Refreshing

Back when Mark and I would spend our Easter Vigils in the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi, there were 2 hymns that they'd usually.sing.

First is "Go down, Moses." And this is a song I've written about before.

The second is a hymn entitled "Come to the Water."

This is part of the 5th reading, and they would often sing this song as part of the scripture. 

As we commemorate Black Saturday and hear the vigil mass, it's refreshing to hear this song once again.

FMM: Great Hole of China

Because it's Chinese New Year this weekend, today's Friday Magic Madness song is inspired by this country where the celebration originated.

No, it's not a Canto-pop song or a traditional Chinese song. It's actually a song from my fave 80s diva, Cyndi Lauper!

This song wasn't as big a hit as her other iconic ditties like "Girls just wanna have fun" or "Time After Time," or even "She Bop." But the first time this song played on-air, it caught my ear and led me to buy a cassette tape back in 1988. It's a song that'll only sound familiar if, like me, you're a Cyndi fan.

"Hole in my Heart, (all the way to China)" has the same upbeat instrumentation and energy of Cyndi's songs. And the premise of having a hole in your heart that goes all the way to China was quirky and clever.

That's a classic and another great song from Cyndi!

FMM: Newton's Law

Since yesterday's post was about Santa Maria Novella, our Friday Magic Madness song for today is a natural progression.

Back in 1979, there was this very campy but fun song that filled the airwaves. It was so campy, it was used in an iconic scene of a local comedy film.

The song? "Santa Maria!"

This song from Newton Family is such an ear worm, there should be a law against it!

FMM: Different forms of Love

Three years ago, I wrote about this LSS that kept on playing in my head. Back then, I wasn't sure of the title or artist, and the only thing I knew was part of the lyrics. 

Searching the net yielded this song from the 80s, "Everlasting Love" from an artist named Sandra. It became my Friday Magic Madness feature back then.

While watching youtube this morning, this song suddenly popped-up in the video suggestions.

Apparently, there's a version from as far back as 1967. According to online information, this is the original version, sung by Robert Knight.

After 7 years, the song was reinterpreted by another singer. This is the1974 version by Carl Carlton:

Now, aside from Sandra, there's another version from 1981 from Rachel Sweet and Rex Smith:

And if that's not enough, Gloria Estefan also had her version of the same song from 1994:

No matter who sang this song, even if it has different versions, it's still as fun and catchy as ever. And that's the hallmark of a classic song that transcends time.

Not Weak at all

From the time she won the 1st edition of American Idol, I've always been a Kelly Clarkson fan.

In fact, her music has been part of my adult life. When I moved to HKG, she "accompanied" me since I'd play her "Breakaway" CD each time I'd feel antsy or melancholic. For years, her CD was on repeat at home - almost everyday! Especially "Since U Been Gone."

It's been almost 20 years since she won that singing contest, and Kelly is still considered as THE most successful product of these reality shows. 

There are many reasons for her success. First, obviously, is that voice! Powerful, evocative and distinct. Second, she's dynamic, not sticking to just one kind of genre. Third, she reinvents herself. While a singer first and foremost, she's also a host and a judge. Fourth, she's an inspiration. 

Recently, I've been binge-watching the "Kellyoke" portion of her talk show, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Her renditions of popular songs from the past is just stellar.

Just like her rendition of the classic SWV ditty, "Weak."

While I'm a massive fan of SWV and there's no one who can sing this song as well as they can, Kelly's version is at par and not weak at all!

FMM: For real, really!

Today's Friday Magic Madness song was inspired by my post last Wednesday on Juss and Real Potato Crisps.

This song was actually the inspiration for the title of that post:



It's a song from Donna Summer from 1989, and it's one of her signature catchy, poppy and upbeat dance songs. This is actually a dangerous song, because after listening to it once, it has a tendency to stick to you head and become an LSS.

Just like what's happening now. It's playing in my head over and over again already.

