The Staple

Previously: 


A Difference A Year Makes
Retail Therapy

Pork and beef, in its processed and preserved form, no longer take a chunk of the family budget. The matriarch, in her capacity to delegate duties, has tapped me to make rounds at the Puregold supermarket. The sole responsibility in food stocks replenishment belongs to me. And since it has become my vow to eliminate meat, other than chicken and fish from our menu, the acquisition of commodities reflects my nutritional agenda: cans of tuna and sardines have replaced corned beef, luncheon meat, and sausages. They have merely become token items so as not to raise a howl from those who refuse to be swayed to my diet.

But the grand scheme is deliberate, and even when I used to consume the forbidden delights, I make it a point to include 555 or Ligo sardines in our shopping list. Self-serving maybe some of the reasons, but tactical considerations apply when making my decisions.

Here are the five reasons why I overstock on fish products when I do the shopping at the supermarket:

Buffer Food. Appetites change depending on what dish is served. Sometimes, nobody eats what is on the table. Other days, when meals are cooked so well, the serving becomes inadequate to feed all.

In situations like these, the house staff are the ones to suffer. Laziness to cook another dish had forced some of our maids to skip meals. Sometimes, they would buy their own food at a nearby eatery with their own money, which is unfair. Human rights and labor practices aside, the cans of sardines guarantee that no one goes hungry in the house of Jomania.

Tunasilog. When home-cooked meals don't get along with my taste buds, or when I go hungry and the maid has yet to cook lunch, a generous serving of garlic rice, sunny side up fried egg and a bowl of Century Tuna Hot and Spicy (in some days Afritada) completes my day. The dish is not only easy to prepare, Tunasilog and its varieties don't claw on my pockets. Unlike the fast food meals, which are readily available in the neighborhood, there is comfort knowing I don't spend a penny for my indulgence.

Processed Fish is Healthier than Processed Meat. Any thinking being will have second thoughts striking out the merits of fish over beef or pork in its processed form. Sardines and tuna are low in fats and rich in potassium. They pack the essentials like Vitamin B12, which is good for the brain and Omega 3 fatty acids, which regulates the build up of cholesterol in the heart. 

Of course, there is the issue of mercury content and the presence of chemical substances. We are not even sure how fish stocks are managed to sustain the ecology of our seas. But a Hokkaido brand of Mackerel over Argentina corned beef? A smart and health-conscious shopper knows what to pick. 

Source:

Cheaper Acquisition. I went to a sari-sari store next to our house before writing this section. I asked how much is a can of sardines and then inquired about the price of the cheapest corned beef brand. 

What I learned startled me.

An average sardines cost P17 pesos, while the corned beef is double the retail price of canned fish. And that's the least expensive of the brands. Just imagine the feel and texture of the beef. The synthetic aftertaste sure is repulsive.

It goes to show that while our purchasing power enables us to make preference, a family on a tight budget gets more value for their money when picking fish over land-based animal food products. 

Emergency Rations for the Rainy Days. In the aftermath of Yolanda, I was at the repacking stations, lending my strength for the collective relief effort.

And you know what I found?

Cans of sardines make up the ready-to-eat provisions along with instant noodles and bags of rice.

There is a lesson there drawn from experience. One, that is suppose to tie a knot and weave the real purpose of this entry.

The photo above was taken the past month, the last time I was asked to make rounds across Puregold's aisles. I am certain my mom's assistant, who was with me kept wondering why I hoard cans of sardines when they seldom get consumed at home.

Behind the nonchalant passage from the canned fish section to the next corner of the supermarket, is a mind continuously distracted, and reminded of the scenes that might come.

"Better be prepared," I tell myself. "My love ones' lifeline depends on the foresight I make today."

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

Mellow

My starving ears may have its fill of euphoric, adrenalin-dripped thumping sounds of the dance floor. But when I am disarmed and my heart is exposed, the songs on my playlist mellow to these:

Natalie Walker - Colorblind

Heard the song played on Jam 88.3's A Different Sunday one evening and the melody got stuck in my ears ever since. The Counting Crow's cover speaks of someone's willingness to come into terms with herself - whatever her state of being. And that no matter how blurry her worldview has become, she longs for someone who would accept her for what she is.

