Looking back, I am so happy and proud of myself.
The ups and downs I've been though made me who I am today.
In this entry, I want to share with everyone who couldn't enter the club,
as well as to share my personal thoughts and what I've been through
this whole journey.
The Early Planning
I was interested to perform solo again after two years since I was on stage.
My original plan was to perform in this year's Teachers' Day however,
I missed the auditions. I had to be on duty, for the Photography Club on that day.
It was nearing the end of my N levels when a topic at youth.sg caught my attention.
They were looking for stage performers with a charitable cause and social mission.
I thought to myself that most of my friends who wants to work, will be working by then.
Should I follow them to start working, gaining experience as well as have side pocket
money or should I go and perform for charity? What happens after the performance?
This had me thinking a long time because I was busy with my N levels as well as O level Maths.
I made up my mind and wrote them an email a day before the last paper of N levels,
asking for more details, when it so happened to be my birthday.
One of my questions was: "What type of cancer(s) is this event focusing on?"
The main aim was to raise awareness for general cancer.
I was officially registered.
23 October 2006: The First Meetup
23rd Oct was the first meetup and I thought that I would be able to see the rest
of the other performers but I was only meeting one of the organiser in this event.
I chose two songs: "Call On Me" (as the first song) followed by "Like A Prayer".
Serene and I had mini conversations over lunchtime, afterwhich,
we went our own directions. A later date was to be confirmed for the rehearsal.
Song Decision
I tried "Call On Me" in my room however it just couldn't work out well.
This song requires another person to do the other person's vocal.
So I had to choose another song, options were "Get Together", "All For You",
"Black Or White", "If I Ain't Got You". I also tried practically the rest of the instrumentals.
But I knew for sure that "Like A Prayer" was confirmed.
If I choose "Get Together", this gig would be a tribute to Madonna.
If I choose "All For You", it would be something I had never tried before as
I had another instrumental that went along with the tune,
and the only thing to do is to change certain words to suit the tune.
If I choose "Black Or White", I may have to rap halfway.
If I choose "If I Ain't Got You", I will have to stuggle with the pitches.
So after much considerations, first song was "All For You"
Reason is that I wanted the crowd to be hyped up, then slow down.
Confirmed: "All For You" followed by "Like A Prayer"
The Video Backdrop
This part was very challenging for me.
Between 23rd Oct and 3rd Nov, I had planned to create a video
backdrop for my own performance. Reason: To personalise it.
It has been more then a year ever since I used Microsoft Movie Maker,
that was why making this was a very challenging task for me.
I went around the net, forums, getting images/videos to go with the song.
The first song, "All For You" will be a black screen, then followed by the Sankofa sign
- which ment that "you cannot move into the future until you learn from your past",
with my name in the bottom followed by "Like A Prayer".
Editing this video was the toughest. Everyone at home
will be going, and I just wanted them for a good surprise of the video.
That resulted to only being able to edit this video in the night.
The first video edited was simply for the sound-check was without words.
The final video edited for the actual day was with words.
Screencaps and explaination of "Like A Prayer" are seen below.
I met amazing, talented youths on 3rd November
2 from Sensually Transmitted Music from Singapore Poly
2 from Paradox from Bedok View Secondary School
on this day, we had a sound check, with no lighting controls.
i screwed up the first song by forgeting the lyrics on the 2nd verse.
the second song was okay, just that the video needed more touch up.
Pictures with captions
"You gave me water as my lips were chapped and faded."
"Helped me gather all my things in my favourite colours"
"and buried me."
These words were taken from "Cancer" by My Chemical Romance.
"Cancers were expected to kill 146,000 men in 2006.."
"..while 380,210 women diagnosed with either breast, lung, colorectal
or cervical cancer."
These facts were in American figure.
This footage is taken from Madonna's "Secret" similar to her Drowned World Tour.
I personally feel that this video is the best I've found, and fits the music, and
the theme so well.
The one on the left, was not final. It says "Quit smoking."
The purpose why I suddenly rejected this was because
not all cancer are affected through smoking. My gig
ended with "Is the audience listening?"
18 Novmeber 2006
I was there at about 5:28pm,
met some members from Amateur Rockers.
Leslie seems to know them performing in Singapore Poly itself.
I sat with the organiser but soon he left.
Saw familiar faces from Sensual Transmitted Music
as well as Aidil from Paradox.
Performers under 18 had to surrender thier NRIC to the bouncer.
I did, when the bouncer, trying to act tough, exchanged my IC with a pass.
so a chop on my hand for re-enter purpose.
I then met new friends like Edwin from STM and other fantastic people.
Reheasals started, dinner was pizza.
Shared with Paradox as well as Amateur Rockers.
I heard a familar tune from the back of the door...
"..get it out me, get it out me.."
I shouted to myself:"Oh my god!" haha.
It was a dance group there dancing to
Janet Jackson's song from the new album!
9:15pm, everything started. everyone was messed up.
shall not talk about how messy it is though.
okay.. the ambience is there, the lights are down,
the organisers were busy to host it,
so STM started off with two songs,
followed by my turn..
I screwed up the first song but tried to cover
by getting the hype started.
I was without my spects to communicate better with my audience,
as well as to get away with stage fright from booing (if there was)..
I spotted familar faces through my blurry eyes.
the microphone stand just kept sliding downwards.
so after i performed, i sat down watching and supporting the rest.
here are the pictures!
jie, thanks for the pictures!
haha.
Birthday Surprise
On my way out of the live band room,
I saw Ma, Pa, Jie, Leslie, Joan,
Sally Ee, Uncle Michael, Pat Koo Koo,
Gladys. (Thank you all for supporting!!)
I went to collect my IC and there! I saw STM!
my mom rushed to tell them something.. at first I was
shocked! to see what was she doing. Then after, they sang
me a birthday song, arranged specially for me. I felt so happy,
and so grateful for everything, in their own rendition of Happy Birthday.
Able to perform in this event is really a birthday gift for me. The song sung by
STM was really icing on the cake. once again, here are the pictures taken:
<<mym>>
-dEREk-
工具 
帮助
