SHE'LL BE THERE AND EVERYWHERE
para sa kapatid kong si gigi - isang awit.
with so much love,
jay
March 01, 2007
February 24, 2007
And tearful at the falling of a star
pag naririnig ko ngayon ang "circle game", naalala ko ang daddy ko. matagal na siyang namatay pero naiisip ko pa rin siya parati. alam ko, iba ang pinapakahulugan ni joni mitchel nung ginawa niya ito pero everytime na naririnig ko ang kanta, parang gusto kong i-urong ang oras para maibalik yung panahon na magkasama pa kami. i could have done more for my dad now that i have a steady job but i can't because he's gone forever.
pakinggan ang batjay's twisted pinoy version ng "circle game" na handog pa rin sa inyo ng "Tito Remy's Kesong Puti, ang kesong gawa sa kupal" - subukan ang bagong pakbet flavor na gawa sa kupal ng supot na ilokano.
February 14, 2007
And it's not a cry that you hear at night, It's not somebody who's seen the light
"Hallelujah" - leonard cohen's masterpiece and my personal favorite. sinubukan kong kantahin pero hanggang first part lang. mahirap kasi itong i-deliver dahil sa bwakanginang phrasing. KD lang covered this song and jet and i love to play it all the time.
opening stanza pa lang, pamatay na...
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
'tangina, sana ganito ako kagaling magsulat.
pakinggan ang batjay's twisted pinoy version ng "HALLELUJAH" na handog pa rin sa inyo ng "Tito Remy's Kesong Puti, ang kesong gawa sa kupal" - subukan ang bagong laing flavor na gawa sa kupal ng supot na bicolano.
happy valentines day mylab. para sa iyo ang kantang ito. lab U.
February 10, 2007
A REASON TO BELIEVE
pinasikat ni rod stewart ang kantang ito nung 1971 pero unang ni record ni tim hardin nung taon na pinanganak ako - 1965. it's still fresh now as it was then. ano ba ang ibig sabihin nito?
If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe that its all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
maraming mga uto-uto sa mundo
pakinggan ang batjay's twisted pinoy version ng "A REASON TO BELIEVE" na handog pa rin sa inyo ng "Tito Remy's Kesong Puti, ang kesong gawa sa kupal" - subukan ang bagong spicy flavor na gawa sa kupal ng supot na bumbay.
December 24, 2006
PARA SA TAO
sa pamamagitan ng mahiwagang video na ito, pilit nating pinapasaya ang mga OFW na hindi makakuwi sa pilipinas itong kapaskuhan. actually, gumawa ako ng mga christmas video habang nagbabakasyon sa maynila. kung mayron kayong oras, imbis na magkutkot ng tutule eh panoorin ninyo ang mga ito. nasa youtube naman kaya madali lang ma-access.
October 15, 2006
WHEN YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REPAY, BUT YOUNG ENOUGH TO SELL
maulan ngayong linggo, makulimlim, medyo malamig at katatapos lang naming kumain ni jet ng killer sinigang na pork ribs. bilang pampatanggal ng busog ay nag record ako ng bagong kanta. gumawa ako ng dalawang version ng "tell me why" ni neil young. don't ask my why.
bata pa lang ako eh pangarap ko nang kumanta tulad ng idol ko. i always wished i had his distinct shrill voice kaya lang dahil sa genes ng daddy ko eh binigyan kami ng mga kapatid ko ng malalalim na boses na parang galing sa ilalim ng lupa. hindi ko naman pwedeng ipatanggal ang betlog ko kaya the best i could do is to speed up the recording during post production. eto ang resulta:
1. the original version using my natural voice
2. ang boses kiki version na neil young imitation
hmmm.... parang mas maganda ata ang boses kiki version. ano sa tingin n'yo?
September 29, 2006
7 SONGS
mga kanta (not necessarily in the order of preference) na nasa playlist ko't pinakikinggan lately.
1. Jeremy, Pearl Jam
2. Dirty Work, Steely Dan
3. Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. Baby Seat, Barenaked Ladies
5. Tiny Bubbles, Alex Kaeck and His Keikis
6. Sugar Mountain, Neil Young
7. Pilgrim's Progress, Kris Kristofferson
kung gusto ninyong malaman kung bakit ito ang mga current peborit ko, read on.
September 17, 2006
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
nung lumalaki ako, yung bahay namin sa talipapa ay parating puno ng musika. pag may bagong labas na mga kanta, naririnig ko na ito agad. minsan nga, hindi pa lumalabas sa merkado ay nasa bahay na't pinakikinggan na namin. yung mga kapatid ko kasi ay mahilig sa musika at dahil bunso ako, lahat ng mga collection nila ay napupunta sa akin. kaya baby pa lang ako, may hawak na akong mga long playing records. kung taga talipapa kayo nung 1970's at may nakita kayong batang lalaking nakahubo na tumatakbo (flapping his small dick into the wind) at may dala-dalang mga plaka - ako yon. music is like scent, malakas itong mag evoke ng mga pangyayari sa buhay mo. ok ito minsan, dahil nagpapa-alala sa iyo ang mga kanta ng mga masayang nangyari when you were growing up. minsan naman ay nakaka-inis dahil binabalik ng mga kanta ang mga pangyayaring ayaw mo nang maalala - the death of a loved one, lost love perhaps. one song that evokes a lot of happy memories is janis joplin's cover of kris kristofferson's classic "me and bobby mcgee".
tuwing naririnig ko ito ngayon, napapangiti ako. masaya kasi yung panahong yon na sumikat ang kantang ito dahil supot pa ako at wala pang mga responsibilidad. i could screw up and nobody would be affected... and that my friend is the ultimate freedom.
August 27, 2006
Don't Touch My Birdie
music video ito na ginawa ng kaibigan kong si egay. kinuhanan sa bahay namin sa antipolo nung despedida ko, 6 yrs ago. in day or two, aalis na ako para simulan ang buhay namin bilang overseas pinoy sa singapore. ang mga makikita ninyo sa video ay mga barkada ko since kinder and my friends for over 35 yrs. ang musika ay galing sa "Don't Touch My Birdie" ng parokya ni edgar. looking at it now, heto akong parang gago na natatawa at naiiyak at the same time.
July 02, 2006
DANI CALIFORNIA
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: red hot chili peppers, stadium arcadium - sa libro ko, ito sigurong double CD na ito ang pinakamagandang ginawa ng chili peppers, ever. unang dinig mo pa lang mai-in love ka na agad sa mga kanta. there is a genius in the simplicity of the songs at masarap itong patugtugin habang overspeeding ka sa mga freeway ng southern california. hindi siguro ito aksidente kasi taga rito sa los angeles ang mga members ng chili peppers. ang carrier single sa CD ay dani california at ang galing ng pagkagawa ng video. di ako nagtataka kasi ang director pala nito ay si tony kaye, ang gumawa ng isa sa paborito kong pelikula ni edward norton na "American History X" (useless trivia: the word "fuck" is spoken 205 times throughout the film). ang video ng dani california ay pagpapakita ng evolution ng rock music. nagsimula ang Chili Peppers looking like elvis then they morph into the beatles, hendrix, david bowie, alice cooper, etc. packingsheet kick-ass talaga.
May 31, 2006
BABY SEAT
ang isa sa paborito kong pinakikinggan na podcast ngayon ay ang lefsetz letter ni bob lefsetz. si bob (naks naman, on first name basis as if he's my bespren) ay isang magaling na music critic at pareho kaming mahilig magmura. ang feature niya this week ay isang kanta ng barenaked ladies na, i hereby declare based on the facts that cannot be denied, ay bago kong favorite song - "baby seat". hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon ko lang na discover ang kantang ito at ang bwakanginang saksakan ng galing na bandang gumawa nito. it's everything i ever wanted in a song - intelligent lyrics (that will make you stop and wonder - hmm, why didn't i think of that) and a catchy tune na kahit na maging biktima ka pa ng last song syndrome eh ok lang sa iyo.
May 16, 2006
While we're on our way to there, why not share
i know this is a shameless plug but what the heck, they need all the support they can get. if you love classic rock, tune in to ROCK 990 on the AM band. they have a live online feed kaya pwedeng makinig even if you're out of the country. this is your chance to listen to intelligent rock music played on the air. pag sabado ng hapon, you can catch howlin' dave do his pinoy rock show. it's like going back to the good old rock of manila days. my brother does his show from 1-4 PM every monday to saturday. and he does do a great job. a lot better than most of the jocks we have in manila. you can call him up to make requests. the telephone number to dial is 8171316.
Continue reading "While we're on our way to there, why not share" »
May 02, 2006
THERE'S A STRANGE NEW MUSIC IN THE STREET
mga bagong bili na mga CD. baka kako magustuhan nyo rin.
