Music for the Day: Fans do Lady Gaga Acapella versions

24 Jan 2010 No Comments

in Music Tags: , , , ,

These wonderful Indonesian kids are fantastic. I and a ton of other people are instant fans! :D

These guys just rock!!

Click here to visit Sam Tsui’s MySpage page.
Click here to visit Kurt Hugo Schneider’s MySpace page.

Let’s hear it for all Lady Gaga fans! :D

Lia for one is a big fan. Ever since she was a month or so old. Hihihi.

Music for The Day: Empire State of Mind

22 Jan 2010 No Comments

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New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York,
New York

One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin’ pretty
No place in the world that could compare
Put your lighters in the air
Everybody say “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah”

To read more on the Blueprint 3 album on Wikipedia, click here.

Click here to go to Jay-Z’s official website.

You may also click here to view the full lyrics.

***

At one point in my life, I had planned on going to NYU, for a PhD in Theatre; but those plans have been changed by more important decisions in my life, such as having a child. Maybe someday I’d go back to my dream. Maybe someday I’d get to New York… to walk Central Park, to watch shows on and off-Broadway and visit the museums. Maybe I don’t have to go to NYU, but I would definitely want to see plain NY.

Yes, I would love to go to New York someday. :)

Jewel’s Near You Always

14 Jan 2010 No Comments

in Music, Poetry Tags: , , ,

I have been totally pre-occupied with de-cluttering my life, err, my house lately. I have taken to ripping all my cds into mp3s and hoping to get rid of the actual cds one way or another.

We have been pre-occupied with house-hunting too the past two weeks and that has made me think that I should not have a lot of stuff to pack and move, that I should not fill up the new house with stuff and that it would totally be awesome if I could adopt a zen theme or at least a zen attitude towards the new life, err, new house.

So anyway, I dug up all the cds, at least the ones that are here in the Pasig apartment (not counting the ones that were left in the Taguig condo) and have been ripping all day today and maybe until tomorrow and found my old, old Jewel cd – the first album!

I like this little bit of poetry from the cd sleeve.

Upon Moving Into My Van

Joy. Pure Joy. I am
What I always wanted
to grow up and be
Things are becoming
more of a dream with
each waking day -
The heavy brows of Daily Life
are becoming encrusted
with glitter and the shaking finger
of consequence is
beginning to giggle
Grumpy old men
have wings
Bums sport halos
and everyday dullness
has begun to breathe
as I remember the
incredible lightness
of living

I love Jewel. I listened to this first album for what seemed like forever in my old walkman until someone gave me her second album as a birthday present. I listened to that too for what seemed like endless hours that involved me drifting in and out of sleep. Hahaha! The last Jewel album I bought though was This Way and have not bought any of the others. Maybe I will think about getting the rest.. Maybe.

I remember we used to pass around her book of poetry in the U.P. Rep tambayan, back when it was still in Vinzons Hill. Maybe I will think about getting that book of poetry for myself too.. Maybe.

For now, I will listen to her old music, ponder on her little bits of poetry and watch her old videos. I miss the old Jewel. :|

Harry Best and Shabang

30 Nov 2009 No Comments

in Music Tags: , , ,

This morning I woke up, picked up the baby, went to her play room which is my work room that I have stayed up the night before tidying up, picked up one of old CDs and popped it in my player.

I don’t know why I did that. I just did. I just thought this morning I would love to listen to this CD I bought for P99 at an obscure music store at the top level of Gaisano department store of Market!Market! three or four years ago.

This is the unassuming CD of Harry Best and Shabang, inserted in, not even a CD case, but cardboard.

Yes, Caribbean music.

Tracks:

 

I’m For Real
Cool De Fire
Gonna Make It
Deep Purple-I
Just You
Feet on the Ground
Islands
Allez za za
Majorie
Kaiso Reggae
Rosita

You’ll feel the sand between your toes as you enjoy the authentic Carribean sounds of Harry Best and Shabang. Their engaging lyrics and melodies set to the infectious rhythms of Calypso, Reggae, Zouk, and Soca, and highlighted with the indigenous sound of steel drums, will take you on a virtual vacation.

