Let this be my valentines week song.  It’s so unfortunate and surprising that no website existing on earth features the whole lyrics of this very beautiful song.  Let me challenge you to google it if you want.  For sure you will never find a copy of the lyrics sang and spoken by Donna DeLory (the singer) in the internet except this blog.  To immortalize this song, I took the initiative to listen carefully to Donna and tediously write every word of it.  Here it is…

O sha! Hapi balentayms na lang sa lahat. Umulan sana!

Kuya Wreigh was the one responsible how I first learned about the Eraserheads.  I remember him bringing the band’s first album ultraelectromagneticpop in cassette format borrowed from his college classmate.  These were the days when CD was not yet invented or still considered rare and high-tech.

When Kuya played it in our massive cassette player (with built-in 3-inch tv) I initially didn’t liked it.  It was like noisy dudes playing their hearts out in a recording studio.  However, after a couple of times listening to it, the songs in the album was like enchanting chameleon in which the beat naturally grew in me.  Their lyrics were very contemporary which a typical youth like me uses during those times.  Also, the message they convey smacks right into my generation’s psyche.

I was unaware that I so loved the Eraserheads that I was able to buy each of the cassette they released in the market.  More than 10 years later, here comes Kuki and Matet giving me (as a birthday present) a CD audio copy of Eraserhead’s reunion concert held a couple of months ago.  By the way, the eventful concert was cut short hen the lead singer Ely Buendia suffered from a mild heart ailment/condition due to fatigue.

When I played and listened to the reunion concert, I unexpectedly realized that I missed a very big event, an affair that signified my being youth.  I knew I let pass a momentous event when I heard people in the audience stridently singing along while the bands were playing.  It made me envy.

I was literally teary eyed when the song “With A Smile” was played.  This song was revived by a lot of singers but the band’s  original version was very special.  Hook line and sinker Ely’s timbre and tone truly fits the genuine sentiment of the song.  The emotion for each of the line he utters and every tremble in his throat indisputably exhibits what the song conveys.  What added to the lump in my throat was hearing the audience emotionally singing along.  It was such a goose bumper!

Eraserheads definitely added some spice in my youth.  Now, I promised myself that in the event they will redo their cut-short concert I will make myself present in the affair.  No matter what it takes!

Salamat sa mga Pamburang Ulo! Yu rak!

Some would name it as “Rosas Pandan Bastos Version” others would call it the “Tigidong” song.  There is no official title of the song.  No one knows who sang it neither who wrote it, no one dared to step up and admit to be the writer and/or singer.  It is basically an underground hit that will never be played in the mainstream airwaves.

Possessing a weird sense of humor, I laughed hard upon hearing it.  I can’t help myself from hearing the tune since it keeps on resonating persistently in my head.  Its funny, its cunning, it neoteric, its pornographic, its crazy, its vulgar.

I commend who ever wrote the salacious lyrics.  He or she must be a genius.  No ordinary guy or gal can think of utilizing an ancient melody of a Visayan folk song and libidinous words put together to give birth to a naughty yet shrewd musical arrangement.

I would not dare to post the complete lyrics neither post the actual song in this blog since I don’t want to be restrained and banned in the use of this web.  Here’s the lyrics that has been censored…

Ang beep-beep ko na kulay rosas, namumukadkad pag hinimas-himas.

At ang namumulang talulot, dinadaluhong ng mga bubuyog. 

Kapag ako’s na beep-beep, tumutihaya kahit sa lansangan.

At ang bawat makakita’y kaagad akong pinapatungan

Beep-Beep, Beep-Beep, Beep-Beep

Ang beep-beep kong makipot, namumula’t sariwa, namamasa ang hiwa

Tigidong, tigidong, tigidong

Nag beep-beep na si Dodong, mula ng makita ang butas ko at kweba. 

Ganyan ang dalaga, lalo na’t merong beep-beep.

Hoy! Pu-beep-beep mo nag-re-record ako e! (laughter)

Grabe, ibang level ito! Bastuuuuuuuuus!

A couple of months ago, I inquired in every record stores that I could reach  for the second album of Natasha Bedingfield entitled N.B. The usual answer I received was that it is not available yet in the Philippines.  One rare occasion that I still clearly remember when I inquired at Music One in Greenbelt 3 if it was already available was that it was pulled out because the content of all CD cases of N.B. is not Natasha singing but somebody else in a male voice.  It gave me a good laugh!  Curious on who was the male singer, I actually ordered for such a rare copy but the sales crew explained that all copies were sent back to Sony-BMG office.

Now that I already have a copy, I enjoy listening to it!  Like the way it was explained in the CD cover, the songs “explore the many stages in a relationship; the highs and lows, laughter, regret, passion, frustration, choosing to trust, faith in what’s still unknown, grace for what is known, questions, insecurity, stubbornness, determination and surrender”.

For me, the best track in the album is the song entitled “Unwritten” written by Natasha herself with Danielle Brisebois and Wayne Rodrigues.  It is actually a bonus track for the Asian edition since the song is from Natasha’s first album.

I like it because the song’s lyrics encourage listeners to reach for their dreams and have a life full of adventures.  It conveys people to reflect on life as it happens…  Enjoy listening!

“>

I am unwritten
Can’t read my mind
I’m undefined
I’m just beginning
The pen’s in my hand
Ending unplanned

(Chorus I)
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

(Chorus II)
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest, it still unwritten

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can’t live that way

(Chorus I)
(Chorus II) 2x
(Chorus I)
(Chorus II) 2X

The rest is still unwritten…
The rest is still unwritten…

I’m simply stunned that Melinda is booted out of the competition.  Now that Melinda Doolittle has been eliminated from the contest, American Idol this season obviously lost its credibility.  For sure, next week’s final show will be nothing like a karaoke singing contest between the two inferior singers (Blake and Jordin).  The show suddenly became less interesting.  I’d rather have a root canal than watch the finals.

