Taylor Swift's Speak Now album review

I've got to admit, in recent times whenever I heard Taylor Swift songs on the radio, I found them all gratingly similar. She has a cute (ie youthful and innocent-sounding) voice and all, but I couldn't understand why her listeners were lapping up every single one of her singles, and turning them into instant hits and causing the DJs to give her repeated airplays. Don't get me wrong, I was already a semi-fan-on-my-way-to-being-sold status between her first and second album. But then, I lost my momentum when she came out with the songs Fifteen and You Belong With Me. I was like, "Taylor, please. Move on from that naive and desperate boyfriend-hungry image. You're not that young and innocent anymore." Needless to say, her new single Mine seemed like a shadow of her adorable Love Story song, on first listen.

At the end of the day, the only reason I got her Speak Now album on my hands was because, it seemed like a good deal at my time of purchase, with it being packaged as a "Deluxe Edition" at the CD store. And hey, I was always inclined to have a biased preference towards products of the pop culture nature. So, I was willing to give Swift a second chance. Once again, I proudly concede, the masses have chose right. :D I was only 3rd song in to listening the album, when it suddenly hit me that Taylor IS a brilliant song-writer. All the more so when I turned back to the front of the CD sleeve to see that she had written a two-page preface/introduction about the decision of the concept of her album, Speak Now (Please, for those in the dark, I highly urge you to buy her album just to read the visionary Ms Swift forever immortalized on those 2 pages :D). Her whole album is indeed an intimate revelation of herself, her journeys and experiences, and I/we thank her for openly sharing them with us.

Thank you Taylor, for bravely sharing your feminine discourse with the world. And now, it's my turn to speak now on Speak Now (pun intended).  

**So here's the album review, according to the track listing. 5 Stars is full marks, there are no half stars rating.**

1) Mine (SINGLE), 5 stars- Classic storytelling Taylor Swift, as she recounts the journey of her love story with her lover. A solid, easy-listening tune, albeit with Swift painting a more gritty and grown-up picture of the realities of being in a relationship. And yet at the same time, painting simple and surreal images with a touch of the fairytale magic, "Do you remember when we were sitting there by the water, you put your arm around me for the first time,...Do you remember all the city lights on the water, you saw I started to believe for the first time". You gotta love the chorus, such an energetic outburst, in celebration of the couple's truimph over the odds. This song keeps growing on me by the number of replays on the repeated mode. There are so many good things with this song that keeps revealing itself one by one to me with each listen, that I don't think I'd have enough space to finish dissecting it. Lol. This is what a good song should be all about.

Noteworthy lines:
"I was a flight risk, with a fear of falling
Wondering why we'd bother with love, if it never lasts...
 You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine"

2) Sparks Fly, 4 stars- This song is an apt continuation from the previous Mine. Taylor shares her captivation of her lover, feeling like she's the lead actress to her charming leading man sweeping her off her feet in an epic romantic movie.

Noteworthy lines:
"Get me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile"

3) Back To December, 4 stars- That song with the other Taylor (Lautner,Twilight star). The fact that this song is about someone the rest of the world knows, and who watched their rocky relationship unfold, makes the song all the more real and sad with the title pinpointing the period, back in December. Swift sounds really sorry and wistful, with the bridge "maybe this is wishful thinking, probably mindless dreaming, If we loved again I swear I'd love you right. I'd go back in time and change it but I can't, So if the chain is on your door, I understand." As well as coupled with the barrage of start-stop words in the chorus lines, sung out in a fashion as if Taylor was reading out loud her apology from her songsheet. This song has such a sorrowful yet excellent time-turning feel to it, with its musical arrangement.

