"All The Love In The World" by The Corrs (2000)

The Corrs hit evokes memories of school prom

I was a high school sophomore when I first heard about The Corrs. My mother and my sister liked them, so I was curious to know more about the band that hails from the same country as U2, Boyzone, and Westlife.

Thanks to FM radio and music video CDs, I got to know about their music, their notable songs being "Breathless", "Irresistible", and "All The Love In The World" which was the soundtrack to the movie America's Sweethearts, starring starring Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, John Cusack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The movie to the song (Image from Wikipedia)

If I could go back time, I'd like to maul to death the people who picked and approved "All The Love In The World" as music for the prom dance when I was a high school junior. Though I didn't get to dance (because I refused to), I can't stand the blasphemy that took place. It's horrible to relieve the painful memory. It's something I'd like to forget... or rectify if I ever had the chance.

Why "All The Love In The World", and not anything from Disturbed, System Of A Down, or Linkin Park? Too bad the lord of the underworld did not bestow upon me the spirit of Jessica Priest when I needed it.

I'd like to push a bullet down the throat of one schoolmate who had the gall to complain about our meager food on our poor-looking table. You see, we had groupings in our prom, and I was grouped with fellow juniors and seniors who didn't dance - and yes, we were not moneyed enough to provide for ourselves a nice table and lots of good food, just a pitcher of juice and some bread. The other groups had a feast. And that schoolmate, he didn't even contribute.

Next year, I'd endure another horrible moment at the prom, this time I was forced to dance. I forgot the music, though, but it was the appropriate music for the dance, if you ask me. But what about the songs played as interval music for the affair? It wasn't screaming music.

I was glad I left before things can get mushy or embarrassing for me. I asked a cousin to hold my bag for me while I had something to eat. (How wicked of me!)

Later, I sneaked out and headed for home. I got away just in time to escape from embarrassment. Hours after arriving home, I watched music videos of Mel C (of the Spice Girls fame), Jennifer Lopez, Macy Gray, Mandy Moore, and yes, The Corrs.

Ban proms now

Those high school proms took place around the time when I was going through some sorts of problems and I was alone in facing them. Perhaps I can't still move on from those sad and painful moments, reason why I hate proms, but proms don't serve any purpose at all, just only to get people wear fancy clothes and spend a lot of money.

I pray for the day the government will ban proms, and if I have the resources to fight a war to implement the ban, I'd do it. But I have to watch the movie first.

"All The Small Things" by Blink-182 (2000)

Blink-182: legacy

A UK music poll once adjudged "All The Small Things" by Blink-182 as one of the best music videos of all times. Westlife's "Flying Without Wings" and the Backstreet Boys' "Everybody" also made it to the top ten. Back then, the songs were noteworthy, the videos were fantastic, and the artists were great. Not anymore.

The first time I heard Blink-182's pop punk magnum opus was way back in 2001, when part of the song was incorporated into the teaser of a local TV station's Sunday sitcom, Bitoy's World, top-billed by the talented Michael V and shown on GMA 7 every Sunday evening. Too bad it didn't make it to year 2002.

Bitoy's World. All roles performed by Michael V (Image from Retro Pilipinas blogspot)

But I remember the song. In 2003, my brother got hold of an FM station that played rock, R&B, and hip-hop tunes, and "All The Small Things" was included in rotation on the station's Sunday afternoon rock music program. It was also on this FM station that I first heard Evanescence, t.A.T.u., Matchbox Twenty, and Daniel Bedingfield. It was also on this station where I heard Linkin Park's "Somewhere I Belong", Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "The Voice Within", and Michelle Branch's "Breathe".

"All The Small Things" was etched in my consciousness. Maybe because the three-piece band parodied the popular music videos of that time: "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys, "Because of You" by 98 Degrees, "Sometimes" by Britney Spears, and "Genie in a Bottle" by Aguilera (who was a teen pop gal then).

Or maybe because the song was catchy and timeless. Well, timeless because no pop punk, metal and rock bands make it to today's music scene, and what we have now is an overdose of music that appeals to oversexed, club-hopping, and drunk teenagers and adults. Good Lord, if the devil can take them now and bring back to life Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Whitney Houston, and Amy Winehouse.

In the summer of 2005, I would fall for another Blink-182 hit, "Stay Together For The Kids". I stumbled upon the song on a local music video station, and next year, I would watch a live performance of the song, wherein the band got a pianist to perform with them.

