"All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey (1994)

All I want for Christmas is... more songs like this

It was in the Christmas season of 2002 when I first heard the Christmas songs of NSYNC ("Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays") and of Wham! (a dance remix version of "Last Christmas"). A few years later, Mariah Carey's seasonal song would reach my ears and Philippine TV stations would release their annual Christmas theme songs.

They are all good. They are something I look forward to every holiday season because I want good music to brighten up my mood for the holidays. At least they help me forget all the pain and woes that I suffer throughout the other days of the year. I want to enjoy and rejoice even for just one season.

However, I am not immune from memories of sadness and regrets even in this season of joy. When I listen to this song, a memory crept into my mind.

Christmas wasted on unrequited love

When I was still a college student, I failed in the romance department for three consecutive years. That covered three Christmas season as well. You can say that I was a hopeless romantic in the season of joy. Of course, I get to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. I received gifts, we had our noche buena, etc. But having a girlfriend that time could be an added bonus for me. Do you get what I am saying?

For three years, I courted this classmate of mine. I cannot recall how I developed feelings for her. We weren't even close. We don't even have the same company of friends aside from our classmates. Our attitudes and powers were different. We loved music and movies, though, but we have different tastes. We did share the same favorite superhero character, though.

It didn't help my case that I was preoccupied with other stuff (like watching YouTube and reading newspapers and Wikipedia entries). Seriously, I was timid. I was even careless or foolish with my romantic advances, which embarrassed her so much in front of classmates and schoolmates. For her, I was a funny case or more of an annoyance. I guess I was immature but persistent. I was in love but I didn't know how to properly deal with a girl.

I did let my intentions and feelings known to her. I text messaged her. I passed her notes. I wrote her letters, even sent her a birthday card. It wasn't enough and it was all in vain.

My pursuit for her love covered three Christmas seasons. It was a fruitless pursuit. All I wanted for Christmas was her and what I got was unrequited love.

It was too bad a beautiful Christmas song especially coming from a diva like Mariah Carey would invoke a sad memory and a regretful past. If only I could turn back time...

"All I Want for Christmas is You" single cover (Image from http://www.ultratop.be/)

What I want now this Christmas

I believe I had handled my romanceless holiday seasons very well because I am still breathing. I wouldn't be writing this post if I had not. I wouldn't have graduated on time if I allowed my sadness to get the better of me.

Though I am happy enough that I had survived college without a girlfriend, I always feel that something is lacking in my teenage years or college life. But I am certain of one fact: I can celebrate Christmas even without a sweetheart.

But to celebrate the holiday season alone? That, my friend, is another story. Would you celebrate Halloween alone?

I now have different "wants" since I gave up pursuing ex-classmate. As not to sourgrape, these are far better things than the one I wanted many years ago:

• Good health (physical and mental)
• Maturity and spiritual growth
• Strong will and determination
• Fortitude and patience
• Career growth
• A wallet and a bank account full of bucks 

This Christmas I want... Mariah Carey (GIF from www.harpersbazaar.com)

Many years ago, I also want Mariah Carey in my life. If it is not too much, I want to go back in time and live in her life.

Anyways, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you in advance!

Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life

Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas

I did not plan to create this post but due to the Backstreet Boys getting a residency in Las Vegas, I believe I need to create one, something to celebrate their success, to cherish whatever memories I have of the world's best selling boy band, to relieve the greatness of '90s music. The title of the post is so fitting as it is the banner of their residency run at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino which is scheduled to start next year. So if you are planning to visit the world's gambling capital in 2017, make sure you don't miss out their performance.

It all started in 2001

It was in 2001 when I first learned about the Backstreet Boys, when my brother was humming to "Shape of My Heart". I was a new listener to Westlife then and "If I Let You Go" was my first ever LSS. I remember telling him not to sing that song in the house. I did not listen to the boys from Orlando until a few months later.

At my high school's intramurals, the faction I belonged to field in a dance team to compete for the modern dance competition. Their music: "We've Got It Goin' On" by Backstreet Boys. The other two factions dance to A1 songs.

One second-degree relative lend me her Millennium

cassette tape. I was grateful for her for introducing me to many Backstreet Boys songs. Later she would lend A1's The A List album.

Around the Halloween period, I went with my cousin to his place to pay some relatives a visit. There he played Backstreet Boys music in their Sony bookshelf CD player. It was euphoria.

At Christmas, my mother would gift me a cassette tape of the band's compilation album Greatest Hits – Chapter One. My sister received Westlife's World of Our Own.

That time then, my favorite Backstreet songs were "Larger Than Life", "Get Down", and "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely". I used to dislike their hit "I Want It That Way", which is now one of my four most favorite songs from the group.

