The Bloomfields – The Bloomfields
EMI

Tracks:
1. At The Hop
2. Girl from Ipanema
3. Alam Mo Na Yun*
4. If I Fell
5. Ale
6. Never Let Her Slip Away
7. You’re Gonna Lose That Girl
8. Wala Nang Iba*
9. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
10. The Way I Care*
11. Surfer Girl
12. Iskul Bukol
13. Say You Do*
14. King Creole
15. Little Honda
16. Walk On By
17. Please Don’t Go*

* composed by Jayjay Lozano and Rocky Collado

I don’t listen to radio that much. If I do, it must be Sunday – Sunday morning. You know what that means.

Yes, I like “daddy music”.

I dunno. Maybe because they are easier to the ears. Maybe because the focus is more on the vocals than the noise. Maybe because they are simpler.

That’s why I like The Bloomfields.

I was aware of this band back when I was still working at Eastwood. I saw tarpaulins along Eastwood announcing the bands who would perform at Fuente Circle. When I saw The Bloomfields, the first thought that came to me was “Beatles wannabees”. So they faded into memory.

Fast forward a year later. I saw them perform at an early morning show. They were singing “Ale”. The first thought that came to my mind was “cool!” And then I told myself that this band warrants a review.

So Friday last week I went to SM Megamall to get a copy of their album (plus that of Miguel Escueta). Incidentally, my one-year-old Altec Lansing earphones went bust (the right side, to be exact), so I bought this Philips in-ear headphones.

So the earphones being the primary purchase target, I made comparison shopping first, and to my surprise, The Bloomfields was performing at Building A for their mall tour. I took a peep.

And I was surprised to see myself enjoying the performance.

Anyway, their first album has 17 songs, five of them original compositions. The choice of covers were eclectic, from Elvis Presley to The Beatles. Iskul Bukol was an odd choice, but it’s a rock and roll tune, after all.

It is hard to review this album, because I like all the songs. Heck, it’s on my iPod, and it’s the current playlist, accompanying me to and from work. It is rather embarassing to see yourself singing along while at the MRT, and I am afraid that one day I might just do that unconsciously! That’s how much I like this album.

The album started with a bang, a veritable 60s rock and roll staple, “At the Hop”. Very catchy, and unfortunately this my LSS song. Everyday. Can’t help myself singing “Let’s go do the hop”. Promise, I was singing this one night on my way home, walking while it was raining. (Now I am embarassed.)

The next song was the videoke staple “Girl from Ipanema”, which is really not one of my favorites. But the band did this song with justice.

“Alam Mo Na Yun” follows, and is the first among the original compositions for this album. The lyrics were simple, repetitive, with the odd English-Filipino lines combined. You know, “alam mo na yun/you know what I mean”. They followed it up with The Beatles classic “If I Fell”, and somehow, the acoustic guitar is missing in this version.

Somehow, I am surprised by “Ale”. The original did not impress me much when it was first released, but somehow the band was able to put a new (old) spin to this song. And imagine the drummer as the lead vocals in this song performing live. “Never Let Her Slip Away” was played in 60s mode.

Another Beatles classic, “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl”, was played almost exactly as how it was originally played (except that the bongo-like percussion is missing in the cover version), although a bit faster. “Wala Nang Iba” is another Collado-Lozano collaboration. This is a nice song, vocals wise.

One criteria that I use when I gauge a song is simple: if I can easily catch the lyrics, it must be OK. However, I just can’t do that with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”. The fact that this song has higher vocal range does not help; it must be a challenge for the band to sing, specially live.

Among the original songs, “The Way I Care” is the best, vocals-wise. You know, “And I———— will take you hand”. It has simple lyrics, simple melody, simple message – which makes this one LSS prone for me.

I’ll skip “Surfer Girl” – it’s the least likeable song in the mix (I just don’t like the song). As for “Iskul Bukol”, someone among them sounds uncannily like Joey de Leon. “Say You Do” is another original, simple and easy to the ears.

Two powerhouse covers follow – “King Creole” and “Little Honda”. The latter is a very fun song, specially if you are travelling. I wonder why Honda is not using this song for their motorcycle ads.

“Walk on By”, a Bacharach classic, is another surprise. This is the kind of song that bitter, broken-hearted people can relate to (most specially if you the other person regularly).

“Please Don’t Go” is in Filipino. Odd title, no? I think this is the weakest among the original compositions. The ending vocals sounded as if they lost power. I wish they put a much better song at the end.

