I have often dreamt
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I will search the world
I will face its harms
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

[Go the distance- Michael Bolton]

Concealment is an art. Once perfected, it traps its user in the agony of being unable to speak the truth ever again. Not because he does not want to, but who would believe a person telling "the truth" when he had already convinced them that the opposite was infallible. One can laugh it off and say that it's a matter of choice. If one chooses to conceal, then he'll have to live with the consequences. However, the unfortunate truth is that concealment is often a result of circumstances, rather than choices. We all would like to live in a transparent world, but knowledge is power and where power is concerned, self-interests will be affected. It ultimately boils down to the question- Are we ready for the truth? Logic prevails in the absence of morals, can we accept that?

Strangely, while listening to purest of pain by son by four, the lyrics from it's chinese counterpart sung by coco lee reasonated in my head, esp during the chorus. "baby,想对你说声对不起,用错的方式去爱你，因为我太在意"...

RJ band concert yest. Impressive stuff. Japanese composers never fails to thrill audiences with their compositions. The opening piece, Machu Picchu, was magnificiently breath-taking. Joe Hisashi Works was a little disappointing, dynamics range was limited and melody and accompaniment sounded oddly disjointed at some parts. The rearrangement of "tong hua", fairytale, sounded much better this time since thier last concert at the PAC. It is interesting to see that the rearrangement not only brought out the crooning feel of the song in the horn solo, but also added new interpretations in the light-hearted chorus. Given the japanese penchant for the dramatic, the silence-then-timpani-roll-doing-a-crescendo-to-max-volume, hold-max- volume-for-a beat-or-two-b4-breaking-into-the-chorus is almost forgivable, esp when the band manages pulls it off well. Shan't elaborate into the other pieces. All in all, it was impressive concert, even better than the hcco one.

Went back home to catch the opening match of world cup, ger VS costa rico, but in the end ended up watching spirited away on Channel U, where the enchanting soundtrack by joe hishashi got me hooked on. match ended 4-2 in germany's favour but germany fans should be wary of their chances. Leaky defense and a directionless attack. yeah, they scored 4- 2 long shots, 1 rebound from keeper and only 1 from a build up in attack. World cup fever is on now, i'm backing the non-favourites, holland and italy. bleah... have to hit the books too... sianz... common test rite in the middle of world cup, the only consolation is that it'll be over by the quarter-final stages....

I'm sorry I didn't mean to call
but I couldn't fight it
I guess I was weak and couldn't even hide it
and so I surrender just to hear your voice
I know how many times I said I'm gonna to live without you
and maybe someone else is standing there beside you
but there's something baby that you need to know
that deep inside me I feel like I'm dying
I have to see you it's all that I'm asking.

Baby, give me back my fantasies
the courage that I need to live
the air that I breathe
Living without you, my world becomes so empty
my day's are so cold and lonely
and each night I taste
the purest of pain.

I wish I could tell you I'm feeling better every day
that it didn't hurt me when you walked away
but to tell you the truth I can't find my way
and deep inside me I feel like I'm dying
I have to see you it's all that I'm asking.

[son by four- purest of pain]

It's ironic that how small little things in life can brighten one's day, coz on looking back, one probably placed too much hope in them, extrapolating them to unthinkable outcomes. However, the mind works on petty logic, there is consolation in the fact that for that instant, that second or nanosecond for that matter, hope existed and the unthinkable was possible.....

Is this what eyes were meant to see
The end of hope and all it meant to me
How can I find the strength to carry on another day
Without my pride there's nothing left to say
Is this the way my life was meant to be?

Too late for me to say that I was wrong
Perhaps the weak believe that they are strong
I thought that if I tried I'd find a way to earn their trust
Yet all I'd known and loved has turned to dust
It seems that there was no way I could belong

The fire that burns within your heart
The pain that tears your life apart
The rain that falls from broken skies
The love I lost beneath the lies
And must I face the truth alone?
Is this the end of all I'd known?
The years I gave, the tears I cried
Why dream of love, when love has died?

I know one day the story will be told
And in the end the secrets will be sold
And will they look at me and say I should have known the end
Perhaps I did but why should I pretend?
I only dreamt of love and growing old

The fire that burns within your heart
The pain that tears your life apart
The rain that falls from broken skies
The love I lost beneath the lies
And must I face the truth alone?
Is this the end of all I'd known?
The years I gave, the tears I cried
Why dream of love, when love has died...

[Why dream of love? - Kit Chan]

Taken from the Forbidden City. I was just listening to a random playlist when ITunes suddenly popped up with this song. It reminded of the time when the Lit class under Mrs Koh went for the Forbidden City performance as a Lit outing, and more importantly of how the performance was so touching and impressive that it changed my perception of musicals. hmm.... Forbidden City is showing again this sept, feel like watching again but both prelims and finances are of concern (esp when tickets go at 30 bucks each for restricted view, the lowest price category)

I miss Lit. I miss the times where an entire lesson can just be spedissectingecting a poem or discussing an issue. At least at that time one is allowed to dream and let thoughts wander. Now, we work on absolutes derived from first principles, be it in science, maths or even econs. I just suddenly felt this sense of loss...