“Somewhere I Belong” by Linkin Park (2003)

My Definitive Song of the Summer of 2003

It was weeks or days to go before summer vacation. People wondered what to do or where to go after the school year ends. (I later learned that the classmate who introduced me to Linkin Park took a summer job, a former crush got pregnant out of wedlock, and another crush had a crush on a guy in another town.) Me? I was stuck in my village because I had no options. I just stayed at home and waited for a new song to come out.

I thought the last days of my junior year at secondary school would be boring. I was wrong. Thanks to Linkin Park.

Returning home after a heartbreaking day at school, the scene of my brother placing his ear near the radio greeted me. What caught his attention, I asked myself mentally. He told me Linkin Park just released a new song. I arrived home late that time, so I was only able to listen to the last lines, but man, it sounded great to me, especially the rapping parts.

A few days later, I got the chance to listen to “Somewhere I Belong” in full. My assessment was right: it was a great song. It helped me get through the gloomy summer of 2003. I got no places to go and no friends to hang out with (because they went places). I stayed in good mental health, thanks to this song, plus hits from Evanescence and .t.A.T.u.

Making (Failed) Plans for the Future

Linkin Park’s “Somewhere I Belong” inspired me to consider a music or performing arts course in college, a dream that was never materialized. Back then, I had in mind to pursue computer or teaching, but when the song came out, BOOM! I immediately changed my college plans. I wanted to be like Mike Shinoda. I want to be like Chester Bennington. I wanted to play turntables.

In other words, I wanted to become famous and tour the whole world. However, things did not turn out well for me.

It took years for me to realize I was never cut out for music and performing arts. I had to admit I can’t sing, I can’t rap, and I can’t play instruments no matter how hard I tried. I took guitar lessons and music classes and even tried to learn the keyboards and bass guitar, but I never got anywhere, despite help from a few friends.

I auditioned for school plays in order to boost my confidence before the crowds but I was never chosen for parts (I was only ordered to make accessories for the plays, which I did begrudgingly). I felt hurt and envious at the attention, praise, and rewards the lucky ones received.

Because I found no luck in performing arts, I tried sports but I was not lucky too.

Where do I belong anyway?

Moving Forward as a Linkin Park Street Soldier

I can’t sulk throughout my school years. I had to move on and adjust my life’s plans. I believe I could do my part for music listeners in some ways so that my love for music would not become insignificant in my growth as a person.

By listening to Linkin Park, I was able to release my fury and frustrations in life. I found strength in their lyrics, in their melodies, and in their performances. I realized I could contribute to music even without performing it.

I need to stay alive not just to preserve the memories of music but also to live to the music.
May the late Chester Bennington consider my contribution and my sacrifice pleasing to his ears. Thank you very much for keeping hope alive in my life. One day I will go to “Somewhere I Belong”.

Viva Chester Bennington!

Long live Linkin Park!

#RIPChesterBennington

"Faint" by Linkin Park (2003)

Memories of Chester Bennington (1976-2017)

Even after two days, the death (possible suicide) of Chester Bennington still shocked me. I feel #Numb up to this day. Of all the people to die that day, why him? Why not the terrorists, pedophile clergymen, corrupt politicians, slave traders, cheating merchants? Why him, of all people?

Chester Bennington came into my life 15 years ago, when I played "Papercut" and "In The End" on the player. Two years later, he cemented into my life at the release of Linkin Park's second album Meteora. (Bennington, if what I read is right, is an Orthodox Christian and the album title happens to be the name of a monastery somewhere in Greece. Fellow Orthodox Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, is a close friend of his and a godfather to Bennington's daughter. Cornell also committed suicide earlier this year.)

Image from Wikipedia

Being a newbie to the nu metal sound, I was blasted right away by Bennington's vocals in "Somewhere I Belong", "From The Inside", and "Faint", which for me is the best and the most powerful song on the record - and also the most aggressive of all Linkin Park and all nu metal songs. This is a nu metal anthem in the year 2003, the peak year of the genre. "Faint" is one of the best and most memorable songs of 2003. Linkin Park helped defined the 2000s. This song help define nu metal.

Bennington was a dreamer before he was a nu metal icon. He would visualized himself as one of the members of the English electronic band Depeche Mode. The dreamer would later send his demo to what would become the biggest nu metal acts of all times and demo-ed over the phone. Iconic, that's what I call it.

The dreamer would later become a music icon who would define the sound of my generation. Meteora defined my existence in 2003. “Faint” defined the person I was 14 years ago. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to get into music, but the heavens got other plans for me: rather than perform music, I preserve the memory of music (good music, I mean).

“Faint” helped me get through the rough year 2003 was. Onwards, it made me recall a dream I used to dream, an aspiration I held onto until college graduation. I wanted to be like Chester Bennington. Now I want to preserve his memory.

Thank you very much, Chester Bennington! You will live forever in my life. Consider me worthy in the task to preserve your memory.

Image from Alchetron

Viva Chester Bennington!

#RIPChesterBennington

"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!

"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.

"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.

"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!

"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?