The Christmas countdown begins as the months ends with BER. I am in a mood to create a Christmas Playlist. I usually listen to Christmas songs when it is not Christmas. Anyway, this list contains mostly OPM rock alternative renditions or original Christmas songs, so don't expect the usual Jose Mari Chan songs. I have Urbandub in my list! Yeah! You will never expect a Christmas song or upbeat happy song from them, but yes they did cover a Christmas song and so furious that I just learned it now. So here is my list.. Hope you like it.
1) Let it Snow by Imago from Closeup album
2) The Christmas Song by Rico Blanco from My Kind of Christmas album
3) Last Christmas by Urbandub
4) Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Ebe Dancel or She and Him
If you want me to treat you the way you wanted to be treated then do the following:
1) Don’t over use your power- You are like a traditional politician.You are good with flowery and highfalutin words but lacks in showing concrete actions.You use your power like there is no tomorrow. You ridicule the small people.
2) Don’t be like Vice Ganda - You think you are funny, but sorry to say you are not funny. Your humor is good for comedy bars only. We are in a professional environment, but the word professional is not available in your vocabulary.
3) Learn English- Your English is as bad as your soul.
4) Accept that you don’t know everything - Ask first before answering a question that you don’t know. Don’t act like you know everything. There is no harm for saying “I don’t know”.
5) Don’t make issues- Asking for your permission when going out to watch a film? We are not your child. Don’t be ridiculous.
We don’t like you. We are not happy when you are in our company. Please accept that fact. I have 3 words for you: I HATE YOU.
While I wait for Rico Blanco to release new album, I will bombard you with LSS worthy songs. They are not as popular as "Your Universe", "You'll be Safe Here" and "Balisong", but you should take time to listen to these underrated or less popular songs.
Time for you- This is my current LSS. The simple music video matches this masterpiece.
Come Closer- This is used for a tooth paste commercial. If all commercials are made by Rico Blanco, then I will watch commercials all day.
Imbecilesque and A Little Sorry Should make everything all right - You can choose which one is appropriate for you. If are the one who hurt your loved one, then listen to Imbecilesque. A simple song but with a hard to pronounce title. It says "Hey sorry dear, I know I've hurt you, I won't do it again." If your loved one hurt you, let him/her listen to A Little Sorry. Another simple song that just sums up "Hey you know that you are wrong say sorry to me".
This is a bonus track. For all of teenagers right there who might not know that Rico Blanco wrote this song and yes, Bamboo was the vocalist of Rivermaya in the 90s. What are you doing when you were 18 years old? Probably not writing an epic song like this. Rico in this video downplayed this song a little bit using styrofoam ice box as a percussion instrument.
While using Spotify, I came across with The Break up Playlist OST. There is “With A Smile” cover by Piolo Pascual. Of course I didn’t like it, but label anything with eraserheads or just mention them in any movie or tv shows and it will caught my attention.
So I watched it with a low expectation since I heard it is a rip off of a good movie about music, Begin Again.
Like Begin Again, the first few scenes shows the protagonist in a bar singing with a guitar, both just came from a heartbreak. Then it showed that Sarah (Trixie) and Piolo (Gino) broken up while inside his car with a line “Do me a favor umalis ka na rin sa buhay ko”. Then they were reunited after breaking up years ago. They are offered to have a reunion concert with the latest IT loveteam. Ok, so they infused it with the Pinoy’s obsession with love teams. Then they showed the back story of Trixie and Gino’s love story.
They first met in music camp. This makes me interested. I daydream of attending the Elements music camp, where almost all of the respected vocalist, guitarist, bassist, songwriters are in one place to teach and interact to aspiring artist. Then Gabby Alipe of Urbandub had a cameo, he is one of the mentors.
One of the interesting part of the movie is when they are in the music store. They are answering questions using album cover. I don't know if this is an original concept, or some movies already did this, but I really like this idea. When Trixie asked Gino if what he's current feeling, he picked Eraserheads "Sticker Happy" but covered the sticker part. When Trixie answered the same question he picked Cynthia Alexander's "Insomnia and Lullabies" and choose "Comfort with your Strangeness". I'm quite happy to see or that they mention these rare albums in a mainstream movie.
There was a part when Trixie went to a party and familiar faces were there. Yael Yuzon,Ebe Dancel, Tedmark Cruz, Quark Henares and Pochoy Labog. I said "OMG is this for real?" when Pochoy Labog appeared. I said it again when Basti Artardi sang with Sarah Geronimo. There was a part when they were just having a conversation and just hanging out. I think few people got the joke when Quark said "Tracy" instead of Trixie. Of course, Tracy a radio jock, is her girlfriend.