Weeks ago, I read about one of the members being ousted from the band. So bad, so sad.

"All 'Bout The Money" by Meja (1998)

One song, many problems, no money

Until now, I still have money problems. Life is indeed all about the money. For some people, no money, no life. No money, no love, no respect. What a life!

I believe all of us did go through some money problems in life. We had seen our parents fight over money. We broke up with relatives and friends over money. We failed to take our exams because we didn't pay our school fees. We skipped meals. We were overdue on our rent. We cried.

Worse, we had to resort to crime to make ends meets. We stole from people, including our loved ones. We robbed students, old people, and even children. We even had to steal from the treasury. We renegaded on our promises of payments to people whom we owe money. We put on a thick face every time we had to face them. If we're lucky, they'd forget to collect and we'd forget to pay. We even hide from our creditors. We lied.

Some others committed suicide. This is life. 

Life is all about the money. What a life!

MTV Fantastic Females Vol. 1 (Image from http://www.cduniverse.com/)

Memories of 2003 high school prom

First heard Meja way back in 2003. I borrowed a MTV Fantastic Females 1999 CD from a cousin twice removed, played it that night, and I was blown right away with the song from Meja. Simple lyrics and edgy tune. It was my last song syndrome of February 2003.

Okay, that was days before I heard Evanescence and t.A.T.u. That time, we high school junior and seniors were busy preparing for the prom. Though I had a choice not to attend, I'd still end up paying for the affair, because no prom payment, no clearance. It was not fair. Too bad I can't do nothing that time.

The track is #4 in Meja's Seven Sisters, her second studio album released in 1998 (Image from http://eil.com/)

Fuck we had to dance to the tune of "All The Love In The World" by The Corrs. I love The Corrs, but I hate proms. I hate paying for that event. The money would be better used for music magazines and cassette tapes. But I forgot I had no money. I had to ask prom payment from my father and cassette tapes from my mother.

Too bad I have to live in a society where people look up to people based on material and financial wealth, not principles and ideologies. Money, not ideas, rule my society.

Life is all about the money. We do crazy thing for it. What a life!

"Senpuuki" by Nogizaka46 (2013)

For the music video, please click here.
For the English lyrics to the song, please click here.

About Nogizaka46

To date, this is the only "new" song featured here in this blog. So why am I writing about this song? What do I remember about the past that I am relating to this Japanese pop (Jpop) song?

But first, some introduction:

• Nogizaka46 was created as an "official rival" group to the world's biggest female group AKB48, which also has the same founder.
• Nogizaka46 debuted in 2012, the same year AKB48's "queen" "graduated", in other words, departed from the group.
• "Senpuuki" is Japanese for electric fan. The word sounds cute, right?

The keyword for this post is electric fan.

Member Saito Asuka "speaking" to an electric fan. She is the center of the "Senpuuki" music video

The past involving an electric fan or two

The ceiling fan was the kind of fan that I grew up with, as far as I can remember of my childhood. Every time I went to sleep or took a nap, I would stare at it, watched it turn its blades around. I used to have a fear that it would come off the ceiling and fall on me, either wounding me or killing me.

Ceiling fan

The time came when my family decided to own our own house. We moved to the province and stayed for a while at a house owned by one of my mother's relatives. My father thought about buying the house and its lot because he liked the idea of living closer to the beach.

The house had no ceiling fans, so a relative lent to us her standing fan. A standing fan? It was the first time I ever saw such type of fan. As someone who was accustomed to ceiling fans, I found the invention strange. I can't remember if we returned it to our relative after we bought our own electric fans and moved to a permanent home.

So at our permanent home, we moved on with life. We went to school, our parents took up some farming and fishing, and two years later, my mother went to the capital for work. Her employers sought her out, persuaded her to work for them again. She was allowed vacation. At times, she brought new electric fans home.

Standing electric fans

Electric costs: the suffering

Like every other family, we struggled with rising electric costs and broken electric fans. My father managed to fix them, so we would not have to pay a repairman or buy new ones. But we were powerless against rising electric costs.

I don't know but I seemed to be the most affected about electric costs than anyone in my family. The situation (or perhaps fear or worry) got hold of me, pushing me to make sacrifices. I was forced to forgo the electric fan. It wasn't easy at first for me to live life, sleep, or do things under the sweltering heat. I urged or appealed to my siblings to forgo the electric fan too, but they weren't ready to make such a sacrifice. My insistence led to quarrels.