Morph the Cat, By: Donald Fagen - nakakapagtaka na ito pa lang ang third album ni donald fagen. we know him of course as the other half of Steely Dan. this is actually fagen's first in 13 years and it's especially poignant becuase the songs are about growing old and about death. pero hindi siya morbid - impak, mapapasayaw ka pa nga because my main man fagen: he's got the groove. ibang klase talaga ang musika nina becker at fagen - quirky, funny, dark and always off center. e.g., here's fagen talking to soul legend ray charles in a song called "what i do":
I say "Ray, why do girls treat you nice that way?"
He said it's not what I know
what I think or sayIt's what I do
steely dan will be touring this summer with michael mcdonald. pupunta sila sa verizon ampitheatre sa july 17. this is just 15 minutes away from where we live. sana mapanood namin sila ni jet.
Continue reading "THERE'S A STRANGE NEW MUSIC IN THE STREET" »
January 15, 2006
Moon appears to shine and light the sky, with the help of some fireflies
hello mylab,
happy birthday. hindi na ako mag papaligoy ligoy pa, heto ang isang regalo para sa iyo:: awit galing sa puso. sana magustuhan mo itong cover ng isang classic ni frampton. naghahanap ako ng angkop na kanta na magsasabi kung gaano kita kamahal - naisip ko nga para talagang senti, bakit hindi na lang isang 70's song na mayroong lyrics na bagay nga sa gusto kong sabihin sa iyo: "baby, i love your way. i wanna be with you night and day". sige na magkabaduyan na tayo sa special na araw na ito, ok lang sa akin. paraan ko lang naman para masabi na - maraming salamat sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa akin. maraming salamat sa mga tawa at ngiti. maraming salamat for being by my side kahit nakakalbo na ako't malaki ang tiyan. happy birthday mylab.
lab U.
jay
PS oo nga pala, gumawa ako ng "haikung hindi" para sa iyo. sana magustuhan mo rin. heto...
ako'y iyong minahal,
kahit minsan ako'y kupal.
you are a wonderful.
December 21, 2005
IT TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH
i turned 40 recently. kwarenta. pakingsheet. who would have thought that i'd be forty. pero kung sabagay, nung ipinanganak ako ng mommy ko nung 1965, forty one na siya. and she ended up living a great life. she's still alive and healthy at 81. si jet din, she doesn't look her age. masayahin kasi at malakas tumawa. sa akin kaya, ano ang mangyayari?
ewan ko. ni hindi ko nga alam kung pabalik na ako sa pinanggalingan ko o papunta pa rin sa patutunguan. basta ang isang alam ko, malaki pa rin ng promise na pwedeng ibigay sa akin ng kapalaran, kung ano man iyon. in any case, ang importante ngayon para sa akin ay: una, sa tingin ko ay nasa tamang direksyon ang buhay ko at ikalawa, tigas titi pa rin ako.
December 18, 2005
"With more people, there are more voices to tune out." - Susan Sontag
dalawang Podcast ko nga pala ang naka register sa iTunes ngayon - "Dear Unkyel Batjay" at "Mahalagang Balita". kung gumagamit kayo ng iTunes, punta lang kayo sa music store, click sa "podcasts" then do a search - ipasok niyo lang "batjay" or "philippines" or "pinoy" as your search words at makikita na ninyo yung mga podcast ko. marami na kami ritong mga pinoy podcasters at matutuwa kayo sa variety na available dito. ang maganda sa iTunes based podcast ay pwede kang mag subscribe dito ng libre at kung mayroon kang iPod, automatically mo itong mai-do-download at pwede mong marinig kahit saan.
Continue reading ""With more people, there are more voices to tune out." - Susan Sontag" »
December 14, 2005
THE FROWNS ON THE JUGGLERS AND THE CLOWNS
etong mga nakaraang dalawang buwan, nakalublob ako sa musika at buhay ni bob dylan. pinanood ko yung bagong obra ni scorsese na "no direction home" - film biography ito tungkol sa buhay ni dylan simula nang umalis siya sa minnesota hanggang sa pag switch niya sa electric nung 1966. ibinili rin ako ni jet ng "chronicles, volume 1" sa isang book sale, na siyang naging bedside book ko lately. eto ang autobiography ni dylan na ginawa niya (siyempre, saan ka ba naman nakakita ng autobiography na gawa ng ibang tao - gago).
Continue reading "THE FROWNS ON THE JUGGLERS AND THE CLOWNS" »
December 12, 2005
MANSIONS OF GLORY IN SUICIDE MACHINES
"born To run" is an exceptional song. ginawa ito ni springsteen nung 1974 kasama ang e-street band and it took them six months to record. six months to record just one song? packingsheet! kilala kasing obsessive compulsive perfectionist si the boss at kung ano anong mga special effects ang nilagay niya sa kantang ito - mayroong mga overdubs ng acoustic guitars, boses pa yata ng mga kabayong naglalampungan at kung ano ano pang mga instrumento. in fact, ang kantang ito ay classic example ng "wall of sound" style na ginawang popular ni phil spector. springsteen's legendary dedication to his craft paid off dahil "born to run" is probably one of the best rock songs of all time. a masterpiece that still sounds fresh today as it was when it first came out exactly 30 years ago this year. besides the excellent production of the song, it's the lyrics that really hits you. how can you fail with lines like this
Together Wendy we'll live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
pag sinabi mo ito siguro sa gelpren mo eh baka bigla ka niyang ayain mag sex.
December 11, 2005
THERE IS TIME TO KILL TODAY
paano mo ipapaliwanag sa mga kaibigan mo na "time is gold"? para sa mga matagal nang hindi nakakauwi sa pilipinas, ito nga pala ang paboritong motto ng mga beauty contestants at parati mo itong maririnig during the Q&A portion. hehehe. naalala ko tuloy yung joke na pinadala ni mec sa amin, hindi ko alam kung sino ang author nito...
Host : What is your favorite motto?
Contestant : (After a long pause) I don't have a motto eh.
(So the crowd starts helping her out by whispering - "Time is gold! Time is gold!")
Contestant : I have na po. Chinese gold!
December 08, 2005
I AM THE WALRUS
ngayon nga pala ang 25th anniversary ng pagkapatay kay john lennon. naalala ko pa yung eksaktong oras na mabalitaan ko ito, sinalubong ako ng classmate ko sa corridor at sinabing nabaril nga si john at namatay. i was 14 years old at second year high school ng nangyari ito nung december of 1980. magulo ang mundo ko nung time na iyon dahil ito yung panahon na rocky ang relationship ng parents ko. pero kahit magulo eh masaya pa rin. karamihan sa amin ay dito namulat sa sex at marami ang nabinyagan sa mga casa sa avenida. nung panahong iyon, sikat pa yung coronet inn. malapit ito sa bumbero ng santa cruz at alas otso pa lang ng umaga ay bukas na. sabi ng classmate kong intsik, mas mabuti raw na pumunta ng maaga dahil bagong ligo pa yung mga nagtatrabaho roon. mayroon na ring mga nagtutulak ng damo sa amin nung 1980 at ito ang taon na naging regular ang aking paninigarillo. it would take me 24 years before i would stop. bwakanginangyan, kung di pa sasabog ang appendix ko, hindi ako hihinto.
June 09, 2005
UPANG TAYO'Y MAGSAMA SAMA, SA LANGIT NG PAG-ASA
una ko silang narinig, sometime in the late 70's. nag uwi ang kuya ko ng mga plaka na pinapatugtog niya sa pinoy rock and rhythm show niya sa RJ. isa roon ang nakakuha sa attention ko. ang title nito ay "super sessions", and it was the first time i heard a live recording of a pinoy rock concert. the artists of course was the juan dela cruz band. early on, na impress na agad ako sa style ni mike hanopol, wally gonzales at ni pepe smith. nung time na yon, kasali rin sa groupo nila, ang isa ko pang idol na si edmund "bosyo" fortuno. ang juan dela cruz band ang naging early influence ko sa musika and i knew the lyrics of all their songs. when they broke up and had successful solo careers, naron pa rin ako - a fan who attended all the concerts. and i was only 11 years old at the time kaya kung may nakikita kayong bubwit sa mga pinoy rock concerts nung araw, ako yon.
nung high school ako, nag reunite ulit ang juan dela cruz band and they released the "kahit na anong mangyari" LP. tuwang tuwa na naman ako dahil puro mga bagong kanta at lahat magaganda. paborito ko ang "pag dating ng panahon" ni pepe - halos kopyahin ko nga ang theme ng kanta para sa lyrics ng graduation song namin.
then the years went by, i entered college, graduated and started my career. nawala na sila sa radar ko. mike went to the states. di ko na alam kung ano ang nangyari kay wally. pero si pepe, na paborito ko sa kanila, was still around. one day in december, nagulat na lang ako when he suddenly showed up in our house in novaliches with my brother dante. birthday ko noon at pumunta sila para bumati. simple lang ang handaan. naroon lang kami sa garden, umiinom at nagkakantahan kasama ang mga kaibigan ko. ang highlight ng gabi ay ang pag jamming namin ni pepe smith ng "himig natin" at "riders on the storm". it was one of the most memorable birthday's i ever had.
this coming saturday, may reunion concert ang juan dela cruz band entitled "PAGBABALIK". gagawin ito sa world trade center sa pasay. kung nasa pilipinas lang ako, hindi ko ito palalagpasin. if you are a rock fan, buy your tickets now. bihira lang magreunion ang isa sa mga poste ng pinoy rock music. at saka isa pa, matatanda na sila't nirarayuma. baka hindi na ulit mangyari ito, kaya make sure you attend.