Next year (2002), an ex-classmate would give me an old music magazine, which featured an interview of the Backstreet Boys on their then upcoming magnum opus Millennium. And in summer of that year, mother returned home with the year's edition of the Guinness World Records, which included the band as record holder of the best-selling boy band album.

From 2002 to 2004 I heard nothing of them. No new material. Then in the summer of 2005, I was surprised to hear them with a new song, titled "Incomplete", but was shocked at their musical shift, gravitating to a more pop rock sound. That song was in the VCD given to me by my former college crush who turned down my offer of love. It was the first of two gifts she gave to me.

One morning in 2007, my sister tuned in to an urban station that played "Inconsolable", a song that highlighted the Backstreet Boys' return to pop. They were minus one member.

In 2009, I stumbled on Channel V the music video to "Straight Through My Heart". It was one of the best songs I heard in my first year in the city.

In 2013, just weeks into my new job, the Backstreet Boys returned as a five-piece band with a new single "In a World Like This". The sun dawned on me, telling me music will return to how it was then.

Forward, Backstreet Boys

I am happy to hear about musicians from the glorious past still playing music to fans who will never forget them. Some bands and soloists have called it quits, but the Backstreet Boys is just one of those who decide to keep playing and defer disbandment or retirement to a far later time. God knows what happen when they disband.

Whatever, my memory of the Backstreet Boys will live on.

“Welcome to The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance (2006)

10th anniversary of The Black Parade

By writing this post, I celebrate in advance the 10th anniversary of the release of My Chemical Romance’s third album The Black Parade. The band will be releasing a reissue to mark the occasion. Titled The Black Parade/Living With Ghosts, the compilation album includes 11 demos and live tracks and will hit record stores on September 23, just one month before the 10th year anniversary of the album’s release October 23, 2006).

The Black Parade happens to be the band’s most recognizable record and it was hailed as one of the best albums of 2006 by Rolling Stone, Spin, Wizard, IGN, and Entertainment Weekly. Indeed, it is one of the most important records of 2006 and of the first decade of the 21st century.

It's hard to believe 10 years have passed since the release of My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade. It's hard to believe rock music has become almost non-existent. It's unbelievable that thugs and whores have taken over music.

2006: A most memorable year

The Black Parade is one of the albums that impacted music in 2006, a year that definitely belonged to My Chemical Romance. If memory serves right, it was one of the best years for emo and alternative rock.

I was a college student then when The Black Parade was released. The lead single “Welcome to the Black Parade” was soon played by the urban city station that used to give equal playing time to rock, pop, and hip-hop. In the station’s weekly top 30, the song reached #2. "Welcome to the Black Parade" was my defining track of 2006. Next year, it would be "Famous Last Words", another track off The Black Parade.

2006 was the year when I was overdosed with infatuation. It was a year of unrequited love, a year lost to an obsession. On the domestic side, family and money problems mounted at home and the family almost broke apart. Yes, 2006 was a year of worry and anxiety, a time of pain, a period of depression and devastation.

But it was not a year ‘wasted’. It was a year well spent and well lived in the other departs of my school life, my young adult life.

Memory of a former classmate

Imagine how one song helped me remember two persons from my past: A former object of my infatuation and a former classmate.

While writing this post, I began to remember one classmate, who helped me get through the hard times of the half of 2006. He offered no financial help but companionship, advice, and other forms of non-financial support. He gave me reading materials that only collected dust at his home. He gave me lemonsito (Philippine lime) so I can make juice to cure my coughs. Back then, I was a mobile phone-less lad, so he let me use his without charging me.

Too bad my classmate left before Christmas. He had to return to his girlfriend (his future wife) so he can start building his family with her. One time she sent him a picture of hers, and he showed it to me. She’s a pretty woman of Filipino-Chinese stock. I don’t know why my classmate fell for a woman who’s a bit older than him. But God bless him and his family wherever they are now.

To my classmate, thank you very much!

10 years later

In 2007, Kanye West and 50 Cent competed against each other in the battle of the best-selling hip-hop album. In 2008, the global recession occurred. In 2009, the King of Pop Michael Jackson passed away and Wonder Girls sparked the Korean Wave with their hit “Nobody”. In 2010, Kobe Bryant won his second NBA Championship without former teammate Shaquille O’Neal.

In 2011, Lady Gaga released her controversial single “Judas”. In 2012, the London Olympics took place and Barack Obama won a second term as U.S. president. In 2013, the Backstreet Boys returned as a five-piece band and typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) wreaked havoc in the Philippines.



