What are the best and worst things about living in Cagayan de Oro City? Please leave a comment.
0 Comments
When Les Miserables was shown in the Philippines in January, there were many comments on FaceBook. There were those who watched it many times. There were those who complained about movie goers talking during the show... To satisfy my curiosity. I watched the interviews on YouTube. I also watched again the whole 10th year anniversary (which remained as my favorite). I came across the movie --- not the musical-- on Youtube, too. And to refresh my memory on the plot I watched it as well. Despite the hype, I didn't watch the movie. Even in Okinawa when James Bond's Falling Sky was simultaneously showing, I had to win my friends over to watch 007 instead by winning the janken game. Why I wasn't that excited to see the film? One reason is, I saw it already on Broadway in New York a decade ago. Another reason is: a friend, a musician, posted on FaceBook that "When Russel Crowe's turn to sing she could enjoy her popcorn." So, I decided to wait for the DVD release and watch it in my home theater. If I like it, I'd add it to my DVD collection. And then, I watched it a few days ago... maybe, under pressure from my FaceBook friends hahaha This is my facebook post after watching Les Mis: "Russel Crowe should stay away from Musicals. Hugh Jackman should've taken the Bishop's role (LESS singing) Anne H did well but she over dramatized the "I dreamed a dream" but she did great when she appeared as a Ghost. All the other casts were excellent especially the two CHILDREN (bravissimo)." Except for my comment about Anne Hathaway, I stand to my critique. Let me explain in details why. Russel Crowe can sing but the Javert songs were too heavy for him. Some friends argued that they should be complimented for their effort. If they were my students, or if it's a local church or town production, I would. But this is a movie with a very huge budget! Hugh Jackman can sing but his voice is not enough to satisfy the demand of Jean Valjean's songs. Because the pitches were high his wide vibrato were very obvious --- he's struggling to keep in tune and to prolong the notes. His recitative sounded annoying to me as the movie progressed. He also cuts his notes too short. And for the songs, his vibrato were too wide. What's the fuss about too wide vibrato? It destroys the beauty of the melody. Here's what an article say about vibrato. A wide vibrato is usually a lack of proper "resistance of the breath pressure" or a lack of "focus in the tone". It can also be a result of a lack of proper adduction of the vocal cords. One or all of these problems create a sound that our culture defines as "age in the voice". Source: Understanding Vibrato Vibrato is not bad in singing but it has to be controlled. Listen, for example, how singers like Celine Dion prolongs a note. The "wobble" should not be too wide. If the other actors were all singing and acting par excellence (that includes Ann Hathaway) and with special mention of the two children. Why the Javert and Jean Valjean roles were given to Russel Crowe and John Hackman? Let's talk about some problematic scenes.
ConclusionAll the cast singing were excellent except Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman. Without them the whole musical would have been perfect. Couldn’t they find better singer-actors than them? My guess is, yes, they could. But I guess the producers wanted to give the major roles a major actor or else the movie won’t sell. The marketing focused on how hard the production was and how expensive. How Anne Hathaway had to be on a strict diet just to be thin and suffering as Fantine could be. Or how much money Russel Crowe paid the vocal trainors just to make him sing... this is how people are enticed to watch the movie especially those who are new or not into musicals.
P.S.Speaking of Chicago and Evita. Why Richard Gere and Madonna did well in these musicals that were made to film? The singing of almost all of Les Miserables songs requires a powerful opera trained singers. The role of Richard Gere in Chicago and Madonna in Evita, didnt. I later learned that in The Sound of Music, it was not Peggy Wood who actually sang "Climb Every Mountain". It was dubbed and the really singer was Marjorie McKay It wasn't a big deal because that scene was so solemn and perfect. Had they insisted on letting Wood belt those high notes it would have destroyed the mood of that scene. Having the humility to say that she couldn't do it was one of the reasons why I respect her a lot. Please leave your comment below. P.S. 2Detailed explanation of Ruthie Henshall's |
The orchestra starts with an oboe solo. Oboe usually plays a sad melody. "There was a time..." a narration of her past was sung with one note but you can hear her sing it with both feeling of joy and regret. "... then it all went wrong." Then the song starts with the harp's arpeggio... Then she sings the first stanza... "I dreamed..." her voice full of hope. Then the mood changed at "but the tigers come at night" with her singing in lower notes. Listen when she sang "tear your world apart." She changed her voice at "tear". It made that phrase different and the preparation of the "tragic" part of her song. The composer brought the melody down for the same reason. "As they turn your dream" she sounds like a helpless child "to shame---- " the melody goes up and the tension is up. "He filled my days with endless wonde" listen how she cut or didn't prolong at "wonder" she's trying to create an irony of the "wonder" and the tragedy that followed it. "but he was gone when autumn came." Notice the change of her voice quality that sounds like throaty. This is where her life changed from a happy one to a tragic one. "But there are dreams that cannot be" the composer brought the melody up to emphasize the impossibility of the dream | Notice again her "throaty" quality in the "there are storms" as her way of emphasizing the gravity of the situation of "storms that cannot wether". And we approach the climax with the violins and the soloist in an sort of dialogue. And the resolution, the tempo slowed down, the volume softer and the most difficult part of any singer to do: to sing a prolonged high note softly. And she did it all perfectly. BRAVISSIMO!!!! |
The last time I followed a singer up to the finals was Regine Velasquez when she was a consistent weekly winner of the Bagong Kampeon and she won. I was hoping that Jessica would win as well but she didn't. Well, it is more difficult now to know who's the best because of the power of "text vote". The winner may not be the best but if he/she has the support of many fans he/she would surely win.
