I saw the episode of All Star K! last night featuring the mermaids of GMA’s latest series Dyesebel. They were a nice looking bunch save Vaness and Sheena. Who caught my attention? It wasn’t Kilantang or Jaya. They were Rea Nakpil, Ava Jugueta, Sachi Sanders and Precious Adona. The latter two I need more information, so fill me in anyone. I enjoyed the voices of Ava, Rea and Sachi. I don’t care if they can act…they caught my attention damnit!
# Start digression
I enjoyed the opening of Eat Bulaga! on Saturday. They had the hosts as a complete band: Pia (keyboards), Michael V (drums & percussions), Lougee (bass), Julia & Aiza (guitars), Tito & Vic (guitars) and Joey singing along with everyone. The entry was actually to introduce the latest competition that the show will be undertaking which they call E-Banda. The contest is for college bands which don’t have recording contracts yet. Tito is so serious when playing his guitar. In my knowledge, Tito is the producer amongst the trio (VST & Company = Vicente Sotto III & Company), Vic makes the melody and Joey for the lyrics. What I’m saying is that Tito knows his shit :)
June 2nd, 2008
The second batch of lyrical lines that I’ve picked from my playlist. It took me more than a week to complete this batch. I’m not as inspired as the last one I guess. That’s the problem when you are reading while listening. You have to give the book priority.
Deep in my heart
There’s no room for crying
But I’m trying to see your point of view
- My Eyes, Travis
As I’ve said in my past entries, I am not an avid fan of Travis’ music, but rather the band’s style. Only thing though about them is that few of their songs either describes me or describes my philosophy. These lines describes my emotions. I keep them inside and I never really pour them out on someone. I pour them out on music most of the time. If I’m soundtripping loudly, it means I’m letting out a steam. It’s quite healthy really. Yeah, that’s it — I keep everything to myself. You’ll probably notice this on the demeanor on my face.
He pulled a gun from his jacket
He said I was going to die
It gives me so much satisfaction
To watch you beg and cry.
I just made up this story
To get your attention makes me smile.
- I Stopped To Fill My Car Up, Stereophonics
I enjoy listening to this song because it brings me into the story. Kelly Jones is a superb storyteller indeed. The lines above is a literal cry for attention — and it’s a good one at that. I especially like the last line. I would be considered anti-social, yet crying for attention. Aren’t we all? If I could play a goddamn guitar (which I’m sure I won’t because I have nervous coordination issues) I would be playing this song over and over again.
There’s things I want
There’s things I think I want
There’s things I’ve had
There’s things I wanna have
Do I want the dreams?
The ones we’re forced to see
Do I want the perfect wife?
The word perfect ain’t quite right
…
I’m just looking
I’m not buying
I’m just looking
Keeps me smiling
- Just Looking, Stereophonics
This is the first Stereophonics song that I heard and I’ve been a fan ever since, collecting all their albums. I think that the lines above has put what’s real and what’s not into words. I’m not sure yet if I’m just looking. Am I trying to grasp or am I just standing on the curb watching things pass by. It’s fascinating to not know what is real and what isn’t. Something so simple, yet if we stop and ponder we would be in a limbo trying to figure the thing out.
Cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
- Almost Lover, A Fine Frenzy
The lines above are for Mai. The song isn’t. Only the lines. My mind is filled with her images when I’m conscious. If you want her out of my mind, you have to knock me unconscious, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be in my dreams.
May 18th, 2008
Yesterday I went to the festival with four colleagues. We arrived at the expo center a little after 1. There weren’t too many people. When we entered the expo, we were greeted by WU exhibitors. So fun begins. We did everything so that we each get a souvenir from WU. Then we roamed around the expo and found the MG booth. We again asked for souvenirs. The result is the photo below. These two companies are the competitors of the company we work for — that’s why it’s fun. Needless to say, we also acquired a few souvenirs from X (another competitor) later that day.
The entrance was fun, now to the show. Firstly, since it was a Filipino event, the Filipino time has to play a role. The show started an hour late, so that means we have to leave an hour late. Papa Sam (Milby) is the last performer which is at 9:30 (adjusted due to Filipino time). MYMP is to perform before him, that means we have to wait at least until 9:30 before leaving. We sat down to watch the show an hour before the bandfest which we were counting on.
The bandfest bored us to death. I almost fell asleep. Only one band got me excited and only for one song out of three that they performed. The band is called The Grudge and the song is incidentally called Hoy! Gising! Only two bands sang Filipino songs and they were the bands that didn’t advance to the finals. Judges of the contest didn’t know what they were doing. I think they weren’t so broadminded judging the talents. I confess, The Grudge didn’t know how to perform on stage, but the bands who advanced were the same and I couldn’t even make out their lyrics because their vocals are so bad. All bands weren’t original with their music that’s probably why I got bored. They will always remain in the local scene.
The festival showcased a couple of comic act. They were funny, but were rated-R. A few performances that led to MYMP were terrible because they simply are not my type.