In 2014, Germany won the World Cup, defeating Argentina in the process. In 2015, idol Rena Matsui of SKE48 and Nogizaka46 graduated and AlDub became an Internet sensation and social media darling. In 2016, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie called it quits after 11 years, thus ending ‘Brangelina’.

As of this writing, the video for “Welcome to the Black Parade” on the band’s official YouTube clocked 57,054,244 views after being uploaded in September 28, 2006. In contrast, Kanye West got 59,015,375 views for Bound 2, one of the worst music videos I have ever seen.

"Saturday" by Karen Bordador (2011)

Karen Bordador posing for FHM calendar (image from www.clubsnap.com)

(Note: Too bad Karen Bordador's "Saturday" is nowhere to be found on YouTube, so here's just a sexy picture of her.)

Karen Bordador: The beauty and the memory

I really don't like to pry into other people's private lives. And I assure you that by writing this posting, I am not making bad light out of people who are going through an ordeal. I do not intend to mock them. On the contrary, I feel sorry for them. The subject of this post is a certain celebrity by the name of Karen Bordador, who is a radio DJ and one of the former vixens of a popular condom brand.

Memory is a ghost that returns to remind me about a few things. With Miss Karen, memories from the year Rebecca Black was slaying the Internet with her viral hit “Friday”. Memories come from the year I started exposing myself to Jpop, particularly AKB48 and fripSide. Memories from a battlefield – a culture war, the exact term.

It has yet to establish whether Bordador is into drugs. Hope she was into a different kind of drugs - coffee. (image from www.imgrum.net)

I would also like to admit that because she was an ace of a condom brand, I used to Google her pictures on the Internet. She was bootylicious, that’s all. I don’t know if she is still bootylicious until the time of her arrest. I admit that I looked at her pictures again after I learned of her arrest. I want to know if she has recent pictures of her beauty, but I cannot seem to find any. The only recent picture I can find is her mug shot - and she did not look good in it.

Bordador with her fellow vixens (image from http://intimatemanila.com/)

Miss Karen was one of the original vixens of the condom brand, but she was not the queen. She was slimmer that the queen, but the queen was fairer and more bootylicious. I don’t know what happen to them after their run as condom vixens, but one of them figured in a sex scandal with a basketball executive and in a number of memes that resulted from it.

I think I should start praying for the former condom vixens, Miss Karen included.

What's that song?

I did YouTube her ‘Saturday” song. It was torture. It was one of the worst songs I have ever heard. The accompanying music video was one of the worst too. No point going back over that. It was a lame attempt to ride on with the popularity of the original. Conan O’Brien did better with his “Thursday”.

Should you listen to "Saturday"?

No. Because the song is already non-existent. Believe me, I tried my best to find the music video to the song, but it has already been lost. Don't know if her radio station still keep a audio of the song but it is not worth my time asking them. But if you are curious, let me check.

Right now please pray that you favorite celebrity keeps away from drugs or any other illegal activities.

“They Don't Care About Us” by Michael Jackson (1996)

The Legend with the Brazilian percussionists (image from mygoodplanet.com)

Brazil and Michael Jackson: 10 years ago and now

Brazil is currently in the spotlight for its hosting of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, commonly known as the 2016 Summer Olympics or Rio Olympics, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. South America's largest country also hosts a number of political and economic issues too but the Olympics should help locals forget their problems for a while. It is an opportunity for the Brazilians to extend their hand of friendship and hospitality to visitors from all over the world.

20 years ago Brazil was also host to music icon Michael Jackson for the shooting of the music video for his hip hop inspired single "They Don't Care About Us".

Too young to remember Michael Jackson

When Michael Jackson was at the height of his popularity, I was still to young to comprehend about his popularity and why he mattered to his fans. All I knew then was that he was very popular. All I can remember from that time was my classmate who got a sticker from Pepsi and my mother who warned me and my siblings against idolizing the superstar because according to her, he was a bad influence to the youth.

Past 2000, I knew a lot more about Michael Jackson, thanks to the Guinness Book of World Records, entertainment/music magazines, MTV, music videos, etc. He was married to the daughter of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. He is African-American, but a skin condition made him “look” like white. He was said to be “less black and more white”. He was said to have undergone a sex-change operation. (I don't know if that is true or not.) He was friends with Macaulay Culkin, a former famous child superstar. His album “Thriller” was one of the best selling albums of all times, and his “HIStory” one of the most expensive albums. He was member of the family pop group the Jackson 5 whose hit “ABC” was one of the songs in the Eddie Murphy flick “Daddy Day Care”.

Single cover (image from Wikipedia)

The worst thing I have ever read about Michael Jackson? Those allegations of child abuse. And that he was an abused child himself. 

