The awesome, James Morrison

Blown away by James Morrison I was!! *fake english accent. 

English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and my music idol. Needless to say, I think he's got amazing stage presence, which only complements his versatile voice even more. Born in poverty, he really rose up and made the most of his life, having several top hits, and having such meaningful, artistic songs. He even opened for Corrine Bailey Rae for awhile. He's more than just a preacher of messages through his songs, I think that he's living proof of what he sings about. Accomplishing great success and emerging despite his background to become the great musician he is today. As though his deeply soulful, raspy and husky voice wasen't enough to seal the deal. Wondering why his voice is so unique? James Morrison had whooping cough as a baby and almost died!

To me, his songs aren't just tunes, they're music, the way music was meant to be, the way music used to mean something. Soulful, jazzy, and full of emotion, his songs are easy to connect with. Some about love, some about loss, some about struggle. Everyone goes through that in some degree or other.

He came on set at the Esplanade with a full band, ready to go with a BANG! HERE I AM SINGAPOREEEE! vibe, swiftly leaping onto stage and starting his first song, with two vocalists, 2 keyboardists (one piano and one organ i presume), a bassist, an electric guitarist and a drummer. The drums had heavy beats of reggae, jazz and hip hop, while the singers and instrumentalists, 6 others, melded into a perfect symphony for each song, with James as a frontman of course, and acoustic guitarist, switching easily between the acoustic, classical, and 12 string guitar. Did i mention, he was moving non-stop across to and fro on the stage, as if his guitar weighed nothing more than a feather, and strumming crisp, neat strokes on his guitar with such ease. I basically just watched, enchanted by the easiness of his being on stage. His exuding confidence matched his hyper-happiness on stage, really bringing out the cheery, ecstatic tones of his songs.

My favourite song from his album "The Awakening" would be "In My Dreams" which he wrote when his father passed away. While it's got a poppy, blissful tune of dreaming, and being grateful to see someone again, even if just in the imagined facade of a dream,  where there is suspended disbelief and reality if forcefully, unwantedly forgotten, the melancholic reminiscence of missing someone shines through. How he put that emotion in words, in a song, baffles me. He really is pure genius. There's always someone you miss. People come and go =P

He sang continuously, like one song would end and the beat would merge into the next song, or he'd just burst into it, or do a slow solo of hums and scat-singing, with lots and lots of improvisations, soulful riffs only someone like him could sing perfectly. He really got into the groove, with his sassy attitude, getting the music pumping up loud and everyone up dancing (and some girls screaming) and made the crowd sway to his slower, more lamenting songs. Some of the many hits he sang included 'Up', 'Broken Strings', 'beautiful life', 'slave to the music' (that was a fun funky dance number ;) ) 'you give me something', 'i won't let you go', 'only night' and "you make it real". 

And he ended his performance with the song I like most, 'Wonderful World'. SO SWEET! 

-And I know it's a wonderful world, from the sky down to the sea-

-but i can only feel it when you're here, here with me-

and yes, his voice is amazing. I could rave on about it endlessly!

Another part I really liked was a soft beat on the rim of the snare drum by the drummer, and the shaker. Catchy, groovy enough to dance to, yet simple =) while James Morrison punched chords on his guitar, playing with palm mutes and different timbres. The reggae beat in "you give me something" was really happening! haha and hyphy-inducing, and got everyone moving to the beat, and they faded out, with the drummer focusing on the cymbals intently, as though thinking to himself "i'm a mouse.. quiet as a mouse  as the beat got softer and softer HAHA!

look everyone's dancing, in a full-house, sold-out concert (as if anyone is surprised. c'mon people. HAHA)

