Thursday, January 22, 2004
Here are some top 10 music lists
TOP 10 BANDS OF ALL TIME
1. Radiohead
Awesome kick-ass music. the intensity is just stunning.
2. Beatles
Awesome songs that are timeless, esp in the 60s.
3. U2
Majestic sound. anthems that resonate with the general population. Bono's charisma, with an awesome rhythm section, and The Edge's guitars which are of impeccable taste.
4. Oasis
Top notch songwriting.
5. Nirvana
If you kick-start the alternative rock movement all by yourself, you deserve some credit.
6. Guns and roses
Slash's lead playing plus Stradlin's guitars. wow.
7. Rolling Stones
Won't argue with that
8. R.E.M
Wonderfully jangly folk rock that lasted the test of time
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wonderful live
10. Weezer
For pop, they have no peers.
any comments?
TOP 10 BANDS OF ALL TIME
1. Radiohead
Awesome kick-ass music. the intensity is just stunning.
2. Beatles
Awesome songs that are timeless, esp in the 60s.
3. U2
Majestic sound. anthems that resonate with the general population. Bono's charisma, with an awesome rhythm section, and The Edge's guitars which are of impeccable taste.
4. Oasis
Top notch songwriting.
5. Nirvana
If you kick-start the alternative rock movement all by yourself, you deserve some credit.
6. Guns and roses
Slash's lead playing plus Stradlin's guitars. wow.
7. Rolling Stones
Won't argue with that
8. R.E.M
Wonderfully jangly folk rock that lasted the test of time
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wonderful live
10. Weezer
For pop, they have no peers.
any comments?
Friday, January 16, 2004
Welcome to the first Column on thecolumnist. I intend this place to be an outlet for comments, viewpoints, and columns, as opposed to my personal blog which is intended for personal expression. Here, the writing (hopefully) is more formal, the ideas more relevant to the viewing public. If any one of you wants to be involved in contributing to this blog, feel free to email me. ty.
ORCHARD ROAD--Column Uno.
The first column should undoubtedly kick things off to a grand start. Unfortunately I write what I please. Having traipsed through the maddening crowd on a friday evening on what is known as Orchard Road, I am inevitably drawn to speaking about this place. Orchard Road, as all Singaporeans should know, is your shopping hub. It's the place to meet, to have dinner, to play pool, to watch a movie, and most of all, to shop. There are no excuses there, no laid-back demure of, let's say, a holland v, neither do you have the Bohemian excesses of perhaps an Esplanade or something. Just plain, all out, fun. And if that's fun you want, Orchard Road offers a huge plethora of it. it's a vibrant spread with many different courses, with every morsel a chock-ful of flavour. It's never boring, it's never passe. It's Orchard Road.
The great thing about Orchard, simply, is variety. Shops catering to all niches can be found there, while new movies, new trends, and new games all make their way first to Orchard before reaching sleepy surburban malls. The crowd can be a good or bad thing, depending on whether you love parties or prefer parks. Either way, you've got no choice. Moreover, the inter-connectedness of it all means that Orchard is a one-stop retail hub. Trying to find that latest haute couture only entails relatively short walks around the malls of fashion, with the inevitable assurance that, sooner or later, you'd find something. On the downside are the steep prices that will greet you, inevitably, courtesy of higher rentals. But what price's fun?
Okay here's a guide to Orchard. I'm going to present wonderful walks, great malls/shops, surprises, great times to see it, and so on.
THE WEST SIDE
Includes: Tanglin/Forum, Palais Renassaince, Borders, Liat Towers, Wisma, Lido, Far East Plaza, Lucky Plaza.
Characteristics:
The main feature of The West Side is the junction between Orchard and Scotts Roads. Lovely broad tree-lined pavements border the junctions, a great place for sitting around and watching the world go by. Also, the connection of underpasses can be really confusing, because they link all 4 corners of the junction to the Orchard MRT, but most of the shoppers frequent them, and you'd be hard-pressed to go on an outing without passing by one of these dingy underpasses replete with handicapped buskers. please give a dime to the one between tangs and the mrt, he's quite talented, actually.
Great shops/walks:
Wisma underground Basement 1 has a wide range of fashion, boosted by the lovely lingering smell of Famous Amos. Zara by Wheelock is supposedly famous. Tang's departmental store has a lovely men's section with wonderful clothes, though expensive. Far East Plaza is a streetwear heaven with the weirdest, wackiest fashion, check out Level One at the ground floor. Border's is ubiqutous. Lido is the usual movie hangout for 20-somethings, while Mambo at Lucky Plaza is for the poolies.
