Project Care presents THE CIRCUS - The Ultimate Show Book 10:54 PM

One of my dreams came true: "Project Care presents THE CIRCUS - The Ultimate Show Book" [A4 size hardcover 50 pages photobook] created and designed by Me!

 

Initially I designed this book in electronic format and sent it to my team and performers etc via email in 2010 to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the show. I always wanted to make it into a physical format. And it happened.

 

I bought a voucher from Groupon for just AUD20 + AUD4.95 postage for 50 pages personalised book, and placed an order on June 9. I received the book today from PhotoBox Australia* (but made in the UK).

 

*[Note: Just to clarify, this company is not MyPhotobox or Snappy Sumo which they are ultimate scams, do not ever buy anything from them!! Never!!].

 

The quality of the book is really great, and the shipping is very fast too. I'm very impressed and happy with it. I'll probably gonna buy another voucher when it's on Groupon again (if I am still in Australia). ^_^

Melanie C "This Time" UK CD Single 12:58 AM

 I've been practicing all day, now the words I meant to say are gone.

 This time, I really had my lucky dip.

 

Bought this two from Amazon.uk, the same seller for GBP12.99 (first copy) + GBP7.99 (second copy) + GBP7.00 (postage for two shipping).

Want List: Mel C's "Time Time" UK Single. Ticked.

The Saturdays "My Heart Takes Over" signed CD single 10:10 PM

From Amazon.uk GBP9.99 + GBP3.50 (shipping). ^_^

The Saturdays "Just Can't Get Enough" Promo CD version 2 11:08 PM

I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough...

This is actually an unusual version. I have another version of this promo which has Red Noses on the cover. Both versions contain the same two tracks: the Radio Mix and Video Mix.

The discovery of this version was indeed a surprise for me.

Bought it from ebay for GBP3.00 (Buy It Now) + GBP5.00 (shipping) from the UK. :)

容祖兒: 留給這世上我最愛的人+最後一課 9:48 AM

Written for Joey's late-master Roman [from her album My Pride], live @ Joey's Show Up! Concert. A very touching and emotional (and sad) song.

 

 

怎可想像　要我重述溫馨的往事

便迫到我眼淚　不聽你意思

尤其是你　不喜歡哀傷沮喪

這一點我知　我知

多麼想念　你那瞭望天空的印象

幻想我有這份　頑強的漂亮

尤其是你　在臨別的豁達模樣

多少也為了我設想

 

＊曾經得你寵我　竟縱壞我

連哀傷都不可　忍受太多

明白孤單一個　都要自強 苦楚試練　

無論如何多 都不算多（得到一些　領悟未怕多）

 

＊ ＃離開都要考我　怎麼去做我

誰都知分開　比相處更多

（遲早都會枯竭　誰都清楚）

明白戲夢人生苦短 也可得到最大　結果

何必這麼　教我

 

＃ 都只因為　你那來自心底的美麗

學懂笑看　世上難題的造詣

尤其面對著　惶惑驚怕亦無畏

得到了學會去放低 Repeat（＊）

 

這告別　要是忍得到

在未來任何事也可以 承受到　成熟到

不再問你　哪裡有我的去路 Repeat（＃）

從此只好　靠我 

The Saturdays "Work" Signed + "Ego" + "If This Is Love" CD Single 10:13 PM

Ok, I supposed to receive "Up" instead of "If This Is Love". The seller made a mistake and he said he would send "Up" to me without returning "ITIL". Anyway, at least I now have their debut single. Look forward receiving it soon.

The Saturdays feat. Flo Rida "Higher" Signed CD Single 4:50 PM

...from ebay.

I'm gonna lift it, lift it higher. So when I speak, listen, this is my decision, and you keep on messing up the words.

The Saturdays "Up" & "Just Can't Get Enough" Promo CD 4:37 PM

 

Lucky lucky! I won this two promotional CDs from ebay for just GBP 1.70 for "Up" and GBP 2.20 for "Just Can't Get Enough"!!! Well the postage for them from this UK seller was expensive: I paid GBP10.00 for both though the seller could have use Standard Air Mail instead of Airsure option as the former could save more than 60% of what I've paid for... I messaged the seller several times requesting to change the shipping method but never got his/her reply, and then suddenly it appeared on my mailbox while I was expecting to receive my other orders instead.

 

Oh well, at least the delivery speed was really quick (received in 12 days), and if I divide the total cost to two, it was actually a good price. I am still satisfied with what I've got :)

 

 

"UP" has the Radio Edit of the song with richer music arrangement that sounds way better than the album version; while "Just Can't Get Enough" has two versions of the song: the Radio Mix (also in the CD single release and the re-released of "Chasing Lights" album) and Video Mix (this version can only be found in this promo CD, digital release and the official music video).

