Hades Star

These days, I am quite addicted to a mobile game called Hades Star. It is a new social space strategy game.

There is a common AI enemy for all the players called the Cerberus, which scattered around the space that we, the players, are exploring. So in a way, we are the hostile alien invading the living space of a peaceful race who just want to have a quiet life (they don't really move around). Anyway, we don't care, as we are so greedy and have too much free time.

First time boss: Direction, Alignment, Commitment

<img>https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DZN4SmhHL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg</img>

This idea from the book sounds familar, but it is still a revelation.

Direction, Alignment and Commitment. They are essential to motivate not just a team but for personal goal too. To drive the team to move forward one need to be able to paint a clear picture (a vision/direction) that people can relate to and empathize. Then be able to support the team to understand who is going to do what and how we are going to achieve the vision.

That makes the plan, and then it comes to action. Commitment is the internal drive to help the team stay on course and keep their passion to get to the vision. Encouragement and compliments are ways to keep the morale. Regular reminder of the vision and how good it will be would help to keep the team focus.

Album Review: A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Vince Guaraldi Trio

現在無人不曉精品繁多的 Snoopy 曾經只是花生漫畫(Peanut)中的配角. 漫畫初期主要都集中在小男孩 Charlie Brown 身上. 這個極端自卑, 常常被嘲笑(也自嘲), 卻又努力不懈的小男孩的原型其實就是花生漫畫作者 Charles Schluz 本人. 1963年一套有關 Charles Schulz 及花生漫畫的紀錄片 A Boy Named Charlie Brown 的配樂就成了這張節奏明快輕鬆的爵士樂專輯.

專輯中的樂曲也廣泛地用於花生漫畫的電視及電影中. 雖然說是卡通的配樂, 但純粹把它當作兒童音樂看待絕對是一種損失. 作曲並同時是專輯鋼琴手的 Vince Guaraldi 以活潑跳脫的琴音貫穿整張專輯, 加上輕快雀躍的爵士鼓和低音大提琴伴奏, 聽著聽著就讓人有一種回到孩提活蹦亂跳的感覺.

特別值得留意專輯的經典 track 6 Linus and Lucy, 充滿兒童搗蛋攪亂的氣氛, 是全張專輯最熱鬧最 Swing 的高潮. 另外代表花生漫畫中的音樂小天才 Schroeder 的 track 4 同名曲目, 優雅之餘也有種春田花花合唱團的童真, 麥嘜麥兜的 Fans 應該什感親切. 唯獨是 Track 10 的 Fly Me To The Moon 因為是後來加上以湊時間, 所以顯得有點格格不入. 但總括而言不論樂曲的質素及演奏的水準, 都可把它視為一張爵士樂的經典.

蜻蜓

若我只配做個過客
不必記著我名字
不必記起我樣子

但求那一串漣漪
在妳記憶留下一絲感動
為妳生命帶來一點震撼

Song of the Week, 2011-48, Hotel California, the Eagles

This song always gives me the chill. The album version is great, but it is the live version that really shines. This one is on the "Hell Freezes Over" album, and it is always on my portable list.

Just a few days after I entered my current company, I got a chance to go to the sound theatre (I just call it sound room) which is used for testing products. They played this song with one of the company's product, and that was great, it gave me goosebumps. However my colleagues told me that they get so bored of the song that the intro is enough to make them puke. But as they said it is necessary, it is only when you get so familiar with it then you can really tell the difference when it is played on different product. That's so true! So let see when I get to that stage.

However I just used it as a test track when I was trying to make the decision about which earphone to buy. I can only say that I am not familiar with it yet, as I can still find new sound in the track and get so excited about it.

There is another brilliant, brilliant, trumpet intro version that I just got my hands on recently. Can't wait to get myself sick of it with my new toy.

P.S. This new toy is gonna ignite my fire to pick up "song of the week" again, but before that I have to fill up those missing issue before this one.

Song of the Week, 2011-43, as long as you are happy, Cloud Cult

We are just a bunch of chemical reaction
driven by the occasional happiness injection

Song of the Week, 2011-40, Just like Anything, The Sand Band

This is a cover of Jackson C. Frank's "Just like Anything" by the Sand Band. According to Frank, the Song do not really have any meaning, it is meant to be a break or a form of balance from his heavier work. Yet this work is not short on charm and brilliance.