May 13, 2005
TWO VIRGINS
malapit nang matapos ang album ko. may mga ilang kanta akong ni record ngayon kasali rito at ipaparinig ko sa inyo. siguro buwan na lang ang bibilangin at lalabas na ang unang collection na tatawagin kong "Songs from Ma Mon Luk". nakapag conceptualize na ako ng album cover. iniisip ko eh gagayahin ko si john lennon at yoko ono doon sa kanilang "Two Virgins" na record. pinagawa ko na nga ang album cover sa aking kaibigang designer na si master polo. isa na siya ngayong sikat na artist at in demand ang trabaho niya sa buong mundo. kaya lang medyo malabo na yata ang mata. nilagay niya ang mukha ko doon sa katawan ni yoko ono. para tuloy akong transvestite na may LBM sa litrato. pero initial layout lang naman yan. hemingway, here are the four new songs i've recorded. sana ay magustuhan ninyo.
1. HAY BILANGIN MO CHIPMUNK VERSION - ito ay isang classic na kanta nung 1970's. hindi ko na nga alam kung sino ang may original nito. parati itong kinakanta sa mga tambayan nung araw lalo na pag medyo nakainom na ang barkada. here is my "kinapon" version. PAKINGGAN NINYO.
2. BIRDS - memorable ang kantang ito ni neil young dahil ito parati ang kinakanta ng kuya ko everytime he closes a pinoy rock concert nung araw. his fans know that this is his signature song. tuwing naririnig ko ito, naaalala ko siya. PAKINGGAN NINYO.
3. HOW YOU GONNA SEE ME NOW - in 1979, alice cooper released an LP called "from the inside". the songs there tell of his struggle with alcoholism. in this song, he's about to come out of rehab and he's not sure if his wife will accept him again. ang dami niya kasing atraso at medyo apprehensive siya na papalayasin na siyang tuluyan. PAKINGGAN NINYO.
4. HAY BILANGIN MO REPRISE - ito yung original version ng kanta. walang putol betlog epeks dito - straight forward kanta lang. PAKINGGAN NINYO.
April 23, 2005
BREAK A HEART OF STONE
i recorded a new song. it's a cover of alice cooper's classic "i never cry" which came out in 1976 (from the "alice goes to hell" album). memorable ang kantang ito sa akin dahil ito ang isa mga unang natutunan kong tipahin sa gitara. we used to sing this song a lot sa tambayan namin sa novaliches when i was growing up. ito rin ang kinanta ko nung nag audition ako sa parish choir ng aming simbahan nung 1981. awa naman ng diyos eh nakuha ako - sa "bass" ako napunta pero "soprano" ang inaplayan ko. hehehe.
iniba ko nga pala ang ending. HERE IT IS - sana magustuhan ninyo.
March 16, 2005
THE BRIGHT BLESSED DAY, THE DARK SACRED NIGHT
dear mylab, para sa iyo ang isang version. para kay binky ang isang version. para rin po ito sa inyong lahat na mga bagong kaibigan. maraming salamat sa inyong malasakit sa aming mag-asawa.
nagmamahal,
jay
ps. mylab, kung narito ka lang kagabi, sana na enjoy mo ang musika ni binky. nagpakita na naman siya ng kanyang trademark all out musicianship. nakakatawa nga dahil bago mag concert, nag uusap kami sa labas at dinadaan daanan lang siya ng mga tao. pag tapos ng concert, dinumog siya ng mga tao. THANK YOU BINKY - last night was pure magic. idol talaga kita boss binky. until next time my friend!
March 15, 2005
LEGENDS
kagabi, suwerta ako to be in the company of legends. narito na si binky lampano and the lampano alley sa singapore. they are part of the on-going Mosaic Music Festival that is currently being held at the ultra modern highly sosyal na Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. more than that - they are here to spread the blues to the hungry people of singapore. kagabi was just the appetizer - a symposium of sorts about what the blues is all about. and binky and the band really showed us what blues is and how blues was meant to be played. i had a great time listening to his music because it was so informal and everybody was cool.
matagal na kaming nagsusulatan ni binky. nagsimula ito nang makita ko ang website niya. natuwa ako at nag email ako sa kanya. una nagpasalamat ako dahil kumanta siya sa benefit concert para sa brain surgery of my kuya. but more than that, i wrote him because i am a big fan of his music. jet and i really love to watch binky play live because he is the ultimate stage animal who always gave everything in every performance - no holds barred, big booming voice, primal, soulful, world class. and finally we met face to face last night. we shook hands for the first time. actually, it was during the show na kinamayan niya ako. hehehe. siyempre proud na proud ako. post show - we went down to the bar and talked (and binky sang a couple of songs much to the delight of the people there). what does it feel like when the artist you really admire introduces you to his band and buys you a beer? tangina, siyempre, ang saya ko. sana lang kasama ko ang asawa ko. she would have loved to get to know binky. next to me - she is probably binky's biggest fan. baka nga mas fan pa si jet ni binky kasya sa akin.
at siyempre, kasama ko si amor at ang isa pang up-coming legend - si jenn ang paborito nating periodista. naghahanap kasi si binky ng journalist para naman ma cover ang show nila sa press. bukod sa pagiging journalist, jenn is now a full fledged mediacorp actress. kung kayo ay taga singapore, abangan ninyo mamayang gabi sa channel 5 yung teledocumentary tungkol sa tsunami called "killer waves". jenn plays the true to life role of a thai housewife who almost loses her two sons when the tsunami hit thailand. tandaan ninyo ha: jenn - now a name, soon a legend. hehehe. sabi ko nga kunin na rin akong actor. gusto ko rin kasing mag endorse ng "Beijing 101", yung gamot sa pagka kalbo na parating pinapakita sa TV at dyaryo featuring singapores leading actors. anyway - sabi ko kay jenn, kahit extra lang ako (halimbawa - ako yung aapakan ni kingkong sa next movie ni peter jackson), pwede na yon sa akin.
February 19, 2005
MGA KASALUKUYAN
KASALUKUYANG NILALARO: ang pototoy ko. kaya puro kalyo nang kaliwang kamay ko eh. "Oddworld Stranger's Wrath" for the XBOX. walastic, nabighani ako rito. ang galing at bagay na bagay sa aking sick personality. sa larong ito, ikaw ay si "stranger", isang bounty hunter sa oddworld (na kung saan, ang mga inhabitants ay mga taong manok). kailangan mong hanapin ang mga wanted na mga characters all over oddworld to get enough bounty money for stranger's operation. ano ang parte ng katawan niya na ooperahan? di ko pa alam. wala pa ako sa kalagitanaan ng kwento sa game eh.
KASALAKUYANG BINABASANG COMICS: "Alias" 1, 2, 3 and 4 ni Brian Michael Bendis at Michael Gaydos. kwento ni jessica jones, isang superhero na nagsawa from being a superhero kaya nag decide na lang siyang maging isang detective. marami siyang hang ups sa buhay. her life is shitty, she sleeps with the wrong people, she drinks and smokes a lot at malutong pa siya kaysa sa akin kung magmura. my kind of hero.
February 18, 2005
AND ALWAYS HAVE THE BLUES A LITTLE
dear mylabopmayn, siguro naman ay matutuwa ka sa akin. nakapaglaba na ako. hehehe. ayan ang ibidinsya. o, anong say mo ha - nakangiti pa ako habang ang sinapmpay ang nasa background. oo mylab pinaghiwalay ko ang decolor at puti. naglagay rin ng sabon at conditioner, este softener pala according to your instructions. at hindi siya nag amoy kulob. impak, ang bango bango nga niya eh - amoy bagong labang damit! ngyehehe. pwede na siguro akong mag resign bukas, maglalabandera na lang ako. proud talaga ako sa nagawa ko ngayong gabi. at hindi lang yan, may surprise pa ako sa iyo. as promised, isang awitin: batjay's cover version of "the glory of love". para sa iyo ito mylabopmayn. ni record ko ito habang hinihintay kong matapos ang washing machine. sana magustuhan mo. at saka, inahit ko nga rin pala yung buhok ko sa dibdib. wala, kursunada ko lang.
February 01, 2005
WHEN STREAMS ARE RIPE AND FILLED WITH RAIN
june, she changed her tune.
july, she will fly.
august, die she must.
september, i remember.
october... um, october? hanggang september lang ang kantang "april come she will" ni paul simon, pano ba yan? ah basta.
november, araw ng patay.
december, pasko.
january, bagong taon.
