Music Tuesday: Jam Hsiao 蕭敬騰

he first came to the small box looking like this

talking about talking point & visual impact huh. (pic)

then Roger (one of the panelist) did this for round 2 during the 超級星光大道 competition. 9Pic0

appearance aside, his voice was THE talking point. Judges were taken away by his vocal & pushed other finalists into the danger zone. No kidd. everyone was not happy.

BUT somehow strangely he won the public's heart and those who rooted for others, jumped to his side and hoping him to win. unfortunately he did not made it through far enough, but record companies were only to eager to sign him out.

He or the recording company somehow took his/their time in preparing this album and only now, 2 years later...

too this...(pic)

In between, he appeared in various shows gathering fan bases, released a book and making waves for example, he sang a medley of movies soundtrack in the golden horse awards, which i must say...is brilliantly performed and sold it to me. I, too, was looking forward to his album.

So finally...his debut is here. One of the most anticipated album for any newcomers in Taiwan.

(pic)

and yes! i finally got hold of his self-titled album. thanks to CH for grabbing it for moi in HK.

was it any good? wat do one expect, or wat do i expect?

well, if you are into your mando-pop, u won't be disappointed then. Jam has a good voice if not better than most male artistes out there, No doubt.

Filled with ballad and some soft rock arrangement thrown in. But thank God, unlike another male singer (also from the competition), Jam did not 'oversadden' most of the song, if there is such a word. Sad love songs doesn't need to be overkill ok. Balance.

Definitely gonna be one of the top seller in Taiwan this year (topping the charts for a few weeks now), however, I dunno, most of the tracks are definitely radio friendly but not that memorable. I tried finding my favourite but nada.

Most of them doesn't have that instant hook or grab u on the balls and make u repeating that track. It's just so-so, u play it and u know it's there but ----

well, that's my view. Like i said, he does have a great voice, just need to find better materials.

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Music Tuesday: Madonna's Give it to me

4 minutes was so-so as i said previously, so when i got the album few weeks ago and started playing it in the zoom zoom; Give it to me is the ONLY, if not the best track in it and it's also my favourite. So much so hoping/wishing it to be the next single.

Indeed, Give it to me is the 2nd single of Hard Candy. yeah! Give it to me ...yeah!

the video is not groundbreaking by Madonna video standard, just her prancing posing doing photoshoot singing along type - with abit of HungUp, a bit of Hollywood; nonetheless it's a great track. So start counting how many Madonna's outfit in the video and Dance: to the left, to the right, to the left left, right right...

Plus u get to see Pharell dragging his purple vintage Hermes Haut a Courroies. I am not a big Hermes fans but this one i LIKE & if i can afford it, I WANT! Gorgeous. Am sure cost an arm and a leg. Did a little background check: this bag is made way before Birkin and it's a great size for everything. Yup! apparently the purple bag had been doing a few cameos.

Where can i get Pharell's sunnies? who's the designer? any one? Being looking for one of these huge wayfarer-inspired sunnies. I searched hi-lo for it but still no idea. Arghhh! anyone?

update 050608: the video is taken off Utube cos it's not 'officially' released. so till then lah. ooo, besides the above track i like, there are a couple more tracks i recommend: She's not me (Hoping to the 3rd single), Hard Candy and Miles Away. Check them out too.

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Music Tuesday: 蕭閎仁 Hsiao Hung-Jen

Newcomer Alert:

By chance, i saw his video/news last week on TV. All i got to say, BMG/Sony Taiwan will be marketing him as the new Jay Chou. Unlike Jay, you can actually hear Hsiao sings ie. not mumbling words.

I predict this guy gonna make waves, not just any waves but huge ones in taiwan this year. As big as will gonna be nominated for best newcomer in major awards next year.

I dun know much about this newbie but his name is Hsiao Hung-Jen, co-wrote most of the tracks in his debut album. His "song skillfully blends together Taiwanese (Hokkien), Mandarin and English languages, and ridicules and criticizes today's society", so save to say, not all sugar coated pop like most manufactured artistes out there.

debut single 看袂落去

I *ahem* previewed this album, and all i got to say is: Taiwan not only have a mando Norah 'dun know why i didnt cum' Jones - Joanna Wang*, she now have a mando John Mayer. yup! if u like John Mayer kinda of music: from acoustic to pop-rock to ballad with a distinctive vocal. U will enjoy this album, cos I did.

out 30th May. get ur copy HERE.

