The Year in Songs

13 of the best acts and songs of 2013 and some of the oldies but goodies revisited this year.

2013 has been an interesting year for music...From mainstream pop revelations to newcomers on their way to stardom to dependable artists and their dependably good music, here is a rundown of 13 songs I've enjoyed, made memories to and most definitely will keep on replay even when 2013 is over. Enjoy!

J. Cole feat. Miguel Power Trip

 For Pete's sake, homie, pull it together

                  Just fuck her one time and be through it forever

But...

You can't sing, rap, write a song about love playing you like a game and make it sound, honestly sexy and effortlessly cool. J. Cole does just that. When Miguel starts singing in the chorus, followed immediately by J. Cole's persistent "we are, we are, we are...", you know you got yourself a song you'll be playing on those kinds of  nights, when all your broken heart could do is walk the streets and those orange lights alone and some drink in you. One of the-to borrow the term, sickest hip-hop, RnB hits this year. 

Sam Smith Nirvana

Oh you take me to Nirvana
I don't think this will last
But you're here in my arms

Listening to Sam Smith soar through  high notes and give justice to all the fantastic musical build-up of Nirvana's verses makes you want to cry. It's grand in terms of vocals, but humble because of its intimate, it's just-you-and-me lyrics. Definitely makes the perfect pair: handsome, dramatic vocals courtesy of Sam Smith and great, unbridled writing. It's one of 2013's little known gems of a sad love song. 

Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly Do What U Want

Sometimes I'm scared I suppose
If you ever let me go
I would fall apart
If you break my heart
So just take my body
And don't stop the party

Regardless what people say about Gaga, she still had an awesome year. ART POP is a serious (dancey) contender in the musical arena and people ought to give her more credit for versatility AND keeping all things Gaga still intact. Teaming up with the smooth R. Kelly on this one-the way he sang his verse was just perfect, makes it an addicting song, you'll have to stop yourself from listening to it after a while. Who knew someone as hardcore Pop as Lady Gaga would make great music with a straight-up RnB singer like R. Kelly.? That's why I still anticipate Lady Gaga...

Phoenix Trying To Be Cool

Cool
I'm just trying to be cool
It's all because of you
Some fanatic attitude
We're both on

Phoenix has always been an intelligent band. They set the standard for what people should be listening to next. Up and coming bands that fall under good, are paying homage to the Phoenix sound, and you couldn't blame them. Trying To Be Cool is poetic, mellow but undeniably done up in true Phoenix fashion, never missing  out on the energetic beat. Plus you can't ignore the well orchestrated music video. Watch and repeat.

One Direction Little Black Dress

Little Black Dress 
just walked into the room
Makin' heads turn
Can't stop looking at you

To us Directioners (yes, late bloomer here), we're all quite aware how much the boys have grown up. One Direction is slowly peeling off the bubble gum trading it in for new spirits, borrowing from 80s rock n' roll. Little Black Dress is an example of their new sound. Simply written but catchy and still fun like most 1D songs, credits go to Louis and Liam who co-wrote the track and with credits to all their more mature, rugged voices combined, it's definitely one of the better songs off their new album. 

Miguel feat. Kendrick Lamar

How many drinks would it take you to leave with me?
Yeah, you look good and I got money 
but I don't wanna waste my time

Miguel had a great 2013. He's finally warming up under the spotlight he's long deserved and talent like his should never go unnoticed. How Many Drinks is just one of his many, growing hits, that reminds people how sexy should sound like in music. And what's so amusing about this song too is despite its honesty (the lyrics will help you understand), it doesn't sound trashy at all. So, how many drinks will it really take you to leave with me? Good job, good job.

Ariana Grande feat. Big Sean Right There

And if you never change,

I'm gonna stay right there

By now you'd think every whistling, high-hitting female singer has dried up the Mariah Carey comparison, right? Until Ariana Grande made it to the big leagues. The Nickelodeon star does have the chops (and courage) to cover a Mariah Carey hit like Emotions and make it sound like we're back to the early 90s, when Mariah had cute, curly hair. I'm a fan of Ariana because I'm a Mariah Carey fan and also because her timing is perfect. At a time crowded with Mileys, Gagas, Katys, Taylors and everyone else in between, Ariana's sound- the sweet fusion of RnB, Hip Hop and Pop, will take you back to the late 90s to early 2000s when this was the sound of choice. While it's not new, it's refreshing. She proves how timing is indeed everything. We're counting down Ariana. The skies real soon.