Yes, the sound of steel drums is wonderful. And boy, do I need a vacation. Even if it’s just a virtual one. It would be a real one this weekend though, so I’m looking forward so much to that. (Hello Bohol!)

What’s the secret to the Shabang’s charm? They can be romantic, as in “I’m for Real,” mystic, as in “Deep Purple-I,” or rebellious, as in “Gonna Make It,” all in a relaxing spirit of fun.

Shabang’s music has been featured in many Carribean festivals over the years. Most noted are their international hit songs recorded by Calypsonian Arrow of “Hot Hot Hot” fame.

Harry Best, Shabang’s Leader, is an accomplished singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and recording artist from the Carribean island of St. Lucia. Dexter Bruce, a native of Trinidad and Tobago and a veteran steelpan-player, formerly of Our Boys Steel Orchestra, brings a special radiance to the Shabang sound. Bass player Ed (Mac) McCarver is the pillar of the band and Tyrone Gray, also from Tobago, is the drummer.

Here is Harry Best singing a pensive calypso from St. Lucia on the power of the Imagination.

And here is another :

It’s wonderful to have music like this. It’s wonderful for listening to every now and then. I don’t really know why I bought it then. I think I thought  Carribean music is just great and that P99 for some obscure band’s music is not too bad. I bought this CD along with a “Moods of Nature: North Shore Sunrise” CD…. with the tag line of “The natural sounds of the morning beach combined with the smooth piano stylings of Benny Weinbeck.” Hahaha!!

Music For The Day: Ben’s Brother

31 Oct 2009 No Comments

in Music Tags: , , , , , ,

An early favorite from Joss Stone’s Colour Me Free album is the track featuring Jamie Hartman entitled, “Stalemate.” I did not know who Jamie Hartman was so I (naturally) googled. So it turns out, he has a band called Ben’s Brother for which he is front man. So it also turns out that Stalemate appears in their own album, “Battling Giants” and it has a special bonus track featuring Anastacia.

07271404040_promoBecause Joss Stone does not have a video yet for this song, I decided to embed the one with Anastacia on it. Anastacia does a superb job too! I am loving Anastacia in this one. :)

Stalemate

Did I let you down? No
Did I give you up? No
So what’s it all about now?
Was it not enough?
No, no, no

It’s alright, yeah
It’s okay, yeah
It’s alright with me
I’ll be fine, yeah
I don’t mind, yeah
I’ll pretend at least

But if you give me something, then I’ll believe it
Give me something and I will wait
But if you give me nothing
I can’t help feeling I’m in stalemate with you
Stalemate with you

Used to pick me up, yeah
Like a sunken pill
And I’ve been thinking it through
And we worked so well

But it feels wrong, yeah
When I’m strong alone, yeah
Strong alone by you
And the words you say, yeah
Just to get your way, yeah
Well they just won’t do
You got to…

Give me something, then I’ll believe it
Give me something and I will wait
But if you give me nothing
I can’t help feeling I’m in stalemate with you
Oh I’m in stalemate
Oh I’m in stalemate, baby
(Stalemate with you)

I need more
I need more
What are you waiting for?

It’s so frustrating
(So frustrating, baby)
You got to want it
(Yeah)
I’m so frustrated with your love
What you do to me
Oh, yeah, yeah
Hey
You got me in stalemate
Oooh
Hey, hey, hey
You got me in stalemate
Hey yeah
Oooh, don’t mug me, baby
Don’t mug me, love
You breakin’ my heart now
Don’t you break my heart, no
Don’t you break my heart

***

You can be a fan of the band on Facebook.