Look, dun get me wrong, he is no copycat in any way. Just a vibe, so just listen and see what i mean. It's really nice lyrically when 3 different languages blends so well. Musically its refreshing too. It's good when u get the balance right. GOOD STUFFS! Heavy rotation materials, yes! even the hokkien tracks i kid you not, plus reminds me of summer is here. I just wanna be free...

watch out for another Hsiao by the name of Jam, who will be releasing his debut too soon.

*ps. to those keep telling/asking me if i ever hear of Joanna mi kong Wang, yes!!!! i blogged and R&R about her way back in March.

UPDATE: Jam Hsiao's (蕭敬騰) album release date: June 15, 2008. Finally!!!! fingercrossed it's good!

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Music Tuesday: 薛凱琪 + 方大同 - 復刻回憶

its a new version of a classic, and seems like everyone is reviving the good old days.

Back in 1988, everyone sang along to Jacky Cheung's 每天爱你多一些 (Everyday i love you more) It was the love song of that year and won numerous awards. Click here to listen as you walk down memory lane.

everyone now...

而每過一天 每一天 這醉者, 便愛你多些 再多些 至滿瀉
我發覺我最愛與你編寫 Oh Oh

that oh oh! is soooo important to get it right.

It went on to win song of the decade as well in CHRK, as voted by public in the year 1998. I remember the event vividly cos our SL was requested to come back to the award show to present the award to Jacky as the finale, by CEO of the radio station. So the award show was held up slightly just as Sandy had already left the show after her Crazy performance which was fantastic-the audience roared and stood up during her performance.

When she got back, Sandy being Sandy, tears flowed as she was really touched by the audience. Moments like these are just unforgettable, the clips was in Utube but cannot be found at the mo. (pic from sandyandme.com)

anyway...disgressing.

As i was bed struck and can't do much, channel flipping & sleep were the only thing i can do. Guess wat?

Heard a familiar tune but this time in mandarin.

yup! the classic track almost 20 years later, was remade into a duet. Sang by Khalil Fong & Fiona Sit, called 復刻回憶.

How was it? U be the judge.

For me, Khalil Fong is a talented singer/songwriter and has a distinctive voice as you can hear in his album, but his performance on stage is somehow not as strong which is a shame really cause his voice and music is really good.

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Music Tuesday: Kenji Wu

so from now on, besides Guess of the week on every Thursdays, i will do Music Tuesdays too, until i ran out of songs to recommend.

(ok ok ok... i got nothing much to readwrite abt lah-happy now!) so here goes...

when u are in love...

what HAVE you done for your partner? what WILL you do for your partner?

Metaphorically, this songs sums it up...write poems for you, as poems here mean anything.

When you are in love, doing something silly is worth it, doing something out of your control is worth it, doing something you will never do just to express you love...blah di blah...wateva. Even buy an ad in the billboard to express your love, in some cases.

This song may not be new new, but its released this year, and i'm loving it.



wei ni xie zhi... by 吳克群 Kenji Wu.

為你寫詩　為你靜止　為你做不可能的事
為你我學會彈琴寫詞　為你失去理智

為你寫詩　為你靜止　為你做不可能的事
為你彈奏所有情歌的句子　我忘了說　最美的是你的名字

most importantly, your name is the most beautiful words ever.

yup! bidarlah is the most beautiful word ever...ironically. hehe!

mushy it maybe, but when you are in luv... your partner ask you to knock down a wall, you also will one.

recommended Kenji's (debut) track: self-titled ie. 吳克群 where he sings in different vocal mimicking different artistes in the song.

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ken lee...

i know posting / sharing this is bad, cos like my own pronunciation is so perfect (wateva), but this gal from Bulgaria is seriously...OMG!



is she singing about ken lee or she can't live without ken lee? i dunno.

check out the judges expression...crazzzy.

ps. i have a feeling looking at the list of clips on Utube, she kinda made it into the show. or they bring her back for a show, i dunno



another one...full version ON the show! and ooo, with lyrics somemore. Bless her tho' for the entertainment. Wonder wat MC thinks of this? a remix version? Ken Leee......... i cant give anymore...

wonder wat Randy will say? a little pitchy? I think she will be famous and huge!!!