Desk fan

I felt that my sacrifices would be for naught. We did see some decrease in the electric bill but my sacrifice weren't worth it, especially that my family did not support me much. But the best thing was that it helped me endure the heat, get along with the warm weather. I am now used to hot nights.

I am now used to life without electric fans. Family and friends would ask if I use one at my place. They even tell me to buy a portable fan, the types sold at stores that sell China-made goods. But why buy when I have a hand fan (the one given away by politicians during elections)?

Oh yeah, the portable fan. A classmate once donated a portable fan to my class as our classroom was the only one without an electric fan. Speaking of donations too, the parents of one schoolmate donated a big electric to their sons' class and even got a recognition for it at the closing and recognition program 13 years ago.

Think about everyday household items that bring back the memories.

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"Lucky" by Britney Spears (2000)

Catching up on the year 2000

The year 2000 was a year lost due to my lack of concern or awareness for a few things: Comic books, movies, and music. Thanks to the Internet (particularly Wikipedia and YouTube), money, and my almost photographic memory, I am slowly catching up on the year that I wasted.

Comic books I have. I have bought some Marvel titles of the 2000s from people who sold them at rock bottom prices. Movies, I have watched loads after my mother bought our family's very first VCD player.

Music, I have cassettes and MP3 files. These possessions make me feel better about my lack of both high school and college romance and experience hanging out with young people.

Late love for Britney Spears, pop princess

So let's talk about songs. One of the songs that defined my summer of 2002 was the song "Lucky" by Britney Spears off her record-breaking second album Oops!... I Did It Again, released in 2000.

"Lucky" single cover

One song leads to another, if you ask me. Listening to the album's title track (and thinking it to be a James Bond song) and a trip to my grandmother's place (before she passed away) lead me to "Lucky" in the time when pop music still reigned my consciousness.

In my life, 2002 was a Britney Spears year. I even recalled watching one of her concerts on the day before school started. I later bought two bootlegged cassettes and a CD, all blaring Britney Spears. "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" from her third album Britney (2002) was the hit that time but in my mind, it was "Lucky", "Stronger" and the title track of the second album, which is my most favorite Britney Spears album. In my mind, things was the year 2000, a year lost.

Screen capture from the music video

From Britney Spears, I then caught up on Westlife, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC. I later bought their respective 2000 albums (Coast to Coast, Black and Blue, and No Strings Attached), either original or bootlegged. I got my hand on a few music magazines from that year too. I would also gather clippings of 2000's music scene and years later, expand my knowledge with the help of the Internet. I took myself back to 2000.

In my book, 2000 was one of the best years in music. Too bad I wasted it. I was late for the experience. But better late than never.

"Boom" by P.O.D (2002)

Classmate's blunder led to P.O.D

I first learned about P.O.D by mistake. My classmate was supposed to record me NSYNC songs, but recorded songs of Linkin Park, System of a Down, P.O.D, The Calling, and other rock acts instead. But I wasn't angry. It gave me something to listen to other than pop songs. It helped open the door for me to listen to other genres.

"Boom" by P.O.D single cover

Christian or not?

At first, I thought P.O.D (Payable on Death) was a rock band just like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, System of a Down, Korn, Rage Against The Machine, Incubus, and Slipknot. It was years later I realized they were a Christian act, and they were very comfortable with the label Christian. They were so open about their Christianity, though certain people have doubts about their brand of Christian expression.

To their critics, what's Christian about touring with music acts that despise or mock Christianity? Hmm, I wonder how P.O.D managed to conduct themselves in the secular and sometimes anti-religious music scene. I learned of two rock musicians, one who left his band after converting to Christianity and formed his own (Christian) band and another one who isn't happy about a band mate who mocked his Catholic faith.

What about the R&B group Destiny's Child? Are they still Christian when donning sexy outfit while singing onstage?

The other artist I knew that time to be open about their Christianity was the Christian pop artist Stacie Orrico.

I wonder where would P.O.D position themselves in the same sex marriage debate.

The band. From left, Marcos Curiel, Wuv Bernardo, Sonny Sandoval, and Traa

P.O.D, a band worthy of a listen

I didn't listen much to P.O.D but they have great songs, one of which is the fun, explosive track you're watching right now - my favorite. It seemed that the guys did have some R&R after their regular worship and praise. Why, even Jesus and His disciples needed some rest after a hard day's work among the unbelieving people of their time.

