莊心妍: 流著淚說分手

#midnightlullaby

It’s all about the suits he wears, Tom Ford.

Jessica Pare: Zou Bisou Bisou

Cat’s Love vs Snowman’s Love

The advert was on TV a year ago.  It’s about the story of a girl and her cat. The girl is sick and her cat goes for an adventure to find her medicine. Of course, the end of the story links to a drugstore for advertisement.

No, I don’t like it. I don’t like the way they handle love. It’s superficial, unimaginative and fake. And what’s so funny of stepping on poop? Are we in comedies from “ancient time” ? <= don’t argue with a woman who is not falling in love with something.

But I think it is a very popular commercial because  it returns and on TV again. I wonder why people like it so much. Would it be possible that people, who like it, voice out but people, who tolerate it, keep silent?  Or people don’t have choice and make compromise too easily? Anyway, it’s not cool if we live a society with majority of whom are fond of cheesy love story. <= Yes, she is being unreasonable. Avoid her. 

Although it is a TV commercial, could we have something more sophisticated? Do something to save us from boredom please! Then I have this John Lewis’s Christmas advert to calm my nerves. It’s a silent love story of snowman…

Goodbye 2012 and Hello 2013!

George Michael: Jesus to a child

Kindness in your eyes
I guess you heard me cry
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

I’m blessed I know
Heaven sent and heaven stole
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all this pain
I thought I’d never feel the same
About anyone
Or anything again

But now I know
When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights

When you’ve been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Will comfort you when there’s no hope in sight

Sadness in my eyes
No one guessed
Or no one tried
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

Loveless and cold
With your last breath
You saved my soul
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all these tears
I’ve waited for you all those years
And just when it began
He took your love away

But I still say
When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights

When you’ve been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Will comfort you when there’s no hope in sight

So the words you could not say
I’ll sing them for you
And the love we would have made
I’ll make it for two

For every single memory
Has become a part of me
You will always be my love

Well I’ve been loved
So I know just what love is
And the lover that I kissed
Is always by my side

Oh the lover I still miss
Was Jesus to a child

Matt Monro: Softly As I Leave You

Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break
If you should wake
And see me go

So I leave you softly
Long before you miss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour
For one more day

After all the years
I can’t bear the tears
To fall, so softly
As I leave you there
Softly, long before you kiss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour
For one more day

After all the years
I can’t bear the tears
To fall, so softly
As I leave you there
As I leave you there
As I leave you there

Andy Williams: Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart

There are toys for girls and boys
Silver bells make merry noise
Yet you should remember from the start
Christmas is a feeling in your heart.

Holly wreaths and mistletoe
Carols by the candle’s glow,
These are not the most important part
Christmas is a feeling in your heart.

Faith and hope, goodwill to man,
Love and peace, and faith again.
Let the prayers that Christmas bring
Brush your heart like angel wings

Christmas Day will soon be gone
Yet the joy will linger on
If you only learn to do your part
Let Christmas be a feeling in your heart

Projection with creativity and style? Ask Bond(s)… from the 60’s

The Samsung Galaxy Beam is a built-in projector of Samsung smartphone. Although the word “Galaxy” is a bit old fashion but it gets help from the word Beam. “Beam” is cool.  It’s like they are giving you a sword from Star Wars.

Months ago, Hong Kong’s Samsung ran a promotional campaign for this special feature. They asked pubic to submit the most creative way of Beam for a contest. The winning ideas must be very boring because I can’t even recall one.

If people are looking for creative way of projection, I think they should learn from 1963’s James Bond trailer, From Russia with Love. It features a belly dancer having the films title credits projected on various body parts.

Before I posted this trailer on the blog, I ran this video over hundred times on my computer or tablet. I am amused with the style they touch a woman. When she shakes, the words tremble on her body. It’s so sexy but not cheap. Of course, the song, From Russia with Love, preformed by Matt Monroe, is beautiful.

No, I still can’t recall those winners of that contest.