    

Billie Myers - Kiss The Rain

Kiss The Rain, to many is a piano instrumental by Yiruma. But to those who were in their early twenties a decade ago, it was a Billie Myers signature that sent a lot of kids into fits of wrist cutting. According to Myers, she was listening to Bush's "Glycerine" one day and apparently misheard the chorus. Hearing the words "Kiss the Rain" instead of "Glycerine," she came up with a song that eventually would become her timeless contribution to music. 

Scala and Kolacny Brothers - Fake Plastic Trees

A fan of Homeland must have heard the angelic voices. Yes, the Belgian choir covered the Police's "Every Breath You Take." It was used for the season 2 teaser of the Emmy-awarded TV series. But before the choir rose to spotlight, their cover "Fake Plastic Trees" used to be a playlist favorite on Jam 88.3's A Different Sunday. 

The Wailing Jennys - The Parting Glass

Nothing beats a sound distilled to its bare essentials. It is for this reason A capella for me is one of the most moving and solemn forms of music. The Parting Glass was a splendid discovery. I was streaming YouTube when I came across The Walking Dead's season 3 trailer. The Wailing Jennys' haunting lullaby got me startled and typing the few words of the lyrics on Google lead me to the song's title.

The Parting Glass is an Irish and Scottish tradition. Often sung at the end of a gathering of friends, it reminds you that all good things must come to an end. 

Guster - Either Way

Guster is one of the hardly known alternative bands that made a dent when I still breathe in the closet. Their single, "Demon" was a song I used to play every time I need a reminder as to why deception is better than showing off your true skin. Many, many years later, I came across another of Guster's single and it touched me in ways a cold wind brushes the skin. Somber and cathartic; selfless to a fault, "Either Way invites a listener to curl up in bed and stare blankly at the wall as the heart re-evaluates the need to stay withdrawn so as to keep a frail side from being exposed.  

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.  

   

42-In-1

Long before Bejeweled and Fruit Ninja became an app; prior to players uploading their highest scores from Temple Run; preceding the holiday season, when everyone thought Angry Birds accessories were great gift suggestions, home arcade games were already a staple of Nintendo. Like the kids of today, an entire generation got hooked with their 42-in-1s. These cartridges are where these games were bundled.

The gameplay is simple. Computer graphics are made of software sprites. Animation is rudimentary. Though the objectives are repetitive, the difficulty increases with each game bosses defeated. We don't pay attention to high scores yet, but we try our best to reach the farthest levels.

The five video games I pick, though vintage by today's standards had shaped my gaming preference. They may not be the best, not even the most popular. But they did get me hooked, turned me into a video game addict, and opened my eyes to more interesting video games I would play much later in life. 

Raid on Bungeling Bay

Brøderbund, 1985

Raid on Bungeling Bay lets you control a helicopter that launches from an aircraft carrier. The helicopter shoots pea-sized bullets and carries nine bombs, which you have to drop on factories scattered across the island-world. To complete a level, a player needs to destroy all the factories. He should also avoid getting shot by the enemy. A word of caution: the longer it takes to bomb these factories, the more defenses the enemy constructs. Soon you may find your aircraft carrier being bombarded by jet planes, which you have to chase and shoot with your feeble projectiles.

Trivia: Raid on Bungeling Bay was the first game developed by Will Wright. He is the creator of the Sims, which is my current, time-consuming and expensive video game addiction.


TwinBee
Konami, 1985

For a long time this question bothered me: Am I controlling a spacecraft or a bee - that has been turned into a robot? But the confusion didn't matter. The clean, cartoon-like graphics had already got me hooked.

TwinBee is a vertical-scrolling shooting game. You fire at the clouds and a bell tumbles out. Shooting these bells result in a change in color. A different color corresponds to a power-up. This is how you upgrade your weapons.

