Always And Forever, Donna Lewis

Every time Donna Lewis, the musician, comes to mind, I remember our driver's confession many years ago while getting absorbed with her music.

"Ang payapa nung kanta." He told me.

He was listening to her hit single, "I Love You Always Forever," repeatedly. I was already a fan of Lewis, and to my relief, it seems that my favorite artist connects with people who barely understood her song's lyrics.

With serene melodies that seem to conjure images of desolate places, comfort lies in her soft, breathy vocals. I knew this for a fact, as I have bought her first two albums with my own allowance: Now In A Minute and Blue Planet. I still have them for keepsakes, hoping one day to play once more the entire album to my ears' delight.

Because at a time when musicasettes were the medium to really get intimate with the artist, the acquisition of her albums guaranteed that she will be remembered long after her fame disappears.

I do remember her, fondly, like she never walked away from memory.

Aside from her hit single, the songs Without Love, I Could Be The One, and Fool's Paradise used to be my favorites. I even played Agenais on loop while building my cities on Sim City 2000. And for all the confusion with musical genres, Donna Lewis' songs may be classified as pop, but the singles I have on my library form the backbone of my Light Alternative collection.

Timeless, her songs are for many, but the artist of my generation did fade from the mainstream music scene. The album after Blue Planet hardly received radio airplay, and even on YouTube, a lot of Lewis' singles were never uploaded. It is why when an online acquaintance shared an EDM, whose vocals were supplied by the Welsh artist herself, it is, as if, she returned with all the memories I have of her.

"She will be loved, always and forever," the Antifornicator replied when I made reference to the artist on my Twitter timeline. I posted on my social media account how happy I was to learn that she is still very much in the industry. And like with her other songs, Donna Lewis' You and I goes on playback on YouTube since my discovery last week.  

Believe

Before I learned to raise my hands in the air, and let my hips drop to the ground; before I started doing pelvic thrusts with strangers and bounce my head to the beat of the sound; and before I learned to identify a progressive trance from a hard house, and get acquainted to the music of Fatboy Slim and Dirty South, I owe my love for Electronic dance music to a diva known to everyone as Cher.

I just remembered her, and her music as it was one of the questions thrown at me on Ask.FM. Those who knew me as someone with vast knowledge and ear for EDM could not believe that my roots lie with Dance Pop.

Beach House

listen
and fill you head with
wistful memories
of sand, sea and waves
frothing down a listless shore.

Time forgets how long these ears have been spell bound by electronic dance music. Their sonar functions used to the slight, almost inaudible pitch, that it is almost certain for them to hear the difference between a Deep House and Ibiza by the sound of the beat. 

Not so long ago, House Music - as we know it - was just flourishing and multiplying into different styles. The genre trickled mainstream, until Disco House and the pop remixes bounced off the speakers perched above the dancing grounds of Malate. La Dida was the place of introduction, and from that day, no longer would Trance from my Ministry of Sound collection hold monopoly of me.

But this entry is not about my love affair with House and its derivatives. Neither I desire to cart the pages of history to reveal another look at my past in Orosa. This post is about the great finds I come across when I surf the radio stations for new beats. One such artist, whose works take my breath away lately is Mango.

  Mango feat Aqua Diva  - At The Edge Of This Mountain

Mango, Andre Frauenstein feat Ludmik  - Disappear

Google offers very little about the identity of the musician - if you don't know where to find. Using the right key words, a little known Facebook account leads to Alex Golovanov, whose hypnotic melodies is steadily gaining him a spot at the center of Progressive House circles. 

True to the artist belonging to an independent label, not even Beatport supplies details about Mango. His only exposure comes from dozens of anonymous fans uploading his work on YouTube. That is how I found him after some of his stuff were played on U-Radio one summer morning.

Despite his name hardly spoken, Mango's creations are short of divine. His signature minimalist sound conjures images of the shore, on a sunny day, with the listener somewhere in the tropics sipping a glass of coconut juice as the sun sets on the horizon. Golovanov must have though of sunshine in Moscow that his longings inspire him to produce sounds that perfectly captures the mood of a relaxing beach holiday.

Serge Flibustier  - Nowhere (Mango Remix)

A seaside escape may not be forthcoming. Not when pressing matters ground me at home. But when I think of the music that would carry my thoughts - to the palm trees and white sands, where not a single soul is there to block my sunshine; even at the heart of a destitute city, Mango gets me to my destination. 

The Sounds Of Bed

Music parts two gifts. Sound and memory. Sound pleases the ears. It makes the listener hum, sing, and sometimes bounce his head to the beat. But it is memory that lets melodies paint scenes and turn music into an experience. It doesn't matter if the scene is about a person, or moment. The purpose of remembering is already present. 

Bed has been around long enough to shape an entire generation's outlook of the Pink life. For the most part, I was there to celebrate diversity under its glittery Disco Ball. Bed's retro-inspired plush seats and solid red accents mirror the influences of Queer as Folk in our collective consciousness. Its dance floor was burned to the ground, and yet, Bed was reborn - like a Phoenix from its ashes.

The club has become the symbol of Malate we used to know.

Nothing lasts forever and as Bed opens its doors for one last time, tonight, allow me to look back at the last decade with five dance anthems that has become synonymous with the club. Well-hidden in my sound collection so memories will never skip, I play these songs in my music player and reminisce.

Andrea Doria - Bucci Bag

Who Da Funk - Shiny Disco Balls

Misia feat Kevin Aviance - Into The Light (Gomi's Beauty and Beast Remix)

Inaya Day - Lift It Up

DB Boulevard - Point of View

The Spinner

When Arrjae Puno and I were in our early twenties, our tireless selves used to be the poster boys of Orosa. At 1 am on a Saturday morning, we would walk the streets of Malate on our way to Bed. The scene then, littered with wasted, happy folks who want to be seen and get laid were hardly a distraction. We still yearn to get to our destination.

After paying the 200 pesos cover charge, we would force our bodies in spaces already packed with frenzied crowd. The club then was a narrow strip tightly squeezed between the New York Cafe and another resto-bar, whose name had already slipped my mind. Two bottles of beer empty, the sound of bass bouncing off the man-sized speakers; and with the sight of half-naked revelers sweating from the collective body heat; there is no way to hold back the euphoria. With eyes half-closed, arms floating in mid-air, and me giving up control with every pulse of the strobe lights, my body loosens and begins swaying to the beat.

