Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones“
Nas’s “Hip-hop is Dead“

“Ngon Nen Tinh Yeu“
“Candles of Love“
“Chandelles D’Amour“

From Candles of Love Foundation.

Got away a bit to revive myself. With cold-ass rain in a windy night, Niagara Falls is not a bad place to be. A bottle of Alize and some Madeleine Peyroux’s tunes were all that needed to get into the mood. Was thinking of Billie Holiday, but she might make me want to jump down the Falls. So went with Peyroux instead.

While in Canada, went to a charity concert that supports the HOF (Handicapped and Orphans Fund) in Viet Nam. The repertoire featured Quang Dung, Minh Tuyet, Cat Tien, Pham Khai Tuan, and Dieu Huong. While Quang Dung and Minh Tuyet were the audience’s choice, I was more interested in Dieu Huong. She might beat around the bush with the introduction of each song before she sang; I do care to hear what inspired her to write her songs. For instance, “Minh Oi” was written when her father passed away, and she was writing the lyrics in her mother’s point of view. Until she tried to get the people to dance with her translated tunes, every song, including “Khac Khoai” and “O Lai Ta Di,” she performed with emotion and affection.

In contrast, Quang Dung showed off too much of his powerful voice. Gone were the cool-under-pressure, effortless, and suave Quang Dung who made “Hay Ve Voi Anh” way cooler than the loud-ass Phuong Thanh. His performance of “Ha Trang” and “Bac Tinh,” however, were closed to if not as vociferous as Dam Vinh Hung’s. The banquet hall was small and hearing his screamings coming out of the gigantic speakers was not so pleasing, but the crowd loved him.

During intermission, I was going to cop Tinh Khuc Cho Em, a new release from Quang Dung and Thai Ha (Y Lan’s clone), but it was twenty dollars a pop. The price is doubled just for the signature? That’s a straight jack.

Ao Trang has a new look and the 2007 calendar is now available.

A picturesque painting of Ngoc Lan by Kim Quan.

Bao Han’s official web site sure looks familiar. Red Macromedia scouped up Joshua Ink‘s flowery design (which I wouldn’t have a problem with if it is for personal use) and claimed as “designed by Red.” The agency should change its name to Rip Macromedia instead. Hope Bao Han didn’t have to pay for this unoriginal work.

Update: Wow! That was fast. The design of Bao Han’s main page has been modified.

While flipping through My Secret: A PostSecret Book, I spotted a postcard that says, “I want to have sex with a piano.” Sounds familiar? Yes, I used to know that freaky bitch, but just keep that between me and you.

I had exactly what the the title of the movie is: a Déjà Vu. Denzel Washington sure had wasted his talent with the type of Hollywood’s action crap that you still know what goes on when you wake up twenty minutes before the film ends. The hero character is not even a Denzel role, but more like a Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone. I should have known better than to pick a film based on my favorite actor without taking a sneak peak at the preview.

I’ll be off work until the following Monday to enjoy the holiday and to clear my mind. Before I go, let me share with you “Give Thanks,” a solo-piano performance from Pham Hong Hanh, to wish you all a joyfull Thanksgiving.

While young broads like Khanh Ngoc still puts out Chinese-contaminated records, Minh Thu goes for the Vietnamese’s authentic flavor. That’s the good part. The not-so-good part is that her voice is not strong enough to tackle traditional folks. Listening to her breathy delivery and stiffed flow on Pho Duc Phuong’s compositions, you wish that Khuc Hat Phieu Ly were cut for Thanh Lam or Ngoc Ha. Furthermore, the tedious productions do nothing but bring down her performances. Where is Quoc Trung when they need him?

They called it “tam tien” on the Hong’s river in Ha Noi, but don’t expect to see angels there. Just a bunch of naked guys swim and play soccer. It is definitely not my kind of place to play a soccer game with too many balls on the field. Which ball should I kick?

Link via BWA