Freeway presents National Artist Lucio San Pedro

Remember this song?



This is an all-time favorite of mine and was composed by two national artists, namely, Levi Celerio and Lucio San Perdo. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the tributes paid to each of them by Freeway. Fortunately, at least I was able to receive my copy of the press kit this time.

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My First Concert: Hanson's Shout It Out Tour

I just realized that I have never attended a concert before and it just so happened that one of my "guilty pleasure" bands, Hanson, arrived on the month of my birthday.  I didn't know how to celebrate my birthday earlier in the month, since I had tons of work and school deadlines, so this is like my delayed gratification.

Finished dissertation draft, check!  Launched Grave Mania, check! Launched Puzzle Pets, check!  Now to get my reward. <3 <3 <3

Unfortunately, I was stupid enough to have left my super zoom camera at home.  So I had to rely on Cris' Blackberry cam. T_T  Forgive me for the low quality photos.

From left: Isaac, Zac and Taylor.  Beautiful and talented boys men. Still looking good despite the low-res photos.

Honestly, though, I was hoping they'd perform more of the songs that I really loved, such as "Underneath" and "Go".  But I guess their repertoire for this tour were the ones that were popular in the Philippines.  I was (pleasantly) shocked at the level of fangirl screaming the audience displayed.  I could have sworn I was a teenager when the band first arrived in our shores, so...the girls beside us must have been...in elementary school at that time???  Hence the wanton screeching?

I really appreciated that they sang "Deeper", in which Isaac Hanson does lead vocals.  Of the three, I love Isaac's voice best (though the other two have lovely voices as well).

Anyhoo, you must be wondering why they're in my list of guilty pleasures. See...I started following them AFTER they went against commercialism and risked going indie.  I love stories of art trumping commercialism.  You might notice that the songs I mentioned sound really different from their MMMBop days.

Not that they didn't sing MMMBop.  That's their signature song.  Can't have a Hanson concert without it.  Haha!  I still managed to dance to it, especially now that they sound more mature.

Aaaand here's proof that we were there.  This was before the screaming fangirls appeared behind us.  (We were early.)  Don't get me wrong, I was actually amazed at how much they'd scream whenever the camera would show Zac Hanson flipping his hair.  That made the concert fun.  And the boys men were such good sports, giving an extra performance when everyone shouted for more even though they were obviously exhausted.

Uh, I think the people handling the camera (we found out they were girls, too) would often forget that there were two other brothers besides Zac. Good thing Cris took videos of both Isaac and Taylor performing "Deeper" and "MMMBop" respectively.  Though, yeah...I will grudgingly admit that Zac is looking mighty fiiiine.

I had lots of fun. Thank you, Hanson, and thank you, fans, for making the night really something to remember. =^.^=

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Burlesque

I've always been fascinated by burlesque. With beautiful bombshells like Dita Von Teese and the Pussycat Dolls making people curious about this form of theatrical entertainment (in my case, its rich history), I can't help but want to watch this movie. Whether or not I like Christina Aguilera.

So of course, when I saw the trailer, what with all the singing and dancing, I became determined to see the darned thing. Plus, almighty Cher gets top spot. I was pleasantly surprised to find Stanley Tucci (Nigel of The Devil Wears Prada) among the actors as well.

Burlesque has enough funny dialogues, especially with Tucci and Cher in the cast. Not to mention, the colorful dance routines are really something to behold. (BFF Cris accuses me of just wanting to see dancing tushies, but secretly imitating the Pussycat Dolls with my gay friends is actually one of my guilty pleasures.) Still...

Hm. I was half expecting to regret seeing Burlesque on the big screen and I was actually correct. I felt like I had been tricked. The only fun burlesque routines appear during the FIRST few and the LAST few scenes. The rest are full of ho-hum drama, accompanied by boring Aguilera ballads, that drone on and on and on and on... Getting to the actual conflict takes ages.

If I must summarize Burlesque, I'd say that it's a cross between Moulin Rouge and Coyote Ugly with the pacing of the first Twilight book. Burlesque certainly reminded me of the time I had to go through more than 400 pages of mush before I could actually read about a rather short-lived conflict. Gah!!

I think the soundtrack is worth buying, though, especially for stellar tracks like You Haven't Seen the Last of Me (you are just awesome, Cher!!!) and Show Me How You Burlesque. I wish the soundtrack comes with a bonus DVD of just the theatrical routines. I mean, the movie is truly a visual (and aural) treat at the very least. I don't care about the story. Haha!

(Good thing I have a Pussycat Dolls Live in London DVD. It filled the void left by Burlesque.)

Here's the official trailer, by the way.

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Cut and Paste Generation

I've always told my students that it's very difficult to be original these days. So many brilliant minds have come before us and majority of them had innovated hundreds of years before we were even born. Hello, Aristotle, Galileo, Leonardo, Beethoven? What irks me, though, is that many of today's "creators" have become so dependent on technology -- technology that took centuries' worth of creative geniuses to build -- that analytical/inventive thinking has been reduced to a bare minimum. We are now witnessing the dawn of what I call the "Cut and Paste Generation".

Case in point, our music. I miss the days when melodious poetry filled the air waves. Whatever happened to: "Return to a land called Paraiso, a place where a dying river ends"? Now my ears are hurting from all the remakes, and worse, absolute rip-offs. Example:



Toni Gonzaga is a very talented artist. She has powerful vocals. Why the heck do they need to make her sound like an electrocuted chipmunk? Don't we only do this for "artists" that look good but can't sing? She looks good and she CAN sing. So what is this?? But that's not all that's disturbing. Take a look at an older video done by Korean girl group 2EN1:



I can't believe we have the gal to rip concepts off the Koreans when we have so many talented musicians and video directors in this country. (Bless Sandara Park of 2EN1 for bringing Tagalog songs over into her home country, even if those Tagalong songs are not my cup of tea.) And it isn't only the Koreans we've stolen from in Toni Gonzaga's video. The refrain sounds too much like Rihanna's Disturbia.

The O in OPM (Original Pilipino Music) is gone. That's why they're calling it P-Pop now. Ew.

