Ramblings Intérieurs

Philippine Daily Inquirer

100. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Finally, I reached the 100th mark for my list of reasons to be happy and thankful that I am living in this lifetime. Since this is a record, it is only appropriate that the 100th reason would cross all boundaries. And what more could this be but our newspaper for more than 15 years (if I'm not mistaken).

This broadsheet has been a very big help not only to me but to my family as well. The information that this newspaper has giving us for the last 15 years or so has been very, very useful to us. It does not only give us the latest news (very, very credible I must say) but tips on practically every aspect of life - personal, financial, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. It's an all-in-one paper.

I can give short examples about those as I grew along with PDI.

Personal: I grew up reading the advices of Robbie, Rissa, and Raya Mananquil (now all models and professionals) when they were still teens in the 2BU! section of Inquirer. The advices of Tita Dulce also made perfect sense as I heed her advices and gave her advices to my friends who turn to me for advices (shhh...that's a secret).

Financial: The Business Section of PDI has more that just business news. It has featured and is still writing stories about the inspiring and success stories of the best entrepreneur the country has produced. Of course, on those stories it is clear that the success stories of these CEO's, COO's and taipans were not walk in the park. They encountered a lot of challenges, difficulties, and pains but they continue and succeeded. How? Read the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Mental: The Opinion Section of the Inquirer is another gem. This is where I read the best writers that the country has produced. Conrado de Quiros, Michael Tan, the late Adrian Cristobal are just one of the few many writers that I read in PDI that got me hooked on reading the most widely-read broadsheet in the country.

Emotional: A lot of stories in PDI had made me emotional. The stories of the youth in "Young Blood" and their counterpart, the uhmmm, sixty-something in "High Blood." Not to mention the real stories that appears in it's front page. The not so-good-things about our country and how we and I are not able to do something about it. But what makes this truly special is that because the stories always end up with hope. Hope that we should not abandon despite everything.

Physical:
Of course the Sports Section of the Inquirer is a class of it's own. Almost always on time (sometimes PBA results yesterday would not be included in the next day's issue). But in general, I could rely on PDI regrading results of sports tournament I watch. NBA, US Open, Super Bowl, you name it they got it. They also have the best sportswriter in town, Al S. Mendoza and Recah Trinidad (who came back after a fling with retirement). The Tuesday Section of PDI about Lifestyle and Leisure also gave me tips on how to live a healthy and happy life with articles about the latest exercises and how to have a happy disposition in life through the articles of Cory Quririno.

Spiritual: This is the best part.

PDI has Fr. Jerry Orbos in it's Opinion Section every Sunday. Fr. Orbos column is my must-read column of Inquirer every Sunday with his jokes and anecdotes about life and his practical tips in life on how to live life as a Christian.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer also has what it calls "radical optimism" every Sunday. This means that every Sunday, it's front page only features good news. Yes, only good news. If you read a bad news or headline, you will see the good news inside it. I have another good news. It's not limited to Sundays anymore, as you can see in my previous blog entries.

Now, how's that for news?

Music for God is the Greatest Music There Is

I have a folder and a play list in my Nokia 5200 called "Music for God is the Greatest Music There Is" and this is where all the songs to, for, and all about God is safely stored. As you all know, I am a music lover and not just with a specific genre. I listen to all genre - pop, R&B, opera, rock, classical, jazz, you name it, I listen to it. Most of the songs I listen to has something to do with emotions and what I feel at that particular moment. And most of the time it's about one thing - LOVE. Yes, you read it right. It's all about love - and more often than not it's about unrequited love. Sounds familiar? =)

However, right now, I have rediscovered songs for and about God. I'm so happy that I was able to re-discover these kind of songs. I discovered these songs about a decade ago and now I am listening to it again and I am now discovering new songs and exciting songs all about God.

I am listing them here today with the lyrics and try to listen to them. You will find out that music for God is the greatest and the best music there is - no matter what genre.

89. In Your Hands by Hillsong

I'm so secure, You're here with me
You stay the same, Your love remains here in my heart

So close I believe, You're holding me now
In Your Hands I belong, You'll never let me go
So close I believe You're holding me now
In Your Hands I belong, You'll never let me go

You gave your life
In Your endless love
You set me free
And showed the way
Now I am found

All along, You were beside me
Even when I couldn't tell
Through the years, You showed me more of You, more of You.

