C’est une belle journée

I had listened to the song long before I watched the vid, but I never thought that Mylène Farmer would have sketched all this by herself. And it cost like, a whopping 120,000 € just to get it in its animated form, beat that... Also, this is a song which has a double meaning to it : one talks about literal sleep after a beautiful day, the other talks about suicide when nothing seems to be beautiful.

The title of the song literally translates to "It's a Beautiful Day". Wanna know more ?

Farmer sings :

Allongé le corps est mort
Pour des milliers c'est un homme qui dort
A moitié pleine est l'amphore
C'est à moitié vide qu'on la voit sans effort
Voir la vie, son côté pile
Oh philosophie, dis-moi des élégies
Le bonheur, lui me fait peur
D'avoir tant d'envies
Moi j'ai un souffle à cœur
Aussi

REFRAIN :
C'est une belle journée
Je vais me coucher
Une si belle journée
Qui s'achève
Donne l'envie d'aimer
Mais je vais me coucher
Mordre l'éternité
À dents pleines
C'est une belle journée
Je vais me coucher
Une si belle journée
Souveraine
Donne l'envie de paix
Voir des anges à mes pieds
Mais je vais me coucher
M'faire la belle

Allongé le corps est mort
Pour des milliers
C'est un homme qui dort...
A moitié pleine est l'amphore
C'est à moitié vide
Que je la vois encore
Tout est dit puisqu'en amour
Si c'est du lourd
LeSi le cœur est léger
Des élégies toujours
Les plaisirs, les longs, les courts
Vois-tu en amour
Moi, j'ai le souffle court
Vois-tu
(au refrain)

Belle
La vie est belle
Comme une aile
Qu'on ne doit froisser
Belle
La vie est belle
Et je vais là
Belle
La vie est belle
Mais la mienne
Un monde emporté
Elle, j'entre en elle
Et mortelle, va
(au refrain)

And here's a rough (albeit literal) translation of the lyrics :

Lying down, the body is dead # For thousands of others, it's a man who sleeps # The amphora (could it be the glass ?) is half-full # We see it half-empty # Rather effortlessly # Seeing life at the lower end # Oh philosophy, recite me elegies (now, this could very well be an indicator of suicide) # Happiness makes me afraid # To have many wishes # (I can't seem to be able to translate this line, Moi j'ai un souffle à cœur - even the French themselves are finding it difficult. It literally translates to "I've got breath to the heart" or summat.) # Also

CHORUS : It's a beautiful day # I'll lay me down # Such a beautiful day # Which meets its end # Give me the desire to love # But I'll lay me down # Take a bite at eternity # With the whole mouth # It's a beautiful day # I'll lay me down # Such a beautiful day # Sovereign ? (Now, I know souveraine was supposed to refer to the day, and they use the word "sovereign" if it's something like, really big) # Give me the desire to have peace # See angels at my feet # Now I'll lay me down # And give myself a beautiful thing

Lying down, the body is dead # For thousands of others, it's a man who sleeps # The amphora is half-full # We see it half-empty # Yet again # It all has been said since, in love # If it's too heavy # And if the heart is light # (You'll hear nothing but) elegies always # Happy moments, long ones, short ones # Do you see that in love # I have a short breath # Do you see that (repeat chorus)

BRIDGE : Beautiful # Life is beautiful # Like a wing # That no one should wreck/crumple (as in tissue crumple) # Beautiful # Life is beautiful # And I'm going there # Beautiful # Life is beautiful # But mine is # A world taken away # I enter into it # And go, a mortal (person) (repeat chorus)

This song, along with the video, gives me an idea for a song I had written some three or four years ago (music only, not lyrics) : I just codenamed it Sur mon petit livre (On my little book) - or should it be Dans mon petit livre (In my little book) ? Anyhow, here's what I can reveal for the moment on that song : it's in C minor, in triple time, and since it's talking about a book and drawings, it'd most likely feature a sketchbook. For those of you who have played Final Fantasy X-2, or listened to the soundtrack, look out for the song Eternity (or Kuon, or whatever it's called) : listen to the chords. I'll be using the same chord progression for the most part of the song, so that should make it easier.

