Mebuyan Peace Project’s new project

Geejay Arriola of the Mebuyan Peace Project emailed to survey what song, from the group’s latest project Mga Kuwentong Bata (Children’s Stories), people would like to watch as a music video. All twelve songs from the album revolve around the theme of a mother’s love for their children and all children.

Why not all of the songs?

Well, perhaps due to funding constraints — we’re talking here of the struggling artist-groups in Mindanao — they can only do one at the moment. (Calling funding agencies! This is one group you should pour your money into!)

So I went to their site to listen to the twelve songs they’ve posted. It is a tough decision to make.

Perhaps, I’ll choose the first song in the playlist: “Ili Ili (Huwag Mangamba).”

Perhaps you can help out? Just go to their site by clicking here.

The Jam

Yes! I found a copy of The Sound of The Jam! By serendipitous good luck, too.

I found myself at the mall, not the usual one where we usually unwind after a hard day’s work, and was just browsing around, killing time while waiting for C’s SMS that she’s done with her errands, when I saw a music store and told myself, why not, and so I went in.

I looked through the bargain bins, then to the shelves, found a CD or two that were interesting, paid for them and was about to leave when — from the corner of my eye — I saw something familiar. And there it was, the two CD and one DVD deluxe edition of The Sound of The Jam!

My cassette tapes of all my The Jam albums have been borrowed and never returned — you know who you are, by the way — and have been missing the sound of this brilliant band. I have Paul Weller’s latest solo album, but that — while in itself is a great album for me — isn’t the same thing as listening to The Jam.

So I’m off to try it out now. Will give you details of my nostalgic soundtrip later.

Life during wartime

Here’s some music by the Talking Heads that may seem appropriate for the times — what with heightened tensions looming across the horizon as government troops are bent on pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, and perhaps also Moro Islamic Liberation Front (jeopardizing the ongoing, if it’s not stalled, peace process) in the hinterlands of Basilan.

Anyway, since I’m feeling nostalgic for my youth, here’s another Talking Heads favorite: “Burning Down the House.” Indeed.

And who can forget the signature “Psycho Killer,” here stitched together from different footages with a young and gawky David Byrne spliced with his older savvy showman self.

Speaking of David Byrne, whatever happened to him? And to Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison, and Chris Frantz? Let me search that ….

(Video clips are courtesy of fuzz59 and dokan21.)

R.E.M. songs

Check out this site.

Thomas Dolby, B-52s, and Gary Thomson’s blog

Thanks to Gary Thomson for reminding me of the Thomas Dolby’s music, and that of the B-52s. I lost my vinyl records and cassette tapes of these musicians a long time ago. Check it out.

Thanks to Neon Boy of Jones Town

It’s been a long time since I wrote here last. That doesn’t mean in the hiatus I’ve been musically-deprived. Just lacked time, really, to log on about my life’s soundtrack.

I’ve wanted for so long to write about the music that made a difference to me — especially during my more impressionable years — and then, thanks to Neon Boy of Jones Town, I don’t have to because he captures exactly what I would’ve said about the Sex Pistols and John Lydon, and everything else surrounding punk music as it is regarded now. Take it away …

“God Save the Queen … “

Emo # 1

I thought this was just a passing trend. But it seems more and more students in my school are going emo — either dressing up somewhat like the kid pictured above (image from Wikipedia) or wanting to dress up like that (but don’t have the nerve). Whichever way they go, most are into listening to this kind of music. Writing assignments for classes would also yield several papers on the music or the culture. Which is really why it piqued my interest — I felt like a dinosaur.

Me who used to sport hair cropped at the sides and waxed into spikes at the top, who wore tattered and/or ripped black shirts and jeans and flipflops (because I live in a tropical country and DMs aren’t really working class shoes around these parts).

So here goes my investigation, taking into mind that I’m looking at it from my late ’70s and early ’80s punk and new wave shades…

I’ll keep you posted.