, BEYOND. Many of us in East Asia and South East Asia picked up guitars because of BEYOND, that's the impact they created, especially when the band mastermind Wong Ka Kui, the genius was still with us!

Too bad God took him away in such a tragic way at such young age in 1993... Guess all legends had to die young... RIP 黃家駒 Wong Ka Kui (June 10, 1962 – June 30, 1993)

Anyway, Morning Train was released in 1992 under Beyond's eighth Cantonese album 《繼續革命》（Carry on The Revolution). The lyrics describe about a man who's in a one sided love in a dreamy and beautiful way, where he meets his dream woman every morning in train.


Original recording version.


Beyond performed Morning Train without Ka Kui in 2003 Live.

Lyrics:
Sorry for my lousy translation, but I believe it is still better than any crappy software translation. I hope my interpretation could at least help you understand this song better. Cheers!

天天清早最歡喜　在這火車中再重逢妳
(Every happy morning, in this train we meet again)
迎著　妳那似花氣味　難定下夢醒日期
（Moving towards your flower like fragrance,  it is hard to know when to wake up from dreams)
玻璃窗把妳反映　讓眼睛可一再纏綿妳
（Through the reflection of the glass window, my eyes could linger around you again)
無奈妳那會知我在凝望著萬千傳奇
(How frustrated that you don't know that I'm staring into thousands of legends/fairy tales)

Chorus:
願永不分散　祈求路軌當中　永沒有終站 woo-oh
(Never may we part, I pray that this journey will never end, woo-oh)
盼永不分散　仍然幻想一天我是妳終站
(Never may we part, still I imagine one day, I'll be your destination)
妳輕倚我臂彎
(You lean on my arms gently)

火車嗚嗚那聲響　在耳邊偏偏似柔柔唱
(The noise of train whistle, sounded like soft singing right next to my ears)
難道妳教世間漂亮　和默令夢境漫長
(As if you taught the world what beauty is, and silently order the dreamland to be endless)

Repeat Chorus

多渴望告訴妳知　心裡面我那意思
(How I wish I could tell you the meaning of my heart)
多渴望可得到妳的那注視
(How I wish I could attract your attention to myself)
又再等一個站　看妳意思
(Yet another station, waiting for your decision)
三個站盼妳會知　千個站妳卻似仍未曾知
(Hoping you'll know after three stations, and yet you never know after a thousand satations...)

Repeat Chorus Read more...

Celine Dion - What Wonderful World

I know many of you may not like Celine Dion's What A Wonderful World cover, and always comparing her rendition to Louis Armstrong's originality and emotion...

Well, I just don't care a bit about the comments, yes, Louis Armstrong's version is the greatest one, but after all, it's just about taste and personal preference.

Most importantly, this song just soothed me from all the negativity I had today, and that's the reason why I'm sharing this version instead of the original's.


Thank you, Celine!


from Celine Dion - Miracle (2004)

Lyrics:
I see trees of green... red roses too
I see 'em bloom... for me and for you
And I think to myself... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue... and clouds of white
Bright blessed days.... warm sacred nights
And I think to myself... what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow... so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces... of people going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin'.. how do you do?
They're really sayin'... I love you.

I hear babies cry... I watch them grow
They'll learn much more... than I'll never know
And I think to myself... what a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself... what a wonderful world... oh yeah! Read more...

Christina Rosenvinge - Expensive Shoes

Attracted by the dreamy melodies and vocal, I found this song on a compilation album Happiness & Tenderness 2006, published by Avant Garden Records. It was on air during a hair cut in a local hair salon, I quickly asked for the CD that the boss was playing to get to know the song and track list.

Happiness &s Tenderness 2006 (sold out)

Expensive Shoes is actually one the dreamy (a lil more upbeat) songs from Christina Rosenvinge's U.S. debut Frozen Pool album, published in 2011. Right now I still haven't listened to many of her songs, and her earlier Latin, Spanish pop songs. It is know that she moved to New York City in 1999, and changed her musical direction from Pop to Indie and Alternative. She was also a member of Christina y Los Subterráneos.

I love her angelic voice, and somehow her voice reminds me of Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)... what do you think?