I have no doubts that Arrjae had the same sweeping feeling as well. Given the nights we would mount the ledge, take off our shirts and occupy the spot the Gogo boys had just left. The experience never left. I still listen to Electronic Dance Music whenever I get hold of the sound. What I didn't know is that my dance partner had other aspirations. Seeing the spinner becoming the heart of the dance floor, he wanted to become the DJ himself.

Once, I showed up in one of his gigs. He was just an apprentice then, and the watering hole where he spun his music wasn't really the places he would like to show his craft. With a bottle of beer in hand, I leaned across the turntable and watched him as he smoothly transitioned an RnB track to another. Back then, the crowd hardly paid attention. Being a social gathering corner rather than a place to dance, he was merely a wallflower.

I remember that time, for I hardly followed his rise to stardom. He spun in some of the swankiest club in town until he landed on the very same place where we used to forget the weekends. I had retired from clubbing because of other aspirations, and him being the resident DJ of Bed hardly crossed my mind. But with the events happening around me lately, the only place I know - to start over again - is the place I used to run and forget.

The club.

It was Friday evening when I saw his invitation on my Facebook Wall. Arrjae was chosen as one of the five finalists who will compete for a chance to open for David Guetta this Friday And as part of the race, exposure counts when candidates play at clubs where the judges take residence. Not knowing what to do that night, I said I'll come to his event. High on House is one of the shows I listen on FM radio and since they were the ones who set the gig at Time, I knew where I'm getting at.

It was home.

So at three in the morning tipsy on alcohol and drunk on Electronic Dance Music, I took my place outside the DJ's booth as Arrjae flipped open his laptop. With the Apple icon glowing amidst the smoke-filled room, he introduced his set with a Trentemøller classic. The DJ said he would play disco, but he ended up electrifying everyone with a progressive house set. And there we were, the spinner and the dancer. One, living his dream, while the other reclaiming his old spot in the new order of things. I may not be that kid who used to mount the ledge and take off his shirt in Malate. But that night, as one of those who lead the crowd and got consumed by the music. 

I knew a part of me was awakened.

It was almost 5 in the morning when Arrjae ended his set. He left the booth amazed by his exceptional performance. The reception was insane, for despite being an outsider in the sea of straight crowd, we walked past the dance floor still packed with people gearing up for the night's climax. He had asked me to join him and his friends for breakfast. But having to work that afternoon, and with my strength already used up, it was time to go home.

Prelude:

I was reading Bien's blog when his EDM sampler put me on a party spin. The idea to grace the dance floor was his doing. And to return the favor, I will share my music. May these songs put you in good spirits the whole week.

These are for you too Tipzsta. Cheers! Let's celebrate, for you have found your one. 

Trance Vs House

It's been a while since U-Radio went on air and its absence leaves me dry without my electronic music fix. Gone are the happy days when I would travel from one place to another with dance music playing on my phone's radio. Furion's stolen and I can't even play my club tunes at Eclipse anymore. And since my dancing days are over, the current chart-toppers and club anthems have become unfamiliar to me. 

It would have been easy to simply list down my current trance and house tracks, so I may lay claim to the sound that once shaped my nightlife. But to do so would not give justice to a blog entry telling about my deepest passions. Instead, let me share what I know about the genre and why it keeps me hooked even when the body craves the music no longer.

Dirty South feat Rudy - Let It Go (Axwell Remix)

House plays much slower than trance, resulting in a more danceable sound. Its important elements are the heavy bass, sample recordings taken from other music genres, (such as pop) and the repetitive kick-drum effect usually generated by a drum machine. 

Shogun feat Emma Lock - Run To My Rescue 

Soothing female vocals, ambient, airy background noise and fast tempo are the essentials of trance. Since I don't find the music danceable, it serves as my relaxing sound, (I'd fall asleep while Trance plays on my music player) or audio companion when lifting weights at the gym.

Morgan Paige feat Jan Burton - I've Had Friends (Jan Elan Extended Remix)

Electronica is such a versatile genre that a single track can spawn a dozen remixes. Some of these remixes end up being spun in the dance floor, or become part of compilation. After so many audio layers and vocal tweaks, some remixes turn out better-sounding that the original.

ATB - Ecstasy 

Trance is seldom played in dance clubs and bars around Manila. Instead, they are being performed by the international DJ's themselves in big events such as those set up by Big Fish Manila. What we usually hear - in gay clubs - are house remixes of songs played on mainstream radio.

Offer Nissim feat Maya - I'm In Love

House and trance keep me upbeat in moments of sullenness. It keeps my mind wandering every time I go on a journey. With a sprinkle of imagination, a vocal trance can take you to a cold, vespertine place. While a house track, in all its seductiveness, can make you feel sexy even when the mirror shows a lie. 

The five video clips above are some of my favorites.  

Listen and feel uplifted.  

   

The Lego House

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're feeling down
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now.

The Radio Stations

One. I have given up on clubbing for a more sober life. Gone are the Saturday nights when I let myself get carried away and see my hips, arms and body fling to House music. The ledge-mounting, shirtless Mugen is a stuff of legends and I doubt if those who see me now would believe I carry such reputation when I was a bit younger. 

But it doesn't mean the sound has already left my eardrums. I still collect Ministry of Sounds essentials for my work-out (until Furion got snatched, a story that deserves another entry) and turn Eclipse into my private dance club. 

I also tune in to U-Radio 107.9 for my daily dose of Electronica. The station has been my road companion since leaving the dance floor some years ago. It keeps me up, alert, and tireless. It connects me to the people who really appreciate the music, not because they can dance to it, but because the songs carry a memory of their younger, more hedonist selves.  

Unfortunately, U Radio has gone off the air for the nth time, and it's frustrating to know when it will return again.  

Two. Every weekend afternoon, Jam 88.3 has a radio show called "A Different Sunday." The show has no DJs. It plays non-stop music. And though it retains its Alternative and Adult Top 40 music format, the show has a unique and refreshing twist to its songs. 

