Grammy Salute to Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life

I just watched yesterday my PVR copy of the live Grammy show in tribute to Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life.  That was a really nice program, I hadn't expected it.  Love all the songs and paid attention to the performances most of the time, unlike with the performances in the Grammys itself.  Lol.

I wonder if an album was released of this Grammy salute show itself with the songs and artists involved 'cause I think I'd rather buy that album than the original so at least it sounds more updated.

Bye iPod Classic and Hello iTunes v11.4

Before the iPhone, there was the iPod Classic.  Now that iPhone 6 is released, Apple has discontinued the iPod Classic. =(

I love my iPod Classic 5th generation, with 80gb.  It's both a music and video player, a portable file back up device, and back then at least, photos straight from a camera can be backed up to the device as well!  I didn't have to bring a laptop to back up photos or find a place to back up the photos to a CD/DVD what have you when on the road travelling.  Gosh.

It's simpler to use than iTunes and I don't have to have to buy music from iTunes to play my collection.  That music player didn't have to be combined with a multimedia and communications device such as an iPhone.  There are just lots of occasions when I'd rather use my music player independently of the one in my smartphone.  I've even brought my iPod on a trek in the Himalayas.  I imagine an iPhone would be rather less useful to me up on the boondocks and past the clouds, don't you think?  And I was able to take my iPod with me running.  I can't imagine carrying a "taller"/bigger and more slippery iPhone in place of the iPod so I can have music on one ear while running.  *sighs*

Anyway, I just updated my iTunes program on my Macbook to v11.4, and now Apple wants me to sign in with my Apple ID before I can play music from "radio" in iTunes.  Gah.  Thank goodness for TuneIn radio.  I don't like the idea of having to sign in to listen to radio on the Internet.  Like what does Apple care that I have to sign in with my Apple ID before the radio feature on iTunes can be useful?  Geez.  Gathering data on me? *frowns*

I've never used nor created an iTunes/Apple ID account before this, though I've been a Mac OS X user since 2005, back when Mac laptops didn't yet run on Intel chips, but rather on Motorola ones (I believe).

Sorry I kind of digressed.  I was just annoyed by this iTunes radio Apple ID sign in bit.

So back to the iPod, this means I might have to shop around sooner or later for an alternative.  *sighs*  Thanks Apple!  Really! (smiley rolls eyes).  Sony's looks promising.  Or I'll just stick with an iPhone.  Not very happy about this at all!  Gah.  My iPod's still in good shape.  I wonder when its battery will finally die.

Lord of War

Just finished watching Lord of War starring Nicholas Cage.  I thought it'd be an action-packed film but turns out it was even better than I had expected.

I never knew of this film 'til I saw it this past week or so on the TV guide list (Bravo channel) on my HD TV service and decided to have it recorded by the PVR.

Anyway the opening sequence alone was pretty nicely done.  I also liked the montage at the end.  Both are stunning.  I find this film is a deceptively intelligent and creative delivery of a simple but relevant story and this is what makes this film rather brilliant.  It's quite a satire.  And the fact that Nicholas Cage's character Yuri was in his business suit the whole time even when in the desert dealing arms is quite an effective tool to emphasize just what he is relative to the whole story.  It's kinda genius.  hehe.

Kudos to the writer/director Andrew Niccol.  And it's only after I watched Lord of War that I learned that it's the same director behind one of my favorite movies -- Gattaca.  Geez.  lol.

I love the soundtrack/score too. Gosh. Especially the choice of song for the end/credits -- Warlord by Antonio Pinto.   See/hear youtube link below.  I like the sound especially by 1:28 and how it was used in the end credits.  *shakes head*

British TV Series

I like the music for the opening titles for the British TV series Garrow's Law. Actually I like the show, too; and its cinematography, especially.

I watched/currently watch the following British TV series:

• Downton Abbey
• Spooks or MI5
• Case Histories
• Garrow's Law
• Lark Rise to Candleford

The next British TV series on my to-watch list:

• the current season of Downton Abbey
• Parade's End
• Strike Back
• The Hunted

Planet Earth

One of those things on my wishlist... DVD or if I had Blu-Ray, a copy of BBC's Planet Earth. hehe.

Anyhoo, I know I've blogged this video before with music by Sigur Ros. I'm just gonna blog it again. :P I love this video. It's among the best and most emotive ones I've seen, and heard. Hope you like it too. Such great visuals. Beautiful. Sigur Ros's song Hoppilolla just slams it home more.