An Open Letter (on) Miley Cyrus

Slutty because she's naked? A mess because she licks a sledge hammer?

Not really.

Dear 2013 and all that could see this video,

I don't know if you saw it coming, but I did. When Miley Cyrus was no longer Hannah Montana I knew that this would happen. It's not like ex-Disney stars have it in their contract or that they follow a formula, but if you've lived long enough-say at least 16 years, to see pop stars past their teens or at least verging on the end of their bubblegum days, you'll know that this is the route called "Growing Up", as in Pop Culture "Growing Up".

Ask me some years ago, maybe I'll find Miley Cyrus bothering. But I'm glad it's happening now, because I could speak better of the whole "situation". This is all opinion, okay, don't take this to heart.  Here it goes. If you grow up under the spotlight and most especially if you've been suited with such a massive franchise like Hannah Montana, you know it'll be difficult to escape it. Miley, will probably never be seen apart from Hannah. And that's just how it is. I was never a fan of the show. I never thought she was funny or that she was adorable. And that's because I'm not the market.

Miley however, I like a lot. She's got guts to go this far. She's got a vision for herself, a sure sound for her music and most definitely an expectation of the many things to come after this incredible repackaging. That's what I like about her. She is fully aware of the billions of parents and now teenage girls who looked up to her huge mouth, sinister bright pink jackets and annoyingly stiff long wig, who are far from pleased at all her tongue action, twerking and dressing down instances and she still pursued this new path. While this is true and it will pain old fans, Miley is an adult now and is opening herself up-quite literally, to a new crowd, an older set of listeners and viewers who may not always look like her or act like her, but enjoy and appreciate the shows and songs she puts on.


Wrecking Ball is trending online and has hit close to 20 million views in a span of less than 24 hours mainly because of two things. She's Miley Cyrus and she's naked. That's it. Those 20 million views, you could only account for a small percentage of people who actually care about the song. A chunk of that cares about her ass, her breasts, her licking a sledge hammer. And maybe it makes others feel better that they're not like her, I don't know. But am I the only person able to go past the sex and the video's implications of it? I don't know.

I like the song cause she sounds amazing. The lyrics are well-written. Her voice is rough and tender at the same time and she hits high notes like you're spreading butter on hot toast. She's that good a singer, if you think about it. And must we overlook how maturely she sings about heartbreak and how love, often times is a true losing game-thanks Amy Winehouse? I tweeted about this video saying something like, I honestly do not give a shit if Miley does full-on porn for this video, not because I don't mind or that for me it's right, but because her talent is way bigger than the antics she does. Period.

People see the dirty videos, the naked bodies, the boy-cut hair, the endless licking because it's all they want to see. Nothing else. They label her slut and other things, but I'm better off with all this out-in-the-openness than girls who act like ladies but are far from lady-like when no one's watching.

So when I finally finished the music video, I thought to myself, while Miley may not be leading the crusade for good morals and whatever, she never actually set out to head down that road anyway. Right? Maybe her Hannah Montana days were all about that. But Hannah Montana is long gone. While the shadow casts dark and looms large over her, it's quite stylish, honestly for people to move on and realize that, well, they can't have Hannah Montana forever (thankfully).

And the same goes for this new Miley. I'm sure when she grows older, she'll drop the twerking, let go of her tight white tops and bottoms and change into something more appropriate her age. That's the hope anyway. What I believe in in Miley is her talent, that voice and that youth that grants her many, many more years to come of experimenting, shocking and pleasing and most definitely music. Like one teen on YouTube's Teens React To episode for Miley, I too have a good feeling about this one.

While you can't stop haters from hating-it's their job, you can take note of the fact that it takes more for a woman (or man) to be slutty and qualify as a mess, that music is still about the music and that finally, this is all entertainment. Call the police on Miley, not when she's swinging on a wrecking ball in her undies, but when she does all the real slutty things to you-steals your husband, sells you drugs, you know, those biases you have.