Crowd:
The posh, especially the ang-mohs, usually frequent this area. it's the place for the young, the 20 somethings, the generation Y. it's the place for the JC crowd, especially the older ones.
Food:
Nothing spectacular. Olio Dome has nice desserts. NYDC. Usually the eating place is at Scotts Shopping Centre Picnic food court. I've heard Marriot Cafe has really nice food, but I'm too poor to go and try. Hard Rock Cafe is a must-try for american food-lovers, and so is the combination of Modestos, Black Angus, etc. along Cuscaden Road.
Surprises:
Bar None has wonderful music according to a friend. But the best surprises must be reserved for the stretch along Cuscaden Road that includes PotBlack, Hard Rock Cafe with their Rocking Thursday nights, plus a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere that doesn't include jostling with the crowd as an activity. The alfresco restaurants as well as coffee places eg. starbucks makes the west side a great relaxing area. it's a great thing no one really knows about it. Oops.
THE CENTER
Includes: Paragon, Taka, Heeren, Cineleisure Orchard
Characteristics: The big 4 of Orchard. These 4 malls draw a large proportion of Orchard's traffic ,being in the center of it all. Still, many surprises abound, even as shops cater to all sections of the populace. Taka of course is the highlight, having so many shops, eateries, and fashion outlets that it's impossible not to actually visit the huge sprawling shopping complex. The highlight has to be the basement of takashimaya, aplete with young punks, crowded as ever, with the latest music blaring from the speakers while being a place to see and be seen.
Great shops and walks:
Takashimaya features many fashion outlets. Armani Exchange, Tiffany&Co, Cartier, and all the little boutiques along the basement. Heeren is wonderfully blessed with lots of fashion, esp. streetwear, such as the little hot-house called Annex located at the Fourth floor of Heeren. Shops like PowerTools, Jean Pierre, et al. are wonderfully splendid for choice. still not as good as tang's upstairs, though. (for men, for women i dont' know). Paragon has all the big boutiques like Gucci and so on. It's a posh place to be, if you've got the cash. Louis Vutton too. the new paragon's very refreshing, with its relaxed, spacious ambience. Cineleisure has reinvented itself as a place for fashion too. But it's more well known for its movies, bowling, and K-Box. Not to mention its funky architecture, with sprawling escalators. Oh, not to mention the big and large Kinokuniya, as well as the library@orchard, in Taka, and HMV at Heeren for audiopleasure.
Crowd:
The posh at Paragon, the punks lining the aisles of Heeren with their girlfriends, while sitting outside Cineleisure late at night. secondary school pple frequent cine, while taka draws in almost everyone.
Food:
Marche's a great one-stop eatery, while Ding Tai Fung in the basement of Paragon has lovely dumplings. Paragon has great food, while Crystal Jade at Taka is wonderful too. In fact, Taka has alot of great eateries catering to all budgets.
Surprises:
Spinelli's at Heeren is not much of a surprise, but it's a great hang-out place, with especially good coffee. There's a lovely joint called The Bar located in Taka, i'm not going to tell you where, but just look for it. it's worth all the wait for a place cosy enough to have a decent conversation. Forget Coffee Bean. Just hanging out at Cine's just the stuff of punks, man... dude...yo cool.
THE WEST SIDE
Includes: Centerpoint, Specialist's, Orchard Plaza, Orchard Point, Meridian, Singapore Shopping Centre, Plaza Singapura
Characteristics: The West Side is closer to the real center of the city, yet there are lovely parks on the right of Orchard Road that offer a nice view, and greenery that is reminiscent of Vienna's Central Park, lush lawns situated in the middle of buildings.
Great Shops and Walks:
Centerpoint is the usual family gathering hangout spot, while PS offers almost anything under the sun from Carrefour to Yamaha to Food Junction. John Little has the usual kid's stuff, while you can play pool at Monster and Paradigm (Le Meridian and Singapore Shopping Center respectively). OG at Orchard Point with their local designers showcase.
Crowd:
More family centered, especially with all these oldie malls catering to the family crowd.
Food:
Baker's Inn at Dhoby Ghaut, plus Prima Taste et al., Fish & Co at the Glasshouse, Ah Yat, RiceTable, Cuppage, the Park, the list goes on.
Surprises:
It's lovely just sitting around in the Park above mentioned watching the world go by. The park serves as a centerpiece, a 'Plaza' of sorts. The world swishes by in cars while serenity exists still in trees and lawns. Pool at Paradigm is great, and so is a secret hideaway of Mechmaster behind Killney road. It's nice just strolling along Exeter road at night. serene.