Noteworthy chorus:
"So this is me swallowing my pride,
standin' in front of you, sayin' I'm sorry for that night
And I go back to December all the time
It turns out freedom aint nothin' but missin' you, wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I go back to December, turn around and make it alright
I go back to December all the time"

4) Speak Now, 3 stars- This is a cutesy and fun song with a serious undertone, that of not taking marriage lightly when one is making a lifelong commitment to the other person. Although I don't like Taylor recycling the theme of chiding the boy for choosing the other (and so wrong) girl over her (come on Taylor, you're better than these wimpy boys who don't know what they've missed), it got me thinking that this song probably speaks to a lot of people out there. How many movies have been made about the groom regretting marrying the wrong girl, and there's nothing he nor the yearning nice girl in the sidelines can do about it? This is probably a good warning message from Taylor to her youthful fanbase, out there, to "speak now, or forever hold your peace" and hence, save the world, one (youthful and reckless) bad marriage at a time.

Noteworthy lines:
"I am not the kind of girl

Who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion
But you are not the kind of boy
Who should be marrying the wrong girl"

5) Dear John- 4 stars- Another song about another guy which the whole world is clued into. At first when I saw the title on the back sleeve, I thought, 'wtf, Taylor Swift sang on the soundtrack of that sappy Nicholas Sparks movie??' But nooo, thank god, this song is not anything about longing for her soldier man fighting in a land far far away. It's about none other than that pussy badboy rocker Mr John Mayer, who had a short hook-up with her early this year. Revenge is never sweeter than calling him out in a song, and including it on an album which would guarantee go platinum several times around the world. This song would have been given 5 stars if Taylor had injected more angst in it. But you know, Ms Taylor is just too classy and nice for that. Instead, I guess she makes that John all the more mortified by gaining public sympathy with this song resonating with strong heartbreaking regret of her moment of youthful, gullible, starry-eyed folly.

Anyone thinks the electric guitars ringing in here are purposely made to sound like Mayer's? Genius. Wallow in your own bile Mayer, by reflecting on these lines served  fresh on a big bowl to you:

Noteworthy lines
"Maybe it's you and your sick need to give love and take it away.
And you'll add my name to your long list of traitors who don't understand....
Dear John,
I see it all now, it was wrong.
Don't you think nineteen's to young to be played by your dark, twisted games
when I loved you so?
I should've known."
 
Here's my own separate note to another boy,
Dear David (Archuleta), you've got a thing or two to learn about songwriting from Ms Taylor here. America's reigining sweetheart made it to the top herself without needing no reality show backing up her name yo.  

6) Mean, 2 stars- Me thinks if you're gonna make a told-you-so song to a real life meanie, you should do it properly, and not in a nicey-nice way. But of course, Taylor can't afford to spoil her sweetheart image, so she turns this song to her advantage by turning it into Country kitsch. The lyrics in the chorus can't get redneckish enough, "Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me. And all you're ever gonna be is mean." The glue that holds this song together are the instrumentals-the bright, nimble mandolin sounds and sharp violins which gives the dramatic and piercing effects, turning her accusations into clever sing-song effect and now being the one whose "words(are now) like knives and swords and weapons that you (she) use against"

My favourite lines are when she dishes it:
"All you are is mean
And a liar
And pathetic
And alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean"

7) The Story of Us, 1 star- What a bad follow-up choice to the previous Country song. This song belongs more to a Taylor Swift remixed album, with its techno sound. The story of us should never have been told. I give it props for being...different, in a bad way.

I-told-you-so lines:
"And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now...The End"

8) Never Grow Up, 2 stars- I would hate to be told, "Never grow up" by my parents, so at first I was like, "wtf Tay, everyone can't wait to grow up." After a few listens however , I realized she is speaking to every one out there who still wants to hold on to the innocence in themselves, no matter how small, that holding on to the carefree ways of childhood is what people wished they could have cherished more when younger. I really wanted to root for this song, but the solo guitar is arranged way TOO simply (I've heard many of those, and unless you have an amazing voice, this would sound boring, which it is bordering on). Wished Taylor had injected more country flavour and authenticity into it, by adding in a couple more instruments.
 
