Nelson's point of view of the world: useless banter on trival matters, photography, automobiles and wrist watches
Monday, 8 March 2010
Turning negatives into positives
Just two days ago, American actress Sandra Bullock turned up at the Razzies Award to accept the "Worst Actress" prize for her role in All About Steve. In case you haven't heard, the Razzies Award is the spoof counterpart of the Oscars, and they're given to the worst performance in the movies. As an actress who's hotly tipped to win an Oscar for her role in The Blind Side the following day, winning the Razzies for being the worst actress is probably one of the worst things that can ever happen.
What would you do in her situation? Most publicists and managers would have told her to pan the critics for being stupid and blind to her talent, and simply focus on the Oscars instead. Not Sandra Bullock. The spunky actress turned up at the Razzies (something big-name artists seldom do) and accepted the award to a standing ovation. Amazingly, Sandra Bullock came with a a trailer full of "All About Steve" DVDs so that everyone at the event can have a free copy of the movie!
"Something tells me you all didn't watch the film because I wouldn't be here if you really, really watched it and understood what I was trying to say," she said in her acceptance speech. "Everyone gets a copy and this is the deal I'm going to make," she told the cheering crowd. I will show up next year if you promise to watch the movie and really consider if it was truly the worst performance. If you're willing to watch, I'll come back next year and give back the Razzie." Needless to say, she was a huge hit with the crowd.
Being nominated for worst performance is something that will go down very badly with most artists, and yet Sandra Bullock is able to charm the pants off the crowd with an amazing twist of PR genius and lots of spunk and guts. The next time you find things going very badly your way, perhaps you will dig deeper and find a way to changes things around radically - to your favour!
It's the beginning of a great new year for 2010, and there's nothing better to start the year than with some inspiring stuff! For me, it is this talented speed-painter who can effortlessly transform a blank canvas in Photoshop to a photo-realistic painting of Indiana Jones. Damn... I've Photoshop too, but I can't draw for nuts! So my friends, work on cultivating your talents this year. We all know it's not the tools that make the artist.
Cheers and have a great 2010 ahead!
P.S: You'd notice that it's a 5-min video, but you're so enticed and so enchanted by the transformation that the entire video looks like it's over in a minute! That's what Einstein meant by the theory of relativity!
I've been busy lately with a couple of business ventures, but when a friend sent me this YouTube link, it had me in stitches. No kidding... I think every Singaporean will get the joke. But hey... if you're a prude or under-18, please do NOT click on the link and complain about this tasteless and crude pun. Remember... it's crude for the prude!
I hate cheap bastardized cover versions of classical pieces. Playing a classical piece with electronic instruments to a faster beat does not make it modern – it makes the music sound like cheap crap. And please… don’t make it worse by mixing it with some Gregorian chat rubbish.
But I was bowled over when I came across this video sometime ago on YouTube. The video featured a kid with baseball cap covering his face, playing Johann Pachelbel's Canon (playing… not playing with… scrub your mind). Even if you’re not familiar with classical music, I’m sure you’ve heard this piece (popularly known as Canon in D major) being performed at some wedding ceremony. Canon (the music piece, not the camera company) is a classic piece that one would normally associate with slow and stately pace. What happens when someone else turns it on its head and churns out a version on the electric guitar?
Normally that would be dog crap, but not in this case. Much to the chagrin of pure classical music lovers, the rendition of this re-arranged Canon in D Major was an instant hit on YouTube, becoming one of the top ten most viewed videos with over 60 million views and counting. Taiwanese guitarist JerryC rearranged the music, and a South Korean teenager Lim Jeong-hyun (known by his online alias funtwo) played the amazing piece on guitar. The new arrangement was now known as Canon Rock.
The success of this hit hinged on several factors. First is the arrangement of a classical music piece that many people played but nobody imagined that it could be rearranged to such an extent. Secondly, the growth of the internet made it possible for unintentional collaboration between two teenagers from different countries who did not know each other to build upon each others’ talent. And finally, the ability of the internet to showcase the immense talent of the teenagers. Both JerryC and funtwo became overnight internet sensation and received coverage on traditional media after the video was posted on YouTube.
For me, I’m just amazed at the clever rearrangement of music and the skills of funtwo in playing the piece. I’ve no musical talent whatsoever, but I believed it took many hours of practice to get to that stage of guitar skills even for a talented individual. Unfortunately, Lim expressed no wish to carry on playing as a professional guitarist, and would rather carry on playing guitar simply as a hobby. Perhaps he understood that once he turned professional, guitar playing would cease to be fun?
Whatever his path lies, the moral behind this story is simple - the fusion of talent and potential of youth is intoxicating. Lim Jeong-hyun may not see it, but many people would die for his talent and fame. If you have a talent, be sure to guard it well and build upon it, and not take the high and haughty stance by walking away from a gift you were born with. Do not worry about handling success; you can deal with it later when it comes. But let success walk through your door first, by welcoming it with your talent and hardwork.