8 months! packingsheet, 8 months na akong hindi naninigarillo. major milestone baby. and in honor of this day, i played the live version of led zeppelin's "Dazed And Confused" in my iPod while cycling to work. i swear to god, humaba ang buhok ko ng 2 inches by the time i got to the office. naghihintay na rin nga ako kung may sisigaw ng "sindihan na yan".
January 30, 2005
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
1. "Suicide Is Painless" from the M*A*S*H movie soundtrack
2. "Organ Grinder", Mark-Almond
3. "Born To Run", Bruce Springsteen
4. "Imagine", John Lennon
5. "In My Life by The Beatles
6. "Deacon Blues by Steely Dan
7. "(Sittin on) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding
8. "It Ain't Me, Babe" by Bob Dylan
9. " Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby Stills Nash Young
10. "Himig ng Pag-ibig" ni Lolita Carbon
Ito ang top 10 list ng mga importanteng kanta sa buhay ko. Nagpapalit ito from time to time kaya hindi yan permanent "greatest hits". Isasama ko rin sana ang "Voltes V Theme" at "Magellan" ni Yoyoy pero di na kasya. Special mention din yung "Imitation of Life" ng R.E.M. For more information on my music list CLICK HERE.
January 11, 2005
Drive west on Sunset to the sea, turn that jungle music down, Just until we're out of town
ang kantang "babylon sisters" ng steely dan ay memorable sa akin. galing ito sa "gaucho" LP na lumabas nung 1980. nasa 2nd year high school ako nito. nakipag barter pa ako sa classmate kong si redondo. pinalit ko ang "malice in wonderland" ng nazareth with his "gaucho" tape. prior to this, they were just in the periphery, mostly heard through my older brother and sisters. pero "gaucho" changed all that. it was the start of my steely dan love affair. ano na kaya ang nangyari kay redondo? genius na artist ito at hobby niya ang mag retoke ng mga litrato ng mga artistang ginupit sa "people's tonight". lapis lang at eraser ay natatanggal niya ang damit ng mga artista at papatungan niya ito ng drawing ng pekpek at boobs. maganda ang quality ng artwork kaya akala mo talagang nakahubo.
kaya ngayon, kapag naririnig ko ang kantang "babylon sisters", naaalala ko ang mga edited bold pictures na galing sa people's tonight during the early 1980's. speaking of pictures and memories: available na ang web album ng aming vacation sa pilipinas. CLICK HERE - to view the EB, family reunions at litrato ng happenings sa aming munting bahay sa antipolo.
January 10, 2005
Tomorrows rain will wash the stains away but something in our minds will always stay
nanood kami ng concert ni sting sa singapore indoor stadium. ano ba sa tagalog ang sting? "kagat" ba? as in the sting of a bee (kagat ng putakte). incidentally, hindi ko mabigkas ang salitang "putakte" nang hindi nakakaisip ng kabastusan. ewan ko ba. i really have a sick mind siguro. heniwey, ang sting ay pwede rin kasing "kirot" - as in "your vile toungue stings my sensitive heart". ang concert na ito ay part ng kanyang sacred love tour at una nila para sa 2005. puting ining, ang galing ni sting kahit lolo na. iba talaga ang tibre ng boses niya and the concert made me realize why i am an engineer and not an artist like him. at napasayaw na naman kami - sa sobrang sayaw nga ay muntik na akong gumulong pababa ng stadium. nasa aisle seat kasi ako at bandang upper box area. katabi ko lang yung steps na may 100 foot drop. kung nagkataon, na diyaryo sana ako ngayon: "Filipino Engineer breaks his neck in freak tumbling accident during Sting Concert".
November 28, 2004
Charades, pop skill, water hyacinth, named by a poet, imitation of life
eto na naman ako with my weekend listahan ng musika, libro, pelikula at laro. mga kalipunan ng mga ek-ek na gusto kong i-share. isa isahin natin sila:
SONG OF THE WEEK: "imitation of life" by R.E.M. isa na namang paboritong kanta galing sa isa sa aking paboritong grupo. masaya ang kantang ito at pwede mo itong patugtugin kahit saan. ako nga, pinapakinggan ko ito pag nagluluto ng weekend breakfast namin ni jet.
KASALUKUYANG NILALARO: ang toto ko. bwahaha. seriously, "HALO 2 Limited Collector's Edition". ang galing talaga ng game na ito. editor's pick sa lahat halos ng mga reviews. yes virginia, the master chief RULES.
Continue reading "Charades, pop skill, water hyacinth, named by a poet, imitation of life" »
November 26, 2004
So, tell before you come to me from out of yonder skies, a man's a man who looks a man right between the eyes
RAVES ABOUT MUSIC: nag record ulit ako ng kanta kagabi. cover version ito ng kanta ni cat stevens na pinasikat ni lani hall. simple lang ang melody pero minsan mong marinig, parang gusto mong patugtugin ulit - PAKINGGAN NINYO. nag record pa ako ng mga ibang kanta. kaya kung ok sa inyo ang ganitong klase ng music, punta na lang kayo sa karaoke site ko: ANG MGA AWITIN NI BATJAY, ANG DATING FOLK SINGER NG MA MON LUK
RANTS ABOUT ANGHIT AGAIN: bwakanginangyan, parang may magnet ata ako sa mga may putok dito sa singapore. pag akyat ko sa opis, amoy paksiw yung katabi ko sa elevator. yung dalawang kaharap ko naman sa train, amoy kulob na labada. tapos yung nasa unahan ko sa ATM machine, amoy hinog na langka. lahat yan, nangyari this morning in a span of less than an hour. pakiramdam ko tuloy, parang pinaglalaruan ako ng diyos ng mga kili-kili. sa elevator nga kanina, pinapanalangin ko na sana mautot ako, para naman makaganti man lang ako kahit papaano. soap, water, deodorant... yon lang ang kailangan. di ba nila magawang maligo ng mahusay? rhetorical question, don't answer.
November 06, 2004
'cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
tatlo pala ang version ko ng "first cut is the deepest" sa aking iPod. kanina ko lang nalaman. what's the significance of this fact in the order of things in the universe, i ask myself. nothing much, i answer back. tangina, kinakausap ko na naman ang sarili ko. balik sa kanta: mayron akong original ni cat stevens. tama ka virginia, siya nga yung kumanta ng "father and son" at "peace train" na ironically ay dineport ng mga amerikano recently, kasi may ties daw siya sa mga terrorist. ngyehehe. mayron din akong cover version ni rod stewart na naging popular nung 1970's. ang panghuli ay yung kay sheryl crow. paborito ko ito dahil siya ang pinaka soulful ang rendition sa tatlo. napahinto nga ako sa pagbisikleta nang tugtugin ito, tapos biglang naupo sa park bench at nakinig. pag-uwi ko, nag record din ako ng sariling version - PAKINGGAN NINYO.
October 31, 2004
THINKING, TANGLING SHADOWS IN THE DEEP SOLITUDE
narito na ang aking week end recommendations. listahan ito ng mga pelikula't libro na pwedeng ninyong panoorin at basahin (lalo na para sa mga nasa pilipinas dahil long weekend gawa ng araw ng patay bukas). patok na patok ang mga recommendation na ito. pag hindi ninyo nagustuhan, ipapaputol ko ang titi ko ewan ko na lang. umpisahan natin sa libro. susundan ko ng pelikula at panghuli ay isang poetry collection. here goes... IF you have time to read only one book this weekend, maghanap kayo ng kopya ng "persepolis: the story of a childhood" ni marjane satrapi. isang memoir (pano bang pag pronouce dito - memwoyr? mem-wah? parang tunog ng plastic na halik) tungkol sa growing up years ni satrapi sa iran nung islamic revolution. nakakatawa at heartbreaking at the same time - the story is told in simple black and white graphic images. kung mayrong kahit kapiranggot na pagka-artista at humanity sa inyong mga puso, you'll fall in love with this novel.
Continue reading "THINKING, TANGLING SHADOWS IN THE DEEP SOLITUDE" »
October 08, 2004
IF YOU CAN'T BE WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE HONEY, LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
"A Reason to Believe". a bit underrated as a song but could knock your socks off if delivered properly. ni record ko kagabi kasi naaasar na naman ako sa mga contestants ng singapore idol. bwakangnangyan. either sintunado or walang kalatoy latoy. yung iba nga sintunado na walang kalatoy latoy pa. ewan ko ba, di ko gusto ang style nila - puro porma, wala namang laman. to compensate sa masamang napanood ko, ako na lang ang kumanta. hehehe. isa pa, mabigat ang sipon ko ngayon. eh pag ganitong barado ang ilong ko at punong puno ng plema ang aking ngala-ngala, talagang masarap makipag lips to lips nagiging husky rocker's bedroom voice ang boses ko. parang lalaking bonnie "total eclipse of the heart" tyler? ngyehehe. springsteen na bugoy, siguro. CLICK HERE to hear my version.
