Always a fan of Indonesian pop music scene, i was not aware that the Philippines also have some great bands too… til i saw this clip on tele the other day.
The Rivermaya had been around since the 90′s. Their music evolves from hard-rock, pop, acoustic, metal and such.
The Bali Song
The Bali Song was actually released in year 2003. This is the re-make released recently this year.
You’ll Be Safe Here
These 2 clips were chosen as the first Asian artists to have full-length music videos featured on the Star World Channel (Star World is known for giving top-rated US and UK entertainment to Asia).
Thumbs up! *toes up too! Over-the-top, corny (hey it’s so corny, the name of the host in the movie is Corny!) but enjoyable movie.
The beginning was a bit boring but got better throughout the show. The lead played by Nikki Blonsky was very annoying. She was so unbelievably hyper, i wished she was an Energizer bunny. *if i could just get hold of the batteries! However, superb performance from other casts and catchy songs were enough to make up for it.
Cheesy stuff i noticed from the movie:
1) Tracy Turnblad sounds like Tracy Turnblack coz she befriended negros. *duh!
2) Tracy’s black hair with white highlights on her fringe. Her hair was dyed after she got caught doing the dance steps her negro friends taught her.
John Travolta was surprisingly quite good as a woman. There were some scene where he kinda over-act a little but nothing too much. I’m not a Travolta fan but he’s really likable and adorable in Hairspray! *so cute i can die! And omg he can really dance… yeah even in prosthetics and dress haha.
Hairspray is worth a watch if not just to catch John Travolta shaking his bon-bon in drag :P
I hit jackpot! I’ve never seen GSC in 1 Utama so empty in my life!
It’s usually insanely packed with insane people *who would line up for an hour or so for impossible movie tickets??. The queue would be so extremely long, people would either give up or the screen would be blinking (limited tickets!) by the time they get to the counter.
I totally had to take some photos!
The staff dozing off
No nice movies??
Are the movies getting worst or is everyone in Matta fair?? Maybe everyone favors Cathay now… Hmmm…
Pleasant chit chat with a certain someone left me feeling nostalgic. We talked about music, the past songs we listened to and the present. Made me miss those good ol’ days in school. Made me wonder about my taste and selections in music.
Memory lane…
Alanis Morissette **************
The first ever cassette i bought was Alanis Morissette’s. Not her first album released but it was her best. Her style of music was different. Hippie and rebel persona. Dramatic voice. Self confessional bald-faced lyrics. Best for screaming your heads off at karaoke sessions. Anger management therapy *yeah, those were the days. And who could forget her long long hair! I was an Alanis wannabe *not funny.
‘Ironic’, Heads Over Heels, Hands in My Pockets…My personal fav is ‘You Learn’ *sublime. Her albums after ‘Jagged Little Pills’ were just so-so, although i still listen to few selections of her songs.
My frist Alanis ~ Jagged Little Pills (1995)
NOW WHAT?
Truck loads of awards. Extensive tours and unplug concerts. Recorded soundtrack *remember ‘Uninvited’?. Made MTV in the nude. More scathing lyrics. Chopped of her long hippie hair. *boo hoo. Admitted being a homo and smoked pot. And recently recorded this *O_o
‘My Hump’. Familiar?
Backstreet Boys *************
My first BSB ~ Backstreet Boys (1995)
I loved these guys! Still do *i do!. Up-tempo music, great voice, even better harmony. I fell in love with their acapella act. Back in the 90′s, I used to listen to them every single day, everywhere. In the car going to school, back from school, in my room before taking a nap, before going to bed at night *i think you get the idea @_@. Remember the nice MTVs?… ahhh…
NOW WHAT?
After years of hiatus, the back-together album in 2005 released was a run from their original pop style. The single ‘Incomplete’ received massive support. *was da bomb!. Now they’re back with just 4 members (minus Kevin). The latest album, ‘Unbreakable’ to be released in October. I’m watching out for it :). Truly unbreakable.
911 ***
My first 911~The Journey (1995)
OMG! I remember going for their showcase in Kuala Lumpur during high school years. All my classmates used to have their pics on the cover of their school folders. I still have 2 of the cassettes in my store room. Looking back, i have no idea why i was chasing after these guys. Extremely embarrassing. *oh, sue me!
Good lord! ‘The bodyshakin’. I can’t believe this move was ‘the fad’ in those days.
Remember this??
NOW WHAT?
They eventually split up *thank god. Lee (the looker) got married and got a job playing Peter Pan in theater *no. I was not one of his fans. Jimmy (the old hag) still trying to stay in the music scene joined a new wannabe boyband Upper Street which turned out to be a disaster. Spike (the dancer) proved to be most successful, set up a youth program teaching kids dance choreography.
Hanson ******
My first Hanson~Middle of Nowhere (1997)
Who could resist this cute band. The acapella was great but they sounded a lil’ like chipmunks *wakaka. Catchy catchy acoustic tunes that i used to hum all the time. ‘Mmmbop’ was so popular i could hear it at every nook and corner. Hanson was the first well-known ‘kiddy’ band which paved the path for other bands like The Moffats.
NOW WHAT?
All 3 brothers are happily married! With Taylor being he first to get married, now with 3 kids. Isaac on the other hand got hitched last and had just welcomed his first child *congrates. Career wise, all is good. Earlier this year they had released a docu-series in iTunes and in July released another album ‘The Walk’. *look out for the song ‘Watch Over Me’ and ‘Running Man’! Again the songs in this latest album sounds very catchy and some songs sound very…um… ‘Hanson’ but very modern rock. Nice album. Full length of songs available for preview at the official website.
