Category Archives: Music

All the Awards to Adele

  By zarine | February 13, 2012 - 7:48 pm | Music
Leave a comment

 

So today I tuned in to StarWorld Asia to catch the 54th Grammy Awards – well if waiting for Kelly Clarkson’s (and Jason Aldean’s in effect) and  Adele’s performances, and also Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston tribute, can be considered “tuning in.” It’s no surprise that Adele made a clean sweep of all her six nominations. I admit that I cannot listen to her albums continuously for an extended period of time like I do with, say, the Wicked the Musical OBC recording or Kelly Clarkson’s pop albums, but she’s definitely one of my top favorite artists. Few singers have the quality of talent that she has, much less the endearing personality. I can only wish to watch her perform live in the near future – I’m sure I’ll be reduced to a wide-eyed fangirl again, like what happened to me while watching Wicked in Singapore almost a month ago. If concerts do a back ground check of fans to see which ones are most likely to “attack” the artist by screaming gibberish out of, well, fangirling, then I’m in danger of being caught with this one.

Songs for Driving

  By zarine | October 21, 2011 - 1:02 pm | Music
Leave a comment

 

Sometimes when I listen to music, I get this image that I’m driving around a place with a beautiful view while blasting music from the car stereo. Also, I’m the only one driving in those roads because, you know, I can’t really drive and it’s easier if I don’t have anybody else to worry about in my head. And it’s always morning so I have perfect sun and breeze and I won’t have to worry about not having Off Road Lights.

Right now, I’m listening to an album of Missy Higgins (The Sound of White), and it’s kind of perfect. The Wrecker’s sole album is good, too. Cigarettes, for one, is an angst-filled song good for self-reflection, although it would probably not make you want to press hard on the accelerator as much as Pink’s girl anthems (Most Girls, I’m Not Dead) or Kelly Clarkson’s Never Again.

So, all I’m missing is a car and an actual ability to drive. Not much, huh?!

Adele

  By zarine | February 27, 2011 - 11:17 am | Music
Leave a comment

 

Thank you, Adele, for reminding me what good music sounds like

Rolling in the Deep

Chasing Pavements

Make You Feel My Love

I can only hope that she does a world tour soon, especially since her new album 21 just got released. I’ll not miss it for the world! In fact, I’ll start saving now and maybe even forgo that cellulite treatment I’ve been eyeing on another website.

Up to the Mountain

  By zarine | June 18, 2010 - 8:27 am | Music
Leave a comment

There’s this Patty Griffin song that really grabbed a hold of me. It’s called Up to the Mountain. American Idol fans would most recently recognize this song from Crystal Bowersox’s finale performance. Others will more fondly remember this rendition, which is actually what drove me to look for everything than Patty Griffin has ever recorded.

Lyrics:

I went up to the mountain
Because you asked me to
Up over the clouds
To where the sky was blue
I could see all around me
Everywhere
I could see all around me
Everywhere

Sometimes I feel like
I’ve never been nothing but tired
And I’ll be walking
Till the day I expire
Sometimes I lay down
No more can I do
But then I go on again
Because you ask me to

Some days I look down
Afraid I will fall
And though the sun shines
I see nothing at all
Then I hear your sweet voice, oh
Oh, come and then go, come and then go
Telling me softly
You love me so

The peaceful valley
Just over the mountain
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It’s there I will go
Sooner or later
It’s there I will go

I think it’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written. But I do get to think that with every song that I love. Anyway, it’s apparently written as a tribute for Martin Luther King, but those lyrics can resonate to different people in many different ways. Patty Griffin is an amazing singer-songwriter. (I linked Kelly’s version because she’s an amazing interpreter of songs). If it doesn’t sound so sad, I’ll make it a ring tone. Which will make me sadder because I only get phone calls from those disability insurance agents these days.

Keeping It Real

  By zarine | June 6, 2010 - 9:30 am | Music, People
2 Comments

“I hate photoshoots. It’s like you’re there all day and you end up with four pictures that you use for everything.”

Hahaha! I love this girl. What she said about the red carpet walk is pretty darn true, it’s amusing to hear it from a star herself.  One other thing that sets Kelly Clarkson apart from most wannabe singers, besides her having a one-of-kind truly awesome voice, is her insistence to stay normal and not be “tainted” by Hollywood. Sure, we want our stars all glittery and elegant and nice to look at (because that’s their job), and we have movie stars for that, but sometimes having these down-to-earth types is all the more refreshing. So rock on, KC. And she doesn’t really need those apidexin reviews people are talking about.

American Idol 2010

  By zarine | April 3, 2010 - 8:49 am | Music, TV
Leave a comment

It seems pointless to write about a show only to say that it’s boring, no? Besides Crystal Bowersox and her boots, this year’s much touted competitors turned out to be as entertaining as watching fishes out of the water. Well, one can argue that Crystal is merely consistent and talented but not so much on the “entertaining” scale, but that’s a matter of preference. At least Siobhan Magnus is interesting in her own very quirky way. If only she doesn’t rely on her “high notes” that are nowhere near Adam Lambert’s technically efficient ones.

So there are only two girls left, despite the judges’ saying that the girls are better. Tim Urban is still there, which is just idiotic if you don’t consider that this is a popularity contest after all. My interest is waning, but I’ll probably still watch anyway because it’s kind of amusing to see Simon bored out of his wits, Kara trying hard to be the constructive one, Ellen trying her jokes and not succeeding to mask her insecurity about not being a “music person,” Randy for whatever it is that he does, and Ryan for being lifted by Big Mike. Whoever wins this thing, eh I really don’t care.