The game is different from other "jet themed" shooting games as you get to deal with silly-looking enemies. There are the collision-loving flying turnips and eggplants with propellers. There are also pine cones on the ground that shoot projectiles. There is a big boss too, which you have to defeat to complete a level. So challenging the game was (enemy projectiles were everywhere, I swear) that I was only able to reach level 3.

TwinBee can be played by two-players simultaneously.


Front Line
Taito, 1984

Well, the turtleshell-wearing protagonist walks stupid. He wields a funny gun with a crooked barrel. He shoots bullets that look more like a dash. There is no background music, which makes you go ho-hum, and the sprites are terrible. So trashy Front Line is that spending just five seconds alone is enough to send you picking another game such as Battle City.

But as far as I know, Front Line is one of the few NES games that lets you mount a tank, which you can use to run over enemy soldiers. In those days, controlling a machine with your player inside was unheard of -  You can also hurl grenades and occupy rival bases to reach the next level.

Looking back, I don't understand how I get to like this game. Maybe it was so unbelievably ugly, that after telling myself over and over, that this game is not as bad as everyone thinks, (this game is addictive... I say this game is addictive!) I eventually found it good.


Excitebike
Nintendo, 1984

You are given a lousy motorbike that it is prone to overheating. There is a race track with ramps of different heights and angles. And there is a time-limit when you race alone or with CPU-controlled bikes. The objective is to beat your record.

That is how the game is supposed to work.

But what makes Excitebike truly game-worthy is the design mode. Not only did the feature allow you to create your own race track, the design mode had put creativity and imagination into the game. (try adding the largest ramps next to one another, let your bike climb over it and see what happens) I had so much fun making my own racetrack that I have completely forgotten the race:

"I say let's postpone the championship, let me put up the most wicked racetrack first!"


City Connection
Jaleco, 1985

City Connection is one of those racing games I played a few times. But it left an impression so deep, I would remember the video game long after it was shelved by its creators.

The gameplay is quite simple. A player drives a Honda City across floating bars representing roads. Each road segment turns white as you pass over them. However, police cars are everywhere and a collision with them sends your car into sure oblivion. Together with cats and spikes, they form the obstacles of each level.

Police cars can be bumped off the screen. To do this, you must hit the police car with an oil can. These cans can be collected while you cover the bar sections. Cats and spikes are immune to these weapons.

The race car doesn't have a break. The only way you can go back and drive over missed segments is to make it do a 180-degree turn. It can also jump from road bar to another.

Deterrent

Makulit, madaldal at madalas ay nasa lansangan. Ilan lamang ito sa mga paglalarawan sa akin noong ako ay bata pa lang. Lumaki ako na kasama ang mga kasambahay at dahil sa medyo pasaway, a little creativity is required para ako ay madisiplina.

Hindi uso ang palo sa amin, (kasi naman, mga parents lang ang puwede gumawa noon) kaya naman kapag gabi na at nasa kalye pa rin, ang mga kasambahay na ang gumagawa ng paraan kung paano ako mapapa-uwi o kaya ay mapapatulog.

Using their time-honored tradition, (kung saan sa kanilang probinsya ay usong-uso gawing panakot ang mga walang malay na aswang, white lady pati na rin yung kapre sa puno ng balite.) lahat ng mga ginawang panindak sa mga yaya ng mga matatanda ay ipinasa rin nila sa mga bata.

There is of course, the urban twist.

Hindi ko alam kung pareho tayo ng kinagisnan. Basta ang alam ko, ilan lamang ang mga panakot na ito na talagang sineryoso ko nung kabataan.


1.  "Huhulihin ka ng bumbay at ilalagay sa sako"


Likas sa Pinoy ang maging racist. Likas rin sa atin ang mahilig mangutang. At dahil ang mga bumbay lang ang nagpapautang ng walang collateral, sila ang madalas tinatakbuhan kapag nagigipit sa pera.

Yun nga lang, mataas ang tubo sa payb-six.

