What a beautiful song! 100% was intended for the movie Precious but it never made the cut. But it’s a great song! An uplifting, inspirational song. Mariah Carey at her best. I love the complexity of the harmonies, background vocals and the overall structure of the song. Although it follows a formula, it still contains Mariah Carey’s trademark which makes this song a winner!

Here are the lyrics for 100%:-

Do you like to be defined by limits?
I don’t need no permission to live it
Imma break through the door til I get in
Everything that I got, Imma give it

One hundred percent
And I ain’t stoppin’ until I reach the finish
Imma a believer, not just a dreamer
I’m givin’ everything I got
I’m a go getter 100%, undoubtedly I can reach the top

And I ain’t gonna let nothing discourage or dissuade me
Cause I’m walking out of here a champion either way, baby
I’m giving it 100%
So gonna put your ones up

If you’re putting in a hundred put your ones up, ones up.
If you know that this is something, put your ones up, ones up.
If you really comprehend this put your ones up, your ones up.
If you’re walking into victory keep on shining one hundred percent.

You can only do it if you do it like I did.
Cause’ suffering ain’t easy
But if your can turn your wounds into living proof
That you survived the fight and you’re no longer defined

Do you like to be defined by limits?
I don’t need no permission to live it
Imma break through the door til I get in
Everything that I got, Imma give it

One hundred percent
And I ain’t stoppin’ until I reach the finish
Imma a believer, not just a dreamer
I’m giving everything I got
I’m a go getter 100%, undoubtedly I can reach the top

And I ain’t gonna let nothing discourage or dissuade me
Cause I’m walking out of here a champion either way, baby
I’m giving it 100%
So gonna put your ones up

I’m giving me one hundred perfect
So gonna put your ones up!

If you’re putting in a hundred put your ones up, ones up. (hey, ey, put your ones up)
If you know that this is something, put your ones up, ones up. (everybody)
If you really comprehend this put your ones up, your ones up. (hey, put your ones up)
If you’re walking into victory keep on shining one hundred percent. (one hundred)

(Stop)Don’t you ever
(Stop)Be discouraged
(Stop)Let nobody take your courage
(Stop)If you gon’ pray, don’t worry
(Stop)If you gon’ worry, don’t pray
You just keep the faith and listen to me, heyyyyyy

Put your ones up!

If you’re putting in a hundred put your ones up, ones up.
If you know that this is something, put your ones up, ones up.
If you really comprehend this put your ones up, your ones up. (If your know your worth)
If you’re walking into victory keep on shining one hundred percent. (If you ever worked for something)

Imma a believer, not just a dreamer
I’m giving everything I got
I’m a go getter 100%, undoubtedly I can reach the top

And I ain’t gonna let nothing discourage or dissuade me (nothing, I’m a champion)
Cause I’m walking out of here a champion either the way, baby (Either way)
I gotta give 100%
So gonna put your ones UP

If you’re putting in a hundred put your ones up, ones up.
If you know that this is something, put your ones up, ones up.
If you really comprehend this put your ones up, your ones up.
If you’re walking into victory keep on shining one hundred percent

-Thanks to brunos2mariah who did most of the transcribing. All I did was edit it a bit. What beautiful lyrics!

Well today was an interesting day. Doors opened for me and to top it off, I watched Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT.

Movie Poster

I have to say that he is truly iconic, a musical genius and a fantastic entertainer. He embodies music and it permeates from his skin. He is music. His moves are irreplaceable, his flair and flamboyance will never be matched and his voice is incomparable.

Some highlights for me:- Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean and I’ll Be There

I always thought when Mariah Carey covered Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There and ‘made it her own’, I really thought she had nailed it. What I realise tonight is that Mariah did nothing with and for the song. Sure she layered the song with timbre and her octave defying voice but when I heard Michael Jackson sing I’ll Be There in This Is It, it was ethereal. Michael’s soulful voice brought out the intensity and meaning of the lyrics to a whole new level. The acoustic yet very fresh and current touch really brought out Michael’s inner voice. It was heavenly to say the least.

When the introduction strains of Billie Jean were played, I let out an orgasmic sigh because it really melted my heart.

There were times when your head unconsciously bop to Michael’s music and his dancing is so different from his back-up dancers. They did the same moves but somehow, they were never quite as light as he was on his feet. He had an agility and he could make any part of his body dance, from his fingers to his torso. It was captivating to see his flexible body move in time to the rhythm. It was sexy.

