Tag Archives: concert

Kantuz by Kalakan

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Sing!

Kantuz sortu naiz eta kantuz nahi bizi,
Kantuz igortzen ditut nik penak IHESI;
kantuz izan dudano zerbait irabazi,
kantuz gostura ditut guziak iretsi.
kantuz ez dute beraz hiltzea merezi?

Kantuz iragan ditut gau eta egunak;
kantuz ekarri ditut griak Lanak eta;
kantuz biltzen nituen aldeko Lagunak:
kantuz eman dauztate, Obra gabe, famak;
kantuz hartuko nauia zeruko Jaun Onak!

Kantuz eman izan tut zonbaiten Berriak,
kantuz atseginekin erranez egiak;
kantuz egin baititut usus afruntuiak,
kantuz aitortzen ditut ene bekatuiak;
katuz eginen ditut nik penitzentziak.

Kantuz eginez geroz munduian sortzia,
kantuz egin behar dut ontsalaz, hiltzia;
kantuz emaiten badaut Jainkoak grazia,
kantuz idekiko daut San Pierrek Atia,
kantuz egin dezadan zeruan sartzian …

Kantuz ehortz nezate, hiltzen naizenian,
kantuz ene lagunek harturik airian;
kantuz Ariko zaizkit lurrean sartzian;
kantuz Frango utziko diotet munduian,
kantuz ha diten beti nitaz oroitzian.

Kantuz ene lagunek harturik airian;
kantuz Ariko zaizkit lurrean sartzian;
kantuz Frango utziko diotet munduian,
kantuz ha diten beti nitaz oroitzian.

Yeah, I don’t understand a single word (its written in Basque Country language) but the beat and melody is so refreshing!

Yeba!!!

Bongga! Mama Mia!

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Every night since January 24 of this year, every time I would step out of my veranda buckets of drool would come out of my mouth.  This is because from my veranda I could see the Cultural Center of the Philippines lighted up in its full glory welcoming the excited spectators of the fun and global smash hit musical Mama Mia.

But tonight, I stopped drooling because just this afternoon during its matinee run, I, Nengkoy, my elder sister Gaying and nephew Luis had the awesome opportunity to see and watch the spectacular show. Performed no less by the international touring U.K. cast and production.

The show features more than 20 songs of ABBA that is intricately lined-up and positioned together to create a cohesive musical storyline. ABBA is a popular Swedish pop group which I and my siblings grew up listening to during the ‘70s.  Because of this, I was literally singing along in every song in the repertoire. “Take A Chance On Me”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “SOS”, “Money, Money, Money”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Super Trouper” and “I Have A Dream” to name a few.

thanks Ate for the treat : )

When ABBA smashed global hits in the ‘70s Nengkoy was basically of the same age I am now.  Thus, Nengkoy no doubt was also enjoying the pure fun musical.  For me, that’s what mattered most, me and Nengkoy enjoying the musical together.  Nengkoy was literally dancing on her seat when ala-concert style performance was done on the last 3 songs of the show – “Mama Mia”, “Dancing Queen”, and “Waterloo”.

Add to the popular music are the marvelous ‘70s inspired costumes, excellent stage lighting as well as the impressive revolving stage which makes the musical even more incredibly amazing.

I was swept away at the finale when the female lead character shouted “Thank You Manila!” and asked the audience in Tagalog, “Gusto nyo pa?!!” (You want more?!) in thick British accent.  The audience certainly shouted, “Yeah!” in heavy Tagalog accent.  She then shouted “Bongga!!!” – a ‘70s Filipino slang meaning fab, groovy and marvelous  – and started singing and gyrating along with the rest of the cast to the tune of “Waterloo”.

Mama Mia is no doubt a fun-perfect musical!  I love it.

Bongga!!!

Madonna in Manila! Wehh???

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OMG!!! Madonna the Queen of Pop is on a negotiating table with somebody here in the Philippines!!!  As messaged to me by my good friend Jesse, according to a leaked but unconfirmed itinerary document about the Madgesty’s upcoming world tour next year, Madonna if all things settled will perform here in Manila on May 8, 2012. (press this link to read more about the leak)

To connect an insane dot on this issue, a couple of months back when I along with my co-workers decided to have lunch in SM Mall of Asia we passed by the SM Arena that is presently being built adjacent to SM-MOA.  Dominic (the Operations Manager in the company I’m working for) told me that the arena being built is due to finish early next year and there is a rumor that Madonna is to usher in its grand launch by being the first person to perform in the high-tech structure.  I actually dismissed what Dominic said informing him that I (being a Madonna fan) have yet to hear or read about Madonna planning to have another world tour.

To further connect another freaking dot on this issue, a couple of weeks back my college classmate Karen Batangan posted on my Facebook wall that Madonna is due to hold a concert here in Manila.  When I tried to verify this information, this came from socialite Tim Yap’s tweet.  However, I dismissed this information after knowing that it came from Tim Yap since Tim Yap is not the type of person to be taken seriously.

And to still further connect another bizarre dot in this ever rising rumor or fact is that in recent days, I was able to catch a TV interview of Marvin Agustin who plans and dreams to bring a Madonna-concert here in the Philippines via his Futurement, Inc., the concert-organizing company who produced the recently successful Bruno Mars concert here in Manila.

In case Madonna’s concert will not push through here in the Philippines, this will actually give me a good reason to travel back to Australia to catch one of Madonna’s big nights Down Under.  (Calling on Joesel, paki book mo na ako sa bahay mo on April 2012. LOL!).  This is of course aside from having to catch up again with my dear Aussie friends…

Jusko, jusko, jusko! Eksayting!