Now with more comparison: Like Mark Ruffalo’s character, Gino is arrogant and aggressive. Keira and Sarah’s hairstyle is kind of the same. Both are unusual pair. Both guys are forcing the girls to join creating a music or band.
Sarah is natural in her acting. But I think she is stereotyped in kind of characters who are shy, good natured and non-alcohol drinker. Piolo on the other hand, I can't see him as a rockstar since his good looks is just different from a rockstar. Though he tried too look maangas or astig.
I didn't like their song interpretations of my former favorite songs, "With a Smile" and "Huwag na Huwag mong Sasabihin". Unlike Begin Again were the theme song "Lost Stars"is really catchy and LSS worthy, I didn't like the original songs of The Break-Up Playlist.
In the end, I think I liked it. Not the best, but they infused it with elements that I really like, rockstars and music. The scenes in movie are the exact scenes that goes in my head when I day dream, just take out the heart break part.
Ok. This may be a year old video, but I just want to share this epic, history in the making video where not one but 2 rock icons in a stage singing "Come Together" a Beatles classic.
No, I won't comment on who is better, I will leave it on the youtube commenter. The two are different in so many levels.I hope there will be another MDR event.
Now, to make things more epic, Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco and Raimund Marasigan singing "Laklak"
Aside from Kai from Team Bamboo, I also like Sassa Dagdag from The Voice Season 2 of Kids edition. Her unique voice is a rare for her age. Check out her rendition of my favorite song, "La Vi En Rose"
Her Almost Is Never Enough cover is so good I converted her youtube video to mp3 file so I can put it on my Ipod.
She had few questionable song choices at the live show of The Voice. I hope she stick singing feel good songs and not birit songs. Since she can play guitar, I wish that she write her own songs. I am really looking forward on her future albums. Oh and please buy her "If I were A boy" single on Itunes (coz I already did!)
Please check out my first work in Wattpad titled Almost is Never Enough. The story is not yet finished. Hoping to update it as much as possible. This is the story about a rockstar falling in love with a college student. A love story infused with song lyrics, this May-December love affair will make you think how love can cross all sorts of boundaries.
Side note: I am planning to make other story, this time from the point of view of the female protagonist and the female supporting character. :)
She may not have won in The Voice of the Philippines Season 2, heck she was bashed tremendously, but with her debut album, she proves that she is more than that 3 chair turner playing ukelele in the popular singing contest and the senator's daughter.
She doesn't have the birit voice that a typical contest are searching for. She has a sweet voice with in your face (or no filter!) songs.
Her songs are all catchy. I like to listen to it every morning when I am riding the MRT with full of people I want to sing "In your face": "Hey, hey, hey You need to get out of my way, hey, hey 'Cause if you don't turn around this is gonna make a sound 'Cause I'm about to slap you in your face"
This City can be played during long trips or just walking around the city, maybe job hunting.. haha
In the afternoon while working, I want to listen "Tongue Tied". You will remember the times when you see your crush in the hallway and tried to talk and makes a conversation with you.
In the evening while going home, I can't help to sing "Ngayong Gabi". I like listening to it while walking in a dark street while my hair is moving because of the air, daydreaming that some day a guy will walk me home.
I should left - a song about heartbreak and lessons you should remember when you will enter to a new relationship (naks!)
I love her album so much I'm inspired to write my own songs and play ukelele! I believe she doesn't fit to sing cover songs. She is meant to sing her own songs. So screw you bashers she is an artist and not an ordinary birit singer. You may not be The Voice, but who needs it when you have the wit and creativity to back your career?
Hello there graduates of 2015! Are you done printing your resume? Are you preparing for job interviews?
I graduated last 2010. Can’t believe it’s almost 5 years already. I’ve been working for a couple of years and to tell you honestly, I can’t wait for my retirement. haha. Sure it’s fun to receive salary. It’s even more fun if you receive 13th and 14th month pay… but working is really exhausting and sometimes you wish you are a college student again, when everything seems so simpler.
I must tell you that you only use less than 10% of what you learned when you are already working in a corporate world. Well, unless you are in a medical field, an attorney or any profession that has board exam. To tell you honestly, I don’t or should I say can’t use the things I learned in college in my field. My course and current field is a little bit of mismatch. I am Commerce major in Information Systems graduate in HR field (payroll).
Anyways, here are the things I learned outside the school that I think they should include:
1) Kissing ass really works. Maybe not all the time, but it will really have an effect in your career.