There were glimpses of the back-up dancers and singers, stage hands and crew with their mouths open, spellbound and inspired by Michael Jackson. You could tell they were true fans of the art he created and represented. If I had been at rehearsals, I am sure I would have been the same.

You could tell a lot of love was put into editing and making sure THIS IS IT the movie was an experience for the fans. It really was well done and hats off to Kenny Ortega and the crew for such an amazing show.

The audio mastering they did was impressive. I enjoyed the music very much. It was like they had recreated the old. It was old yet new. It was familiar yet refreshing. I suppose that is what makes live concerts so appealing.

The props were fantastic – they thought of everything from aerial artists to 3D to animation to make up & costume to pyrotechnics, Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT would have been quite a show. And I realised too that only Michael Jackson can carry glittery jackets and pants without making them look tacky.

It was obvious though that Michael Jackson was too thin. He was really fragile and delicate looking compared to the other people on stage with him. I noticed he was wearing thermal underwear at times and then some times wearing a full on autumn jacket and layers. That made me kind of sad and you really couldn’t ignore the fact that he seemed grossly underweight. There were times when he would curve his body in a dance move and you would see the ridges of his ribs through his shirt. That made me sad.

Anyway, I hope the spirit of Michael Jackson lives on. The spirit to love and heal the world and to change the man in the mirror.

I mean I like some of Beyonce’s songs. I don’t know many but I have always been awestruck by her live performances so I’m quite a fan. I find her managed well and the image that is projected has always been flawless. No hair out of place or anything. Her marriage was definitely handled respectfully and not tactlessly or tackily like Mariah Carey’s. I keep having to make snide comments at Mariah’s wedding. I can’t help it.

So why am I glad she postponed her concert? Because Malaysia does not deserve her. Look at how Malaysia is seen by the world. A ridiculous nation with a ‘holier than though’ attitude. How can Beyonce weaken the youth ‘mentally and morally’?! You blame bad upbringing on musical singers? That’s a tad bit shallow really.

Beyonce has been nothing but an upstanding and righteous artist. Sure she may dress scantily but her image has been nothing but humble and wholesome. You don’t see her trashing other artists. Proof was at the MTV Video Awards earlier this year when she graciously gave her award speech time to Taylor who got Kanye bashed.

I bet Malaysia would welcome Kanye West with open arms. I mean they allow Akon here. I mean they’ll probably allow heavy rock metal bands to come because they have no clue what they sing about.

So yeah, and now our events company blames Beyonce for the no show? Please, she shouldn’t even bother coming. First of all, she doesn’t need our money. Second of all, you ain’t gonna attract tourists by putting dress code restrictions on an artist known for her tassel barely there stage outfits. Wait, are you staging this concert to attract tourists in the first place or not? Beyonce just performed in Singapore for the F1 and it went without a hitch. In fact, tickets for that show were more expensive than the Malaysian ones yet people still paid to watch her.

I think Beyonce bailed ‘cos ticket sales were tragically low. I was at the ticket counter over the weekend and asked whether there were a lot more tickets left for Beyonce’s concert which was supposed to be in a week and they said ‘yes’… so your guess is as good as mine. This coupled with the crazy fanatical small town people who didn’t want her to come, why should she bother to perform when the country doesn’t appreciate her coming?

After the many times that Malaysia has gotten bad press in the gossip and entertainment sites, I think it is high time our country’s top people evaluated the situation seriously. First off, do you still want Malaysia to be dragged down by bad press? Is this how you intend to draw tourists? Through bad press? If you remember the ridiculousness of the Black Eyed Peas concert when Muslims were at first banned and then allowed to attend? Why so wishy-washy?

What the Malaysian government needs to do is ban all international entertainment acts from coming to Malaysia. That would save us from narrow-minded people politicking and picketing over an artist when there are so many other more important things to be preoccupied with.

This will be a good move because Malaysia will save face for one. We’ve been battered by the gossip and entertainment news sites. Mind you, these are some of the most read websites on the internet and Malaysia is seen as a small country run by freaks. If Indonesia could host Beyonce two years ago, and remember they are the biggest Muslim nation in the world, then who does Malaysia think they are?! If that ain’t a slap in our face then I don’t know what is. We’re too numb and dumb to see it.