I am not a fan of the King of Pop but I do like some of his songs: “Beat It”, “Billy Jean”, “Thriller”, “Black or White” (the first song of his I have ever heard), and “They Don't Care About Us”. I look up to Michael Jackson as an icon, a legend worthy of veneration from music fans. His musicianship is unparalleled.

What I think of the song

The song “They Don't Care About Us” is perhaps the soundtrack of our times. This song pops into my mind when I watch the news about the wars in Syria and Iraq, the barbarity of the Islamic State and their minions worldwide, the migrant crisis and the negligence of the rich Arab nations, police brutality in the United States and the hypocrisy of the Black Lives Matter movement, the callousness of politicians in the Philippines, human traffickers, manufacturers and importers of dangerous goods, etc.

The title of the song could have cropped into Michael Jackson's consciousness whenever he thinks of the people around him – his friends, his peers in the industry, and fans – who are unable to relate to his feelings and console him in his times of great agony and depression. Was he feeling helpless, hopeless, alone when he wrote “They Don't Care About Us”? Could there be some sort of an untold story, original idea, or suppressed emotions behind the creation of this song? Had he deviated from the original idea and created a different thing instead? Was he trying to hide his pain?

Forgive me for this mind of mine! I cannot help but look at different angles of different things and relate them in the most unrelated ways possible. One thing is for sure, though. I think of the King of Pop whenever this song comes into mind, and vice versa.

The Song "China Wine" and Troublesome Christian Clergy

Image from limpehft.blogspot.com

Song evokes misdeeds of Christian clergy into mind

This song by Sun Ho, Wyclef Jean, Elephant Man, and Tony Matterhorn is from 2007, but it reminds me of an old topic matter, which I first learned about two years before the start of the new millennium (2000). I was still an elementary school kid then.



One Saturday evening a news documentary program ran a feature on one woman who claimed she was raped by her uncle, a priest in one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. The woman and her friends spend a night at the priest's convent. (I think they went around places, and they decided to stay for the night at the convent.) A demon could have possessed the priest right that moment. About the time that evening, the priest kind of uttered some bad words (if I remember correctly), and when it was already night, he raped his niece, who later bore his child. It was my first exposure to a fact: Priests and members of the clergy are vulnerable to sin.

Can't recall if it was in 1998 or 1999 when I heard about a priest who got killed in a motorcycle accident. This priest was from another village. I heard people say that he was addicted to the bottle. Years later I learned from my language teacher, who lived in the same village as of that priest, that he was forced into the priesthood by his parents. Depression probably favors no one, especially priests.

I don't know if priests are magnet for trouble, but one time lawmakers in the Philippines clamored the late Pope John Paul II to remove the late Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin from his post. Sin was critical of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, whose downfall Sin helped ushered in in 2001.

GIF from matrixbob.wordpress.com

In 2003 news were rife about the clergy sex abuse scandal in America. It was a shock for the faithful to know that there are priests who would molest young children. That time one bishop Teodoro Bacani was accused of being touchy with his secretary. While the local media reported on the Bacani scandal, they would brought up another clergy scandal, that of one archbishop Yalung who impregnated a woman. During that time, I remember my late father saying we must pray for the priests.

Two years later, a priest who was rumored to have fathered a love child was assigned to my town's parish. This priest got a habit of tardiness.

At college, one Social Science instructor shared to us about a priest and a married woman who were romancing each other in the latter's own house when caught by two thieves. The thieves later spread the news around.

Other than priests, there are also troublesome and erring ministers or pastors.

There was this pastor who occupied one of my late relative's plots of land to build his church but did not obtain the latter's permission. The pastor was allowed to operate his church on my late relatives's land, provided he remit some income. Years later, the church fully owned the plot.

One local celebrity's brother, a pastor of his own church, was arrested for multiple cases of rape. The celebrity learned of her brother's misdeeds only after being informed by their late father in a dream.

One crime detection/expose program on TV have multiple times busted ministers or pastors who solemnize marriages without the necessary permit to do so. One minister/pastor was caught solemnizing a marriage – in a fastfood restaurant.

What about ministers/pastors in illicit relationships and prostitution scandals? One married minister and a married women went to a motel for a tryst, the trip later leading to their arrest. In America, one popular evangelist was busted for hooking up with prostitutes. Somewhere in Africa, a number of pastors were involved in sex scandals, aside from foolishness.

Image from familiesagain.blogspot.com

If allegations of sex abuse can bring a priest down, financial corruption does with a minister/pastor. In Singapore, a very popular megachurch pastor and other leaders were convicted of fraud. The pastor and his aides were alleged to have used church funds in an attempt to turn the pastor's wife into an international pop star in hopes of attracting more followers. The wife is the woman in the video you have just watched. The wife was the direct beneficiary of the corruption. She too is involved in the controversy of love gifts, money deposited by church members in a multi-purpose account set up by husband and wife.