2002 was indeed the year of both rap metal and alternative rock. They had their last glorious stand in the following year, upon the release of Linkin Park's Meteora and Evanescence's Fallen. Their popularity died in 2004, when emo and power pop emerged.

How I wish it was 2002 again.

Here comes the boom!

"Dirrty" by Christina Aguilera featuring Redman (2002)

Christina Aguilera: from sweet to dirrty

The year was 2002. I learned about Christina Aguilera after listening to one of her hits, titled "Come On Over (All I Want is You)". Weeks later, I bought a bootlegged cassette tape of her first album in what was the worst month of my year. Months later, I read about her controversial single and video "Dirrty" and how it spiked sex tourism in Thailand. Next year,my classmate bought me her Stripped album and invited me to his place to watch the controversial video.

"Dirrty" single cover

Man, talk about Christina Aguilera. Talk about memories. After watching her video "The Voice Within", I considered her to be one of the two whitest women in music (the other one was Michelle Branch).

I admit I did not get the best of Miss Aguilera because that time, I was so infatuated with Britney Spears. I missed Aguilera's transformation from teen pop star to sex symbol (due to the image she exhibited during the Stripped period). But it was a drastic or quick change of image, if you ask me.

Aguilera popularizing the "slut drop" dance move

Miss Spears expressed full adulthood and maturity after two albums, reason why I somewhat welcomed her persona after the release of her third album Britney. Well, I looked up to her first two albums to find support for Britney and later albums.

Xtina Aguilera's change of image a shock

About Miss Aguilera, I found just one album, few resources to find support for her drastic change in image. (I am not talking about her Spanish and Christmas albums that Aguilera released before Stripped). It was quick. She had not given her fans - fans of her bubblegum pop persona - enough content to enjoy the best of her. At least, she isn't fake, like Iggy Azalea, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and Arianna Grande. But I feared she had alienated her pop fans. Here, I recalled the pop rock band The Moffats.

The looks of Christina Aguilera

The change from something teen and innocent to something sexy and racy was necessary to jump-start her career. It was to give music fans something to talk about, and not just about Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Vanessa Carlton.

2002 was one of the best years in music, just three years to go before the music would die, and thugs and whores would take over music.

Anytime, I would pick Christina Aguilera over today's artists. She is way more talented than Iggy, Miley, Katy, Arianna, Taylor Swift, Nikki Minaj, and Beyonce combined.

"Uptown Girl" by Westlife (2000)

Westlife cover is LSS of summer 2001

One of the best summer singles ever (in my list) ranking alongside "Helena" by My Chemical Romance and "Cry" by Mandy Moore (I will blog about this song some other time). This song was really in my head in the summer of 2001 until August 2001, and living through the years ahead, I have never forgotten this song.

10 summers ago, my mother bought me a book about Westlife. The book contains interesting details about the band's beginnings up to the recording of their third magnum opus World Of Our Own. The lads were lucky to land famous supermodel Claudia Schiffer as their leading lady for the music video, and member Mark Feehily had a crush on her. And yes, ten summers ago too, he came out of the closet. Hats off to Mark, one of the gay artists that I truly respect.

Picture time. Westlife with German model Claudia Schiffer (image from Angelfire.com)

Cassette tape memories

I even borrowed the cassette single from a second degree cousin, who was lucky enough to own Millennium by the Backstreet Boys and The A List by A1. It will be a year before I bought a pre-loved Coast to Coast album from a former classmate. To date, I have two Westlife cassettes given to me by my mother, two preloved cassettes I bought from my classmates, and two bootlegged ones.

Years later another old classmate gave me a bootlegged CD of their 2005 album Face to Face.

Ignorance

Due to the lack of access to information (or was it ignorance or people not telling me what I should know), I thought this was a Westlife original. I was wrong. I learned it was a Billy Joel hit few years later. I was not surprised. Westlife did an amazing job with other artists' hits - they made other artists' songs theirs. If there are any artists that can cover original hits, Westlife can do better. The Irish pop vocal band is the king of covers.

Due to the mentioning of the word "backstreet guy", I thought Westlife was poking fun at the Backstreet Boys. I used to believe there was a sort of bitter rivalry between the two. How wrong I was! If I could still remember, Westlife thanked the Backstreet Boys in one of their albums.

Should you listen to "Uptown Girl", Westlife version?

You should. This is a great song. Take it from me.

Westlife is now gone but their memories remain. Their songs still get airplay and are still being sung in karaoke bars.