Oh, but I don't think it's only our people that do this. I've seen internationals steal content from blogs, websites, etc. and teachers all over the globe complain about rampant plagiarism. This is a worldwide phenomenon. Remember Nick Simmons, who's now being accused of tracing his artwork off of Bleach? Related article here.

 Comparison scans from Comic Book Resources.

The older generation are much more analytical. Our forefathers can boast of animators who were physicists (like Ed Catmull), painters who were also carpenters, artists who were scientists (Leonardo Da Vinci among them), singers that were composers (Michael Jackson is one in hundred thousands), designers that were also developers. Generally, these were creative people who had to be resourceful because the tools of their time were primitive. Each generation's pool of geniuses builds up on the last, that's why our technology has become so advanced.

What is left for the younger generations to do then?  It's sad but it seems many will end up as drones because many are incapable of analytical thinking. They will be merely machine operators, while the few remaining thinkers do the directing.

This now poses the question: Are the inventions of past geniuses to blame for the lack of originality of our present generation? I shudder to think so. I suppose the least we can do now, if our elders have already thought about everything, is to at least ATTEMPT to be original.

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10 Years of Pulp Magazine's Music Love

Before we fell in love with Preview Magazine's art direction, my siblings and I would buy Pulp on a regular basis. I was barely out of college then.

I remember conservatives would often rage against their concepts. Who could forget the mass email Catholic school girls sent over Cris Villonco's leather-and-chains getup? (Even though she was fully covered from head to toe.)

But I was in awe of their photographers, how they played with the textures and lights, characterized by bold shocking colors that brought dead corners to life.

We stopped buying Pulp when they introduced "Pulp Skin." My first reaction upon seeing those is, "Did I accidentally buy two issues of FHM??" I already had one. Didn't need another, thank you. I used to collect FHM for the art direction. I saw no sense in collecting the same type of magazine. One of them had to go. Pulp was it. (I also let go of FHM eventually because of two reasons: someone ran away with my collection -- he knows who he is -- and I turned to the more socially relevant Marie Claire.)

Despite the years-long distance, I was happy to see this coffee table book among my sister's things. It contained all the covers that I adored and all the wonderful covers and layouts that I had missed, compiled into an awe-inspiring hard cover.

Well...I thought I would be spared from "Pulp Skin" but they're also in this compilation. Nevertheless, it was great to reminisce on old times. I was feeling teary-eyed when I saw the late Francis M. and some of the other great artists that I haven't been hearing from lately.

I had also forgotten how they would spoof other magazines, like make trannies pose in beautiful wedding gowns for a June bridal issue. It was so very interesting how they made bakla seem like the most astig thing to do. Despite the self-deprecating nature of drag queens, the ones Pulp featured seemed to look like they could pound you to the ground -- pretty wedding dress and all -- if you even think about making fun of them. That was how powerful the imagery was.

My favorite artists, photographers and designers are spread all over these pages: Tom Epperson, Xander Angeles, Erik Liongoren, Rom Villaseran, Matt Gatton (who did the Francis M. photo shoot),  Tommy Zablan, Mark Nicdao, Kristine Soguilon and many more.

Beyond beholding the exquisite work of art, I was strangely more drawn to the stories behind the art, the photographs, the layout. I could not stop reading. Some of the artist's experiences are downright hilarious and some...well, I just found myself amazed at the lengths people go through in order to express their creativity.

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How did Michael Jackson really die?

Last night, I caught my mom watching a series of interviews conducted by CNN's Don Lemon. The topic was Joe Jackson's suit against AEG Live, the brains behind Michael Jackson's final concert. According to the complaints, AEG was responsible for Dr. Murray's hiring and that Dr. Murray was tasked to keep MJ drugged. Joe Jackson maintains that AEG Live would benefit greatly from MJ's demise.

Don Lemon, famed for his balanced journalism, interviewed both sides of the party. The documentary was highly riveting, as it seemed to unearth every angle that might clarify MJ's mysterious death. Unfortunately, I could not find clips of those interviews. I only found this from the CNN website:



I have always wondered about this particular case and my thoughts would often tread on conspiracy theories. On one hand, MJ souvenirs and record sales skyrocketed in the aftermath of his death. A good visionary could've seen it coming: people from all ages suddenly turning into fans and all other sectors suddenly monetizing on MJ's memory. Many fans who bought tickets to "the greatest concert that never happened" even opted to just get special souvenir tickets instead of full refunds. Besides all these, Michael Jackson's This is It film had grossed $260+M during its theatrical run and is still making millions in DVD sales. It is now the highest grossing documentary (or even concert movie) of all time.

On the other hand, why would a smart company kill the goose that laid the golden eggs? I don't really know if they could make more money in concert sales, then DVD sales, then This Is It theater sales, then This Is It DVD sales. (It must be noted, however, that MJ was a perfectionist. He may actually not agree with This Is It's release if he were still alive.) Furthermore, despite the obvious profiteering, it can't be denied that AEG secured MJ's already legendary status. People my age don't appreciate The Beatles as much as my 9-year-old brother appreciates MJ. And MJ isn't even from MY generation (my peers and I grew up with the Spice Girls).

The question that remains: Was the genius artist worth more when he was alive or -- as with the fate of other tragic artists like Van Gogh -- dead?

Your thoughts?

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Vote UPUAN for Best Urban Video

Vote UPUAN for Best Urban Video. Type MMA 45 send to 2366.
Of course, this is Instructor J. Pacena's music video for Gloc-9. He worked with Asia Pacific College's Ice Cream Cake (ICC) on its production. :)

ICC is composed of several School of Multimedia Arts students, who are actively involved in projects such as this.




EDIT May 10, 2010:
I forgot to update this but the video won. Go Team-ABMA! I am so proud that our students can produce this kind of work. There are more and there will be more. Promise.

Credits (from J's blog):
This Video is a property of
SONYMUSIC Philippines.
No part of this video may be reproduced
without the permission of the owner and the Director.