Another reason why it is good that Beyonce bailed is because it saves Islam some dignity. I’m sorry but the people who are meant to lead the Muslims are not doing a good job at all in presenting their case. If they said they were going to ban the Muslims then they should have stuck to it rather than reverse the ban a week later. It makes Islam look like it’s led by a bunch of namby-pambies. It makes Muslims uncertain of what Allah wants. Don’t they seek him for wisdom before going to the newspapers? I am not a Muslim but really, it makes them and the religion look foolish when they do these kind of things. Be strong about it and don’t let politics get in the way. I think our religious leaders are too preoccupied with sex. Are they not getting enough of it or something?

Why do the adults of Malaysia not trust their youth to tell from right or wrong or to know moral from immoral? If you have taught them the right virtues at home and at schools, they will be model and upstanding citizens. However, if you continue to stifle the society what you get are the top stories found in The Star. Please head on over to The Star Online for your daily dose of scandalous smut (just check out the ‘Most Read’ stories of the day). The best part is you get to use your imagination ‘cos most of it is implied anyway.

So really, please just ban foreign acts from coming to Malaysia. It saves Malaysians a lot of heartache. And I think for some of us, we would rather see our favourite artists perform in their natural state and that is, Beyonce in her scanty stage clothes, shaking her booty and what not. So we would pay more to see her perform elsewhere without restrictions. Perhaps event companies and sponsors can look into sending winners and fans over to the other countries where the foreign acts will be performing. They do it with the musicals in Singapore so why not with musical acts?

And maybe in the time being we can work on our society. To make it more tolerant of other cultures, to be more open and moderate and not be afraid of what the world has to offer. If we are kept under a bowl, we will never be able to progress. And maybe that is the point, eh?

Memoirs of an imperfect Angel Review is frontpage of Google News

My Mariah Carey Review is Frontpage on Google News (Malaysia)

To read my personal review of the album, check it out at:
pigduck.com

To read the one featured on Google News (Malaysia, check it out at:
star-ecentral.com

- reads like the 5 stages of grief

- It is a tight album that tells a story

- is about Mark Sudack

- Can’t get over the fact that she’s supposed to be at the happiest in her life but releases such a sad album about heartbreak and pain

- the songs sound the same

- no strong outstanding single/ track

- the songs kind of melt into one

- there is only 1 love song

- Ribbon cannot be counted ‘cos it’s about missing what was

- notice the promo hasn’t been about the album or talking about the album – been talking about Nick and Mariah more of

- ‘cos there’s nothing to say about the album ‘cos it’s an emotional rollercoaster and ‘it is what it is’

- The cover does not reflect the songs and the contents of the album

- but the songs are so sad and the way she sings it is fresh and new. You’ve never heard Mariah emote so much in an album before. She didn’t brush it with over production

- You hear the raw emotion in her voice which is great and it shows one thing – she loved her ex very much and hates him for destroying what they had…

- when you listen to the album you realise that there are no truly happy beats like there was on E=MC2

- you actually feel quite down after listening to the album
Betcha Gon’ Know was a great track opener and almost explained everything – her voice on that was so painful you can actually feel her pain throughout the album

- even though The Impossible was for Nick somehow it doesn’t seem convincing enough ‘cos it blends in with the rest of the album

- although ‘The Dream’ Nash and C. ‘Tricky’ Stewart were part producers, you could tell this was essentially a Mariah album in terms of lyrics and all that… it is also really very personal more so than Butterfly and all that

- in fact it musta been real – to Mariah anyway – I think that was her longest and most serious relationship…. Mark and her… and he was good for her… I mean he brought out something in her – this album is proof – I kinda hope they work it out … but she sang they won’t be able to and it’s over…

- Standing O was about her being a fool

- there were a few angry songs too – like Up Out My Face

- she was proclaiming that (Up Out My Face) with a street band too so you can imagine that she means business

- Angel (the prelude) sounds like Bliss off Rainbow

- Angels Cry sounds a lot like Don’t Forget About Us and We Belong Together but somehow, lacks something and isn’t quite as …. catchy but is a good song nonetheless…

- H.A.T.E.U is catchy but is painful and really sad

- i wonder when Mark and her broke up … really

- you can tell she was broken hearted – even right to the end till Languishing…

So here is the review I wrote:-

Mariah Carey returns to the music scene this week with her 12th studio album, Memoirs of an imperfect Angel, an album that does not reflect the apparent bliss she has been trumpeting for the past year.

Need I mention it one more time? She has only been flaunting her marriage to the world over the last year and unless you took up residence in a cave, you would know Mariah married Nick Cannon, who is 11 years her junior, in May last year.