9) Enchanted, 5 stars- (In Tay's words) All I can say is, Taylor is a darn good fairytale storyteller of lovers. This song encapsulates the greeting reply of "Enchanté" (while the guy kisses your hand) perfectly. Siiigh.
 
Noteworthy lines:
"This night is sparkling, don't you let it go...
I was enchanted to meet you"

10) Better Than Revenge, 3 stars- This is Techno Taylor Remix Part 2. Taylor tries to sound badass in an Avril Lavigne way but...it's just not Tay's style. Pls stick with what you do best Taylor! Again, i gave it this 3 stars rating because it sounds better than the other techno song (aka Track No. 7) This song would also have fitted right in on a pop-rock album though.

11) Innocent, 3 stars- I like the juxtaposition of this introspective slow-paced song with the underlying empowering message. People are saying this is Taylor forgiving Kanye West after what he infamously did to her at the MTV VMAs last year. Sometimes, inspiration comes from strange places, like those once-in-a-life-time-on-TV moments. Whatever it is, this song has more heart than Never Grow Up.

Noteworthy lines
"It's okay life is a tough crowd

32 and still growing up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent"

12) Haunted, 3 stars- And Tay's angsty Avril/Alanis side resurfaces again here. I like the way she's experimenting with her vocals. Very dramatic stuff, but a bit out of place on an album packaged as Country.

Noteworthy chorus:
"C'mon, c'mon don't leave me like this

I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
You're all I wanted
C'mon, c'mon don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't turn back now
I'm haunted"

13) Last Kiss, 4 stars- A haunting, beautiful love song. You can really feel Tay's sadness and emotions coursing through her. This track was thoughtfully written and produced as well with-the piano, organ, violin, and solo guitar parts in there.

Noteworthy chorus:
"I never thought we'd have a last kiss

I never imagined we'd end like this
Your name forever the name on my lips"

14) Long Live, 5 stars- Storytelling at its best when compressed into a song like this. The length of this last song off her album, is 5:17. LOVE this. Such an anthem for Truimph. Can this song be listed in the next Twilight or Harry Potter movie already?? (I'm gunning for Twilight all the way because, it has a strong female lead :D) I would also love to see this song released as a single, but with its length, it's very unlikely.

Noteworthy lines:
"Long live the walls we crashed through

All the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming, "long live all the magic we made"
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered...
Long live the walls we crashed through

I had the time of my life with you"

Overall verdict of album, 3.4 stars- In the spirit of just coming off reviewing the very last song on Swift's album, I say, "Long live Queen Taylor! Yes you, all decked out in the royal purple colour in the original standard album cover (and in red for the Deluxe edition). There may be some misses in her album, but there ARE real gems as well, and at the good progress she's maturing in her songwriting, keep bringing on the songs, Swifty!

Ed's note: PS, I have NO idea why Blogspot can't get my spacings right.

3rd Week Nov- Music News-in-Summary

Here's what I've scooped out from the week's newsworthy stories from the music world:

1) Reality music show sensation, Susan Boyle is truly a Gift to the music world.

Or, SuBo as she is affectionately known to fans, have surpassed expectations and achieved an astonishing feat by breaking a record once only held by two other acts, one of which are The Beatles: She has become the first female artist to to ever simultaneously hold both the US and UK No 1 spots twice in less than 12 months. Find out more in The Sun.

Fast facts about Susan: She is currently managed by Simon Cowell's own record label, only gives herself a monthly allowance of between £300 to £500 from her £10m fortune, has a cat called Pebbles, and just published an autobiography (titled 'The Woman I Was Born To Be') and rumors are which would be made into a biopic.

2) Glee cast to make Europe's cellulite dreams come true, by finally bringing their tour overseas

The cast of Glee are putting up 5 musical shows in the UK next year. This is their first attempt at bringing the Glee show overseas, after first staging it in the US when Season One of the TV series wrapped up early this year. Gleeks around the world, jealous much? The best about this tour is that most of the cast are bonafide broadway singers. Eeek! Read up what the overseas tour offers from Reuters.