Get inspired. Recognize your talent and take charge of your own life.
Why Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop
Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop. Period.
In case you have not already noticed, I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson. For someone who cannot dance or play music to save his own life, I’m extremely impressed by Michael Jackson’s immense talent in music. From a child prodigy in the Jackson 5 to the music genius who swept 8 Grammy awards in a single night, Michael’s meteoric rise to stardom was built on his incredible talent of music and dance. Why is it that Michael Jackson was crowned the King of Pop and never dethroned for the past 30 years? Here’s a short look of we can learn from what Michael the greatest performer of all time.
Be yourself – black or white Michael battled allegations of his skin condition for most of his career, and he claimed that he suffered from vitiligo – a condition that causes blotches of paler skin. The media alleged that MJ was bleaching his skin to become a white because he was ashamed to be African American, or that being white made album sales better. Michael always maintained that his condition was medical, and he never strayed away from his family, friends or black people. Even as the media intensified their criticisms and published allegations of him having “weird” behaviour, Michael seldom caved in to change anything. It takes a truly strong person to resist social pressure to change, especially if your behaviour has nothing to do with the rest of the other people.
Never forget the child in you Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch was always in the news for the wrong reasons – for MJ’s alleged childhood abuse, his excessive spending habits and his weird love for Peter Pan’s ability to never grow old. What many people fail to see is MJ’s embrace of the child in him. The Neverland ranch was Michael’s refuge when the commercial world became too much for him, and it provided the only privacy and sanity he desperately needed as the King of Pop. MJ would pen his songs while he sat on the branches of the trees, and he enjoyed the rides in his own amusement park. By embracing the child in you, you can take refuge from the cruel demands of the world.
Killer instincts with unshakable belief Before the Thriller album was released, Michael went against the advice of his managers and music producers and insisted on his concept for the music video – to dress him up as a werewolf. MJ pushed ahead for the music video and the result was revolutionary – it pushed the envelope of consumer acceptance and defined the style an concepts of MTVs. Michael Jackson had killer instincts in defining style, and unshakable belief in his instincts. Most people will follow the herd in opinions and not risk failure, but as the saying goes “nothing great has never been done without risks”.
Develop your own style and signature While many artistes are happy just to remain at the forefront of the latest style, Michael Jackson defined the style of music. In 1983, MJ made jaws dropped and he performed the moonwalk for the first time in front of a live television show. For the teens who grew up in the 80s, everyone was talking about Michael Jackson, breakdancing and the Thriller video. And who can get away with wearing white socks with black pants and shoes (the fashion police would kill for such a crime) except MJ? Or wearing a single white sequined glove? Michael did not care for following styles – he defined styles and created signature moves and icons.
Recognize your genius– and break away if you have to Even though Michael Jackson started his career as part of the Jackson Five, he realized at a young age that he had immense talent, and he knew he had to go solo if he were to make it big. It wasn’t easy to break away from the comfort zone, especially when his stint with the group gave him the experience and exposure, but MJ had to do it if he were to fully exploit his talent. It is difficult, but an eagle can never soar if it stays within its nest – so break out from your comfort zone and explore the world if you feel constrained.
Be altruistic – help the world A great part of Michael Jackson’s appeal to the world stemmed from the fact that he was a great philanthropist and humanitarian. MJ wrote songs about the plight of the third world, the suffering of the people and the environment. He donated generously to worthy causes and was always ready to perform at charity events. Michael always appeared genuine and consistent in his message – he loved the world, the people and his fans. He used his greatest talent to help the world, and the world loved him for that. It was this strong relationship that set foundation for his success, and that was why vicious rumours and allegations failed time after time to topple the king of pop. Help the world – and the world will help you when you need help the most.
Surround yourself with talents if you want to do great things Michael Jackson had talents the world had never seen – but that alone was not enough to bring him to such stratospheric heights. MJ worked closely with talented individuals such as Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie to take his music to greater heights. Michael understood that unless he worked with other talents, he would only be restricted to his own shell and unable to grow. The collaborations were crucial in developing his talents, and often resulted in win-win scenarios.
A powerful combination of talents This is probably the biggest reason why Michael will never be dethroned as the King of Pop. Unlike many artistes who excel in one or two areas, Michael Jackson had a multitude of talents which he fused together as the unstoppable power in pop music. He was great in singing, dancing, performing and songwriting, and that made him invincible in the music arena. Nobody else could control their destiny like MJ could, because his talent gave him the power to control every aspect of his performance. If you have multiple talents, explore the ways you can harness the power of your talents combined. The results can be remarkable.
In his short life of 50 years, Michael Jackson has done what no other musicians could have accomplished in their lives. He was the best-selling artiste and music genius, and most importantly a music icon that touched lives everywhere. Rest in peace Michael – you were the King of Pop and you will always be.
