music i currently listen to

Currently, I have been listening to these albums with my cheap iPod. HEHEHE.

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster, it was re-released and extended. The album contains many good dance track. Songs like Bad Romance cannot be easily gotten out of my head. HAHAHA. Along with the first songs from the previously released, the Fame, like Just Dance, Poker Face, Paparazzi, Lady Gaga is fun and ecstatic. It's hard to believe this artist was once dropped by her label.

The Original Broadway Cast - Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, just to mention these two names make it's reasonable why Wicked was considered as the most successful Broadway play! Defying Gravity is always able to lift my spirit and makes me a bit brave. HAHAHA.

The Original Soundtrack of Les Chansons D'Amour, songs like La distance, Je n'aime que toi, La Bastille, As-tu dèja aimé? are not only easy to-listen to, but they're also meaningful and emotional (or is it just me?). La distance tells a story of a boy who's madly in love with this mysterious figure and his inability to comprehend his muse.

Massive Attack - Heligoland, I must admit Heligoland is way too advanced for me. Although I am a fan of Massive Attack old hits, like Teardrop, Inertia Creep and Live with Me. This album still has their old vibe, mixed with tribal sounds.

Sade - Soldier of Love, finally it's here! Unbelievable we have to wait for 10 years for that. Sade, the singer might have got older, the voice still is sulky. Soldier of Love is much heavier and like always, Sade, the band always manages to hit the right spot.

Kris Allen - Kris Allen, yes! I watch American Idol and I was rooting for Kris Allen last year! The album however is a bit disappointment. I like the first single from this album, but however the rest of the songs sound like a repetition and old.

happy valentine's day!

For a skeptical guy like me, to really celebrate Valentine's Day is a rarity, but anyway I honestly admit that it's quite fun. I received chocolate (the photo shown above) from my pacar and a toblerone from a dearest friend from work (thank you, YS!).

be italian!

Luisa Contini: Thank you.
Guido Contini: What for?
Luisa Contini: Thank you for reminding me I'm not special. You don't even see what you do to me. Even the moments I think are ours, it's just... you working to get what you want.

That was a dialog between Guido Contini and his wife, Luisa in Rob Marshal's newest musical, Nine. I don't know why, but there's always a little excitement to know that there's a musical to be released soon. I guess Hollywood agreed with me with Chicago. Just when it's about to be released. Everyone's buzzing about the movie and when it's released, everyone praised it and it's earned quite many Oscar noms.

Unfortunately, the same condition cannot applied to NINE. This ambitious project of Rob Marshall did not earn the same respect he did with Chicago. Nine is based on the broadway musical, that received so many acknowledgement. It based on the semi-autobiographic of Fellini, an Italian director.

Nine had potential for sure. It tells a story of an Italian director, Guido Contini, who struggled to balance his life. The pressure of work and personal life has driven the once a visionary director to a very stressful life. His colleagues, his mistress, his wife, even his dead mother seemed took parts in making life uneasy.

Marion Cotillard, as Luisa is just perfect. I was a bit disappointed that she didn't get an Oscar nomination for that role. Somehow, I feel that she might deserve it better than Penelopé Cruz, who managed to flawlessly transform herself as Guido's mistress, Carla. Kate Hudson and surprisingly Fergie did not disappoint.

However, even with this line of so many strong actors, Nine was still weak. It uses the same form of Chicago, unfortunately it's too similar, that it lost its originality. Nine didn't end well, it leaves you wonder whether a sequel is in a making, but then you're glad it won't.

By the way, if you wonder what Nine means. Nine is the number of works that Fellini has done.

Book: The Naked Traveler 2

Finally, I managed to finish reading my first book in 2010. The Naked Traveler 2, by a woman who is well-known as Trinity. This is the second edition of the series. The Naked Traveler basically is series of stories of Trinity traveled around the world (this woman up to today, has traveled to 42 countries, according to the introductory of the book).

The Naked Traveler 2 did not cover as many countries as the first edition, but somehow it's more personal and it's more informative. The second book concentrates on the cultures, habits and the people of the countries she visited.

Like the first book, it always managed to make me smile and in some occasions, it made me laugh out loud. Yes, it's not the sophisticated literature. The Bahasa is informal (understandable, since it was initially a blog). The Naked Traveler made me appreciate other cultures, my own culture and friendship.

It's a light reading, but still informative. My next book is a gift from my boss. Another Bahasa book from Pdt. Yohan Candawasa, Tinggal dalam Hadirat-Mu.