Image from godlessliberals.com

Financial scandals are rife among pastors in America, Africa, South Korea, and the Philippines. We have read about pastors who have lived opulent lifestyles and used church funds for their own personal needs. One American megachurch pastor refused to discuss finances because of Jesus. Some pastors get flak for preaching a lot about prosperity gospel or wealth, and there are also pastors who persuade their followers to join in networking scams. Pastors and ministers are no stranger to bankruptcy, even asking their followers for help in their own financial problems.

I do not write this post to defame the clergy of Christianity, but to narrate what I can remember from “China Wine”, one of the worst songs I have ever heard – a song I can say is birthed by Satan himself.

"Marijuana" by Brujeria

"Marijuana" from a workmate and songs past

As an avid enthusiast of things past, it is always a great experience to meet like-minded folks. There is this new guy at work, and like me, he listens to music - old songs - and he plays them at work. He did not save MP3 files in his laptop at work but he plays them from YouTube playlists. (I don't know why he doesn't use Spotify.)

Him playing old songs of different artists and diverse genres, from Incubus to Spice Girls, from alternative rock to teen pop, really brings back the memories of school. And there is this one particular song that he shared to me, after knowing I would also listen to Marilyn Manson and System of a Down.

"Marijuana" by Brujeria (image from http://www.metal-archives.com)

"Marijuana" by the Mexican-American extreme metal band Brujeria (Spanish for "witchcraft") is a gem I place alongside "Nymphetamine by Cradle of Filth and "This Is The New Shit" by Marilyn Manson. Although the band reeks of  anti-Christianity, Satanism, and sex, I am not offended, and I would even prefer them over current artists (too many to mention). (But I will have to choose the songs I would listen to and play on my MP3 player).

Old classmates evoke memories over marijuana

What memories does the song "Marijuana" brings? Memories of high school classmates who, after listening to Bob Marley, gravitated towards reggae music and adopted the word "marijuana" as their motto or catchphrase of their small gang. The people in that gang used to be rock players, including the ones who introduced me to alternative rock and nu metal and the seniors who played "You're a God" by Vertical Horizon.

My classmates, together with their circle of friends, were fine folks, by the way. They were among the finest people that I have ever met. Although I did not share their love for reggae, they respect my choice of music, and I respect them. I admit I found myself humming to one of Bob Marley's songs, "Buffalo Soldier" at times, and it is the only song I knew so far.

The Rastafari and his holy weed (image from Pinterest)

Them listening to reggae is one thing, but marijuana is another. My teachers thought my classmates started smoking weed, an accusation they vehemently denied (and I believe them). However, there was this one time one of them told me that the reggae legend belonged to a religion called Rastafarianism, which followers smoke marijuana is part of their rituals. A religion that involves pot? I found that strange.

One time they designed a class poster, which had a drawing of a marijuana leaf at the bottom. It was days before my teachers recognized the drawing. I knew what the drawing was, but I did not squeal to the teachers because I believed the drawing was harmless. The teachers ordered the poster down, fearing school division officials.

My class held our Christmas party on a rainy day. I received a marijuana necklace as a gift from a classmate who is now a devout Evangelical Christian. I never wear it because it is not cool to wear a marijuana necklace that lack a blade.

Many years passed, and debates over marijuana get intense. I support medical marijuana and I believe the plant has other potential uses, like paper. Marijuana is an organic product and it's better than shabu, cocaine, and other drugs manufactured in laboratories.

How I wish could introduce "Marijuana" to my classmates!

"Sotsugyoushiki no Wasuremono" by SKE48 (2011)

SKE48 song evokes memories of graduation

Love a song in a language that is foreign to yours? Then it pays to read and understand its lyrics in your language. As in the case of this coupling song from AKB48's sister group, I browsed through its English translation in the Stage48 website – and one word makes certain things “coming back to me now”.

CD+DVD Type-A (Regular Edition) cover of Banzai Venus by SKE48 

Graduation Ceremony's Forgotten Things. That's the English title of SKE48's “Sotsugyoushiki no Wasuremono”, a coupling song from their 2011 maxi single “Banzai Venus”. This was released a few years after my graduation, and the keyword “graduation” in the title struck a chord in my memory.

SKE48 ace Jurina Matsui attempts to place a note in someone's shoe locker. Sweet!

Recalling college graduation

Graduation. I forgot to enjoy the days leading to my graduation because I was preoccupied with “helping” my classmates graduate. I was done with my research paper during the previous semester, and I should be relaxing on my last months at school, but no.

