Some birthday thoughts

For those reading this entry right now, let me ask you this:

So what do you usually do during your birthday?

I celebrated mine with less fanfare yesterday. And yet, the saying that “less is more” was what happened.

Got bombarded with text messages of birthday greetings though. Hahaha.

There’s this basketball court at the back of the house where I stayed, and as I shot the ball to the net, images of what is to come based on my future plans flooded my mind.

The anticipation felt great.

As the night rolled by, I got a final text message from someone special.

She told me about waiting for this special event to come, and we know that this finally coming true for both of us may now be getting closer than ever.

I smiled at the thought before finally calling it a day.

Reading at Powerbooks

As a creative person, it helps to be exposed to anything that could stimulate the imagination, and in my case at the onset of the main development of this upcoming major project conceived during the last quarter of last year. So yesterday that’s what exactly I did.

Watching The Bourne Ultimatum and its endless chase scenes and shaking camera shots was one way, and reading at Powerbooks was the other.

Reading at the place, specifically at the Greenbelt branch where there are seats strategically placed around the area for you to relax and read your book of choice, was a welcome rediscovery after weeks of work. It really opened up my thinking on a lot things and what I wanted to do on the next months to come.

When creative people meet

As I write this blog, it’s raining outside, and great music is being played at the background.

It’s always great whenever I get the chance to talk and hang out with another fellow artist. The discovery of learning that she/he does the same interests as you do, sees life in the same light, maybe even own some nice sense of humor or spark of inspiring enthusiasm or gentle warmth coming from within; the simple things we take for granted sometimes.

So yes, I look forward hanging out with creative people, to learn something from them, appreciate their works, laugh with them and share with them these God-given abilities.

Makes this ride all the more interesting.

Whatever It Takes

Moving.

This is how I describe the song “Whatever It Takes”, the second song I listened from the newest album of alternative rock band Lifehouse.

In the midst of my work as a film critic and music album reviewer, here’s a song which would help me go through the challenges of the week to come, right after an intense three hour business brainstorming meeting last night.

Whatever It Takes has the formula of a successful song: a catchy and refreshing midtempo melody, smooth vocals from Lifehouse singer Jason Wade, and of course lyrics that people like me could relate; as the song says that we all make mistakes, but once we acknowledge it, we could always turn things around, “Whatever It Takes”.

I posted the lyrics of the song below. Read it and then listen to the song. I’ll bet afterwards you will understand what I mean when I say that this song rocks. ;)

“Whatever It Takes”

A strangled smile fell from your face
It kills me that I hurt you this way
The worst part is that I didn’t even know
There’s a million reasons for you to go
But if you can find a reason to stay

I’ll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what’s at stake
I know that I’ve let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I’ll keep us together
Whatever it takes

She said if we’re gonna make this work
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Don’t hide the broken parts that I need to see
She said like it or not it’s the way it’s gonna be
You gotta love yourself if you can ever love me

I know you deserve much better
Remember the time I told you the way that I felt
And that I’d be lost without you and never find myself
Let’s hold onto each other above everything else
Let’s start over, start over, start over

I’ll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what’s at stake
I know that I’ve let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I’ll keep us together
Whatever it takes

Fudge magazine

Check out the August issue of Fudge Magazine. It’s a magazine that features topics on movies, music and tv.

It has the band Bamboo on the cover and has very interesting articles which includes an article I wrote on the debut album of Pinoy Dream Academy finalist Chad Peralta.

Walk The Line

Watched the movie Walk the Line last night, starring Joaquin Phoenix as rock & roll hall of famer Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his fellow musician and love interest June Carter.

It narrated the story of Cash from his very humble beginnings, his meteroic rise to success, the trials he had to overcome, and the undying love he felt towards fellow singer June. It was a moving film brought about by brilliant acting from both Phoenix and Witherspoon.

Watching the movie provided the following life lessons:

1. Go after your dreams and pursue your passion
2. Remain true to yourself
3. Everybody makes mistakes and if given another chance, make the most of it
4. If you love someone then let her know.

About the end of the world

In the midst of this rainy Wednesday, having one of those sleepless nights because of the interesting events about to come, I decided to discuss things apocalyptic.

So how will the world end?

Ever since I got the thrill of watching Transformers the movie animated version and read books about the subject matter, stuff related to an apocalyptic theme usually catches my attention. One of the poems I wrote that got published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer site carried the same mantra as well.

I have thought about what if the world will end, and I will be there to witness it. For me, such a moment brings out feelings of fear, yet still having hope and faith at the same time.

Which is also why I am interested in the following sights and sounds:

1. Millenium tv series
2. Independence Day movie
3. Heroes tv series
4. Goo Goo Dolls song Before It’s Too Late
5. Ryan Star song Back Of Your Car
5. X 1999 anime tv series

This is not to say that I like this theme because it will end as such. I always believe, that despite the doom and gloom, there will always be light at the end of the fog.

Before It's Too Late

The timing has never been great that music from my favorite alternative bands have been going strong lately, led by the newest single of the Goo Goo Dolls entitled “Before It’s Too Late” which is part of the Transformers Movie soundtrack.

This and the constant listening of Daughtry’s “Home”, along with music from Toad the Wet Sprocket, Lifehouse and Splender helps balance the busy month of August and further helps move towards the music goals set.