I've kept a number of drawings of mine (and I've even digitised some of them) and I'm planning to do a few more. I'm thinking of featuring Espoir in that song. I dream big, don't I ? That thing shall be animated, yes, but it'll also go through lots of drawings - dark ones, sad ones, happy and hopeful ones, sceneries - I know it's going to cost an arm and a leg to get this thing done (look at Farmer's video !) But I'll keep every single drawing - because I never know. If the time comes that I can afford to pay for the cost of designing the music video, or if someone's willing to bear the cost, what a relief that'll be !

Speaking of which, here's my second sketch, which I did entirely using coloured pencils (no pencil sketches) :

I'm codenaming this "Crépuscule", meaning "twilight". Take a good look at the picture, and tell me what you make of it.

Luminescence

Kingdom Hearts Wiki usernames shall be used.

TroisNyxÉtienne : Whatcha up to ?
Anti-ant : nuffin much just chillin
TroisNyxÉtienne : Mm.
Anti-ant : i found tt im not supposed to be alive
TroisNyxÉtienne : ?
Anti-ant : yea. isnt tt something ?
TroisNyxÉtienne : Not supposed to be alive ??
Anti-ant : i found out tt i almost drowned more than once, and then i got ran over by a motorcycle, got hit in the head with a bowling ball
TroisNyxÉtienne : That'd mean you're SUPPOSED to be alive - every attempt at taking your life was unsuccessful
Anti-ant : and got my head slammed through glass. yea but tts cuz i got lucky. but i almost drowned 3 times
TroisNyxÉtienne : You can't get lucky more than once, can you ?
Anti-ant : yes
TroisNyxÉtienne : So
Anti-ant : i drowned 3 times
TroisNyxÉtienne : And you came out alive.
Anti-ant : i got shot in the neck by a be be gun. ETA : yea i guess
TroisNyxÉtienne : And you came out alive. So that could only mean that you're SUPPOSED to be alive. Nothing else can take you away. No one else. Only the one person up there.
Anti-ant : tts not how it’s been looking so far. i got my ribs stomped in too, so i ve heart problems now
TroisNyxÉtienne : Yep, but think again :
Anti-ant : yea but tts wt would’ve killed me and its like it made me weaker
TroisNyxÉtienne : think about the number of people who could look up to you for all those things
Anti-ant : nobody
TroisNyxÉtienne : You're alive because of THAT. I frequently say…
Anti-ant : cause no one ever really talks to me
TroisNyxÉtienne : …that no one would ever listen to me because thus far, no one ever has.
Anti-ant : exactly. tts how it is with me
TroisNyxÉtienne : But you never know what's bound to happen in the span of a day, let alone a week
Anti-ant : yea i guess
TroisNyxÉtienne : I never knew I was going to have to chide you like this ! So if you feel the walls are closing on you and you look at life and see how it sucks...
Anti-ant : but it’s been about the whole school year and barely anyone's said anything to me
TroisNyxÉtienne : Well, I practically got rejected in college after 1 1/2 years
Anti-ant : i dont really have a choice but to look at a dreary wall
TroisNyxÉtienne : Same here, but I'm going on
Anti-ant : why ? i try to go on but they keep bringin me down
TroisNyxÉtienne : You know what I tell myself everyday ? Even if I don't feel like it ?
Anti-ant : wt?
TroisNyxÉtienne : I've got a life to live. I have a reason to be here.
Anti-ant : yea
TroisNyxÉtienne : And even if people don't listen to me now, the time will come when they will. Only a few people in the world walk the talk about who they are and what they want to be
Anti-ant : i hope the same goes for me
TroisNyxÉtienne : It will.
Anti-ant : i guess so
TroisNyxÉtienne : It's a question of how strong we both are
Anti-ant : yea. i hope it will.
TroisNyxÉtienne : Okay, give yourself a challenge (the same will apply to me too): for the next three months, I know it's gonna be difficult to find yourself. But whenever you have the chance to reach out to someone, do it.
Anti-ant : ok
TroisNyxÉtienne : I'm going to do the same, when I go for my National Service.
Anti-ant : I’ll keep tt in mind
TroisNyxÉtienne : Then, at the end of 3 months, tell me how it all went. I'll tell you my side of the story and believe me…
Anti-ant : but then the people in my school most of them are my enemies, to say the least
TroisNyxÉtienne : …there might not be much difference between both our stories. Well, it's just as bad over here. Not to mention that I'm dealing with 94% of Malaysians who can't change their minds about things
Anti-ant : but i try to be nice to them no matter wt but they make it tougher and tougher for me
TroisNyxÉtienne : Ya gotta try
Anti-ant : yea but we try to help them cause we’re nice, but some things just can’t be helped
TroisNyxÉtienne : I could easily whimper if the same thing happens to me, can I not ? The same thing has happened to me : I've been used by lots of people. But there are still some hearts we can move. If not all people can be moved, try some
Anti-ant : yea i guess so
TroisNyxÉtienne : And believe me, those few people you help are the people who might just as well remember you for the rest of their lives. I'm trying to give myself hope too. These past few days - weeks, in fact, have been very dreary.
Anti-ant : yea. same for me
TroisNyxÉtienne : And this, is the product of depression : (post was removed) We won't wanna go living like this all the time, would we ? You're misunderstood. So am I. And I'm not saying it's easy to go on, because I know it isn't. The very challenge right in front of us is learning how to live