The playlist is undeniably alternative. You get to hear tracks from Radiohead to The Pixies, only that the songs are sometimes covered by another artists. The re-imagined performances are very rare (Fake Plastic Trees sung by a choir, Where Is My Mind by a folk singer) and stripped down to its bare essentials (Acoustic Guitar). 

The songs blend well with the pervading mood, that one can't help but put his life down, recline in a couch, and just wile the afternoon away listening to song, after song, after song. The next thing you know, Monday is just several hours away. 

If only Jam 88.3 plays these songs at late nights as well. I'm sure a lot of sleepless, wounded souls would find respite from their troubled lives.  

Three. True to its slogan, Radio High 105.9 is not for everyone. The radio station appeals to "non-conformist" listeners who are passionate for the "finer things in life." The station plays music from Jazz to Lounge genres. The other night, I learned that they play New Wave and Bossa Nova as well. Basically, the songs you WILL never hear on Love Radio, MTV and Yes FM are found here. 

Radio High is just a new station, with - I guess - a tiny audience. I'd like to picture its regular listeners as the high society, old rich folks who yearn for the better days. Those who spend the nights in piano bars and cocktail lounges sipping Martinis while swapping scandal stories, or pouring out one's sorrow by simply getting drowned in music and alcohol. 

Musicians, eccentrics and struggling artists searching for inspiration (or something to listen to, while on the road) will find this station to their liking. 

   

Una

The idea for my first blog entry of the year was to write my twelve resolutions. But the plan was brushed aside when JC took this photo with his Panasonic Lumix G2 Camera. 

My partner then uploaded it on Twitter. 

The close-up of a weed with overcast skies in the background had left me spellbound. The subject conjures mixed feelings of tranquility and isolation. There is something about the vespertine image that I cannot put into words, but the subliminal message it attempts to convey somehow distills into a song.

When I look at the picture, Yoav's cover of the Pixies' "Where is my Mind" loops in my head.

    

Euphoria Morning

Chris Cornell's Sunshower was played many times over on NU-107. And yet, I didn't bother listening to it from start to finish. I might have found Cornell's vocals too raw, or the song gained radio airplay at a time when my sound preference had already shifted to Electronic music.

It is only when the song was played - for the last time - by the same radio station did it hit me with elegiac discontent. "Why only now?!?" I bemoaned while leaning my forehead against the glass surface next to the disc jockey's booth.  Maybe it was the pervading glum that allowed me to absorb the message and the climactic vocals near the Outro served as my soft pillow that evening. I was grieving and Sunshower made me feel it wasn't the end.

Alternative music lives.

Released in 1999 as a bonus track for Cornell's first solo studio album "Euphoria Morning," the single was also featured in the Great Expectations' soundtrack album.



Chris Cornell went on to become the front man of the rock supergroup Audioslave. He seldom spoke about his first solo album, which flopped commercially. Sunshower on the other hand edged closer to being forgotten. No explanation was ever given as to what the single is all about. Yet, for all its obsolesce, the song plays best when everything around seems to crumble. It is a depressingly uplifting song that leaves you hoping  - for better days - even when the timeline remains uncertain.

The Wall

To be honest, I haven't recovered yet from the mental shock I received two weeks ago. As to what it is, I'd leave the events a mystery until the dust finally settles. I've learned from it and have accepted my failures as they are.  I also vow not to let others suffer the same fate, guilt, or even humiliation and leave the poor person without an inch of faith in himself.  Meanwhile, I left this message on my Facebook wall to remind myself, and those who will get to read it that sometimes, kind words inspire people to do great things beyond everyone's expectations:

Many people tend to forget that sometimes, excellence comes when there are those who trust you, encourage you, make you feel that you can move mountains and sincerely appreciate your efforts. One thing I've learned lately is to praise people, make them feel that their accomplishments are big - not minding if its really small or ordinary - so that they'd always have faith in what they can achieve.

The world is full of hatred and deception. I too have stumbled many times over. But it doesn't matter, it is what makes us human. What's important is that despite hitting the ground, face-first, we are able to stand up and walk closer towards the right path.

Akap

Perfect weather song.

Long empty road stretching for miles, lit in intervals by sentry lamp posts. The sleeping city glimmers in the distance, the jagged mountain blasting arctic wind towards the plains.

In a suburb at 2 in the morning, with the after shower leaving the ground damp and chilly, having a solitary walk going in circles. This song reminds you that sometimes, a warm embrace is all that you need to break free of desolation.

Mainstream

Pop seldom comes on top of my list when picking my choice of sounds. Prejudice stems from this notion that most Pop songs are either too cheesy, its lyrics too shallow or the vocalist, too over the top. Personal preference also dictates that I should avoid the mainstream. For this reason, seldom will you hear me listen to Britney Spears or refuse any beats from Nicki Minaj, not because I look down on their music but because everyone includes them in their playlist.

But there are exception to the rules. Like when an artist - such as Madonna transcends her music style from Ballad to Electronica or Pink, whose lyrics scrape the barrel of human emotions. Or when Katy Perry uses her wispy voice to evoke an ambient state of mind. There are also days when I come across tunes that are familiarly infectious but they never reach the local airwaves. Such is when a fellow blogger (Cigarette Butts and Senseless Tangenialities) share some picks from the recently concluded Eurovision Song Contest held in Düsseldorf, Germany.    

The Eurovision Contest is like the American Idol of the United States, except that nations actually compete to pick the champion. Countries in Europe take this event very seriously and its live telecast garners millions of votes across the continent.  This year's winner came from Azerbaijan, a country who just sent its first representative very recently.  The song "Running Scared" by Eldar and Nigar caught the hearts of judges, as well as viewers that the duo was catapulted at the top spot by the end of the final voting.

I would leave the interpretation of the song with you.  Also pay close attention to the stage, including the layout of the whole stadium. More than the "oh, ohs," and the LSS-inducing chorus, the overall presentation leaves the viewers spellbound.

Underground Railroad

Between management duties and occasional agent jobs, I preoccupy myself sorting out music files I recently found in my workstation.

The work station once belonged to the team leaders before me. Bored out of wits looking after a bother-less staff,  they spend the day playing disc jock to a quiet crew.  Their preferred sounds bounce across the floor raising howls and nods depending on the music taste of each discriminating agent.

