Having so much love to give that is already spilling out of the brim yet no one wants to take is the most pathetic feeling. This is according to last Friday’s episode of Forevermore, a Filipino TV series shown nightly.
I guess I would have to agree on it for I have been experiencing the same for the last 22 million years. But still I’m hopeful that my patience will pay off and my waiting to give away love will pass like what a bad season does.
While patiently waiting, I am singing Sam Smith’s latest single entitled Like I Can
About a month ago, I indicated in this blog that the cello is one of my most favorite musical instruments. This post further proves why I love the sexy looking cello.
Only did I recently discovered that there is a magnificent duo who performs music covers of cool mainstream songs using the cello. They are the Croatian cellists Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, together known as 2Cellos.
2Cellos (photos grabbed from 2cellos.com)
now i’m a fan of luka and stjepan
Aside from playing magnificent music that ranges from smooth classical to mainstream pop to heavy acid metal, what is so extra cool about the 2Cellos is their stage presence. Their playing the cello is so infectious and electrifying. Their intense facial expressions, head-banging and feet-stomping are all incredibly virtuosic. Their playing is so passionate you could at times hear their deep breathing and actually see how the hair of their bows gets so torn. Moreover, it doesn’t hurt that both looks adorable.
Now you listen to these and get sucked into some melodic vortex!
Here’s a rare mash-up of classical tune mixed with heavy metal…
Here’s the eccentric yet enjoyable routine…
Here’s their latest, something stylish and sophisticated…
It’s like a bunch of angels went down from the heavens and played us some awesome music!
This is the general feeling I felt after having watched and listened to the concert of no less than the Philippine pride, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO). Held at the outdoor amphitheater area of the Bonifacio High Street Central in Bonifacio Gobal City (BGC) the concert was entitled “A Holiday Symphony”. It was organized by the LJC Group, the BGC and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
This PPO event was free to the public that is why I did not let this rare chance pass by. What is so good about the concert was their chosen repertoire. It was pop and popular to the ear and not the usually highfalutin sleep-inducing classical tunes.
high culture in high street…
cellos and the cellists… (photos by patrick uy)
Though the program started with a classical piece – to the beat of William Tell Overture – it was nevertheless fun and exhilarating to the ear. It is because the tune was reminiscent of the background music of a Looney Tunes cartoon chase scene. I initially thought Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner would suddenly appear on stage!
One of the highlights of the show was when a good friend Edwin Santos sang two songs in the concert. He started with Pasko Na Cinta Ko (a Tagalog Christmas love song) and capped it with an explosive operatic performance by singing the Mexican song Granada. I was super proud and was cheering like mad for Edwin!
explosive performance by edwin santos…
PPO played Donna Summer songs, tunes from Star Wars plus a lot of Christmas songs crafting a very Christmas-ee feeling in the crisp November air. When the orchestra played the gorgeous tunes from the movie Titanic, I initially held on to my seat for I thought a humongous ocean wave would suddenly appear bringing Rose and Jack on the stage! But nothing beats the couple of Beatles songs they played. People in the audience were actually singing along with them!
It is not the first time I heard PPO played yet still the emotions they drew from me was something unexplainable. The nearest words that I can think of is it’s a mix of magic, glee and pride.
Here are four beautiful but less known songs that I have been listening to during the weekend. These are under-praised tracks that are magnetizing to the ear as well as penetrating to the core of the heart. Makes me wonder how come these swoon-worthy tunes never made it to be mega hits!
These are the types of music that you would listen to if you wish to laze around. It is best to listen to while lying in bed and staring at the ceiling thinking of nothing. The very thing that I have done the whole day of Sunday.
Maybe the reason why these tracks failed to make it big is because these are heartwarming songs that people would rather keep for themselves and would not want others to hear about. The beat, the sound, the message and the emotion it evokes are so deep-seated you would rather not share it.
Super proud and in love with my first SoundCloud playlist!
photo grabbed from dam im’s official facebook page
Being a true blue self-imposed fellow of the Dami Army, I waited for this music video like a Gladiator. Now that it is finally released, the coming nights now seems brighter, my glass of sour wine now tastes better and the constant pit of fury in my gut now subsides.
Dami is one truly amazing talent. Another incredible song with a perfectly fitting and visually stunning music video!
The latest single of Sam Smith is entitled ‘Leave Your Lover’. I so loved the song, because it is something selfish and evil-ish in a way. Imagine, asking someone to leave a lover for your own gain? That is so messed up! Yet, the lyrics though can be perceived egoistic and self-seeking, also exhibits deep sorrow, pleading and yearning.
Aside from the poignant lyrics of the song and the moving rendition of Sam Smith, I am also blown away by the lonely ballad’s music video.
Leave Your Lover music video amazingly navigates the dynamics of friendship that leads to longing for intimate relationship. But what is so stunning about the video is that the story can be recognized in variety of angles. It has such a wide spectrum! Even the last few seconds of the video even adds up to the already complex twist of the three leading characters!
There’s harmony yet jealousy, allegiance yet competition, care yet disregard, joy yet disappointment, and many other irony of life’s circumstances. In terms of socio-sexual context, it can be perceived either as straight, gay, bi-sexual and even polysexual affection.
The compelling video seem to imply that it would be up to the viewer which layer from among the standpoints and feelings of the characters he or she would like to grasp the story from. It would be for the viewer to decide on how the story would continue and or conclude. The storyline presented is so complex, it engages you in some deep astute contemplation. And that is all conveyed brilliantly in 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
The mighty Dami Army must be very happy today. This is because today is the day the fresh new single of Dami Im has been released entitled Super Love. Being a self-confessed member of the Dami Army (I follow her in Facebook), I myself has excitedly been looking forward to this new super upbeat of a song.