Overall I really like their rookie outing. What I don’t like is the CD case. The outer casing is cardboard, light-colored, thus susceptible to dirt. Mine has several on it.

WHAT I LIKE:
What is there not to like?

WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
The CD case.

Online Reviews:
* Daddy music from The Bloomfields
* The Bloomfields: Stepping Out of the 60’s
* GOOD VIBRATIONS: THE BLOOMFIELDS MAKE MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

PS: Any fan of the band out there? Sound out, leave a comment!

Soundtrip, a part of Inquirer’s roster of blogs, has one humorous entry about “baduy” songs. The posted list consists of songs mostly released in the 80s.

My current WinAmp playlist (called Hapon) contains JPop/JRock/anime-related songs plus The Bloomfields, so I cannot say if there’s anything baduy in the list (well, if we say that the opening song for Maskman as baduy, then I have loads of baduy songs on Hapon.

However, there are two other, secret, hidden, mostly unused playlists. They are marked Oldies and Senti. Unfortunately, as both playlists contain 2/3 of my digital music collection, it is hard for me to list the baduy songs on it. Let’s just say both playlists are baduy.

Ok. To name some singers in both playlists:

* John Denver (Thank God I’m A Country Boy??? Not!)
* Celine Dion (My Heart Will Go On…. somewhere)
* The Beatles (Love Me Do…. do do do – theme song of maniacs LOL)
* The Carpenters (Top of the World)
* Clay Aiken (????)
* Damage (oh no….)
* Joe Lamont (Victims of love….)
* The Cascades

And the list goes on….

Anyway, I hope I am not a purveyor of cheesiness and kabaduyan. Do you have baduy songs in your playlists? Cmon, I know you have! I dare you to disclose them!

V6 – Honey Beat/Boku to Bokura no Ashita (Version B)
Avex Traxx

Tracks:
1. Honey Beat
2. Boku to Bokura no Ashita
3. Honey Beat (British Rock version)
4. Boku to Bokura no Ashita (Acoustic version)

A few people know that I like listening to JPop/JRock. I really do, though I really prefer the dance/rock tunes than ballads. Simple. The power of a ballad comes from the combination of lyrics and music. That doesn’t necessarily apply on dance tunes. Dance tunes are easier to appreciate.

V6 has been in the JPop scene since a decade ago. Honey Beat is their 30th single since debut (they like saying that in Japanese, watch Music Station on Animax). The other song in the single is the ballad Boku to Bokura no Ashita.

Honey Beat was used for a commercial for a school, and V6 themselves call it as an “encouraging” song – to convince students to go to school and work hard. This song is consistent with the group’s sound – catchy, with Engrish thrown in the mix, danceable, and the LSS-prone word “Waratte” (smile or laugh in Japanese). In fact, if you listen to the song without knowing the title, you might have guessed the title as “Waratte”.

However, you will appreciate the beauty of this song if you listen to the British Rock version. The original was sung by the entire group, with some parts being sung solo or by threes (which can be irritating to the ears). The other version, which I believe is way better than the original, was sung by three members only.

The rock version is slower, clearer, and easier to the ears, more in tune with the 60s (think The Beatles prior to Revolver).

I will not review the ballad, as I cannot appreciate it, how hard I tried doing it.

V6 is one of the JPop groups that I like, ever since I heard the song Change the World (with was used as opening theme for Inuyasha).

WHAT I LIKE:
Catchy tune. The British rock version rocks.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
I cannot appreciate the ballad.

—

Anyway, this group has been around for quite a time, and I think retirement must be in their minds. V6 is like the Backstreet Boys in this regard. After all, boybands do not last that long, except in Japan (look at SMAP). But playing cute when you know they are old is just pathetic. Good thing most of them have separate careers, in acting and in commercials. I just hope they have saved enough so that they can retire in peace.

UPDATE:

Someone dropped by via Google looking for the lyrics of Honey Beat, so here it is:

i wanna make you shinning smile.
tobinorou yo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte waratte waratte…

naite naide kocchi muite hanashi shiyou yo
hora kiss wo nee kiss wo kudasai
taitei donna kireigoto datte ana ga arunda
nee kizu wo sono kizu wo kudasai

omoide wa ima wo kosenai yo
sousa aa haru natsu aki fuyu e kimi to futarikiri de Ah

i wanna make you shining smile.
tobinorouyo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte waratte waratte…

tarinakutatte agesugitatte hana wa kareru
nee koe wo hora koe wo kikasete
soudan datte joudan datte ai no kotoba
kono kagi de sono tobira akeyou