Since I  prefer a quiet workspace, (except at night,  when the threat of agents falling asleep forces me to tune in to Love Radio to keep them awake)  the accidental discovery was born out of need to free as much disk space for my personal needs.

To delete the music files without playing them denies me the chance to acquire some rare finds. My music library is ripe for expansion and transferring them from the workstation to my personal desktop will save me time from sampling and downloading songs on 4shared. I also worry about the unforeseen breakdowns which, the technician might resolve by re-formatting the hard drives. Therefore, music copying was a noble cause.  Who knows what hidden wonders I would discover from the cache.

The cache was a rich mix of old-school alternative, emo, classical and rock ballads.  The classical alone could increase my own collection by three-folds. I will leave the emo and metal to their fate, since I seldom play them in my iPod.  But the old school alternative was a big surprise. How could I worship the old bands without knowing a lot of their songs.

An entire shift is not enough to sort out the files.  So I created a separate folder to put  the songs I will copy on my flash drive. D-Day was yesterday and half-way through the intensive transferring, the flash drive went kaput.

I  know a nasty virus was at work and a reformat was in order. However, when I clicked the button giving way to a speedy erasure,  the operating system said that the drive was write protected. How could that be, the flash drive has no lock feature.

In  the end, I was able to retrieve the files that were already copied.  Though Avast doesn't register a Trojan, I suspect the virus has already infected my hard drives.  Meanwhile, as my sole flash drive stays corrupted, the transfer will grind to a halt.  Until I find a way to take down the virus, the music files on my workstation would stay un-deleted. 

The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause.

- Wikipedia

Embassy In My Head

The  itch to go clubbing  begins with a recollection of  scenes from the past week:  the nicotine smoke swirling in mid-air, the half-empty bottles of San Mig Light and Tanduay Ice on the bar table,  the dance anthem played when the set starts to pick up, the after-party rumination inside the cab on my way home.  Most of the time, I  begged off from ever returning. But when the repetitive drums and hypnotic beats commence assaulting my head,  I  long to return to the club with much zest to dance the weekend blues away.

What  others didn't know is that this clubber has already been  fired up before he hits the dance floor. The laser lights were addicting, and so was the heavy and constant pounding from overhead speakers. But before this could ever happen, the stubborn mind has already set its goal in sight.

"Manong Malate po tayo." That would be my queue to the cab driver.

The addiction was so intense,  I could plot my course anywhere in the city and still reach my destination in less than 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the driver usually listens to slow rock or anything that calms the senses. Never has he expected that a passenger like me  would disturb his peace and impose his own brand of euphoria.

"Lipat natin sa 107.9. Pampagising lang."   I was referring to U-Radio. The station that plays non-stop club music 24/7.

Small  talks emerge from such distortion.   The cab driver comments that he tunes in to that station  to fend off drowsiness. Others would reveal the discovery from passengers off to their parties. Attracted to the uplifting sounds, these cab drivers would claim the station as their own.

sampu na lang diretso na po tayo sa encore.

I  have always thought of  Trance, House and its minor derivatives as music for the elite. The masses have their Hip-Hop, Rap and those run-of-the-mill Techno that were first played in clubs over five years ago. Trance is so unique that it has a small niche in the country. It's no wonder that whenever a global DJ spins in Manila, the ticket price shoots to a thousand bucks.

Much as I would love to rub elbows with the rich and glamorous,  my parsimonious upbringing would  never allow me to cross over to their world. Beyond the stereotype of coke-snorting, partee-swallowing sub-culture.  I embarked on my weekly night-outs under a very strict budget.  Catching up with my socialite brethren is beyond my taking.

For this reason,  I  learned to appreciate their music from a distance. Gone are the days when I would  boldly embark on a bar tour, which would still probably end up in O-Bar. This time, there is no wish for a repeat performance. The eclectic mix of club sounds I get - with heavy doses - from U-Radio is enough to satiate the inner clubber in me. 

And at times when I  bump into kindred souls who know something about  Dash Berlin, Paul Van Dyk, Alex M.O.R.P.H and a couple of other DJs aside from David Guetta,  I try my best to connect.  For seldom do we proclaim our love for fast music, dizzying lights, dazed crowd and wanton feeling that comes with the experience.

I was on my way home at past midnight when I  rode a jeep that was strangely different. Normally, drivers are tuned in to Love Radio's sleazy "Wild Confessions."  Passengers snicker as Papa Jack asks the caller titillating questions about his or her sex life.

But last night.

Between the occasional glitches brought by a low power radio frequency, the stereo blares the same music that hasn't left my headphones after the exodus from the dance floors. Characterized by quick successive drums and looping synthesizer subdued by ethereal voices, another kindred spirit was discovered.

U-Radio's sound bounced inside the speeding vehicle, and the driver was our party boy.

  

MP3 Genre (Final)

MP3 Genre (Third Part)

MP3 Genre (Second Part)

MP3 Genre (First Part)


after runway_1533

We now come to the end of the journey that  took more than a month to complete.  Like concept albums where each song completes the whole story, my song library is a universe of memory remembered by  different genres.  Arranged to form coherence, as well as define a mood, the genres fill the silence with timeless music. My collection may not directly affect generations to come, (unless Baby Lenin grows up to become a talented musician or a serious discophile) but it shares an idea on how to organize a  large collection of digital music files. 

On a personal level, my music library nods to my mom's collection of cassette tapes. I remember dozens of them, neatly arranged in a metal rack on a wooden cabinet next to the bed. Some were mixtapes snugged inside their scratchy plastic shells, while others have their cover art and lyrics which I sung while songs are being played on the radio.

13.   Jazz - Lounge

Folksy tunes, modern jazz and 80s ballads make up this genre. While the songs from this collection is considered the proverbial "Eve" of  Light Alternative music, the hodgepodge of  sub-genres found under this collage make up for its diverse artists composition.  

The addition of songs from Andrew Lloyd Weber and Andrea Bocelli add an operatic feel to the assortment. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Astrud Gilberto twists the entire genre allowing its Jazz components to transcend the mainstream and embrace the distinct Brazillian sound known to us as Bossa Nova.   

