Christmas Playlist

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

5) Santa Baby by General Luna

6) Silver Bells- She and Him

7) Season of Smiles by Itchyworms

8) So this is Christmas by John Lennon

9) Christmas Morning by Eraserheads

10) Christmas Party by Eraserheads

11) Simbang Gabi by Parokya ni Edgar

12)  I won't be home for Christmas by Blink 182

13) Christmastime by Smashing Pumpkins

Issues

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.

Rico Blanco Playlist

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.

The Break-up Playlist

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.

Come Together - When Rockstars Unite

  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"



Ely and Dong Abay




Bamboo and Rivermaya


So enjoy watching the videos.OPM rocks!!

Unique Voice

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!)

Almost is never enough

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. :)

Please check my story out.

Thank you.

In your face and other songs about other faces

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?