But I do have to agree with the naysayers: lessen the tongue action. For the next video at least, don't lick anything edible or inedible. Thanks.

Won't Stop and Can't Stop,
Gerard

Video Music Awards 2013

Barclay's Center was a perfect, perfect venue!
From Google 

Yes, I did watch the VMAs. Twice. And I've got plenty of things to say. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know I was too active, too noisy yesterday. I mean, who wouldn't? If you're a fan of celebrities, music and culture, the VMAs is something you should never pass for anything. This year made up for an incredibly forgettable VMAs last year and it's that forgettable that for every performance you could recall without reviewing on YouTube you'll be getting a free cookie...from me. But seriously, this year was something else. 

Sunday Sound 2

YouTube is truly one of the better avenues for singers/artists to have their work picked up by anyone, from fans to fans who push for more and hopefully, eventually, record labels. Among the plenty of channels/artists on YouTube, there are five great singers I always go back to when I'm pretty tired of the usual suspects. If you have a YouTube account, these five are highly recommended for you to subscribe to or follow. And actually, they all share a certain sound to them that I think, is more of my taste in music and the kind of voice I PERSONALLY want to have. Enjoy!

Gabe Bondoc is easy listening. He's made some original songs that I personally feel will do good outside of YouTube. Mostly covers is what Gabe does, but he gives it this soft, almost sweet take on everything he covers. Even when they're sad, sad songs, he makes them sound good. He gives Chris Brown's Strip a little more romance and class, and it's beautiful.

Ebrahim I learned from my officemate, Joanne. Since then, I've been hooked. Love, love, LOVE his voice. He's covered Frank Ocean's Swim Good and made it sound, sorry Mr. Ocean, terribly better. He also has an original which I couldn't get out  my head, I'll Be Alright. But this cover shows you just how talented he is

and what good knowledge he has of music. Be patient on this one, cause it's all worth it.

Sunday Soul

You could never go wrong with great music. Music that just goes deep and cool and sounds terribly, terribly awesome. These songs will make you want to reach out at the top shelf and mix yourself a drink., yes, even when it's just a cold, cold glass of water. They're that good.

I highly recommend these songs. They suit lots of moods and still somehow play well into one playlist. It's Monday tomorrow, so better enjoy what you can and have. And maybe these songs get you by the work week too! Happy listening!

That brunette stunner, too beautiful. Plus the guys look all too well. And the song is amazing.
Nothing wrong here.

Nick Waterhouse is starting to shape up into one truly promising kid.
Can't wait to hear more from him. Gives you all that 50s-60s old school rock n' roll/R n' B vibe.

Miguel is pure talent. That's it. After I learned of him, there was no turning back.

Pull(ing) Me Down

Couldn't get enough of Mikky Ekko's Pull Me Down. Literally pulling me down here Mikky, you sound amazing it hurts. But really, I'm glad he has an official music video for this. Some of us mainstreamers have spotted the talent through Rihanna, which might be quite a long shot for other listeners--because you'll really find it hard to connect the two if you don't know what Rihanna's capable of aside from the party hits, but they sound well together AND have pulled out from each other, probably plenty of good thanks to their song Stay.

While you're figuring out who to listen to now if you're just like me, floating on a musical limbo, fill up your library with some Mikky Ekko (rhyming unintended). Personally this is a diamond. Like I've said before, it takes you somewhere, into some deep place and that sort of cross between the song's drag and beat does give off that impression of water, as if someone really is pulling you down. The lyrics is genius, I'll probably never get over I want you to know that I've got your back, Even when the whole foundation seems cracked just because it's so honest and candid and believable. And while it may sound like a truly sexy song--cause it is, there's a catch to it that there is always that chance that while he's offering herself to her completely, there's not one bit of assurance that she will pull him down. Hurts, I know, I know. But like most painful, beautiful songs, you'd just might want to take the risk cause if it sounds this delicious, I'm all in.

