The best 6-year-old singer I have heard so far

Connie Talbot, Britain’s Got Talent finalist, sings Over The Rainbow

You absolutely must watch this video.

I watched this video one morning at the office and I cried – much like the female judge in this show – when I heard Connie Talbot sing. I was so moved by her singing. Her rendition of this classic sounded so honest, pure and innocent to me.

I still get teary eyed every time I watch this video.

I happened to see it the same morning the newspaper announced that Nurin was the girl in the gym bag.

So, I dedicate this – along with my prayers and Al-Fatihah – to her.

Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat Allah. Amin.

P/S: Check this out – about Connie Talbot. For the actual article, click here

Mrs Talbot, who bought her daughter a karaoke machine because the family could not afford singing lessons, also revealed that Connie only discovered she could sing in tragic circumstances – when her grandmother, Violet, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“When her grandma was really ill in bed, Connie used to sing the DVD to the Wizard of Oz to her, to cheer her up.

“It was her grandmother who first told me, ‘She’s really good, you know’”.

Following her grandmother’s death two years ago, at the age of 72, Connie sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow at the funeral.

“Her grandmother would have been so proud,” Mrs Talbot added. “She had her fortune told years ago and was told her she was going to have a famous grandchild – maybe that’s Connie.”

Even Simon is impressed with her.

“This girl is just special,” Cowell told the Mail last night. “I have never felt such a powerful silence in my life as when Connie sang. It was pure magic.

“She’s all over the world at the moment, this girl – she’s the number one clip on YouTube, for instance – and that’s a worldwide number one.

“She’s got a wonderful opportunity here and I’ll make a prediction that Connie will sell more records than Joss Stone this year.

And here, she gets weak at 14

And here she is at age 14

Patutlah sedap…

Ala..la..la. comelnya!

Jojo demanding some r.e.s.p.e.c.t at age 8

This is too precious. No wonderlah she is so good now… Look at her when she was eight!

It’s okay… to like this song :)

Vanessa Hudgens Say Ok Music Video (Official with Zac Efron)

I know what you’re going to say – I’m guessing it’s along the lines of “eeeww” or “grow up!”

Well, a good melody is a good melody is a good melody.

I was prepared to hate Vanessa Hudgen’s singles – I despise the first single, Baby Come Back – but this one is actually really catchy and kinda sweet. I can imagine myself singing the words to this and meaning it when I was crushing over all those boys in uni school :P

Anyway, enjoy!

Do you think I do this for fun?

Some people think that only THEIR time is precious. I’m not talking about people who are tardy. I’m talking about people who postpone meetings just because they don’t “feel” like it.

I have this story to write which involves pinning down four very busy people. I have been chasing them since Friday. If you think I chase people for fun, think again. It’s my job ok. Give me a break!

I don’t like to make myself a nuisance and I’m a firm believer of allowing people to make up their own minds. I really hate forcing people or threatening them to do what I want them to.

But one of the four (probably) thinks he’s one helluva great. Either that or he’s scared of me and puts off talking to me.

But too bad because the others have agreed to see me. In fact, I have met two of them. When this guy started giving me excuses, I told him in an sms that it would be very unfortunate if I couldn’t include him in the story when I had input from the three others.

(Read: If you don’t want to talk, fine, but don’t blame me when your boss wonders why on earth his organisation is not included in the story.)

I didn’t want to resort to “threats” but some people just don’t get the hint. My sms was simply to paint a picture of the situation he was putting himself into.

Nampaknya belum ada jawapan lagi dari si dia. I’ve stopped caring sebenarnya. I am just waiting for the chance to tell my boss, “he is reluctant to talk, so there was nothing really I can do”.

Jawablah dengan your boss nanti hahaha *gelak evil*

P/S: Got a reply from him asking me to meet him half an hour earlier from his “supposed” meeting. But he’d asked me to keep it brief. Honey, I only need half and hour. Who wants to hear your rambling on and on? Hah… tau takut!

Meanwhile, back in the ranch

Stick thin Christina Aguilera has a noticeable bump but still keeps mum about the good news. Whatever rocks your boat Christina!

Get well Britney!

I’m in blogging mode, can’t you tell?

Anyway, I can’t believe the caption for this photo. Click here to go to the original page.

I disagree with the idea that she should “apologise” about her poor performance on VMA. Apologise for what? For being depressed? So her performance was not up to mark… so what? Everyone knows she’s not yet well. It’s the people who had invited her to perform who should apologise.it;s good to know that when times are tough, she has her children to keep her spirits up. This picture is really heartwarming. I hope Britney gets well again for her children’s sake.

