An (almost) day-to-day online archive of recorded thoughts, pictures and mediocre events being shared from some random person living in the same world you are.
As I had stuck out my neck and mentioned in my last post, I really want to see Charice Pempengco do well in her music career. (Don't judge me! ... ok maybe I deserve it.) Yesterday, she released her international debut single called, "Note to God" on Oprah. It's produced by David Foster and written by Diane Warren, but I was initially disappointed upon finding out that the song was first sung by JoJo in her sophomore album, even though it wasn't much of a success then. The song-writer, Dianne Warren, was at Oprah's show to watch Charice, so I don't know what that's about.
ANYWAYS,...
Super quick follow up:
- YOUTUBE: Dozens of videos on her latest performance on Oprah (May 18th) have been uploaded on Youtube. When I was on the home page, I saw one of them under Most Popular in the sub-category titled "Travel & Events."
- SALES: As of today, she's doing OK on iTunes and Amazon with her debut single in the Top 5.
- NEW WEBSITE BY WARNER: Warner Music Records just launched her brand new website either yesterday or the day before. www.ChariceSings.com
Um... so yea. That's all the research I'll do. Haha. Bloody final tomorrow morning. Here's her performance on Oprah just yesterday.
I really should be doing my take-home finals right now. There are so many things I need to do this week before leaving for Germany.
A few days ago, I decided to check out why Oprah seems so interested to jump start this now 17-year old's music career. Most child stars don't get very far in the music industry once they start having to sell their own albums and singles. To me, it would be like spending money on Kidz Bop mp3 songs for myself. Out of my own free will. Or playing a Bianca Ryan CD on a road trip with my college friends in the back seat. I'm impressed with their singing abilities at such young ages, but I wouldn't want to be caught with any of their songs on PLAY on my iPod.
Yet after watching many of Charice's performances online, I find myself really truly wanting to see her music career become successful. She is an incredible singer and performer. She's had plenty of standing ovations, but realistically, those are very common with child stars. She may be able to move thousands to their feet for applause, but will she learn how to earn enough respect to move people towards purchasing her songs? What she needs to do now (and here's my advice to her as the PR music guru we all know I am) is to redefine her image from being known as an Oprah-grown "little girl with a big voice" star to being recognized and respected as an international singer and musician.
She's had so many performances to date, so I tried to choose 5 different videos of Charice Pempengco that I think most exemplify her skills as an extremely talented singer. (And in my defense, what impressed me most about her.)
So please,... Don't judge me. haha. Seriously, man. Don't.
A compilation of her two appearances on South Korea's "Star King"
Her first performance became popular on the internet, giving way to being "discovered." My initial reaction was a quick and cynical "WTF??" Then I started to laugh at the Koreans' reactions and how they complimented Charice on her performance. Funny people.
During an interview days before her appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show
A squeaky clean a capplla impromtu. What I would give to sing like that. haha!
"Ti lascio una Canzone" Rehearsals
According to this video's info, it was during a 4 p.m. rehearsal after Charice flew in from the Philippines.
Carousel of Hope 2008
They gave her a standing ovation, but will they buy her album? haha. Sorry, but at this point, I don't think so.
A Pres. Obama pre-inaugurational ball highlighting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
One of the best renditions of this song I've ever heard.
You know those songs that make you just want to stop whatever you're doing and listen? And before you know it, the song has flooded your mind with memories of someone or a situation close to your heart. These two songs did that to me today. I couldn't get back to my studying without feeling like I needed to take a nature walk by myself or something. Just beautiful.
"The Book of Love" covered by Peter Gabriel, originally sung by Magnetic Fields
"I Find Your Love" by Beth Nielsen Chapman
The Book of Love The book of love is long and boring/No one can lift the damn thing/It's full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing/But I/I love it when you read to me/And you/You can read me anything/The book of love has music in it/In fact that's where music comes from/Some of it is just transcendental/Some of it is just really dumb/But I/I love it when you sing to me/And you/You can sing me anything/The book of love is long and boring/And written very long ago/It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes/And things we're all too young to know/But I/I love it when you give me things/And you/You ought to give me wedding rings/And I/I love it when you give me things/And you/You ought to give me wedding rings/And I/I love it when you give me things/And you/You ought to give me wedding rings/You ought to give me wedding rings
I Find Your Love I'll catch your smile on someone's face/Your whisper in the wind's embrace/Through diamond stars and songs and dreams/I find your love in everything/The sun, the sky, the rolling sea/All conspire to comfort me/From sorrow's edge life's beauty seems/To find your love in everything/I've come to trust the hope it brings/To find your love in everything/Even as I fall apart/Even through my shattered heart/I'll catch your smile on someone's face/Amazing grace
After reading the last of The Rocky Mountain News and Hearst's plans of closing San Francisco Chronicle, the reality of today's swift and painful transition towards the extinction of U.S. newspapers has finally hit me. Hard. The Rocky Mountain News has published its last edition today. It is one of the top two newspapers in Colorado and among the largest newspaper institutions in the nation, yet its 150 years of publishing could not have saved it from closing. This is their final video -- a heartbreaking tribute to the newspaper, its journalists and the community whom they had served.