Check out Stay with Rihanna. Also Feels Like the End for something pretty (and) tragic. Sedated is more upbeat and could verge on some rocky vibe, but then it gets all cool and mellow, I couldn't even describe it properly anymore! He sounds like he could do a great bluesy record one day, I don't know. Just because I always like the challenge and the effect when singers get out of their element. I'm having my eyes on Mikky. While he sounds very familiar (Ryan Tedder), the overall feel to his songs combined with his high, soothing voice creates an atmospheric sound, like we're all always in slow motion, running through woods or swimming off in too far...And it's alll good. You'd like your music to take you away somewhere else, right?

- Gerard

Weekend Hits: Darker Now

Falling into the dark side...
Diego Fragoso for Slurp magazine @ models.com

Embrace the dark side...That's what I'll suggest to you right now. And no, we're not turning all evil and demonic here. It's just one of those phases you slip into when the things you've been liking fall under a certain mold or category and they all just work! For my Weekend Hits post I'm bringing together sight, sound and loads of sense on some things pretty sinister and while it's ironic, please enjoy!

>>> MIKKY EKKO's PULL ME DOWN

The video is like a spell, really. Keep watching.

My encounter with Mikky Ekko is thanks to Rihanna's new album, Unapologetic. Stay is my favorite track on her album and she sings it (pretty well) with Mikky Ekko. At first I thought it was Ryan Tedder, but then the song's credits obviously mentioned someone else. Then I went searching all over YouTube and landed possibly one of the coolest songs I've heard this month (definitely for the year too). Pull Me Down sounds like a long, night swim, the moon watching, stars hiding, and it's just you and this vast body of water. The video helps a lot with the song. The song itself is quite simple (he basically wants you to be his girl but sings it so damn good, you'd want to be a girl for him...) and it meets your expectations somehow, especially come chorus time, you'll find yourself smiling at how liquid and right it sounds. Mikky Ekko's songs all share that same, bittersweet quality about them, when you know love's not always loads of sparkles and sprinkles. He definitely puts you on that dark sink-and-swim feel you'll never want to rise from.

>>>> JERICH EUSEBIO DRAWS

Honoring & Overcoming by Jerich Eusebio
from his Facebook page

One of my best friends (since 5th grade) has been dabbling in the arts since I've known him: literature, theater, music, film, the fine arts, he's had some happy experience with. But as we've all grown old, it seems his forte lies heavily on the basic pen-and-paper, not as a writer yet, but as an illustrator. As a registered nurse, he's not 24-7 exposed to art and knowing him, he pretty much needs his dose of it at least once and a while. His solution? Draw with his trusty pens and pour it all out there. What he lacks in color, he makes up for in texture and detail, giving his images weight, depth and a sense that what he does, he wants to do well in his own terms. Honoring & Overcoming is my favorite. I'll have to talk to him first to know what it really means and who the image is, I'm thinking Jesus, but who knows...And what's most fascinating about his works, aside from his signature strokes and well-improved style, is his reference to so much of these dark elements and arts. The stories told behind the images, the references pulled out from the very best and cool of arts and fashion and literature and film, I mean, what he does has great potential. If only he had a space to share these images to others with...I'm quite lucky I have him on Facebook. So consider this, dear best friend, a baptism into the other side of the world. 

The Year in Songs

A year wouldn't be ending without the mandatory countdown/list of songs, books, people, etc. that have mattered during 2012, right? For one of my year enders I'll be writing about 12 songs I've discovered this year, arranged in no particular order. Some of them have been playing for years, some of them only released this year and after reviewing my ever trusty iTunes, I've listed down 12 of the most played songs in 2012.  This serves as a sort of soundtrack to my 2012 and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Gary Clark Jr. was one of the best new artists I've learned of online.

He sounds soulful and is also capable of sounding all gritty and rock n' roll.

Kind of our new Lenny Kravitz.

Things Are Changing is all cool and not one bit affected and it's a great song 

cause it's an honest yet classy way of saying "I want you, but not want you enough to keep you".

Meaning not to commit has never sounded this,well, lovable.

Still couldn't remember how I stumbled upon Mayer Hawthorne, but however it was I'm super happy I did.

Mayer Hawthorne's EP, Impressions covered some of the best old school songs and

You've Got The Makings of a Lover is possibly his catchiest cover.

From The Festivals, Hawthorne makes his cover sound smoother and in my ears, more like liquid, than

the original. It's just me. This one too has been around since May or June of 2011, but it still sounds golden today.