Fast facts about Glee: Glee is the highest rated new scripted series of the season in the US, it has surpassed The Beatles as the group with the most songs ever on the Billboard charts, and it is the most-nominated Emmy TV series of the year 2010.

3) Speaking of triple-threats, two unlikely actresses attempt singing, and opens their way to possible musiic careers in the near future

Last week or so, two actresses made their musical debut onstage. They are: Willow Smith (daughter of Will Smith & Jada-Pinkett Smith) and Gwyneth Paltrow (wife of British band Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin). :DD Both sounded solid, and confident. Both could well be the next big thing. Check out Gwyneth here in The Huffington Post, and little chilli padi 10-year-old Willow making her live debut for her single Whip My Hair on The Ellen Show here:

Ed's Note: FINALLY, it takes a girl to sing about a back-to-basic girl's right to whip her hair like crazy fun onstage!

4) Lastly, a couple of albums to look out for being released in the upcoming week:

My Chemical Romance- Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys (22 November 2010, Monday)

source: MTV.com

Justin Bieber- My Worlds Acoustic (26 November 2010, Friday)

source: MTV.com

Ed's Note: I'm actually quite excited to see Justin go back to his roots for once! He looks so serious and even dishy on the album cover, don't you think? And, MCR. Another concept album, another fab offering I'm sure. Need we say more?

Mid-Week Music Mania! (MMM!)

This MMM music feature is set to lift your mid-week lag with our very own music picks (we'd like to think we have good ears). Hopefully, these music intros can tide you over till the week's end. :)

Duffy's- Well, Well, Well (3.5/5 stars)

I just started hearing Duffy's new single being played on radio this week and was super super stoked that she has a new song out! Her voice is so instantly recognisable right from the first 3 acapella intro and outro words, "Well, well, well (duh!)". Her new song is upbeat and jazzy-band sounding. Duffy is definitely back with a big bang yet again what with her belting out in her trademark sassy-singing way. Good production, but theme is trite (her suspicious, insecure lover yet again) and Duffy is trying hard to repeat her 'Mercy' success formula. Yawn. But I guess what doesn't hurt you can still be recycled. I'm all for recycling but please, not to the extent of Taylor Swift's recycling method,  if you know what I mean.

Sylvia Ratonel's- It's Raining (to be rated)

For a locally-produced song, It's Raining sounds really really good, and I'm falling pretty hard for it (pardon the pun). At first, I was biased against the lame title (come on, it's raining. full stop. what can people gather from it?). But now, me thinks it's how a basic modal pop song should sound like actually- clean production, smooth, clear vocals and, a listenable memorable melody that sneaks up and grows on you. In essence, a feel-good song. I wanted to give it a closer listen on Youtube, but apparently, no one has uploaded the full studio version online yet, so I'll put my rating of it on hold for now (BUT, it's a solid listen to check out yeah). There's a short snippet, and below is the popular acoustic version she performed on 987fm, but with the music arrangement sounding different (in an alternative and good way of course :D Sylvia is really doing Singapore proud). Can somebody tell me where has Sylvia been secretly training her voice all this time?? That girl has NO FORMAL TRAINING and yet effortlessly sounds like a pro. Jealous much?

My Chemical Romance's- Na Na Na (4/5 stars)

The band members are killjoys (their superhero alteregos for this album, comic nerds alert!)? Uh, not for their new single, they're anything but. Though the overall image and perception of MCR (mostly by their ignorant haters) has always been that of being a dark, emo, band, this song will definitely put the critics in their place. I predict that Na Na Na (in your face, haters) will ironically earn the band new listeners and newfound respect as MCR's unabashed confidence and newfound ambition of world domination is fleshed out here. MCR's musical style has always been theatrical and exuberant (but linked with tales of struggle and tragedy), and MCR takes it up to the next level here by rightfully fitting in their usual playing manner with joy and positivity. MCR has come into their element, and almost on their way to, in their words be the "Best Band In The World" or die trying. Their former long-time member, drummer Bob Bryar doesn't know what he's done man, by abruptly leaving the band just as they are reaching the tipping point. *shakes head*

David Archuleta album review

So...hopefully, fingers crossed, I can make this album review thing a regular feature on my blog. I've been listening to David Archie's latest album for a couple of weeks now. Was attracted to listening from the regular promo ads on TV playing his recognisable and catchy single, "Elevator". Also that David sounds so unlike David from his American Idol days.