Directed, Edited, Lighted and Colored by J.Pacena II

Starring:
Aristotle Pollisco
Jeazell Grutas of Zelle
Agnes De Vera
Tom Sembrano
Armand Bentigan
Paul De Vera

Produced by SONYMUSIC Philippines
In Cooperation with
ASIA PACIFIC COLLEGE

icecreamcake productions:2009
Armand Bentigan
Reveleen Zuñiga
Rachel Mutia
Paul De Vera
MJ Merle
Kyle Codera
Carlo Dela Peña
Efren Solis
Freedom Muceros
Eathan Zoreta
Aly Carballo
Lex Galvan
Jocelyn Ramos
Jemimah Dumawal
Kim Espinosa
Ken Chavez
Ivan Roman

Make Up Artist:
Em Rejano

Official Photographer:
Mary Ann Sy

Stylist:
David Baky Jr.

Crew: CINERENT Phils.

Special Thanks to:
Mario Joson
Rudy Tee
Vic Valenciano

Thea Pollisco

Robert Besana of APC SoMA
Sir Jeff and Sir James of APC ITRG

and

Lieutenant Colonel Muceros for the Chair

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Michael Jackson: This Is It

Watching Michael Jackson's This Is It was sort of like an out of the blue request from my mom.  She was right when she said that she would never be able to watch a Michael Jackson concert again, so she didn't want to miss this one on the big screen.  Even if it wasn't the concert that everyone had been dying to watch (50 concerts sold out), the movie, which was something similar to a documentary, showed Michael Jackson and his team during rehearsals.

I had been feeling cynical lately when it comes to the topic of Michael Jackson. While I had never been a huge fan, I respected the man and his accomplishments. I also had been quite disapproving of how he had been treated when he was alive and how he is being treated now that he's dead.  When he was alive, pedophile jokes peppered lazy TV afternoons. Now that he's gone, everyone suddenly mourns his death -- even the very people who used to crack pedophile jokes at his expense.  MJ made so many people rich while he was alive...more so now.  Online and offline record stores made tons of sales just by paying tribute to MJ. Merchandising was also very lucrative, since fans -- including those that weren't originally fans -- would want to have souvenirs.  Events honoring MJ would pop up in various countries and...kaching! I could almost hear the cash register sound off every other minute.

So I wasn't exactly excited to see this movie. In my mind, it was another way of milking someone who had already gone through so much abuse in his life. But you've got to hand it to capitalism. There is a very very bright side to this presentation and I was truly glad I sat down to watch it.


The man was a genius. 

Artist extraordinaire: musical director, composer, dancer, singer. Name it, he had probably done it for this concert. He was very hands-on and frighteningly attentive to detail.  His energy was almost unimaginable for someone who's 50 years old. Then again, if you watch closely, you'll notice that he knew how to conserve his voice and his dance moves. You'll also notice the times when he would get exhausted. Either way, he never seemed tired enough to show his appreciation for effort and talent. His kindness was evident in how he dealt with his crew.  He was eccentric beyond belief, but he knew what he wanted to happen and knew how to make it happen.

The concert would have been a very big production, characterized by widespread international auditions, extensive use of visual effects and elaborate stage settings.  There were also a lot of young talents waiting to be discovered. Thanks to this feature, their skills have now been brought to light.  As MJ said to the hot female guitarist: "It's your time to shine."  And shine they will.

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Press Release: Kristine Sa's reBIRTH

Kristine Sa reBIRTH - Return of the Queen

Press Release from Bryan Lee

August 16, 2005

Summer is here! Warm weather, blockbuster movies, trips to the beach and now an even better reason to celebrate: Kristine Sa has returned with her long awaited follow up to "I Never Knew", her new album "reBIRTH". That`s right, the Queen of As-Am Pop is back and here to help you set the summer off right with hot new songs, talented new producers, banging remixes, a brand new website, and of course that warm, beautiful voice.

:: Click here to buy reBIRTH :: :: Other Kristine Sa Records ::

Download popular Kristine Sa songs at http://www.kristinesa.com

1. Consequence mp3

2. Take Me Somewhere mp3

3. Just Drive mp3

4. Happy mp3
Following the success of "I Never Knew", "reBIRTH" continues Kristine's evolution as a singer, songwriter, and experimentalist. The new album is a collection of new songs, remixes and rare/never released songs tracing her music from the beginning of her career to the present. Kristine continues her music journey, conveying her evolving sense of love and life with a new musical and writing style unlike anything from her storied past. Streaming and downloadable music clips are available on her new website which also features hot new pictures, pages of new poetry, an interactive diary, and a brand new line of Kristine Sa merchandise.

Kristine Sa - http://www.kristinesa.com - A young singer/songwriter with a sultry voice of gold, Kristine has amassed a following the world over. Her music has reached fans all over the US and as far away as Taiwan, Australia and The UK. Since the release of her debut album in 2002, Kristine's fan base has continued to grow at an astonishing rate, largely due to widespread word of mouth based on a hugely popular website and both street and internet promotions. Fans access Kristine's music via online distribution channels such as Amazon.com, iTunes and a large network of music stores across the US. Her music has also found success in markets such as the Anime community where she has been featured in numerous major publications such as "NewType Magazine" and has performed at some of the largest events in the country such as Otakon (5,000 fans) and AnimeFest (3,000 fans). Radio has caught on as well with terrestrial as well as satellite radio both spinning Kristine's emotional songs.
Look for Kristine Sa's Japanese Anime remix album with labelmate DJ Jinnai (http://djjinnai.com) entitled "AnimeToonz3: Kristine Sa" to be released by Sony in October 2005. Kristine's 3rd full length album "In My Mind" is due May 2006 on Nemesis Records.

Nemesis Records - http://www.nemesismusic.com - Nemesis Records was formed in late 1999 to produce and record music reflecting Asian pop culture both in the US and in Asia. Striving to incorporate Asian cultural elements into a western musical and visual aesthetic, the label experiments heavily to redefine popular music and to create a new sub-genre. Through music and media Nemesis aims to introduce a thriving underground scene into mainstream consciousness.


Kristine Sa is available for interview upon request. Additional information including music, bio, and pictures can be found at: http://www.kristinesa.com

Copyright 2005 Nemesis Records. All rights reserved.

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F4 Fantasy 4everNice one!