Since then, Nick has seen his status escalate to new heights with choice roles as the new chairman of TeenNick (formerly known as Nickelodeon), hosting President Barack Obama’s Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and hosting the fourth season of America’s Got Talent, to name just a few gigs he scored since marrying Mariah.

Mariah has brought him to almost all her public appearances and it has been a kitschy “public display of affection” cringe-fest where she is constantly seen bringing him onstage, leaning into him, talking about him, tackily hugging and kissing him and basically feeding the hungry cameras.

So it is a surprise that Memoirs of an imperfect Angel is not a sugary sweet extension of her current state of euphoric happiness. What a relief that is! Imagine if it was an album full of more “I love Nick Cannon, I am so happy, sex with Nick is so good, I’m in love, yeay me!” narcissistic and plastic taunts, she would completely lose her fan base.

It was slightly more than a year ago that she released E=MC2 with much fanfare and promotion. From this album spawned her 18th Billboard Hot 100 No.1 Touch My Body and a No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 Album Chart selling an impressive 463,000 copies of the album in her first week alone.

E=MC2 would have scored Mariah more No.1s as it was an album made to succeed, riding on the waves of The Emancipation of Mimi, released in 2005, with track after track of radio-friendly hits that had “longevity” and “winner” written all over them. However, she abandoned the project right at the start and left it to fade away. Even though her team tried to revive the album and promotion later on in the year it was too late. Damage was done and it is no wonder that Memoirs of an imperfect Angel was released so soon after.

On the first listen, you may feel like Memoirs of an imperfect Angel is boring, bland and that the songs sound very similar to one another. On the second listen, it may start to depress you because it lacks the energetic vibe that The Emancipation of Mimi and E=MC2 had.

The third time is the charm and when you listen to it one more time to give the album a chance, it dawns on you that this is not an ordinary album. It is not just an album full of manufactured formulated chart-toppers but is Mariah telling a story and is meant to be treated like what the title suggests – a memoir.

Memoirs of an imperfect Angel is anything but a happy blissful album. There is only one song, The Impossible, that Mariah says is dedicated to her husband Nick.

Everything else is about an ex-lover(s), someone who broke her heart and hurt her so bad that she is still reeling from the after-effects of that relationship.

The album has a cohesive structure and the songs are interconnected through lyrics and rhythm and are inter-related, almost as if she is speaking to one person in particular.

It is brave that Mariah Carey took this direction for her new album because it really has a story to tell, from being hurt by a lover who cheated, to being angry, to reminiscing, to feelings of remorse, to discovering redemptive love, pining for a lost love and finally maybe, accepting that one relationship has ended and a new, refreshing and real love has taken over.

How many albums can you truly think of that incorporate lyrical storytelling from start to finish? It is a big risk because of the advent of iTunes where people place their importance on singles rather than albums and the music industry is constantly churning out hits in order to grab the attention of the marketplace.

Mariah has always had a knack for creating listenable, likeable and memorable hits as is evident from her repertoire and reputation as a current mainstream music artist even after 20 years in the industry.

The new single and end track of her album is a pop ballad flavored cover of Foreigners’ I Wanna Know What Love Is and will be a clear favorite among Adult Contemporary listeners. It may attract the younger ones to rediscover this amazing gospel-infused song that topped the charts 25 years ago. The song provides some of Mariah’s trademark nerve-tingling, earth shattering high notes.

Let us not forget the radio-friendly track Obsessed with its catchy hook and chorus that can be sung to anybody whom you think is slightly delusional and crazy.

There is a raw passion and sentiment flowing throughout the album and her vocals are tinged with emotion; it is obvious right at the start with her opening track, Betcha Gon’ Know. The intensity is breathtaking and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

The catchier tracks like Candy Bling, Standing O, Up Out My Face and It’s a Wrap are disguised as upbeat songs but are actually songs where she is lashing out at this said ex-lover who had hurt her and you can really hear the pain and regret she goes through in these songs.

On closer reflection, each song is like an entry in a diary and it almost feels like a movie in audio format. What distinguishes Memoirs of an imperfect Angel from her previous two albums is it hardly has any airy, danceable songs. There is nothing on this album that screams “party track” except perhaps Obsessed, and she has already released that as her first single.

Also if you are wondering if there are any Mariah Carey-esque styled ballads on this album like We Belong Together and Don’t Forget About Us, her 16th and 17th Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles respectively, then you will be sorely disappointed.

Angels Cry is probably the closest you will find on her new offering yet it feels like an uninspired forgettable younger sibling of her famed No. 1s.