October 07, 2004
SHARING THE THINGS WE KNOW AND LOVE, WITH THOSE OF MY KIND - LIBATIONS, SENSATIONS THAT STAGGER THE MIND
KASALUKUYANG BINABASA: "the rule of four" nina ian caldwell at dustin thomason. excited akong basahin ito dahil isa na namang secret sect and ancient code story in the tradition of the "da vinci code". pero according to some of the reviews, it would be a disservice to the authors if you simply compare this new book with the work of dan brown. hekshuli, nabasa ko na ang first chapter and if this is the basis of a comparison between the da vinci code and this book, i would say that "the rule of four" is much better written. sana hindi ako ma disappoint sa huli. ang hula ko eh mamamatay lahat ng mga bida in the end. hehe.
KASALUKUYANG NILALARO: "ang toto ko" - pero minsan-minsan lang (parang si kevin spacey sa "american beauty"). hehehehehehe. seriously - it's "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 for the Xbox". ang isang gusto ko rito ay ang "game face" feature kung saan pwede mong i-customize ang hitsura ng player para maging kamukha mo. weird nga ang pakiramdam when you see a replica of yourself inside the game. parang absurd "out of body" experience. di pa ako nakaka hole in one pero ang dami ko nang natalong mga professionals at marami nang mga endorsements. feeling ko nga, playing professional na ako, kahit sa Xbox lang.
August 14, 2004
AND THE PAINTED PONIES GO UP AND DOWN
yesterday's title is today's song. nag record ako ng kanta kagabi. kung di ninyo alam, yung title ng previous entry ay galing sa kantang "circle game" ni joni mitchell. it's a personal favorite for a lot of reasons. pakinggan nyo na lang:
The Circle Game, the "winalanghiya ni batjay" version. narito yung lines of the title of my previous blog entry - "words like, when you’re older, must appease him, and promises of someday make his dreams". ay naku, such great lyrics at ang sarap kantahin
The Circle Game, Take 1. this is my first take of the joni mitchell song. ok na sana kaya lang nag text si mari kay jet in the middle of the song kaya napasigaw ako in the end. hehe. pakinggan nyo - pati yung ring tone ng text ay kuhang kuha. bwahaha.
August 08, 2004
JIMMY CORRIGAN, THE SMARTEST BOY ON EARTH
lahat ng perang pambili ko supposedly ng sigarillo ay napunta na ngayon sa pambili ng libro, DVD at CD. sa isang banda ok na rin. healthy na, enjoy pa. dito sa singapore, makukuha mo halos lahat ng mga gusto mong books, film and music. unless may "pornography" at topics na against the government. hehe. may censorship pa rin. pero maraming mga loophole para macircumvent mo ang mga censors. pinakasikat dito ang mga online stores tulad ng "amazon.com". pag di available ang mga gusto ko, dito ako kadalasan bumibili.
matagal na rin pala akong di nagkukwento ng mga latest books, films and music na bagong sali sa collection namin. eto ang catalog, baka gusto ninyong subukan...
Continue reading "JIMMY CORRIGAN, THE SMARTEST BOY ON EARTH" »
July 07, 2004
LET THIS BE A SONG CALLED ME
dahil commuter ako sa singapore, ang MP3 player ko ang nagtatanggal ng inip sa byahe. imbis na gayahin ko yung kupal na nangungulangot sa train, nakikinig na lang ako ng musika. ang aking gadget of choice sa tugtugan ay ang aking pinakamamahal na iPod.
July 06, 2004
WHERE BROKEN HEARTED LOVERS DO CRY AWAY THEIR GLOOM...
sa mga di nakakakilala sa akin, ako nga pala si batjay, ang "elvis presley ng quiapo". tingnan mo yung picture ko doon sa upper right ng screen. hindi yung aso ha. your other right. di ba kamukha ko si elvis na may gitara? gawa iyan ng idol kong pinoy artist na si dengcoy miel. i digress, back to elvis... i've loved elvis' music simula pagkabata. wala pa akong buhok sa pwet, paborito ko na siya. until the end of his life, in spite of the drugs, overeating binges, pagka praning and all that crap, his voice never failed him. i loved that voice and tried to imitate it but all i could come up with is a poor edgar mortiz imitation. dang. pero ok lang, sabi nga ni elvis eh "that's alright with me".
o siya. heto na ang tribute ko kay elvis: "are you lonesome tonight", alay ko sa lahat ng mahahaba ang patilla. pakinggan nyo na lang. habang kinakanta ko nga pala ito, naghuhugas ng pinggan si jet kaya maraming mga platong kumakalampag. pakinggan nyo rin yung ending, parang si elvis mortiz talaga. hehe. andy kaufman man lang sana.
Continue reading "WHERE BROKEN HEARTED LOVERS DO CRY AWAY THEIR GLOOM..." »
June 16, 2004
WISH I DIDN'T KNOW NOW WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW THEN
old pictures... punong puno ng ala-ala. i remember when this photo was taken. sa bahay ito ng mommy ko sa novaliches. dito pa kami nakatira nung araw. siguro mga 1994 ito, kagagaling lang namin sa simbahan ni jet at sinusubukan ko ang bagong bili na camera. that was a long time ago. correction, that was many pounds ago. much younger, bolder, reckless at wala pang masyadong pakialam kung anong mangyayari sa hinaharap. parang kanta ni springsteen: "at night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines... 'cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run."
nakita ko ang litratong ito na nakaipit sa isang lumang librong binabasa ko nung nasa hospital ako. di ko sigurado kung ano - either yung "american gods" ni neil gaiman or yung "a soldier's story" na world war II memoirs ni omar bradley. typical sa akin kasi na gawing bookmark ang mga paboritong larawan. mas typical din ang iwanan ang larawan sa loob ng libro pagtapos basahin. ulyanin kasi ako.
May 15, 2004
IN MY LIFE
di ako makatulog. excited siguro masyado sa pag-uwi ang tumbong ko at di mapakali. lipad na kami ni jet in a few hours time pabalik sa bayang magiliw. special ang pag uwi na ito: makakapag celebrate kami ni jet ng aming 13th anniversary with our family and friends. siyempre 80th birthday din ng mommy ko. it's also about the same date that jet and i decided to move to singapore, three years ago.
looking back nga, ang dami nang nangyari sa buhay ko itong mga nakaraang taon. hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin alam kung saan kami dadalhin nitong byaheng ito. ok lang, kahit saan. pero teka, huwag lang sa india. marami kasing holy cow doon eh.
isa sa paborito kong kanta ng beatles ay yung "in my life". somehow, it best describes how i feel about this trip home. ni record ko nga kanina. practice lang dahil baka ito ang kantahin ko sa program during my mom's party. alay ko rin ito sa mylab ko. pakinggan nyo. bibilisan ko lang siguro ng kaunti. nababagalan ako at para akong lasing na DOM. kulang na lang magsuot ako ng puting pantalon, bulaklaking polo at alahas.
May 09, 2004
THE MESSAGE MAY NOT MOVE ME...
eto ang mga nadagdag sa cd collection over the past year. not much, but it's a weird mix. kinda tells you what kind of person i am. hehe. di na ako bumibili like i used to. siguro, dahil masaya na ako sa collection namin ni jet. at saka at one point, naging suki kami ni kazaa.
March 28, 2004
SUICIDE IS PAINLESS
two weeks ago, pinanood ko ang "M*A*S*H" (yung masterpiece ni robert altman, hindi yung tv series). ever since, di na nawala sa loob ng ulo ko yung paulit-ulit na pagkanta ng "suicide is painless", the lyrics of which incidentally, was composed by altman's son. kahit saan na lang kinakanta ko ito - sa banyo, sa opisina, sa train (much to the amazement of the other passengers). nung di ko na matiis, kinuha ko yung gitara kanina at nirecord ang aking take sa kantang ito. pakinggan nyo na lang.
February 14, 2004
ANG DATING FOLK SINGER NG MA MON LUK
nag simula akong mag-aral ng gitara ng 1979, a great music year. it was also a time of great change for me. i was 13 years old at bukod sa problema ko about my daily erections, my mom and dad had just split up. para matanggal ang lungkot, nag-aral akong mag gitara. self study lang, kaya amateur pa rin ako to this very day.
nalaman ko: ang pinakamadali palang paraan para matuto ay basahin ang jingle magazine beatles chordbook. pag tiningnan mo kasi ang mga kanta ng beatles - from their early days to their final "abbey road" LP, mayroong progression ng degree of difficulty. so, you start with the 3 chord, "love me do". then as your skill grows, you try their "revolver" songs then graduate with the hard songs of "sgt. pepper's" and the "white album".
one weekend, i took out my guitar and recorded some songs. no overdubs, no practice - just plain 1 take eveything kaya recorded lahat ng mga mali, tawa at background coaching ni jet. online na ang mga ito ngayon at pwede nyong marinig (kung gusto nyo, hehe) sa "MGA KANTA NI BATJAY, ANG DATING FOLK SINGER NG MA MON LUK". hindi naman ako magaling kumanta but i've got a lot of soul (and a lot of lakas ng loob). kaya, pag pasensyahan nyo na.