Back in the day, David aspired to follow the paths of singer-songwriters a la the likes of Jason Mraz/Sara Bareilles/John Mayer. He would bring them up whenever an interviewer asked him who were his favourite singers (hell, he's even wearing a Mraz shirt in this interview). So I was really surprised David's new album took on the direction it has taken now, that is, a hybrid R & B and electro-pop.

So here's the album review, according to the track listing. 5 Stars is full marks, there are no half stars rating.

1) The Other Side of Down, 3 stars- From the get-go, we hear a distinctly grown-up David, and his focus on R and B/dance-pop. Me thinks it's a good intro opening song, David alludes to how nothing's stopping him from his new musical direction. He is optimistic and at the same time, is not going to be caught up in the fame game.

Noteworthy lines:
"I could give up, I could stay stuck, I could move on…
So I put one foot in front of the other
No, no, no, nothing's gonna break my stride"

2) Something 'Bout Love (SINGLE), 4 stars (can watch a great live version here featuring my two favourite American Idol boys :D)- Something tells me this song will go down well in the gay circles. Although David's voice is auto-tuned up to the max here in the entire album, this electro-pop song is polished and has heart. It's a celebration anthem for Love love love! Who knows the other David (Guetta, that is!) may come knocking for a collaboration one of these days.

Noteworthy lines:
“There's somethin' bout love
that breaks your heart
whoa oh oh oh
it sets you free
there's somethin' bout love that tears you up
whoa oh oh oh
you still believe
when the world falls down like rain
it'll bring you to your knees
somethin' bout love that breaks you heart
whoa oh oh oh
but don't give up
there's somethin' bout love”

3) Elevator (SINGLE), 4 stars- Very fun song with David's Mika-sounding vocals what with the cheeky voice stylistics and playful falsettos. Catchy, simplistically good lyrics about life's ups and downs.

Noteworthy lines:
“Elevator goes up
Elevator come down
And you just go with the flow
'Til your feet are back on the ground”

4) Stomping The Roses, Skip it- This song should be stomped to the ground and its remnants lost in music space. Tell me which girl stomps on roses given to them? Hmph.

5) Who I Am, 2 stars- The 'reflective emo shit' theme has been done to death, its lyrics here aren't fresh and creative either. In two words (three if you want to be picky) the lyrics are, 'really/extremely bland'. David's going on 20 and all he can sing about is:

"I've got nothing to win and I've got nothing to lose
Just trying to walk in my own two shoes
Gotta take the time now
It's time for me to find out who I am”


6) Falling Stars (SINGLE), 3 stars- This song's rock, 'live band' feel works well (the opening strongly reminds me of the Chasing Cars song by Snow Patrol). David's solid, sincere, and heart aching/breaking vocals is fleshed out in long pulls here. The theme is like that Rihanna and Eminem song.

Noteworthy lines:
"Like falling stars
Over your head
We were bound to burn up alive
Crashing cars
I'll never get over you
Never over you 'cause
You are sooo
Beautifulll, yeah"

7) Parachutes and Airplanes, 2 stars- I'm very confused. Is he saying the girl drives him crazy to new heights or is the girl giving him a good time that he feels like he’s on Cloud Nine when she's around? Either way, it's NOT romantic when one says he thinks about flying objects when he's around his girl. His feelings expressed are very vague and too unpoetic. Also, I notice that whenever David's songs involve a girl, it’s real funny how he describes her (stomping the roses anyone?).
“Now you're here and you got me thinking 'bout
Parachutes and airplanes
Thinking about parachutes and airplanes
We'll never hit the ground, ground, ground, ground”


8) Look Around, 3 stars- Quite a solid, quirky song. The sound reminds me of the song Let Go by Frou Frou. David's motivating mantra here is simple: Get up and look around (for goodness sake!)