So much for Orchard. But frankly, Orchard sucks. been there, done that. the new big thing is the Singapore City itself, because it is actually a place of some architectural beauty. The sprawling expanse of the Padang is flanked by handsome buildings, while the river is unparalled for romantic atmosphere. Boat Quay where clubs are a dying breed, save Harry's, the Cavenagh Bridge for lovers to walk on, Sultan for the clubbers, Clarke Quay for Crazy Elephant an a bazaar atmosphere. It's brilliant. It's truly a hopnoch of culture, a snazz of excitement. and i haven't even mentioned ChinaTown where Food Street brings memories of HongKong. bargaining is a must, and the streets are lined with colourful lanterns and loads and loads of people. Every other street seems to sell something different. that's the kind of local life i'm talking about. Plus, there's more food.
When you see lovers hugging by the Singapore River in the Esplanade, amidst the drumbeats of local bands playing in open-air arenas, the wah-wahs of a jazz trio at Harry's, and the sound of horns on a little bumboat ride around the Merlion, how can you resist the sheer lure of seating around the coconut trees, counting the stars, talking about life?
ORCHARD ROAD--Column Uno.
The first column should undoubtedly kick things off to a grand start. Unfortunately I write what I please. Having traipsed through the maddening crowd on a friday evening on what is known as Orchard Road, I am inevitably drawn to speaking about this place. Orchard Road, as all Singaporeans should know, is your shopping hub. It's the place to meet, to have dinner, to play pool, to watch a movie, and most of all, to shop. There are no excuses there, no laid-back demure of, let's say, a holland v, neither do you have the Bohemian excesses of perhaps an Esplanade or something. Just plain, all out, fun. And if that's fun you want, Orchard Road offers a huge plethora of it. it's a vibrant spread with many different courses, with every morsel a chock-ful of flavour. It's never boring, it's never passe. It's Orchard Road.
The great thing about Orchard, simply, is variety. Shops catering to all niches can be found there, while new movies, new trends, and new games all make their way first to Orchard before reaching sleepy surburban malls. The crowd can be a good or bad thing, depending on whether you love parties or prefer parks. Either way, you've got no choice. Moreover, the inter-connectedness of it all means that Orchard is a one-stop retail hub. Trying to find that latest haute couture only entails relatively short walks around the malls of fashion, with the inevitable assurance that, sooner or later, you'd find something. On the downside are the steep prices that will greet you, inevitably, courtesy of higher rentals. But what price's fun?
Okay here's a guide to Orchard. I'm going to present wonderful walks, great malls/shops, surprises, great times to see it, and so on.
THE WEST SIDE
Includes: Tanglin/Forum, Palais Renassaince, Borders, Liat Towers, Wisma, Lido, Far East Plaza, Lucky Plaza.
Characteristics:
The main feature of The West Side is the junction between Orchard and Scotts Roads. Lovely broad tree-lined pavements border the junctions, a great place for sitting around and watching the world go by. Also, the connection of underpasses can be really confusing, because they link all 4 corners of the junction to the Orchard MRT, but most of the shoppers frequent them, and you'd be hard-pressed to go on an outing without passing by one of these dingy underpasses replete with handicapped buskers. please give a dime to the one between tangs and the mrt, he's quite talented, actually.
Great shops/walks:
Wisma underground Basement 1 has a wide range of fashion, boosted by the lovely lingering smell of Famous Amos. Zara by Wheelock is supposedly famous. Tang's departmental store has a lovely men's section with wonderful clothes, though expensive. Far East Plaza is a streetwear heaven with the weirdest, wackiest fashion, check out Level One at the ground floor. Border's is ubiqutous. Lido is the usual movie hangout for 20-somethings, while Mambo at Lucky Plaza is for the poolies.
Crowd:
The posh, especially the ang-mohs, usually frequent this area. it's the place for the young, the 20 somethings, the generation Y. it's the place for the JC crowd, especially the older ones.
Food:
Nothing spectacular. Olio Dome has nice desserts. NYDC. Usually the eating place is at Scotts Shopping Centre Picnic food court. I've heard Marriot Cafe has really nice food, but I'm too poor to go and try. Hard Rock Cafe is a must-try for american food-lovers, and so is the combination of Modestos, Black Angus, etc. along Cuscaden Road.
Surprises:
Bar None has wonderful music according to a friend. But the best surprises must be reserved for the stretch along Cuscaden Road that includes PotBlack, Hard Rock Cafe with their Rocking Thursday nights, plus a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere that doesn't include jostling with the crowd as an activity. The alfresco restaurants as well as coffee places eg. starbucks makes the west side a great relaxing area. it's a great thing no one really knows about it. Oops.