 F4: Fantasy 4ever
Genre: Chinese POP
CREDITS: 2002 Sony Music Entertainment (Taiwan), Ltd., Disney Enterprises Inc.
Track Listing:

1. Can’t Lose You
2. Season of Firework
3. Love’s Terrain
4. Lonely Winter
5. One Fine Day
6. You as a Friend
7. Te Amo (Wo Ai Ni) I Love You
8. Only I
9. Psychological Test
10. How Come It’s You
11. Ask For More
12. Can’t Help Falling In Love

Bonus VCD Listing:

1. Can’t Lose You
2. Season of Firework

---

Standard Disclaimer: I didn’t jump into the Meteor Garden bandwagon. FYI, I first saw the anime Hana Yori Dango last year, became an instant F4 fan (its animated lead characters, not the actors), and cringed in fear that our local TV stations would discover this beautiful anime, or at least its live-action version that is now known as Meteor Garden. Now, my greatest fear came alive and it did find its way into the clutches of the Philippines’ biggest network. Heh.

Hoookay…If you’ve read my earlier review of one F4 album, you’d know that I don’t exactly approve of these wonderfully gorgeous guys’ singing. So why the 8/10 rating? Yup, you guessed it. I’ve been swept away by the music videos first. I mean, let’s face it, who could resist gaping when Jerry Yen, Vic Zhou, Ken Zhu and Vaness Wu prance around your screen like some sort of male angels descended from heaven? There’s that. And you can add plus points for the fact that the instrumental accompaniments in this CD are simply beautiful. Nevermind the bad vocals. Something about the recording downplayed the rough edges on everyone’s voices so effectively that you’d actually think they can sing.

Let’s start with the carrier single, Can’t Lose You. The intro alone is very powerful. Listening to it makes you begin to think you were watching an old romantic Scottish/Celtic movie. When you hear the piano playing, ah… There go your melting knees…

Season of Firework doesn’t sound too attractive at first, but it grows on you. Especially when you listen closely to the strings, composed mainly of 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello and guitar. You’d hear the same impressive strings-piano combo from the ballad Lonely Winter. Another notable cut, a personal favorite of mine, is Ask For More. I recognize this catchy ditty as the theme of the Taiwanese Pepsi commercial, where the F4 looked their absolute best. This is mainly the reason why I bought Fantasy 4ever in the first place.

You As A Friend is also a catchy track. I swear there’s something wrong with it, since F4 seem to be after a Jamaican flair that comes off sounding too fake. Nevertheless, it’s a fun song that makes you want to raise your hands in the air and gyrate your hips to the groove.

Te Amo strikes me as a Chinese version of a Carlos Agassi song. Let me just shudder before I barf completely. Good thing the next track, Only I, sounds a little more lovable as it has a cute little intro that sounds very… err… Chinese? Psychological Test, on the other hand, seems like it has been inspired by N’Sync. It’s one of my favorites, though I’ve never been an N’Sync fan.

Then there’s Can’t Help Falling In Love. Yes, Fantasy 4ever contains a Chinese remake of an old American tune popularized by Elvis Presley and redone for Disney’s Lilo and Stitch by the A*Teens. Vaness raps here, but at least he didn’t sound like Carlos Agassi this time. The guitar intro is upbeat and fun, and it makes you forget that you don’t like listening to your grand daddy’s idea of Satan’s music.

Bonus points for the extra VCD in this package, albeit they only featured two videos: Can’t Lose You and Season of Firework. I don’t think those two would be enough for any boy-crazy F4 fan, though. I mean, MyMyx’s Top Ten has at least 6 F4 videos and I’d give a million bucks to bet that it’s not the songs themselves that put those on top.

Rating: 8/10

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F4 Meteor RainGawd, Have Mercy!

F4: Meteor Rain
Genre: Chinese POP
CREDITS: 2001 Sony Music Entertainment (Taiwan), Ltd.
Track Listing:

1. Meteor Rain
2. I Truly Love You
3. Here We Are
4. Who Made You Cry?
5. Persistence for You
6. At The First Place
7. Got To Have You
8. Everywhere
9. Show Me Your Love
10. The Most Special Existence

---

Standard Disclaimer: I didn’t jump into the Meteor Garden bandwagon. FYI, I first saw the anime Hana Yori Dango last year, became an instant F4 fan (its animated lead characters, not the actors), and cringed in fear that our local TV stations would discover this beautiful anime, or at least its live-action version that is now known as Meteor Garden. Now, my greatest fear came alive and it did find its way into the clutches of the Philippines’ biggest network. Heh.

The only good thing that came at the wake of Meteor Garden’s phenomenal success in the Philippines is that I was able to get hold of all MG/F4-related albums. At least, I thought it was a good thing…Until I bought this particular CD and subjected my ears to unbelievable torture.

I swear, I wanted to jump up and down on the package and flush it down the toilet. The experience was that excruciating. The entire feel of the record is bleh. Like locking yourself into a room full of Jolina Magdangal paraphernalia. Que horror! The men of live-action F4 look so sinfully yummy that it’s a shame they weren’t blessed with Josh Groban’s or, at the very very least, Backstreet Boys’ talent. And I’m saying that to be polite. If that’s not bad enough, the accompanying instrumentals are equally as bleh. The carrier single, Meteor Rain, for instance, sounds like something you’d hear from a cheap karaoke bar.

Heaven save us all from the aspiring soloists in this Taiwanese boy band! As if they weren’t content with making our ears bleed with their group singing, they had to take this blasphemous display to greater heights. Each member has two solo performances to his name: I Truly Love You and Got To Have You for Jerry Yen; Here We Are and Show Me Your Love for Ken Zhu; Persistence For You and The Most Special Existence for Vic Zhou; the obviously Boyz II Men inspired Who Made You Cry? and Everywhere for Vaness Wu. The only saving grace with actual singing ability is Vaness, who, unfortunately had to destroy what little blessing there is by rapping a la Carlos Agassi in Everywhere. Talk about slow and painful death for us who truly love good music.

My advice to future F4 fans: When you watch their videos, particularly Jerry’s I Truly Love You, save yourself a lot of grief. Mute the darned thing to fully enjoy the eye candy.