The Boy From Pasay Met The Boy From Oz

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I along with Nengkoy and a few members of our family are excited to see the spectacular Lion King – The Musical in Singapore this coming weekend.  But before I write, praise or critique this tuneful show, let me reminisce the experience I had watching an enjoyable musical which, I fortunately saw when I was in Sydney a couple of months ago.

me inside capitol theatre in sydney

Australia’s iconic stage musical The Boy From Oz had a limited run at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney.  I and my friends were auspicious enough to have caught it.  The two-week run featured the amazing Todd McKenney who reprised his role as the legendary Peter Allen.  It was like watching Lea Salonga reprising her original role of Kim in Miss Saigon.

I did not expect too much from this musical but the spectacular show and the main character’s perfect high-kicks with poise and precision captured the bright spirit in me.  I was actually silently singing along while the show was running because almost all popular mainstream Peter Allen compositions were featured – Don’t Cry Out Loud; I Honestly Love You; Everything Old Is New Again; and, I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love.

But personally the song I enjoyed most was not sung by McKenney but instead sung by the young Peter Allen played by Blake O’Leary entitled When I Get My Name In Lights.  While hearing the young thespian brilliantly sang and impressively struts his feet on the stage, it made me realize that I would definitely enjoy watching the rest of show as it progress.

The three Aussie friends I was with – Jesse, Jericho and Joesel – turned amazed and felt the ultimate Australian pride when the song I Still Call Australia Home was performed.  I could actually feel rare goose bumps were swelling out from their goose bumps.  While the same song was being sung by the ensemble and the high-spirited audiences were singing along, I on the other hand went so vulnerable for I wanted to rush to the nearest embassy to process the immediate conversion of my citizenship from gorgeous Pinoy to audacious Australian.  Good thing I did not have the time since I wanted to see how the story would end.

In a nutshell, the show was great, fantastic and very enjoyable.  I, the boy from Pasay had a pleasant experience seeing and meeting the Boy From Oz.

Aym impresd!!!

Itching for Les Miserables

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More than 10 years ago when Video City (VHS video rental house) was still the “in” thing to do to catch-up and see previous movies people failed to see in the cinemas (pirated DVDs were virtually non-existent and is sooo illegal then, now its not so illegal anymore hahaha!), I stumbled upon a VHS of the 10th anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the Royal Albert Hall.  I rented it out in Video City good for three days without expecting and knowing what to see, hear and experience.

 As soon as the rented VHS tape was running, I was stuck like a barnacle on my seat shrieking silently without blinking an eye.   I was surprised to see Lea Salonga magnificently singing the part of Eponine.  Salonga was just perfectly phenomenal for the signature song of Eponine ‘On My Own’.  But the most chilling number was the “I Dream A Dream” song powerfully sang by Ruthie Henshall.  The concert was just a concert and it was not even the actual musical play but the emotional impact it gave me is far beyond the confines of my senses.

 Video City would not want to sell the said VHS during that time and I failed counting how many times I rented it out.  I suppose, the said tape spent more days in my house compared to the number of days it spent on the shelves of Video City.  I stopped renting it when I discovered the same concert in YouTube.

 Just last night, I stumbled into a website announcing the 25th year anniversary concert of the durable Les Miserables on October 3.  Surprisingly, Lea Salonga will be again in said concert singing the songs of Fantine this time.  There will be no more Video City to rent a VHS tape of this captivating 25th anniversary concert.  Therefore, I pray to the mighty Lord that He work on with His Holy Providence to grant me this awesome wish.  I wanna see it, I wanna feel it, I wanna hear it, I wanna experience it!

However, I’m running out of precious time because according to the official website, the tickets for 7:00 PM show is now sold out and there are few remaining tickets for the 3:00 PM matinee…  But my faith is so heavy-duty that miracles will happen and I am sooo convinced that I will be seeing myself inside the O2 Arena in London on October 3, 2010 at exactly 3:00 PM. 

Sana mali si Elsa ng sinabi nyang “Walang Himala!”

Kelly Clarkson: The Manila Leg Concert

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Ironically my May 1 Labor Day is nothing laborious.  I lay all day on my bed but when late afternoon comes, I fetched my “darkest” nephew Luis to watch with me Kelly Clarkson’s All I Ever Wanted Concert Tour (the Manila leg).

Ironically also, I am not a big fan of Kelly Clarkson but I possess three (3) of her magnificent albums.  I was able to unintentionally amass all these albums simply because I am so impressed by the rock beat and soulful songs she has written.

Thanks to an officemate who got me a twelve thousand pesos worth of complimentary tickets for the said concert.  I admit and concede that I enjoyed and was totally entertained at the said musical event.  Owning the 3 albums made me aware of almost all the songs played during the concert making me sang along with Kelly.  But there were moments in which I just sat down, shut up and let the sound slice up the air and wash me.

Kelly Clarkson may not be the greatest pop rock artist in the world but her songs are majestic primal howls of anguish and isolation yet centers on appealing melodies with hooks that dugs into a listeners brain.  During the concert she even admitted that her songs are not happy.  I knew that after listening for numerous times to her albums in the past.  He songs are about pain, confusion, defiance and loss.  Even then, listening to her will leave you feeling cleansed and strangely… happy!

Her slow pop-rock hits were simply awesome it made the whole Araneta sing along with her — Because of You, Breakaway and Behind These Hazel Eyes.

Of course, I did not gave up my chance of enjoying to wave my hands, stomp my feet, dance on my seat and sing with her and the awesome audience when the fast-beat top hits by Kelly were performed — Since U Been Gone; All I Ever Wanted; I Want You; Walk Away; Never Again; If I Can’t Have You; Gone; and, Walk Away (my personal favorite).  The last song (My Life Would Suck Without You) just blew it because it failed to keep my heavy butt on my seat.  It made me stood up and dance to the beat!

Ayun umuwi akong masakit ang palad at medyo namamalat!