Great Intro

My gosh. I watched this film two nights ago and am so glad I did, if only for this opening/intro alone.




That's amazing cinematography, to the tune of Beethoven's music too. Pretty cool.

The movie itself I liked too. Production design, the cute kid.. so funny really. I wonder if Lee Pace never laughed while doing scenes with her. She's sooo cute!! Sometimes seems like she just said her lines candidly. lol.

Where Is My Mind

Beautiful cover of the song Where is My Mind.

Oh, stop
With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse

But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind
Where is my mind

Where is my mind
Way out in the water
See it swimmin'
I was swimmin' in the Caribbean

Animals were hiding behind the rock
Except the little fish
But they told me, he swears
Tryin' to talk to me koi koy

Where is my mind
Where is my mind
Where is my mind
Way out in the water

See it swimmin'
With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse

If there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind
Where is my mind

Where is my mind
Way out in the water
See it swimmin'
Oh

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Oh
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Oh
Oh

Sail Away

I listened to this song more than 10 years ago, became one of my favorites and have it in my collection.  I listened to it again today and it's still as great as ever.  Gah!




David Gray and Adele make really sad or emotive music. But I like them just the same. Lol.  In fact I think David Gray's Greatest Hits CD is also perfect while on a long drive or road trip.

How to Train Your Dragon...and then Some

*Sigh*   Would have been really great to have attended this were it at my own backyard so to speak.  Such a talented person, how do they get this ability?  Composing music is abstract to me..  Makes one wish to have an exceptional and distinctive talent of one's own.  Lol.  And if there's one reason I'd visit London, it's to watch and listen to the Royal Philaharmonic Orchestra perform in their turf if anyplace else isn't possible.

Below is someone's youtube post of music composer John Powell conducting the Royal Philharmonic with selected music of his creation for the animated film How to Train Your Dragon.

From 03:25 is my favorite. Amazing!  Argh get me out of here.  Lol!  Makes me wish too that this was officially recorded with professional camera work, with nearer shots of the composer and orchestra performing.  There's a part 1 to the video as well in youtube.

It might be illegal to post it so just as the original poster was advised to do, I am giving credit where credit is due:  The concert was for charity, Concert for CARE at the Royal Albert Hall.  By CARE International:  If you enjoy this video, we kindly ask you to make a donation to CARE International. The idea of the concert was to raise money for the charity and all the composers gave a huge amount of time to help support us.  Please contribute by donating online here: http://bit.ly/cs3cw6

I came across the above video after some online research on the soundtrack to the movie How to Train Your Dragon.  I just finished watching it tonight.  Gosh!  It's among my favorites now.  Beats Avatar, or even Toy Story 1, 2, or 3 I must say on the movie enjoyment scale.  Lol.  Too bad I didn't get to see it on IMAX.

And below is my favorite track in the film: Forbidden Friendship.  It's the song that made me look for the sountrack initially, until I couldn't help but notice that the rest of the music in the film are quite outstanding as well while watching it.  Incredible.  hehe!  Seeing the film makes me wanna have my own cute dragon.  haha!

I also liked that they used Scottish actors/accents for some of the main characters.  Despite the incongruity of it with the story supposedly about a Viking community, the accents were effective, the words very clear.  One of them sounded so familiar, turns out it was the Spartan Leonidas (300's Gerard Butler) doing the voice for the Viking leader.

At certain angles, Toothless -- the protaganist's dragon (above) -- resembles Japanese animation characters like those in Pokemon/Pikachu.  Lol!  Cute.

I loved cinematographer Roger Deakins's work here too (especially the forest scenes, the aurora borealis, candle light cast on the characters, etc).  Lucky cast, crew and tech whizzes for having this film in their portfolio.  I'd be extremely proud if I were one of them.  hehe!

Anyway, now you know which movie and CD are newly added to my wish list.

Paris - No Woman No Cry...at the Arrondissement 18

Why do I like France/Paris...?  It's not so much the monuments, or the food, but rather its richness and appreciation of arts and culture, and not just for the high art sort of culture... hehe.

I like listening to many different sorts of music, sometimes in different languages.  And Paris is a pretty good place to be for this.  Arts and culture appreciation is so inherent in them it's not uncommon to find it manifested quite more overtly in their urban landscape than in many other urban cities.