THE CENTER
Includes: Paragon, Taka, Heeren, Cineleisure Orchard
Characteristics: The big 4 of Orchard. These 4 malls draw a large proportion of Orchard's traffic ,being in the center of it all. Still, many surprises abound, even as shops cater to all sections of the populace. Taka of course is the highlight, having so many shops, eateries, and fashion outlets that it's impossible not to actually visit the huge sprawling shopping complex. The highlight has to be the basement of takashimaya, aplete with young punks, crowded as ever, with the latest music blaring from the speakers while being a place to see and be seen.
Great shops and walks:
Takashimaya features many fashion outlets. Armani Exchange, Tiffany&Co, Cartier, and all the little boutiques along the basement. Heeren is wonderfully blessed with lots of fashion, esp. streetwear, such as the little hot-house called Annex located at the Fourth floor of Heeren. Shops like PowerTools, Jean Pierre, et al. are wonderfully splendid for choice. still not as good as tang's upstairs, though. (for men, for women i dont' know). Paragon has all the big boutiques like Gucci and so on. It's a posh place to be, if you've got the cash. Louis Vutton too. the new paragon's very refreshing, with its relaxed, spacious ambience. Cineleisure has reinvented itself as a place for fashion too. But it's more well known for its movies, bowling, and K-Box. Not to mention its funky architecture, with sprawling escalators. Oh, not to mention the big and large Kinokuniya, as well as the library@orchard, in Taka, and HMV at Heeren for audiopleasure.
Crowd:
The posh at Paragon, the punks lining the aisles of Heeren with their girlfriends, while sitting outside Cineleisure late at night. secondary school pple frequent cine, while taka draws in almost everyone.
Food:
Marche's a great one-stop eatery, while Ding Tai Fung in the basement of Paragon has lovely dumplings. Paragon has great food, while Crystal Jade at Taka is wonderful too. In fact, Taka has alot of great eateries catering to all budgets.
Surprises:
Spinelli's at Heeren is not much of a surprise, but it's a great hang-out place, with especially good coffee. There's a lovely joint called The Bar located in Taka, i'm not going to tell you where, but just look for it. it's worth all the wait for a place cosy enough to have a decent conversation. Forget Coffee Bean. Just hanging out at Cine's just the stuff of punks, man... dude...yo cool.
THE WEST SIDE
Includes: Centerpoint, Specialist's, Orchard Plaza, Orchard Point, Meridian, Singapore Shopping Centre, Plaza Singapura
Characteristics: The West Side is closer to the real center of the city, yet there are lovely parks on the right of Orchard Road that offer a nice view, and greenery that is reminiscent of Vienna's Central Park, lush lawns situated in the middle of buildings.
Great Shops and Walks:
Centerpoint is the usual family gathering hangout spot, while PS offers almost anything under the sun from Carrefour to Yamaha to Food Junction. John Little has the usual kid's stuff, while you can play pool at Monster and Paradigm (Le Meridian and Singapore Shopping Center respectively). OG at Orchard Point with their local designers showcase.
Crowd:
More family centered, especially with all these oldie malls catering to the family crowd.
Food:
Baker's Inn at Dhoby Ghaut, plus Prima Taste et al., Fish & Co at the Glasshouse, Ah Yat, RiceTable, Cuppage, the Park, the list goes on.
Surprises:
It's lovely just sitting around in the Park above mentioned watching the world go by. The park serves as a centerpiece, a 'Plaza' of sorts. The world swishes by in cars while serenity exists still in trees and lawns. Pool at Paradigm is great, and so is a secret hideaway of Mechmaster behind Killney road. It's nice just strolling along Exeter road at night. serene.
So much for Orchard. But frankly, Orchard sucks. been there, done that. the new big thing is the Singapore City itself, because it is actually a place of some architectural beauty. The sprawling expanse of the Padang is flanked by handsome buildings, while the river is unparalled for romantic atmosphere. Boat Quay where clubs are a dying breed, save Harry's, the Cavenagh Bridge for lovers to walk on, Sultan for the clubbers, Clarke Quay for Crazy Elephant an a bazaar atmosphere. It's brilliant. It's truly a hopnoch of culture, a snazz of excitement. and i haven't even mentioned ChinaTown where Food Street brings memories of HongKong. bargaining is a must, and the streets are lined with colourful lanterns and loads and loads of people. Every other street seems to sell something different. that's the kind of local life i'm talking about. Plus, there's more food.
When you see lovers hugging by the Singapore River in the Esplanade, amidst the drumbeats of local bands playing in open-air arenas, the wah-wahs of a jazz trio at Harry's, and the sound of horns on a little bumboat ride around the Merlion, how can you resist the sheer lure of seating around the coconut trees, counting the stars, talking about life?