Noteworthy lines:
“When you close your eyes to see the view
You miss everything surrounding you
Stop and just look around
Get up and look around
Get up and look around
Get up and look around


You can build your life right on air
But your need will always be there
Stop and just look around
Get up and look around
Get up and look around
Get up and look around you”

 9) Good Place, 3 stars- A very typical-sounding pop song. It's like something you'd hear from a boyband actually. The whole sound reminds me of the song Adia by Sarah McLahlan

Noteworthy lines:
Doesn't matter, all pop songs sound the same in the end.

10) Complain, 2 stars- Very straightforward song, starts and go. It's a song about telling himself that no way can he complain, that he just has to suck it up. Sounds very much like the song You Make Me Wanna by Blue.

Noteworthy lines:
“No wayyyy, baby I can’t complain” is a darn grating refrain. And, I don’t get who’s the baby he"s referring to here? The song seems more like it's a reprimand/reminder to himself, so me thinks “Archie I can't complain” would fit in better.

11) Things Are Gonna Get Better, 3 stars- Now that's more like. Idol-sounding like material. Inspirational? check. Uplifting? check. One can so easily picture a church choir backing him up onstage like in his idol glory days. It'll sound amazing live. But, we know Archie is now doing a promo tour with only a band. So, it's unlikely this song will come up in his repertoire.

Noteworthy lines:
Ho-hum. Imagine how an Idol theme song sounds like.

12) My Kind of Perfect, 2 stars- These kinds of acoustic piano-backed songs, is supposed to remind the listener that the performer is a serious artiste. However, it doesn't work here David! The lyrics are not only bland, but cheesy and superficial. Sorry, you just expect more substance from a past American Idol runner-up.

Cringeworthy lines:
“Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one, is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe”

Verdict of whole album, 3 stars -Think David may be a bit confused with his future musical direction, but overall a good attempt to sound forward and contemporary, although his album is a very safe production. Kudos to him though, for trying to bring back the smooth Craig Davids and Darren Hayes days back.

Start of our Green Movement (Part 3)

To commemorate our recent Earth Day festivities, Imma add me own (overdue :P) hullabaloo with this blog entry dedicated to the green awesomeness that is Nature. I had planned to cover a very famous earthy song, been practising quite a bit the past week, but the thing now is whether I can cover it well. In the meantime, here is a prelude to my very first ukulele cover, called New Soul by Yael Naim (for this cover too, I need it to be perfect, so I'm still trying to work out my little kinks before releasing a full-length video :P):


^in the vid, I had actually just came back from my 2nd official hiking trip that day (last Saturday). I'm wearing the same shirt as you'll see in some of my pictures to come. :D

Hiking in various parts of Singapore has just started to be THE weekly or fortnightly family activity for us. So during Earth Day Weekend last week, we visited the The Southern Ridges. Know where that is? Is it even in little old Singapore you ask?

This route was taken by my friend and her whole family (brothers' girlfriends included) recently and she had posted tons of nice-looking photos on facebook, so I asked her its whereabouts. She told me it was possible to walk all the way to Vivocity shopping mall and it would take about 2 hours. This in turn, made my family all up for it, being the semi-hardcore hikers that we are ;) We set off last Sunday late morning, as we had to cut short our hike on Saturday due to gloomy weather.

Here's actually one of the starting points somewhere off the AYE, along Alexandra Road (and where we stopped on Saturday. I'll recount that hike trip in Part 2):

On the other side of the road, where we had got down from the bus 97 to start hiking on Sunday morning instead:

^all ready to set off at 60km/h. lol

^view on our left...we were going to go up the Alexandra Arch's walkway(s)

^view on our right. This arch is such a huge landmark. It actually lights up in LED and alternates between different colours at night.