A lot of times, you can encounter talented or interesting artists and musicians performing on the streets, the metro, etc...like it's just another ordinary day,  like this guy Ben L'Oncle Soul singing in the Metro.  I was listening to an online French music station when I heard it play one of his songs -- Elle Me Dit.  And I was like, Wow.  Loved what I heard and now I have mp3s of his album.  I took a look in youtube today to know more about this artist and found this, probably one of his older performances.

Nice no? Effortless talent indeed, especially with his rather distinct voice.  You should view their accoustic cover of Acqua's Barbie Girl song.  Lol! Here's another show of talent from him:

Below are videos I recorded of some performances I encountered on the streets in Paris, taken with my old point and shoot camera's video feature:

This one was recorded on a footbridge along the Seine, at the arrondissement 4.  That was pretty cool too.

Music - Sublime Sigur Rós

My favorite band. And I think the world's best, too, at the moment. hehe! Most of their songs never fail to make me feel emotional -- happy or sad or a combination -- or inspired, and except for one song they don't even have English lyrics. Gah!

My favorite album of theirs: Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. Don't worry, I couldn't read it either. Lol! It means "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly".

I especially like the following tracks:

• Við spilum endalaust 
• Starálfur
• Hoppipolla - performed in the video above
• Festival - happy inspiring music; used in the Danny Boyle film 127 Hours
• Ára bátur - the song that made me a fan.. lol.  My utter fave... and amazed to learn that according to the band's website, it's "the largest musical undertaking in the band's career, as it was recorded live in one take with the london sinfonietta and london oratory boys' choir, a total of 90 people playing at the same time"
• Með Suð Í Eyrum
• Fljótavik - really atmospheric
  
• Góðan Daginn 
• Untitled #8 (Popplagið)
• Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur - another happy song
• Illgresi - the most meaningful for me... hehe!

 And below is the same song as used by a trailer for the BBC's Planet Earth series.

*sigh* Thank you BBC. Lol! Makes one want to go run and buy a DVD/blu-ray of this BBC series. hehe! If there's one best reason to get blu-ray, it would be this production. Anyway, needless to say, I've copies of the above videos in my iPod, too. Hehe!

Music- Eddie Vedder - Long Road (Live Rendition)

...with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Reposting from youtube.

Check this youtube link to know more.

Music - Eddie Vedder - Long Road plus Better Days

My two current favorite songs...both by Eddie Vedder.  It's not always that you can find modern music that affects one so.  *sigh*  Reposting both from youtube.

Like one of the youtube comments stated, I heard Pearl Jam music back in university but have only now started to "really appreciate the artistic genius and sheer awesomeness of Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam".

Eddie Vedder certainly is an artist and poet.  Hehe!  Having Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborate on this version of The Long Road is a bonus too.  

I'm glad to have come across these two songs. Thanks to youtube and the film Eat, Pray, Love (a movie I was expecting to hate but ended up liking much after reading the book then seeing the film..) Lol.

The Long Road by Eddie Vedder (with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan)

And I wished for so long?

I cannot stay

Oh, the precious moments...

Cannot stay

It's not like wings have fallen...

I cannot stay

Without you something's missing...

I cannot stay



We all walk the long road

There's no need to say goodbye

All the friends and family

All the memories going round

Round, round, round...

I have wished for so long...

How I wish for you again



We all walk the long road

Cannot stay

There's no need to say goodbye

All the friends and family

All the memories going round

Round, round, round...



I have wished for so long ...

How I wish for you again

How I wished for so long...

How I wish for you today



Will I walk the long road? (3x)

Better Days

I feel part of the universe open up to meet me

My emotion so submerged, broken down to kneel in

Once listening, the voices they came

Had to somehow greet myself, read myself

Heard vibrations within my cells, in my cells

Singing, "Ah-la-ah-ah, ah-la-ah-ah"

My love is safe for the universe

See me now, I'm bursting

On one planet, so many turns

Different worlds

Singing, "Ah-la-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah"

(Spanish guitar solo)

Fill my heart with discipline

Put there for the teaching

In my head see clouds of stairs

Help me as I'm reaching

The future's paved with better days

Not running from something

I'm running towards the day

Wide awake

A whisper once quiet

Now rising to a scream

Right in me

I'm falling, free falling

Words calling me

Up off my knees

I'm soaring and, darling,

You'll be the one that I can need

Still be free

Our future's paved with better days 

Katy Perry - Firework (Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2010) Live

I don't know about you but I enjoyed watching this performance. That's Katy Perry performing her single Firework at the Victoria's Secret fashion show in New York last year. Great creative/art direction and production methinks.  Lighting design alone helped make things livelier, too.  This also makes one definitely agree that U.S. musical artists/performances oftentimes make for the best/most creative entertainment in music, too, in terms of wow/spectacle factor.