Rating: 1/10

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Daredevil (The Album)I bought the wrong CD

Daredevil: The Album (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Rock / Rap-Rock / Alternative
CREDITS: 2003 Wind-Up Entertainment, Inc., 2002 Twentieth Century Film Corporation, 2002 Marvel Characters, Inc.
Track Listing:

1. Won’t Back Down (Fuel)
2. For You (The Calling)
3. Bleed For Me (Saliva)
4. Hang On (Seether)
5. Learn The Hard Way (Nickelback)
6. The Man Without Fear (Drowning Pool feat. Rob Zombie)
7. Right Now (Nappy Roots feat. Marcos Curiel of P.O.D.)
8. Evening Rain (Moby)
9. Bring Me To Life (Evanescence)
10. Until YOu’re Reformed (Chevelle)
11. Right Before Your Eyes (Hoobastank)
12. Fade Out/In (Palo Alto)
13. Caught In The Rain (Revis)
14. High Wire Escape Artist (BOYSETSFIRE)
15. Raise Your Rifles (Autopilot Off)
16. Daredevil Theme Blind Justice Remix (Graeme Revell and
    Mike Einziger)
17. My Immortal (Evanescence)
18. Sad Exchange (Finger Eleven)
19. Simple Lies (Endo)
20. Let Go (12 Stones)

---

Yes, we all know, the movie had mixed reviews. We read negative remarks from mostly non-Daredevil fans that happened to be movie buffs and positive comments from those who had followed this Marvel superhero since their childhood days. But if there’s one thing for certain, many of us had noticed the hauntingly beautiful background music that Daredevil’s creators have woven well into the motion picture. I mean, who could miss those heartbreaking melodies that were playing when Elektra lost her dad; when she was making love to our hero; and when she was practicing her killer combos?

All the sounds in this movie are well suited to the scenarios, especially in the areas where the actions take place. They happen to enhance the experience. As a soundtrack, this CD is quite effective.

Without the movie, however, I find myself listening repeatedly to only two tracks: Bring Me To Life and My Immortal. Both tracks are performed by Evanescence, whose lead vocalist, Amy Lee, exudes the same aura as Tori Amos. I find this quite refreshing because Evanescence is a new rap-rock/goth-rock band and they’re using the kind of voice that used to be heard only in New Age music.

This is not to say that the other 18 tracks are bad. No, they aren’t. It’s just that my ears zero in on exotic combinations, which now leads me to think that I should’ve bought Evanescence: Fallen instead of this one. Well, of course, these two Evanescence tracks have been rearranged to fit Daredevil’s theme, but that’s beside the point.

In fairness, I think The Calling did pretty well with For You. The lyrics really reflect Daredevil’s double personalities, and the song itself is catchy. Another notable is Nickelback’s Learn The Hard Way and the Nappy Roots and Marcos Curiel (of P.O.D. fame) collaboration, Right Now. Sadly, I can’t name too many of them. The other items just come as a hazy blur and I doubt I’d remember them as soon as the next CD drops into my lap. Like I said, they’re not too bad. They even sound good—lyrics, tempo and style fit pretty well with what the movie wants to portray. They’re just…well…things you’ve already heard before.

Rating: 7/10

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Sarah Brightman: Eden

Sarah Brightman: Eden
Genre: Classical, New Age
CREDITS: 1998 Nemo Studios, 1999 Angel Records
Track Listing:

1. In Paradisum
2. Eden
3. So Many Things
4. Anytime, Anywhere
5. Bailero
6. Dust In The Wind
7. Il Mio Cuore Va
8. Deliver Me
9. Un Jour Il Viendra
10. Nella Fantasia
11. Tu
12. Lascia Ch’io Pianga
13. Only An Ocean Away
14. Scéne D’Amour
15. Nessun Dorma
16. The Last Words You Said

Let me tell you about a story of how I chanced upon this glorious creature known as Sarah Brightman. Name rings a bell? Well, folks, to musicals fanatics, she is better known as Phantom of the Opera’s Christine.

I was hanging out at Tower Records, as usual, looking for new CDs to purchase when the DJ suddenly played this hauntingly soulful rendition of Dust in The Wind. This song is actually my all-time favorite. I have been in love with it ever since I was a little girl. Hearing an angel’s version of it on a nice sunny day, however, just totally blew me away. I immediately ran to the DJ’s booth and asked him frantically who the artist was. He showed me the CD cover and I asked him where I could find it. “Basement,” he said, smiling at my obvious enthusiasm, “Classicals or New Age section.”

I practically ran to the basement and, without testing the other contents of the CD first, grabbed the first copy I could get hold of and promptly purchased it. It wasn’t a disappointment.

Dust in the Wind wasn’t the only noteworthy song in the list. Much as I got tired of hearing Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On back in the height of Titanic, I was still swept off my feet by Il Mio Cuore Va. It’s not just the language difference that spelled my preference; it’s the delivery. Eden, the title track, combines Ms. Brightman’s vocals with Gregorian chants (probably one of the first projects she has done with the Masters of Chant). This is accompanied by an atmospheric background that just relaxes you.

The soft and enchanting Bailero registered my recognition of her voice. This was when I thought, “I knew her voice from somewhere. I just couldn’t place where…” It wasn’t until a friend of mine mentioned knowing her as Christine did I realize that she was the goddess who sang Angel of Music and All I Ask of You. Shame on me! I owned a Phantom of the Opera double cassette back when I was in high school but it still took me a while to place the voice!

The overall feel of the album is dreamy, soulful and relaxing. There are minor differences among tracks, but I just can’t help but feel like I’m lounging about in a fairy’s flowerbed every time I listen to this record. Sarah Brightman went beyond what we regularly know as classical music. She took it to the next level by exhibiting such incredible versatility and seamlessly merging her classical background to that of New Age.

My other recommendations: Only An Ocean Away, The Last Words You Said, So Many Things, and just about all the non-English songs in the album especially Nessun Dorma, Lascia Ch’io Pianga and Un Jour Il Viendra.

