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Had a blast at the Pink Martini concert last week. Since it was held at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall, there was the usual anxiety over the dress code (rule out jeans and I'm left with nothing presentable), but the thoroughly enjoyable evening more than made up for it. I've come across Pink Martini albums before while browsing for CDs but never actually bought one since they were usually a bit pricier than normal (like all imported CDs which do not belong in the Pop or Rock genre - makes you wonder why people don't buy originals doesn't it??)
Having not heard their music before, I did not have any expectations. When the group walked onto the stage, my first thought was "Geez, these guys could pass of for a bunch of IT consultants from Holland...". I was kind of worried about the returns on enjoyment for my RM60 ticket, but once they started playing Ravel's Bolero, I knew I could expect a good time. Though based in Portland, Oregon in the good old US of A, the group looked like an ethnically diverse bunch - Japanese, Jewish, Middle Eastern.... I didn't check if this was really true, but the diversity certainly did reflect in the languages their lead singer, China Forbes, sang in. Crooning in French, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Japanese and even a smattering of Malay, China and the group endeared themselves to the audience that night. The head honcho, Thomas Lauderdale, even went through the trouble to get their song introductions translated to Malay; which he gamely attempted to speak each time China introduced their next song. One translation stood out among the rest though - their song "Hang on Little Tomato" became "Jangan Lepaskan Tomato Kecil"!! Classic!
After a pretty rousing start with Bolero, Pink Martini went on to play a selection of songs from their four albums. I am never really sure how to categorize music but I think you'll get the drift on the type of music the group plays when I throw around key words like Latin, Jazz, Lounge, Swing, Easy Listening... There were infectious, toe tapping tunes such as "Lilly" and "Tuca Tuca", sultry jazzy numbers like "Amado Mio", slow relaxing pieces like "Over the Valley", cheeky takes like "And Then You're Gone" and "But Now I'm Back". Judging from the bopping heads and wriggling shoulders of the audience, seemed like everyone would have loved to get up and danced around. And they did just that when Pink Martini chose to play the extremely catchy and evergreen "Brazil" as the encore piece. In case you're wondering, since I can only do disco, little old me remained glued to my seat and enjoyed the scene.
A few days after the show, I finally got myself a Pink Martini CD. And I plan to get their latest one "Splendour in the Grass" once it hits the stores. So if any of the keywords I used to describe their music hits a chord with you, then get the CD. It's fun, relaxing and some of the lyrics are pretty meaningful too. Check out this link for a sample. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLaY4aksfRo&feature=related Enjoy!
P.S. Thanks, J, for asking me to the concert.
Pink Martini Albums
Since my last post, I have been wallowing in self pity for over a week. Dreading that I will be starting a full time project soon, I have been mucking about the house, doing nothing much. Basically, yearning and wishing and dreaming that a billion gazillion bucks will fall out of the sky into my lap. Well, after that depressing period....whaddya know... the client has not decided yet if they want me! Ka Ka Ka!
Anyhow, did you see the news yesterday? Three lucky bastards (pardon the language - it's only out of intense envy) won the 12 million ringgit jackpot by Magnum 4D! I am now infused with renewed determination to keep my eyes and ears open for 4D numbers - any combination which catches my attention, from car plates, birth dates, anniversaries, race bib numbers, numbers from dream sequences.... well anything short of actually going to the cemetery and selling my soul for lucky digits. And I am going to google everything I need to know about how to play to win! Soon, real soon....I will be swimming in a sea of cash! Muaahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...!!!!!
,I found out a few days ago that I might have to work full time real soon. Since starting work again in January after a blissful 10 month break, I have been coping pretty well since I only had to commit 3 work days a week. Quite a sweet deal as I still had time to dabble in my other passions. But, as fate would have it, I may get assigned to a project as soon as next week and my big sweep lottery ticket failed to hit the jackpot. So, as I am sucking it up and gearing my mind to be positive about the next 6 months of slaving away at the computer, I am finding small comfort in one of my favourite song. As Simon Cowell in American Idol always advised..."Do your own version of the song..." So here goes...sung to the tune of "If I Were a Rich Man" from the awesome musical, Fiddler on the Roof...