Para man lang makabawi sa patayang pagbabayad, ginagawang panakot sa mga bata ang bumbay. Sino ba naman kasi ang lalapit kay manong na naka-turban, makapal ang puting balbas at bigote, at madalas kakaiba ang amoy. I'm not a racist but I don't come close to people strange to me.

Hindi man kami umuutang sa bumbay noon pero kumakaripas ako ng takbo papasok sa bahay kapag dumadaan na ang bumbay para maningil ng utang sa mga kapitbahay.


2.  "Hahabulin ka ng lumilipad na kabaong"


Kung magkakasisihan sa kung sino ang unang nagpauso ng panakot na ito, una kong ituturo ang Shake, Rattle and Roll. Pangalawa ang Gabi ng Lagim sa radyo na talaga namang nagpapatakip ng tenga ko kapag nakikinig na sina ate.

Mga kupal sila.

Paboritong panakot ito kapag gabi na at ayaw ko pa matulog. Madalas ang banta sa akin, makikita ko daw sa bintana yung kabaong tapos biglang mawawala. The next thing I know ay nasa harap ko na ang kabaong na may kasamang nangangamoy at naaagnas na patay sa loob.

Grisly much?

Ilang gabi rin akong napatulog ng nakatalukbong kahit sobrang init habang iniisip na yung kabaong ay lumulutang lang sa ibabaw ng kama ko.


3. "Naglalaro na ang mga duwende sa likod bahay."


Minsan nang natawas ang kapatid ko. Ayon sa basa ni Tiya Sabel (ang resident albularyo sa lugar namin), napagkatuwaan daw si utol ng mga puting duwende na nakatira sa likod-bahay namin. Ilang beses na rin nagkuwento ang mga matatanda ng mga mapanindig-balahibong "encounters with the unknown" sa kusina. Katabi lang kasi nito ang lugar kung saan naroon ang mga lamang lupa.

Totoo man o hindi ay mabilis akong napaniwala sa kuwento. In fact, sa sobrang takot at respeto ko sa mga duwende, pati yung kabute na umusbong sa harap ng bahay namin ay inakala kong bahay nila. If I remember it correctly, nag-iwan pa yata ako ng alay sa mga kabuteng iyon.

Tuloy pa rin ang "encounters with the unknown" sa bahay kung saan ako lumaki, pero sa panahon ng Facebook at Camera Phone, tila hindi na masyadong benta ang mga duwendeng minsan ay binalak ko pang kaibiganin.


4.  Aswang in the City


Sa panahong nagbi-binata na ang pamangkin ko, hindi ko alam kung bebenta pa rin ang ideyang ito: Imagine, matandang babae, mahaba, hindi nagsha-shampoo at nakalugay ang buhok, luwa at mapula ang mata, may malaking pakpak gaya ng sa paniki at nahahati ang katawan sa dalawa. If I know, Baby Lenin would ask, "Uncle bakit hindi nahuhulog yung organs niya?" Siyempre tameme na ako. Ang alam ko lang, para masunog ang aswang ay dapat binubudburan mo ng asin (or abo) yung lower part ng katawan niya.

May isang panahon rin na napabalitang may naligaw na aswang sa kamaynilaan. Sabi sa Taliba, namataan daw ito sa Letre, Malabon kung saan hinihinalang nakatira sa squatter's colony ang aswang.  Siyempre, kahit sa Santa Mesa kami nakatira, wala kaming idea na napapagod rin sa paglipad ang aswang, at kung kakain man ito ng fetus na nasa tiyan, marami naman na malapit lang.

Pero hindi nagpaawat ang mga kasambahay. Sa tuwing pahirapan ako sa pagtulog, lagi nilang sasambitin, "Sige ka, makikita mo yung aswang na nanlilisik ang mata sa bintana."


5.  "Hahabulin ka ng tsinelas"


Ako ay naniniwala na habang dumarami ang mga BPO at Call Centers sa bansa ay higit na nagiging "westernized" ang ating values. Sa halip na palo ang abot ng mga bata, grounded ito kapag gumawa ng kasalanan. At dahil busy rin ang mga magulang sa pagtratrabaho, madalas ay ang kasambahay naiiwan para magbantay ng mga anak.

