“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)

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!