Frank Ocean was such a ground-breaking discovery that he managed to marry the hipsters and the mains into a happy marriage, which is quite impossible to achieve. We All Try is from Nostalgia, Ultra. 

The magic of this song for me is how it sounds. I remember downloading this the day I landed back in Manila after our summer US trip and having this as a cool-down after a run was perfect. It's Ocean's sweet voice, his accompaniment and that optimistic message it's all about that makes We All Try this feel-good, easy song. 

Whenever this comes on the radio, I can't help but sing along to it. Overcovered for sure, but it's cause
it's such a refreshing song. Rarely will you pay this much attention to a singer and a song and actually
want to keep on caring after the hype. Thinking About You is equal parts emotional and cool.
Plus this one really tugs at the heart.

Weekend Hits

I have to admit, I miss writing magazine-style updates on my blogs. It's the thrill of collating things, seeing them together and being able to tell a story that has gotten me interested and excited for years since I learned that I was capable of doing it. And while I rarely make the rounds these days, I've made sure to spare time  to write tonight about the things that I'm obsessing over and of course, give you a few cool things to keep you inspired and in the know during the weekend. WEEKEND HITS, coming your way!

Frank Ocean in the season's coolest sports coats with Odd Future.
Story by Amy Wallace & Photographed by Peggy Sirota
GQ December 2012

>>> OF COURSE I'll be obsessing over Frank Ocean appearing on GQ, why wouldn't I? This is like two of my favorite things coming together, like peanut butter and jelly or a cigarette and an ice cold mojito. The feature on Ocean is pretty packed, Wallace covers much of the artist's plans for his career (third album coming soon, I believe and will definitely wait for), that controversial letter on Tumblr of course and it gives you a glimpse into Ocean himself. You combine that story with Sirota's humorous, light photography and GQ's no-fail styling and you get yourself a good, good deal. Grab your copies, read the story and if your weather permits, plug into lots of Ocean and sport those damn good-looking coats...

The ML574 Mojito: mita sneakers X OSHMAN's X New Balance
High Snobiety

>>> I'VE WORN THE HELL out of my New Balance sneakers and have since been my go to shoe for dressed-down days. New Balance just is a trusty brand. When I saw the Mojito (my favorite drink too), I felt that hard beating in the chest and I know I've found a great purchase. Three brands come together, marking the collaboration with tons of those super cool "X"s for the Mojito: mita sneakers, OSHAMAN's and New Balance. The color way, materials and that leaf lock present a sure hit pair of sneakers that's bound to go massive and viral in no time. Imagine a slim black jacket, buttoned-up white shirt, lean black jeans and these? I just collapsed. It's that cool.

Latch

When Joanne at the office played this, my bosses were having a meeting and even when the volume was turned down, barely audible, I felt that click, how great songs make you just feel a moment the second you hear it. And you know what got us all hooked on this track aside from an already cool start and verse, is how it gets better. The build-up to the chorus just kills you, until all you'll ever want is to have the biggest party in the world with this on repeat. 

So I've ran to this song, walked far to this song, slept to this song, smoked to this song, you name it. It's that good. By now it's already one of the best tunes I've heard for 2012 and I have to salute Disclosure and Sam Smith for such a beautiful song. I've envisioned a music video to this one, ads even for probably perfumes, watches, hair products even toothpastes. And what I see is a shower, it's probably dark and really sexy with all those beautiful people you'd expect to star in videos. But the official music video is more quiet. I've always seen this song as intimate (cause it is about an intimate moment) but a bit grander than what the music video shows. But anyway, it still rocks. 

I'm not surprised Latch keeps going up the charts. It's heart-racing, puts you in a trance like you'd want to drown in this song forever and awfully too cool not to abuse the repeat button for. Someone on YouTube said the songs makes you want to have a relationship. I agree. Imagine if your first encounter with love sounded like this...Dear Jesus. Who wants to get it on?

If Disclosure goes here, I'll definitely get tickets. 