Michael Jackson: Aug 29 1958 to June 25 2009
One of my favourite videos of Michael Jackson is "Smooth Criminal". Catchy music with incredible dance movement and impeccable timing. Like his trademark moonwalk, Michael pioneered the anti-gravity lean which set people talking for years to come. In case you're curious, no... there wasn't any wire-harness or digital editing involved in that move, which made it even more amazing.
You know the popular saying "Think out of the box". People have been quoting it so often that they often forget that the flip side of "thinking within the box" is equally challenging and rewarding! What is thinking within the box? The "box" does not always denote conventional thinking or ideas. The "box" can refer to the constraints that you are facing, and that includes your budget, legal restrictions, deadlines etc.
It is great to think out of the box, but if you can develop a great idea while thinking within the box (staying within the budget and deadline etc), that is truly phenomenal! There are a lot of great ideas that one can conceive, but many will either blow the budget or cannot be done in time. If you can be the individual to come up with a amazing idea that can be accomplished within the limitations, that will really help you grow much faster as an individual.
Take the example of this Malaysian advertisement for creative awards. They took a limitation (which I shall not elaborate and spoil your viewing pleasure), and turned it into something creative.
Clever? It is. The role of advertising agencies is not to ignore all limitations and come up with something clever. Rather, it is to take into consideration the operating parameters such as the budget, the timeline, the brand's value, the consumer's perception etc, and come up with an effective campaign that stays within these boundaries. That is a clever campaign.
Let's end off with another clever campaign that defines thinking within the box. This time, the box is probably the budget. What if someone told you that he wanted to run for president, but he could only afford to pay for the TV air time, and had hardly any money left for production? You need to do a TV commercial without any budget for filming. Most people would have dropped the project like a hot potato. The agency who did this ad didn't get fazed, and by thinking within the box, came up with one of the most brilliant political campaign TVC ever...
Ellen DeGeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University (2009-05-16)
Hot off the oven... this is Ellen DeGeneres' speech at the commencement ceremony at Tulane University last week.
It's not as philosophical as the "sunscreen" commencement speech, but it sure is funny and sobering at the same time. Sociology students will especially understand the speech about social pressures, conformity and deviance. The message though is simple - stay true to yourself and live your life the way you think it should be. You only live once, so do not let others run your life. Live free and be yourself.
The next time others pressurize you to make a major decision in your life against your wishes, think about how you'd like to be remembered in death. Will you be "the guy who's really easy-going and with the crowd", or "the guy who lived his life to the fullest in the way he deemed fit". I certainly know what I want inscribed on my tombstone.
As the saying goes, imitation is the best form of flattery. This is an old ad from Peugeot, but it still gets me in stitches whenever I view it. Not many brands dare to use humour in their ads, but when done well humour is an exceptional weapon in disarming the jaded consumer. Stupid management will say that this ad will not really make consumers believe that the Peugeot is a desirable brand.
The clever marketers will snigger at such comments, for they know the true value of this ad lies in the portrayal of Peugeot as a clever brand, and the drivers of Peugeot as fun people.
If you are a fan of Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, do not read this post. You have been warned.
If you are a fan of the Project Runway reality TV show, be sure to watch the following video clip on Youtube. The first time I watched it, I nearly cried from the laughter. It is hilarious! One thing is for sure... you will never see Project Runway the same way again.
Hell's Kitchen, that is. Hell's Kitchen is a reality TV Show about small time chefs vying to become the chef of one of Gordon Ramsay's new restaurants. Now in case you don't know who Gordon Ramsay is, google him online. That's right... the bad-ass devil-tempered chef is one of the top 3 chefs in the world, and he has been awarded... count this... 16 freakin' Michelin stars. When you realize how hard chefs around the world strive to get that one coveted star, you'd realize what a big deal it is to have 16 stars.
Of course, having 16 Michelin stars on your shoulders gives you higher authority than any US general, so that automatically grants you the right to cuss and swear at the mere mortals on the show. And Gordon Ramsay did it like no one else can, which is why he earns another star as the King of the F-word. I never knew anyone else who can make the F-word sound better in the British accent than Ramsay.
Oooh... you don't know what I'm talking about, do you? Of course you don't, not if you're watching terrestial television from Mediacorp. That's right... all the nice bits have been *beeped* out for the docile audience in Singapore. My friend sent me the YouTube link to the uncensored version of Hell's Kitchen. What an eye-opener... this show is freaking cool! See it for yourself at:
There're a lot of people who'd disaggree with Gordon Ramsay's vulgar verbal abuse of the contestants. But seriously, if you had to run a kitchen with some of those jokers, you would swear at them the same way too. I know I will... once I get my crummy hands on those Michelin stars!
One of the millions of insignificant masses who wants to publicize my point of view online. Don't I wanna be famous? Hell... no! I like my privacy very much thank you.
