I had the chance to see Kelly Clarkson perform in Macau, China at the Cotai Arena inside the Venetian casino on May 8, 2010. What an absolutely fantastic performer! I guess you could say I’m one of her fans now.

Of course I have heard her name for years and have seen bits of her performing on American Idol; and those many clips on YouTube. But to hear her live was really something. A great set of pipes. I marveled at her constant control between head and chest voice – her effortless floating up in the ether with light dancing turns, swooping down like the Red Baron to a beefy chest voice and back up again for some real gospel style runs up in the stars. Amazing.

Performing with her was a pretty hard hitting rock band, two backup vocalists and a DJ who would scratch records and serve up the occasional beat loop.

And even in Macau, it seems the whole audience (near capacity) knew all the words to her songs!

PROMO ON KELLY CLARKSON IN MACAU

American Idols very first winner Kelly Clarkson brings her ALL I EVER WANTED TOUR to the CotaiArena at The Venetian® Macao.

Now a certified pop sensation, Clarkson has sold more than 20 million albums since her debut in 2002. The US No.1 “All I Ever Wanted” is her most recent album, and she will perform all of her hits in Macau from Since Youve Been Gone, Because of You and My Life Would Suck Without You, to a few surprises such as covers from the likes of Kings of Leon and Patsy Cline to the White Stripes.

Clarkson says she cannot wait to get on the road and tour. When Im putting an album together, Im thinking about what I am going to want to perform on tour because I love touring. Im always thinking, what songs will be fun to sing? Its going to be a fun record to tour, she says.

Opening for Kelly Clarkson will be special guests Rubberband. Brace yourself for a high-energy concert at The Venetian® in May.

“Everything I Own” performed by David Gates from Bread. The audio is a bit poor but I love the live performance footage. There are many people that sing good copies of David Gates’ voice on YouTube, but the performances don’t give me the shivers and goosebumps like David Gates’ vocals do.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24IfD-0VUu4

“The Diary” by David Gates of Bread. This song has always moved me so much. I’ve probably heard it a thousand times in my life. Each time I listen, I pretend I don’t know how the story is going to end. And then I get a little tear at the very end. I like the experience, it’s sweet.

Many of my co-workers and myself in China have had to adjust and reshape our paradigms of love and relationships. For some it has been sublimely beautiful and others brutally painful.

We tread the treacherous waters between the gold diggers looking for blue cards (working permits) and a new life in the West; to the Mainlanders who have a very different social etiquette and courting process.

You can find many web pages that detail the social differences and various horror stories from the mix of cultures in relationships. But there’s one thing in common with most those pages that they point out: Western men find Asian women enticing and endearing, and Asian women find Western men polite, open and caring. A generality that shifts a lot, but I think it’s an appropriate generality.

For many Western men working in Asia, it’s a time where they have good jobs, a lot of money and time on their hands. A ripe time to enter a relationship. A confusing time for the Gweilo who wants to enter into the Asian culture.

My experience? I’ve been burned about as bad as a Gweilo can get burned. But I wouldn’t change a thing, and it’s all part the road I’m on. It’s all good. So on that note I leave you with another David Gates song – “Seventeen”.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPv3ivUY7o0

“Seventeen” by David Gates of Bread.

“SEVENTEEN” LYRICS

Seventeen – it’s been a while since I’ve seen seventeen
And the years since have been might lean
But there’s no use complaining.

And 42 has a way of creeping up on you
And my chances left are getting few
But there’s still time remaining

And I’ve been waiting for someone
Who loves the way I do
And girl I’ve got my fingers crossed
In hopes it might be you

Twenty One – that’s how many jobs I’ve done
And I remember quitting every one
Without hesitating

And Thirty Three – that’s how many women left on me
I don’t have too good a history
But I don’t mind waiting

Because it really doesn’t matter
How many years you’ve seen
Because love is always Seventeen

I wonder if you’ll be the one
To end this lonesome heart
Because girl I’ve got a lot to give
And I’d sure like to start

It really doesn’t matter
How many years you’ve seen
‘Cause love is always seventeen

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HxYwQh6V5Y

Piano performance of “The Diary” by John Falloon. The thing I enjoyed about this video clip is I could tell he was reliving an experience through playing the music. It’s taking the music that defines a memory and making it a part of yourself. Maybe as musicians we take this process for granted. There’s nothing like it. Watch his face as he plays…

Freddy singing “before the next teardrop” and “wasted days and wasted nights” New Mexico State Fair 2003. Conrad Askland is playing keyboards with Freddy in this video. Not a great video, but just happened to run across it while surfing YouTube. Augie Meyers is also playing accordion with us in this video.

Mount Vernon High School (Mount Vernon, Wa USA) Choir “Synergy” directed by Megan Lizama. I recognize some of these students from our production of Disney’s High School Musical in March 2007 at McIntyre Hall.

What a great sounding group and awesome arrangements. I’ve listened to quite a few high school choir videos on YouTube and I think this is one of the best. There’s a lot of talent in the Skagit Valley of Washington and at Mount Vernon High School. I’ve also worked with many student musicians from MVHS and they were excellent as well.

Soprano: Jana Collins, Rose Drummond, Kristin Hill, Emma Lynn.

Alto: Lindsey Aguilar, Shelby Celia, Allisha Nichols, Bianca Pimentel.

Tenor: Austin Dudley, Xitlalic Hernandez, Kyle Mitchell, Sam Scheibe, Karl Van Burkleo.

Bass: Nick Hayes, Jeff Huschka, Steven Marrinier, Marcus Padilla.