December 09, 2003
LAST SONG SYNDROME NG MGA MARTIAL LAW BABIES
narining nyo na ba yung term na last song syndrome? bueno, kung ikaw ay lumaki during the '70's, bibigyan kita ng magandang last song syndrome song that will bug you for the rest of the day. ARE YOU READY? here it is... click nyo na lang yung kanta below para masaya.
(guitar intro: trang-ta-ra-rang-rang-rang)
November 09, 2003
JUST THE TWO OF US
"Good things might come to those who wait,
but not for those who wait too late"
bill withers, from "just the two of us".
mas masarap kung kakantahin mo ang linyang ito. it flows out of your mouth perfectly. kanina ko pa nga kinakanta eh. itong isang linya lang na ito, paulit-ulit...paulit-ulit...paulit-ulit...paulit-ulit. oops, nandyan nang mga pulis, nagreklamo ata ang mga kapitbahay.
September 27, 2003
ANG HULING EL BIMBO
"tumigas ang aking katawan, kapag umikot na ang plaka
patay sa kembot ng beywang mo at ang pungay ng iyong mga mata"
(huling el bimbo, eraserheads)
wala lang, ang sarap lang kantahin ang magandang tagalog na lyrics. hehehe. lipad muna ako mylab ng isang linggo. ingat ka diyan. next time you hear from me, i'll be in southern cal.
September 25, 2003
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BLUES
September 13, 2003
I TRAVEL FROM SONG TO SONG, IN SEARCH OF THAT PERFECT CHORD
paglabas ko kaninang umaga, binubulong ni John Lennon sa kanang tenga ko ang "a day in the life". ang pinakamadangdang kanta ng BEATLES ang nagsimula sa aking paglalakad. i couldn't ask for anything more.
"I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph."
recorded in stereo by the great george martin during the 1960's. dinig na dinig ko ang separation ng mga tracks sa headphone ko habang pababa sa elevator. instruments on my left ear, john lennon on my right.
i have my music to accompany me in my walks and measure distance in terms of songs. here we go...
i'm in the street now and make the first turn, Rod Stewart sings "have i told you lately". i smile and remember my good friend mon, singing this song in a karaoke in manila many moons ago. i decide that van morrison does it much better.
nasa central market na ako by this time at kakalampas ko palang ng mcdo. bob seger sings ... "we've got tonight". a great song na binaduy ni kenny rogers at sheena easton. sino na nga ba yung pakingsheet na boy band na lumapastangan din nito? naalala ko rin, pinatugtog itong kantang tunkol sa infidelity nung kasal nang pareng boyet ko. papalapit na ako sa NTUC chalet at si bob seger pa rin with "still the same". bumibilis ang lakad ko at sumasabay sa beat...
medyo ganada na ako by this time when muddy waters goes into high gear and sings "mannish boy". i look back as i walk and remember watching him sing this song in Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz many years ago with my brothers and sisters. once again i am seven years old and am mezmerized by the blues. i also remember this is the first time i hear neil young sing "helpless".
i am in the homestretch now on my last kilometer or so. in a fit of synchronicity, neil young sings "after the gold rush".. his piano and his voice sounds like its coming from inside my head and i get goose bumps. an indian man is tending the front lawn of a housing block. i smell the smell of newly cut grass and automatically close my eyes. i am transported back to my little garden in antipolo.
malapit na ako sa blue mosque sa likod ng flat namin when i hear the intro of elton john's "mona lisa's and madhatters". magandang kanta to end my morning walk. i go up the flat, peep inside and see jet. i remember the night we watched sir elton here in singapore.
it's nearly lunch time at naaamoy ko na ang adobong pinapainit ni jet. lagot, isip isip ko. marami na naman akong makakain nito. gardemet, if this morning walk does not reduce my weight, at least it keeps me sane.
September 05, 2003
EAST OF GINGER TREES
this song is dedicated to my dad.
Go on east of ginger trees.
Go soft and silent like the breeze.
With ease be off and wander
in yon wilderness of clove.
Go on past the goldenrods,
where fools and angels lose their odds.
And gods of our ancestors
did immerse themselves in clove.
Go on toward the crimson shore,
beyond this life of metaphors.
Where doors of understanding's house
decorates he them with clove.
August 27, 2003
4+20
August 23, 2003
PARA SA MGA "SMAP"
isang kanta para sa mga miyembro ng SMAP (samahan ng mga malalamig ang pasko). sana nawa eh gumanda ang mga lovelife nyo. ito'y rock and roll cover version ng "goodbye to love", isang popular na kanta ng carpenters.
August 03, 2003
SONG LINES I WISH I WROTE
July 17, 2003
IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD
maganda ang panahon ngayong araw na ito sa singapore. maulap at malakas ang hangin na may konting ambon. parang panahon sa tagaytay. gusto ko nang umuwi kanina para makatulog ng kaunti.
ginawa ko na lang, in honor of this great windy day, ay pinatugtog ang "your wildest dreams" ng moody blues sa pc ko. wala lang - ito kasi yung laman ng cd sa kotse nung nag bakasyon kami ni jet a long time ago at paulit-ulit naming pinapatugtog habang paakyat-pababa sa bundok ng tagaytay .
i remember the first time i heard the moody blues. i was 11 years old and this was sometime in the late 70's. nasa bahay ako ng mga auntie ko sa pasay at pinasahan ako ni dante ng "in search of the lost chord". nakalimutan ko na yung mga cuts dito, pero what i remember is the great artwork of the LP and the admonition of my tiyong amon nung marinig nya yung mga kanta - "tangnang aga-aga, kung ano anong katarantaduhan ang pinapatugtog nyo!". hehehe. rock and roll!
happy birthday to my brother dante. birthday nya kahapon.
June 10, 2003
NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN
Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters I've written,
Never meaning to send
The Moody Blues, "Nights in White Satin"
May 29, 2003
ENTER SANDMAN
sleep with one eye open
gripping your pillow tight
exit light
enter night
take my hand
off to never never land
May 12, 2003
BREATH
May 09, 2003
YOU'RE MY HOME
May 07, 2003
SONG LYRICS I'M GLAD I DIDN'T WRITE
Shooting at the walls of heartache bang, bang
I am the warrior
tagalugin mo nga ito?
April 27, 2003
GUSTO KO PANG MABUHAY! there's
there's this john denver song called "i want to live". it's not one of his best songs and i find some of the lyrics so melodramatic (e.g. "Have you watched the dolphins frolic in the foam"). but it's a song i like to listen to nonetheless, because it reminds me of my dad. well, it's one of the songs that remind me of my dad.
in 1979, i lived in a city in isabela with my mom and dad and my nephew dennis (who is my age). my dad had a job there managing a radio station. anyway, one night, the public market burned. all the power in the city was cut off and the only radio station functioning was my dad's because he'd just installed a generator set. my dad was rushing to cover the fire live, but didn't have any announcers to cover him while he was gone. so he called me to man the booth for him while he went to the market and get some interviews. to fill in the gaps, i had to play john denver's "i want to live" three times, i think. it wasn't that difficult working with the equipment inside the radio station becuase i know how to operate all of it by heart. i've been his sidekick eversince i was able to walk. in fact, all my other brothers and sisters went through that phase in their lives. all of us were brought by our dad to his place of work to watch, learn and help.
"i want to live" isn't played in the radio these days, so i got a copy for myself which i play from time to time to remind me of my dad.
April 26, 2003
GRACELAND
song lines i wish i wrote: Graceland
The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
Memories of PinoyRock, Part 1
my best pinoy rock moment is very intimate. it was the time when pepe came to our house during my birthday many years ago. he came with my brother and his wife. after a few beers, we jammed and he sang an acoustic cover of the doors' "riders on the storm".
many years later, my friends and i still talk about this great event that spiced up our rather boring lives. hehehe. and so, my great big wish before i move on to that great big gig in the sky: i want to spend one of my birthdays jamming with with the jerks, binky lampano, sampaguita and pepe smith.
You Can Call Me AL
If you’ll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
ARE YOU GONNA SEE ME NOW
FROM THE INSIDE BY ALICE COOPER, and the song i always hum when i'm on the outside
in 1978, alice cooper released an album called "from the inside". it was the album he produced right after going into rehab for alcoholism. one of the songs there is a sweet ballad called "how you gonna see me now". it tells about a man's apprehensions about going back to his wife after screwing up both their lives. he's wondering if he'll be accepted and if it will still be the same again. been to hell and back, honey. fade to black?
in some screwy way, i hum this tune whenever i'm outstation and i have to leave jet at home. di naman ako recovering alcoholic pero, somehow, i associate the song with leaving my wife at home during my business trips. weird really. isa pa, yung kanta ng kiss na "beth". at saka yung kanta ng allman brothers band na "melissa". wala namang mention kay jet doon. "benny and the jets" sana ni elton john, "leaving on a jet plane" ni john denver or yung "jet" ni paul mccartney, kaya lang wala naman itong appeal sa akin pag umaalis ako.
anyway, here's part of the alice cooper song. read the words of the recovering alcoholic afraid of going back to his wife, but knows that he must because being with her makes him complete...