MYMP — Make Your Mama Proud — should only perform in cafés because that is the only environment their genre can handle. I will not intentionally go to an MYMP gig again unless I’m in a restaurant having dinner and they’re playing. I’ll just listen to them on the radio because it’s better to listen than to watch them play. The performance has no life and is to be expected because again of the genre of their music. The voice of Juris is there, but I’m supposed to be watching a gig, not listening to my iPod.
In conclusion, the festival was dismal. The journey to and fro the center was fun though — tiresome for me because I was driving. We had a good chat in the car, but what happened with Papa Sam stays with Papa Sam.
May 18th, 2008
A listing of lines that I like from lyrics of the songs in my current playlist. The playlist in my i-touch-nothing-happens does not have a wide variety of artists. I currently have select artists/bands - Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Travis, Oasis, Queens of the Stoneage, Heather Nova, Chantal Kreviazuk, A Fine Frenzy, Ryan Adams, David Gray, Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay, Nelly Furtado, Radiohead, Damien Rice, and Robbie Williams. That’s quite a spectrum of moods in a short list.
When I’m on the move (i.e. walking) I usually have something stuck in my ears. That’s when I do most of my thinking. A line or two from a song can inspire me to write, most of the time ravings because if you have listened to these artists, then you will know where I get my confidence and confirmation to write what you may call abhorring statements. So, without further ado…
My little empire
I’m fucked with being fucked
- My Little Empire, Manic Street Preachers
That is quite a statement especially if you are being oppressed most of the time. I am clearly oppressed by thoughts and emotions. Fortunately, I have society to blame for it.
Cold, cold water
Surrounds me now
- Cold Water, Damien Rice
The song is actually religious. If I continue with the lyrics, Rice is actually saying that even if everything is not alright, he has the Lord’s presence to help him. I obviously had those lines cut-off because these are the only lines that matter to me. It’s my current state…just kidding. Well, kidding aside, I like the way Rice describes suffering in those lines.
You left me on the shelf
And now there’s no-one to rely on
But if it’s all the same to you
Here’s what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna buy a gun
Gonna shoot everything, everyone
And then I’m coming for you
‘Cos it was you that drove me to
- Last Train, Travis
Before anyone jumps into conclusion, I’m not condoning massacre. I couldn’t believe the first time I heard this - coming from Travis either. I find that these lines express helplessness and complete frustration. Why did I include this verse on the list? I guess I’m showing how comfortable I am at accepting these kinds of things. I still have sanity left in me to decide that this action is not part of my values, nor it will ever be. I may be a master at emotional torture, but physical pain is not my forte. Physical manifestation of pain towards others is against my belief because that would mean I am blatantly accepting an inevitable connection between men. My principle in life is so simple: as long as I don’t initiate physical pain to someone, then I’m preserving my values.
How about emotional pain? Emotional pain does not provide evidence of who caused the pain because there is no trail between the cause and effect. Emotion is stateless, thus there is no point of reference.
May 9th, 2008
While I was watching the opening for Eat Bulaga! today, I was reminded of my high school days back in the Philippines. Back then, we had a subject wherein we did skits every Fridays on a given topic. It’s a civics class, so the topics relate to morals and ethics. But that’s not the point of this entry.
How did EB’s opening remind me of those years? Well, for me Wally Bayola of the duo Jose & Wally is really funny and talented, but for the love of __the_name_of_your_Almighty__ he needs to take his assignments seriously. Today, he & Jose performed together with Jeepney Joyride and I swear Wally was just moving his lips not knowing the lyrics of the song. It’s not the first time either. Every time he sings he doesn’t know the lyrics of the song. It’s a live band so there’s no way he can lip-sync. In dancing, I know he’s good at it, but it seems he never practices the steps. In skits, he forgets what he’s supposed to do. It’s been going on for years and this really makes his talent go to waste. And I like him over Jose.
Still how did it remind me of those years? When we’re doing our skits, we often forget our lines and reminding me of those years is just fascinating. It was just like yesterday and now we are all over the world with some of us having families already. It’s amazing how time goes and reminds us of what happened. We did plenty in those years. We did a concert using primitive instruments which our ancestors used way back before the Spaniards colonized us. I never had that experience when I went to high school in New York. I even joined a pageant in my Freshmen year. We only had about 12 boys in our section and we all had to join or else we fail. Now that I think of it, if I had the knowledge I have now, I would have gotten out of that show easily. I hope this entry doesn’t remind someone to search their albums for pictures of the event because it will be a freakin’ nightmare for all of us.
What’s the moral of my story? If you are given a task, be prepared. If you are forced to do extra-curricular activities and is threatened to be failed if you did not join, sue them. That’s why it’s called extra-curricular because it’s not mandatory – not part of the curriculum. Everytime I remember that event, it drives me nuts. I can still remember my outfit, my talent, etc. I’m pathetic as always.
April 22nd, 2008
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