"Helena" by My Chemical Romance (2005)

Summer vacation led to "Helena"

How blessed I was 10 years ago! If it wasn't for my parents, I wouldn't have heard "Helena" (plus some songs I'm gonna feature here in some other time). Those were the good old times for all forms of rock music, both foreign and OPM (original Filipino music).

It was one hot May afternoon in the capital, where my mother used to work. I was there for vacation. Browsing channels while waiting to shut eye for siesta, I stumbled upon the music video of the song on a local channel that play music videos at lunch times. The video was already at half-way, and I tracked from the scene where the dead lady in the casket arose and danced down the nave. The part where the band carried the casket to the hearse in the pouring rain while being surrounded by dancers with umbrellas is for me, the best ending I've ever seen in a music video.

Days later, I watched the complete video at my aunt's house. Weeks later, a friend lent me his VCDs of alternative music videos.

The vocalist belting the tune for those crossing over into the afterlife

Getting hooked on emo, alternative rock

"Helena" made me feel comfortable listening to emo and alternative rock songs, though I had come across many emo and alternative tracks before that. But My Chemical Romance made the genres cool in my ears. The song influenced my creativity and helped molded my personality, though in a deeply personal and private way.

"Helena" was the soundtrack of my life in 2005, probably the best song that year. It was the song that defined 2005, one of the best years of my life. It was the most requested track during the Halloween, with listeners dedicating the song to their deceased loved ones.

"Helena" dances down the nave, meaning she's crossing over into the afterlife.

Good music no more

My Chemical Romance later released "Welcome to the Black Parade" in 2006 and "Famous Last Words" in 2007. Music acts release materials as they should do, but for me, the band did it to keep alternative music alive in the time when music glorifying sex, drugs, thuggery and bullshitness are getting more plays and publicity.

Today's music is not about musicianship anymore. It's about playing false, playing cute, playing a fool at bar parties and orgies, playing sexy, seductive and macho. Young listeners don't listen to quality songs anymore.

If only the good Lord will bring me back to the good old times.

"Until The Day I Die" by Story of the Year (2003)

Last hurrah for emo

As far as I can remember, music and bands like the one above thrived in 2003 up to early 2007. After then, we heard a lot of guys and gals who pose as musicians, but in fact are thugs and whores singing about sex, drugs, having good time and all that jazz. If we only can throw justin bieber, ariana grande, nicki minaj or iggy azalea off the building or boat...

Anyways...

When music is bad, we take the trip down memory lane on YouTube to relive memories of great music and great artists whose voice we no longer hear on the radio... because FM stations are going with the flow, the bad flow. Music used to be all about artistry. Now, it's all about gyrating, thuggery, showing off the boobs and shaking that booties. Ughhh!

The feelings and nostalgia every time we hear old songs. It makes us feel super old. Memory lanes flashing before us. We wish we could go back a little while. Timeless. Awesome.

Today's artists got nothing on the ones who used to hold the mic and play the instruments.

Old music = memories of old loves

What do I remember of the song "Until The Day I Die"? Or what do you remember?

Old loves? The one you swore to love until death? It's years now and you have already forgotten their names. It sucks that sometimes when we relive the past, we wish we could go back in time. We would have played it all way differently. We wish we would have sat back and not tried so hard. We could have moved on to the next person or else pursued a hobby or two.

We could have loved a different person. We would have done different things or done things differently.

It sucks to remember old music and past hurts at the same time. But music soothes the soul. Bad memories don't.

We heard. We had tried.

To my former objects of infatuation, I regretted having been infatuated over you.

"Summer Sunshine" by The Corrs (2004)

Memory of a great Irish folk rock band

I miss summer vacation, and I miss the songs that popped out many summers ago. I'm not talking about the singles of lady gaga or demi lovato.

I'm talking out this one, "Summer Sunshine" by the Irish band The Corrs. One talented lad plus three beautiful and equally talented ladies equal one great band, and they were gone. They make Irish / Celtic music sound cool. Like many artists of the yesteryears, they made good music...real music.

They are great musicians, them Corr siblings: Multi-talented, multi-instrumentalists, and good-looking too. They are one of the best music acts to come out of Ireland. The others include U2, Boyzone, Westlife and to some degree, B*Witched and Bellefire.

Back in high school, we played one of their popular songs for the prom dance. In the summer of 2004, "Summer Sunshine" came out, and a midnight music show played their songs almost every midnight for the whole summer. While going through this classic, I recalled a number of past songs. (They will be featured later in this blog.)