Matsui tearfully looks to heaven

I got dragged into my classmates' problem regarding their overdue research paper. Well, mine was overdue too, but I worked on it and completed it weeks before graduation semester. While I spent my summer vacation interpreting and encoding data, my classmates were enjoying theirs, going to places and hanging out with friends. Unfair!

Matsui and company dance to the music

I got dragged because the research instructor told me to help them because if they don't graduate, I don't graduate too. More salt into my wounds as some classmates even “blackmailed” me. I was at a disadvantage, but I don't want trouble. They should be thankful that The Purge movies were not in theaters that time. I could have brought them to meet their Creator.

Friends share a smile

Graduation. Other than that research paper matter, I was preoccupied with wooing a classmate, who didn't graduate that semester. I even helped her research paper group just to get close to her, but to no avail. Five semesters of spurned love, and I can't move forward post-graduation with an emotional baggage, so I decided to stop pursuing. Decision hour was just less than two weeks before graduation day.

Rushing to play tennis

Graduation. I failed to have a graduation portrait taken. I don't have the money.

The pain of recalling due to just one word in a title of a pop song. "Sotsugyoushiki no Wasuremono" is my current LSS. I listen to it with the hope that my counterpart in an alternate reality is enjoying or had enjoyed his/her last days at college. I listen to the hope that I can pierce my classmates' shins with a pitch fork even just in my dreams.

I listen to this song with the hope that I can date SKE48's ace Jurina Matsui one day.

Meeting of friends after school

“One Last Song” by A1 (2002)

A1 brings lasting memories

My appreciation for the British music act A1 came late in the second half of 2002, when they had already shifted to pop rock. I was earlier exposed to their dance pop and teen pop material in 2001. Their change in musical direction, however, did not come as a shock for me. What caught my surprise was the departure of Paul Marazzi, one of the two most popular members of the four-piece band.

A1: Paul Marazzi, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Ben Adams, and Mark Read (image from www.fanpop.com)

A1 really brings back the memories, some painful for me to narrate. I saw them perform thrice on national TV, borrowed a cassette tape of their 2nd album "The A List " from a cousin, tried to borrow a cassette tape of their 1st album "Here We Come" from a schoolmate, bought a bootlegged cassette tape of their 3rd album "Make It Good", and borrowed materials from classmates.

How could I even forget the songs! At the modern dance competition of the 2001 intramurals back in high school, two rival factions danced to A1 tunes, namely “Same Old Brand New You” and “Take On Me”. The faction I belonged to played “We've Got It Goin' On” by the Backstreet Boys.

I also remember singing “Like A Rose" in my room one afternoon of March 2002. It was my most favorite A1 song until “One Last Song” was released.

A1's third album Make It Good, released in 2002 (image from Amazon)

Is it true that the late music icon Michael Jackson asked the British quartet to write him a few songs to use in his album? I read about it in a music magazine way back in 2002. If it's true, then the group was indeed worthy of attention from one of music's greatest artists. A1 wrote and co-wrote most of their songs, a reason why I considered them to be more talented than their Irish rival Westlife.

Good-bye song to pop?

"One Last Song" for me was somewhat a farewell song to the era of boy-band music and teen pop, with 2002 being their final year. For pop listeners who were always open to other genres, 2002 gave way to a lot of exciting acts and powerful genres - music that pop devotees could listen to and appreciate. The demise of pop was not for naught, for new sounds followed and new acts emerged.

Too bad the demise of pop also signaled the rise of thugs and whores and the popularity of their trashy music.

A1 as of 2014 (image from www.thesun.co.uk)

“Judas” by Lady Gaga (2011)

Song as controversial as fallen apostle Judas

Never was a Lady Gaga fan, but I love four of her songs: “Paparazzi”, “Alejandro”, “Bad Romance”, and “Judas”. Controversial, the music video for “Judas” was for its use of religious imagery and its irreverent and highly sexualized portrayal of Jesus Christ, which angered Christians.

Mary Magdalene (Lady Gaga) riding at the back of Jesus Christ (Rick Gonzalez)

"Judas" was one of the most anticipated singles of 2011, the same year that gave us Rebecca Black's “Friday”, Nicki Minaj's “Super Bass”, Demi Lovato's “Skyscraper”, and Girls Generation's “Mr. Taxi”. The song turned five last month, and writing this blog piece is my way of (post)celebration.

Blasphemous, the video may be in the eyes of Christians, but cool for me. It was mayhem meeting faith, prayer inspiring dance (or the other way round). The character Jesus was just being Jesus, meeting people and healing the sick. The character Judas was way badass, having good time with the crowd and picking fights while his Master was doing God's business.