The lyrics might not make much sense, but for god sake, they rhyme. If you look for meaning, then look else where. But if you are looking for a interpretation for yourself, I guess any artist, including Frank, will have no objection to that, or let say they have no control on that.

My interpretation? Honestly, I don't have one, but I find this song kind of sad but soothing. It's like when one is in a calm state where fragments of thoughts flow around freely.

Just like how the lyrics depict... a state of mind.

P.S. I think the MV, though not official, did a great job in bringing up the mood.

xxx xxx xxx

Just like anything
To sing   To sing   To sing
is a state of mind
Sunlight dances slowly on a drum beats broken rhyme
I speak of answers only to see them in my mind
If I had a penny I'd throw it in the sea
to see if it would float away
Or grow a penny tree
I play the fool of rhythm
To speak of what is sane
I never think of singing to those who feel the same
See how high the rain falls
See the color in my hair
Hunt for golden porridge bowls
Hear the paper tear
Just like anything
To sing   To sing   To sing
Is a state of mind
Death gives no reason
So why should I
Death has no season
So I know I'll never die
Just like anything
To sing   To sing   To sing
Is a state of mind

Song of the Week, 2011-39, Wait, Alexi Murdoch

 

黃葉等待勇敢的北風
吹散腳上的枷鎖
擺脫烈日的勞役
讓它在自由中枯萎
讓它在尊嚴中衰亡

泥土等待成熟的黃葉
帶來久違的滋潤
迎接繁華的未來
讓它在溫暖中休眠
讓它在豐盛中避寒

新芽等待富饒的泥土
壓破堅實的籠牢
探索未知的光明
讓它在擁抱中茁壯
讓它在鼓勵中成長

其實皆不盡然
沒有勇敢的北風，黃葉也會遭摒棄
沒有成熟的黃葉，泥土便另結新歡
有沒有富饒的泥土，新芽未發，種子先被吃掉

時間從不停留
世界從不等待

等待是一種苛求
對渴望被等待的人如此
對被要求等待的人更是

但是能等我一下嗎？
讓我們一起尋找自由
讓我們一起建立未來
讓我們一起探索光明

first gif animation test

Song of the Week, 2011-38, Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand

Their first album always reminds me about my days in UK.

When I walked from school campus back home, sometimes I want some upbeat tunes to drive my pace, and their music (well, maybe not the lyrics) is just perfect for that purpose.

And now I surely need to pick up some pace and catch up.

Song of the Week, 2011-37, Lost!, Coldplay

This is always a good song for cheering.
Hope everything is going to be alright.

Song of the Week, 2011-36, Full Moon, The Black Ghost

Where is home?
The place where we were born?
The place where we grew up?
The place where we found love?
The place where we found meaning?

I think...
Home is the place where we know something, or someone, is waiting for our return.
 
xxx xxx xxx

When the Full Moon turns white that's when I'll come home
I am going out to see what I can sow
And I don't know where I'll go
And I don't know what I'll see
But I'll try not to bring it back home with me

Like the morning sun, your eyes will follow me
As you watch me wander, curse the powers that be
Cause all I want is here and now but its already been and gone
Our intentions always last that bit too long

Far far away, no voices sounding, no one around me and
you're still there
Far far away, no choices passing, no time confounds me and
you're still there

In the full moons light I listen to the stream
And in between the silence hear you calling me
But I don't know where I am and I don't trust who I've been
And If I come home how will I ever leave

Song of the Week, 2011-035, 願, 林憶蓮

矛盾好像從來都是貶義的。

我們的社會容不下矛盾的事和人，好像我們自出生便要歸邊，非黑即白。要是你有一絲的動搖便是牆頭草、是不要臉的蝙蝠、是沒有主見。所以有些人學會掩飾，學會虛偽，希望用巧言和包裝來蓋過那不被容許的矛盾。但矛盾永遠存在，存在於事物間，存在於關係中、也存在於我們各人的心裡。思考並不令我們免於陷入矛盾，反而思考使我們更發覺矛盾的無可避免。