I am not worried about Melinda.  I’m actually worried about America.  They’ve proven again how tasteless they are.  I thought Americans were smart… mga engot pala talaga!

June 2007 will be the busiest month for all kumadronas, midwifes, manghihilots, and any hospital delivery room.  This is nine months after the devastating Milenyo typhoon that hit Metro Manila.  Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane) caused a total blackout in Luzon.  Malls, cinemas and restaurants are closed.  There’s not enough lighting to read.  There’s no TV, cable, internet and even phone lines.  It’s basically stupid to go out of the house so people do not have anything to do but to… procreate!

Milenyo was a big hit!  I personally witnessed its ferocity by watching how it devastated Manila from the third floor of my office causing young and old trees to topple, billboards to collapse, metal roofing sheets to fly, shanties to crumble and streets to flood.  Metro Manila after 3 hours of Milenyo’s wrath looked like a war zone and a big obstacle course.

Later that night without electricity in my house, good thing I have with me my old yet reliable battery operated CD player.  With one candle as my only source of light and while fanning my sweaty delicious body the whole night with a cardboard, I listened to the old CD of Vienna Teng.  Her gentle piano ballads and pristine vocals kept me sane the whole night after an extremely mad day caused by the destructive typhoon.

Bad news to those who loathe me but I survived Milenyo… Mwahahahaha!!!

Last Saturday (Aug 26) while playing ‘tong-its’ with Nengkoy and my sisters, we were watching the launching of Pinoy Dream Academy.  The selected candidates were truly rare talents that still need a bunch of honing.  Negkoy and my elder sister were hoping for Davey Langit to be chosen for he was a distant relative.

After watching, I am quite confident on my fearless forecast on who will bring home the wicked cabbage and be the first Pinoy Dreamer.  She is none other than Rosita Bareng, the petite lady working in Dubai as a domestic helper.  She will be the big winner.  Why? Read on…

1. Rosita didn’t come from a well-off family.  Pinoys will vote for her since she has the rarest profile. Pinoys love underdogs. 
2. She is an OFW and a domestic helper at that.  I’m sure all Pinoy domestic helpers worldwide would vote for her.  With the present world domination of Pinoy DH, I’m sure their hearts will be with her.
3. She does not have the typical mixed-race Pinoy look that dominates the Philippine showbiz industry. Her name and looks are soooo Pinoy.  Truly brown in color, vertically challenged, low bridged nose and with deep Pinoy accent.  Mixed-raced looks are starting to become so dorky and boring.
4. She is not that pretty.  Makeover shows are the hottest TV shows today. There’s ‘The Swan’, ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’, ‘Liga ng Kagandahan’ to name a few.  She will be a legit case for a makeover that will help boost the rating of the show.

Though Rosita Bareng seems less than typical, there’s no diggity she will kick the asses of all the other trashy candidates.

Last Sunday (Aug 20), I bought the CD that every blogger in the Philippines has written or will be writing about.  The ‘Kami nAPO Muna’ CD, a compilation of Apo Hiking Society’s songs as rendered by today’s hottest rock and pop bands in the country.  I must admit, it is now the hippest thing to have and to listen to!  It’s the cool songs that I grew up with.  Listening to it is like having an awesome blast from the past blended with head banging fun and ass-kicking feeling!

However, I was a bit frustrated when producers missed to include a very endearing song ‘Huwag Masanay Sa Pagmamahal’ sang by Apo and Kuh Ledesma.  This is the same song where Sharon Cuneta and Edu Manzano have some dialogues at the beginning playing husband and wife cursing each other.  For me this is the rarest musical production done by Apo.  This will also become one of the extraordinary moments in OPM industry for the years to come.  Imagine in one cut having industry legends Kuh, the Apo, Edu and Sharon?  Maybe the reason this was not included is because no one could top the imperative lineup of names when it was first recorded.

Nevertheless, Apo truly deserves a heartwarming tribute like this… as what Danny Javier says, "… Damhin nyo na lang ang puso"

A couple of nights ago I was able to watch James Blunt sang live in two US TV shows.  He sang ‘Beautiful’ at Late Night With Conan O’Brien show and ‘Goodbye My Lover’ in Oprah.  James Blunt is one of the hottest singers now in UK.  He is popular not because of his looks (he looks like a geeky Hobbit actually) but because of his moving songs and extraordinary voice.

One thing I noticed in both numbers.  James Blunt was truly the opposite of his surname.  He was truly sharp.  Sharp in the sense of conveying the words that he wants to say in his song.  Also, in both live performances he delivered it with bursting emotion.  He doesn’t seem to sing for the mere singing or for merely promoting his fantastic album.  He seem to be so engulfed with the emotion and meaning of the song.  Especially the Oprah episode, I noticed that he had gone teary eyed upon the end of his song.  He was blurting out the phrase "I’m so hollow".  Gosh that was simply enchanting!  He really feels and internalize that he was able to get across the full emotion to the listeners.

In his first debut album ‘Back to Bedlam’ my personal favorite is ‘Goodbye My Lover’.  In a number of interviews, James Blunt always says that this song is the cut that he is most proud of.  Did you know that this song was recorded inside the bathroom of Mr. Blunt’s landlady in Los Angeles?  It is a bit rare to know that a piano exists inside a bathroom.  Or maybe this is one of those foolish make-up stories to hype up the album.  Well, it doesn’t need one actually because the words and melody of the song is so brilliant.

People say James Blunt nowadays is a pain in the ass to deal with, he is bratty and doesn’t fix him self up.  All I can say about that is, "the hell I care!"  I am not a fan but he moved me with his songs.  Very few singers can do that.