Rating: 10/10

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Boyz II Men: The Ballad CollectionFall In Love Again

Genre: Pop, Soul R&B
Credits: 2000 Boyz II Men, Universal Music Inc.
Track Listing:

1. On Bended Knee
2. Doin’ Just Fine
3. Please Don’t Go
4. End of the Road
5. It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
6. Can You Stand The Rain
7. Girl in the Life Magazine
8. One Sweet Day
9. Four Seasons of Loneliness
10. Water Runs Dry
11. A Song For Mama
12. I’ll Make Love To You
13. I Will Get There
14. Yesterday (Spanish Version)
15. End of the Road
16. So Amazing

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Okay, call me a closet mush, but with the recent Valentines’ Day concert that Boyz II Men held in Manila, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. I actually found myself walking into a record bar and comparing two CDs in my hands. I was at a loss between purchasing Boyz II Men: Legacy and Boyz II Men: The Ballad Collection. Well, three extra tracks and Girl in the Life Magazine, a forever favorite, won me over.

I was never a fan of Boyz II Men in high school. I was too busy singing Wilson Philips songs back then. But in college, wow. I purchased the Evolution cassette tape as a birthday gift to a friend, borrowed it shortly, and I don’t think I ever returned it. Most of the songs in this ballad collection are actually from Evolution, the album that defined my college years…yes, including my then tumultuous love life. I cried over my ex with Four Seasons of Loneliness playing in the background and laughed over my loss with Doin’ Just Fine. Girl in the Life Magazine entertained me with its dreamy guitar and playful lyrics that tell of a man’s obsession with his dream girl who later ends up becoming his girlfriend. I just love this amusing stanza: All of my friends used to laugh / Said I was certifiably mad / ‘Till the day she came / And she blew them away / And asked me if I’d be her man / It seems that she went and fell / In love with my letters / Says she’s been looking for me / So the story ends well / We end up together / The girl in the life magazine. Aw!

The best part of this album is that not only are my favorite selections from Evolution here, but many of the songs that made them a household name are also contained in this disc. End of the Road is one of the BIIM songs that inspired many a boy band, to the point that you’d hear N’Sync or the Backstreet Boys singing this in a capella during concerts. Why is this so? Well, it’s simply because End of the Road is one of those songs wherein you’d hear the best of a singing group’s blending. Of course, nobody does it better than BIIM. You’d also get to hear Mariah Carey’s famous team-up with them in One Sweet Day. I know many people can’t stand the diva—yours truly included—but one has to admit that the girl has talent and that she chooses the best partners to perform with her during recordings.

There’s the classic On Bended Knees. If my fiancé would just sing this for me during the making up process, I know I would melt. Spanish rendition of Yesterday, anyone? This might sound like they’re riding on the Latin craze, but heck, if it’s as well sung as this, you won’t see me complaining. There’s nothing headier than hearing pure talent performing through the language of romance. The verdict? Damn! This is just so good!

Rating: 10/10

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Hikaru Utada: Deep RiverAll Grown Up…

Hikaru Utada: Deep River
Genre: JPop
CREDITS: 2002 Hikaru Utada, TOSHIBA-EMI
Track Listing:

1. SAKURA Drops
2. traveling
3. Shiawase ni narou
4. Deep River
5. Letters
6. Play Ball
7. Tokyo Nights
8. A.S.A.P.
9. Uso Mitai Na I Love You
10. FINAL DISTANCE
11. Bridge (Interlude)
12. Hikari

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…And it’s not just because she recently got hitched. The former teeny-bopper, who gave us the melancholic First Love and made us dance to the tune of Automatic, is now a woman. While vastly different from the first album First Love, Deep River is not too far away from the atmosphere of the second album Distance. Most of the songs here are still very playful, continuing the thread that Distance started, but the entire CD itself has a newfound flavor. Deep River reflects Hikki’s maturity both as a woman and as an artist.

Let’s start off with Sakura Drops. Its slow dramatic pace and heartbreaking lyrics tell the story of love and its ups and downs. No wonder it was used for the Japanese drama First Love.

Traveling is a catchy upbeat track that doesn’t strike your fancy within first hearing, but can certainly grow on you. Soon, you’ll find yourself dancing to its rhythm. First because the words seem silly and second, it’s just as its title suggests: it makes you travel to places within your imagination.

Hikari, the last track, was used as background music for the English version of Kingdom Hearts and the opening theme for the original Japanese version of the game. For anyone who is not into videogaming, Kingdom Hearts is that popular role-playing game resulting from Disney and Squaresoft’s partnership. Who could blame these two giants for their choice of music? The song speaks of destiny, arduous journeys, and promises made in the light of hope. Perfect for an RPG! (Side note: I actually hated playing that RPG so much that I think Square and Disney are lucky they chose Hikki to do the OP theme. Hikki’s probably the only good thing I can say about it.)

Other notables are the title track itself, Deep River, a beautiful ballad that makes me think it was dedicated to her husband Kiriya Kazuaki, and Final Distance, the slower version of Distance, which we’ve first heard in the 2nd album of the same name. Final Distance is actually more soulful than its more upbeat counterpart, almost sounding like it came from a New Age album.

I enjoyed Tokyo Nights, not just because of the playful accompaniments but also because the words and rhythm itself convey a sense of adventure. Letters is probably the track that best defines Hikaru Utada’s vocal prowess, as this is where she uses her modulation techniques to the hilt. Uso Mitai Na I Love You makes use of hard rock guitar rifts, but the song title itself is almost an oxymoron, which means “A False I Love You” in English. This is arguably one of the best tracks in the album as well.

With so many lovely tracks featured in Deep River, it becomes one of those few records wherein choosing a favorite becomes a problem. Now if I can only make up my mind as to what my next “national anthem” will be. I always find it in a Hikaru Utada CD. And to think, this is an all-grown-up Hikki at her finest.

Rating: 10/10

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Celine: Nandito Lang AkoUnbridled Potential!

Celine: Nandito Lang Ako
Genre: POP, OPM
CREDITS: 2002 Celine, Cesar Lirio Sr., CELKOR AD
Track Listing:

1. Nandito Lang Ako
2. I Made It Through The Rain
3. Just The Way You Are
4. Please Don’t Break My Heart
5. One Boy
6. More Than Ever
7. Hoy, Magnanakaw!
8. I Want To Give It All
9. Love Will Keep Us Together
10. Always There

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I’m writing an opinion for this album because a certain mischievous urge just engulfed me. I have no idea if this is still out in the Philippine market, but I got this CD courtesy of a former officemate who happens to be Celine’s brother-in-law. Bob Santiago can be seen in the credits as one of her back-up singers as well as the cover designer. The reason why I am not sure if this record is still available in the market is because I have learned about some very sensitive production issues that have never been resolved. This resulted in the pulling out of the carrier single, Nandito Lang Ako, from the airwaves. For a debut release, it becomes apparent that Celine has a lot of unbridled potential. With Celine being a young lass not older than 15, I was taken aback with the sheer power of her voice. Match this up with her sweet, angelic face, anyone would suspect that she wouldn’t find it difficult to climb her way to the top—especially in the Philippine market where people live for the kind of killer combination that Celine possesses.