Christina Rosenvinge on myspace

Christina's official website: christinarosenvinge.com


Frozen Pool (2001)

Lyrics:
So thank you for the lawn and the tea cups
the tutus and the crown that I´ve still got
now I shine like a new silver spoon
and keep quiet as I´m supposed to do

So thank you for the ring and the tulips
though I guess I was too young to refuse it
but it´s sunday I don´t need an excuse
I´m a shade in pretty expensive shoes

Yes, that twisted melody
spinning in my head like a ferris wheel
no, I wouldn´t be so sad
if I could be alone for a while

So thank you for the price on my raincoat
and that hook that looks so nice
round my pale throat
I´m a big girl paying all my dues
pretty girl in pretty expensive shoes
Read more...

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Lenny

SRV is one the modern guitar gods who played blues music and guitars through his heart and soul. He has inspired many other musicians and guitarists like Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, John Mayer, etc.

The 10th track of Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut album, Texas Flood, Lenny is a beautiful piece of guitar solo SRV wrote for his wife Lenora "Lenny" Bailey.

According to a comment on YouTube, "Stevie saw a guitar in a music store window and wanted it but he couldn't afford it. When his wife, Lenny, heard this, she pooled together with a group of her friends to buy it for him. when they gave him the guitar he was so thrilled, he stayed up the whole night writing this song on it. He even named the guitar Lenny." (I ain't sure if this is true but sound convincing to me, though)

So let's just listen to this wonderful, bluesy and easy music of SRV, and you gotta feel the love in it!


Texas Flood (1983)

Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar tabs Read more...

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Summer Wine

I'm far from being a fetus when this song is written, hahaha!

This song is used as a background music for a design reel, which I don't remember who the animator is. Anyway, this song was written in 1966 by Lee Hazlewood for Suzi Jane Hokom and Hazlewood himself in 1966, but the version I post here is the remake of Nancy Sinatra and Hazlewood in 1967, and then featured on Nancy & Lee LP in 1968.

It's a rather sweet and sexy song, where a man met a woman who offered him summer wine, and ended up his silver spurs and money stole ;-)




Fairy Tales & Fantasies: The Best Of Nancy & Lee

Lyrics:
Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things

I walked in town on silver spurs that jingled to
A song that I had only sang to just a few
She saw my silver spurs and said lets pass some time
And I will give to you summer wine
Ohh-oh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine
Ohhh-oh summer wine

My eyes grew heavy and my lips they could not speak
I tried to get up but I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me with an unfamiliar line
And then she gave to me more summer wine
Ohh-oh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine
Mmm-mm summer wine

When I woke up the sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone my head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs a dollar and a dime
And left me cravin' for more summer wine
Ohh-oh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine
Mmm-mm summer wine
Read more...

Yanni - Santorini (Live at the Acropolis)

The first time I heard Yanni was through a Singapore TV program where they used Within Attraction as their opening music, and I didn't know who Yanni is during that time, until again, I watched Yanni's Tribute Live on Singapore's TV channel back in the 90s. Then, I fall in love with Live At The Acropolis too!

I love Santorini of Live At The Acropolis the most! The energy flows with the melodies smoothly, and it creates an impact in your heart, with its musical impressiveness! It's strong, but just nice that you'll be able to receive the energy that it delivers.

The other part I love about Yanni is his progressive style, and the slow keyboard solo of Santorini gives me an asian, oriental kind of feeling. It's just so imaginative, like taking you from where you are to Santorini to somewhere in the far east area and back in Santorini again...

It's gonna be a long weekend here in Malaysia, I'm going back in my home town and sure gonna play this song on my way home!



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Viva Voce - Special Thing (Get Yr Blood Sucked Out [Explicit])

Years ago, I heard this happy acoustic song for the first time when it was used as the background music of one of the Zune Arts animated video clip, The Zune Plane by FullTank.

No information was given on the music back then until recently some people re-uploaded this video together with the information about its background music.

Special Things is an easy listening, acoustic piece written and performed by American Indie Rock band - Viva Voce. Everything is so simple, but that's what this song has to make you happy when you listen to it.

P/S Never mind the album title, LOL! Just listen to Special Thing and relax!

Viva Voce performs Special Thing live!