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same day, same month, same year...

what are the chances?

how many people you know, or you know off, or or or 'celebrities' shares the same birthday as you?

i'm not talking of same day & same month here. I'm referring to same date, same month & same year. yup!

i know that i share my exact birthday with one other person and she is famous. hoho! Some of you may know her. who is she?

She went from teeny pop (你的甜蜜)

to kids music (pci)
to serious alternative now.

it's Mavis Fan, 范曉萱 (singer, songwriter, music producer) (pic1)

oh! 眼 淚 　 眼 淚 都 是 我 的 體 會 　 成 長 的 滋 味
oh! 眼 淚 　 忍 住 眼 淚 不 讓 你 看 見 　 我 在 改 變
孤 單 的 感 覺 　 你 從 不 曾 發 現 　 我 笑 中 還 有 淚

唉呦......你說你說我們要不要在一起
柔情的日子裡　生活得不費力氣
傻傻看你　只要和你在一起

I can't help but wonder, people born on the same day/month/year; Do they have the same personality? Do they enjoy the same taste in music, fashion, movies and food?

While drafting this post, I happened to find this site. YouTwins.com. All you need to do is register with the site and they will match you with those who share the same DOB as you. They are even on facebook, so join them and check those who share the same DOB as you. At the moment, no one (those registered) for me! hmm... i'm waiting to find more of me (i guess)

so if you got nothing to do this weekend, check it out. And if you know Mavis, let her knows that we can blow the candle together.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

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Start from here...

time for some music...

i finally listened to Madonna's new single featuring JT & T. I dun know wat is the right word to describe it, crap is the nicest word i can think off. Mrs Ritchie, you can do better and i hope your album is much better than this waste of 4 minutes single. It's sounded too much of JT & T and like perez said, "is it a left over from Nelly Furtado album ka?" really...disappointing.

haven't you learnt from 50c? Using those JTT as ur first single collabo doesnt equate hit ok! It sounded more like a duet more than 'featuring', i think.

then again, Kylie's first single does nothing to me, but most of her songs in X are brilliant. So there is still hope. pic

I shall wait for your hard candy.<- click to get the album

now for some newbie.

You guys heard of Norah dun know why i didn't come? Jones well, i really dun know why she keep on telling us over and over on her track that she didnt cum? seriously gal!, if he did not make u cum, then there are 1. other guys, 2. fingers, 3. toys.

disgressing...

ok, you guys heard of norah jones. Love or so-so or hate her voice. well, the other night i watched this music video 迷宫. (english version click here)



her voice & music is very similar to Norah but in mandarin. So googled her name, Joanna Wang, 王若琳.

yup! the mandarin critic billed her as the Taiwanese Norah. Just hope she came tho'.
her album contained mostly english tracks with a couple of mandarin tracks which includes: let's start from here and 迷宫. click here to get the album.

迷宫 is her first mandarin single, i presume. I'm liking her album. Her voice is abit too hoarse & low yet it had that relaxing, soothing, blue-sy mood to it. Hei, i'm no music expert, ok. Just me n my feeling.

So if you not into any of the manufactured mando-pop, or boyband *yawn*, this is a good treat for mandarin music.

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Xtina...New!!!

yup new version of Xtina or Christina's "Ain't No Other Man".

remember the Benny Lava's song on youtube. neh...the indian song with english subtitles which made me laughed like a mad man. for those who have not watched it before, click here. enjoy cos u will sing along to Benny Lava haha...

well now on youtube (thanks to C for emailing me), we have someone re-interpreted Xtina song.

enjoy...

it's hilarious. Ain't no weather man but U... haha...u fat ass.

Have a nice weekend!

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feedback...

yup...that's the latest single from the fabulous Janet.

actually, not so new as the video & song been playing on the radio/tv (or the lack of it)

For me, it's so-so only. Despite 'leaking it' to the internet before its official release and a big shoutout by Perez, it's not only doing so-so on the airplay and is already starting to fall off the charts.