He read the post and…

Anti-ant : yea… hey, tnx for helping me out. i feel better now
TroisNyxÉtienne : Don't mention it. That's the least I can do.
Anti-ant : ur the best
TroisNyxÉtienne : ::hug:: you rock too. See, I never thought of it this way, but He gives me strange occasions where I can move people, like now. The same might happen with you too ?


At a time when all seemed to have been lost, at a time when I was giving up hope, there came an occasion where I had to cheer somebody up. Somewhere, someone needs some reassurance, and in this case, it was a friend of mine.

Our lives have depressions. Some could be extreme. But how do we live after that ?

I praise and thank the Lord for giving me this wonderful opportunity to give this friend (and myself) some hope to carry on when things seem so bleak ahead of us.

A sublime show of patriotism - on both sides

This is the introduction I wrote for my project page on the renditions of patriotic songs (notably, my ideas for Jalur Gemilang and La Marseillaise) :

A sublime show of patriotism - on both sides

On both sides, you ask ? Malaysians are meant to show allegiance to one homeland alone. Yes, I pledge my allegiance to Malaysia, and that is where my allegiance shall be, full stop. But also, I'd like to do a special something for my French brothers and sisters.

And how might I do this ?

Give everyone a heart-stopping rendition of the anthems/patriotic songs.

You may think this sounds crazy, but hey, crazy ideas are always the ones which work, in the end. It all started in 2007 when I wrote a two-part score for Jalur Gemilang (a Malaysian patriotic song). Only two parts, because I was pressed for time - I could have written three if I were given two weeks, but I only had two days to complete the score. The parts are simple, but they can move anyone - even the hardest of hearts - to tears. And that was exactly what I did during the Independence Day Congress back in 2007, in Putrajaya. The 1000-strong crowd was moved, at least. It's become a staple song for my choir, Ressonnant Inc., ever since.

So if I can transform a pretty bland song into a song brimming with emotion (note : the radio edit of Jalur Gemilang sounds pretty boring despite its marching pace), I can surely do the same for lots of other works.

Like, Negaraku and La Marseillaise, for instance.

Well, my purpose for actually commencing this project is just the same as that of my other songs : to touch the hearts of the normal civilian. I don't have the power and the calibre to move kings and dignitaries, just as was proven in the Independence Day Congress. What I can do, however, is move the ordinary person walking on the street, riding the bus or the subway, handling the household chores, or even going through the rigours of everyday life - and there are thousands out there, regardless of rank, ethnicity, belief or social class, that need to be fed with something that gives them strength, courage to carry on. There are lots of people everywhere that need to be given a reason to live, and I truly want to address this.

In the case of the project, which I shall hereafter call "Patriotism and Gift-Giving", there are thousands of people in Malaysia who walk the same roads day by day, asking themselves bleak questions that run along the lines of, among others,

What am I doing here ?
Why was I born here and not anywhere else ?
Where is there a trace of boleh in Bolehland ?

I am sometimes categorised as one of these people, and I don't need to look too far for signs of despair. A programme of three months, such as the National Service (which I'm bound to go for, very soon), does not seem to suffice to instill patriotism amongst our beloved compatriots. And recently, our Prime Minister launched the 1Malaysia campaign to reunite the people of Malaysia, but I don’t see many people walking the talk. The select few people who do so should be lauded.