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a BIG fortune?"
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I'd buy a big bungalow with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the Bangsar part of town.
A fine slate roof with real teak floors below.
There would be one long escalator going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
I'd fill my driveway with mercs, audis, porsches, beemers,
For the town to see and hear.
Honking just as noisily as I can.
With each loud "beep" "beep" and "port" "port"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy woman."
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I’d see myself in the mirror, looking like a rich woman
With a genuine Lolek watch.
Dressed to the nines in brands to my heart’s delight.
I see me flying first class, travelling round the world.
Pockets filled with dollars, euros, pounds.
Taking in the sights all day and night.
The important people in my life can count on me
For one free dinner or two,
Heck, I’d even sponsor trips to a tropic paradise (Redang!)
I could give some away to worthy causes
Charities and conservations too
Solving problems that would cross politicians’ eyes!
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
For spa and massages every day.
Or read in my library filled from wall to wall.
And I would bake and dance and sing karaoke,
Play erhu several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy woman!!!
Check out the great original from the movie at this link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc
Pizzas - cheesy wonders brimming with endless possibilities...yum yum. In my younger, more economically constrained days, Pizza Hut used to be THE place to go and personal pan pizzas THE items to order. It was a bit tougher on the wallet than a trip to say, McDonald’s, but that made having a pizza meal an even more rare and treasured event. Italian cuisine has since found its way into Malaysian hearts and restaurants have sprouted up everywhere like mushrooms. Good pizzas, however, remain the domain of a select few. Over time, my pizza preferences have gravitated from Pizza Hut types to more sophisticated thin crust varieties. I like them crisp, slightly burnt and oozing cheese....if there are no strands of cheese sticking down my chin when I stuff my face, it is NOT good pizza!
I never thought the day would come when I would actually make my own pizza though. Since being bitten by the baking bug and with me contemplating a culinary career ala Nigella Lawson or Jaimie Oliver, I was game for anything. Of course, my confidence was also tremendously boosted by Barney the purple dinosaur. He had one whole segment in his sing-along VCD dedicated to making pizza. Barney made it look so easy. Heck, he even taught the kid how to twirl the pizza dough to make it fly like a UFO! Thanks to my little niece, Kulut, who played the VCD countless, torturous times, I had the process down pat. The following pics chronicles my two pizza making attempts last week.
Attempt No. 1 : Pizza Production with Full Crew - 1 Full Time Worker (Niece JH), 2 Part Timers (Nieces JQ and JJ), Two Loud Adult Testers and 1 Little Tester (Nephew Na Na)....
1. In the beginning, there was yeast....
2. Raw material preparation....Niece JH dicing mozzarella cheese, cut ham and mushrooms
3. Niece JJ mixing the activated yeast with the flour...
4. Working it...Knead, knead, knead...Bloody tiring I tell you
5. Rolling it out and fitting it in (we did not do the Barney twirl due to potential havoc a piece of flying dough could wreak in the kitchen)
6. Assembly of toppings
7. TA DAH! Weird shaped pizza numero uno!! The two Loud Adult Testers proclaimed the crust was too thick and a bit chewy but hey, we actually MADE a pizza! And no complaints from tester Na Na...
8. Enjoying the fruits of our labour....
9. Pizza number 2, hot out of the oven... Crust was less thick due to more vigorous rolling from JH and JQ, but it wasn’t near the thin crust quality I was looking for yet...
Attempt No. 2 : Pizza Production – Mostly Solo with 1 Loud Part Timer and 1 Little Tester (Niece Kulut). Managed to get a new recipe for thin crust pizza dough off the internet. No production pics this time due to the scaled down production crew.
1. Pizza number 3 – looking good. Much thinner crust and softer dough due to much shorter kneading time.
2. Pizza number 4 – sort of square shaped since I had to bake it in a square pan! But pretty good thin crust!
3. Thumbs up from tester, niece Kulut!
Overall, I was pretty happy with the results though I did not manage to make the crust crispy enough yet. I made two more pizzas for a family CNY potluck and have since laid my pizza trials aside for a well deserved break. After all, too much of a good thing can kill you...even pizza!