And this time, I know it's for real!

FMM: Wish for the World

They say this pandemic is a great equalizer.

Despite distance, despite borders, despite differences, different countries find themselves fighting the same invisible enemy. Whether it's a 1st world or 3rd world country, people find themselves in the same situation, facing the same difficulty.

And despite differences, they find themselves praying for the same thing. For our world to heal. That's why this Friday Magic Madness song from The King of Pop is an anthem of sorts for people today.



We pray that the world heals.

And it heals very, very, very soon.

Missed hymns

Whenever I hear mass, I'd hear all these new church hymns and new arrangements of classic ones.

While it's great that they're making the hymns dynamic for the younger parishoners, I can't help but miss the old hymns that we'd sing as kids.

Such as this classic:



We'd always sing "Spirit of God" when I was in the church choir. And it always gave me goosebumps when we sang it.

It still does.

LSSS: Last Smile Song Syndrome

Gosh! This song has been playing in my head the entire weekend!

It's actually a song that you can't call mainstream pop because not a lot of people know it. But if you're in Australia, you most likely know this song because it's sung by an X-Factor Australia winner.



This never fails to put a smile on my face.

It's time!

It's the first day of September. And it's the first day of Christmas in the Philippines!

And what better way to welcome it than this Gunter Kallman Choir classic.



Let the holiday season begin!

Feeling up while going down

During last night's Easter Vigil mass in the Franciscan Chapel, there was one song that made such a strong impact on me.

It was a song that I heard for the very first time, and the woman who sang it did such a spectacular job. She wasn't just singing, she was telling a story using her voice. The lyrics alone were powerful, but the way she sang it was equally strong. As I told Mark, "she went all Aretha Franklin on us, and I like it."

The song is "Go down, Moses," and it was such an uplifting song. Mark and I were still singing it on the train ride going home.

Here's an earlier version from Louis Armstrong.



Yes, this is going to be my Holy Week LSS. And it might even go beyond Holy Week.

It's that good.

Simply Immaculate

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and I enjoy hearing mass on this feast day because of all the nice hymns about Mother Mary. Particularly this one:



Happy Feast Day, Mother Mary!

Shining Sunday

When I was a member of our school's church choir as a kid, one of my favorite songs to sing was "Shine Jesus Shine."




The song was so celebratory. From its lyrics to the melody, and the clapping we'd do when we reach the refrain, it was all so happy. That's why we'd always sing it with gusto during the recessional.

It's been a while since I've heard them sing this song in church. I guess it's because it's an "old school" song.

Imagine my surprise when they sang it for the recessional in today's mass. Needless to say, I stayed behind and sang it like I was a grade school kid in the choir.

This definitely made my Sunday.

Misheard

Still on the subject of lyrics, my colleagues and I were talking about songs with misheard lyrics.

We had a barrel of laughs talking about friends who would sing songs the wrong way just because of the lyrics. And among the plethora of songs we talked about, here are 3 of my favorite songs that were actually sang by people I knew:

1. "Whoops now" by Janet Jackson



Lyrics that my SMC officemate sang: "Whoops now, sabi ng Tita ko... Whoops now, sabi ng Tita ko..." (I didn't know Janet Jackson could speak Tagalog.)
Actual lyrics: "Whoops now, sorry I can't go. Whoops now, sorry I can't go."

2. "Lanca Perfume" by Rita Lee



Lyrics that our former maid sang: "Lasang, lasang Kankunis" (She was drinking tea, perhaps?)
Actual lyrics: "Lanca, lanca perfume."

3. "New Age Girl" by Dead Eye Dick

Lyrics that my officemate sang: "She don't eat meat, but she showers like a boy." (She does what?)

Actual lyrics: "She don't eat meat, but she sure likes the bone."

In the course of the conversation, there were also a lot of funny Tagalog ones. But I'll leave that for later.