***

Their debut album, Beta Male Fairytales, was released on August 6, 2007 and carried the song “Let Me Out” for which they were nominated in 2008 for an Ivor Novello Award in the category of Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

Let Me Out

You sit and you stare and you wait and you wonder
You think “Maybe it’s me and I’m being a fool.”
You start to believe it’s a curse that you’re under
And you’re just a doll for a girl who is cruel
With a pin

(Chorus)
So let me out
Or let me in
And tell me how, we can win
Cause I really wanna know now
Before I begin
To let you go (to let you go)
So let me know

I’d rather be wandering hungry and homeless
Than here in the warmth of a silent defeat
You’ve gotta be honest with me and be ruthless
‘stead of shifting uncomfortably there in your seat
And your skin

(Chorus)

And who’d've thought I’d have the strength to say
“Let me out or let me in”
But as the words are pouring from my mouth
I wanna say them again, and again and again

So let me out
Or let me in
And tell me how, we can win
Cause I really wanna know now
Before I begin
To let you go (to let you go)
Oh
Let me out, or let me in,
Oh no no
And tell me how
We can win
Oh no I really wanna know now
Before I begin
Oh to let you go, to let you go
Let me know

***

To visit Ben’s Brother’s official website, click here.

To read what Wikipedia has on the band, click here.

To visit their MySpace page, click here.

***

While going through their YouTube channel, I found this interesting performance. An acoustic performance of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face at the Gap shop. It’s quite cool actually. I can’t really say I’m a fan of Lady Gaga but there really was a time when Lia’s face brightened up with this real cute smile every time she heard Lady Gaga’s music. Lia loved Let’s Dance too.

Of course after watching this video, I went looking for other acoustic versions of Lady Gaga’s songs and I found her performances at the Marc Jacobs Aftershow Party. It was awesome to watch her sing her dance songs with she herself playing on this white grand piano. Amazing if you think that Britney for all her great performances at her concerts, all the singing and dancing, can never sing and play her own songs.. on a big white grand piano – all by herself. I don’t know. Hahaha. Am I just being carried away?! Hahaha.

I do remember Lia watching Lady Gaga on TV in one of her interviews on CNN. That’s quite something because Lia does not watch TV, but she paused to watch the interview for the entire duration. It’s not like she can understand what was going on. I don’t know with her! Hahaha. Don’t ask me, I have no explanation. I’m just sharing. ;)

Maria Mena – I Think I Have A Problem, I Think I Think Too Much

18 Oct 2009 No Comments

in Music Tags: , , , , , ,

Fragile (Free)

I’ve been walking around all day, thinking
I think i have a problem, I think I think too much
I’ve been taught to hold back my tears and avoid them
But you’ve made pain into something I could touch

I’ve been walking around all day, laughing
Think I’d be better off without you here
And I bet you are sweet and hard to get over
So I’ll cry and people will stop and stare
Now that’s ok, let them stop and stare…

Coz I am fragile
I am hopeless
I’m not perfect
But I am free…

I’ve been walking around all day, waiting
And waiting is all I seem to do
´cause I never get it unless I’m fed it
But this time I’ll just have to
Yeah this time I’ll just have to…

And I am fragile
I am hopeless
I’m not perfect
But I am free…

Say you’re not around… am I finished?
If you’re not around that’s too bad
Hope you’re safe and sound, not alone now
´cause you know I believe in you…

I am so fragile
I am so hopeless
I’m not perfect
But I am free…

And I am fragile
I am hopeless
I’m not perfect
But I am free…

Cos I am fragile
I am hopeless
I’m not perfect
But I am free

I’m posting videos of Maria Mena, one from each album that I have. Maria Mena is one of those music influences I got from Nick from the many times I hung out at their house. I used to listen a lot to her songs back in 2007, mornings actually, with c&c. Some sort of pick-me-up-in-the-morning music. Fragile(Free) is a song from “White Turns Blue“, her international debut album released in 2004.

I rather loved “A Few Small Bruises” and “Just A Little Bit” too.

Click here to listen to samples.