Hindi ganito ang buhay noon. Kung makulit ay may palo sa puwet. Kung pasaway at nabagok ang ulo o natanggalan ng ngipin, sinturon ang katapat. Kapag nawala ng ilang oras at hindi mahanap, (kasi nangapitbahay na) sa sinturon rin ang uwi ng bata. Kapag mababa ang grades sa school kakalaro sa labas, ang sinturon rin ang magiging kalaro mo.

Tingin ko naman na hindi pa mawawala ang palo bilang paraang ng pagpaparusa, pero naman, kung Havaianas lang ang gagamitin, please, kamay na lang.

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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MTV Generation

There was a time when it was possible to watch MTV without the torture of having to see reality shows inserted between music video programs. These reality shows, with shallow and overused plots revolving around a bunch of kids and their teenage angst have been the staple of music channels for years. Blame the shift on generation taste. The kids-turned-adults who now tune in to other cable channels are the ones who never changed.

But things were different over a decade ago. Being denied access to technology and budget to produce expensive videos, directors were often forced to harness their creativity to make up for the shortfall. Artistically rendered music videos with sublime and hidden stories could trigger a discourse on pop culture among children. Good merits heavily depended on how the song made sense after its music video interpretation.

Before MTV, there was the Video Hits Parade on Channel 2. Mom and I used to watch the show to pass time on lazy weekends. When Skycable finally linked our television sets with the rest of the world, one of the first music videos I saw was Alanis Morisettes' Ironic. The video was plain and there was nothing much to see. It features Morisette on a roadtrip with her three clones playing as passengers. A pastiche of her other selves doing silly things while singing the song form most of the scenes. For an average kid today, the video would not even struck a chord. But for us back then it was a trendsetter.

Ironic would go down in history as one of the best music videos of 1996. The end product maybe a far cry from Lady Gaga's creations but then, it may have inspired dozens of artists including the Fame Monster to stick with their dream and become performers themselves in the future.

In following the footsteps of lady Beckham, here are my top five music videos.

December 2 Chapter VII
Taken By Cars

Literal meanings of the song may have been lost to interpretation, but the video did not. Behind the bubble gum symbolisms, a hooded fox chasing an androgynous girl, soft lights twinkling in the dark and a wailing lady singing at the background is a brooding suicidal theme centered around the inescapable despair of loneliness.

Final Distance
Utada Hikaru

The Japanese have always been masters of rendering scenes with surreal elements. Final Distance is a ballad dedicated to Rena Yamashita, a young girl who was brutally stabbed in a school rampage in Japan. To reflect what Utada have felt at the senseless killing, (the girl had previously mentioned that she wanted to become a song writer like Utada when she grows up) Hikaru created two limbo-like worlds in the music video where the main protagonist is coddled by grotesque figures but remain trapped in her own prison. Before the video end, the protagonist reunites with her other self setting off the camera to pan out and reveal that the worlds were actually a floating island drifting in space.

1979
Smashing Pumpkins

Gone is the age romanticized in this video. It follows a day in the life of three disaffected kids driving around in a Dodge Charger.

The music video is based on the concept of an idealized version of a teenage life, while also trying to capture the feeling of being bored as a teenager. The video struck me hard when I was in college. Somehow I understood the hidden message which was to enjoy the sights of life for one will never pass the same road again.

Billy Corgan once lamented "The video was the closest we've ever come to realizing everything we wanted" True to his words, we remember 1979 now as the Golden Age of Alternative music genre.

I Don't Want To Wait
Paula Cole

Paula Cole's music video depicts an immortal woman living through different times only to see her lovers cross the afterlife. Each period rolls into a new age when she runs around a room full of clocks. The fine gowns representing Elizabethan, Baroque and Pre-War periods capture one's imagination of timelessness. Her dance steps at the beginning (with Cole's arms flailing like the hands of time) mimics how things change while the protagonist remains the same. I used to spend an entire day tuned in to MTV just to see this video, but my efforts were all in vain. I Don't Want To Wait was the least aired in the music channel among my top five.