When i first listened to it few weeks back, i was not hooked instantly like her previous works. Plus the title 'feedback' itself, to me, just sounded so wrong. I dunno. Is she running a questionnaire? is she asking us for something? and somehow everytime i hear word 'feedback', it reminded me of this.

yes...those who watched the game/reality show that is so bad it's funny: who wants to be a superhero? yup...the winner alter-ego/character is called ...Feedback.

Dun ask me what's his superpower cos i haven't got a clue. All i remember was his facial expression in the series: just look very serious. yeah...

and coincidently, in the video, Janet dressed up like in a S&M gear/superhero-ish coming from the moon miming, dancing and poking/avoiding bubbles. Just not gooood, and not helping the song 'visually' in any way at all. click here for the video.

however, the 'look' on the single cover look rather interesting...hmm...dominatrix-ish and if u into rubber and whips. nice tho' and very much photoshoppppped. (pic)

So my feedback is... hmm...i'm a fan of yours but why this track as your first single? looking forward to your soon to be released album 'Discipline' though.

Letter to Janet: If you are touring, please add Singapore as one of your dates. Cos UK is a bit far for me to travel unless i have superpowers.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

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Once u start...

yes guys & dolls...how's ya weekend? mine was good and last night started watching Bros & Sis. Yes! i know...i'm a slow starter, as friends been raving abt the show and i can see why. (pic) I'm loving kitty walker, nora walker, kevin walker, tommy walker, justin walker, sara walker, karen walker...wait...the last one is in a different show but still love her and the walker clan. Watched 2.5 discs straight i.e. 8 episodes back to back. It's GOOOOOD and did not zzz till 2am. so if the lack of posts this week or coming weeks cos i'm addicted with the walker clan. plus i also got a backlog of series to watch: Project Runway 4, Heroes 2, Ugly Betty 2, How I met your mama 3, Gossip Girls and yes! Bros & Sis 2. All ready in my hardrod.

ooo...Nigella is coming to Astro this coming week. Yeah!

coming soon: review of an indian lunch affair.

ps. added to my rodpod

Kylie's X

Bidarlah is not feeling 2 hearts but but but am loving (& recommending): In my arms (pls be the next single, pls pls pls - it's on heavy rotation!!! no kid-classic kylie- how does it feel it to be in my arms, do u want it?, do u need it?, do you feel it?, tell me), Speakerphone, Like a Drug, The One, Stars...

Lupe Fiasco's Superstar (feat. Matthew Santos). Who? U guys must have heard of Daydreaming.

***
update for the guess of the week, JG is tat your guess or answer? yes, u are correct if tats ur answer to the guess.

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music to my ears...

latest addition to my rodpod and on constant rotation.

those who like mando-pop, and into ballads and easy-listening. let me recommend you guys & dolls, 溫嵐 aka Landy Wen's new album- Hotwave | 熱浪

recommended tracks: 傻瓜 (Silly)



others: 愛的代價, 同手同腳, and titled track uptempo-retro beat 熱浪 , (click on link for video)

for canto pop - Justin MOOV Live album.

one track stood out the most- 貝殼.



there are 2 versions...both live, the above clip is the one where he cried and could not continue on. It's so heartfelt. i tell you. A personal story about his parent's divorce, and it's reflected in this track- what he had learnt from it and so on...blah di blah. do check it out.

others include: 男人KTV, 難關, 兩個女人.

ooo i have also listened to Eason Chan's new double-disc album. Hmm...all the hype only. He tried to experiment with different sounds and i dunno, i just dun get feel it. Tried too hard i think. Shame cos he is a great singer and his concert in Nov...sold out, added- sold out, add again- sold out, add some more-sold out. well done to him!

english pop

BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge just released a double compilation of various artistes doing their 'thang' in the live lounge ie. singing live for the radio: doing covers of other artistes tracks or their own songs.