Dear darlin' surprised to hear from me?
Bet you're sittin' drinkin' coffee, yawnin' sleepily
Just to let you know
I'm gonna be home soon
I'm kinda awkward & afraid
Time has changed your point of view
How you gonna see me now
Please don't see me ugly babe
'Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways
How you gonna see me now
Since we've been on our own
Are you gonna love the man
When the man gets home
April 24, 2003
STARRY STARRY NIGHT
request sa karaoke: bossing, patugtugin nyo naman ang "starry, starry night" by vincent.
"Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds and violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing Hoy"
Miron: "Colors Changing Hue. Hindi Hoy. BOBO!"
SINO SI BERT DOMINIC?
Habang nag-se-search ng mga artist na kasali sa "PHILIPPINE HITS - AROUND THE WORLD KARAOKE", napadaan ako sa binebentang CD sa Pinoy Central na pinamagatang "Kukurutin Ko" ni Bert Dominic.
Sino si Bert Dominic? Naiintriga ako sa kanya. Bakit ganito ang title ng mga kanta niya?
Kukurutin Ko
Titina
Kay Tsong, Kay Tsang
Johnny's Bird
Tutubing Karayom
Nawawalang Bikini
Hapi Na Si Manoy
Ang Seksi Mo Darling
Ang Siyota Kong Putol
Mag-ingat Kay Ate Aida
Awit Kay Mahal
Ang Nobya Kong Pinay
Okey Lang
Kayakap Ko Ay Unan
Girl, Naaalala Kita
Ibig Kong Bumalik Sa Maynila
Miss Na Miss Kita
Di Kita Malilimutan
Sino si Bert Dominic? Tutuo ba siyang tao, o kathang isip ng isang corning-bastos na tulad ko? Ano ang tunog ng kantang "Ang Syota Kong Putol"? Bakit Putol? Ano ang Putol? Bakit kailangang mag-ingat kay Ate Aida? May anghit ba si Ate Aida? Sex Maniac ba siya? Bakit may kanta tungkol sa tutubeng karayom at walang kanta tungkol sa tutubeng kalabaw? Ang uod ba pag namatay inuuod din? pwede ba'ng mag soft-drinks sa coffe break? Ninang ba si Ate Sienna?
April 23, 2003
SOLITUDE
bigla tuloy akong napa-download ng "solitude". hay... galing talaga. gusto nyong kopya? 3MB. hehehe... sinama ko na sa download yung "house of the rising sun" both by nina and the animals. tapos simahan ko pa ng nora jones na "come away with me". walang kamatayanang kasentihan ang gabing ito. huhuhu... buti na lang at nandito ang partner ko sa tabi ko. di nga lang ako pinapansin dahil nag-ko-cross stich. hehehe. crotch tish? crotz tits? crotch tits?
hen-hee-see-key-tee-high-hee. neck tie in "kapampangan". i digress.
ngayon ko lang napuna. ang laki ng similarity ng style ni nora jones kay billie holiday at nina simone. di ako nagtataka actually, if you look at the roots of the music of nora jones, you can trace it back to billy and nina. in a way, the music of nora jones is a tribute to the great female singers na mapapa-bwakangina ka sa lamig ng boses.
tulad ngayon, habang nagsusulat ako, pinapakinggan ko ang mga binibinging ito. bwakangina, ang gagaling nila.
SO LONG NINA SIMONE
namatay na pala si nina simone. isa siya sa mga unang artist na tinangkilik namin ni jet nung nagsisimula kaming nag-collect ng mga CD. marami siyang magagandang kanta at higit na maraming mga cover version ng mga standard blues, jazz at mainstream hits. siya ang naunang kumanta ng "House of the Rising Sun" (nung 1961), bago pa ito pinasikat ni eric burdon at ang "animals" nung 1964 (hindi animal husbandry, ha - ako yon eh).
bukod sa kantang ito, ang pinaka paborito ko ay ang kanyang version ng "solitude". pakinggan nyo ito pag kayo'y nasesenti at nag-iisa, pag di kayo naiyak ng wala sa oras. may version din ito si louie armstrong at equally great in a senti kind of way. its like listening to the beatles' "strawberry fields forever" while your driving on a rainy and cold evening.
In my solitude you haunt me
With reveries of days gone by
In my solitude you taunt me
With memories that never die
I sit in my chair
Filled with despair
Nobody could be so sad
With gloom ev'rywhere
I sit and I stare
I know that I'll soon go mad
In my solitude
I'm praying
Dear Lord above
Send back my love
galing ano? ang lamig ng boses ni nina, kailangan mong mag-jacket pagtapos ng kanta. oo nga pala, huwag mo itong patutugtugin pag down and out ka talagat at baka mapilitan kang mag-bigte. hehehe... o kaya, tanggalin mo muna yung sheltox sa bahay before playing the CD pag super lungkot ka.
naalala nyo pa ba yung kanta ng dinosaurs (isang pinoy rock group) na "try a little suicide" na sumikat nung early 1980's? i digress...
kung napanood nyo yung pelikulang "the assasin" or "point of no return" (depends what country you're in) ni bridget fonda at gabriel byrne. there's the scene there where bridget agrees to accept the assasin job only if gabriel byrne could produce a nina simone record. great scene. ugly movie though. hehehe. good-bye nina... hope you rest in peace in that great big house of the rising sun in the sky.
NINA SIMONE ( see-moan ang pronounciation ah, hindi sim-one, parang sylvester sta-loan: hindi stall-one!)
January 09, 2003
ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST
mga kantang dapat patugtugin sa kotseng papuntang baguio:
baliintawak to tarlac:
1. born to be wild, steppenwolf
2. roll on down the highway, bto
3. highway star, deep purple
4. i feel fine, the beatles
5. rock and roll, led zeppelin
6. ramblin man, allman brothers band
7. the end of the world as we know it, rem
8. not fragile, bto
9. smoke on the water, deep purple
10. you ain't seen nothin yet, bto
11. bad to the bone, george thorogood
12. the road, jackson browne
13. black mercedes benz, the breed
14. born to run, bruce springsteen
15. hoochie coochie man, eric clapton version
16. break on through, the doors
17. runaway, del shannon
18. jessica, allman brothers band
tarlac to pangasinan:
1. on the road again, willy nelson
2. still the same, bob segar
3. reklamo ng reklamo, jerks
4. probinsyana, anak bayan
5. laguna, sampaguita
6. the thrill is gone, bb king
7. mannish boy, muddy waters
8. layla, eric clapton
9. we got to get out of this place, animals
10. love is stronger than justice, sting
11. the lion sleeps tonight, the four seasons
12. walk on the wild side, lou reed
13. 500 miles, proclaimers
14. gotta serve somebody, bob dylan
15. love street, doors
16. summerfling, kd lang
17. watching the wheels, john lennon
pangasinan to baguio:
1. love needs a heart, jackson browne
2. helplessly hoping, csny
3. birds, neil young
4. damdaming nakabitin, asin
5. circle game, joni mitchell
6. tao, sampaguita
7. ain't no mountain high enough, marvin gay
8. everybody hurts, rem
9. a day in the life, the beatles
10. kun' di man, jerks
11. just a song before i go, csn
12. man on the moon, rem
13. after the gold rush, neil young
14. agains the wind, bob seger
15. let it grow, eric clapton
16. what a wonderful world, louis armstrong
May 21, 2002
Pinoy Rock in the Philippines
si basha anak ni dante at delilah ang lead singer ng "advent call". if you remember during the pinoy rock days at rj, there was a station id from a very young kid's voice that goes: "pinoy rock has got a lot of potential going for it, and i want to contribute to the music when the time comes. but you can start right NOW!" - si basha iyon. ngayon lead singer na gwaping at maraming chicks. si adam din na anak niya may punk na band din na tumutugtog sa nasirang club dredd nung araw. hehehe... nood nga kami ni
egay ng concert nila sa club dredd for adams set, tapos lipat kami sa mayrics for basha's set. all in one night.
mga batang brave new world din. naalala ko tuloy ang BNW era: original manager ng jerks at chaos si dante at parating nasa bahay namin sa pasay sina chikoy pura at tommy tanchangco. bagets pa sila nung time na iyon... pero mabagsik na. twenty years has passed and the jerks are still playing. they were and still are: one of the best bands to perform before a live audience. in band parlance - they are a very tight band. they came out with their first CD 2 years ago, one of my favorites. and my favorite cut:
"kung di man" - love song na medyo reggea na sweet.