 

I also noticed some similarities between both CD's design - especially the use of Red colour and the placement of things on CD and sleeve. ME LIKEY. ^o^

The Sats' first No.1 single "What About Us"! (Signed CD) 4:35 PM

Congrats to my dear The Saturdays for getting their first Number 1 single in UK!!
I am really for them *happy feet dance* They really deserve this!

Hopefully more Number 1s coming to their way. :)

 

 

Here's a live interview video prior to annoucing the single chart's Number 1 on BBC radio.

P/S: It's really touching. Go TeamSats!

 

 

* Bought this signed CD from eBay, GBP 8.99 Buy-It-Now option + GBP 3.50 (Airmail postage from the UK).

More The Sats CD joining my dear Collection soon!

Melanie C feat. Emma Bunton "I Know Him So Well" 11:00 PM

 I cried. The song is really touching, their voice are so beautiful and emotional, and I personally think this version is better than the original version too.
Definately one of my favourite songs of the Spice Girls!

And yes, I have two copies of the Limited Edition single (bought from ebay from one seller), which was available for purchase from Mel C's official website for a short period of time... and quickly sold out too.

 

Enjoy the magical music / video now:

 

The meaning behind "Viva Forever" music video 8:22 AM

Did I tell you all already that in my opinion Viva Forever is one of the best Spice Girls' songs? I love it so much and have been collecting the CD singles including the Australia individual 'Fairies' versions (except I haven't found the Posh one - will continue my search for it).

 

Today I just discovered this interesting interview with the director of the video (he's kinda funny too):

 

Baby Spice, Emma Bunton: "We always wanted to do something a little bit different for the video. It's a bit hard to explain, but its about two boys who go into a forest where they find something and lose something too. There's a sense that what they're losing is their innocence, somehow. they learn something in the forest which means that they'll always see things differently afterwards. It's a bit weird really."

 

Here's the original video (it's really beautiful):

Girls Aloud "Biology" UK CD2 (Bumper Fan CD) 3:15 PM

You can't mistake their biology...

the way that they talk, the way that they walk.

Bumper Fan Single include an exclusive b-side, a remix, their beautiful music video, karaoke video, and ringtone (printed code on the sleeve). And of course, the gorgeous cover too.

The Saturdays "Chasing The Saturdays" signed US EP 3:48 PM

Got my signed copy of "Chasing The Saturdays" today, the debut EP of The Saturdays in America!

Special thanks to a member of DenDen who helped me to preorder this EP from their official website in exchange of some magazines.

 

It includes the new track "What About Us" and four of their best hits (which I like them all).

The cover is pretty nice and colourful too. And the colourful signatures, pfff... didn't expect that.

 

The release of this signed EP from the website caused some controversy due to fans who preordered the EP did not receive their signatures. The website then defended themselves that it was only for the first 500 orders but the website did not mention about this.

 

 

At the end they managed to solve it out by sending an additional signed booklet to everyone (I think, or they must!) who pre-ordered a copy before they changed the description. So in the first picture you can see that there's another booklet behind the main cover (unsigned), I purposely flipped it to show the back of the booklet.

 

Anyways, I'm glad that I got what I wanted. :)

TeamSats!

Spice Girls "Viva Forever" UK CD2 2:04 PM

 

I'm not desperately need this single actually as I have the Malaysian version which is rarer than this one (although this is a 'limited edition' and comes with a double-sided poster: one side is the cover of CD1 featuring Spice Fairies, while the other side is a montage of Spice Girls photos), not that rare but the price is too good to be missed: €2 for the CD + €4 postage.

 

Initially the seller listed this item in 'Very Good' condition but I received it with a surprise... it's a Brand New and sealed copy! But, however, unfortunately, the case has a crack thanks to the post offices or shipping officers/postman or whoever keeps cracking my mails/stuffs. Otherwise it would've be a great piece of Spice Girls collectible :( 

Melanie C signed photograph 2:53 PM

 

by Melanie C, from ebay. :)

Rihanna "Take A Bow" Promo CD 2:01 PM

"very entertaining... but it's over now, why don't you ___?"

 

 

This song still has a special place in my heart, thanks to Glee's lovely cover which made me fall in love with it when I first heard/saw it on tv.

 

Originally it has a Danish promo sticker on back of case, but I decided not to have the case so that I could save some postage. The seller was kind enough to photocopy the back of the case for me so I could recreate it if I like.