And so I write - or, technically, rewrite - these songs of patriotism, and from the way I see it, they should be sung in one voice by all the people of the nation. I rewrite these songs in such a way that the people will see traces of hope in our beloved country. I rewrite these songs so that everyone sings together and no one shall ever be marginalised. Bringing back unity and hope to the people is what the reasonable Malaysian would do if he goes the extra mile for his compatriots : that is a true show of patriotism. Sadly enough, I don’t see this happening. I want to make it happen.

I'm sure the same thing happens in France, whose culture I have grown to love.

The subpages that follow include every single idea that comes to mind as I think about the melody and chords of each chant, and the emotions that arise with each word. It's a profound process, and perhaps a crazy idea at that, but I know it will bring hope.

A little bird told me one day that troisnyx* has a crazy musical plan...

Soon to post my crazy musical idea over here. Anyone feeling lucky and wanna take a guess? ;-)

Petra, à 22:01 le 30 mai
i guess....i don't know.but it'll be a blast,like a bomb! :D

Annette, à 22:52 le 30 mai
You could've commented from Twitter, couldn't you? :) Okay, I'll just give you a hint (I told Patrick, by the way) : it's bound to make people cry, and it's got something gotta do with nationalism and gift-giving.

Petra, à 00:13 le 31 mai
hmm..1Malaysia?..i like facebook.:D

Annette, à 10:57 le 31 mai
I like Facebook but I hate it when it turns into a Twitter replica, hence all my status updates come from Twitter.

Well, 1Malaysia is only a linked keyword to my plan. I've already posted a link to the plan : just so you know :

1) heart-wrenching renditions of our patriotic songs (so at least people won't find them boring anymore, but will stop to think of what they've done for the nation). This entire plan all started when I rendered Jalur Gemilang in its 2-part form in 2007.08, and in 3-part form six months later. All I do know is that people DID cry. I want to continue moving the normal Malaysian, even the most hard-hearted normal Malaysian, with these songs. And I know I can....

Also,

2) a gift for our French brothers and sisters too : a rendition of their anthem, La Marseillaise - the most touching thing I can think of. :-) I've put up a plan in that link to the Blogspot article : there were three screenshots of the works I took.

Take a look, tell me what you think.

Take a glimpse into the musical idea: http://bit.ly/UGrYp

_________________________________________

Large red text represents updates from Twitter, blue text for Petra's responses and red text for my responses. Since my Facebook profile is in French, the date/time format is... different. Well, a little.

Ever since yesterday night, when I started posting my Facebook status updates on Twitter, I've been getting more positive feedback. This conversation with Petra and me began yesterday (last names blanked out for privacy). Well, at least more people can be kept abreast of my musical developments - my friends, in particular, and not just my Twitter followers.

Oh, I'm yearning to share with you the fruit of these ideas ! I wish I can find a way to record this in full. Click the link (see the words "Take a look" above) to access to that crazy musical idea. And do tell me what you think !

No. I'm certain this is it.

Over the past few days I've been brimming with energy. Not in the physical sense, though.

I've been brimming with this certain drive to compose and play music.

And I think it all fired up after the French-Speakers' reunion on the 23rd of May. Or after my lunch meet with Patrick K. I'm not sure. But meeting people with a similar passion has given me the drive, the courage to continue doing what I love, and what I do best.

First, a composition out of the blue (which I'm currently codenaming Impromptu 5.30, or Impromptu Cinq Trente), then a set of completely revamped versions of Malaysian patriotic songs, and now, a heart-wrenching rendition of La Marseillaise !

I'm beginning to feel like a musical powerhouse. At this age, it's just a wonderful feeling. It's wonderful when God puts ideas into your mind, from even the most elusive and most insignificant of things - and that's how it is with me. I'm constantly being inspired. Right now I'm working on La Marseillaise and I'm not sure how to stuff my ideas up here for everyone to give feedback. Then again, it's one of those things which eases my worries over the examinations and National Service I've managed to gather screenshots of my OneNote file. Click on the thumbnails to see what I've gathered for now. Not sure if you might understand, but try to imagine it. First off, I'll have to provide a link to... well, somewhere where everyone can listen to La Marseillaise...

In their respective order : 1) Introduction and first line, 2) A cappella fourth verse, and 3) Bridge and children's verse.

There. Wonder what people might think about La Marseillaise now that it's all covered in gibberish and technicalities. Wish I could find a clearer way to demonstrate these ideas to the general public... :-(

I wonder if I'll ever be the same powerhouse again after I complete my NS stint. Maybe I still will be - maybe I'll have different stories to tell, in different tones. All in all, I have one goal - to touch people's hearts. And deep down in my heart, I believe I'm on my way.