Trivia:

 

• I  bought my first audio (pirated) CD so I could indulge myself listening to Martika's  "Love Thy Will Be Done" again and again. The song  would become the first to break-away  from the New Wave  and be labeled under this genre. 

• Richard Cheese's lounge cover of Disturbed's "Down With The Sickness" made me realize there's hope for the high-pitched, ear bleeding sounds of  Heavy Metal.

• Favorite tracks: Clair Marlo - Till They Take My Heart Away,  Tracy Chapman - Fast Car, Gwyneth Paltrow - Bette Davis Eyes

14.  Mainstream Pop

Seldom you will catch me talking about Pop when the subject is about music, unless it was Madonna. (or Lady Gaga)   The fear to be identified with the mainstream has kept me denying the existence of this genre for a long time. Though the denial was unintentional,  (I suspect it was fueled by some gay friends who never cease to talk about Mariah C.) filtering the Pop Artists I listen is still mandatory.

Like with Alternative and other genres, my song preference leans toward pop artists who played a part in my young-adult life. These include boybands such as Lyte Funky Ones, (LFO) and Boyzone; Male artists including Enrique Iglesias and Ronan Keating and female performers like Jennifer Paige, Shakira and Leanne Rimes.


Trivia:

• Despite my vocal disavowal of Mariah Carey and Britney Spears, ( because excessive admiration can spark nasty gay wars)  I listen to some of their songs. MC's "I Stay In Love", "Forever" and Britney's  "I'm A Slave For U" are among my favorites.

• I adore Madonna because among the mainstream artists, she's the only one capable of shifting from Pop (What It Feels Like For A Girl) to Ballad (Rain, Take A Bow), Dance (Hung Up, The Remixes)  to Downtempo/Ambient (Substitute for Love). Until I find another artist who can cross various genres like she does, Madonna remains the only diva for me.  

• My respect for Paris Hilton has increased ten-fold after the release of  "Stars Are Blind." 

•  Hard to find song: Ronan Keating - The Long Goodbye (Acoustic)

15.  Oldies - Senti

Tuning-in  to radio stations on  a  Sunday morning  allows you the rare opportunity to  hear  music artists that were long gone.  Their fading voices live through songs that once crooned the airwaves. On quiet weekends, these songs are played again - for us to remember what inspired our modern artists, while reliving another generation's glory.

As these songs leave us spellbound, they drive older people in a fit of nostalgia: A perfect complement should one chooses oldies over the eclectic Classics or eccentric New Age.

The Oldies-Senti collection is a testament to the vintage appeal of my music taste.


Trivia   

• In a time of puppy loves and cheesy letters written on scented papers, senti music accompanied hopeless romantics like me. Between angst-ridden rock and bubble gum pop,  Bread, Beatles and Fra Lippo Lippi were our afternoon serving.
• "Rolling In The Deep" is among the newest song to enter my library. Filtering Adele's soulful voice and the continuous banging of the drums, one can easily sense the disco origins of the track  These disco elements were borrowed from another time and thanks to Marvin Gaye and  Earth Wind and Fire I was able to feel these disco elements the first time I heard Adele's song.
• Mom once asked me to search the Internet for her favorite old songs. Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" and Paul Simon and Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock" were among the tracks that were added to the genre.
• Many mp3 files from this genre were songs I once heard while playing my mom's cassette collection. Painstakingly searched  and downloaded from Limewire, these songs (including the Manila Sounds) were my first exposure to music.
• Favorite tracks:  Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You,"  Paul Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"  Charlene's "I've Never Been To Me."

With 17 GB worth of disk space and still growing, what kept me from expanding is not the lack of  artists but the means to discover them.  

In time,  when my Internet speed improves; when page loading times take a light second instead of a full minute;  when downloading songs merely require minutes instead of half an hour;  when I have finally updated my spreadsheet catalog,  I will search the world  for music, and my song library will become the heart of my life project.

MP3 Genre (Third Part)

MP3 Genre (Second Part)

MP3 Genre (First Part)

Having to organize your music collection into various genres is an anal undertaking.  But the rewards of completing such task far outweighs the trouble of going through your mp3s and putting them into pre-set folders. Question arises about albums. What if we download or even rip the album's contents without missing a single track? What if we find the cover's artwork so striking, we wish to see it emblazoned on each album folder?

Much as I would like to enlighten you with a plausible answer, the truth must come first.  I have never copied or stole an entire music album nor am I planning to do one in the near future. Adhering to my policy of  "music sampling," not all songs penned by a music artist will please my ears. Rather than waste megabytes of disk space on some tunes I will not hear, I let other mp3 files take their place instead.

Meanwhile, here is the final five genres that make up my  library. 

11. Club Electronica

Electronic dance music traces its origins from disco and new wave sounds. It relies heavily on electronic instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers. The music is largely produced by disc jockeys, whose intention is to produce beats that could be played continuously in a set.  Heard in night clubs and select radio stations, the sole purpose of this sound is for people to dance.

Known by its previous reincarnation as techno, electronic dance music branched into different sub-genres we know today. Some examples include House, which is the direct descendant of disco and Trance, whose seamless melodies leave its listener in a state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control.

Club Electronica is the largest music collection in my library in terms of data size. Some songs incorporate complex audio layers and sonic textures that a single mp3 file could take up to 20 MB of disc space.

And while clubbing has been taken out of my system recently, the collection continues to grow. Fueled by my desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the sound from this collection has found other worthy uses.

Trivia:

• The workout will not reach its peak efficiency without club sounds to support my activity. The loud and hypnotic beats allow me to enter a state of trance, which kicks off the adrenalin rush. Others at the gym share this common belief. When there is a need to share my music with other weightlifters, my collection turns Eclipse into our mini-dance club.

• Every dance floor has a different anthem and a club has a distinctive sound that makes it unique. Years of bar hopping has let me identify some of the dance songs popularized by the clubs that became my home.