The message is positive, the tune is catchy, the singer is remarkably charming and talented. What I particularly like about the fun and fabulous video was the diversity of human race that was featured being touched by a super hero played by Dami who chants “nothing can bring us down, we got the super love”. While my favorite line of the song would be, “I wanna breathe you in and never breathe you out”. That is just boom brilliant!!!
This song will definitely be the constant tune inside my house for the next several days! Super Love it!
Katulad ng palaman lang sa tinapay, Spred da Super Lab!
I don’t need to hear vocal fireworks to make me decide if a song is impressive or not. That is why I like the fresh, vivacious and gorgeously basic beat of Chinito sang by the prolific Yeng Constantino.
I like Yeng because she seems to possess a preternatural gift for turning clichés into light yet deeply affecting songs. In the song Chinito, Yeng exhibits both weariness and innocence in her voice yet manages to convey hope and despair in equal measure.
As for the music video, it’s very Asian! There’s a little of Korean, Japanese and Chinese in the video yet it is very Filipino. I can’t remember which Filipino music video has impressed me this much in the past. I can say that this is one cute, impressive and intricately well thought type of concept for a music video. Even the brilliant choreography is something to be praised about (love the cool snapping shoulders).
I wonder how non-Filipinos would receive this music and its video…
According to news Himig Handog finals night will be held on February 24, 2013 at SM Mall of Asia Arena. Also, all song finalists are now available in iTunes and Amazon while the album CD is now for sale in local record bars. Anyway and without further ado, here’s the last batch of songs I reviewed so as to conclude my pre-Lenten Season penitensya.
Sana’y Magbalik words and music by Arman Villarta Alferez sang by Jovit Baldovino. It’s a power ballad without much power. Baldovino’s pipes were very good but the lyrics and arrangement were simply corny. The song is too typical and too common. There’s nothing unique about it. It’s an archetypal kantang pang-ayuda in which anytime within the song an ago-go dancer will appear and start strutting his or her stuff. This for sure will be a big hit in dingy beerhouses of the land.
Scared To Death music and words by Domingo Rosco Jr. sang by KZ Tandingan. I personally don’t like the point of the song. It’s the song for the wimpy, the sissy and the wussy. For me this song is nothing but a bland pop song. I think KZ sings better when she performs live than in a recording.
Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa words and music by Jovinor Tan performed by Aiza Seguerra. It’s a slow, sleepy, melancholic and melodramatic song bordering to painful boredom. Nevertheless, Aiza’s hushed voice provides the song’s center of gravity. She undeniably knows how to breathe her syllables over a rhythm. Aiza sings with grace that makes it hard to keep your tears in their ducts. She’s good. But the message seems too gloomy. It feels downright lonely.
Tamang Panahon words, music and performed by Wynn Andrada. It’s fresh. It’s simple and it’s easy to the ear. The singer’s charming voice is perfect for the song’s message. What I like most is that he sounds so sincere. No drama no histrionics. It’s cool yet it’s warm in a compelling way. It’s light-hearted and reliably comforting. The song can be applicable for the young and the young at heart. This is the type of song that you wanted to be sung to you and also the song you want to sing to somebody you adore. I think the song is even adjustable since it can easily be converted into a duet.
For me, the finest track and this year’s Himig Handog WINNER is Tamang Panahon…
Unlike the past year’s Himig Handog, there is no group or band performing this year. I wonder why. Anyway, here’s the second part of my review for this year’s song finalists:
Kahit Na words and music by Bojam De Belen and sang by Toni Gonzaga. The song’s beat and lyrics are age inappropriate for a 29-year old Toni Gonzaga. This song could have been fine if it was sung by a singer in her youth. It is in the same genre of Urong Sulong Ka sang by then 17 years old Regine Velasquez and Mambobola by Zsa Zsa Padilla when she was just 22. What was Toni thinking when she accepted this assignment?
If You Ever Change Your Mind words, music and vocals by Marion Aunor. It is an impressive song. This may be the dark horse among the roster of finalists. Marion (not Nora) Aunor’s vocal technique can be equated to that of the great Regina Spektor. Her voice has poignant soul that gives life to the soothing rhythm and spunk of the lyrics. Moreover, the song has international appeal since it is in the English language. This high caliber song has universal sentiment which can cross cultural borders. The song actually can be a potential international hit.
One Day words and music by Agatha Morallos and sang by Angeline Quinto. The song is simply forgettable. It’s a typical song of the sawi (disheartened). This is another case of including the song in the finals so as to boost the sales of the CD compilation because of the star power of the artist. Quinto sings great with Tagalog songs but for me she needs to train on proper diction and annunciation of English words. I can hardly comprehend the lyrics of the song she’s singing. Good thing the song was in lyric-video form when I saw and heard it on YouTube.
Hanggang Wakas words and music by Soc Villanueva and performed by Juris. Juris has sweet affecting voice but the lyrics seem old. “Pag-ibig ko’y wagas”, does this statement still being spoken by the people of today? This song must have been composed 20 years ago. Moreover, the lyrics of the song has specific notion and/or subject matter which may not be applicable to some listeners (I perceived it as a certain terminal disease or illness). For me the song is too sad and too tragic. In which, you would immediately turn off your radio and shy away from listening to it especially when your suffering from a terminal disease. It’s too dreadful, this song may fast-track your being tsugi (dead).
For this batch my personal pick would be If You Ever Change Your Mind…
Yan ang perst raner ap! Abangan ang Part 3 at ang winner para sa ‘kin…
Nengkoy 