Singing in the Park

Drops of Jupiter

It took me a while to time that camera flash right. Note the surprised facial expression.

Taken during the birthday party for our 4 dear girl friends. We had it just off Lygon Street.

I secretly love the vocals during "One without a permanent scar" (0:02), and "Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day" (0:54).

Thanks to Shafiq Ajmal for suggesting that I sing this song.
Thanks to Syafiq Nassir for the video.

A Song with Meaning

Ties back to my blog title

If Today was Your Last Day
By Nickelback

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

Credits: vimeo.com

An inspirational chorus

By GMB. I'm so thankful for songwriters like them. And here's my translation attempt.

"Tak Sebanding"--------------.------"Incomparable"

Semua yang kubanggakan------------All that I am proud of
S'mua kekayaan dunia----------------All the riches of the world
Tak sebanding dengan----------------Is incomparable
Cinta yang kau berikan---------------To the love that you give

Apa yang dalam impian---------------What's in my dreams
Bahkan hasrat yang terdalam--------And the deepest of my desires
Kau jadikan nyata---------------------You make them real
Saat ku menyembahmu---------------As I worship you

Dan dunia pun mencari----------.----And all the world now seeks the
Jawapan tanpa tahu kebenaran-----Answer but not know the truth
Bahwa kaulah raja yang dahsyat----That you're the tremendous king
Pemb'ri kehidupan--------------------The giver of all life

Ker'na semua yang kucapai----------For all that I've achieved
Semua yang tercurah oleh-----------All that is poured by the
Kebaikan kasihmu--------------.-----Goodness of your love
Anug'rahmu membuatku percaya---Your grace makes me believe
Bah'wa tak pernah ada yang---------That there never is anything
Mustahil bagi--------------------.-----That's impossible for
S'mua yang menyembahmu----------All those who worship you


This song energized me in the moments leading up to the exam at the end of last semester.

Tak Sebanding.mp3 (imeem)

Tiada S'perti-Mu

A beautiful song that I've learned a few years ago, back at home. The title means "There is none like You".

Tiada S'perti-Mu
By: GMB

Anug'rah-Mu kepadaku tak pernah berubah
Perbuatan-Mu terlukiskan di dalam hatiku
Tercengangku dibuat-Mu, kukagum pada-Mu
Tak ada hal di hidupku terluput dari-Mu
Kau indah, Kau mulia tiada s'perti-Mu
Ku ingin hidupku menyenangkan-Mu

Kau terawal dan terakhir pencipta s'galanya
S'luruh bintang pun bersinar oleh ucapan-Mu
Engkau pun mengasihiku, penulis hidupku
Tak henti seg'nap nafasku menyembah-Mu s'lalu
Kupuji, kusembah tiada s'perti-Mu
Ku ingin hidupku menyenangkan-Mu

S'gala puji
S'gala hormat
Seg'nap hatiku menyembah-Mu
Terimalah
Seg'nap hidupku
S'bagai persembahan yang hidup

Bukan kehendakku, namun kehendak-Mu
Hidupku bagi-Mu
Kau indah, Kau mulia
Kuingin hidupku menyenangkan-Mu

It speaks of - among other attributes - the awesomeness, glory and omnipresence of God. The last line of the chorus quotes Romans 12:1, where we are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.
(Was the first verse I shared about in urban life.)

Credits: kertas.dan.pena (song available)


Want another song?
Di S'tiap Napasku (by True Worshippers)

Di S'tiap Napasku

By True Worshippers Youth
Credits to the blog Beautiful, http://sistasi.blogspot.com/.


I couldn't hold my tears as I sang the chorus together with a congregation of youth in a worship service in church (about 2 months back).

God's presence was just so... real.

And the lyrics are just so... sincere.

Lyrics

Aku milik-Mu
Kuberserah kepada-Mu
Seluruh hidupku
Kau genggam dalam tangan-Mu

Ini hatiku, hanya untuk-Mu
Ini jiwaku, hanya bagi-Mu

Tuhan Kau Allahku
Bapa dan Rajaku
Tak henti di s'tiap nafasku
Ku 'kan menyembah-Mu s'lalu

Kubawa hidupku
Ke atas mezbah-Mu
Tak henti di s'tiap langkahku
Ku 'kan mengikuti-Mu
Selamanya

This song came to my mind twice lately. Once last Wednesday - during our prayer and fasting back in kampung - and once just now, as I played the chords to this song on my guitar. (To google it, type "Tuhan Kau Allahku", with the quotation marks.) The moment I saw the video, I immediately wanted to share it. The song is substantially Christian, but that doesn't mean that non-Christians get nothing from listening to/viewing/experiencing it (Try it).

Canto della Terra

Canto della Terra by Andrea Bocelli

This Italian song translates roughly to "Song of the Earth" (don't be afraid to correct me).

Update (5th Aug 09): I'm not sure why, but feedjit tells me that this is the most visited page on my blog. Maybe people think that this is an Italian blog? Maybe not? Or maybe you guys can tell me what's interesting about this page?

For those of you who know my interest in music and vocals, well, this song was one of the first where I listened to how a Tenor B sounds like (just a semitone lower than the tenor "high C").

I've actually got another version too, which is a duet by Rinaldo Viana and Liriel, found here (Highest note for soprano is an E, for tenor a B).


And for those of you who want to sing along:

Si lo so
Amore che io e te
Forse stiamo insieme
Solo qualche instante
Zitti stiamo
Ad ascoltare
Il cielo
Alla finestra
Questo mondo che
Si sveglia e la notte e
Gia cosi lontana
Gia lontana

Guarda questa terra che
Che gira insieme a noi
Anche quando e buio
Guarda questa terra che
Che gira anche per noi
A darci un po di
Sole, sole, sole

My love che sei lamore mio
Sento la tua voce
E ascolto il mare
Sembra davvero il tuo respiro
Lamore che mi dai
Questo amore che
Sta li nascosto
In mezzo alle sue onde
A tutte le sue onde
Come una barca che

Guarda questa terra che
Che gira insieme a noi
A darce un po di sole
Mighty sun
Mighty sun

In English:
Yes I know
My love, that you and i
Are together briefly
For just a few moments
In silence
As we look out of our windows
And listen
To the sky
And to a world
Thats awakening
And the night is already far away
Already, far away

Look at this world
Spinning with us
Even in the dark
Look at this world
Spinning for us
Giving us hope and some
Sun, sun sun

My love, you are you my love
I hear your voice,
And I listen to the sea.
It sounds just like your breathing
And all the love you want to give me
This love
That is there, hidden
Hidden among the waves
All the waves in the world
Just like a boat that....

Look at this world
Spinning with us
Giving us some sun,
Mighty sun
Mighty sun


Credits:
www.youtube.com
www.lyricsfreak.com


P/S: All lyrics are copied and pasted from the Web. I apologize for any errors. Especially if you try to audition/perform this song. And I think the English version is merely a literal translation. So don't rely too much on it.
:)