90. Majesty by Hillsong and Delirious!

Majesty

Majesty
Majesty
your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Singing Majesty
Majesty
Forever I am changed by Your love
In the beauty of Your Majesty
Majesty

91. Heart of Worship by Hillsong

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've amde it
When it's all about You
It's all about You

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

92. Shine Jesus Shine by Don Moen

Lord the Light or Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light.

Lord I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me. Shine on me.

93. God Will Make A Way by Don Moen

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His word will still remain
He will do something new today.

94. I Offer My Life by Hillsong/Don Moen

(Verse 1)
All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

(Bridge)
What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life

95. Holy Spirit Rain Down by Hillsong

Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down
Oh Comforter and Friend
How we need Your touch again
Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down
Let Your power fall
Let Your voice be heard
Come and change our hearts
As we stand on Your word
Holy Spirit, rain down

No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No mind can know what God has in store
So open up heaven, open it wide
Over Your church and over our lives

96. Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me by Malcolm Fletcher/Sara Kling

Come Holy Spirit
Fall afresh on me
Fill me with Your power
Satisfy my needs
Only You can make me whole
Give me strength to make me grow
Come Holy Spirit
Fall afresh on me

97. Give Thanks by Don Moen

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son (repeat)

And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'
Let the poor say, 'I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us' (repeat)

Give thanks.

The last song is very special to me. This is the theme song of the first company I worked (#15 in my list) and where I found Jesus. I last heard this about two Sundays ago when I attended The Feast even if the typhoon "Frank" was wreaking havoc in Metro Manila. There were few people at the usually jampacked 10:00 AM Session of The Feast and electricity went out during the Mass. But The Feast continued and it was one of the most intimate Praise and Worship I have attended. When the song "Give Thanks" played, I couldn't help but cry. I remember the day I found Jesus...and I let go.

Now I have found Him again and this time I ain't letting go.

Hillsong United Live in Manila 2008

85. Hillsong United Live in Manila 2008

They came. They saw. They conquered.

And they rocked. For Jesus.

The concert tickets says the show would start at 8 P.M. and we arrived in Cubao about fifteen minutes before 7 PM. I knew we were "late" because I know that there would be a lot of people and since we have the "General Admission" tickets, I wanted to go in early and be at the middle part. I was right. There were a lot people outside Araneta, mostly youth. But since we were already hungry, we ate first in Gateway and we entered the Big Dome at 7:30 P.M. and the middle part of the General Admission and Upper Box were already full. So we were at the farthest part of General Admission and at the back. But it didn't matter. As I told my officemate Haze, it doesn't matter where we are. What matters is that we came to the concert to be inspired, to experience, and feel the presence of God.

I must admit that I am really not that familiar yet with the songs of Hillsong United. I am still on the process of re-discovering Jesus. Praise and worship is one way for me of re-discovering Him. That is why I wanted to watch this concert even if it means withdrawing some money my savings account. Even if I have work the next day. Even if I am at the farthest part of Araneta Coliseum.

It was worth the sacrifices.

Surprisingly, there was no front act in the concert (No Filipino Christian rock band?). The show barely started but the crowd were already screaming their lungs out (and that includes me).

Joel Houston opened the show by reading a verse from the Bible which I can't remember because I can barely understand what he was saying. I had to listen attentively whenever the members of the band talks to the crowd. This was maybe because we were at the back or because of the huge crowd.

The band started the concert with the song "Time Has Come."

They proceeded into what would be an identical series of songs from the "With Hearts as One" album. It was the first time I heard the songs but my feet was stomping to the beat and enjoying the songs as they were being sung. I found myself praying and in worship on the middle part of the show when they were singing the slower songs, "Hosanna" and "All I Need Is You."

They sang songs mostly from their new album, "With Hearts as One" and almost all the songs were fast and of course, rocking.

For encore, they sang "One Way" and "Solution."

The crowd was of different mix. I saw kids, teenagers, yuppies, parents in where we were seated. They came from all classes. Even of different races. I saw some Chinese-Filipinos and a few Americans. Donita Rose and Rica Peralejo cried and worshipped in the front row with their Christian friends. It really didn't matter who you are, where you came from, or what class you belong. What mattered is that they came to praise and worship God. The focus was on Jesus.

