Two pictures uploaded on Facebook 24 hours after Singapore Hit Awards had some of my female friends shrieking in hysteria…

… which gives me a reason to repeat my medical condition.

You do remember that I fell into a lousy drain in 2007 right? I have some metal embedded in my left foot. Most of the screws aren’t visible but there’s this protruding rivet that can be seen and felt. I was given the option to remove that offending thing, but anyone who did two operations requiring general anesthesia in two months wouldn’t want go to through any more trauma lah.

That is why I must wear very comfortable sneakers or flip-flops with Y-shaped straps, and stay away from boots, slip-on leather shoes and slippers with horizontal binds. And I must prevent anyone (or myself) from stepping on my left foot.

I must have been too chor-lor, which explained why I had to take off my shoes and walk around Indoor Stadium in my socks on rehearsals night. There’s some abrasion on the surface, and a teeny weeny bit of pain.

Maybe I should find time to remove that screw once and for all. You wouldn’t mind if I take MC for a couple of days (and be away from the morning show yet again) to do this surgery, would you?

第16屆金曲獎進入最後36小時倒數。今早，我們在空中播出多位入圍歌手與歷屆得獎人的歌曲。

志勇：
我算過了。金曲獎真的要到了。我今天下午回家睡個午覺，晚上去彩排，然後再回家睡個覺⋯⋯ 我再睡兩次，就是金曲獎了！

嘉蕙：
你聽起來像是一隻動物，多過像一名主持人⋯⋯

本屆金曲獎的六名司儀昨天陸續到新傳媒服裝間報到。我的出現讓所有人忙成一團。不是因為我最大牌，而是因為我⋯⋯ 我最有份量。哈哈哈哈。

造型師拿了一件黑色外套給我。我不是走時尚路線的，除了“美！”、“好看！”等字眼，我還真不知道該怎麼形容，反正就是喜歡極了。從衣架取下外套的瞬間，我聽見典禮監製低聲地說：“最好穿不下⋯⋯”

原來那個日本品牌不肯贊助，要穿那件衣服上台，就要付一千大元。

我瞄了監製一眼：“真的穿不下。你開心了吧？”

熱情的造型師拿出第二件外套。監製又嘀咕：“這件八百。最好也穿不下。” 果然，也不合身。嗯，我替他們省了一筆。

“你們一定是故意的，對不對？拿小一號的衣服來刺激我！算了算了，沒衣服穿我就不主持了。我做獎杯遞送員好了！”肥佬發飆了。呵呵。

壓箱寶登場。那件是量身定做的，價格不詳，但應該也不低。店面在烏節路，看似簡陋無比，卻曾服務過David Beckham等名流。

服裝搞定了，下來就靠各位攝影師與導播的傾力配合。請不要讓我的大餅臉出街。拜託拜託。

Still on those pineapple tarts…

I had the pleasure of hosting 插班生 The Freshman‘s very first autograph session last Saturday. I left Bugis Junction feeling all warm and fuzzy, having felt the sincerity of Diya and Carrie- who are so passionate about music, and the show of solidarity by Kewei, Peifen, Ivy and Auntie Lucy- who showed up to support the girls.

For industry players, the music business is largely about dollars and cents. Profitable acts get bigger promotional budgets. Artistes which bring in lesser money get neglected, or receive material otherwise rejected by the A-listers. The cycle goes on… In the course of publishing my *ahem* very first lyrics composition, I heard of people who churn out song after song with zero emotion, only hoping to rake in a quick buck. And there are the obviously non-talented and non-hardworking ones who depend on their looks and/or connections to release an album in their name.

I truly hope that The Freshman, together with many other local acts, achieve commercial success at home and abroad. Passion alone cannot guarantee a livelihood in this competitive arena. Some money along the way will be good. So, would you cheapos stop downloading songs and buy an original copy of the music you like?! Thanks.