mabataki wo surunomo kowai yo
sonna aa kimi no kidoairaku minogashitari wa shinaisa Ah

i wanna make you shining smile.
hajimeyou yo HONEY BEAT
mirai wo erande ima risutaato
aa chizu wo nakushite (naitatte) akirameruna yo
waratte waratte waratte…

sousa aa haru natsu aki fuyu e kimi to futari
souda aa yuzurenai ashita e kimi to futarikiri de Ah

i wanna make you shining smile.
tobinorou yo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte waratte

i wanna make you shining smile.
hajimeyou yo HONEY BEAT
mirai wo erande ima risutaato
aa chizu wo nakushite (naitatte) akirameruna yo
waratte waratte waratte…

I’ll try to find an English translation…

Today, lovestruck Pinoys celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Roman Catholic Church’s rather successful attempt to supplant a pagan feast (Lupercalia) with a Catholic one (although no longer an offical Catholic holiday). It is this day that lovers celebrate, er – love, by exchanging gifts (but most of the time it is the male who gives the gift, usually flowers), going on romantic dinner dates, watching a movie, and/or going somewhere else, all on the same night.

In Japan and Korea, it is usually the women who give gifts to mean. And the men are expected to reciprocate a month later (White Day). Note that both countries do not have Valentines traditionally; both were products of a very successful marketing campaign.

Singles are sidelined in this occassion. Koreans thought of this as an injustice, and so thought of Black Day, and in some other parts of the world, there’s Singles Awareness Day.

In the spirit of fairness, I then propose that we Pinoys adopt a Black Day/Singles Awareness Day, preferably coinciding with the Korean Black Day. Single Pinoys can gather in a park, wear black, drink black gulaman (preferably sponsored by Chowking), and toast their single-blessedness and wish each other better luck. Counselors should be present, in case of emergency.

1. If possible, take a leave of absence, stay at home, and watch war movies (avoid war-love story movies ala Pearl Harbor), or sleep the whole day. Avoid listening to the radio. Listen to Jpop (since you cannot understand Japanese) or novelty songs.
2. Go home early.
3. Do not talk with friends who are not single.
4. Avoid going to malls and other dating destinations.
5. Sleep (or pretend to sleep) at the FX, MRT/LRT, jeep, or bus to avoid seeing such sweet, PDA-ing couples. Bring a digital audio player; just make sure no sappy love song is loaded.
6. Do not even have dates with single friends, it will only emphasize that you are just that, single.
7. Pretend it is February 15 (payday!).
8. Do not watch the news and movies on cable. Watch WWE or NBA instead. Or violently-disturbing anime.
9. If you live in Manila, stay outside motels, note the people coming in, time their arrival, and point to police those who stayed short-time.
10. Petition your congressman to file a bill to outlaw Valentines Day, it being discriminatory.

Feel free to add more.

(I should have posted this yesterday.)

Clothes make a man, some people say. I disagree. His actions in the toilet defines the man. The toilet is one common denominator – almost all human beings use it for sanitary purposes. Whether if it’s just a hole in the floor, a bowl with automatic flush, or just the canal, we all need it.

We are taught several things with regards to the use of toilets, from washing your hands after use, to flushing, to throwing things at the right places, to minding your own business. Those are simple rules, right? Unfortunately, these rules are lost to some people. And most shocking is that even professionals forget these simple rules.

I mean, it is normal to see common people violate these rules, specially in public toilets. You’d see toilet paper, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, even condoms in toilet bowls in the public toilet. From time to time, you’d see sh*t in bowls. That is almost normal, with the world-famous discipline Pinoys are known for and perpetually-waterless Manila, it can’t be helped. Those pink urinals are maladorous evidences. More on that later.

But to see these rules violated in company toilets is an altogether shocking experience. After all, we all assume that those who work in offices (much more transnational ones) are PROFESSIONALS, and with that comes an assumption that professionals know how to behave in toilets. Oh well I am wrong. Terribly wrong.

In some toilets, rules are posted where you can read them. (Yep, while sitting in the throne, you can read the rules.) In some places, rules are stated in several languages. The rules are stated in simple language, clearly understandable. That’s why I keep on scratching my head when I see these rules violated. Cmon, I know it is sometimes tough to sit in the bowl, sometimes sapping your concentration and energy, but those are no excuse not to read AND follow the rules. And professional courtesy man, courtesy.

That’s why it is shameful that in the office, there are those who do not know how to use the toilet.