Nandito Lang Ako consists of 10 tracks, majority of which are revivals that my parents would’ve been familiar with. There’s a weakness in this record, however, and it isn’t in Celine’s cherubic voice. The selection of songs didn’t suit her too well. Perhaps it is because she needs to mature a little more, both as a person and as an artist. The effort reminds me of Jessica Simpson, when the gospel singer was introduced through a repertoire of songs characterized by pitches that were all at the extreme right of the scale. Yes, we could guess that she probably has a 5-octave range, but we need not be stuck listening only to the upper ones. Lower octaves are important too.

The accompaniments sound quite thin. The choice of instruments made me think this was recorded in Karaoke King instead of an actual studio. This much is painfully obvious in her revival of the Billy Joel hit Just The Way You Are.

Of course, Nandito Lang Ako isn’t lacking in winning material. The carrier single itself would’ve been a certified hit in a country where people are eternally in love with melodrama. Another is I Made It Through The Rain, an old Barry Manilow ballad.

I sure hope this isn’t the last I’m hearing from Celine. I would definitely love to see her grow and improve on her craft. We’ve seen it happen to other artists, why not her too?

Rating: 6/10

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Ayumi Hamasaki: Best

Ayumi Hamasaki: BEST
Genre: JPop
Credits: CREDITS: 2002 Ayumi Hamasaki, Max Matsuura, AVEX Network Inc.
Track Listing:

1. A Song for XX
2. Trust
3. Depend on you
4. LOVE ~Destiny~
5. TO BE
6. Boys & Girls
7. Trauma
8. End roll
9. appears
10. Fly high
11. vogue
12. Far away
13. SEASONS
14. SURREAL
15. M
16. Who…

I must admit I was never a fan of Ayumi Hamasaki. As my cousin Firsenshi succinctly puts it, “I’d rather listen to nails scratching on a black board than hear her sing.” I hated her shrill nasal voice, especially when she hits the high notes, which is why I never understood how she became such a phenomenal success in Japan. That line of thinking began to change, however, when I heard her sing for the anime Inuyasha. Her songs Dearest and No More Words are still ear-piercing when Hamasaki gets to the high notes but they’ve somewhat mellowed and become very endearing.

Now comes Best, the only album from Avex’s most in-demand artist that I’ve dared purchase. It’s as expensive as every other JPOP CD available in stores nowadays, but all I could say is that it’s worth every penny. Why, Hamasaki-san! Have you been taking your voice lessons seriously of late? That’s the kind of aura Best gives out. Although still sounding like a little girl, Hamasaki seems to have developed a set of stronger, more powerful lungs that bring out a rich new texture in her voice. She actually knows how to modulate now, which I believe, is a tremendous improvement on her part.

Enough with my amazement at her powered-up vocal prowess, let’s move on to the tracks. Each of the 16 songs that compose Best are worthy of being used for an anime, video game, or soap opera theme. They’re that good. Sentimental. Melancholic. Inspiring. There are a few dance tunes, of course, in the form of Depend on You, Boys & Girls, Trauma, and Fly High. The rest… Ah, it’s hard to name a personal favorite, although I like her ballads most. If I were to choose a good ending theme for an anime or video game I’d select To Be, LOVE ~Destiny~, End Roll, SEASONS, and SURREAL, just to name a few. Like I said, selecting a favorite is indeed a difficult task.

Best is actually a compilation of songs from Ayumi Hamasaki’s first three albums namely: A Song for XX, LOVEppears, and Duty. It also looks like I’ll be buying the I Am… album because M, track 15 of Best, is there. I’ll just cross my fingers that the rest of I Am… would be as good as M. Now here’s a tricky question. If I have never been a fan of Ayumi before this, how come I like her songs from the first three albums when her vocal skills would still have been lacking at that time those records were released? Well, let’s just say this is like a “remake” album with better arrangements and polished technique.

Listen to the lyrics. All of them are written by Hamasaki herself. A favorite of mine would have to be Vogue for the sheer poetry of it. With intro and accompaniment that are obviously inspired by the Latin music craze, Vogue’s words sound more like a haiku than anything else. It’s fun and experimental.

Some of her songs show how much of a child Hamasaki still feels especially in A Song for XX. This is a woman who had been unsure and burdened with numerous hurdles. Now manages to exude much confidence in herself. She knows what she lacks but she also knows where she’s good at. This girl really knows what she wants to project and how she wants to be packaged. She speaks a lot about her self-discovery. It’s all seen here. If the lyrics don’t tell you that, listen to her music. Everything just spells IMPACT.

Rating: 9/10

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Queen of the Damned Original Soundtrack [Explicit Lyrics]Star-Studded

Queen of the Damned Original Soundtrack [EXPLICIT LYRICS]
Genre: Rock
CREDITS: 2002 Warner Brothers Records Inc.
Track Listing:

1. Not Meant For Me (Wayne Static of Static-X)
2. Forsaken (David Draiman of Disturbed)
3. System (Chester Bennington of Linkin Park)
4. Change (Deftones)
5. Redeemer (Marilyn Manson)
6. Dead Cell (Papa Roach)
7. Penetrate (Godhead)
8. Slept So Long (Jay Gordon of Orgy)
9. Down With The Sickness (Disturbed)
10. Cold-Static (X)
11. Headstrong (Earshot)
12. Body Crumbles (Dry Cell)
13. Excess (Tricky)
14. Before I’m Dead (Kidney Thieves)

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Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve never been a fan of hard rock. The only times I listen to these types of music are when I drive—to keep myself awake—and when I want to maim and kill somebody. So what is a li’l ol’ Broadway and Classical Miss like me doing in giving this a perfect 10?

