everything but the girl

Found this cd in a record bar:

Her unique sound (and looks… how can I not notice?!) is worth every peso.

After almost 3 yrs of waiting for a worth-watching artist to visit Manila, I got very excited to know that Babyface will be performing live in Araneta Coliseum on Onctober 13!

This article is specially dedicated for my bestfriend who is, (1) celebrating his ??th birthday today and (2) for pushing me to write this article.

10.  Aegis, April Boy Regino, Renz Verano and the likes.

9. Victor Wood, Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, Didith Reyes, Claire Dela Fuente and other jukebox kings and queens.

8. Jon Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, KISS  and Marilyn Manson (their music just doesn’t fit my taste!)

7. Rivermaya (with Rico Blanco as the lead vocalist), Cueshe, The Dawn, Orange and Lemons, Freestyle and other local bands who obviously imitate foreign band’s style and sounds.

6. Rachel Ann Go, Sheryn Regis, Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, the rest of “The Champions” and other products of some local singing contests; Toni Gonzaga and other ASAP opening teen acts (eeeeww!).

5. Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Vhong Navarro, Manny Pacquiao and other sponsored-just-to-make-money-even-though-it’s-damn-evident-that-they-don’t-possess-singing-capability artist.

4. Air Supply, ABBA, The Eagles (not even ‘Hotel California’), Debbie Gibson, The Cranberries, Michael Learns to Rock (I love their era’s but I just don’t LIKE them!)

3. Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan (Spare me from “pa-cute” rock singers (daw)!)

2. Nina (haaayyyy…)

and…

1. MYMP (my apologies to the group’s fanatics, I just don’t like that girl’s voice and the idea of all-revive album sung by someone (or a group, for this case) who hasn’t proved any sensible hit songs yet!)

It is a common knowledge that these two female singers are actually cousins. But this article isn’t about their history or family tree.  Just got myself CDs of them!  I really love Dionne Warwick’s Friends In Love (duet with Johnny Mathis) and Whitney Houston’s Where You Are.  A truly great listening experience. 

Have been trying to search for the lyrics of this song ever since I heard it on the radio and since the lyrics is not available, I decided to write down the words while playing the track.  And after all the patience and effort, plus a little help from my friend, Dennis, here is what I got…

Note: Email me if you have corrections.  Thanks –ebtg0104

sittin’ here wonderin’ sugar if you ever come
you know i need your lovin’
honey don’t play dumb
but to tease me with your love would be mean and cruel
coz there’s a space inside me only you consume

you know you take me higher
girl and that’s no lie
whatever you’ll say im willing to try
but to tease me with your love would be mean and cruel
coz there’s a space inside me only you consume

*
you got me under your spell
round and roundin’ your world
say you will be my girl?
you got me under your spell
round and roundin’ your world
say you will be my girl?

we’ve been together sugar for so very long
i like to try and keep our lovin’ strong
but to tease me with your love would be mean and cruel
coz there’s a space inside me only you consume

*

(Spell..)
when you’re really make it good to me…
(Spell..)
when im seeing things that i dont see…
(Spell..)
when i can feel your love so deep…
(Spell..)
when my heart to some sense skips a beat…
(Spell..)

*

       From an amazing “graphical” opening performance from Gorillaz and Madonna (the Queen of Reinvention never lost her touch!) to the all-star jamming at the end of the show, Grammy Awards is indeed music’s biggest and brightest night, not only for the artists, songwriters and producers alone, but also for all the fanatics who have been very enthusiastic in watching this 3-hr event on TV!!! 
       I have seen a lot of Grammy shows before but I think, this year’s turned out to be different from the others.  There have been a lot of surprising performances; only the “main” awards were shown; it was Paul McCartney’s first time (ever) on Grammy; and (the best part) no “next-performances-from-(artist’s name)” announcements from voice-over before a commercial break!  Loads of changes, still worth your time.  
       I enjoyed most of the guests’s presentation such as Madonna’s, Mariah Carey’s and Paul McCartney’s (both his solo and the one with Jay-Z and Linkin Park singing “Yesterday”!), EXCEPT the Country ones.  At the end, it was U2 who was the biggest winner.  
        The Grammy’s is something a music buff would always look forward to!
        With this, here is the complete list of the winners.  ‘Til next year!