There are loads of good tracks here. One stood out for me is Corinne Bailey Rae doing J 'I'm loving it' T's SexyBack. . Just keep on playing it. Brilliant interpretation of the track- jazzy, lounge-y and it's CBR. (guess wat, i found the clip on the trusted youtube)



Other brilliant cover tracks incl. Biffy Clyro's Umbrella(yup! another version), The Enemy's Hung Up (ala Bohemian Rhapsody) , Bloc Party's Say it right, The Fray's Hip Don't Lie.

ps. just found out there are more live lounge's track on yes! youtube.

as for malay pop (yet to be added to my rodpod)

this came highly recommended by Zar, as this track is heavily played in his car. who? Malaysian singer, Anuar Zain. Dunno much abt his music but like i said, this track is good- Lelaki. (Man)



if you want his live version, click here (this guy can sing, i tell you!) and just found out, he sang on the soundtrack of CINTA.

Have a nice weekend and enjoy the music...

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Ok...張震嶽

Definitely more than OK i tell you.

I must say, i kinda surprised by how much i'm loving this album. I have already have it a shout out previously but now...one full post about it.

Most of us know his famous tracks: 愛我別走 (Ai Wo Pei Chou) & Fen Sou Pa. (click on link to watch the video)

I complied the videos found from the good old youtube, dun you just love youtube, you can (almost) find anything there...anyway...videos/tracks from the album.

思念是一種病



Check out the video, simple yet brought the message across. No matter which sexuality you are. Missing someone...

There are loads of brillant tracks like 路口, 很難, OK, 再見

sherry this is for you.

Not sure if you remember the song: Wo Ai Tai Mei from his previous collaboration with MC Hot Dog. yes! U sherry, 我愛台妹, wo ai tai mei. haha!

well, at the golden melody last year or the previous year, they asked Patty Hou Pei Zhen to appear on stage with them and did a little rap while they perform 我愛台妹-taking a mickey of herself, them and Jay. Well, in this album, Patty sings/adlibs in one of his song. Nice..

就讓這首歌

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inner peace...

Just like in Will & Grace, when Will went to see physic Sue (as he received it as a gift certificate), he encountered this...

SUE: Ok, I am very peaceful. I am centered. I am open.

[A DOG BARKS]

SUE: [SCREAMING] Shut up!! I asked for one hour!! [CALMLY] Well... (pic)

That’s what happened at yoga last night. All I want is to find my inner peace be calm – be centered, but with all the noise from outside the studio. MAN! How to be focused? I tried!

Honk honk here! Honk honk there! (pic)

APA LAI? SINI …. SANA…. HUH? APA U CAKAP?

Car alarm! For f8xK sake, fix the damn alarm or dun install it. How many times or shall I say, how many car alarms went off during the course of the one hour yoga lesson? limpeh, i tell you the bloody noise...arghh....


Beep beep! Ring aring riing! Beep beep! Rrrring ririiing rriiiiiing SHUT THE XXX UP!(pic)

BREATHE::::

Then the daily prayer started blasting from the nearby mosque's speakers. Ok! this one cannot complain which like Guru said, acknowledge your surrounding. I did! I did. And it's praying time after sungkai.

Then the bloody car alarm rang again…

Then some idiots shouting downstairs…

Peace………

The music in the class was not loud enough or soothing enough to neutralize the noise pollution. Still keep yin-ning, keep flowing, note to self ' acknowledge your surrounding'.

Maybe next day, i wear bring my rodpod to class, and just read guru's red lips instead. Is this still yoga? i dunno. At least i can listen to my own song muahaha!

speaking of music: latest addition & recommend -

James B's 1973 | Leona L's Bleeding Love | Alicia K's No one | Plain W Ts's Hey there Delilah |張震嶽's Ok! (album)

ps. post yoga, received a phone call from a hmm...'long time no hear recently back in town' friend. I was shocked & surprised, i got to say the least. Why? who? nah, tell you more later...not that you guys interested anyway!

if you reading this, i really can't make it today cos i got hmm...just say other engagements. no joke! plus to book me, you need at least 3 days notice. muahahaha!!!!

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Umbrella...

Madnesss...just like jinno used to say.

At least first, i was annoyed by the song- all the ella ella ella eh eh eh pumping over the radio. catchy it maybe, actually it's infectious haha! yes! it got me singing along ella ella ella...but annoying.

Hold on...Rhianna's fans please don't slam me yet ok!

