“This Song Saved My Life” by Simple Plan (2011)

Memories of Simple Plan

The first time I heard Simple Plan was way back in the 1st Q of 2003. Courtesy of my brother who had a diverse taste in music, I was exposed to many subgenres of rock, from pop punk to hard rock, from Audioslave to Marilyn Manson.

Though I had listened to “Addicted” and “Perfect” in 2003 and “Don’t Wanna Think About You” and “Welcome To My Life” in 2004, I only came to appreciate Simple Plan’s musicianship and songwriting prowess when I watched the music videos to “I’m Just A Kid” in January 2005 and “Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me)” in May 2005. If it was not for my classmate in biology who lent me a VCD, I would not have seen “I’m Just A Kid” and if I had not taken a vacation to my country’s capital, I would not have seen “Untitled”.

Get Your Heart On! (Image from de.lamusica.wikia.com)  

A long time would pass before I would love another song from the band. I had listened to “Jet Lag” featuring Natasha Bedingfield in the last quarter of 2013 and “This Song Saved My Life” just this month.

“This Song Saved My Life” is now my most favorite song from the group. A visit to Wikipedia tells me their album Get Your Heart On!, which was released in 2001 and where this song is track #11, tanked commercially, despite good reviews.

It breaks my heart to know that decent music acts such as Simple Plan can no longer sell records, especially in this age of social media. Damn these millennials for their poor taste in music.

Reflections on the music video’s theme

I can somehow connect the lyrics of the song to the storyline and theme of the music video. A lot of things – or memories – flooded into my mind as I watched the video over and over again.

Way back in 2005, I wrote an article on child labor for a media organization who partnered with a children’s rights advocacy group. A year later, I attended a lecture on workplace exploitation given by a worker’s rights activist, who revealed that most abuses against workers took place in the garments and construction sector.

A day in the life of a modern-day slave in a sweatshop

A colleague at work once shared to me that she was almost trafficked as a child. She got lost at a bus station. She happened to meet a stranger who claimed to know her parents. She could have gone with her, if not for a neighbor who spotted them. The stranger fled, leaving the child behind.

Should I also mention that in my country, there is a town that is a famous hub for child pornography? Search Cordova, Cebu, Philippines to know more.

After much reflection, I realized that not only child laborers, oppressed workers and other modern-day slaves are victims but also their employers, the human traffickers, and the modern-day slave traders and slaveholders.

In every political system… in every economic system, as long as greed, hatred and violence reign in the hearts of men, there will always be abuse and exploitation. There will always be victims. There will always be oppressors – they who do not know they are victims themselves too.

A call to action

I call on everyone to stand up against all forms of abuse and exploitation against all peoples.

I exhort everyone to argue within reason and treat people with respect, even if they differ in many ways.

It is time we make pornography, child trafficking and modern-day slavery history.

An undercover agent comes to the rescue. 

"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!