EDIT (2009.06.01) : I was thinking long and hard about this - if I get a laptop, with a functional soundcard, recording capabilities and a webcam, I could go a step further by putting videos up, instead of having to redirect you to a totally different page. And right now, I don't want to do any redirects.

May draws to a close

Tomorrow would have been mom's birthday. She would have been 48.

Somehow, remembering occasions like these brings back all the pain. Just this afternoon, when I was alone at home and playing the drums, images of that dreaded day flashed in my mind.

Images of mom's funeral.

I ask myself where she is, whether her heart is still with me, or whether it's all gone, and never to be seen again... I pray God, give rest to her soul ! :'(

On another note,

tomorrow, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days will be released in Japan.

Yay. Here's to another episode with Roxas ! (P.S. He's voiced by Jesse McCartney ! :DDDDD)

There's still a long way more to go before we can see an international release. We don't know who will be voicing Mickey Mouse for the English version this time (the third voice actor, Wayne Allwine, died this month), and we know how Square Enix and Disney insist on the best voice cast most of the time (I said most of the time, not all the time). Since I'll be away from the Kingdom Hearts Wiki for more than three months due to exams and National Service, I'll have to count on the rest of my friends to provide the data for me - hopefully when I return, I'll be there to see it all.

Chemical composition

My physique is Aryan.
My tongue is Dravidian.
My soul is French.
My legal views are English.

My heart is Malaysian.
And that’s all that matters.

No Malaysian shall question me about my allegiance, or my patriotism. Because as much as I turn to different influences to gather ideas, as much as I base my viewpoints with Gallic flair, I still do it so that one day, my compatriots will be proud to have someone like me around.

Thoughts ?

It’s late in the night, and as I sit down and contemplate on the one year and a half that has just gone by, it’s been the most eventful period of my life. And I pray God that I may never go through such a harrowing experience ever again.

I don’t know whether to feel excited or to fear the worst – for now. I beat my drums in solitude yesterday, knowing full well that this could very well be the last time I beat out the rhythm inside me before having to go for my National Service stint.

My Contract law exam is on Thursday morning, and despite having gone through the book like, three or four times, I’m still anxious as to how they might word the questions. Will it be difficult like 2008 ? Or will they relent ?

I’m still thinking about the few memorable events that define this period of one and a half years.

Being in the teachers’ room in the Alliance Française, going through my spoken test, and ultimately doing it well.
Seeing mom seated by my side as I played the drums.
Singing my heart out during the French-speakers’ reunion on Saturday night.
Composing Impromptu Huit Vingt-Sept.
Meeting two new friends.
Classes with Ms Meera, Ms Barclay and Soleil.
The concert with Ms Susan’s students at that concert hall in Kelana Jaya.
Lunches at KL Sentral.
My very first coloured journal.

I’d never want to erase these thoughts from my memory for a long time.

A wonderful apéritif and a wonderful soirée !

No pictures for the moment, unless we can get some over Facebook – then and only then, I’ll put them up here.

Yesterday’s French-Speakers’ reunion dinner took place in Modesto’s, Sri Hartamas. It was a wonderful place, to begin with – only that the venue was changed at the eleventh hour – but thankfully, all of us (I think) were able to find it.

By the time I came, I saw our professeur, Melati and Aizat waiting inside. So just to begin the apéritif, we talked over our (yummy !) fruit punch, exchanged thoughts, and because all of us were going to sing that night, we talked about our songs too. Over time, more people came in, and we had our apéritif until about 8:00. The new friends I made there – Zai, Patrick, Paul, Chris, Kak Suraya, Larry, Rafidah, Elaine, Ali…… they were all a warm and friendly lot. I talked a lot with Zai, Patrick, Kak Suraya and Larry – about lots of things, even the National Service. And I also met an old friend – Abang Zainal.

After Paul sang the first song, we all helped ourselves to the dinner. It was a buffet dinner, and a nice one too. ^_^ Whilst eating and having fun, we watched the rest of the people performing in front, and being “interviewed” by our dear old Abang Zainal (“I’m not Malaysian, ya. I’m French !”), and it was really good comic relief – all of us couldn’t help laughing. Yep, the best comedy ever was right in front of our eyes, and could never be found on the TV screen.