AND TO END IT OFF! James Morrison was soaking wet from dancing all night under the spotlight. Bouncing on stage from left to right, his sureness and mobility on stage, he flicked his hair as he head-banged to the pounding beats amongst soaring vocals, and yes, i was so upclose that I saw his beads of sweat flying out. how rockstar looking is he! and his keyboardist with a mini-afro was headbanging too, his afro-do bouncing too and fro, very hipster indeed HAHA! not to mention how he stripped his shirt at the end  the awesome encore, topping the night and ending the concert on a high note (>_<)"

taking a bow!

but yes, James Morrison delivered nothing but awesomeness in an amazing concert, good enough to get the crowd dancing (how often does that happen in Singapore)!! guess i'll see you 'in my dreams'!!! So thanks to GreenHorn for bringing JM in,  and thanks Kevin for sharing with me the chance to experience the dream HAHA and always supporting me with my dreams  =)

hip hat

To compare, James Morrison's concert was definitely more upbeat, louder, and crazier than the MTV session in March that was more intimate. but it's all amazing to watch. =)

COME BACK SOON JAMES MORRISON!! CELLE LOVES YOUR CONCERTS!

And here are some old photos from March..but forever in my memory *melts. *sighh =))

{it's a rollercoaster ride with your heart pumping, a billion thoughts running through your mind, and your body too paralysed to move/speak when you meet your inspiration.}

autographed album!

and again, thank you thank you Kevin, for without whom I would never had this dream come true. 

un-be-frickin-lievable =D

Ingrid Michaelson at the Esplanade

Can't believe Ingrid Michaelson finally finally came to Singapore =) Was looking forward to finally watching her show after a long day! And it definitely sparkled up my nights, with high notes, sombre cooing, and not to mention the tummy-tickling laughs she gave me from her witty jokes. Her confidence and comfort on stage made her a true star in her own skin, donning a curious looking outfit of stockings and boots, topped with a shirt that had a tail, and short shorts. " Those at the back, if you can't se, I'd just like to point out that I'm wearing shorts" she joked, just in case those at the back thought she was being skimpy! On the contrary. Her ukelele strumming came off strong, like a march,  filling the auditorium with a full sound of her memorable melodies. I felt as though I had just been whisked off into a box of sound =D  (pardon the blur photos, I really ought to get a proper camera :D)

Fun fact: Ingrid Michaelson has a degree in theatre, and used to be part of a comedy group. Shes a pro-comedian!

She performed songs from her old album and new one, perfectly hitting all the notes like a pro, keeping the hopeful vibe her music does by singing songs like "Do it now", "parachute" and "giving up. She also did one of my top favorites "corner of your heart", ending in a note that seemed to go on forever. DREAMY!

On stage with her was a brilliant set-up, backed by two talented female singer songwriters themselves, harmonising in perfect sync, and the guitars seemed to shadow each other, creating one same sound of perfect blending. Usually instruments can be heard singularly and separated, but they matched up so well! Donned in black and high heels, I definitely thought they were badass! =) Her two backups were Allie Moss, checkout a song here, and Bess Rogers, checkout a song here.

Living in New York, she narrated the story of how she'd take the train to Manhatten every morning to record her album and would b in a great mood, whilst others would look downright dreary and depressed, and recounted how one time, during winter and all bundled up in jackets, she was snuggled up with another girl in the subway because it was so crowded that they got squished up next to each other! and she was comfortably cuddling the other girl all the way. Finally when she reached her stop, she got off and wanted to say goodbye but the other girl had looked away. And so, in a time capsule, she shared a wonderful snuggle with a stranger.  In contrast, a snobby teenager had 'accidentally' (Ingrid insists it was on purpose) knocked Ingrid's coffee out her mitten and onto the snow and she just felt so sad, unable to do anything about it, and ending up lying in bed thinking of the bajillion things she could've said or done, imagining herself as a superhero and towering threateningly over! HAHA but anyway, so instead of being nasty, why can't everyone just be nice to one another? So that's the story behind her song, "blood brothers". I guess another thing about Ingrid that I love, is that her music always has that tone of hope, like tomorrow's always going to be better. Another chance to try. =)

Here's the youtube, which i loved too, she dresses up as Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga. Rather cool.