LaDida | Moody Inc - Find Another Love
Mint  | Daft Punk - One More Time (Tribal Entity Remix)
Mister Piggys | French Affair - Sexy
BED Original | Who Da Funk - Shiny Disco Balls, Maya - First Time (Offer Nissim Remix)
Che-Lu  | Ashlee Simpson - Outta My Head (Dave Audé Club Remix)
O-Bar  | Chuckie feat Lmfao - Let the Bass Kick in Miami Beach

• In a debut party a decade ago, friends were asking why I don't dance with them. They were swaying their hips and raising their arms to Fatima Rainey's "Hey."  I told the revelers that I only dance to techno. Eager to see me bust a move, they played Prodigy's "Breathe." Setting free my inhibition, I did a freestyle in front of them.  When the song ended, no one spoke of my "pagwawala."  It was also the last time they saw me dance.

12.  Chill-Out - New Age

Plug your earphones and stretch your legs. Do not hesitate to slouch your back against a solid bench. You deserve to relax, even for a moment. And what better way to soothe your mood and calm your senses with chill-out music.

Known by its many names such as ambient, sunset, cafe del mar, and even meditative music, its effect is one and the same:  Put the mind on a state of bliss and slow down the journey of synapses.

Chill-Out evolves from New Age. A genre that used to search the world for melodies seldom heard by western ears.  Nowadays, Globalization carries these homegrown sounds across the globe.  Remixing is not required, unless the sound is used to accentuate another sound. Fusing electronica and ethnic attracted a more mainstream audience during the past decade. The genre had soon outgrown its background music reputation.

The music, stripped to its barest essentials is its allure. Often delivered in breathy, repetitive vocals, songs from this genre captures the tranquility of  minimalist sound. The genre's sizable presence in my music library provides a sharp balance to Club-Electronica.  Life is not always a party after all.  


Trivia

• Enya is one of my early musical influences. While plans are underway to write a separate blog entry for the artist, the eccentric lady from Ireland will always have a special place in my Chill-Out/New Age collection.

• Most of the mp3 files from this genre came from Café del Mar, Hed Kandi: Winter Chill and Buddha Bar series.  

• World Music falls under this genre. French music along with Indian-western fusion are included in my collection.

• Favorite track: Chicane - No Ordinary Morning

• Hard to find songs:  Cellar 55 - With or Without You,  Lali Puna - Alienation (Alias Remix)

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MP3: Genre (Second Part)

First Part


I once thought that the sound quality of mp3s were far inferior to audio CDs.  This was the reason it took ages before I began copying songs I already possess. And with Sony Discman as my audio player, a hard drive barely able to store my computer games, and better sources of pirated CDs than P2P websites,  there was no reason for a techno switch. I was ready to brush-off the coming changes to pursue my old passions.

That was until I realized that an mp3 player is needed to sustain my gym workout.

The giant leap began with a Chinese-manufactured audio player. I bought the device for less than a thousand pesos. When it broke down after a few months, I switched to the sleek Creative Zen Nano for my music needs. It was my feeble attempt to catch up with technology.  However, the mp3 player could only store a limited number of songs.  Zen Nano's storage capacity was around 1 GB.  

Space-saving meant that I could only pick a few songs from the library and upload  it to the device. Since work-out songs must be separated with the rest of the mp3s, folders were created according to the genres. This idea was then adopted for the hard drive's music library. The system allowed my collection to expand in all direction.

6.  Light Alternative - Indie

To put Tori Amos, Sarah Mclachlan and Alanis Morisette along with Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus would be an abomination.  The musical differences are too striking, comparisons don't exist.

Also known as Adult Top 40, songs from this genre do not fall under pop, hard rock, hip hop, or dance music category. The songs mostly appeal to sophisticated urbanites and self-professed intellectuals who find themselves totally disconnected with mainstream music.

The songs in this genre are usually played in the FM station Jam 88.3. Though somehow similar to  Alternative-Rock, Light Alternative - Indie includes more female artists. The songs are more mellow and acoustic versions of the same, or even different genres fall under this collection. 


Trivia

• Drawing the line between pop music and light alternative sometimes get blurry. Pink, whose songs are considered mainstream contain profound lyrics and intricate tunes that would easily pass as Adult Top 40. Sadly, since she is identified with pop artists,  songs like "Who Knew," "Please Don't Leave Me" and "Just Like A Pill" appear in another folder.

• Dash Berlin is among the rising stars in the dance music multiverse. However, since his song "Waiting" has an acoustic version, the song falls under the Light Alternative genre.    
• There's a very big chance that if an artist uses piano or guitar as musical accompaniment, the song would fall under this category.
• Favorite tracks:  Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait; Shawn Mullins - Lullaby; The Cranberries - Linger; Tori Amos - 1000 Oceans; Joseph Arthur - In The Sun.

7.  New Wave

This collection covers many genres from different and often diverging artists. What holds them together is the decades when their songs first hit the airwaves. The heavy use of synthesizer-based musical instruments to create the sound was another consideration.

Mami Athena often said that the 80s was the last great decade when fashion,  pop culture and music achieved universal appeal. Songs from this period became timeless and iconic. It has a distinct character and nostalgic appeal  that touches everyone. Such impact remains unrivaled until today.  

New Wave's contribution to succeeding generations is immeasurable.  Aspiring stage performers born during the late 80's would sing  Heart's "Alone" or  Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," without any idea that the songs were already  global hits long before they were born.

Trivia

 

• Let the music absorbs you:  The first song that enabled me to rhythmically move to the sound using improvised steps and gestures was Industry's "State of the Nation."  It was the first song  I danced. 
• Erasure's "A Little Respect," MG's "No Sense of Reason," and Seona Dancing's "More To Lose" are the forebears of today's electronic dance music.
• A lot of one-hit wonders such as The Divinyls "I Touch Myself,"  A-ha's "Take On Me," and When In Rome's "The Promise"  came from this genre. 

  

8.  Classical Music

My fascination with classical music must have been born out of guilt.  Thrice did my parents worked hard to put me to piano school, but all attempts to learn the instrument were for nothing. I chose not to complete the short courses and preferred the joys of juvenile wanderings instead.

Eventually, my knowledge of piano keys and musical notes all disappeared. Even reading guitar chords, which I was able to play in piano was lost to memory.

I know little about Mozart, Bach or Beethoven. Clint Mansell and Bear McCreary were new discoveries. Their compositions clear my head, and shows the extent of my esoteric leanings.  I seldom listen to classics, but whenever I hear an artist play the piano, I could almost imagine myself performing the piece.