Some notable performances I remember :

Melati sang the French version of a theme song from the film “Once”.
Rafidah and Elaine sang “Une femme amoureuse” – which we English-speakers would know as “A Woman in Love” by Barbara Strysand.
Faizal (I think that’s what his name was, sorry if I got it wrong, hehe ^_^) sang “Les Rois du Monde”, and that really got me up – with its catchy chorus !
Our professeur and Leslie sang “La Vie en Rose” and there I was, cheering the two on…
Patrick, Zai, Larry and Kak Suraya did a group performance – I’m not sure what the title was, but I just adored them as they sang and as Larry accompanied them.

I was (yet again !) number XIII, and the song I chose was Moi Lolita. Yes, the very first song by Alizée. I was scared, to say the least. I picked the number 13 because I wanted to dispel the myth that 13 is an unlucky number. After all, what’s in a number ? Anyhow… Prior to my performance I asked my newfound friends a favour : I told them, “Somewhere in the middle of the song, there’ll be a part where you’ll have to say in time : LO… LI… TA. Eight times. I’d like you to join me in that part.” They all said yes.

Abang Zainal called out for my name. I came, walking very slowly. Kak Suraya knew I was afraid. I just held the mike when he gave it to me, and before I knew it, the song played. Despite the cold, despite the cough and sore throat, I decided to give it my all. Then the LO… LI… TA part came in. I tried my hardest to stick to Alizée En Concert as much as possible. And everyone screamed their lungs out : LO ! LI ! TA ! It was wonderful, because everyone joined in. And the merrymakers Paul, Chris and Patrick were moving to the music the whole time.

Then came the last chorus. Our professeur wanted to tone down the music already but I raised my hand to say no – because Moi Lolita has a definite ending, unlike other songs which fade out. So at the end of the last chorus, I hit the high notes – and ça y est ! I could get out of the stage !

With all my heart, I enjoyed cheering on everyone who performed that night, despite the pitching issues, or whatever issues there might’ve been. It was great to see them move out of their shells and into the spotlight. Most of all, I enjoyed getting to know others, being close with some even – and truly, it was an unforgettable night.

P.S. I shared my passion for music with the floor that night, and I even expressed my desire to hit the big stage to a few others. That night was a night of experience for me. And I truly thank the Lord for it. ^_^

A really great way to put dreams together.

I want to be a recording artiste and songwriter, and allow my knowledge in law to make us in the know of the law here, as well as to speak about justice in a way no one has ever used before.

Two of my friends want to be video game designers.

Another one wants to open a production house.

And here I was, thinking of this very wild dream :

Why not hold everything together into one single production house, and call it La Maison TNE ?

There, we wouldn't have copyright issues over theme songs anymore, and because both departments focus on creativity, ideas can be transferred from one department to the other. Also, when, say, there's an upcoming concert, we can join our ideas together ! Video games aren't just about battle systems - they're also about aesthetic ideas. I can let them do the credits and the extra bits, for example.

I'll talk to these partners about La Maison TNE. It is true that we're not gonna start off smooth sailing : the entertainment industry over here is an oligopoly - there are a few key players dominating the scene, and with them, money talks. The only company which has been able to break through thus far is Les Copaque Productions, because of their impressive CGI rendering, and they are now the rising stars in the market. Over here in La Maison TNE, we are problem children.

Deep down in my heart, I know, that if there's one person to overcome the likes of Nobuo Uematsu, Yoko Shimomura, Laurent Boutonnat, Jean-Pierre Pilot and Andrew Lloyd Webber, it's me. And if there's one company to be among the likes of Square-Enix, it's gotta be La Maison TNE. I dream of writing, performing on stage and releasing singles/albums alongside this, and being able to have a say in the creative process. I yearn for the implementation of constant improvement, and I want to make it such that all who participate in La Maison TNE enjoy their work.

I will be the epitome of the Boleh spirit.

It's a wild dream, but by the grace of God, it will happen.

Meanwhile, I've shared my audio drafts with quite a few people, and that's one way I'm using to gain support from the people around me, near and far. I've even let my friends on board Kingdom Hearts Wiki listen to them. Also, I'm contemplating making a name for myself during the soirée à la française on May 23rd : I'll make a cover of a song of my choice (I'm yet to choose, and tomorrow is already the 1st of May)... and I pray God that He may give me the courage to get up there, as well as the humility.