Here is Gone
Goo Goo Dolls

This video has produced a cult following. In my opinion, Here is Gone echoes 1979's concept of an idealized version of a teenage life. But the difference lies with how the coming of age took many forms and symbols here: the crawling caterpillar at the beginning turning into a moth at the song's closing, the time lapse shot of the sun as it journeys across the sky, a boy hurling a pebble hitting a road sign that says "end," a woman dancing on top of a broken car. For its rich imagery and feel good sound, Here is Gone stays as my favorite music video of all time.

Balearic

It has always been the habit before leaving the office building: Pulling the iPod out of the backpack, the ear phones get inserted in my ears. Fingers then run across the shuffle button, as the mind decides what genre to play before drifting in the streets. The office is two blocks away from the main road. It gets tiresome out there, specially when walking in the afternoon. Choosing what track to listen maybe the only thing that separates exhaustion from euphoria. I cannot cover vast distances without hearing any song.

These past few days, a new pattern emerges. There is a different road going to the gym, which I also get to trek from work. I play house music going there because the hike uphill serves as my cardio. However, when I'm cruising off towards the spot where jeepneys ply their route, I get to choose a different genre to play. Gone are the days when I would play Alternative or Indie throughout the journey for when I look towards the sky and see the azure monochrome stretching from horizon to horizon, the image of the sea fills my vision.

And I begin to chill.

The mood requires soft sounds and ethereal voices for the mind to relax. Suddenly, I am warped away from the urban landscape and I could almost feel the tides lapping under my feet. The sun may scorch the skin but it doesn't matter, the head wanders and the downtempo enables me to imagine a secluded place far away from the city.

So what sounds bring me to faraway places? It can be as varied as the hues in the sky before twilight. What matters is it triggers a good memory or projects a picture of serenity. Whatever that hums softly pleases my ears. It maybe a guitar strum, a vocal distortion or distant murmurs from a female singer.

Here are the five chill out music tracks that never fail to spellbind me with their eclectic sound.


5. Lali Puna

Alien Nation (Alias Remix)
Micronomic, Faking The Books


Do you, do you, do you know?
Is the truth you see left celluloid?
Is the truth you see left celluloid?


It must be the continuous clapping sounds, or the pounding bass dominating the barely audible female vocals. Except for the three lines sang above, the song doesn't have any lyrics. The words even appear irrelevant to the title itself. However the layer of contrasting electronic sounds, looped and brought together by the synthesizer create a melody so industrial, one would never think this song belongs to the genre. What makes the difference is the dreamy, monotonous vocals that lull the ears despite the noise. Alien Nation, Alias Remix is one of my most hard-to-find mp3s and it lands at the fifth spot among my favorites in the Chill-Out category.



4. Cellar 55

With or Without You
The Chillout Project: Sisters of the Sun


Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you.


One of the strengths of ambient music is its ability to project a scene of absolute tranquility. That is why some people call the sub-genre Sunset Music. Cellar 55 considers itself expert in this category. The airy vocals provided by the female singer was able to altercate U2's classic to make it sound more airy than the original. The pitch and tempo were altered to a slower arrangement to create a laid back atmosphere. The Mridangam (Indian Drums) renders an almost hypnotic beat, a listener may find himself entranced if the track is played on full volume.


3. Bliss

Kissing
Quiet Letters


On a journey of the heart,
there's so much to see.
And when the sky is dark,
you'll be right here,
right here with me.


Now its becoming clear. Chill-out music is fast evolving. They are beginning to incorporate eastern schools of music, that the fusion it create suits the relaxing scene it likes to paint. Ambient - is almost always - sung by a female vocalist. It is in the vaporous melody of words that bliss is achieved. Whenever I play this track, the image of parting clouds after a brief drizzle conjures in my head. I see visions of bluish-grey sky giving up the of last rays of sunlight. I could feel the moist ground and its evergreen surroundings; the cool, almost chilly wind brushing my skin in my imagination.

This song was played in the Sex and the City movie.