Judas (Norman Reedus) kissing Jesus Christ (Rick Gonzalez)

Judas, a cool song anyway

"Judas" makes a good movie adaption, a relevant and modern retelling of the Passion of the Christ, but without the lipstick coming out of a gold-plated gun. That's way too silly.

"Judas" was released around the time when I was slowly gravitating towards Jpop. If I am not wrong, this could be the only song in English and from the West that I like in current times. I already loved it when it was released, and when I heard it full. It played more on my mind than Beyonce's “Best Thing I Never Had”, Carly Rae Jepsen's “Call Me Maybe”, and Eminem and Rihanna's “The Monster”.

I just discovered on the Internet some hits by Western artists but they were old songs and coming from artists I have not heard of before. And there was this one modern soundtrack, a remake of a rock classic by a singer of a genre that I rarely listen to. About that singer, it was 10 years since I first heard her.

"Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez (1999)

J.Lo, enduring beauty and talent

Gone are the days when Hispanic beauty Jennifer Lopez was one of my objects of infatuation. Well, because infatuation is fleeting, and I did not hear much of her today. I know little or nothing about her music past 2003.

One thing I know is that she is still hot and beautiful. She still got the curves.

Way back in my freshmen year at secondary school, her song “Let's Get Loud” was official dance music for our cheer dance competition, which my faction lost. I believe that was my first exposure to her music.

Let's Get Loud single cover (Wikipedia)

Memories of J.Lo in various media

A year later, her movie Anaconda was shown on TV, at a summer Sunday night. For me, it was a golden age of TV watching. A lot of good shows and cartoons that year: Recuerdo de Amor, Ang TV 2, Wansapanatym, Pwedeng-Pwede, Jumangi, Pokemon, etc. But back to J.Lo, of course.

More than a year later, in what was one of my worst yet most memorable months, I borrowed a VCD of J.Lo music videos from a classmate. I watched them on a Saturday night. The music video for “Waiting For Tonight” was a visual feast, if you know what I mean. And the song “No Me Ames”, a duet with Marc Anthony, was ear candy.

Next day, I returned the VCD to my classmate. She then lent me, with permission from her uncle, VCDs of Madonna and Mariah Carey music videos.

2003 was J.Lo's year, despite the rise of Nu Metal and Alternative Rock acts like Linkin Park and Simple Plan. It was the peak year of her career. She starred in the movie Gigli. Her 3rd studio album This is Me... Then performed well on the music charts. She was in love with Ben Affleck, star of Daredevil.

Christmas that year, I received a Celine Dion cassette tape as present from my mother. My brother got This is Me... Then.

Jennifer Lopez, forever curvaceous

The last time I would like a J.Lo song was in 2004. Her single "Get Right” was well received by urban stations that I used to listen to. A decent song, it is.

Right now, J.Lo is busy choosing the last winner for the dying American Idol.

Jennifer Lopez is just one of the few female idols who have both beauty and substance. Her talent complements her looks, and vice versa - departments Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Nicki Minaj and most K-pop stars thought they have. J.Lo never abuses her look, unlike those aforementioned artists.

How I wish I could turn back time to woo Miss Lopez!

Where did I hide those newspaper clippings on J.Lo?

May God bless Jennifer Lopez... and her curves!

“Afterlife” by Avenged Sevenfold (2007)

Avenged Sevenfold holds on to rock

I thought 2009 would be the resurgence of Rock music. I was wrong. Anyway, I was happy enough to have witnessed the 'last years of Rock'.

By the 'last years of Rock', I mean the last time when Rock, in its many sub-genres, was a regular staple in FM stations, MTV, and Channel V. I speak about the time when listeners tune in to Rock, talk about Rock, read about Rock, and think about Rock.

And also in other words, I speak about the time people ROCK – and we do not even have Facebook, Instagram or selfie sticks then. We do not need them to be cool then.

It was years ago when I first saw “Afterlife” on Channel V. I was new to the city and the city was new to me, so that made us even. I just landed my first job. I was still building self-confidence. It was an unforgettable year. It is a year I would like to travel back to tweak a few things.

Too bad time travel is still impossible. But death is always inevitable.

Image from http://www.bandswallpapers.com/img6118.htm

Musings of life

I am no philosopher nor theologian, but death is a topic that I ponder on whenever I feel alone, afraid, sad – when there is nothing to think about.

Will people say good things about me when I die? How would my family handle the money and belongings I would leave behind? Will by secrets be finally revealed? What would become of the people who owe me money?

Have I been a good person after all? Have I enjoyed life? Have I been a good and trustworthy steward of the money and material possessions placed into my hands?