 Bought it from Discog, €4 (best offer accepted) + €3 postage from Denmark = €7

Good price, at least.

The Saturdays "If This Is Love" Promo CD 11:12 PM

 

Finally got the promotional copy of The Sats debut single!

It's a 1-track CD with the radio edit of "If This Is Love".

 

I really like the cover (it's one of my favourite promo CD covers) as it's like "a new street-type/hot girl band is coming soon... stay tune" type of image to tease the world... you'll know what I mean when you watch the music video :p

 

Well done, design team. :)

 

Won it from ebay at £7.99 + £3.50 postage.

The Saturdays "30 Days" signed CD 9:58 PM

 

Woohoo, another The Sats' signed item - "30 Days" UK CD single from ebay for £5.99 + £3.90 postage.

 

Well I wasn't a massive fan of the song and the music video, but it grew on me after I listened to it more, and in fact both tracks in this single are pretty good.

 

What amazed me is that the seller actually had more than 20 copies for sale apparently and they've been selling like hot cakes then the seller even increased the price to £7.99 now and still selling more copies. I can tell the autographes are genuine as most of this CD are signed and available to order from their official website for a limited time, but I'm still curious how did he obtain so many copies of it... unless the website allowed him to place multiple copies of order. 

 

Anyway, it's still a nice signed item for presentation. :)

Emma "Maybe" Australian CD Single 8:28 PM

 

One of the CDs I got from my Perth Record Stores Hunt last week.

Bought it at Replay Records [Kenwick] for AUD4.00. Although it's not that cheap comparing to other CD singles that I bought that day, but I eventually just sold it on ebay at a higher price lol.

 

Australia has a unique cover which is different from other official EU releases; it has the same cover as the promotional CD instead. It's no longer mine but still good to look at the pics :)

Atomic Kitten "Whole Again" Single CD2 10:18 PM

I never knew that there's a different CD for Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again' until I randomly saw it at Discogs (love this site!). It's a Limited Edition CD2 with 3 tracks and a calendar poster.

 

1.Whole Again

2.Whole Again (original version)

3.Locomotion

 

I wonder how many copies of CD2 actually exists.

 

Some told me that this version is "rarer than unicorns"... "They definitely took "limited edition" literally! I couldn't even find CD2 in the week it came out... my local stores had only stocked CD1 and the cassette.."...

 

And since I love this track so much so I bought it from a seller at Discogs along with a 3 track Sales Promo cardsleeve CD (includes Whole Again, Daydream Believer [Beat Gallery Remix] and Locomotion).

I got them all included postage for a total of Euro 15.00.

 

Well, for those who're curious about the 'original version', basically it's the first version of Whole Again with Kerry's spoken dialogues and then the band sings the chorus. This version is also included in some first press version of their debut album "Right Now" in Asia (Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia etc).

 

 

Perth Record Stores Hunt 2 8:19 PM

 

I continued my Perth Record Stores Hunt today.

 

Went to three stores at Fremantle and only bought these CDs at Junction Records [Fremantle Mall] (I've bought a couple of CD singles from them before). Mills Records [Adelaide St] and Record Finder [High St] doesn't sell CD singles.

 

They've been keeping most of their CD singles in boxes and hiding them at the back of the counter, so I asked the seller to bring them out for me and he carried one box at a time with the 'WTF' face. He wasn't that nice. Anyway, at home I realised that Britney's "Toxic" has so many scratches I really don't know if they know how to handle their discs properly. While the other two are in good condition. Each AUD1.95 so isn't that bad althought I'm not very happy with the Toxic CD and I'm just too lazy to return it to Freo. That is all.

Spice Girls "Mama/Who Do You Think You Are" German Limited Edition CD 11:39 PM

 

1.Mama (Radio Version)

2.Mama (Album Version)

3.Who Do You Think You Are (Radio Version)

 

Ok, this is actually my second order of this German limited edition "Love shape" 3-track CD single.

 

I won one from ebay few years ago at a very good bargain price but never received it because I was too stupid to use Curtin address instead of my home address, the reception didn't bother to contact us (remember how I 'got/found' the Hannah Montana The Movie blu-ray combo?). Oh well, I think that copy has been threw into bin now, or might be still sitting somewhere at Curtin which I don't think it'll ever gonna come to my hand... such a shame :(

 

Oh well, since this CD appeared on Discog for just €9.00 + €3.45 postage so I made my first ever purchase from the website. It's still in very good condition, so I'm quite happy with this purchase.

 

I love you Mama.

Of course, I love you all, my dear family.

Perth Record Stores Hunt 2:08 PM

I decided to do a Perth Record Stores Hunt which I'll go to all the CD stores in Perth. I found those addresses from google, forums and the Yellow Pages.