2) You must learn how to use Vlookup. Is it just me or am I absent in my computer class that I did not learn it in school? It is very useful to me (maybe just to me).
3) If you think you already encountered different types of people in school, wait till you step in the corporate world. You will meet thieves, whore, ass kissers, drama queens and other types of people in a different level.
4) Even if you will stay until 4 am, if your boss doesn’t like you, you won’t receive an increase or a 200 pesos Starbucks gift certificate or even a “Good Job”.
5) Managers are not necessarily the best in their field. I don’t want to elaborare (wink wink)
6) Just find a couple of office mates that you will trust and you will be ok.
There… I spit it out… Just enjoy the unemployed life… because I did… I was unemployed for 1 and a half years… well almost 2…
“In my life why do Ismile to people I much rather kick in the eye?”
I am an introvert since birth. When the doctor slapped mybutt I didn’t react. They thought I am not alive. They slapped my butt again,but this time it was more painful. So of course I cried. I gave what they want.
Anyway, fast forward to today, who would have thought that I am now working in HR Department as a payroll assistant. How the hell did I land the job? I didn’t apply that’s for sure.
I applied for Data Analyst position around 2011. I stayed for 3 months since my manager said I am not fit for that position. If you will think about it, that position really fits an introvert like me. You will just surf the net, cut, copy, paste… that’s it. You will do that for around 5 to 6 hours since 3 hours is allotted for lunch, morning and afternoon breaks and day dreaming.
Upon checking my resume and my perfect math test, she suggested that I can transfer to the Payroll Department or IT Dept. (since in my resume I put that I made a Payroll System). So yeah, I was transferred to Payroll Dept. as a Payroll Processor. Another job that really fits an introvert like me. I stayed in that position for 3 months and then I was the “lucky”(?) among others to be sent to the client. They need a Payroll Support because their Payroll Processing is crumbling. So I was sent to save their payroll and timekeeping dilemma.
I didn’t know that they are sending me to HR Department of an American IT Company. The worst idea ever. Well of course at first. Being an HR practitioner is the last position in my “What do you want to be when you grow up?” list. Being in HR means talking to people a lot. I mean a lot. I diagnose myself having social phobia, social anxiety , asocial or even being autistic.
Too much human interaction is really hard for me. Who would have thought that introverts and shy type like me will find a niche in a department where talking and being around stranger is a must.
Today, I am working for almost 3 years as Payroll Assistant in the HR Department. Just recently, I am tasked to orient new hires about our Bi—weekly Payroll schedule and using our Timekeeping system. I must say my first try was so bad. But when I did it again last week, I think it was better.
So hello there introverts! you can take a job that’s ultimately for extroverts or people person. You just have to try.
PS. My subject doesn’t connect with this post. I just used it since my opening line is from The Smiths song. This post is about the irony of life. (naks!)
This post is still related to H&M close the loop event.
So I was with my brother when we went to Megamall to watch the H & M Close the loop event. We went to see Up Dharma Down. The last time went to Megamall was to see who else, but still UDD. But we were late. We arrived around 5 pm and they were to perform around 4 pm. Buti na lang naabutan namin ang “Oo”.
Anyway, we left earlier this time, afraid that we might be late again. We left around 3 pm for a 4 pm gig. Lo and be hold, when we were already inside MRT, there was no signal or whatever so we have to wait for some time until they will resume the operation. Of course we can’t wait. Damn you MRT! Why now? So we decided to take refund of my stored value cards and walk for how many meters to ride the bus. We ride on a non-air conditioned bus because, well we have no choice.
So to make our travel story short, we arrived around 4 30 and I think they were just performing their 2nd song. Our goal is to be in front, but of course we were late, so we can’t do that.
Up Dharma Down never fails to amaze me. The sound was very clear, not “wasak” or “basag” sound like an ordinary band sound like. I think that’s because they have a personal sound engineer at the side maneuvering technical stuff. Other bands didn’t have this kind of sound control so their sound was not as crystal clear as UDD.
They sang “Oo”, “Tadhana”, “Indak”, “All the Good things” and “Sana”. Armi was funny in between songs. She was making jokes.
I will never ever get tired of watching UDD. I just can’t.
Maybe the biggest surprise of the night, well, one of… is The Cheats. Prior with this event, I never heard their music. Because, well as I mentioned before I’m old and stuck with the 2004-2010 bands and has no energy to listen to new bands. Thanks to H & M I was able to see and know the Cheats. As of this writing their debut album is played repeatedly on my Ipod and Spotify.