But we have another “Bond” here. He was not exactly James Bond but the show producer of Mad Men did a very good job last season by portraying Don Draper, a Creative Director of a Manhattan advertising firm, with Bond’s style. Mr. Draper delivers a flawless presentation for a carousel slide projector pitch.

It is a very powerful presentation. I like it so much and would love to put  it  in words for appreciation.

Well, technology is a glittering lure. But there’s the rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product. My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old pro copywriter. Greek, named Teddy. And Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is “new”. Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of… calamine lotion. But he also talked about a deeper bond with the product: nostalgia. It’s delicate… but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek, “nostalgia” literally means, “the pain from an old wound”. It’s a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn’t a spaceship. It’s a time machine. It goes backwards, forwards. It takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It’s not called the Wheel. It’s called a Carousel. It lets us travel the way a child travels. Around and around, and back home again… to a place where we know we are loved.

Projection is never this sexy and memorable. Like the Kodak’s executives in the conference room, I am speechless. Well, it seems there is something from that Samsung contest but… still they are too weak to recall. It shows the difference between amateurs and professionals. By the way, it is a pity that many people in my domestic market claim they like Mad Men but few of them can share with us this unforgettable scene.

Find Bond elsewhere!

Yes, I remember Daniel Craig, Mr. Bond, the secret agent of Great Britain. No, he was not in the movie but with the Queen, escorting her to the London Olympics 2012.
Bond and the Queen were an interesting crossover.  It showed a humorous side of an uptight family.  The Queen said, “It was a bit of a laugh.” Yes, it was. The royal family’s public image would be rejuvenated by associating with a world-famous fictional character who reports to Her Majesty both in the movie and the real world. British tax payers should appreciate what they have. In our world, be it real or fictional, we don’t have such iconic figures who can act as a worldwide ambassador even we are willing to pay.

Anyway, we live a global village. That’s mean we can move around and find something which can make us comfortable and happy. But, does Mr. Bond, played by Daniel Craig,  fulfil his role to be our sweet heart and make us smile?

Well, up until now, I didn’t go for his version of Bond. I always wonder why the movie’s producer feeds us a face which looks like Vladimir Putin of Russia or  The T-1000 in Terminator 2.

(Vladimir Putin looks like Daniel Craig who plays James Bond)

(Daniel Craig reminds me the T-1000, the cold-blooded robot in Terminator 2)

In fact, I could only associate the character, James Bond, with Sean Connery or Roger Moore who fit the image of a stylish secret agent who lives an old charming world. And Bond is never a boy who lives in the neighbourhood and gives you a bottle of beer. Therefore, I find Daniel Craig’s Heineken advert is a bit of bad taste. Marketers always have dreams and go for something which might not perfect for their brands.  

No, I don’t have an excuse for James Bond’s movie this time. Unless there is an invitation from friends for a movie gathering, I won’t be able to see Daniel Craig’s performance in the theatre. TV? Sure we will meet him there soon because it is free of charge and a good family activity. What would we do in the meantime? Find Bond elsewhere!

Roy Orbison: Blue Angel

Sha, laaa, laaaa, dooby-waaah
Bum, bum, bum, yip, yip, vum
Sha, laa, laaa, dooby-waaah
Bum, bum, bum, yip, yip, vum

Oh, Blue Angel, don’t you cry
Just because he said goodbye
Oh, uh, uh, aah, no, don’t cry

Oh, Blue Angel, have no fear
I’ll brush away lonely teardrop
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Whoo, whoo, ooooooo

Well love’s precious flame
Just burned in vain
But you’re not to blame
He thought love was a game
Oh  such a shame
But don’t you cry, don’t sigh
I’ll tell you why
I’ll never say goodbye
Blue Angel

Sha, laa, laaa, dooby-waaah
Bum, bum, bum, yip, yip, vum
Wah, wah, wah

We’ll have love so fine
Magic moments divine
If you’ll just say you’re mine
I’ll love you til the end of time

Don’t you worry your pretty head
I’ll never let you down
I’ll always be around
Blue Angel
Sha, laa, laaa, dooby-waaah
Bum, bum, bum, yip, yip, vum

Blue Angel
Sha, laaa, laaaa