2. Jose Gonzales

Heartbeats
Veneer, Chillout Sessions 9


Both under influence
We had divine scent
To know what to say
Mind is a razor blade


It's been years since I last went to the beach and even eons since the last time I wallowed in its waters, or felt its sands on the palm of my hands. But whenever I play this track, its like I never lost sight of the shore. Jose Gonzales' acoustic cover far exceeds the original performed by the New Wave band Knife. Why? The secret lies in his masterful guitar performance. I don't know much about strums or guitars but the gentle brush of his fingers over the strings fret a soothing tune so infectious, it is one of the reasons I would love to learn to play the guitar someday.


1. Chicane feat Tracy Ackerman

No Ordinary Morning
Behind the Sun


You could give a million reasons
Change the world and change the tides
Could not give me the secrets
Of your heart and of your mind
In the darkness that surrounds me
Now there is no peace of mind
Your careless words undo me
Leave the thought of us behind


There are no words to describe this classic, except for bittersweet partings the song conveys. It is a song of utter loneliness for things that may never happen again. I first heard of this track almost a decade ago and true to its immortality, no artist has ever dared alter its musical arrangement. For it is an anthem by itself. I've read accounts of people becoming teary-eyed after playing this song, and true to its power, it still leaves me empty when I play it on early mornings to stir good memories. I claim this song as my favorite and I look forward that someday, I'd play No Ordinary Morning on my computer, just before sunrise and by that time, the person beside me is not someone I've met for a one-night stand but a lover who knows the song and would stay with me, hopefully, not just for one unforgettable daybreak.

The Chickboy Strain

Anim kaming lalaki sa barkada. Ang una ay pumanaw na ngunit nag-iwan ito ng biyuda at isang anak na lalaki. Ang pangalawa ay sinamahan ko manligaw sa isang ka-trabaho three years ago. Ngayon ay engaged na sila at sa December ang kasal. Ang ikatlo ay napabalitang nagkaroon ng affair sa isang may asawa. Alam naming tsismis lang ang lahat. Ang ikaapat ang tinagurian naming perfect bachelor. Palibhasa'y tall, dark and handsome at maganda ang propesyon kaya madaling nakaka-hook up ng mga babae. Ang ikalima ay hindi pa nagkakaroon ng girlfriend simula pagkabata. Marami ang naghihinala na isa siyang tagong bading. Ang ikaanim ang opisyal na bading sa grupo. Ngunit dahil tigasin itong kumilos, paniwala ng barkada ay confused lang ito.

Kung alam lang nila ang buong katotohanan.

Minsan ay napadalaw sa bahay si pangalawa upang hiramin ang college album ng barkada. Kasama niya si fiancée at mukhang galing sa date ang dalawa. Napag-usapan si ex-girlfriend at ang bulung-bulungang closeness naming dalawa. Sabi ko ay pawang harutan lang yun. Alam naman niyang hindi ako straight. Kung malalim man ang pinagsamahan namin, iyon ay dahil higit sa pagiging girlfriend ay naging magbestfriend kami. Ang pag-ibig ay nadevelop hindi dahil sa physical attraction kundi dahil sa companionship na inoffer namin sa isa't-isa.

Napunta ang usapan sa isang katropa na kahit kailan ay hindi nagkaroon ng girlfriend. Palibhasa'y masyado itong "soft-spoken" kaya hinala ng lahat ay nagtatago ito sa closet. Hindi rin nakatulong ang kanyang pagiging movie buff at pagiging madikitin sa mga babae. Sablay rin ito sa diskarteng panliligaw. Napabalitang binigyan ito ng blind date noon ng isa naming kaibigan. Subalit dahil walang maikuwentong may sense ang binata, nagtinginan lang sa dinner table ang dalawa.

Ipinaliwanag ko kay ikalawa ang kahinaan ni ikalima. Una sa lahat, naghahanap ang babae ng security sa company ng isang lalaki. Mabigo ang lalaki sa pagbibigay nito at tiyak na matu turn-off ang babae. Sumang-ayon sa akin ang kanyang fiancée. Sa kaso ni ikalima na horizontally at vertically challenged, ang kanyang pagiging soft-spoken ang ultimate give-away para siya i-bully ng ibang lalaki.