-'Cause we're all blood brothers.-

Ingrid wooed the crowd with her jokes, then seemed to jump right into her sad song "Ghost" just by flipping her hair, which she says gets her into her sad mood. Her ability to focus after telling jokes was amazing, delivering her song with such strong emotional zest, and fully conveying the melancholic messages of that song, hitting all the notes, and holding the pauses and keeping the audience captive. Then hops back into jokes on how terrified she was that the bubblegum-police were going to throw her in jail for popping gum, and imagined us Singaporeans with bubblegum addictions, rushing home to stuff ourselves with gum and when finally, frothing and foaming at the mouth and satisfied, we'd pass out happily haha! She even did some improvising on creating her own Singaporean song, complete with snapping of tha fingers and that *swagger, ending off with "Don't tell mama what you did". I couldn't help but roar with laughter. 

Her husband Greg Laswell opened the show, playing both the guitar and the piano (what a talented, musical couple) although, according to Ingrid, she doesn't play the banjo in the corner while he does something else musical, they just, watch TV. here's a song by him, click here. He also sang a song called "how the day sounds", which was about how a day can just be amazing when you're with someone special. he's pretty funny too, doing a cover, he says was of someone covering his own song where the song was slowed down, and he thought it sounded so much better! haha! and he did a super emo, slow version of "girls just wana have fun" which sounded serious, yet the familiar tune just can't be taken that seriously, so it was good. =) super sweet together they even did a duet called "light in me", squeezing lovingly together to share a microphone!

She even foretold the future and notified us how she would pretend to go offstage and we'd clap for 30 seconds and shout for an encore before she'd come back onstage totally unprepared and totally shocked! So heads up, fifteen minutes later we roared again with laughter as she, Allie and Bess had fake-stunned-faces, saying how they were totally caught offguard and unpre- *starts strumming ukelele and dives into "be ok"!! HAHA a happy, cheerful song! finally ending (for real this time) with "the way I am".

I'm in such awe of her singing abilities, with such an amazing, soaring voice, as well as her songs. they're just so nice to listen to, and truly inspiring. And I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity if not for Kevin, so thanks Kevin! for the awesome seats! definitely chased my Monday blues away =)

Marketa Inglova concert

Marketa Inglova's concert was really intense! just went for it, and shes got such an amazingly textured voice, never ever wavering, and hitting all the high notes in a sweet falsetto that sounded so pure. and the echoes seemed to linger on forever! 

For those of you who don't know who she is, she's a singer from Czech Republic, singer songwriter. i'd describe her style as mellow, a little melancholic, touching, soft, and meaningful. She sings about remembering loved ones who are apart and far away, journey and battles of good against evil, and like every other singer songwriter, she sings about love <3 one of her songs titled "only love is real". nice. very nice. she played the piano for most of it, but moved to play a drum the guitar. SO TALENTED! and her music was so sensitive and yet full, quiet in the Esplanade's recital studio, but every note could be heard clearly, echoes and resonating hums filling the room. 

she's also the lead actress in an Irish indie music-movie called "once" about two musicians who meet, and sort of fall in love, but cant be together.just because. and they create a superb album, become famous. (in reality, the movie makes em both really famous too) but the chemistry is interesting, sort of time-capsule-like because you are with someone you know you won't be with forever. HEART BREAKING and really tender =)

she was sweet, funny, and super chill, donned in pastel colors and a flowing skirt. I have terrible pictures, and was sick. yes, i went to a concert with no voice. haha! Thanks to Kevin, who invited me to go with him THANKEW THANKEW!! he's really the best =)

So the girl on the left was a singer and percussionist from Iran, and had a drum with her that had really deep tones and some hanging strings that sounded like a shaker. very dynamic instrument. her singing also sounded very "iranian", interesting scales and very exotic. easy to get lost in her voice. reminded me of enya!