^acting cool before I go up the arch.

^they are such troopers. haha

^Ooh, scary. How high do you reckon this footpath is?

^it certainly is long. And it still looked brand new. Me like.

There was actually no one else much around. And it was like, on a Sunday afternoon.

^a brief glimpse of some port-side view before we entered a forested area (literally called the Forest Walk -_-) where you were surrounded by these trees all around you. And when we looked down the sides of the railings, we could see a pack of  wild dogs (including a pup) running around on the ground level. On the Walk itself, we came across a varied range of people- Caucasians, Old People, PRCs, Couples, etc...

^We completed the Forest Walk and proceeded to the Hilltop Walk, heading towards the direction Telok Blangah Park, with the aim of reaching the endpoint that is Vivocity (where my finger shows)

Reaching the top of Hilltop Walk (I think that's where we somehow stumbled upon), we found ourselves in bougainvillea land. They were pretty much in full bloom. It was quite a lovely place (cuz we are flower lovers, duh!), but why only bougainvilleas??

So we traipsed down and got ourselves as close to them purple blooms as possible. :D

^I'm trying to act all floaty like a garden princess in her element but epic fail. Dang, if only I could whip up a floaty dress from thin air, and some nice breeze. Then maybe I'd have been able to channel some Colbie Caillat or something.

^can u see a person in yellow shirt? he was this really gorgeous Caucasian guy (think he's from Germany or Britain, can't remember. The point is, how can people look so gorgeous like they're not breaking out a sweat when they're doing exercise?!) out hiking with his parents too. We passed them while they were coming up from the opposite direction up, and we were going down.

^spotted these adolescent bougainvillea shrubs on the way down

^kiddy ones! Anyone wanna guess how long it takes for them to mature?

After making our way out of Bougainvillea Breeding Land (aka 'Hilltop Walk'), we came across the carpark, but then saw a little dirt path on the side with a 'No entering' sign, Of couse, my dad HAD to go check it out. It led us quickly to a view of this mansion (think it's some sort of historical building). It looked creepy and run-down but cool at the same time.

^those street lamps are vintage aren't they? My dad forced me to include all of them in his shot. As for me, I didn't really care for them. I just wanted to have some fun with the house itself:

^me attempting to act all tow-kayish. Try that with a backpack and bermuda shorts on.

^yeah, I had to do some jumping shots. Had the itch, as we were at such a large, open space. This is the best my dad could capture. Adults, geez. Note to self: pull up my pants, smile and jump higher when doing jumping shots. Because my real jumping shot came out quite horrid and unglam. Of course I wouldn't post it up. Jumping shots is an art man.

^turned back to the carpark. Can anyone tell me since when Japanese is our country's fourth official language?

^On the yellow marked road to Vivo City XD Yep, we're right on track. We must conquer the Waves first.

^and yep, we set foot on the waves soon enough!

^trying to pose as some islander Hawaiian-esque dancers or something

^while we were trying to pose as pro surfers, dude.

^so... we had to get into the crests/breaks. I pretended I was like, paddling. loll

While walking, here are the views:

^this, ladies and gentlemen, was the biggest wave of all at the Henderson.

And all too soon, we reached the end of the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. This is how the view looks like at the end...squiggly!

^swimming against the squiggly currents.

^fun to know factoid. Thanks to having no means of private transport now, we would never have thought of exploring our country on foot just a couple of months ago. Honestly, none of us had any idea before about the Henderson Wave till that fateful day. lol.

Information board time!

^while we were taking a much-needed water break (it was cloudy that day but the weather was still freaking hot and humid man! Got all exhausted really quickly), I spotted and immediately fell in love with this odd, lush-looking tree.