Would people remember me for the good I have done or the good I have failed to do so?

But the serious questions: When will I die? How will I die? Why will I die? Where will I die?

Whatever, I am too young to die, and it's too early for me to die. I still have too many things to do, to accomplish on earth. If I die, I will tell God or Satan to send me back. Should I be lucky, I will make things right so I can “escape from the afterlife”.

Moreover, I don't like to die in the city.

I would like this song to be played at my funeral, along with “Helena” by My Chemical Romance.

"The Mission" by Steve Green (1989)

Christian song evokes memories of school event

The first day of my first high school intramural wasn't a sunny day way back in August 2000. Well, I got new shoes, shiny black, and I wore them to the event and I also brought my slippers.

However, I failed to make my costume for the verse choir contest. I got my staff, covered with shiny papers from cigarette packs and some brown material that I got from coconut trees. I thought costume making was going to be a team effort but I was wrong. Each man was to his own.

Luckily I met one of my mates for the verse choir contest. He got no brown material but had sewing material at home, so I went with him to get some needles and thread, returned to school, and made our costumes. I shared my brown material with him. We both skipped the parade.

Intramural hour. The event was graced by a doxology contest, which, after many years, I think was inappropriate to start the event. You don't hold a contest to see who sing better when praising and thanking God, right? The head teacher and the adviser of my faction, both Evangelical Protestants, should know better.

(Image from Amazon)

I forgot the title and the tune of my faction's doxology piece, but I can't forget those of the competition: "The Mission". I admit it was a better piece than ours, which was a less upbeat, but more solemn.

The competition won but I got wind that we could have won, if only one of the members did not change position right on stage and in front of the judges. Well, one of the judges, a nurse, was a close friend of one of the advisers of the other faction. I can really spot nepotism.

The dancing squad contest was held after the literary contests, and my shoes were shiny black no more. Actually, it was for this contest that I got new shoes, black shoes.

By lunch time, the school was quiet. I was one of the very few students who remained at school because we didn't live near the school's vicinity. Later that afternoon, I went to the area's basketball court to help with the decorations for the musical competition and coronation program. It wasn't a sunny afternoon, but no rain.

It was a bad evening, which I'd like to forget and not write about it. I don't want to associate anything bad or negative with the things that I like, and in this case, a Christian song.

Mission is enduring suffering

It was only in 2011 that I remember to research "The Mission" on YouTube, and that's when I know who the singer is. And I suddenly remembered the Christians who suffer from persecution in some parts in some parts of the world. May God protect and bless them. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of all Christians, the words inscribed on a church in China.

Radicals torch properties of Christians in Pakistan (Image from the European Center for Law and Justice)

"If I Let You Go" by Westlife (1999)

Westlife: lasting memories

I may have heard the song "Fool Again" by Westlife way back in 2000, during the summer afternoons, everytime I boiled hot water for next morning's milk. I thought the title of the song was "Born Again".

Late that year, everyone at (high) school was singing "My Love", another song of theirs. I didn't care much about popular music then. I was heavy into trading cards and toys: I collected Dragon Ball Z, Digimon, and Pokemon cards from my classmates, and also bought a set of tiny Digimon toys from my history teacher.

After the Yuletide break, a classmate brought his Christmas purchase, the first album of the record-breaking Irish vocal group. I would buy that cassette months later, after I bought a bootlegged copy of British group A1's third album "Learn To Fly".

At the school's Valentine's Day program, some bloke from the sophomores performed a solo rendition of "If I Let You Go". I don't know what hit me or took hold of me, but the song instantly became my last song syndrom (LSS). It would eventually land in my top 100 favorite songs.

Image from mahkarani.blogspot.com

Westlife's 2nd UK chart-topper off the first album was my ultimate LSS in the first quarter of 2001. In what was one of my favorite summers, their rendition of the Billy Joel classic "Uptown Girl" took over as LSS.

14 years has passed, but "If I Let You Go" remains my most favorite Westlife song, my most favorite pop song. It was the catalyst for my great interest in music, one that fueled my attraction to Britney Spears, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, AKB48, and Nogizaka46.

Like every other song that I like, "If I Let You Go" brings back certain memories. While writing this post, I suddenly remember my former crush (a sophomore) and another schoolmate (a classmate's boyfriend) who always played the song (on his guitar) at my request. May God bless them wherever they are now.

And how could I forget when four other classmates and I sang the song ala-Westlife during the convocation program, when my class hosted the event? Days later we would sing "Flying Without Wings" at another school program.

Too bad I can never turn back time to relive those memories. At least, I can enjoy those moments in my memory, with the song playing in the background.