Earlier that day, I had a conversation through text with a friend and I was having a problem with that friend (I can't blog about it for personal reasons) and the chorus of the song "All I Need Is You" brought home God's message to me. "All I need is you, Lord. Is You, Lord."

The complete set list (not sure of this is correct):

Time Has Come
Take It all
What the world will never take
My Future Decided
All I Need is You (my LSS)
Hosanna
Shout Unto God
The Stand
Break Free
Look To You
Salvation is Here
More than life
None But Jesus
From the Inside out
Came to my rescue
Savior King
Tell The world

Encore:

One Way (this song is what most, if not all, the crowd wanted to hear)
Solution

For pictures, visit my Multiply site: http://rolly07.multiply.com/photos/album/23/Hillsong_United_Live_in_Manila_2008

It was an overwhelming experience for me. The crowd. The band. The songs. There was even one part of the show that I shed a tear. There's only one word to describe the Hillsong United concert in Manila.

Amazing.

David Cook wins American Idol Season 7

I wasn't expecting David Cook to win. Much more to get 12 million votes more than David Archuleta. But that's what happened. David Cook won over David A. in American Idol Season 7 by a margin of 12 million votes.

I read an interesting article from AP (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iwXD4BoO2HF6nbttn2FU7Cw_ZtowD90QLIM01) about insights on why or how David C. won over David A. It says there that even though David A. has legion of young female fans, the viewership for teenagers who watch AI has gone down. The median age of Idol viewers has gone up to 42, whereas before it was "only" 30. In short David Cook had the vote of almost all the viewers of AI. I didn't know that a lot of old, I mean, mature people watch AI.

For me, it really doesn't matter, because I believe David Cook was the better artist and he deserved it. But you can't expect that to happen every time in American Idol. As the article concluded, in a competition that can crown a 29-year-old gray-haired Southerner one year and a cheery 17-year-old high-school student from Arizona the next, it's ultimately impossible to tell why America choose its "Idol" the way it does.

And that's precisely why I love watching American Idol.

David Cook's Best

I'm taking a break from serious stuffs, relax and write about another contestant from the most popular reality show-singing contest of this time, American Idol!

70. David Cook

Coming from someone who listens to alternative rock, I knew this guy would be the rocker to beat in American Idol Season 7.

Although I was rooting for David Archuleta on the earlier part of AI, I was amazed by David Cook's version of "HappyTogether" on the first week of the show.

And as the reality show progressed, I was able to hear one of the best performances in American Idol history. This is because David does not just perform a song, he makes it his own. As I have pointed out time and again, making a song your own is what makes a singer an artist. Damn great artist. David Cook.

I will be listing my favorite performances of David Cook below:

71. Happy Together by The Turtles

Now, who would be able to make a song like "Happy Together" sound rock? Only David Cook. I also agreed with Simon that I haven't heard that song sung like that before.

72. Hello by Lionel Richie

"This is the bomb!"

With all apologies to the dawg, Randy Jackson, I still feel that this is the song that made David Cook a household name not only in America but the whole world. It was an "emo" version of the song but it still sounded so damn good.

72. Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles

David Cook made me realized that there's still a lot of Beatles song that I haven't heard and appreciated yet. This is one of them. This song also tugged my heart because it speaks of "all the lonely people."

73. Day Tripper by The Beatles

Another song by The Beatles that I didn't know existed and when David Cook sang it, my admiration for Beatles became stronger.

74. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

I wasn't able to catch this performance but my friend Edwin told me that he's rooting for Michael Johns (who's eliminated already) and David Cook because of his version of this Michael Jackson classic. I wasn't able to watch the particular episode
because I was on training and I thought I already saw what the contestants are capable but David Cook proved me wrong. When I heard an mp3 of the song, I was "Wow" and it became my LSS (until now). Way to go for David Cook!

75. Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton

I don't have the slightest idea of what the song was and I haven't heard it before in my life but when David Cook sang it, I immediately liked it!

76. Innocent by Our Lady Peace

This is another performance that I wasn't able to catch but when I downloaded the song, I immediately had it in my "Favorites" song in my reliable Nokia 5200. I am a fan of "Our Lady Peace" and David Cook's version rocks!

77. Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey

This is another surprise from David Cook. What could he possibly sing from Mariah Carey's long list of hits? Sure, Mariah Carey had a lot of hits but can David pull it off? Well he did and it was another stellar performance. But I guess I'm becoming too much a fan. Just listen to the song and be the judge.

Next week will be "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" week and this is David Cook's week. I'm definitely watching it.

As a final note, I am rooting for a David-David (David Archuleta vs. David Cook) showdown but I guess you know who I'm rooting for

P.S. If you want to listen to the songs performed by David Cook in AI, just visit my Multiply site at http://rolly07.multiply.com/music/item/28/David_Cooks_Best

Hillsong

31. Hillsong

If you have been reading my blog lately, you would know that I am now attending the weekly prayer gathering of the Light of Jesus in Valle Verde Club in Pasig called "The Feast."

In "The Feast" I have re-discovered Christian music that I forgot for a while. One of these is the music of a great Christian group in Australia called Hillsong. It was about a decade ago when I first heard a song called "So Close (I Believe)" in a Born-Again church I used to semi-attend and the song's lyrics captured me and I really felt that "God is with me, holding me, in His Hands, I belong and would never let me go."

It was the start and few more songs came that touched my heart like no other songs did. "The Heart of Worship", "Lord, I Offer My Life", and "Majesty (Here I Am)." 

Today I am again re-discovering their music and I am currently listening to one of their new songs called "This Is How We Overcome."

I know this is one part of the start of my journey of re-discovering God and never letting go. By reading my blog, I am inviting you to read on and enjoy this journey with me.

After re-discovering Hillsong, I remember a Philippine Idol forumer's signature saying "Music for God is the greatest music there is."

I can only say "Amen."

Metropop Song Festival

Last night, I was looking at the Multiply site of Sandee http://sandeerecabar.multiply.com/ for some new music that I can download in my phone and listen to and she uploaded some OPM gems. She uploaded selected songs from Metropop Song Festival. This has to be in my 2008 "hit-list."

25. Metropop Song Festival

The Metro Manila Popular Song Festival or more popularly known as Metropop is is an annual music festival where composers get to showcase their songs and are sung by singers of their choice. It started in 1977 and ran until 1985. It was re-launched in 1997 and ran until 2003 on GMA 7.

I wish that GMA will "again" re-launch this songwriting competition because it has created a lot of very good songs and masterpieces that only a Filipino composer can do. A sample of these songs are the next two in my 2008 hit-list.

26. Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (composed by "The Maestro," Ryan Cayabyab, and performed by Hadji Alejandro)

This song was the first grand prize winner of of Metropop. Although there's a little bit of controversy about it, which I will explain later, it is already a winner itself by the title alone. A lot of Filipinos really doesn't appreciate or does not really know how good Original Pilipino Music is. This song will give you an idea. It would show you how beautiful our music really is.

The song also went on to win 1st place at the 1978 Seoul Song Festival. It only shows that Filipino composers and songs are world-class.

27. Anak (written, composed, and performed by Freddie Aguilar)

A lot of people don't know this but "Anak" (Filipino translation for "child" or more accurately "my son" or "my daughter") was "only" 2nd place in the 1st Metropop Song Festival and lost to the song above, "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika."

"Anak" was the crowd favorite and when the song did not win, the crowd booed. I'm not trying to revive an old controversy. I'm just stating a fact.

But like in life, if a person loses something, he gains another and gains much, much more than what he lost. The song "Anak" did not win in Metropop but became a worldwide hit and was released in 56 countries and in more than 26 different foreign languages. It has also sold over 30 million copies.

Why did the song "Anak" became a hit? It had simple melody with simple lyrics and tells a story that any person can relate to. It is a remorse song of a child expressing apology to his parents. Whoever you are, wherever you came from, or whatever you do in life, once upon a time in your life you were a "child" and made mistakes.

I am not saying that "Anak" is a better song than "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" because they are two different songs and should not be compared with each other. If you are a parent, you don't compare your children (mga "anak") with each other. Because each child has his/her own stregths and weakness but you love them both. Just as I love the two songs above.

Who I Am Hates Who I've Been

I heard a song last night on UniversiTV and I was hooked. I liked the melody and I made sure that I get an mp3 copy of the song. I did today (courtesy of Multiply) and I saved it on my phone. What I liked about the song, aside from it's melody, is that because it's title is literally exactly how I feel as of this moment. I was also surprised that the band who sang it is a Christian rock band. Below is the lyrics of the song.