Seriousness aside, is that Britney’s bag or a gucci baby seat?

Half truth or white lie?

Another current favourite

Marie Digby performing Umbrella. She’s currently working on her own album.

If you read up about her on the Internet, you would surely find some discussions about her so-called “amateur musician” status.

Well, to be fair to her, I don’t think she claimed that she was “amateur”. She wasn’t lying. She just didn’t think it was important to mention that she, in 2005, had already signed up with a record label. White lie, half truth? You decide for yourself.

I think her “fans” should have seen it coming. Heck, I should have seen it coming!

I mean, come on! With a voice and a face like THAT – and living in LA some more – you’d think no one had noticed that she had a “complete” package? People not noticing the talents of small town girl Carrie Underwood, I can understand. With Digby’s looks and her musical talent, it’s hard not to notice.

I think it’s perfectly fine for her to use Youtube to promote her talent and music. Hey, it’s the Internet. It’s a free world.

I just wish her lots of luck in the business. I’m kind of glad that she didn’t choose the American Idol path. It’s a wrong platform for her. Singing in her bathroom was the best decision she ever made :P She kept it real and personal. I like that.

But as a singer myself *clears throat* I have to say that I am more impressed with her musical skills than her vocal prowess. Her voice is good but not great, to quote Simon Cowell. Let’s just say Christina Aguilera would beat the crap out of her in a vocal battle. But then again, I’m a Mariah Carey fan. Anyone who doesn’t sing like Mariah or writes music like doesn’t cut it for me.

If it’s any consolation, she reminds me of Vanessa Carlton but better. At least Digby can sing. But Dibgy’s no match for Avril Lavigne yet and something tells me she has a bland personality that would make it harder to sell in LA.

So to be slightly better than Carlton – the one hit wonder girl – is not enough. Selling an album with three cover versions is also not enough.

If and when she can rise above me comparing her to Carlton and being famous for her cover version of an already hit song, she’ll make it in the industry. Or in Southeast Asia – like MLTR and M2M – where people just adore voices like hers. It’s not bad what? At least it’s an international singing career!

Anyway, good luck girl and thanks for making the words to Umbrella clearer to me :P

Di Ruang Rindu

This song is just so, so beautiful. And the singing? Perfect!

P/S: I think he sings waaaaaay better than marie digby. Yeah, I’m jealous. So bite me!

Red, creme and golden ribbons

This weekend has been most productive. I was up until 2.30am last night, tying maroon, creme and golden ribbons on small bamboo boxes filled with dates/kurma. I went to sleep when I couldn’t concentrate anymore and then woke up again at 5am for bersahur. I continued with the ribbon-tying until 9.30am. Woke up again at 1pm and went downstairs to repeat the routine. We finished tying the last ribbon on the last box at close to 5pm.

Exactly why have I been staying up tying ribbons all noon and night? On Friday, my mom-in-law (who runs a small corporate gift’s business) received orders for 1k of those boxes to be filled with dates. The orders have to be delivered by Monday. It took about six people on different “shifts” to finish it.

It was a lot of work and it was tiring. But it was also therapeutic – it actually cleared my mind. It gave the family a lot of bonding time. We shared personal problems, anecdotes, ghost stories and gossips as we looped the ribbons together. It felt like a scene from “How to make an American Quilt” – except that we weren’t making a quilt!

The orders are slowly pouring in and since the siblings are mostly away in college, that means that my “expertise” is sorely needed. I’m not very good with my hands and I am slow – I’d only manage to finish tying ribbons on ONE box when others have finished three – but I try my best. Like I always do. I always make sure I produce quality job. I may be slow but at least I’m not sloppy!

Anywho, I better get organised for tomorrow. Am planning to wear my new green top (from Message, S Pyramid) I bought on a whim on Saturday after my assignment (!) with my cigarette pants which I bought at a second-hand shop at Amcorp Mall for RM10. Together, the two pieces look oh-so-mod. All that is missing are platform heels or a pair of black or grey flat ballet pumps – but I don’t have those. Guna my black heels je lah.

P/S: Watching the season finale of CSI:NY and surprise, surprise Lindsay and Danny are sharing a bed. Peyton just asked Mac to follow her to London for a holiday. And some 1r1sh terror1st are after their drugs. or something. Nampaknya from next week onwards, I am stuck watching my least favourite CSI Miami.