Sorry, i've just been listening to this song over and over and over again [pun intended]; this is rachael yamagata's "the only fault", super nice.

Extremely beautiful acoustic guitar plucking, great tune, unusual chords, and poignant lyrics.

Rachael Yamagata - The Only Fault [hidden track]

If i could have one wish
If i could have some say
I'd keep you far from home
I'd roll back both my sleeves
Dig under your skin
And fix your shattered bones

Hold on
This may hurt you when i tell you of the truth,
We don't get two lives to live
It's true,
The only fault i've found in you
Is not being free to take what i would give

If i could bend your pain
Into something good
Make you a prouder man
If i could rough you up
And save you with good luck
And show you hope again

Hold on,
Weren't meant to suffer so very long
Leaving love that's gone has never been a sin
Hang tight,
The only fault you have tonight
Is shutting down so cold till i break in.

Oh sad young man,
I think i need you.
For reasons i don't know
I pledge myself to winter season
So it's perfectly on course
But in the end it has to snow.

If i could make you stay
Convince you you'd be lost
If we were torn apart
If it remained unclear
Between the two of us
Which one would be the one
To break the others heart

Hold on,
This will floor me differently
Than any drug that's washed me into sleep
It's true
The only fault i'll take from you
Is how to run from what you wish to keep

Kinda autobiographical perhaps?

we are human;

not dancer.

[this is a really powerful exposition on the human condition, you crass dancers!]

Jon sent me a link to Rachael Yamagata's "Elephants", which brought back memories of May, memories of my travelling down to the Esplanade to catch a glimpse of the singer-songwriter in all her yellow glory tell her funny sordid stories, as she pours her soul out to a packed esplanade concert hall in song. as her voice leaps over her tinkling ivories, or from time to time when she strums her guitar, she croons, growls, and wails, as her gravelly voice sings "over and over and over again...let it rain..."

Rachael yamagata is a really gifted songwriter; she has what you call craft, a craft that comes with much writing and playing, and her songs are so tuneful but more than just that there's a depth of emotion and warmth of soul that sucks you in and lulls you.

i especially like the hidden track from elephants (the second album), called 'the only fault', which i find frankly quite brilliant. other standout tracks are 'over and over', 'duet', 'elephants', and from the first album there are a whole shrew of favourites, such as quiet, 1963, be be your love, etc. it was a treat.

which reminds me of all the good concerts that i've been fortunate to catch in singapore; in fact most of the angmoh gigs i've gone to have all been standouts.

they include:

cranberries + no doubt - 2003 - amazing gig; 2 of my favourite bands; delores was just charming and so intense; gwen was a powerhouse and full of energy.

red hot chili peppers - an intense jam, coupled with naked sweating bodies.

suede - another awesome gig, at fort canning - with loads of charm, and brett anderson crooning his heart out.

jason mraz - he was just awesome; one of the best i've seen; his voice control was stunning.

rachael yamagata - enough said (just see above) - very enjoyable evening.

coldplay - another good gig; i didn't watch the viva la vida one, but the one before (2006) - that was still very enjoyable.

oh - just the one dud:

Oasis - just standing there and crooning isn't going to cut it - FAIL.

lea salonga is coming and it's going to be fun; anyone wanna watch? can sms me.

i realised that it's okay really to be a geek.

I'm unabashed about it; I am a geek.

I used to code HTML the time before web editors came up.

i would do the <>

you know, all of that.

and java, for a bit.

i started my first blog in 1999; was just a stupid little geek then; still am!

there's nothing wrong with being a geek; just be comfortable who you are.

the girls don't like you, but i dont' really care; i find myself quite cute.

it's okay.

really.

anyway some nice songs i've been discovering are:

The Drums - Let's go surfing

Richard Hawley - for your lover give some time

I went for mass that very same Friday that the other post came about. CO invited me for mass and said it would mean much to her, so i went. i was very hesitant, but i was glad that i took the chance to go. we sat down there, sang the songs; was a bit uncomfortable with the 'mary' part, but then just kept it to myself. just wanted to see what it was like, but boy was it good! Like i told P, it is strange; we protestants often deride the mass as just being overly procedural, but in fact when i attended the mass there was a very deep sense of spirituality; you could feel the Holy Spirit's presence, the Heavenly Father's presence being there as everyone sang out to Him and like He was in the audience, and the very presence of the Lord Jesus Himself in the lecture theater where the mass was held. it was very strange; there was a deep sense of calm, a deep sense of spirituality. which was quite awesome. maybe a reaction to my previous post [which was posted just a few hours ago.]

Over the weekend, my walk has been... alright; some struggles, but mostly Christ Jesus staying close to me and allowing me [thank Him] to enfold myself in Him fully, to embrace Him fully, to snuggle in His arms as He embraces me. for He loves me dearly and i know that is true.

the problem with me, shawn, is that, often when the world hits me and tempts me, i am too greedy to say no to the things that will surely destroy me. may the blessed Holy Spirit give me discernment.