Who I Am Hates Who I've Been by Relient K

I watched the proverbial sunrise
Coming up over the Pacific and
You might think I'm losing my mind,
But I will shy away from the specifics...

'cause I don't want you to know where I am
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus]
Stop right there. That's exactly where I lost it.
See that line. Well I never should have crossed it.
Stop right there. Well I never should have said
That it's the very moment that
I wish that I could take back.

[Chorus]
I'm sorry for the person I became.
I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

I talk to absolutely no one.
Couldn't keep to myself enough.
And the things bottled inside have finally begun
To create so much pressure that I'll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps
Synching up to the beating of my heart,
And I was positive that unless I got myself together,
I would watch me fall apart.

And I can't let that happen again
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus x2]
[Chorus]

Who I am hates who I've been
And who I am will take the second chance you gave me.
Who I am hates who I've been
'cause who I've been only ever made me...

So sorry for the person I became.
So sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

"Rock on and God Bless!"

NU 107's Christmas Gift

I was so engrossed with Philippine Idol that I didn't noticed that the 13th NU 107 Rock Awards is already finished. It was held last December 1, 2006. I was able to watch it on TV though on Studio 23 but I wasn't satisfied. The whole show was not televised and the band's performances was selected. I wasn't able to hear Lokomotiv! I've been hearing a lot from that band and I heard one of their songs. I already forgot the title but it was quite good and I liked to hear them live.

Every year, I always plan to go and watch the NU 107 Rock Awards but never really had the chance to go there. It's been 13 years that NU is giving out awards and for 13 years I never had the chabce to watch it live! During it's early stage, I just record the whole show on cassette tapes since I don't have the money and the connections to be able to get tickets ang go to the venue. Now I have the money, although not the connections, but still I'm not able to go because of work. Goddamn call canter job (haha)!

Anyways, if anyone there is a listener of NU, they have a Christmas gift to all of us, NU listeners. Starting yesterday, December 22, 6 PM until 12 midnight of January 1, they will be having the Remote Control Holiday Blow-out. That means we, the listeners, get the chance to chose the songs to be played on NU. It's 10 days of nothing but requests! So, what are you waiting for? Grab that cell phone or call NU for your requests!

Questions by Blaque

The moment I heard this song from finalist Pow Chavez of Philippine Idol in one episode of I Love Philippine Idol (see the videos in my profile), I fell in love with it the song immediately because of how beautifully she sang it and I wanted to know what the title of this song since it was the first time I heard it. I found the answer today since someone posted it in YouTube and I searched it in Google. Thanks to Pow for introducing to me this song.

I was very surprised because the song is very full of emotions and has a very deep meaning. This song is really for the girls. Check it out!

Questions by Blaque

[1]
I wanna know why this feels so right
I wanna know why u hold me tight
Each and every night, it keeps me up all night
Thinkin about the things i like
Can't believe your in my life
I wanna know why ur the one
The things that they should have you've already done
God sent u straight to me
You make me wanna sing lalalalala

[Chorus]
But when u look at me, do u see ur wife?
Can u picture us lovin' each other for life?
Are u playin' the role, just like the rest
These are the questions that i ask myself
If, another should come, who's finer than me
And she wanna take ur love away, would u leave?
Baby please answer these questions

[2]
Could this be my whole fantasy
Maybe u could just be too good for me
If i don't wake then i won't see
Cuz if im not the one u met, then who is in me
In the mist of the tears how come, i love u more, and more, and more
I never longed for no one, yes its true
Seems like these questions keep me here with you

[Repeat chorus 2x]

[Bridge]
If you really wanna be with me
Then ill say, i love u endlessly
One thing that i really wanna know
Will this end or will this grow
And now if u really be wanna be with
Ill love u endlessly
One thing that i really wanna know
Will this end or will this grow

[Repeat chorus 2x]

Endless, A Silent Whisper

Endless, A Silent Whisper by Urbandub

The night belongs to us 
We’re caught in a world of our own 
We cling to the hope it would change for us 
Is it in vain? Is it too late? 
Why did it have to be you than I. 
I heard the news today. 

Is this the beginning of our last dance? 
Once around the floor, can we do it again? 
I feel the thrill from words we say, 
I love you. 