Viva Voce official website: vivavoce.com
Viva Voce on myspace



Lyrics:
If the power dies again
Well who needs the light?
We'll see with our hands
and feel and understand

The notes create the source
They cause a driving force
and the sound that you explore
Through the wires on the floor

And it's a very special thing
She makes the people clap and sing
And my baby makes me happy all the time, all the time

It's the touch that's wearing thin
Where the strings break the skin
And the folks throwing stones
Have hearts like hollow bones

Lyrics www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/viva_voce/
But it's a very special thing
She makes the people clap and sing
And my baby makes me happy all the time, all the time

And it's a very special thing
She makes the people clap and sing
And my baby makes me happy all the time, all the time

And it's a very special thing
It's a very special thing Read more...

Mourning Widows - True Love In The Galaxy (Mourning Widows)

To me, Nuno Bettencourt is the most underrated guitarist and musician on earth. He's a genius, multi-instrumentalist, and always years ahead of what other musicians are doing.

He formed Mourning Widows after he quit Extreme and released his first solo album NUNO, and True Love In The Galaxy is truely a surprise from Mourning Widows' very first self titled album. Yes, Nuno is the name of guarantee of good music and He has never disappointed the fans yet! This song is so creative from the perspective of arrangement and lyrics.

The arrangement of True Love In The Galaxy sets it apart from other solid tracks in the album, where most of them are funk rock/metal. Its got some chill out and electronica kinda elements
in it, blended with Nuno's funk and rock style guitar rythms, and you gotta love the ending guitar solo, which will take you the the outter space with your loved ones!

Aye aye captain Nuno, we're blasting through the Milky Way!



Mourning Widows - Mourning Widows (1998)

Lyrics:
Sadness runs, lonely dies, fear explodes
The moment you arrive
And all the stars align, I'm fine
Life's a trip, Start to fall, just in time
I float inside your eyes
I sit there for a while and smile

(You know there's somebody out there)
(You know there's something out there)
(Well what are you waiting for?)

Come aboard the rocketship
We're blasting through the Milky Way
Where love is a billion meteors
Crashlanding into you
True love in the galaxy

Have you heard the crazy news
Isn't true
They say that love it dies
Can't believe the lies. They lie
They don't know where we live
The galaxy where love surpasses love
I wish they'd all just come with us

Come aboard the rocketship
We're blasting through the Milky Way
Where love is a billion meteors
Crashlanding into you
True love in the galaxy Read more...

Final Fantasy X OST - Besaid Island (Besaido-jima)

I'm not a gamer, but was introduced to Final Fantasy X OST by my ex-boss. I actually skipped almost all tracks of the 4-disc set except for this one, Besaido-jima @ Besaid Island by Japanese game composer, Masashi Hamauzu (浜渦正志).

The song tile has best described the song. It really makes you feel like you're spending a wonderful holiday on a beautiful island, waking up early in the morning to the sunny beaches and cooling breeze.

I love the simple arrangement of the song with the touch of oriental kind of new age style. Hmm... feel like taking a break to a special island on earth...




Final Fantasy X: Original Soundtrack (2001)

Read more...

Richie Sambora - In It For Love (Undiscovered Soul)

Richie Sambora is the lead guitarist of the famous melodic rock band Bon Jovi, I actually prefer his vocal works rather than his guitar soloing. Don't get me wrong, he's a good guitarist with his own styles, it's just that he also posses great voice, which to me, outshines his guitar efforts.

I love the positive energy of In It For Love, the easy, mostly acoustic, 7th track from Richie Sambora's second solo album. It talks about the reality, the frustrations of everyone's normal life. But what really matter at the end of the day is LOVE, and love will keep us going.

So be loving, be tough!


Richie Sambora - Undiscovered Soul (1998)




Lyrics:
Life is a road
Forever winding where it leads us
I don't know
In it together for better or worse
Searching for our pal of gold

Time leaves a trail
Of broken hearts
So many arrows
Just keep missing their mark
Baby, that ain't us

Nothing else matters
When you're in it for love
Together we can only go higher
You can reach any rainbow
You're dreaming of

Nothing else matters at all
When you're in it for love, baby
Yeah, we'll share in the laughter
Share in the tears
And the promises we keep

Life can be crazy
Love can be cruel
But it's always been
A two way street

You try and give it
All you have to give
So many people
Don't know how to forgive
Baby, that ain't us

Nothing else matters
When you're in it for love
Together we can only go higher
You can reach any rainbow
You're dreaming of
Nothing else matters at all
When you're in it for love, baby

You try and give it
All you have to give
So many people
Don't know how to forgive
Baby, that ain't us

Nothing else matters
When you're in it for love
Together we can only go higher
You can reach any rainbow
You're dreaming of

Nothing else matters at all
When you're in it for love, baby
When you're in it for love, baby
In it for love

When you're in it for love, baby
When you're in it for love, baby
When you're in it for love, baby
In it for love
Read more...