Everyone is very much aware that a lot of singers, especially the local ones, have been coming out with albums of remakes.  To name some, Side A, MYMP, Piolo Pascual (ang lakas ng loob kumanta!), and of course, my blog’s ‘favorite’, NINA (clap! clap! clap!).  Some gave justice to their choices of songs but most did not!!! 
Pero nakakapanggigil lang talaga, kasi most of the songs na napipili nila, eh yun ung mga kanta na talagang personal favorites ko – mga oldies na magaganda talaga! … Tapos, maririnig ko na lang na may ibang version na sa radyo …tapos, AMPAPANGET pa ng mga rendition nila …madalas corny or parang joke lang talaga …Halatang mga walang magawa sa buhay …basta kumita lang, walang hiya-hiya …
For instance …
Love Moves (In Mysterious Ways) – unang kong narinig ung revival nito sa channel 2.  Sobrang favorite ko ‘to bago ko narinig yung remake, pero ngayon, nakakahiya nang pakinggan ‘to baka sabihin pa sayo, tagahanga ka nung aleng nag-revive!…eeeww!..jologs!!!
Piano in the Dark – sya pa din ‘to….grrrrr!!!…haaay…!!!
Through the Fire – kainis talaga si NINA!!!
I’m Never Gonna Give You Up — Ka-duet ni NINA dito si Joe Pizzulo …Sayang ang concert ni Pizzulo(back to back with Teri Desario, guest pala siya!!!) …Pampasira talaga!!!

…At marami pang iba …

May bago pang maglalabas ng album na puro remake …si …L.A. Lopez …I mean, si Jimmy Bondoc!!! …Isa pa ‘tong nakakapang-init ng ulo kasi kasama sa mga kakawawain nyang mga kanta ay ang ‘Two Solitudes’ (originally by Level42)!!! …
Aba’y, magtira naman kayo ng mga kantang maganda!!! …Sinisira nyo lahat eh!!! ….
Okay lang sana kung 1, 2 or 3 lang sa isang album, pero isang buong CD na puro remake??? …di kaya garapal na yun?!! …
Kung di nyo kayang mag-compose na mga sariling kanta nyo, magtinda na lang kayo ng lobo!!!
Haaay …magsama-sama kayong lahat na mga lang ka-wenta-wenta!!!

I may have the biggest disappointment to some so-called artists who released a bunch of revivals but I have to admit there are remakes that are soothing to my ears and just pleasurable to listen to.  Here are some, in no particular order:

[Song Title - Artist (Remake) - Original Artist]

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Patti Austin - The Platters
   Austin gave it a jazz flavor which I think is really good.

Baby, I Love Your Way - Big Mountain - Peter Frampton
   Off the ‘Reality Bites’ soundtrack, the artist offered a reggae rendition of the song.

All songs in ‘I Am Sam’ soundtrack - Various Artists - The Beatles
   Really good set of songs for a really good film.

I Can’t Make You Love Me - George Michael - Bonnie Raitt
   With all the piano sounds, this one is one of my George Michael favorites. (Hi to my good friend, Ayin, who loves this song!)

I’d Still Say Yes - The Braxtons - Klymaxx
   A soulful version of the track.

Someone to Watch Over Me - Sting - Recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1943
   With a hundred more covers of this one, Sting’s distinctive interpretaion is my pick.

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling - Hall & Oates - The Righteous Brothers
   Another song with a lots of renditions, the duo did a good job on this one.

Georgy Porgy - Eric Benet ft. Faith Evans - Toto
   Their collaboration gave us a cool and laid-back adaptation of the song.

Waiting in Vain - Annie Lennox - Bob Marley
   I am not really an Annie Lennox (or even Eurythmics) fan, but this one rocks.

All songs in NINA Live! Album - Nina - Various Artists
   Eeeeeewwwww!Y.U.C.K.

I have always loved the song ‘The Key To You’ but I never imagined that this 5-minute-running song has only 12 lines of lyrics.  Created by jazz legend, David Benoit, I have obtained the song’s lyrics thru typing-while-playing manner because I went through all possible lyrics-providing web pages but still I wasn’t able to find the words for this.  The music is very good, very relaxing.  With equally-talented David Pack on vocals, here’s the complete and the only words you can hear:

Good things will come your way

You’ll find a brighter day.

All that I can be

All I want to do

Is be the one inside the world

When he finds the key to you

All the promises

Never quite came true

Found the way to live again

When I found the key to you…

When I found the key to you…