After our extended break, we intentionally skipped walking alongside the main road to instead go the forest route again and somehow or other, found ourselves coming to Faber Point (the circle structure) despite limited signages in there. We came upon the bottom of Faber Point, where there were several really interesting bronze pictures on the walls, following the circumferential nature of the structure :D The pictures depicted Singapore' history and/or culture. I would have loved to spend more time examining some of them, but somehow, we were in a hurry to press on:

^some bench or so scattered about

^pic after pic. This is like, a free gallery right in the open. So of course, I took pics like crazy, for all my favourite pictures. I'm quite the museum/art geek actually. heh.

So when we finished walking around the circumference, we came across stairs to go up, and saw this:

^the gatekeepers

^the sole merlion there facing inland looked kinda lonely, so I gave it a hug. Aww

^I don't know if the arrows are for real. Anyway, Faber Point is nothing really special la.

^seriously, I was freaking shocked by all the buildings so close to one another for miles. It was quite disconcerting. You can probably also deduce by now that it's my first time at Faber Point. Think this place was once the pitstop for like, Season 3's Amazing Race contestants? Honestly, it's not a very pretty or scenic place. Think the gallery below interests me more.

^again, are the arrows for real? Cuz I don't think the land in the distance looks like Indonesia at all.

We soon came across this open-air bar place, and by then, my mum was really thirsty as she had finished her water, and so we bought a couple of drinks. My cranberry juice (which is too freaking sweet and kinda awful. Bartender sucks. He was cute though.) costs $6 while my dad's one pint beer costs $15. I drank a bit of my juice, and then swapped with my dad's beer. I had initially wanted to order beer too but thought it way overpriced.

^maybe drinking alcohol on nothing and then going off to hike is not such a good idea. Felt a little nauseous after.

We came across this on our way to The Jewel Box:

^tell you what, these cable cars were the only seatable ones that day. Cuz the real ones are currently closed for upgrading!

^those cable cars up there with a large heart beside them, are they for couples? ^.^

^beside the jewel box, passed by this. Thought it looked real atas what with the chandeliers. It looked like a hotel reception but I think it should be a restaurant right? I read in the papers recently that there are about 5 or so eateries at The Jewel Box and their reviews have been quite positive. But, I shudder to think about the prices though.

Then we came across a pictorial map again. And again, we see Japanese on there, together with our other 3 official languages. What's so special about the Japs? It seems more like a colonial legacy.

This is the staircase to take to get on Marang Trail towards Vivocity! The well-maintained staircase was nice for our tired feet:

^finally! our end in sight.

When I turned back, I could see how prominent the structures looked (dunno what you call them). We actually could view them from the Hilltop Walk where my dad was pointing out to me where Mount Faber park was.

^so on the way down, shrouded and surrounded by the forest again, But despite all that greenery, I managed to spot something blue partially hidden. I excitedly pointed it out to mum and dad.

^and zoomed in. It was an effing private swimming pool! We were so envious. Had half a mind to just barge through and jump right in.

^On the way down, also spotted this tree which seemed to have split into two.

^lalala. We're right on track.

And all too soon, we're outta Marang Trail and back to city life! Woot.

^Spotted another map to recount our adventure...

^what's that I see? :D

^the modern and artsy-looking Vivocity la. So remember, while shopping here in future, if you ever wanna take a breather in nature, look for Marang Rd, people!

^Harbourfront! :)) Looking boring in contrast.

And there you have it, the Southern Ridges. Explored in a few hours. Have you experienced it yet? I'm so envious of my family who's going again tomorrow (this time dragging along my brothers in tow ;)), while I have to sit out (boo!) because I have a play to attend- Animal Farm by Wi!d Rice!

Honestly, I would definitely find time to go back there again if given half the chance. If you don't explore and love what your country has to offer, who will huh? :) Foreigners? Tourists? Reading the papers today, a survey shows a typical Singaporean mainly likes to watch movies, go shopping, and eat during their leisure times. I'm not surprised. I so did not see Singaporeans outnumbering foreigners on our hike that day. Hiking is awesome, just saying.


-Update: Had planned to cover a few songs for a mashup to commemorate Earth Day this year. Here's a snippet:-