Too bad I hear less of The Corrs on the radio today. People now care about justin bieber, one direction, taylor swift, kanye west, nicky minaj, ariana grande, iggy azalea, etc. Even if these things combine, they would still end up less talented than The Corrs. Music is so relaxing back in the days, and it was all about music. But now... never mind.

Sorry, it's just another bout of generation gap. I have no right to criticize today's youth's choice of music. Blame it on the FM stations, blame it on the record shops and blame it on us elders who fail in our mission to spread good music.

But let today's youth know, music is all about music back in the days, not striptease and good looks.

"Papercut" by Linkin Park (2001)

Longing for the old Linkin Park

Too bad Linkin Park doesn't make music like this anymore, and we old fans are kept wanting for more nu metal or rap metal. We long for Chester Bennington shouting or screaming at the top of his lungs and Mike Shinoda blowing us away with his rap while the rest of the band play their instruments. We still long for the sound that's reminiscent of the songs in Hybrid Theory and Meteora.

"Papercut" single cover

The shift after Meteora

After the release of Meteora in 2003, the band began exploring other genres and experimenting with new sounds. The effort led to the release of their third studio album Minutes to Midnight in 2007. With the release of that record, they had deviated from the signature nu metal sound. More albums followed, with more alternative metal, electronic rock and rap rock, but no more nu metal. Mike still raps, though, like with their 2012 single "Burn It Down" and Chester still has his recognizable vocal.

With rock, particularly alternative rock and nu metal, not getting the sales and airplays they need nowadays, attention is getting scare for Linkin Park, though they still churn out albums and tour around with other bands.

The band doing their stuff

Linkin Park experience through people

First heard Linkin Park way back in 2002, when a classmate recorded "Papercut" and "In The End" instead of the NYSNC songs that I asked for. He even told me "Papercut" is an NSYNC song. After playing the song multiple times on the cassette player, I concluded NSYNC doesn't sound like that and realized my classmate lied to me, but I wasn't angry. I liked what I had heard, and I asked my classmate about the name of the band.

Months later, I bought a bootleg cassette of Hybrid Theory from another classmate and borrowed a VCD of music videos from another. Months later too, my mother sent me Meteora. I then started composing song lyrics and tried rapping too. Years later, I saw Megan Fox in Transformers.

But the nu metal sound is gone. As we should know, nothing is permanent but change. We need to adapt to change. Wherever Linkin Park goes, we go.

What's up with Limp Bizkit?

"Crush On You" by Aaron Carter (1997)

Aaron Carter, a memory of a kid phenom revisited

Before Justin Beiber, there was Aaron Carter. Before Bieber looked like a thug, Aaron looked more like a real popstar than that guy who sang "baby baby baby ohhh" multiple times on YouTube, something which musicians of the yesteryears don't have to get famous or land a record deal. Before Bieber acted arrogant and registered a diva-like attitude, Aaron faded into obscurity and figured into some troubles.

The young Aaron Carter, way back in 1997

Trappings of fame

Fame is such a cruel mistress, and for someone like Aaron who tasted it early on, it always has a dark side. Aaron cheated on his girlfriend in 2003, experienced emotional and spiritual issues (and entered a treatment facility in 2011), was sued in 2006 for allegedly reneging on a record deal, was arrested for overspeeding and marijuana possession in 2008, and filed for bankruptcy in 2013.

Aaron in 2000

Aaron Carter all the way

If I am to choose between Aaron and that dude from Canada, it's no contest. Aaron may run into troubles, but he was never thuggish and never exhibited a diva-like attitude to fame. He was all about music, entertainment and not thuggery and braggadocio. His music videos were far more wholesome, more viewer-friendly, never commanding the thuggish and arrogant vibe that's present in the videos belonging to that dude from Canada. Moreover, his music is more fun than today's so-called hits.

Aaron in 2002

Generation gap? Nah! Who would not hate that dude from Canada who goes around pissing people and creating public scandals? The dude is full of himself.

Aaron Carter may never have fans who will bleed and die for him. I believe his fans also feel sad about his demise, but I'm sure Aaron has never embarrassed his fans throughout his whole career. Anyway, he's back in the music scene, though not experiencing the same level of success he had many years ago.

Aaron in 2012

To the fans of that dude from Canada, forgive me. And if you're not angry, please listen to Aaron Carter. You'll be surprised to find out he's way cooler than your dude. You're not too young to ditch that ex of a former Disney Child star (whose song I will write about in some later time.)