- Gerard

Skyfall

Daniel Craig for Skyfall 

A frustrated Bond movie-goer here: hope this suffices as a good disclaimer. I know little about the James Bond series, aside from the obvious facts. I didn't know exactly what it is that just didn't click with me with the Bond series. Growing up I've seen the music videos of Garbage and Madonna for the theme songs of the films, but I just didn't want to watch the films. Now some years older and having embraced the love for all things dramatic, super cool and sophisticated (spy movies, the Oscars, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Raid: Redemption, etc.) I understand all the fuss over Bond. Still, I just didn't see a good enough reason for me to actually watch. Maybe it was Pierce Brosnan that didn't sit with me well. My mom loves him and I couldn't blame her, he's handsome, very suave and British (all the qualifications of an ideal mister, he's probably got).

Thinking About Ocean

The letter.
Frank Ocean

I became a fan of Frank Ocean cause of my cousins back in Toronto (Kuya Louie and Missy. Thanks guys). Prior to a car ride of a few of his songs, I've heard of the man before and since I had No Church in the Wild in my library early this year, I have been exposed to him. People could be saying "Oh of course, you are a Frank Ocean fan..." cause everybody is and should be. The man has some lyrics worthy to wrestle with in Literature classes and his songs have some pretty dark and deep touches to them that you still want to listen to over and over again just cause it's that good. I was floored especially after listening to Thinking About You, Voodoo, We All Try, his version of Electric Feel which I find cute and a little funny, but still great and also Lovecrimes. Swim Good I've loved Ebrahim's cover more than Frank's, but it doesn't take away from the handsome depth to the song. For me he's given hip hop a fresh break. These are the moments I wish I knew more about music, the references, how things sound like this, etc., cause now all I could write about are impressions and just a dash of knowledge, but anyway, in light of recent events--as we all know, I have grown more of a fan of his.

And what's funny is that it's not even about the fact that he may be gay or not and that his "coming out" enlightened everybody, but it's more of his letter that I admire the most. To admit and put out in public things you'd rather keep private is almost not beneficial for anybody, especially for people who are under the spotlight. But for someone like Frank Ocean and other brave souls who have admitted to many things, I pay huge respect for. While somethings we own up to aren't really the purest of things we do, it takes more than courage to admit anything, be it good or bad. It takes a deep understanding of truth, maturity and knowledge of ones' self to even face reality, so putting it out there is heroic.

I am excited for Frank Ocean. I know the hip hop world or at least the perception of it is all gangsta, testosterone spilling all over the place, settling each other's issues with guns and in bars may not seem like the world that welcomes this kind of openness, but I am hopeful. After all, everybody's human and the best of the hip hop world, like all the best of art and music and literature, has in its heart everything that is human, I believe this wouldn't be such an issue. I am excited for Frank Ocean not just cause of his new album, his first under a major record label I think, but I'm excited that he has had the courage to just let it out there, this letter, that tells of his first love. I am sure we have all tried to make something as profound and I am but guilty of only attempting to do something this perfect, but it's the best letter I've read.

It was that good, that it took me back to younger days and it suddenly felt so fresh, I wanted to leave the office and cry it out. Everything you would want to read in a first love letter is here in Frank Ocean's. And what I incredibly admire about it is how honest it all is. He gives away just the essentials, wraps everything he is feeling (rejection, doubt, confusion, pain, love) in his trademark cool writing style and presents to you a chapter of Ocean's life that seems to touch most of us who have experienced something very similar. It's beautiful. Imagine Adele and Frank Ocean writing together... (this is me being a super fan)

After the letter, I've imagined the letter being the better, more detailed version of Thinking About You. Both are love stories done in such a way that listeners and readers have more to grapple with. While both have been fairly straightforward in their own ways, it's still not the kind to divulge everything, reason why I have high praises for Ocean. The finest books I've read as a student and a reader have these elements as their strongest qualities and I believe if Frank Ocean does start writing more than songs, he'll be one of the most talented and best voices our generation has ever seen.

And being an appreciator, I have to thank Frank Ocean for this. It gives me security as a writer, music fan, reader and all around person that out there exists still great writing, great love and great human beings.

- Gerard

Salt Bites: Six For The Weekend

Mr. Neff and Mr. Bond at the background. Loving the bracelets on the stylist by the way.
amfAR 2012

How was the weekend everybody? Hope you all enjoyed the hot two days off. 