Languishing (the interlude) can be considered one of the most outstanding off Memoirs of an imperfect Angel. It channels some of Mariah’s most reflective moments from previous albums like Looking In from Daydream.

Technically, the album has been well-produced with Mariah, C. “Tricky” Stewart and “The Dream” Nash layering the tracks well to create a rare gem of an album.

Ultimately, it is so interlaced with grief and sorrow that it makes you wonder why she has released her most painful and reflective album to date at the height of her apparent happiness. Nonetheless, it is Mariah at her best and you can tell she put her soul into it. If you want a frank portrayal of the superstar, look no further than this effort.

- Source: star-ecentral.com

The storms of life are surrounding me
They are closing in on every side
And I’m so scared I don’t know where to run
I’m crawling to Your door Jesus
I need a lifeline
Don’t turn me away

Here I am
Lord I need You to rescue me
This pain inside is too much for me
I’m broken and shattered
I need You more than ever
To piece me back together
Handle me with care
‘Cos You know my heart is fragile

I can’t take another sleepless night
I’m weary from the battles I’ve lost
God don’t be far away
I need You to find me
You’re the only one that I can talk to

Here I am
Lord I need You to rescue me
This pain inside is too much for me
I’m broken and shattered
I need You more than ever
So piece me back together
Handle me with care
‘Cos You know my heart is fragile

Here I am
Lord I need You to rescue me
This pain inside is too much for me
I’m broken and shattered
I need You more than ever
To piece me back together
Handle me with care

Here I am
Lord I need You to rescue me (please don’t leave me alone)
This pain inside is too much for me
I’m broken and shattered
I need You more than ever
To piece me back together
Handle me with care

‘Cos You know my heart is fragile
‘Cos You know my heart is fragile

The video for Jamie Slocum’s ‘Fragile’

My thoughts

What a great song! It’s exactly what I’m finding hard to say.

I especially love the line, “I need you more than ever”. The ad libs near the end are also the best. I have added the only audible line which is, “please don’t leave me alone”.

I never believe in being manipulative with feelings. I think that is the wrong approach to any situation – to be emotionally manipulative. I try not to be even though I know I sink into that mode some times when I feel cornered but I hope it is something that we admit to and then will to change.

Also, I don’t think people should complain about each other. I wish that never existed. At work, at home, at church and well, just about anywhere. ‘Cos everyone has their faults. We’re not perfect. If we were, we’d be God.

It is unimaginable that it has been two years since Papa passed away but reflecting on things, a lot has changed in the last two years. I bought a dSLR first of all and I’ve toted it to almost all events. I guess memories are all you have left when someone leaves. And how do you store memories but with pictures and video? Even if they are badly taken.

Secondly, we got a daughter, a niece and a granddaughter. She’ll be 1 tomorrow. If that’s not a gift from God then I don’t know what it is. She is quite a bundle of attitude and character, something that I don’t think I’ve noticed from a baby before. The last ‘baby’ I knew intimately was my little sister and well, she was a docile little one.

I’ll always remember the grand exit my father got from this world, the convoy that followed him to where he would be buried, the fact that traffic stopped for him.

I remember my father’s smile, his easy-going nature and his lame jokes. I don’t remember the jokes specifically, just that he made them. I remember how we would sit at dinner and talk about things and that was probably the best time of the day for us as a family – dinner. After all, that was when we gathered together and ate together as a family, something that a lot of families don’t do these days.

My father was a real Chinese dad. He liked Chinese food, talked like a Chinese and just carried himself like one. I suppose that’s not a bad thing since he was after all a Chinese. He used to call me “his little English girl”. I think my little sister was bestowed that title too. We were the ones that like spaghetti and all that.

Before he slept, he would come check on us. Or he would check on us before we slept. And he was always on our side which was pretty cool. He’d back us up if we wanted something.

I remember when I first went to school here, I was in Grade/ Standard 3 and he came to watch me on Sports Day. He was laughing at how I clumsily collided into people while trying to swerve around them. Yes, I am that clumsy.

Fond memories. Forever and ever….

I understand she coincided the launch of her album with the launch of her new perfume, Forever but it is weird that she is not truly promoting her album proper. Maybe she feels that making money is more important now or she has so many on-going projects that the album is secondary? Or is this supposed to be the new way to promote an album? Who knows…

Anyway, she looks really good. I really want her top. That black gauze-y top over the white wife beater. I want it!

Michael Jackson’s This Is It will be out October 29, 2009 and will only be in cinemas for 2 weeks.

Excited!