Sunday, April 15, 2007

I've found my (street-singing) home!

Yes! After my first 2, rather unpleasant, experiences busking on Orchard, I think I've finally found the spot that will keep me happy for at least the next few busking trips! It's at the underground tunnel that connects Wheelock's place (borders) and Shaw Center. It's still Orchard but the crowd traffic is actually just nice, not over-crowded but not so dead either. What's more is the awesome acoustic of the tunnel, plus it's air-conditioned too!

Actually I've known that place for a while now, but if I'm not wrong that tunnel is not among the 100+ ocations that National Arts Council has spelled out in this very-specific list. However, I realized that actually other buskers do their thing there quite regularly so I decided I'd just give it a go, and boy it was ecstasy!

For the first time in half a year I felt that I'm really connected to my music again. I didn't give a damn if people would drop me a coin, I just want to keep playing and playing. And in the end I played for more than 5 hours straight!

I also made friends with several veteran buskers who frequent that tunnel. Peter is a full-time busker who street-sing everyday while Stanford does this on weekend. They were really friendly folks and we jammed together for a good hour. It was great! I felt liberated, and when I closed my eyes jamming to the tune of Bob Marley's Redemption Song I could "see" myself doing that same song in front of the Bart Station in Berkeley. It's hard to explain, but despite the enclosed surroundings, I felt free.

Tammy, always my biggest fan, came down to film me for a bit before I "closed shop". My friends adeline and brandon also swing by together with their other-halves :)

Interesting anecdote:
- A young boy (probably 5 or 6 yr-old) came up to me after I sang "I'll remember you" and asked in his innocent voice "Are you a man?" To which his embarrassed mum hurriedly apologized for her son. Haha, I must have had this question asked more than dozen times over the course of my street-singing career...i personally find this boy pretty courageous compared to those whom I'd overhear saying "is he a he or a she? ohoh..look at his throat...sld be a guy..right?" hahaha

- Tammy's relatives from Perth (whom I just met for the first time a few months ago while in Australia) were actually in Singapore for a few days of vacation and they actually bump into me at the tunnel! How small can this world be!


Singing "I'll Remember You" by Tanya Chua


Singing "Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice


Singing "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley


Singing "I'm yours" by Jason Mraz

Still uploading more song...will post them in the next post~

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

mi amigo,

your rendition of "Hallelujah" was really fantastic! Very heartfelt and beautifully sung. Wish I could have been in that tunnel when you were singing that day.

reading your post about your "(steet-singing) home" made me think about the Las Ramblas in Barcelona. One of my secret (not anymore; not after this comment) dreams is to sing Chinese sentimentals along the Las Ramblas.

but thanks for putting up the videos... excellent stuff... esp "Hallelujah". I'm gonna listen to it for the fifth time after posting this comment!

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