As for myself, I'm pretty drained this weekend, like I always am. Since I got a job, I reserve my nights out for Saturdays. So the drill will be something like, go out around 7 in the evening, get home at the latest at 5 in the morning, wake up at around 7 something in the morning for mass and then just get on with the day. So it's pretty normal for me to be all grumpy and unproductive on a Sunday. 

But anyway, I've been blessed with enough time this weekend so I've given myself a breather to discover some new things, things that I love occupying myself with. I'm making Salt Bites a permanent section and post for my blog so we're all updated on things that are inspiring, exciting and worth knowing. So click and read on to see what I'm happily sinking my teeth, time and thought in for this weekend.

Male Supers & Madonna

Maybe it's about f-ing time guys get the spotlight and have the titles "Supers", right?

And what better way to prove that point than to have Madonna put these four super males for her latest video.

Sean, Simon, Jon and Rob... Although I'm not too keen on Rob, but hey, I'm no hater plus when Madonna and models.com has say on it, then it's the word.

- Gerard

Sunday Sound: Bright Talent

Gary Clark Jr. promises you, you're gonna know his name, as Bright Lights says.

Well it might be difficult to remember since his name I've easily lost between Gary Cooper and Clark Gable. But that's me. And that's me before hearing him. After experiencing a few replays of his Bright Lights I considered myself hooked and in awe. Gary Clark Jr. is one of the best reasons why the South is so fascinating. The South makes great music, music that's pure soul and just electrifying and for them, it's never hard to live up to what they'reknown for (Elvis, as an example) cause they're just full of talent, both discovered and untouched. 

Stars

Happy to have received, as 2011's last gift for me from my dear best friend Jerich, the Adele DVD of her concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Scouting for a gift for him and for my Tita Sharon, I saw the DVD and I knew I needed it in my life. As I've said to my sister, the motto for 2012 is "things you don't need will make you ugly" (proud to have coined it, hoping no one's ever thought of the exact line before hahaha), but this one, I understood was a necessity-though created, it still is needed. Thank God Jerich bought for me.

So almost all the songs I love. All of them. But what really hit me was when Adele "The Goddess" started talking about Make You Feel My Love and how, after Amy Winehouse's death, she started dedicating it to one of  her biggest influencers and one of the world's most celebrated artists. In classic, recent concert style, she asks her audience to use their phones or cameras for lights. So she starts singing, the lights go down and all you'll see is a hall full of swaying blue lights.

"She can see us now." Adele says of the late Amy. And to make things better, more dramatic, more painful, a huge disco ball descends from above, white lights projected onto it and it creates just this moving (in all sense of the word) atmosphere. It was beautiful. I would've loved to be there and just stay there for as long as I could. It makes you want to cry or at least feel incredibly at awe over such a simple yet beautiful thing.

So she sings the Bob Dylan original and the Royal Albert Hall looks like a swirl of stars in space...Like a milky way. With Adele's voice like honey, it's a recipe for heartbreak, for peace, for a haunting...It's just that beautiful. And what makes it more touching is when people sing along to it. It kind of reminded me of that Justin Timberlake performance of Until The End of Time at the Madison Square Garden (that too, I have a DVD of. Thanks mom)... Though different songs, they both achieved a mood, a feeling that lingers. Pure magic, I tell you.  

Of course, she follows it up with Someone Like You as the second-to-the-last song and I had to tear up at the end of the song, especially after she tells the story behind it. 

It's one of the best gifts I've ever received since birth and I am so thankful to Jerich for this. I've kept watching since Saturday and it's incredibly official, I am an Adele fan. Mainstream pop she may be, but it's actually just as cool as those artists you'd never find on iTunes or on Google. 

I highly-recommend you spend good money on this cause this one will be a real deal in the future. Trust me.
After watching it, I suddenly wanted to revive my singing and make out of it, a serious career. Haha. Oh well.

-Gerard

Sunday Sounds

So here's the deal, I'm a huge music junkie and by that I mean, going-all-smiley-on-great-songs (instead of the true blue music fanatics who know every little thing about the art). And a good playlist does wonders for me: I could run better, faster, I could accomplish more, I could read better, I could write a hundred times better and just plainly be better. I've tried going on for a week, not listening to the songs I like and instead just letting whichever song's playing pass by and I felt incredibly miserable. 