I first saw this particular segment only of the show on TV late last year. But I think I was more engaged with watching the dancers and the dance choreography. Fun song, cool choreography. Dancers kind of stole the scene somehow. Wanted to see more scenes of the dancers dancing to that music than of Katy Perry, actually. Lol! Though Katy Perry certainly gave a great performance as well. Hehe!

Enjoy!

Lol, I like This One

Heard this being played on FM radio on my way to work: Upuan by Gloc 9 featuring Jezelle.  It's pretty cool.. Lyrics aren't too senseless too, turns out.  It's got a socio-political message coming across pretty clearly.

Kayo po na naka upo
Subukan nyo namang tumayo
At baka matanaw
At baka matanaw ninyo
Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Tao po nandyan po ba kayo sa loob ng
Malaking bahay at malawak na bakuran
Mataas na pader pinapaligiran
At naka pilang mga mamahaling sasakyan
Mga bantay na laging bulong ng bulong
Wala namang kasal pero marami ang naka barong
Lumakas man ang ulan ay walang butas ang bubong
Mga plato’t kutsara na hindi kilala ang tutong
Ang kanin ay sing puti ng gatas na nasa kahon
At kahit na hindi pasko sa lamesa ay may hamon
Ang sarap sigurong manirahan sa bahay na ganyan
Sabi pa nila ay dito mo rin matatagpuan
Ang tao na nagmamay ari ng isang upuan
Na pag may pagkakataoy pinag aagawan
Kaya naman hindi nya pinakakawalan
Kung makikita ko lamang sya ay aking sisigawan ng

Kayo po na naka upo
Subukan nyo namang tumayo
At baka matanaw
At baka matanaw ninyo
Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Mawalang galang na po sa taong nakaupo
Alam nyo bang pantakal ng bigas namin ay di puno
Ang dingding ng bahay namin ay pinagtagpi tagping yero
Sa gabi ay sobrang init na tumutunaw ng yelo
Na di kayang bilhin upang ilagay sa inumin
Pinakulong tubig sa lumang takureng uling uling
Gamit ang panggatong na inanod lamang sa estero
Na nagsisilbing kusina sa umagay aming banyo
Ang aking inay na may kayamanang isang kaldero
Na nagagamit lang pag ang aking ama ay sumweldo
Pero kulang na kulang parin ulam na toyo’t asin
Ang singkwenta pesos sa maghapoy pagkakasyahin
Di ko alam kung talagang maramingharang
O mataas lang ang bakod o nagbubulag bulagan
Lamang po kayo kahit sa dami ng pera nyo
Walang doktor na makapagpapalinaw ng mata nyo
Kaya

Huwag kang masyadong halata
Bato bato sa langit
Ang tamaay huwag magalit
Bato bato bato sa langit
Ang tamaan ay
Huwag masyadong halata
Huwag kang masyadong halata

Music - Ysagani Ybarra and Bilog na Naman ang Buwan

Hmmm... Sometimes, I am thankful for youtube.com.  'Cause I get to come across 'real' local artists.  Meron pala sa 'Pinas non.  haha!  jk!  There was Levi Celerio and am sure some others I'm not aware of.  Anyway, one doesn't have to shout and sing in a shrill voice and be popular in the mainstream to be considered a music artist. 

This is Ysagani Ybarra.  He's the guy who originally made the music and lyrics to "Bilog na Naman ang Buwan".  I'd rather watch performances like this any day, over those shown on Sunday noontime shows on some commercial local TV channels.  The latter are really utterly boring, unoriginal, rubbish drivel.

 

And here's Ysagani singing his piece "Bilog na Naman ang Buwan".  I'd say he's quite an interesting folk artist.

Music - Tropical Depression

Fun and talented Filipino band...

Sometimes, there are just some original Tagalog songs and bands that stand out.  Tropical Depression happens to be one of them. 

Papa Dom fused this traditional-sounding Filipino song to a more modern folk tune. It's cool. It's good to know that there is a talented Philippine band that adheres to their cultural roots still.