很喜歡盧梭的一句話「我寧願成為一個自相矛盾的人也不願意成為一個充滿偏見的人」(I would rather be a man of paradoxes than a man of prejudices)。但愈來愈發覺要大方承認自己的矛盾一點也不容易，即使我們每天都過著自相矛盾的日子。

xxx xxx xxx

這篇有點不知所云… 因為近日陷入混沌狀態，就是在思考自己生活中的一些矛盾。

這首《願》充斥著矛盾感，也是我這幾天不停聽著的一首歌。

林夕的詞可以殺人。

希望快點找到出口。

Song of the Week, 2011-034, Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

這是我很喜歡的一套電影《Once》的主題曲，亦是2008年的奧斯卡最佳原創音樂獎得主。

《Once》是一套很特別的電影，雖然是低成本製作，卻一點也不馬虎，整套戲很自然很有真實感。導演 John Carney 稱它為一套音樂劇，這說法是挺準確的，而且電影的 Soundtrack 都要比很多 album 更有質素。相信這跟電影的參與者很多都其實是音樂人有關，男主角 Glen Hansard 是愛爾蘭 The Frames 樂隊的主音和結他手，女主角 Marketa Irglova 是來自捷克的音樂人並跟 Glen Hansard 另外組成了 The Swell Season, 就連導演 John Carney 本身其實也曾經是 The Frames 的低音結他手。這個背景不單肯定了電影的音樂質素，而且也確保了演員和導演的投入感，因為《Once》就是一個獨立音樂人的故事，我什至懷疑有些是他們的個人經歷。

我不打算說太多電影的情節，不過想說香港的譯名《一奏傾情》實在有點馬虎。的確《Once》的故事圍繞男女主角之間的曖昧及情感交流，但我認為那只是電影的部分，其實有另一重要部分是描寫夢想跟現實的角力和掙扎，男女主角各有自己的困難和障礙，而他們在追尋夢想時的互相扶持和提醒是最吸引我的地方。我覺得電影名稱《Once》並非只是說他們那段稍縱即逝的愛情，它其實包含著更深入有關夢想、回憶、情感、機遇等等各種的唯一的感受。

每一次都是唯一，但有些唯一將永遠留在心裡。


p.s. 因為《Once》而認識 Marketa Irglova ，實在太吸引了。是充滿氣質的美，發覺我對這些女生是完全沒有抵抗力的。

xxx xxx xxx

"games that never amount
to more than they're meant
will play themselves out"

For game like this
Futility and emptiness should be expected
Yet it is still tough when things fall apart slowly in front of your eyes
Things that you tried to make an effort
Things that you put your heart into
When it is time to close the curtain they don't really mean anything

I am not giving up yet
But I am waiting for the curtain call
Before that I will give my best and enjoy what's left of it

Song of the Week, 2011-033, Rock'n roll 的 style, 盧廣仲

發覺我一直都沒有在 Song of the Week 用上小隊長的作品，這是不被容許的，所以要立刻補上。

盧廣仲有很多作品我都很喜歡，沒有艱澀的詞曲，一切都來得很簡單很自然。有些題材生活化得很有喜劇感，例如這首《Rock'n roll 的 style》。讓我想起許冠傑的作品，現在香港這類型作品不多，我可以想到的有 My Little Airport 和小克之前的幾首改詞。這類型作品是挺令人開懷的，音樂真的不用常常都是優美動人，輕鬆頑皮也有其吸引之處。其實人類創作音樂之始應該都是很貼近生活的吧，或者盧廣仲的風格是很原始的哩，是一種返祖現象...

他真是一個把音樂當成玩具，演唱會當成遊樂場的鬼才。不過沒有天才般的伯樂這類鬼才多數早被埋沒了，鍾成虎的膽識和能力絕對讓人佩服。

p.s. 總覺得盧廣仲 (Crowd) 跟 陳綺貞 (Cheer) 的英文名有種莫名的配合，根本就是形容他倆同台時觀眾的反應吧！

Just woke up from an immensely bitter and painful dream.
I have to remember it, as it might come true one day.