 

I went to a few further ones first yesterday and got these CD singles as below. I couldn't find some of them so I asked a staff member at 78 Records [Murray St] for his help. He is such a nice and kind guy, we had great conversations and he told me that he worked at a record company before and he has a huge amount of CD collections at home... he even know about Viva Forever the individual cover set! He helped me by ticking off those records stores that are no longer exist which actually saved my time and saved me from making unnecessary trips.

 

Anyway, I feel sad that most of the record stores in Perth have closed down and only a handful of them are still operating as usual. I do acknowledge that it's a digital era now, but it's still kinda sad to see the stores are closing down one by one :(

 

Kylie "Wow" x7 and "2 Hearts", Take That "Patience" and Christina Aguilera "Hurt" are from Abbott's Music Centre [Fremantle Malls], just AUD1 each.

They are all Australian version, and apparently the "Wow" single has a unique cover which is different than the official retail releases in the EU (the cover is similar to its promo CD though). I bought them as they are cheap and the seller actually hiding them under the shelf, so I didn't think much and picked up all singles that I wanted :p

 

P/S: There are a couple of stocks for some other singles too, such as Justin Timberlake "My Love" and "SexyBack", Hilary Duff "Why Not" which one of them includes a free poster, Pussycat Dolls "Wait A Minute" and "Buttons", and Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man", Keith Urban "Once In A Lifetime" etc. For those who're interested, go check them out :)

 

No Doubt "Don't Speak" is from Dada Records [Pier St], and oh my I forgot how much did I pay, I think it's between AUD1.50 to AUD2.95. It's EU release.

 

Emma "Maybe" is from Replay Records [Kenwick] for AUD4. It's Australian version as well, with a unique cover.

 

Peace!

Spice Girls autographed framed photo 9:15 AM

 

My first ever Spice Girls autographed item!!!

 

Found this listing on Gumtree few weeks ago and initially after some negotiation the seller was willing to reduce from AUD130 to AUD120, and then he finally decided to sell it for AUD100 (what I suggested to pay as well). I went to pick it up at Wembley (walked from Subiaco train station) after my "Perth record stores hunt" yesterday since it's not a huge item anyway.

He bought it at AUD260 few years back in a store and has been keeping it in the storage since then so overall it looks new. Been told that the frame itself could cost AUD80 nowadays. Oh well, it's not cheap but at least the autographs are authentic and it's framed and good to be displayed :)

 

Lucky bargain. ^_^v

Lady Gaga "Born This Way" autographed booklet 3:31 PM

 

Ok, I totally wasn't expecting I could win it but it happened. I was lucky enough to place a bid as soon as I came across this listing on eBay, and was keeping an eye on this item about an hour before it ended (I was still the only bidder that time and that was pretty common as many buyers would do last minute bidding or use the automatic bid system on their behalf) - however the listing ended unexpectedly approx. 40 minutes earlier and I eventually won it before others could place their bids.

 

I was really surprised and then I checked the listing again and found that the seller relisted the item for a short while before cancelling the new listing, so I assume he/she accidentally relisted this thus making whoever that already placed the bid a winner.

 

AUD10.00 winning bid + AUD5.00 postage (from NSW) is what I paid for :-)

 

Since the auction was only for the signed booklet without the CD, so I simply put it into a jewel case and sealed it. Go gaga!

Viva Forever! Ginger bargain 11:00 PM

 

Super-duper-crazily excited.

 

A box of Spice Girls items (yes, including the highly sought after Ginger promo version of "Viva Forever" - which I thought I'd never gonna have it) for just AUD50.00 picked-up from an 'ex-Spice fan' at Nollamara.

 

I just didn't know why I woke up thinking about checking things out at Gumtree, I randomly searched for some stuffs and also typed in "Spice Girls", this listing popped up and I couldn't believe my eyes on what I saw especially the Ginger single. I didn't think twice and contact the seller by text straight away, luckily she was being helpful and reserved all the goods for me, and then I picked it up at her place in the evening with a colleague.

 

Amazingly dreamy bargain but it's real! *partying*

One way to get the Ginger Spice limited edition release was by writing in 25 words why you like the Spice Girls, the 500 most creative entries win (a competition entry card is included in each Viva Forever AUS limited individual cover singles).

 

I asked the seller but she said she couldn't remember how she got it, possibly from a magazine competition. Anyway, here is it:

 

Spice Girls "Viva Forever" Ginger cover Promo CD [only 500 copies worldwide - AUS competition prize]

Nice to expand my Spice Girls collection a bit. :)