10 Random Thoughts on ‘Lea Salonga: Your Song’

  By zarine | December 13, 2009 - 9:17 pm | Music, Musicals
2 Comments

(1) She started with a set of pop songs in a pretty/casual black outfit.  I was thinking, “O-oh, please don’t have a mostly pop repertoire.” Lea as a pop singer to me is a great singer, but she doesn’t shine with those. It’s when she hit those theatrical tunes that her clarity and technique become no-one-else-can-sound-like-that amazing.

(2) Song: Rehab! Gee, mommy can dance.

(3) She had to give the stage to those urban pop/hip hop youngsters. They were good, but the number felt out of place. They were shouting and jumping all over the place, urging the unimpressed audience “If you’re a Pinoy, when I say Oh, you say Yo!” (No reaction). When they finally bowed, I can almost hear a collective, “Thank you but go away now.”

(4) Song: Poker Face. Ahh, so that song has lyrics pala! Nice.

(5) Most of the earlier songs featured Lea’s lower-register voice. I didn’t mind.

(6) Jet Pangan! Song: Salamat. Last time I saw him was on “Spring Awakening”. He didn’t have a singing number there. The other (balladeer Richard Poon) guest was OK.

(7) Lea says, “I’m a huuuge techie. Girlie things don’t impress me.” At least I have that in common with her. But I can’t afford her most cherished possessions yet- her iPhone and her Mac book.

(8) My, my, Ai Ai! It was a R-I-O-T! Essentially, she was there to poke fun on Lea’s “sosyal” concert being held in a “sosyal” venue, where she only sings “sosyal” songs. Their Aegis’ “pang-Japan” duet was the highlight.

(9) Songs: Broadway medley – I Dreamed a Dream/On My Own/Memory/Defying Gravity (with all-green lighting that makes it all the more “Wicked-y”). If this were tennis, then that is her money shot. Lea is the quintessential Broadway star; what she isn’t is a belter. I love “Wicked” so much, and I’ll put my money on anything Lea, but I’m still convinced she shouldn’t do Wicked as Elphaba.

(10) Overall it was a great night. PICC is such a lovely place. The only thing that marred my excitement was having to wait for a cab for so long, but, sure, that was forgettable, compared to the one before that. I’d vow that I’m going to watch every Lea Salonga concert from here on, as long as it’s geographically possible. Or maybe someday I’ll get to go to the States to visit Disneyland and stay at orlando condos and she’ll have a show there at the same time; two birds in one stone.

The Tendrils

  By zarine | May 4, 2009 - 1:23 am | Music, quotes
Leave a comment

Take a look at my body
Look at my hands
There’s so much here that I don’t understand
Your face-saving promises
Whispered like prayers
I don’t need them
Because I’ve been treated so wrong
I’ve been treated so long
As if I’m becoming untouchable
Well, content loves the silence
It thrives in the dark
With fine winding tendrils
That strangle the heart
They say that promises sweeten the blow
But I don’t need them, no
I don’t need them

I’m the slow dying flower
In the frost killing hour
Sweet turning sour and untouchable

Well is it dark enough
Can you see me
Do you want me
Can you reach me
Oh, I’m leaving

____________

Song: My Skin
Artist: Natalie Merchant

[Took this one out of an Alias episode. I think it's such a sad song. I loved it.]

Lose a Day or Two

  By zarine | April 29, 2009 - 11:56 pm | Music, Random Thoughts
3 Comments

Slow down, you crazy child
and take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
it’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two


Vienna – Billy Joel

You remember the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. don’t you? I recently rewatched the alternate reality episode (the one where Monica was fat, Chandler was [still] a big dork and a pushover, and Phoebe was a stock trader or something; I forgot about the other half of the gang).  I can remember that when I was very young, I’ve always dreamed about being someone who does “important” things, like Phoebe did in that episode – always on the go and considering time of utmost importance. I thought “looking” busy means you’re doing something with your life.  How wrong I was.

I feel like I want to ask for more time in my hands. I want to do a lot of other things now not because it looks important but because it gives me satisfaction. For now I’m just striving not to stress myself too much. I get to allow myself to lose a day or two now whenever I feel high strung and I found it quite habit forming. Not a very good habit, all things considered, but if it helps me relax and do away with stuff like treatment for acne, then it serves a purpose. Which is more than I can say about pushing myself too hard every single time.

Now and Forever

  By zarine | June 2, 2008 - 9:55 pm | Music, Personal
2 Comments

In two weeks time, a friend of mine is getting married. We’ve been counting down the days and I’m getting into the mood by having in my playlist the songs she chose for the ceremony. This one’s not on her list but besides Ikaw (words by George Canseco and music by Louie Ocampo), this song, I believe, is one that fits the event to a T. Albeit it’s a bit gasgas na to the married folks of old. It’s a true classic – one of the best written (by George Canseco) in the vernacular as far as romaticism is concerned.

Dahil kaya sa ‘yo ng maitadhanang

Ako’y isilang sa mundo

Upang sa araw-araw ay siyang makapiling mo

Upang ngayon at kailanman

Ikaw ay mapalingkuran hirang

Bakit labis kitang mahal

Pangalawa sa Maykapal

Higit sa ‘king buhay

Malilimot ka lang

Kapag ang araw at bituin ay di na matanaw

Kapag tumigil ang daigdig at di ‘na gumalaw

Subalit isang araw pa matapos ang mundo’y nagunaw na

Hanggang doon magwawakas pag-ibig kong sadyang wagas

Ngayon at kailanman

Ay, corny ko! . More Canseco after the cut…
(more…)