 
Trivia
 

• The reason why my parents enrolled me to piano school is for me to use the piano at home. They bought it the first time my "militant" dad earned from doing "real" work. 
• "Entry of the Gladiators" is a circus music often used to introduce clowns 
• Vitamin String Quartet is a group of musicians known for their tribute albums to rock and pop acts. The group is known for transforming songs such as "With or Without You," "Yellow" and "Screaming Infidelities" to classics.
• Favorite tracks. Clint Mansell - Together We Will Live Forever; Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata; Pachelbel - Canon in D (Full Orchestra)

9.   Anime-J Pop

Some bloggers asked why I don't have K-Pop songs in my library.  The answers are simple:  First is because many K-Pop artists look weird ( the boys put make-up and try to look effeminate). Second is because I don't like boy and girl super-groups.  Third is because of generation gap. There's no such thing as "K-Pop" when I was still a groupie. In its place was J-Pop; the song and dance entertainment extravaganza imported from Japan.

Fueled by the second and third wave anime invasion during the late 90s,  J-Pop enjoyed minimal success over mainstream radio.  However, the genre's global breakthrough gave rise to the otakus we know today.


Trivia 

• Opening and ending theme songs whether in anime or tokusatsu are sung by  J-Pop artists. If the oldest track in this genre includes theme songs of  Japanese TV shows, the oldest I have would be Daimos' opening song.
• While Penny Tai and F4 are both from Taiwan, their songs were listed under J-Pop. I still have to create a "world music" folder where they rightfully belong.
• Melodic people tend to focus on tunes rather than lyrics.  This is the reason why I could appreciate J-Pop songs without ever understanding the lyrics.
• Notable J-Pop songs that are also opening/ending theme songs of animes:  Snow - Nightmare (Jigoku Shojo)  and  L'arc En Ciel - Drivers High (GTO) 

10. Pinoy Pop

Mula sa pinaka-jologs hanggang sa medyo conyo, lahat ng mga kantang pinoy na hindi matuturing na banda o kaya naman ay original OPM (katulad ni Basil Valdez) ay kabilang sa genre na ito. The reason for putting everything under one genre is because of my limited knowledge in original pilipino music.

Kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka na sa aking music library, ang RnB princess na si Kyla ay kahanay ng Aegis at ang piling mga kanta ni Gary Valenciano, MYMP at Regine Velasquez ay ka-folder ng Salbakuta at Gagong Rapper.  

Masyado bang hindi katanggap-tanggap? Kung gayon ay paumahin. Sadya lamang malawak ang taste ko sa music na pati mga kantang maririnig mo sa Patok at Malaguena na jeep ay kumakapit sa aking pandinig.    



Trivia

• Crappiest songs in the collection:  Masculados - Nakaka; Vhong Navarro - Totoy Bibo
• Songs that keep me in-touch with the peons of Payatas:  Gagong Rapper feat Kyla - Kabet;  Aegis - Basang Basa sa Ulan; Crazy As Pinoy - Panaginip
• Favorite tracks: MYMP - Torpe Song #5; Gagong Rapper feat Gloc9 - Panaginip (Acoustic); Jeans - Ngayong Gabi; Eric Santos - I'll Never Go

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MP3: Genre (First Part)

I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours. But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places. Music is the only means where we feel these emotions in their universality.

H.A. Overstreet

Whoever the author was doesn't matter. I couldn't find him in Wikipedia either. But what he said applies to all: Music feeds the soul. It makes us remember all our fondest memories and draws out our deepest, bittersweet longings.

In truth, music connects me to people. Kahit walang usap-usap, basta  tamang sound trip, bonded na ako. One of my pride and joy is that with music, I prefer sounds less heard.  Some of the songs in my music library, ako lang ang nakakaalam. This distinction makes you see people differently. Hindi na bale na hindi mo trip ang personality ng isang tao. Pero kapag alam mong iisa kayo ng pinakikinggan, you can't help but cast that person in a better light.

This entry is about the genres that classify my songs. The different genre was inspired by the radio stations in the computer game Sims. I list songs in this manner because moods come first when I'm listening. When classics seem more appropriate, I switch to Bach and Mozart. Kapag feel ko naman maging upbeat, there's David Guetta and Alex M.O.R.P.H to keep me high. Finally, when I am struck by a bout of emo, I switch to Alternative. Nothing heals a broken spirit faster than listening to Vertical Horizon, Sarah Mclachlan and Rivermaya sing their ballads.


1.  Alternative-Rock

Despite my growing affinity with electronic dance music, I am still a rakista by heart. Bands from this genre include Smashing Pumpkins, Kings of Leon, The Fray, Collective Soul, Dave Matthews Band, Goo Goo Dolls and Dishwalla.  Marami sa mga mp3s sa genre na ito ay napakinggan ko pa sa NU-107. Despite my soft spot for this type of sounds, I never ventured beyond Aerosmith. My ears could only appreciate soft ballads. Headache often follows whenever I hear screamo or industrial music being played.  

Trivia

• Old School bands such as Vertical Horizon, Guster and Creeper Lagoon always remind me of my college days.  
• Hard to find songs:  Peel - Everlive; Neve - It's Over Now.
• Songs from these genre could, actually, make me cry.

2.  Oldies - OPM

Sabi ni Mama na ang unang musical influences ko daw ay sina Freddie Aguilar, Asin at Sampaguita.  Her assertions are true since both my parents are 1. Nationalistic and 2. Social Activists. I also remember switching sides of a cassette tape when I was very young.  My baby book even records that "Bayan Ko" was among my bedtime lullabyes. 

When I grew up, I searched the web for those songs from my childhood.  Rey Valera's "Malayo Pa Ang Umaga" evokes memories of "Ula, Ang Batang Gubat" while Tina Paner's "Tamis ng Unang Halik" perpetually identifies her with Chris Villanueva.