Just Hold Me

Comfortable as I am,
I need your reassurance
Comfortable as you are,
You count the days
But if I wanted silence I would whisper
If I wanted loneliness I’d choose to go
If I liked rejection I’d audition
And if I didn’t love you, you would know

So why can’t you just hold me,
how come it’s so hard?
Do you like to see me broken?
Why do I still care?

You say you see the light now
at the end of this narrow hall
I wish it didn’t matter
I wish I didn’t give you all

But if I wanted silence I would whisper
If I wanted loneliness I’d choose o go
If I liked rejection I’d audition
And if I didn’t love you, you would know

So why can’t you just hold me
How come it’s so hard?
Do you like to see me broken?
Why do I still care?

Poor little misunderstood baby
No one likes a sad face
But I can’t remember life without him
I think I did have good days
I’m sure I did have good days

So why

“Apparently Unaffected” was released in 2005.  I tend to sing ‘Nevermind Me” when I feel like I’m a wallflower. Yeah, cast shadows on your walls… and, bottle up your smile and pour it in a cup.  “Calm under the Waves” is a track I like to listen to when I’m on a boat heading to some island. I guess those are my favorite tracks from this album, that I bought from Powerbooks in Bonifacio High Street by the way. (Hahaha!)

You may click here to listen to samples.


All This Time

You self destructive little girl
Pick yourself up don’t blame the world
So you screwed up but you’re gonna be ok
Now call your boyfriend and apologize
You pushed him pretty far away last night
He really loves you
You just don’t always love yourself.

(Chorus)
And all this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push
All this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push

Think all the mean girls that pulled your hair
Are barefoot now and pregnant there
And you write pop songs
And get to travel around the world

(Chorus)
And all this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push
And all this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push

So you’ve had some detours some stupid men
Now we know what not to do again
Besides you lucked out
Finally

(Chorus)
And all this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push
All this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push

All this time
Ohhh all this time
You have had it in you
You just sometimes need a push

(Fading)
All this time
All this time

Cause and Effect is Maria Mena’s latest album and was released in 2008. “Power Trip Ballad“, “Dear” and “I’m On Your Side” are the tracks I like the most. Hah-hah-hah-hah! :P

Click here to listen to samples.

Oh darn, I guess I am missing my Nokia 5300. Dammit.

Make You Feel My Love

10 Jul 2009 1 Comment

in Music Tags: , , ,

2009 Grammy award-winner Brit singer Adele sings

Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love.

When the rain is blowing in your face

And the whole world is on your case

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

I know you haven’t made your mind up yet

But I would never do you wrong

I’ve known it from the moment that we met

No doubt in my mind where you belong

I’d go hungry I’d go black and blue

I’d go crawling down the avenue

No, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do

To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret

Though winds of change are throwing wild and free

You ain’t seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy

Make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn’t do

Go to the ends of the Earth for you

To make you feel my love

Her vocal in the music video is performed entirely live.

***

So I finally have Adele’s album and it is now playing non-stop on my player. I love Adele. Even back when no one else was listening to her songs and the people on the counters at music stores said to me, “Who?!” every time I asked if they had her album. Interestingly, she was preceded by Amy Winehouse on that Grammy Award. I love, love, love Amy Winehouse. Though Ryan used to say to me, “Amy who?!?” Oh well..

Chasing Pavements

07 Jul 2009 No Comments

in Music Tags: , , ,

I’ve made up my mind,
Don’t need to think it over,
If I’m wrong I am right,
Don’t need to look no further,
This ain’t lust,
I know this is love but,

If I tell the world,
I’ll never say enough,
Cause it was not said to you,
And that’s exactly what I need to do,
If I’m in love with you,

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

I’d build myself up,
And fly around in circles,
Waiting as my heart drops,
And my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

***

Been liking this song for some time now, maybe a year, and I kept looking for it at Powerbooks in Bonifacio High Street but they just didn’t have it.

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