Malaking factor rin ang pagiging gentleman.

Nasa second year college ako noon nang may naging kaibigan isang magandang babe sa aming section. Palibhasa'y walang kamuwang-muwang sa takbo ng isip ng mga babae kaya't binigyan niya ako ng pointers kung paano maging gentleman. Dapat daw ay laging nasa danger side ng kalye ang lalaki kapag may kasamang itong babae. Never daw hinahayaang umuwi mag-isa ng bahay ang babae lalo na't malalim na ang gabi. Sa pagsakay sa sasakyan, laging pinapauna ang babae. Ito ay para sakali mang umandar ang jeep o bus o kotse ay may sasalo sa babaeng maaksidente. Marami pa siyang naituro sa akin, na ngayon ay bahagi na ng pagkatao ko. Sayang nga lamang at hindi sila nagtagal ng mga katropa kong kanyang pinalakad sa akin.

Gaya ng mga lalaki, ang mga babae ay may libog rin sa katawan. Its human to be sexual. Subalit ang mga tao ay may kanya-kanyang values. Iba't ibang approaches ang kailangan upang madiskubre ang kahinaang tinatago ng bawat isa. I for one is a natural flirt. Sanay ang dila ko sa bolahan. Sabi ng ex-girlfriend ko, kung babae lang daw ako ay tiyak sangkatutak na ang naging boyfriends ko. Mabuti't hindi nagkatotoo ang kanyang pangitain. Sa aking huling bilang, tatlo pa rin ang naging karelasyon ko.

Going back to the topic, the best pa rin kung may kasamang alcohol ang pambobola. Mahilig akong mag-shower ng complements, lalo na kapag medyo sexy ang damit na suot ng tsik. (kahit mataba pa ito) Women are vain when it comes to their looks. Sobra! Sabihan mo ang isang chick na sexy kahit may baby fats ito sa katawan at tiyak ikaw na ang bestfriend niya.

Kailangang may kasamang attitude ang pagiging flirtatious. Seductive ka nga pero kung hindi mo naman kayang dalhin ang iyong sarili ay parang wala rin. Girls love to win, at kung secure ka sa pagkalalaki mo, you let them have the wheel. Never akong nagduda sa diskarte ng babae. Kasi, at the end of the day, kung talagang kilala mo ang sarili mo at confident ka sa mga kilos mo, sa iyo pa rin hihingi ng affirmation ang babaeng biniyayaan mo ng kapangyarihan.

Lastly, gaano man kabarumbado ang isang lalaki, hindi ito magkakaroon ng soft spot sa mga babae kung wala itong sensitive side. Ano ang mapapala ng kaalaman mo sa comics or sa video games o kaya sa mga cartoons at gadgets kung hindi mo kayang intindihin ang needs for affection ng chick na kasa-kasama mo? I guess one reason bakit bentang-benta ako sa mga single na mga nanay ay dahil mas pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ang kanilang mga panganay. Sayang nga eh, sana ako na lang yung naging tatay. Sensitivity and aggression go side by side in getting a woman's attention. They wanted to be treated equals yet they deserve to be protected in ways only a man can provide. Siguro, kaya successful sa relationship yung tropa ko na engaged na ay dahil despite his chauvinistic leanings when we were young, he eventually earned not to underestimate his girlfriend.

It's sad that I know these things, and can easily beat a straight guy when it comes to winning a chick. Kaso, dumating sa point na kinailangan ko na rin ang security at companionship ng mas nakakalalaki sa akin kaya hayun, nakikikumpitensya na rin ako sa mga babae.

Hindi ko alam kung may mga babae na nagbabasa ng blog ko, but this is how I believe women think. Maaring ito ay totoo. Maari rin naman na hindi. Pero kung may isang bagay na napakahalaga pagdating sa love, what matters really is how you understand and accept the person you vow to stay for life.

Yun ang essence ng isang relationship.