Iam Tongi charms American Idol fans for the win

22 05 2023

By now, everyone knows that Iam Tongi is the newest American Idol. TV viewers cast more than reportedly 17 million votes for the 18-year-old from Hawaiʻi.

Fans and judges liked Tongi’s heartfelt song stylings. While the champ has a good voice, the show is not “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent”; it’s more of a popularity contest.

He charmed viewers with his smarts, humility, kindness, humor, and bigger -than-life presence.

Here are the lyrics to the song “Monsters” by James Blunt that Iam sings:

Monsters
/
Lyrics

Oh, before they turn off all the lights
I won’t read you your wrongs or your rights
The time has gone
I’ll tell you goodnight, close the door
Tell you I love you once more
The time has gone
So here it is
I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Oh, well, I’ll read a story to you
Only difference is this one is true
The time has gone
I folded your clothes on the chair
I hope you sleep well, don’t be scared
The time has gone
So here it is
I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Sleep a lifetime
Yes, and breathe a last word
You can feel my hand on your own
I will be the last one
So I’ll leave a light on
Let there be no darkness, in your heart
But I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn
To chase the monsters away
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jimmy Hogarth / James Blunt / Amy Victoria Wadge
Monsters lyrics © Cookie Jar Music Llp, Emi Music Publishing Ltd

 

CONGRATULATIONS!! to Iam Tongi!!!

Be well.

~ Rebekah 

 

 

 

 


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Exciting calendar of events

8 05 2023

It’s not too early to make a note of these art and music events:

“Emergence” by members of the Windward Artists Guild will be on view at the Downtown Art Gallery, 2nd Floor, in Honolulu Chinatown, May 18-27, 2023. A reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 19. Come and see my diptych “Maʻafala Breadfruit” of hand-dyed tissue paper.

Next, the Windward Choral Society directed by Susan McCreary Duprey will sing “Jubilate Deo” composed by Dan Forrest on June 11, 2023, at Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu. The downbeat is at 4 p.m. This major work is in seven movements, each in a different language! Symphony orchestra members will participate. Free admission. Donations appreciated.

Thirdly, “Remembering Susan” in honor of our late friend and artist mentor Susan Rogers-Aregger is scheduled for the month of June 2023 at ARTS at Marks, Nuuanu avenue and Pauahi street, Honolulu. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 2. The closing reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 30. Works will include collages and ceramics.

Let’s hear it for the arts and music! Hooray!

Be well.

~Rebekah

 


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Categories : Fine Art, Music

Musicale

4 04 2023

mu·si·cale

/ˌmyo͞ozəˈkal/

noun NORTH AMERICAN

a musical gathering or concert, typically small and informal.

“Musicale” is the apt name of my sister chorister Liz’s soirée last Sunday evening. It provided another opportunity to hear Tony Lu, a renowned visiting pianist who is blind.

Tony Lu

Liz’s cordial home is on a hill overlooking scenic Kāneohe Bay. A grand piano and two additional keyboards are among the musical instruments in a long parlor.

After socializing at a potluck buffet on the deck—I baked a pan of brownies!—guests gathered inside for after-dinner entertainment: piano duet, piano trio, improvisational playing by Tony and clarinet-piano-vocal jazz styling (“All of Me”), for examples. It seemed like a trip back in time to me, although this was the first time I’ve been present at this kind of “kanikapila.” Grateful!

Be well.

~ Rebekah 


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Art, music & letters rewind

2 03 2023

The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) is a club for women who work professionally as fine artists, writers, and composers. What they have in common is the blank page to start.

When I was a reporter for The Honolulu Advertiser, during and after college, noted and respected writer Gwenfread Allen introduced me to the Honolulu Branch of NLAPW that held regular monthly meetings I enjoyed. Fine, but what I really enjoyed was meeting the Arts members. I wanted to be like them, and that’s what inspired me to take oil painting lessons from the now late Gloria Foss, followed by tissue-paper dying and collage-making workshops by Susan Rogers-Aregger, who has also passed. Currently I have an inventory of paintings and collages. The most recently completed collage “Crater View” has been juried into “Ultra III” at Pauahi Tower, 2nd  Floor Lobby, on exhibit from March 12 through May 11.

If you’re reading this, then you know I write a blog. It’s not my whole life; mostly I try to keep it upbeat. I’ve written about a lot of things, and if you scroll way way down, you’ll come to a search box. Plug in a topic and be surprised. I write a travel blog, too, “Popo Goes Abroad,” accessed from the menu bar.

As for music, I’m not composing nor arranging, but I really enjoy  my part as a chorister in the Windward Choral Society. The choir is currently rehearsing “Jubilate Deo” composed by Dan Forrest. We are scheduled to perform this major work—seven movements in seven different languages—at 4 pm, June 11, 2023, at Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu. Susan McCreary Duprey is the artistic director. Please mark your calendar!

Windward Choral Society

Be well.

~ Rebekah

 


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Artistic treats for the holidays

27 10 2022
“Sunny,” oil on canvas by Rebekah Luke

Past Halloween and Thanksgiving, we can look forward to enjoying the December holidays. I’m checking and marking my calendar now so I won’t miss events I’ve committed to.

The Windward Artists Guild has scheduled a Holiday Fair exhibit from Dec. 2 through 6 at The ARTS at Marks Garage, Nuuanu avenue and Pauahi street in Honolulu Chinatown. Gallery hours are noon to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. You’re invited to a First Friday reception from 5 to 8 pm there on Dec. 2.

Secondly, the Windward Choral Society is presenting “Carol of Joy.” Two performances are on tap—one at 7 pm, December 9, at Kailua United Methodist Church, 1110 Kailua Road, and a 3 pm matinee on Sunday, Dec. 11, at St. Anthony’s of Padua Church, 148 Makawao Ave., Kailua, in case you want to hear the music again or missed the evening concert. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. I’m singing!

~Rebekah


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Dreamy, heavenly, romantic

11 09 2022
Full moon with Jupiter

After a congratulatory Distinguished Service Awards Dinner meeting of the Honolulu Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League last night, an occasion of many speeches, a full moon lighted the way home. I awoke in the middle of the night remembering that my friend and table mates Becky and Susan asked me for a Hawaiian poem to read at a wedding. They wanted something that celebrates the love between two people.

My thinking box came up with “Lei Aloha, Lei Makamae” composed by Chas. E. King. It is not the over-sung Hawaiian Wedding Song duet, so we thought it would be perfect.

Stay in love!

~ Rebekah


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You look familiar

28 08 2022
Do you know when you meet someone who looks familiar in one setting, and you don’t know why or can’t recall where you’ve bumped into him or her before? That happened to me last night at the thank-you party at Kaneohe Yacht Club with Lisa. We’d both come solo, so we shared an umbrellaed table. In July we made the lei for the Pacific Cup yachts that sailed from San Francisco to Kaneohe, the reason we were at the party. Then, after sharing our stories we realized we sing in the same choir on Oahu, the Windward Choral Society. In fact, at our last gig, we sang shoulder to shoulder in the alto section. We sure had a laugh about that one! Ahaha!

Windward Choral Society, artistic director Susan McCreary Duprey

Be well, and keep on singing!
Love,
Rebekah

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