Embrace so much tighter 
This could be our last together 
Heaven sheds tears for the wounded hearts 
Our forever has been torn apart 

Our vast religions 
Won’t help us answer 
What was pre-destined for us to have 
Since long ago. 
It’s hopeless 

The world it turns with us 
Hold me in closer, don’t let go of me 
Now we close our eyes and let go to the night 
The night we feel alive. 

Joyride13

 

I have a confession to make: I've been listening and viewing videos in YouTube. I chanced upon a video by a girl by the username of Joyride13 and I'm blown up by her singing, I've been viewing and listening to her videos whenever I am online!

I first viewed her cover of Terra Naomi's "Say It's Possible". I didn't know the song and it was the first time I heard it. I liked it immediately, I searched for the song and the video and I decided to add the video in my profile. But the catch is instead of adding the original video, I added the video of Joyride13 (I asked for permission of course but I don't know if she agreed...haha). I think I liked the song because of Joyride13 singing.

After that I checked some of her video and I heard Switchfoot's "Only Hope", Nickelback's "Far Away", and Edwin Mccain's "I'll Be. This girl's got talent! I liked her a capella versions better than the original artists. And the girl has good taste in music. Two of the videos was the first time I heard the songs and I immediately liked the songs. The other song is "Over My Head (Cable Car)" by The Fray.

I don't know what's happening to me, listening to a 13-year old girl I don't know in front of the computer while writing this but what the heck I can listen over and over to the girl. And I'm expecting more videos from her!

Band to watch: SiGH

Guys and gals, check out the band SiGH (Striving in Greater Hope)! They're a US-based alternative band. they have two Filipino members: vocalist Cyrille Robes and bassist JayR Castillo. They invited me in MySpace and I've been listening to them ever since whenever I'm online. They're quite a good band. If you have a MySpace account search them in the Music section of MySpace or visit www.sighrobes.com and listen to some of their songs. You won'tbe disappointed! =)

Rock my world!

Alternative rock has some good stuff right now. I've been listening to NU 107's Stairway to Seven this past few days and I heard a few good stuff - "Hands Open" by Snow Patrol, Death Cab for Cutie's "I Will Follow you Into the Dark,some OPM stuff like "Rhyme Without Reason" by Hilera, and of course my favorite band Urbandub with "Endless, A Silent Whisper" which is the number one song on Stairway to Seven. I'll be expecting to hear this tracks on other radio stations this coming months like what always happens. I'm really happy that rock is back and with a vengeance! Rock on!!!

Top 10 Albums of All-Time

Name your Top Ten Albums of All-time

Here's mine (in no particular order):

1. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
2. Ultraelectromagneticpop - Eraserheads
3. In Deep - Tina Arena
4. Surfacing - Sarah Mclachlan
5. Nina Live! - Nina
6. Confessions - Usher
7. Star For A Night Album - Various Artists (OPM)
8. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
9. Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness -
Smashing Pumpkins
10. The Best of 1980-1990 - U2

Damn! POT's first and only self-titled album should
be included there! Make that Top 11 Albums of all
Time (harharhar!)

What's yours? :->

OPM Rules!!!

OPM is alive and kicking, deservingly so. With outstanding bands like Imago, Urbandub, Hale, Cueshe, Bamboo, Orange and Lemons, Kjwan, Slapshock, Sugarfree, Session Road, MYMP, "old" bands like The Dawn, Rivermaya, Parokya ni Edgar, Sothborder and upcoming bands like Minaya, Brownman Revival having a lot of airplay. Throw in some Nina, Paolo Santos, Nyoy, Kyla, Kitchie Nadal, Mishka Adams. And let's not forget Martin Nievera, Gary V, Regine Velazquez, Jaya, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs. Also the young artists like Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista, etc. Filipino music is at it's best. Mabuhay ang Noypi!!!

Hallelujiah!

Bamboo has just released their newest single -
"Hallelujiah" which is in heay rotation and is being
played only, of course wherelse, in NU 107. It's an
outstanding track. A second album is expected
from the guys w/c most probably include that track. I'm all praises
for the band and of course, Bamboo Mañalac
himself, an outstanding singer/songwriter of our
time. Bamboo is really the band for this decade,
much like the Eraserheads in the 90's....keep on
rockin'....!!!!!