“Arigatou” by Funky Monkey Babys (2013)

Another song, another moment for nostalgia

It has been five years since I first heard “Arigatou” by the hip hop group Funky Monkey Babys. It was one of the first Japanese hip hop songs I had listened to. It was also one of the best songs I listened to in 2013.

2013 was one of the most trying years in my life and one of the best too, in terms of music and experiences. There are negative experiences, of course. They could have sidetracked me but I realized I could not control those circumstances. I moved forward with some sort of strength and happiness, which I always have.

I lost people and money that year. I never lose the songs, though. They are always fresh and alive in my memory.

I also do not lose my sense of gratitude and my spirit of thanksgiving.

Funky Monkey Babys gearing up for "Arigatou", their last single. Image from https://mghorn.com

I would not have survived 2013 without the help of a very few people who provided me the tools and leads to move forward after the loss of a job I held for almost five years. They helped me look at the bright side behind the negative events I went through and bolstered my character of strength and happiness. They are the people I keep in my heart up to now.

I feel sad that I was not able to sustain or make better the many relationships I made years before I was forced to resign from work in 2013. The people I met too that year… well, they were just extras in my cinema of life.

I wonder where I did go wrong in my relationships with people. But I believe I am good with the ones I could keep. I pray for all of them, though. I hope they do not have a bad memory of me. In some ways, they helped me make sense of 2013 and make me the person I am now.

Because of them, I strive to find joy in the little things and to live each day as if it is Thanksgiving Day. Forever grateful I will be.

"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.