DMB - You Nailed It

Cool song.  Great songwriter and music.  Glad I have the CD.  Hehe!

The Space Between lyrics
Songwriters: Matthews, David J; Ballard, Glen; 

You cannot quit me so quickly
Is no hope in you for me
No corner you could squeeze me
But I got all the time for you, love

The space between the tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The space between the wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain

But will I hold you again?

These fickle, fuddled words confuse me
Like, will it rain today?
Waste the hours with talking, talking
These twisted games we're playing

We're strange allies with warring hearts
What a wild-eyed beast you'll be
The space between the wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain

But will I hold you again?
Will I hold?

Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster
You know you went off like the Devil in a church
In the middle of a crowded room
All we can do, my love is hope we don't take this ship down

But the space between where you're smilin' high
Is where you'll find me if I get to go
The space between the bullets in our firefight
Is where I'll be hiding, waiting for you

The rain that falls splash in your heart
Ran like sadness down the window into your room
The space between our wicked lies
Is where we hope to keep safe from pain

Take my hand 'cause we're walking out of here
Oh, right out of here, love is all we need, dear

The space between what's wrong and right
Is where you'll find me hiding, waiting for you
The space between your heart and mine
Is the space we'll fill with time

The space between
The space between

These are Days

"Then you'll know how it was

meant to be.

See the signs and

know their meaning..."

I am not feeling well today. But things are looking up more these days. Some aspects might not be how I'd like it to be but certainly one area is going where I want it to go. Hehe! Therefore I might be saying "Au revoir" to some and "Bonjour, ça va?" to others soon. Some closed doors really open windows. Hehe!

And this song These are Days by 10,000 Maniacs keeps me on this upbeat state of being. ;) The song might be about a woman's sexuality and pregnancy, but I'm applying it to my happy days concept.  'Cause I know how it was meant to be. I see the signs, and I know their meaning.  It's true.  Lol!  These are days indeed!

Lyrics here:

These are the days

These are days you'll remember

Never before and never since, I promise

Will the whole world be warm as this

And as you feel it,

You'll know it's true

That you are blessed and lucky

It's true that you

Are touched by something

That will grow and bloom in you

These are days that you'll remember

When May is rushing over you

With desire to be part of the miracles

You see in every hour

You'll know it's true

That you are blessed and lucky

It's true that you are touched

By something that will grow and bloom in you

These are days

These are the days you might fill

With laughter until you break

These days you might feel

A shaft of light

Make its way across your face

And when you do

Then you'll know how it was meant to be

See the signs and know their meaning

It's true

Then you'll know how it was meant to be

Hear the signs and know they're speaking

To you, to you

Day Off

Today I woke up with my legs cramping one after the other. The hell! lol.

I think it's been more than a year since I last experienced waking up with a really really painful leg cramp. It's one of those least tolerable experiences ever! Gaaah! Hate it when it happens. So it was a shock this morning when it happened again after so long. And even after it went away, I can't stand or walk without still feeling pain from the strain of it. Which means I couldn't drive to work, and even if a driver brought me to the office, I'd be walking funny it's gonna be awkward. Add to that a tummy cramp too. I seem to cramp everywhere today. Had to take a sick leave from work 'cause of these. I guess these are being brought about by the onset of my monthly visitor then. Dang. Men have it got it easy. Grrr! :P

In the meantime, with these terribly inconvenient cramps, I'm just listening to some tracks by one of my fave music groups Groove Armada as I write this. The instrumental ones good for calm driving (totally need this when driving in Metro Manila! You need all the calm you can get.): Inside My Mind (Blue Skies), Lazy Moon, Paris, and Your Song (not the remix one) which has been my favorite Groove Armada track ever since I downloaded it about 10 years ago. Hihi! One has to chill when driving in Metro Manila. *sigh*

Another calming driving music: Les Nuits by Nightmares on Wax. Below is its video on youtube.com.

The setting of the video above reminds me of the railway station in Diemen, the Netherlands, where we parked our car after driving from Germany to the Netherlands, to take the train to the Amsterdam Centraal station for a weekend Amsterdam trip.  I won't be surprised if it indeed was shot there on location.

Anyway, gtg. Got an interesting call. Things seem to be going as planned too. :P Hope it's a good sign on the road to a celebration for my long term plans. *wink*