AhDoe – Music as an International Language

Ah Doe is not in Singapore at this moment.

Guess where am I?

The next piano sheet will unveil this secret.

Stay tuned~

The 2008 Beijing Olympic fever is definitely not over yet…

There was this controversial topic about little Lin Miao Ke (林妙可)’s lip sync performance during the opening ceremony, discussion on how the facilities such as the Bird Nest stadium shall be put to good use after the games. And recently, some guys spread their findings on the medal tally that appears to match the date and time when the terrible earthquake hit Sichuan Province.

51, 21 and 28 for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively…the numbers remind some observant people about the Sichuan Earthquake on 12 May (512), exactly at 2:28pm. What a coincidence!

As for myself, I’m obsessed with Beijing Olympic’s mascots! My latest craziest move was to spend more than $20 to buy kiddo’s McD Happy Meals in order to collect all five of them!

Those who have watched the olympic opening ceremony should know the theme song. It is somehow different from all the olympic theme songs that I’ve heard before and I can feel that this song is delivering a message to bring peace and harmony to the world (Especially a chaotic world we are in now).

This song is in dual language, Chinese and English. Sarah Brightman and the famous Soprano Liu Huan (刘欢) managed to express this song perfectly. One Ang Moh and one Asian, Asian sings Ang Moh part and Ang Moh sings Chinese part, two different skin tone people singing this song in the eyes of the world…even if you don’t listen to the song, this combination is already telling you the olympic’s moto:

“ONE WORLD ONE DREAM”

The MV is touching….I have to admit

And of course the song too…

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Theme Song “You And Me” (Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan) Piano Sheet Preview

This piano sheet/ music score is in original key. In fact, there are a few transpositions in the whole song. Male vocal enters at B Flat Major and transposes to A Major when female sings. When choir and Male take over again, the key switches to B Major and finally ends at C Major.

I have included the lyrics and chords, done the music sheet in two parts: accompaniment and melody.

It may be complicated, but considering that the melody is actually very simple, all you have to deal is the key and some swift scales…

It’s up to you…

Please download The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Theme Song “You And Me” (Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan) complete piano sheet in PDF Format.

Supposingly, I am not allowed to take photograph from the airplane, and especially when it is still flying…

So…..shh…..

I was flying from Kuching to Johor Bahru alone. Nothing to do, nothing to eat because I was taking the cheap budget airline. While wondering when I can see the horn-bill land again, I secretly took this photo.

 
The Last Point of Sarawak

Sarawak, or I should say that the whole Borneo Island is densely covered with dark green tropical forest, crawled with several muddy rivers and filled with thick clouds in its sky. Humid and wet, this island naturally became a good place to farm tropical forests and animals.

 
Corresponding location where I took the photo

Around 45 minutes later, I saw an island country which is packed with buildings.

View of Singapore from sky above

What a huge contrast! A primitive land and a tiny little island filled with so many people, so many buildings. Suddenly in my mind, I think that living in big cities is kinda stressful and suffocating. Although the aerial view of Singapore has its charm, I am somehow turned off by it.

Think of it positively, Singapore is still very well organized though.

 
Have you spotted the JB – Singapore Causeway?

So that’s it, I am heading towards Singapore with a new job, new life. I am a little sad when I think that I can’t even go home often once I start this routine work, even if the plane ride is only 1 hour…

I have diverted my attention to the recent earthquake that struck Sichuan Province on 12th May 2008.

The earthquake aftermath

I am deeply sadden by the unfortunate incident and I sincerely hope to see more miracles happening since Day 1.

There are all sorts of touching stories about noble sacrifices and survivors struggling to get through the nightmares, and these made me realized that nothing else is important when you are dealing with alive or death matters.

Like what Linkin Park’s “In the End” lyrics says: “I tried so hard and get so far, in the end it doesn’t even matter“.

Urban creatures like me constantly grumble about life, work related stress, money matters and traffic jam. I remind myself that these are nothing so important that they could affect our life and make us forget about being nicer to others.

By the way, some people are just so stingy to say a simple thank you to the aunties who distribute free newspapers at MRT stations every morning.

One week after the deadly quake, Chinese mourns for the victims. Chinese websites changed to grayscale layouts to show their token of respect.

163.com

 

Baidu

Google China

Ifeng a.k.a Phoenix Web

Sina China

Sohu China

Yahoo China

China Bit Torrent Sharing Website

It’s a special moment for China. Everyone is holding hands to get through this difficult moment, so broken hearted and yet so united.

6 months ago, I have been retrenched as a result of company shut down. I was left wandering in the real world for half year. Many people showed their concern by asking me about my job seeking progress and future plannings, and all I do mind is to spend more time with my family which I didn’t have the luxury to enjoy when my precious private time was fully occupied by routine works that I don’t enjoy much.

At first, there was this wonderful carefree Europe backpack trip, and I spent my Christmas in Greece, my 2008 New Year in Germany, and my Chinese New Year break at my hometown – Kuching.

Retrenchment is not so bad after all, isn’t it?

Chinese New Year is always an annual report of your achievement in the previous year, and mine, is very special:

“I got retrenched, backpacked in Europe and will search for a new job”

Perhaps doesn’t sound too good to many, but I really appreciate it.

Life suddenly slows down for me and I gradually realize what I have missed for the past few years. Having breakfast with my Mum, driving her around and recognizing new routes to new shopping complex, watching satellite television together, exploring new recipes, attended concerts and most importantly, we talked a lot about the future and the plannings.

And I get to enjoy cheaper off peak period air tickets with so few passengers sharing the same flight!

Remember those times, you have to check your calendar for long weekends, beg your boss to approve your leaves, and check with your colleagues to back you up in the office while you are away?

And today, I have to come back to reality again. My first day in a new company, with new faces around me and an unknown future here. It takes some time to learn and adapt, and there will be struggles to survive in this field, but anyway, this is just a start and not the end.

Today, the 12th of May, 2008.