Praise hymn

Music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up with parents who were very much into music gave me a better appreciation of songs from different genres. This helped me become more eclectic in my choice of music.

My iPod playlist has a hodge-podge of songs. I even have an album called "Taylor made" because it has James Taylor, Taylor Dane, and Taylor swift in one playlist. Yes, there's a Taylor who's old, not-so-old, and very young. And I like them all.

There's another genre I like listening to, although I'm not sure if it's classified as a genre. I'm talking about Church hymns.

As a kid, the whole family would hear mass and I'd enjoy singing along with the opening, communion and recessional hymns. Whenever the choir would sing "Sing a new song unto the Lord," and "One God," you can expect me to sing at the top of my lungs. This eventually led me to join the choir at St. Paul's church, and our school choir in Lourdes.

Even now, I enjoy listening to choirs while they sing church hymns at mass. And it's nice to hear the "old reliables" being sung up until now. Some old reliables give me a feeling of elation (Shine, Jesus, Shine,) while some never fail to leave my eyes welling with tears. (Anima Christi.)

While hearing mass this week, the choir sang a song which I thought was familiar. The first bars sounded like "Here I am, Lord." But as they started singing the lyrics, it turned out to be a new song - for me, at least. The song was entitled: "People need the Lord."



By the end of the song, I was filled with different emotions. The song was beautiful! It was poignant, moving and hopeful at the same time. The lyrics were well written and the melody matched it beautifully.

A praise-worthy song indeed.

Merry Christmas!

In the words (or lyrics) of Sheena Easton:

"It's Christmas all over the world tonight."



Merry Christmas everybody!

That's Swift

It's true that I'm more partial to old songs from the 70s and 80s. As I've written on this journal so many times, the 60s to 80s must've been the golden decades of music because everything was well written and beautifully sung.

But there are times when some younger singers surprise me. Some of them have songs that are nicely written and very catchy. One of those younger singers who I like to listen to is *drumroll please* Taylor Swift! *insert canned laughter here.*

Fine. It's a guilty pleasure. You got to admit, though, the girl does come up with catchy songs. Not only that, she writes and composes her own songs, too. So it's no wonder that most of her songs are about young love. (Or lack thereof.)

"Love Story" first caught my attention courtesy of the trailer of the film "Letters to Juliet." I've been listening to it ever since.



"Should've said no," is her attempt at angst, which she delivers.



And speaking of angst, her latest song "We're never ever ever getting back together," sounds so bitter that it's sweet!



From her first album until her latest, she's pretty consistent in terms of the theme and subject matter of her songs. It makes me wonder what's next for her.

Taylor better be swift in writing those new songs. I can't wait to hear what she'll come up with next.

Strange Songs that make me teary-eyed

1. Anima Christi - This song was playing in the background during the last retreat I attended back in 1998. The activity that time was writing a letter to the person who meant the most to us, and in my case it was Mom. Since that episode, I get misty eyed each time I hear this song. Problem is, they play it most of the time during the 4:30 pm mass at Edsa Shrine. Ergo, I have to struggle and fight off tears each time I hear mass.

2. Biyahe Tayo - Yes, it's the Wow Philippines! theme song. During my last trip to HK, they played this song's MTV on-board the plane. After hearing it, there was a great sense of longing in my heart and I suddenly missed my country so much. Then I felt tears welling in my eyes, so the immediate reaction was to yank off the earphones lest people see a grown man crying in a plane. (Strange thing was, I was only gone for 4 days...)

3. Lucky - How in heaven's name can a Britney Spears syrupy pop ditty make a guy teary eyed? I have no idea, but my heart wrenches each time this song is played. Maybe it's the underlying story that no matter how perfect your life seems, there will always be something missing. Or that the concept of true happiness is something that no one will ever achieve. Or accomplishments really mean nothing in the bigger scheme of things. Nope, I haven't figured it out yet. But that doesn't stop the feeling from pervading.