This day, I'm making sure that I won't be miserable. I've loads of work to do and to make things easier and better for me, I've tuned in to YouTube for good Sunday sounds. I'm sharing the playlist for you guys, in hopes of making your Sunday sound, well, a little cooler! Enjoy!

Eliza Doolittle doing a splendid cover of Beyonce's "Party".

Love her. Love Beyonce. Love "Party".

I'll never forget my very first encounter ofOnra, thanks to ROGUE. 

Since then I've considered myself a frustrated Onra fan. Onra just is, the coolest I've heard.

And I love how he takes old Chinese tracks and spins them into an entirely new and fresh beat.

(His Chinoiseries---1 & 2, are all fascinating)

I'll keep saying this. Best CD I've ever purchased is John Mayer's "Where The Light Is Live in L.A."

And cause Jasmine "Sexy Girl" Curtis-Smith reminded me how good this song was.

I have to thank my cousin, Kuya Louie for introducing me to Allen Stone.

If I sounded like this, I'd probably be really really rich by now and famous.

Walk to this song. Or better yet, pound the pavement to this one.

"Sick" as they all say it is. :)

Smooth and sexy and all around soulful, in a more poetic sense this is like your first cigarette after months of sobriety. 

Again, I claim no expertise in music...This is all personal taste and it may sound a little off for a playlist, but it works for me. Okay, I'm off to work! 

- Gerard

The Walk

I. LOVE. MAYER. HAWTHORNE.

Period.

His old school voice, this video, his style and just everything about him I worship. Now I couldn't remember how I stumbled over Mayer Hawthorne, but I'm sure that the coolest Lourdesian I know, Paolo Ramos, likes him too. 

So...This one's just genius.

I hope that by the time I do go back to the states---which is next year, I'd get to see him somewhere. 

- Gerard

The Heart Breaker

For my birthday, I want to see them.
I just hope that by my birthday I finally have someone significant to share it with, just so that when I see them live, the lyrics won't get to me as much.

I'm kidding, you could shoot me now. Up Dharma Down has always been such a heart-breaking band. They're proof that most great writing whether it's for music, literature or just a plain blog entry, involves a lot of tragedy and loss and confusion and anger (and of course, the omnipresent love). Don't you agree? But don't ever confuse a bitter, pathetic angry post with great, tragic writing okay? There's an ocean of a difference.

So I haven't given myself time to digest what Armi sings here, but surface value is already a 100 for me. What more if I finally get to sit down and read the lyrics, right?

God bless them for capturing how pain ought to sound like (in my opinion at least).

Such a great band.

- Gerard

Love Is A Losing Game

Amy Winehouse came to my life at an opportune time. You know how books, movies, songs, artists and other things suddenly enter your life at the moment that you felt you needed them most? For me, Amy Winehouse was the voice for a phase in my life that I couldn't really give one to. It wasn't just because she had catchy songs or songs that sounded fresh and new, but for me it was a connection, a relation to her words, to how she sings...And I've loved her since. Love Is A Losing Game felt like my song during a time and until now whenever I listen to it, a loop of memories would go rolling in my head. Her other songs are also favorites like Just Friends, Wake Up Alone and a lot more.

I claim no pure knowledge of her and her life or who she sounds like and who her references are. All that mattered to me was that she was here, singing songs I wish I could've written or sung or heard and songs that have compressed feelings I've felt within 3-4 minutes. 

So obviously, the news of her death just left me incredibly sad. Despite her problems, Amy Winehouse was a genius...Though troubled, she was one of the more human singers of recent history and for me it's amazing that way. Sure I wish she could've gotten herself together. But life's that way sometimes...

What's most admirable about her is how honest she is...Her lyrics are as telling as how she is in public and I believe that the reason why people love and hate her is cause of this. You can only expect honesty, purity and transparency from so little of the people we see today and Amy Winehouse was one of them. 

What I've learned from her is that in life's weakest moments, there is always strength you could muster, strength to face them through music and strength to share your life to the world, for who we are and what we're made to be is destined just for that...

Now, you deserve all the peace the afterlife could afford you...

Rest In Peace Amy

- Gerard