Well, I must commend the music geniuses behind this soundtrack because their approach is quite unique. One would expect that a horror flick like Queen of the Damned would have the usual New Age sounds that usually make movies seem eerie and gothic. They went with rock instead. Of course, it helps that the motion picture’s main character, Vampire Lestat, is supposedly working as a rock star, thus making the OST very suitable for the atmosphere.

We’ve all heard of the name Johnathan Davis (of Korn fame). His collaboration with Oingo Boingo graduate Richard Gibbs definitely produced stellar results. Although Davis doesn’t perform the OST’s songs, the task wasn’t left in unknown hands. Wayne Static of Static-X, David Draiman of Disturbed, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, and Jay Gordon of Orgy become the hooks that can effectively draw mainstream listeners. The excellent choice of talents don’t just stop with these well-known names, however. Even the bands that I haven’t heard of, namely Dry Cell, Earshot and Kidney Thieves, were able to add new names into my list of must-listen-to’s.

Noteworthy are the lyrics. For those of you who have read the gripping novel Queen of the Damned, you’d see a lot of Lestat’s personality in them. You can see how he taunts the undead, how his playful nature runs rings around other vampires. Take this passage from Redeemer, which is sung by Marilyn Manson: The hunger inside given to me / makes me what I am / Always it is calling me / For the blood of man / They say I cannot be this / I am jaded / hiding from the day / I can’t bear / I cannot tame the hunger in me. The other track’s words dance around this theme of blood, angst, anger, moonlight and hunger, solidifying the soundtrack’s definitive tone.

Most star-studded recording efforts don’t usually churn out satisfying outcomes, but this one is definitely not the work of someone who only has sales in mind. This is an artistic endeavor. Who would’ve guessed that a lousy B-movie like Queen of the Damned could be rescued by an incredible soundtrack?

Ed’s Note: If you’re interested in Queen of the Damned, both the award-winning novel and its disgraceful movie rendition, you might also want to take a gander up my Aaliyah review.

Rating: 10/10

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FreestyleWish I could be so bored…

Freestyle
Genre: Pop, OPM
CREDITS: 1998 Freestyle, Neo Records, VIVA Entertainment
Track Listing:

1. Goodluv
2. Not That Easy
3. Wanna Be The One
4. Lover
5. Before I Let You Go
6. I Keep On Callin’ (Interlude)
7. Let’s Get It On
8. I’m Gonna Love You
9. It’s Not Time (Interlude)
10. So Slow
11. Treat You So Right
12. Get With Me
13. Bakit Iniwan Na

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For a band that was formed out of boredom in the distant South of the Philippines, Freestyle sure makes one hell of a group to be reckoned with. With this first CD, Freestyle sure made its definitive mark in the history of Philippine pop music—sounding a little too foreign yet infusing their music with romantic themes that are distinctively Filipino.

Freestyle’s self-titled album is mostly composed of love songs, the catchier of which are Before I Let You Go, a tearful ballad about breaking up performed by male lead vocalist Christopher “Top” Suzara, and So Slow, another ballad—witty and pragmatic approach to sensual awakening this time—by Jennifer “Jinky” Vidal. You don’t have to be mushy all day long, as dance tracks like Goodluv and Lover will make you want to get out there and swing your body to the groove. Remember to take a date with you because these two will definitely add a touch of sexiness and charm to your overall feeling.

My favorite track here is actually the soul rending Bakit Iniwan Na, the only Tagalog song in the entire album that speaks of a girl’s disillusioned heart after falling out of a seemingly meaningful relationship. It isn’t the language alone that makes it different from the rest of the tracks; Bakit Iniwan Na features Jinky’s powerful vocal prowess without her resorting to oral acrobatics. In fact, it is filled with soft husky crooning that brings out the best of Jinky’s falsettos. The accompaniments are led by the beautiful sound of the keyboards. Highly recommended if you want to be in an artistic, brooding mood.

Freestyle is a wonderful album. I can assure a listener that she will never forget at least two of their songs. My only gripe with it is that some of the tracks sound too closely alike. But since this is only the group’s first, I have different opinions on their other follow-up recordings. This was released in 1998, and it’s now the year 2002. A lot has improved since then.

Rating: 7/10

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Enya: A Day Without RainI’ve heard it all before…

Enya: A Day Without Rain
Genre: New Age, Pop
CREDITS: 2000 Enya / WEA / Warner Bros.
Track Listing:

1. A Day Without Rain
2. Wild Child
3. Only Time
4. Tempus Vernum
5. Deora Ar Mo Chroí
6. Flora’s Secret
7. Fallen Embers
8. Silver Inches
9. Pilgrim
10. One By One
11. Isobella (BONUS TRACK)
12. Lazy Days

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Enya was one of my favorite New Age artists in the late 1990s, having at least 2 favorite albums in my collection: Shepherd Moons and The Celtics. It’s been a while since I bought an Enya record and I was rather disappointed with A Day Without Rain.

Don’t get me wrong, A Day Without Rain still features the best of what Enya can offer, since the reason for the artist’s 5-year lull was that she herself was personally involved with the accompaniments and all the vocal work involved in its production. You can still plop it on your player and be swept away by her ethereal voice and gorgeous background music that aren’t just produced by synthesizers this time. Tracks to look forward to are of course the carrier A Day Without Rain for the dreamy walk-in-a-beautiful-vineyard atmosphere; Tempus Vernum for its dark and Gothic feel that is similar to one of her old Watermark songs Cursum Perficio; Deora Ar Mo Chroí; and Lazy Days for making a listener want to sit back, relax, and dream about shifting careers. Isobella, the bonus track available only in the Japanese release of the album, is a nice addition that makes me think of a beautiful sunlight-clad woman traipsing down an isle of flowers and foliage.

What frustrates me is that A Day Without Rain is nowhere different from the rest of her albums. They now sound the same. They basically conjure the same imagery in my mind. Yes, there is a lot that can be said about consistency, but one must try to be a little more innovative lest one begins to sound boring and repetitive. It’s either that, or I’ve been attending a little too many bridal fairs and fashion shows that insist on using Enya’s work for their BGMs.

Rating: 5/10

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