The bad thing was unlike UDD whose sound was so clear, the guitars and other instruments of The Cheats were overpowering the sweet voices of Candy and Saab and Jim’s rocking voice. I can’t understand the lyrics. But what’s good was their energy. They were so engaging and I know that the songs seems good.Well Ely Buendia is the producer of their album, nonetheless so they must be really good. They kept moving and moving around the stage, head banging, and just well, rocking it out for a lack of better term on what they are actually doing.
As you can see in the pictures, they are moving around or closing their eyes like they really feel the song they were singing.
In between songs thy were doing their spiels in a coño way but it was quite cute and funny. Even though I never understood the lyrics during their live gig, I downloaded their songs (legally!) and they are actually good. I am loving “Summer” and “Newspaper Girl”. I am just hoping that next time when I will see them again live, the sound is better because their songs are worth the time to listen to.
So if you have time, please listen to The Cheats. They are worth your memory space on your Ipod and unleash your head banging skills.
I’m getting old. The last concert I’ve been to was the New Year Countdown at Resort’s World Manila where Ely Buendia was so close to us. Approximately half a meter away and a 3 feet stage.
I never thought that I will be so much closer to him. Thanks to H & M, the distance was shockingly half a ruler and maybe a 12 inch stage. As what Ely said this was the closest they have been while performing or in a gig. I was so close that I could count his white hair… so close I can read their setlist.
To be honest I was a little bit disappointed when I saw the set list. Most are from their new album “Zilch”. If they released this when I’m still in college, I already purchased it and I can sing along with the band. But no, I am already in an age where quarter-life crisis is predominantly popular. Sayang, I can’t show him that I know the songs. We made eye contact pa naman.
The first two songs were “Firewall” and “Why”. The third song was 20/20 from Limters of the Infinity Pool. At last I know the song and was able to sing along. Next was “Resonate”. Then some group of teen age boys were requesting for “Monobloc” from Wildlife album. Ely joked that Jerome Velasco (their new guitarist replacing Yan Yuzon) is still learning their songs. So I blurted out “Nasaan Ka” from Beautiful Machines. He said “Yun. Yung mas madali na lang”. Haaay… it was surreal. It was beautifully sang. I sang along, and surprisingly almost all of the people knew the song. Ely maybe became happy to know that people still know songs from Pupil (and not just his old band). Then maybe he was hyped up, someone requested for Magasin. He joked “Mag aasin?”. So yes, he performed it with a different flavor. Different from the Eheads, solo Ely Buendia style. It’s slow but still with heavy riiffs of Pupill. Ang ganda lang. Magasin is the song that I didn’t like at first but just grew on me. I really liked the version of Ely when he sings this on his solo gig. At some point he said “Kayo na lang kaya kumanta” because we were all singing we beat the sound of his voice or even his guitars. Ang saya lang.
Because he was so close and it’s my first time to use my Canon S 140 in taking pictures during concerts, I am practicing using aperture, shutter speed and ISO or whatever. haha. Anyway, some were requesting for “Hey Jude”, “Hey Jay”, Ely gamely do the intro riffs if those songs. Then the they also requesting other songs from his old band. I like to say“Please stop it!” since Ely is quite in a good mood so don’t ruin it. He already played “Magasin” and I can feel that he is really in a good happy mood. I think that every time he is with Pupil, he is more comfortable with them. Unlike being a solo artist (he sends really different vibe when he is performing alone), and the Oktaves, I can really see the passion and happiness when he is with Pupil. It’s his comfort zone. After that nostalgic songs, they performed new songs like “Cheap” and “Out of Control”, At the end, he throw his guitar pick while saying “Sa inyo na lang”. I don’t know if I’m imagining but he’s looking at me. Sayang! I almost got it, pero there was a taller guy eh. So yun, I told you, iba yung vibe niya that day. The happiest performance I’ve seen him during their gigs.
Wendell Garcia, the happiest drummer boy ..but not seen in this picture
Dok Sergio fixing his effects
his signature pose
Ely wearing polka dot polo while showing his white hair…still looks good.
The disadvantage of being close is not getting a complete band shot
Haaay… with this gig I rekindled my love affair with the band music and scene.
Thank you H&M for the giving us literal “CLOSE” the loop experience.
Ok. This may be a year old video, but I just want to share this epic, history in the making video where not one but 2 rock icons in a stage singing "Come Together" a Beatles classic.
Aside from Kai from Team Bamboo, I also like Sassa Dagdag from The Voice Season 2 of Kids edition. Her unique voice is a rare for her age. Check out her rendition of my favorite song, "La Vi En Rose"