Bjork - I Can't Help Loving That Man (Gling-Glo)

Bjork performs jazz? Yes, and she does it well! This acoustic and jazz set of Bjork really surprised me when I heard them back in early 2000s. The album Gling-Glo consists of most Icelandic songs and two English songs Ruby Baby, and I Can't Help Loving That Man.

Well, some may not like her screaming and shrieking approach in this album, but I find it kind of fresh! She's telling you that with her vocal that Jazz can be sung that way~~~

Here is one of the two English songs in the album that I'd like to recommend to you. Cheers!


Someone uploaded this live gig version, enjoy!


Bjork - Glig-glo (1990)

Lyrics:
Fish got to swim, birds got to fly
I got to love one man 'til I die
Can't help loving that man of mine

Maybe he's lazy, maybe he's slow
Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I know
Can't help loving that man of mine

And when he's away
That's a rainy day
But when he's back
The day is fine, the sun will shine
He can stay out as long as can be
For without him ain't no home for me
Can't help loving that man of mine
Show me....

Oh, fish got to swim, birds got to fly
I got to love one man 'til I die
Can't help loving that man of mine
Maybe he's crazy, maybe he's slow
Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I know
Can't help loving that man of mine

And when he's away
That's a rainy day
But when he's back
The day is fine, the sun will shine
He can stay out as long as can be
For without him ain't no home for me
Can't help loving that man of mine
Can't help loving, loving that man of mine
Can't help....help....help
Loving that man....man....man
Man of mine....mine....mine
I just can't help
Read more...

Lisa Ekdahl - Daybreak (Sings Salvadore Poe)

I found this used CD from a wonderful place called MUSIC EXCHANGE, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. This album is a beautiful husband and wife thing. Salvadore Poe, the husband, writes and harmonises the songs for his wife Lisa Ekdahl, who has an angelic voice that goes well with the music.

She's not the typical jazz/bossa nova vocalist that most people will like I guess... but I fell in love with her voice and music right after I listened to it in the store, and this perfect condition CD costed me for just 13 Malaysian Ringgit (3.6 USD back then).

So let's start with the first song: Daybreak, from the album to brighten up your day~



Lisa Ekdahl's official website: lisaekdahl.com/


Lisa Ekdahl - Sings Salvadore Poe (2000)

Lyrics:
Daybreak
And the moon's still floating high
What a wonderful surprise
I close my eyes
And dream of you

I'm dreaming at daybreak
And the world's so far behind
That's why i always find at daybreak
I'm still dreaming of you

You're from above
My one and only love
There's no other

At daybreak
All i want is you forever
That's why it's true whenever daybreaks
I'm still dreaming of you

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/daybreak_lyrics_lisa_ekdahl.html
All about Lisa Ekdahl: http://www.musictory.com/music/Lisa+Ekdahl
Read more...

Kiko Loureiro - Anastácia (Universo Inverso)

They say Kiko Loureiro should be arrested for being too good! Some say he's a jazz guy who plays heavy metal guitars... Well, this Brazilian guitar virtuoso is simply fantastic at blending all sorts of musical elements in his solos. He's got it all: music sense, song writing and guitar skills, and most importantly he nailed them!

Anyway, Universo Inverso is Kiko's solo album and nothing related to Angra. In fact I wasn't aware of Angra until I heard Kiko's solo work. Anastácia is the very first piece of music that introduced Kiko Loureiro to me.

From breezy easy guitar intro to energetic jazz improvisation, the quartet blends so well together giving each other their best in this progressive, Brazilian, fusion format. I especially love the piano part in this tune, because it makes me feel like going to the pub in town, sit down, unwind and have some drinks with a bunch of good friends!

Bravo Kiko! You guys rock!

Album recording


Kiko performed Anastácia live on Bem Brasil


Universo Inverso
Read more...