The proverb, I am sure every Vietnamese knows by heart, is: “Mot cay lam chang nen non, ba cay chum lai nen hon nui cao.” Stone Phillips’s “Postcard from New Orleans” reports how the Vietnamese-American of New Orleans pulled together to turn the worse natural disaster in the US history into a success story.
Big up to my people in New Orleans!
Despite some usability issues, the Viget Labs is beautiful in design and sleek in navigation.
If this and this video were submitted to Thuy Nga Production, Sassy Hang Nguyen would be hired on the spot for the next taping of Paris By Night. She can take off her clothes and she can lip-sync flawlessly. (via Khong Co Ai)
A new Trojan commercial is rejected by Fox and CBS. The ad could be viewed at Trojan Evolve Web site.
Who said HTML is only for geeks?
Is it Double Click or Double Dick?
Incuby got an anus logo with a tagline reads “Get started today!” Something ain’t right.
If Giant Steps is too fast for you to follow and A Love Supreme is too much for you to take, Lush Life maybe the right Coltrane’s album for you. Beside a virtuoso, Trane was also a balladeer. He could play standards exceptionally well. The melodic lines on “Like Someone In Love” are so damn gorgeous that Trane performed as if he was truly in love, and he could pull it off even without the support of the piano’s harmony since Red Garland didn’t show up for the recording. If I were allowed but one Coltrane to share with my lady, Lush Life would be it. “I Love You” could sound like a banal romantic ballad, but not in a Latin vibe.
Not too long ago, Ha Tran made the following audacious statement: “Nhạc jazz VN tới nay thường là ‘râu ông nọ cắm cằm bà kia’ hoặc đu đưa cho có vẻ jazz một tí.” Now she is contributing a hot-tub, smooth bossa nova number on Tran Viet Tan’s new record, Biet. Despite her contradictory, I find her singing on the Latin-flavored “Vet Chan” way better than the electric shit she has done. She knows how to work the sensual lithe in her flow against the faintly syncopated arrangement. Elsewhere, she gives “Me Ganh Nuoc” a heart-lifting performance with such effortless control. And she pulls it off with just a simple accompaniment of piano and violin.
Beside Ha Tran, Biet features two other vocalists, Thanh Lam and Tung Duong, yet they couldn’t hold up to Ha Tran. Yes, even Thanh Lam too. Unlike Ha Tran, her flow is stilted on the Latin groove of “Dong Song.” She does not have the playfulness to ride the mid-tempo beat. The worse part is that Thanh Lam uses her vibrato all over the place, to the point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. Doctor Tan should have subscribed her some chill pills before she stepped into the booth. Tung Dung also seems to be limiting his range and recycling the same delivery lately. The versatile Tung Dung is hidden in Chay Tron.
As for songwriter/doctor Tran Viet Tan, I don’t know if he is a good doctor or not since I’ve never paid his office a visit. I do know for sure, however, is his passion for music. He knows how to make songs for his patients. Biet is a perfect album to be played in his waiting room. The first track would calm them down. The second track would ease their pain. The third track would anesthetize them until the time their name is called. The doc is in.
I forgive you for what you haven’t done for me. After all, I wouldn’t be here without you. Still got mad love for you, Papa!