One time, I went to relieve myself, only to be stopped by the stench. WTF?!@#@! So there, in all its glory, was sh*t covered with toilet paper. I hazard several guesses: (1) he doesn’t know how to operate the flush mechanism; (2) he could not stand the smell of his “produce”, he immediately wiped his bottom and scrammed out; (3) he was thinking about a certain problem regarding work that he forgot to flush the toilet (I do hope he didn’t forget to wipe his bottom); or (4) he concentrated so hard on the “task”, that flushing was no longer possible.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not limited to men. My female colleagues (my betters, come to think of it) shared the same story last night. Imagine that! Women who do not flush after use! The nerve! The decorum!

Back to those pink urinals in the streets. I’m not sure, it’s either men have poor shooting sights, or the construction of those urinals are faulty, they keep on leaking urine. I mean, the urinal has a tube that goes directly to the canal. So why do we see those leaks trickling away from the urinal into the sidewalk, the road? No man would admit he shoots poorly, so we can say with confidence that those urinals are defective.

And can we ask a favor? If a urinal is fronting your house/business/barangay, can you please flush the urinal with water from time to time? I am disgressing.

Ok, for a more scary (or titillating, if you are the type) story. One time, I was relieving myself in a urinal stall here in the office toilet, when someone came in. When I was through and was about to exit, I saw a man in front of the mirror, top off. He was checking his muscled bod. Kidding. Anyway, how was I to react? I went out. It gave me the creeps. Why did he have to do that there? Hell, there are toilet stalls there, where he could do anything he wanted.

Our actions in the toilet tell who we are. So keep your sh*ts in order. And extend courtesy to others – pull that damn lever!

(NOTE: I am reposting this old entry. The message remains true to this day.)

JIT for Valentines! (Probably NSFW)

Introducing the Panty Pal!

Get it here!

DISCLAIMER: This is not a paid ad, this is not an endorsement, either. For your Valentines “amusement” only.

(Hat tip to Gizmodo.)

By winning the WWE’s 2007 Royal Rumble, The Undertaker earns the right to challenge Smackdown‘s World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania 23. And that, at the moment, is Fil-Greek Batista.

Unless:

1. The Undertaker moves to Raw, and challenges the WWE Champion (which is John Cena at the moment) or the ECW Champion (Lashley at the moment)
2. Batista loses the title at No Way Out this February
3. Kennedy challenges Taker (at No Way Out?) for the right to fight for the World Heavyweight title

I hate face v. face battles in WWE. I’d rather have Batista v. anybody else, or Taker v. Raw champion. Heck, Cena is also face. But it will be Batista v. Undertaker.

Kahapon, aking napagtanto na hindi ako magaling sa pagsulat sa Filipino. Kailangan ko pang maghirap sa pagsalin ng isang dokumento upang malaman ang katotohanang mahirap magsulat sa Filipino.

Halos araw-araw naririnig natin sa mga matatanda, mga negosyante, mga guro, mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na bumababa ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles sa pananalita at pagsusulat. Nagrereklamo ang mga kumpanyang call center na mahirap na raw maghanap ng mga manggagawang Pilipino na bihasa sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Kung may nakita silang manggagawa, kailangan pa nila itong sanayin pa; ito ay dagdag-gastos, kaya napipilitan silang papirmahin ng kontrata ang mga manggagawa upang hindi masayang ang gastos sa pagsasany.

Nitong nakaraang buwan, iniulat na mababa ang naging resulta ng pagsusulit sa agham at matematika ng mga mag-aaral, bagaman medyo maganda ang resulta ng mga pagsusulit sa Ingles. (Tingnan angulat na mula sa National Statistics Coordination Board para sa taong 2004-2005.)

Ayon na rin sa nasabing ulat, mas mataas ang mga nakuhang marka sa Filipino ng mga mag-aaral sa elementarya, kung ikukumpara sa mga nasa high school.

Nabasa ko itong sanaysay ni Peter Wallace. Di ko malaman kung matatawa ako o maiiyak o maiinis. Bukod sa gumamit sya ng maling datos (pakibasa yung sinabi kong ulat mula sa NSCB at ikumpara sa mga pinagsasasabi ni Wallace), may mga katwiran sya na medyo paling. Halimbawa, sinabi nya na:

As to English, only 7 percent of graduating high school students in 2004/05 could read, speak and comprehend English well enough. A fact supported by the fact that only 3 to 6 percent of applicants for a call center job are competent enough in English to get that job.