But when i saw the video few weeks ago... OMFG. I F*&king Loved it.



What's there not to like, you tell me. Her moves, her outfit, her hair and best of all, her killing stiletto - yes the one she wore in the rain with the thinnest possible stick heel holding her up. LOVED it.

Yes it's the summer hit of 2007. yes it's catchy. yes! it's may be annoying to some but i STILL LUVVV IT. ella ella ella eh eh eh...

ooo... the remix version with Chris Brown is equally good. baby gal, you can be my Cinderella ella ella eh eh eh...do check it out too.

like all good tunes, everyone seems to want to cover it.

remember My humps - by BEPs. yes! another infectious one. haha! my humps! my humps! my my lovely little lumps! hehe! then alanis did an acoustic version, equally amazing and had a funny video for it. Brilliant.

actually if you track back, such concept is nothing new and if executed well, you will get all the attention you wanted. Think 'Bizzare Love Triangle'. Originally it was a disco beat track by the New Orders, then got covered (acoustically) by Frente. Wat a hit they had then huh...

Now may i present you, actually i was told about this by Zar, the equally fantastic acoustic version of payung or ho sua. imagine a taiwanese/hokkien cover this: wah ho sua, ho sua, ho sua, sua sua sua...eee

where was i...ooo the acoustic version by Marie-Digby.

check out her video.

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when 2 become 1...

yup! spice gals are back but this is not wat the post about.

so did i go or did i not go to the charity yoga for SMARTER today? Of course i go lah. It's for a good cause com'on and i felt better today. why not?

how was it? it was supposed to be in shahbandar (open park) but Nora opted for plan B - in a hall cos the weather for the past few days had been a tad temperamental. And the response today was brilliant, a good number of yogi/nis came-ok! more yoginis that yogis: the ratio is like 5 to 1.

why i say 2 become 1?

nora on the left (arrow), and william on the right (arrow)

we have 2 teachers teaching in class today. yes! 2 gurus going against one another; u stand-i sit, u twist-i fold, u triangle-i square, u forward bend-i back bend, u pigeon-i cobra, nora's students vs. william's students. see who better? if only haha! why not? huh...next time.

wat happened? nora teaches the first part of the class, then swapped to william to end the class. It's a gentle flow class ya! we make love here, not war.

getting ready for the one and half hour (double) class. This is why i do not want to miss it. ooo, tat's lazyturtle in the orange top.

It started well, cos we used to nora's style of teaching, then half way through- let's just say, it got hmm...a bit fuzzy lah, a few of us just looked at each other and laughed. Wat else can u do? ooo breathe...

I myself find the class too gentle, we need more poses and flow sequences. The sun is scorching hot to begin with and i saw someone do yoga with her sunnies. Like i said earlier, it was a good turnout and we raised $1,230 today for SMARTER. See the power of yoga. ohmm...

ps. if you guys wondered who SMARTER are? it's Society for the Management of Autism Related Issues In Training, Education and Resources.

post yoga

me & Z went to the bakery in town, as it comes highly recommended by Z's kawan: Dyg Y, who claimed their donut is sooo nyaman tu (good) and her expression on her face is so comel.

she claimed: if u throw the donut directly to the wall, it will just smashed & melts down. It's tat soft and nice. So if someone overexaggerated suggested until like that, how can you know go and try it out.

So is it better than Dunkin D, yes! hands down. Cos DD is getting from bad to worse (in my opinion). Is it better than Krispy K, hmm...just say, their glazed ones are too sweet for my tastebuds, but their chocolate and other favours still cannot be beaten: it's their texture.

But if can't get KK here, this new bakery in town is the NEXT BEST THING. YES! it's that good. The chocolate mousse filled donut is yummmm. Light on the outside and light in the inside. (if only they dun sprinkle the colored topping-kinda childish).

ooo...did u know that song (post title) is not wat u think it is? u may hv sing-a-long to it ages ago but did u know it's more that wat it seems? see for yourself. (pic)

Chorus: Ah, oh wow Ah, oh wow (moan moan)

Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one

I need some love like I never needed love before (Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more (Wanna make love to ya baby)

put wat on? wat else? condom! and the sex is so good that they come back for more.

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uncanny...