Songs For Friday

We sing Friday

The two faces of Friday: One is one of the worst songs ever, while another one is a well-beloved rock classic. So Friday is balanced, huh?

If you are going to sing about a day of the week, Friday is the best. (Monday comes a close second.) If you ask me, Friday is the best day to remember about anything of the past.

Friday and weekend past

When we were still schoolchildren, we looked forward to Friday because next day is Saturday, no school and a whole day to play and horse around, unless teachers bombard us with lots of homework and parents assign us our chores - and there is no escaping them. But at some time of the weekend, we still have fun, right?

I look forward to Friday evenings when I was young. It was the night of Pokemon, Digimon, Super Laff-In, Beast Wars, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Hercules, Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog, Power Rangers, and numerous classic TV shows on ABS-CBN and GMA. Those were the times. That was my kind of Friday.

The weekend that followed is more interesting. More interesting TV shows, stress-free day-off for the young, and the house works too. And we did not have mobile gadgets, Internet, and coffee shops then.

That was then.

It was fun.

For the former college dudes and dudettes, Fridays mean dates or late-night parties after school. It also means going home for the weekends or travelling to a place unknown for some kinds of kicks.

Today's Fridays are complicated but laden with more opportunities for fun and socialization. Different eras have their own challenges and opportunities. We cannot return to the Fridays and weekends of our youth, but we can do to bring youthful energy and optimism in today's motion of free time.

Histories

If I'm not wrong, one of the worst earthquakes in mankind's history occurred on a Friday many years ago. Sunny Friday it was then after a week of heavy rain, and I had lettuce for lunch. For my upperclassmen, it was Junior-Senior (JS) prom time.

Speaking of JS prom, the first and last I attended in college was on a Friday too, this time not sunny, but gloomy and rainy. It was a night to remember and a night to forget too. I would later call for the abolition of such an expensive affair that allows teachers to get "additional income". I get trauma every time I remember the affair, and I would gladly make a pact with the devil to change the whole outcome of the event. It was a Friday of mixed feelings, and I was in love too, then.

Many TV shows also end on Fridays, an act which make Friday nights exciting around the TV set. Not anymore today, because we would be fine with catching up on the final episode on the Internet and spend Friday evening painting the town red or get into trouble.

Some Fridays did not change: beer Fridays, payday Fridays, dinner dates on Friday nights, being imprisoned on a Friday night, dying on a Friday night, etc.

Don't forget, Jesus died on a Friday.

What are your memories of Friday? Care to share it with your fellow readers? Juts hit the comment button below!

#Friday

"Nymphetamine" by Cradle of Filth (2004)

It's just a song...and a memory

Before I would proceed with this post, I would like to express my respect and apology to Christians and other people who find the music and stunts of the English extreme metal band to be Satanic and offensive to their faith. I do not intend to insult Jesus Christ and mock the faith of His believers, but to just share memories I have surrounding this song.

image from cradles.90s-fashion.com

The experience

The first time I heard this song was in the year I slowly opened myself to many forms of rock music, like nu metal, alternative and yes, the kind sung by Cradle of Filth, Slipknot and Marilyn Manson. And at the two years that followed, I got "interested" in Satanism, but I never went close to worshiping the devil, though I annoyed certain people by "expressing" "faith" in the devil. That was just that. Nothing serious, seriously.

The matter of church arson, vandalism

While digging deeper into what bands like Cradle of Filth and Marilyn Manson sing about, I have come to read about members of black metal bands and their fans setting fires on churches, some of them important historical landmarks, in Norway. People behind the wave of arson attacks on churches are thought to be Satanists or devil-worshipers, but these are the same people that commit murders and make threats against fellow black metal musicians. They are even thought to be pagans, but devil-worshipers, satanists, pagans or not, they are anti-people, anti-society and evil. Why can they just play for the sake of music?

image from xxsilvixx.tumblr.com

But what about those people who break into churches to steal consecrated hosts for use in their Black Mass? Not good! I won't mind them holding a ceremony that is a mockery of a Catholic Mass, but to steal something from somewhere to use at the ceremony? Why can't they just make their own bread? I won't even mind them sacrificing a child to the devil as long as they use one of their kind (but with the consent of the parents, of course) and not kidnap any other child.

Should you listen to this song?

If you are of strong religious faith, please listen to the song with caution. Know that Cradle of Filth harbors hatred against Christianity. For me, it's the song that matters.