Pakibasa pong mabuti, dalawang pangungusap lang po iyan. Sabi po nya, 7 porsyento lamang ng mga magtatapos sa high school noong 2005 ang kayang magbasa, magsalita, at makaintindi nang maayos sa wikang Ingles. Di ko po alam kung saan nya nakuha ang numerong 7% (baka po di ko nabasang mabuti), pero ano po ang kinalaman nun sa ikalawang pangungusap nya? Baka naman po inaakala nya na pagkatapos ng high school ng isang mag-aaral ay maghahanap na sya ng trabaho sa isang call center.

Basta basahin nyo yang gawa ni Wallace, at kung isa kang taong nag-iisip at may lohika, matawa ka na lang. (Punta na lang kaya ako sa bansang Hapon, isang maunlad na bansa na hindi magaling sa Ingles. O sa Tsina? O sa Timog Korea?)

Noong ako ay nasa elementarya, tatlong aralin lang ang itinuturo sa wikang Filipino (Pilipino pa noon): Sibika at Kultura (sa Baitang 1-3); Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika (sa Baitang 4-6); at Pilipino. Di ko nga matandaan kung paano ko naintindihan ang agham at matematika noong mga panahon na yon; Ingles ang ginagamit na wika sa pagtuturo ng mga araling iyon, kasabay ng pagtuturo ng wikang Ingles.

Mali po ang solusyong gusto ni Ginoong Wallace. Ayon sa kanya, dapat na maipasa ang HB 4701. Ang batas na ito ay naglalayong gamitin ang wikang Ingles sa lahat ng mga aralin sa paaralan. Wala po sa wikang gamit sa pagtuturo ang solusyon. Sabi nga sa wikang Ingles, Wallace is barking at the wrong tree. (Bagamat sang-ayon ako sa iba pa niyang suhestiyon.) Pareho yata kami ng saloobin ni Ginoong Manuel Quezon III.

Bilang isang manunulat-teknikal, ako po ay naniniwalang dapat na paunlarin ang kaalaman sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Dapat na itinuturo yan sa paaralan. Tama na tulungan ng magulang ang mga anak sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles. Pero ang pwersahin ang isang tao na matutong gumamit ng wikang banyaga ay mali. At ang pwersahin ang isang tao na matutong gumamit ng Ingles para lang maintindihan nya si Wallace ay isang napakalaking mali.

Pero mabalik tayo sa usapan. Hindi ako magaling sa Ingles, marunong lang ako gamitin ang wikang ito. Pero nalulungkot ako dahil nahihirapan ako sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Dito pa lang sa pagsusulat (o pagpindot sa tipo, o pagtatype sa wikang Taglish) ay nahihirapan na ako. Kung masusunod ang gusto ni Wallace, mauubos ang Pinoy na marunong magsalita ng Filipino.

Buti na lang may mga diksyunaryo na nasa Internet na pwede kong magamit. Tulad nitong nasa Bohol.ph, saka itong tagalog-dictionary.com.

Pero mali yata ang salin nila sa irony (panunuya raw ayon sa bohol.ph). Pero di ba ironic na balang araw mas magaling pa tayo mag-Ingles kaysa magsalita sa Filipino?

Thanks to the holiday, I saw another episode of The Explainer, and I guess it is time to revisit my comments on a previous episode that I saw, and see if there are any changes.

The topic yesterday was about Capitol Planning – the country’s attempts to establish a national capital. It was an interesting look at our previous attempts to build our own Washington, DC or Paris. From Daniel Burnham’s City Beautiful to the current ideas of moving the capital to Subic or Clark, these series of plans were partially implemented but never completed.

The use of pictures and drawings made the show more concrete in terms of how the plans looked like. It would have been great if shots from Google Earth or Wikimapia were used to trace the visible aspects of the implementation of the plans (the so-called Diliman Quadrangle is very visible via Google Earth and Wikimapia).

The irritating movement done before by the explainer was gone, thankfully. The director should next time position the explainer near the left side of the TV screen (stage right), to maximize the visuals behind him.

The explainee, Patricia Evangelista, did well, asking questions, making comments. The guest, Paolo Alcazaren, is a competent resource person (I used to read his column at the Philippine Star whenever I get a copy) and knows his history well.

Overall, the show has improved since the last episode that I saw. More polish in the way visuals are presented, and more camera angles, will make the show better.

This show (and the people behind it) should be commended for educating us about issues that really matter. Please continue the great work.

As for the topic itself: Sadly, we are great planners, but we always come out short in the end. Ramos should be chided for building that Centennial Expo; he should have built a national stadium, one building that this country really needs. Or he should have instead commissioned another plan, and have Congress make a law for its implementation.