nung inoperahan si dante sa ulo (sira ulo kasi eh) many years ago... they did a benefit concert sa Bistro RJ QC to pay for the medical bills and it was a great night of pinoy rock (one of the best concerts i've attended dahil maliit lang na venue at very intimate). nandoon sina banyuhay, sampaguita, pen-pen, the dawn, anak bayan (with the late great edmund fortuno, my idol), binky lampano, tropical depression, and the jerks... sayang, sana we had the foresight to record the concert. the best number ay
nung nag all star cast sina binky, chikoy at si papa dom - kinanta nila yung "reklamo ng reklamo"... which incidentally is in the Jerks CD as well.
pahabol: i was in davao a few years ago for a project at mt. apo. lumabas kami ng hotel ng kasama ko. sa may plaza, nagulat kami dahil may libreng concert... ang kakanta ay si sampaguita at yung baget na banda na walang kwenta (nakalimutan ko na). anyway, pinanood namin yung set ni sampaguita... as always, magaling na showmanship. ang lead guitarist niya ay ang kanyang anak na si cowboy (who incidentally also plays for the ateneo band of apa ongpin, "the blue rats". mga atenista talaga, oo. hmmp! hehehe). anyway, ok na rin si cowboy, gumagaling na. itong si cowboy nga pala ay anak ni sampaguita from nilo santos (who incidentally was the producer of the series of new moon concerts during the late 70's). the new moon concert was the first time sampaguita was introduced to the public and it was probably the time that cowboy was conceived... hehehe. the 2nd new moon concert was where sampaguita first sang "bonggahan", "tao" and "sa diyos lamang". all composed by sampaguita's ex, gary perez. the lead guitaritst of anak bayan, who played back-up for sampaguita. ayan, katakut takut na pinoy rock tsismis ang natutunan nyo sa akin ngayong umaga! hehehe...
May 20, 2002
HOWLIN' DAVE - NU 107 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Lifetime Achievement Award for my Brother Dante: NU107 Rock Awards, Introduction Speech...
Here's a guy that began his radio career in the light of the Martial Law years. He was the neighbor of my cousin, Johnny in Pasay, near Park Avenue and Libertad. I always got along with him. He was a natural when he began his career at DzRJ in Santa Mesa.
He had one characteristic that makes a good rock jock. He loved music. He ate up everything going on. I remember him bringing me a record of American Country & Western from Nashville, Tennessee and begging to hear it on the air.
Howlin' Dave spent much of the 1970s getting his chops down, announcing style and gaining a taste for PINOY ROCK which was a very important feature of life in Martial Law. When the show, "Pinoy Rock & Rhythm," was developed by Charlie Brown and Double A. It was mainly about the live Pinoy Rock scenes that thrived in Olongapo City and Manila. Angeles City was still just putas.
At the same time, PUNK started to be played with, "Never Mind the Bullocks," being the start for me. I shared it with Howlin' Dave, who in turn pulled out Sioux and the Banshees! He had turned a corner.
Buddy Trinidad, one of our Judges in the NU Rock Awards 2001, is a member of BETRAYED. He told me that Howlin' Dave was where he listened on Sundays. His show alternated Pinoy cassettes with the latest PUNK! His influence spread. High School student at the time, Francis Reyes (lead guitar of The Dawn), told me it was Howlin' Dave. Francis in a strange way, carries on the torch of Pinoy rock with hundreds of CD's from the entire length of the Philippines. Francis Brew needs an entire staff to undertake and catalog and listen to what is a commitment. It will be nice to take a photo of them together.
Check out Page 9 of the NU Rock Awards 2001 (www.nu107.com) on some of the observations of Eric Caruncho of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. His collection of newspaper stories outlines some of the era. His book, "Punks, Poets and Poseurs," is available at your favorite Pinoy bookstore on line. By the 1980's, PUNK was it and Martial Law was beginning to get funky and tiring. Tommy Tanchangco produced a series of Annual concerts near the World Trade area on Manila Bay. It was called, "Brave New World." It was aired on RJ AM 810. Conceived by Howlin' Dave from his love of the book, "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley.
Between Tommy, Dave and the hundreds of bands that they attracted, the musical Concert moved around the rim of Laguna de Bay to Pililla and U.P. Los Banos. Ask anyone from The Jerks and Myrene who influenced them to the music. Pinoy Rock I guess is a generic expression of the times. It was in fact, the BEST YEARS of his life he told me.
Maybe it was. But it's only the 25th Anniversary of PUNK in 2001. A loose Birthday. Angst, energy, and the focus away from not really being Free had infused the scene.
The BNW Concerts ended, Buddy Trinidad recalls, with Howlin' Dave singing the Paul Anka hit of the teeny bopping Sixties, "My Way." Not that anyone recalls that version. Frank Sinatra made it his song for years. But The SEX PISTOLS stole the entire song in its straight forward middle of the road manner. It was transformed into a Anthem of PUNK ! Howlin' Dave ended each show over the 1980-1985 run of BNW. He was backed by whoever was there that night. The Jerks did. Teddy Perez and The Dawn of the day did. Buddy and Betrayed did. I wonder who else? Joey Ramone?
Cousin Hoagy Dec 2001
T. TINIO
...1974 brought the first breakup of Juan dela Cruz, although some of the
members kept on touring. Eventually, they all had a dispute with Dodie
Gonzales, their manager, and the brother of Wally. However, Dodie owned the
rights to the name Juan dela Cruz. So Mike and company (essentially the
original band) got Bo Razon back and renamed themselves "T.Tinio", which,
although it sounds like it was meant to be an insult to Wally and Dodie (and
no one believed it wasn't), was actually from a Pampanggo manager they had
had, named Teodoro Tinio, insists Mike to this day.
April 29, 2002
CHILD IN TIME
Sweet child in time, you'll see the line
The line that's drawn between the good and the bad
See the blind man, he's shooting at the world
The bullets flying, they're taking toll
If you've been bad, Lord, I bet you have
And you've not been hit by flying lead
You've not been hit by flying lead
You'd better close your eyes
You'd better bow your head
Wait for the ricochet
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I'm cryin' for you day and night
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
A-a-ah, a-a-ah
I wanna hear you say
A-a-ah, a-a-ah
March 26, 2002
MONA LISA'S AND MADHATTERS
While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, sons of bankers, sons of lawyers
Turn around and say good morning to the night
For unless they see the sky, but they can't, and that is why
They know not if it's dark outside or light
January 09, 2002
SOLITUDE
Sometime... Someday...
All the bridges and the bays...
The summer days are gone... in fall... he'll call... the song...
Who knows... who goes...
Laughing through the empty years...
Laughing at the tears we cried... inside... we tried...
Barbary Coast... Mariner's ghost... and the seagull flies...
In green hills... with windmills...
I could never find my home.
So long... nice day...
I've nothing left to say...
-solitude, mark-almond
November 27, 2001
the organ grinder by mark-almond
here comes the organ grinder
with his little dancing monkey
i remember they used to play outside
the house when i was young
a man who mended chairs,
one who sharpened knives
and a lady who sold lavender
with laughter in her eyes
its funny how the time goes
and you never seem to notice
till they're gone.
i remember my first bicycle
my father, he bought it for me
and i remember crying
because it wasn't painted red
i didn't know it then
but we didn't have much money
and he must have gone
without a lot
just to see me smile.
its funny how the time goes
and you never seem to notice
till they're gone.
October 18, 2001
IN YOUR TIME
In your time
Feel the wind
And set yourself the bolder course
Keep your heart
As open as a shrine
You'll sail the perfect line
And after all
The dead ends and the lessons learned
After all
The stars have turned to stone
There'll be peace
Across the great unbroken void
All benign
In your time
You'll be fine
In your time
Words and Music by Bob Seger
October 12, 2001
THE TIMES, THEY ARE...
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
- bob dylan
September 26, 2001
SPOOKY, THE CLASSICS IV
You always keep me guessin', I never seem to know what you are thinkin'
And if some fellow looks at you, it's for sure your little eye will be a-winkin'
I get confused, 'cause I don't know where I stand
And then you smile, and hold my hand
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you
September 20, 2001
TIME
And you run, and you run
to catch up with the sun,
but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same
in a relative way,
but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
-pink floyd, from "the dark side of the moon"
September 17, 2001
LET THIS BE A SONG CALLED ME
Music has been with me since I was a kid. In fact, you could say that my life has been one big album, each passing year moving from song to song. My dad was a big influence. He was one of the pioneers of Philippine Radio. He used to be one of the Sr. Announcers of ABS-CBN, but Martial Law was declared and then all of a sudden, they were all out of work. One of his people was this thin guy named "Ernie Baron". Hehehe...then without the "Brain Sharpening Hat", "Healing Diet for the Liver" and all his other inventions. Where was I? Oh yes, my dad used to take me to the radio station a lot and he'd ask me to help him set up the records. Sometimes, we'd go the studio and he'd ask me to record a poem. He'd play it on the air, and my Aunt Eugenie would cry every time she hears it. We'd go to the record companies and they'd give me all kinds of records that by the time I was in 6th grade, I probably would have the most comprehensive rock collection of any 12 year old anywhere in the world. After a year, he'd leave us for another woman. I was 13 years old, without a dad, but with plenty of music.