Be prepared for any consequences that you can think of for the path that you have chosen.
Reality can be much tougher than every nightmares that you can ever dream of.

"Do not regret, move on."

Song of the Week, 2011-032, Sunday Morning, Velvet Underground

Actually there is not much to say about this song, but since I heard it the first time, it has always been one of my favorite morning tune. Some say the lyrics is about hangover after the Saturday night fever, some say it is about taking drugs. I don't know what are the reasons behind these interpretations, I just find the music makes a perfect match with the lazy, relaxing Sunday morning. The meaning is not really that important for me.

There is a video clip that contain precious footage of the band member when they were making the song (the first result in youtube when you search for "The Velvet Underground Sunday Morning"), however I found this MV aesthetically more pleasing. Let's enjoy a Sunday morning with this gem.

xxx xxx xxx

Sunday morning, praise the dawning
Its just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its just the wasted years so close behind

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Sunday morning and I am falling
Ive got a feeling I don't want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its all the streets you crossed, not so long ago

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Sunday morning
Sunday morning
Sunday morning

Song of the Week, 2011-031, Vltava, Bedřich Smetana

When I heard it in the movie "The Tree of Life", it sounded very familiar and I tried real hard to recall its name and its composer. But I really had no idea, as the movie went on, I just gave up. Finally, I tracked it down and found this brilliant version.

However, I still have no idea why it sounds familiar to me.

The great thing about this masterpiece is that the Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, was completely deaf when he composed Má vlast Vltava. It is very hard to imagine how this could be done. I guess for these musical genius, music do not live with them, but live in them, that way music is truly everywhere in their life.

On a side note, when I was looking for this piece of music on youtube, I stumbled upon this brilliant Czech Beer advertisement.



English Translation of the ad:

- I can't write a national song, because I can't hear anything.
- But master...
- I CAN'T HEAR... a pen!
- "My Country" by Bedrich Smetana
- Go away!
- Pilsner Urquell inspiration taste.

Song of the Week, 2011-030, Cloud, 朱凌凌

又講下另一隊香港 indie 組合 - 朱凌凌 / Juicyning。

認識他們是因為在電台聽到 Cloud 這首歌。雖然英文有些甩漏，但立刻喜歡上這首歌，也因為它而決定買他們的 Goodbye Badbye 專輯。專輯內的其他歌也不錯，另一首相當喜歡的是 Cheese Cake。

他們五人都是演藝學院畢業，曾經以他們自己的經歷作藍本製作及演出一套有關實現夢想的舞台劇《搏到單車變摩托》。不幸地我錯過了，但據我所知內容是有關追尋夢想時遇上的各種困難和趣事，有機會真要去看看。2007年的叱咤他們得了生力軍組合的銀獎，不過之後曝光率就好像少了，但不論如何絕對是值得一聽的組合，我的隨身聽都一直保留著Cloud這首歌以備不時之需。

Song of the Week, 2011-029, Just a Boy, Angus & Julia Stone

"Love is not a habit, a commitment, or a debt. It isn't romantic songs tell us it is - love simply is... No definitions. Love and don't ask too many questions. Just love." (Coelho 2006: 258)

"You say you'd love to travel, but you misuse the word love. Love is a relationship between people. Your one desire is for the harvest to be a good one, and that's why you've decided to love the earth. More nonsense: love isn't desire or knowledge or admiration. It's a challenge, it's an invisible fire." (Coelho 2006: 183)

"It can not be desired because it is an end in itself. It cannot betray because it has nothing to do with possession. It cannot be held prisoner because it is a river and will overflow its banks. Anyone who tries to imprison love will cut off the spring that feeds it, and the trapped water will grow stagnant and rank." (Coelho 2006: 196)

"After all, what is happiness? Love, they tell me. But love doesn't bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it's a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it's sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we're doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony." (Coelho 2006: 129)

"According to the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, it was more important to give than to receive, but while these were wise words, I was part of what is known as "humanity," with my frailties, my moments of indecision, my desire simply to live in peace, to be the slave of my feelings and to surrender myself without asking any questions ........." (Coelho 2006: 243)

I take each step with courage and fear
Did I say I am just a boy