This song will always be one of my favorites. It bring back the memories when Satan still ruled the mind of a former depressive and love-struck youth.

Please listen with care.

Manic Monday by The Bangles (1986)

Monday blues

On the website Urban Dictionary, Manic Monday is defined by Johnathan Angelo Rosa Jr. as

The beginning of the week: For work and/or school resulting in depression is a genetic condition that is triggered either spontaneously or from a significant amount of emotional pressure, associated with it being Monday!

How many times do we have to go to school or work on a rainy Monday morning? How many of us look forward to the day, which we give way after cutting short our attendance in a Sunday night party or a weekend trip to make it to work or school Monday morning right on cue? How many look gloomy or stressed-out on a Monday evening?

If your Sunday's messed up, you would not want to get up the next day. You want to skip school or work, right? I feel you.

But of course, you need to get up because school or work is life.

"Manic Monday" single cover

Mondays bring back the memories

I remembered a couple of years ago, a political scandal erupted on a Monday. I didn't catch up with most of the news that evening because I just arrived home from a month-long vacation and I missed my room. The scandal was in heated discussion for months, so if you have a scandal to reveal, please do it on a Monday and from the rooftop of your house.

Job interviews? Make sure you come on time. Leave your place 2-3 hours before schedule to avoid traffic or navigate the area, in case you get lost on the way. If you are unsure about the directions, Google Maps or scout the location a day or two before the big interview.

I didn't have Google Maps or use one because I didn't own a smartphone that time and I didn't know about Google Maps that time. I was thirty minutes late for the interview because I got lost. Thanks goodness, I got help - and the interviewer was not angry.l.

Starting on a new job? Make sure you bring an umbrella or raincoat. Don't get angry when it rains on your first Monday at work. It's a blessing, but make sure you come home dry. It was a dry day when I started at a new company, but a wet evening when I went home - and it was traffic too.

Monday Blues meme from Independent.ie

Why should you listen to this song?

"Manic Monday" is a fun track about the most lethargic day of the week. This is the song to start your week. Only a few artists sing about the days of the week, and The Bangles is one of them.

Dear readers, sing this song to blast away those Monday blues. Worry not, it will be Friday soon!

Monday again, arghh! Another damned week at school!

"Amish Paradise" by Weird Al Yankovic (1996)

Getting to know Weird Al Yankovic

I stumbled upon this parody of the great Weird Al Yankovic years ago, and I can't help but to laugh and to be amazed by his many talents.

"Amish Paradise" is a parody of the Grammy-award winning song "Gangsta Paradise" by gangsta rapper Coolio. Weird Al is in the business of making parodies of other people's music. Artists whose material he has parodied include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Avril Lavigne, and Lady Gaga.

Weird Al Yankovic, Amish Paradise 

I first read about Weird Al way back in 2003, in a newspaper article about him wanting to make a parody of the Oscar award-winning song "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. Eminem allowed Weird Al to make a parody of the song, but not make a music video to accompany the parody, which greatly disappointed Weird Al. It could have been one of the best music videos he ever made, said Weird Al.

Getting to know the Amish and their culture

This video showed me what I need to know about the Amish people, though in a somewhat humorous manner, but my basic understanding of the Amish was a result of the article I read in National Geographic way back in college.

The National Geographic featured the Amish in one of their issues in the late 2000s. It was one of the best articles I have ever read.

One of the pictures the magazine printed for that article showed an Amish man beheading countless chickens, a bloody pile of chicken heads on the ground. It was not a sight to behold for many people, especially animal rights activists who later wrote to the National Geographic.

Don't the Amish buy chicken meat at the nearest grocery store? Nah, they grow and make their own food. Self-sufficiency at one of its finest!

Amish people riding a horse buggy. Image from Iezzi Photography

Their simple way of living, plus their self-sufficiency and industry, is one reason why I want to living among the Amish and interact with them. They are a close knit community. Modern society could learn a lot of things from them.

Since reading that article, I harbored the desire to visit one of the many Amish communities in North America. I want to study their culture and traditions. I want to learn how they manage to live without most technological advancements that the modern world cannot seem to live without.

I hope I get the chance. Above all, I hope I can develop the mental and physical strength and gain the resources, land include, to live out the Amish life beyond my 50s.

God bless the Amish! Long live the Amish!

Why should you listen to this song?

“Amish Paradise” is a classic, and Weird Al is not only a master of parody and comedy rap but is also an enduring act.

Why don't people make parodies today like they used to? And why don't we hear them today?

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