Trivia

• I try not to play Basil Valdez' "Hindi Kita Malilimutan," and "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo."  These songs remind me of funeral processions. 
• Oldies-OPM is further subdivided between Manila Sound and OPM.  Manila Sound emerged during the Martial Law years.  Described as smooth, easy flowing jazz/folk/disco music, the songs allegedly try to mask the atrocities and human rights violations of the government supporting them.
• Hard to find song:  Lolita Carbon - Biyaheng Langit
• Freddie Aguilar's "Kamusta Ka,"  Asin's "Himig ng Pag-Ibig" and  Joey Albert's "Tell Me" are my favorite.

3.   Reggae

I know little about this genre but still, it stands proud among the other genres in my music library. What I know is that it originated from Jamaica and the songs define a distinct Afro-American sound. The songs have a slow, steady rhythmic beat.  Sabi ni Mami Athena na people who listen to reggae are generally homophobic. I didn't ask why, but I know that Jamaicans are hostile towards homosexuals.


Trivia:

• Nagsimula ako mag-collect ng Reggae after watching Will Smith's I Am Legend. Masyado akong na-move doon sa "Redemption Song" na ni-play noong closing credits. 
• Recommended tracks:  Ziggy Marley's "Drive" and Bob Marley's "Sun is Shining"

4.   HipHop-RnB

Of all the things I don't want to be identified with, its HipHop. Totoo nga siguro na magkatunggali ang maka-Techno at maka-Rap.  Both sounds are loud and urban yet they are of different musical perceptions.  Tuloy, ang followers ng isa ay madalas opposite ng isa.

But RnB has been around for a long time. Noong high school kami, kapag nasawa kaka-senti ang mga ka-klase ko, saka naman sila bibira ng  "Each Time" ng East 17 o kaya "Do You Believe In Me" ni Eric Gadd.  While older RnB artists such as Boys2Men (na wala akong tracks) enjoy a sense of timelessness, new ones get replaced easily by upcoming artists.

It must be the repeated and non-stop radio airplay.    


Trivia
 

• My Hiphop-RnB folder is divided into three sub-genres: Hiphop, RnB and Rap.  Hiphop is the  mainstream among the three. It includes danceable tracks such as "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake and "Forever." by Chris Brown.
• RnBs are considered easy listening music. Nelly's "Just A Dream," T.I's "Whatever You Like" and Amber David's "Back to You" belong to this sub-genre.
• Last to have its own mini-folder is Gangsta Rap. Songs from Eminem, Tupac and Bone Thugs and Harmony belong here.  Though seldom played in my iPad, I keep the mp3s to remind me that once, I found solace listening to Tupac's "Life Goes On." 
• Favorite tracks:  Public Announcement - He Got Game;  Fort Minor - Where'd You Go; East 17 - Each Time      

5.  Pinoy Alternative

Is basically the local variety of the Rock-Alternative genre. Bands like Eraserheads, Rivermaya and Parokya ni Edgar dominate this category.  NU-107 had a role to play behind the mp3 explosion, as well as pirated cds. Malaki rin tulong na nung high school, na-influence ako ng mga students ng mom ko to appreciate local bands.

Before being introduced to foreign bands, I started with Pinoy Rock artists first. I was listening to Eraserheads' "Ligaya" when I was in Grade Six. Sinama rin ako ng mom ko sa isang concert sa Amoranto Stadium when Introvoys, The Dawn and After Image were just becoming mainstream.  

Many years after I started putting songs in my hard drive, Pinoy Alternative still has a very strong presence in my music library. The absence of a credible rock station may have an impact on the local band scene, but I believe that another Bamboo Manalac or Ely Buendia or even the great Francis Magalona remain to be discovered.  


Trivia:

• Yano's "Esem" was my anthem when I was out of work. The song still plays over my head when I go window shopping.
• Sugar Hiccup's "Five Years" is known for its hauntingly, funereal sound.  The only words ever spoken in that song are "But he will never be back..."
• The last gig I saw was Taken By Cars.  Wandering Commuter invited me to go out one night.  Tama naman na may event sa Cubao X and then may nag-perform na mga bands.  Sarah Marco sang December 2 Chapter VII.  
• Hard to find songs:  White Noise - The Merry Song, Lady Bedspacer - Bala, Freshmen - Trip Mo Ba

Yun lang muna.  I didn't know that describing each genre would take so much time.  There are eight more to go.  In my next entry, the vast differences in my music taste will be highlighted. I will also reveal the first mp3 stored in my computer.
   

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FM

Before the mp3 player was the discman. We were already pirates then and we used to download our music from Napster. When Napster was ordered to shut down, other file sharing sites took over. What we did was download the mp3s online and then burn it in a compact disk. Kapag may out of town trips, kalahati ng contents ng bag ko ay mga audio cds.

Before discman was the walkman. It was the age of the mixtapes. Naabutan ko pa yung makikinig ka ng radyo, tapos irerecord mo yung songs na gusto mo iplayback ng paulit-ulit. It pisses me off when the dj suddenly speaks before the end of the song. Mas lalong buraot kapag nagrerecord ka ng song at tahimik yung buong room, tapos biglang may kakausap sa iyo.

Tracing back the source, everything started with FM stations. Kaya naman nang mauso ang portable audio players, unang na-imbento ang transistor radio. Funny thing is I thought FM stations will become obsolete in a few years. The rise of music videos and mp3 players will beat the hell out of the djs.

Epic fail ang aking prognosis.

I see a lot of people with their ear phones plugged in their ears these days. Noong una akala ko na mp3 players ang sakbit nila. The truth was revealed when Globe gave me a new phone. The phone has built-in FM receiver so I tried to use it one day. Sawa na rin kasi ako sa mp3s sa iPod ko.

I got hooked immediately and I started listening to the stations once again. First on my favorites is U-Radio. Kapag Saturday naman at late ako nag-work out, naka-tune in ako sa Big Fish Radio. Then there was NU-107 but it was replaced by the hell sent Win Radio. (Pinag-iisipan pa ba yan? No Brainer Lolz.)

This entry serves as both a belated prelude to the four great FM stations that I listen to and how my taste in music defines my personality. Pero sa totoo lang, the entry was inspired by a photo I saw in a website a few nights ago.

Tamang wow effect lang.

batteries not included

The photo serves as  a gentle reminder of how far innovation took humanity for music to become more portable.

photocredits:  boredpanda.com