It's that day again! To Kenneth, Pong, Bobby, and Toy - Happy Band Day, guys! Rakenrol!!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
B.C. Does Smokey
I caught a snatch of American Idol the other night and they were having Motown Night. Guest artist was Motown's great bard, the legendary Smokey Robinson. I didn't pay much attention to what most of the contestants sang, but I did wish that somebody would do my fave Smokey song: Tracks Of My Tears.
Well, I got my wish.
I was pleasantly surprised when Adam Lambert (that kid with the emo-kid-cum-matinee-idol good looks and the impressively wide vocal range) went on to do a captivating rendition of "Tracks". Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar and appearing onstage looking like Michael Buble, Adam sang the song like his life literally depended on it. Good job, man!
Lambert's venture into doing "Tracks Of My Tears" made me miss the live version of the song done by the late-great Big Country during the 80's. So the sentimental ol' fool in me dug up the net, wishing and hoping that, somewhere, there's a video of the band's performance of the song.
Guess what? I got my wish again! (Jeez, maybe I should try wishing for something really big, like winning the lottery or something.)
With that, here's the video of Big Country's live take on "Tracks Of My Tears". Enjoy!
Well, I got my wish.
I was pleasantly surprised when Adam Lambert (that kid with the emo-kid-cum-matinee-idol good looks and the impressively wide vocal range) went on to do a captivating rendition of "Tracks". Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar and appearing onstage looking like Michael Buble, Adam sang the song like his life literally depended on it. Good job, man!
Lambert's venture into doing "Tracks Of My Tears" made me miss the live version of the song done by the late-great Big Country during the 80's. So the sentimental ol' fool in me dug up the net, wishing and hoping that, somewhere, there's a video of the band's performance of the song.
Guess what? I got my wish again! (Jeez, maybe I should try wishing for something really big, like winning the lottery or something.)
With that, here's the video of Big Country's live take on "Tracks Of My Tears". Enjoy!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Farewell, Francis
My first blog in months and it's about death! Is that what it'd really take to get my ass back in front of a keyboard?
Anyway, it's a sad day for the local entertainment industry here. Francis Magalona, rightfully acknowledged as the King (and Father) of Philippine Rap passed away yesterday (March 6, 2009) from a form of leukemia. He was young, only 44.
When I was younger, I wouldn't touch rap music with an insulated ten-foot pole. I was more into "rock purist" crap. So when FrancisM (the name with which he would establish himself in the local music scene - of course, later on, people would fondly refer to him as "Kiko", a local nickname for "Francis") came out with his ground-breaking hit song "Mga Kababayan Ko", I went all punk purist and scoffed at the mainstream for trying to sell rap to ME (I was such a self-centered creep in those days. I hope I'm not anymore!). But no one could really stop the landslide Francis started as an avalanche of rap artists with diverse styles started to storm the hole he single-handedly punched through the walls of mainstream music.
In retrospect, FrancisM making the mainstream acknowledge the legitimacy of rap/hiphop music as an art form turned out to be one of the most important kicks in the ass that the local music industry ever got. Because of Francis, rap/hiphop music became not only a legitimate genre here, it also became a legitimate scene. This just proves how big a musical visionary Francis was. Great job, bro.
Now that I'm a lot older (and hopefully, wiser), I have a better appreciation of rap music. I'm still not a fan; but I don't go around knocking rap music anymore. In fact, to a certain extent, I actually like rap music. It's not much different from my beloved punk in such that both musical styles fiercely adhere to the DIY ethos, which make them something like brothers.
So, in recognition of his incalculable contributions to the local music scene, I'd like to ask everyone to say a prayer for the eternal repose of the Philippines' one and only Master Rapper, Francis Magalona.
Peace!
Anyway, it's a sad day for the local entertainment industry here. Francis Magalona, rightfully acknowledged as the King (and Father) of Philippine Rap passed away yesterday (March 6, 2009) from a form of leukemia. He was young, only 44.
When I was younger, I wouldn't touch rap music with an insulated ten-foot pole. I was more into "rock purist" crap. So when FrancisM (the name with which he would establish himself in the local music scene - of course, later on, people would fondly refer to him as "Kiko", a local nickname for "Francis") came out with his ground-breaking hit song "Mga Kababayan Ko", I went all punk purist and scoffed at the mainstream for trying to sell rap to ME (I was such a self-centered creep in those days. I hope I'm not anymore!). But no one could really stop the landslide Francis started as an avalanche of rap artists with diverse styles started to storm the hole he single-handedly punched through the walls of mainstream music.
In retrospect, FrancisM making the mainstream acknowledge the legitimacy of rap/hiphop music as an art form turned out to be one of the most important kicks in the ass that the local music industry ever got. Because of Francis, rap/hiphop music became not only a legitimate genre here, it also became a legitimate scene. This just proves how big a musical visionary Francis was. Great job, bro.
Now that I'm a lot older (and hopefully, wiser), I have a better appreciation of rap music. I'm still not a fan; but I don't go around knocking rap music anymore. In fact, to a certain extent, I actually like rap music. It's not much different from my beloved punk in such that both musical styles fiercely adhere to the DIY ethos, which make them something like brothers.
So, in recognition of his incalculable contributions to the local music scene, I'd like to ask everyone to say a prayer for the eternal repose of the Philippines' one and only Master Rapper, Francis Magalona.
Peace!
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