The performance below is one of Jessica Sanchez's best. It surely shows how matured her voice and artistic interpretation is. Of course, Jennifer Holiday is one of the legendary original artists. Both of them has really made this performance one of its kind.
American Idol Season 11 (2012) All Performances:
permanent resident,
long term resident,
spouse or child of Japanese national,
spouse or child of permanent resident,
artist,
religious,
journalist,
cultural activities,
professor,
investor/business manager,
legal/accounting services,
medical services,
instructor,
intra-company transferee,
technical intern training,
college student,
trainee,
researcher,
engineer,
specialist in humanities/international services,
entertainer,
skilled labor,
dependent ,
or designated activities,
will be defined as
"medium to long-term residents".
click below to go to the source of this information:
Revised Immigration Act English
Tip: Take the shuttle bus. For example, from Terminal 3 to MRT/LRT Baclaran it only costs P20 ($0.50).
So back to the quesiont, is Peoplestring a scam? Watch the video and then read the comments in the link below and decide for yourself.
I'M GIVING SPECIAL WARNING TO ALL NON-US RESIDENTS.
please note that the comments here are in 2010. There might have been good developments recently. | Comments from non-US residents: click hereElizabeth - says:April 4, 2010 at 9:51 pmI was introduced to Peoplestring through Clixsense where I have an account. I specifically signed because the Cash Mailbox gave me that extra push. Now after signing up and taking the survey you are told that this is only for US and Canadian residents. I just wish everyone could spare us Non-US/Canadian residents the stress of signing up only to be told that we are restricted. I am a Jamaican and was really looking forward to the typing. I don’t think I will now be able to convince my friends to join. I was still hoping that a miracle would happen. I will still try though. |
Tips from Chase Swift:
Use PeopleString as your portal to the internet and follow these extra tips!
How To Make Money In PeopleString: People Points!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXR2wI-yYSo
1. Log into your People String account; http://social.peoplestring.com/
10 points
2. Do a search in the Google Search box (in the top Menu to the right of the Settings). Leave search on “Web” and click “Go”. A new page will open for your search results. Close that page.
Refresh your People String Home page by clicking on Home. 10 points
3. Log into your People String Mail (click the yellow PeopleString icon to the right of Tools)
Refresh your People String Home page by clicking on Home. 10 points
4. Click on the “Mailbox Cashbox” icon to check your current deals. (In some countries you may not earn points clicking on the “Mailbox Cashbox” icon.)
Return to your People String Home page by clicking on Home. 10 points
5. Click on any Shopping category. Click on any store (Green “Shop Now” button). The store page will open in a new window. Close store page after it opens.
Refresh your People String Home page by clicking on Home. 10 points
By following these steps anyone should be able to earn 40-50 People Points every 12 hours, or 80-100 People Points every day. (3,000 People Points per month and ONE of the ways you get paid in People String is based on your People Points, so be sure not to miss these methods which will guarantee you will make money in People String for free.)
Obviously the more you use the site, adding friends, checking messages, playing games, the more People Points you will earn. And when your sponsored members duplicate these steps too, you will earn even more money.
Remember just telling 5 people, who each tell 5 people, you can earn over $1,500 a month!
Want to see two examples of potential earnings with People String?
Check these out:
http://social.peoplestring.com/uploads_user/58000/57516/6844.jpg
http://social.peoplestring.com/uploads_user/58000/57516/6842.jpg
I hope you enjoy People String and please send me a return message and let me know more about you. Also look for me and add me as a friend on People String.
More links:
PeopleString Privacy
People String Sign Up
Categories
All
Amazing Talents
Cd Release
Contest And Competitions
Food Glorious Food
For Parents
Health
Incredible India
In The News
Life In Japan
Life In The Philippines
Movie Reviews
Photography
Recitals And Concerts Critic
Religious Music
Storm Sendong
Teaching
Teaching Game/Activity
Tips And Advice
Travel
Volunteering In Cambodia
for Hostels review
click here.
Author
The author used to lives and work in Japan, now the Dean of a College of Music in Mindanao. For more information click here
Archives
January 2018
March 2017
October 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
April 2014
March 2014
December 2013
November 2013
May 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
August 2010
June 2010
December 2009
July 2009
May 2009
January 2009
September 2008
June 2008
May 2008
October 2007