There's snow on Mt. Hamilton. We just celebrated Tito Lucas' 4th birthday on Sunday. The Steelers won the Super Bowl (your daddy was cheering for the Cardinals). All peanut products may contain salmonella, so we haven't been buying any (except for maybe your Tita Dani). Your Tita Cassandra was in the homecoming court. Your titas Celeste and Jenna scored during their basketball games. And as of Valentines Day, you have so many balloons, it's like they'll just float away carrying the giant chunk of dirt that's attached to the end of their strings.
It's been so long since we've seen you. Your family is missing you so much. I can't imagine what your parents are going through right now, and I don't know how else to help them. All I can do is pray. They are so strong, but it's so hard to see them missing you so much. You are such an inspiration, and your story helps keeps us going. You held on longer and stronger than any one of us ever could have, and you had already achieved your purpose in life while it'll take the rest of us some time to catch up.
I don't want to be selfish by expressing how only I feel, but the more time goes by, the harder and scarier it becomes to heal. I miss taking your pictures. I miss waiting for you to wake up so I can see your shiny eyes. I miss you staring back at me with that "who are you again?" look. I miss playing with your tiny toes and feet. I'm sorry I didn't kiss you when I last held you. I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures of you. I'm sorry I didn't take the time to visit you more often. During this past Saturday, a woman in San Francisco saw my button of you on my camera strap and asked if you were my baby or nephew. I told her you're my nephew. I wanted to tell her how much you are missed. How amazing you are. How you changed the lives of so many people for the better. How much pain your little body had to endure. How time and time again you defied doctors' expectations. But I didn't. She started talking about how she had made buttons of her sons. The store was busy, so I had to keep moving. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think of you and how much pain your parents are going through, but I'm terrified of the day that will ultimately come when that will no longer remain true. I miss telling my friends about your latest miracles. I still struggle to hold back the tears that come when it's time to share prayer requests during Bible study. Our lives are but a vapor. It is in Him where our strength lies and Whom we run to for comfort. What a joy. What a comfort it is to know. No more suffering. No more pain. I will see you again. Your tita misses you...
Nathan James Avila Andaya Sunrise: January 25, 2008 Morning Glory: January 11, 2009
I couldn't stop smiling at this picture from SFGate.com's Day in Pictures.
Aside from the obvious, there's just something comically familiar about their heads of hair. What could it be? I can only imagine... An upset llama-lion hybrid questioning why the hairy face? Or is it his chocolate buddy who reminds me of the kangaroo version of Sideshow Bob? Or a Mupppets character with hair styled by Phineas and Ferb.
MUSIC OF THE DAY "The Light" by Common. Here's a little hip-hop for you n me. Even though it's a pretty old song, today marked my first time listening to it. It's quite the laid-back kind of song. Fo sho. Izz dope yo.
PHOTO ESSAY OF THE DAY Marlboro Marine. A three part photo essay with narration told by the U.S. marine himself. Photojournalist Luis Sinco was assigned to Iraq, and one the photos he took was of U.S. marine Blake Miller. Sinco's photo has since been called to be one of the most iconic images of the war in Iraq. This photo essay is of how Miller struggled through depression after returning to the U.S. as an Iraq war veteran. WEBSITE OF THE DAY www.FreeRice.com. I found out about this site through my cousin Dani. You can expand your vocabulary while helping feed the hungry. Tah VIDEO OF THE DAY On Dec. 6, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosted "the dream match" of boxing with champions Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao won by a mile. It was nearly 60 dollars to see the match live on HBO, so we didn't watch it that night. A week later, HBO aired it (for free). I didn't see it, but my uncle recorded it, so my family as yet to borrow the dvd from him and watch the whole thing. Yeeee!! Here's a video, wonderfully edited by Youtube user Othe12sid3, that displays several highlights from the match.
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