MAGNIFICENT ELY The Technopreneur: This is my blog on usability, design, technopreneurship - with a dash of love, life and success thoughts. (Jozzua was my old 'telnet days' chat name).
To us Filipinos, Eraserheads is the band that is credited to have changed the flow of the music scene back in the 1990s. To me, personally, their songs were reflections of what was happening in Philippine society. They were honest, original and hit at the heart of every Filipino.
They gained notoriety for their song - “Pare Ko.” The song came under scrutiny as the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) attempted to censor it (particularly the word ‘tangina’ - which basically meant ‘bitch’). At the time, media was heavily censored. Songs like this broke out the Angst within pinoys who being controlled by Government and society. It was a musical rebellion.
Eraserhead songs also had the right drama and poetry. Consider the opening lyrics of “Wag mo nang Itanong”:
Hika and inabot ko
Nang piliting sumabay sa ‘yo hanggang kanto
Nang isipan mong parang sweepstakes
Ang hirap manalo
Who would have thought of comparing a woman’s thoughts to that of a lottery - difficult to win in? Simple metaphors like these were easily understood by the common Filipino. Even the dramatic last lines of “Huling El Bimbo” would make any romantic cry:
Tagahugas ka raw
Ng pinggan sa may Ermita
At isang gabi’y nasagasaan
Sa isang madilim na eskinita, hah
Imagine loving someone, treating them like a Goddess - your dancing partner. Suddenly reduced to washing dishes.. almost a nobody.
So when an Eraserheads reunion concert was held last Saturday and it was announced that frontman Ely Buendia was rushed to the hospital, was it a surprise that concert goers didn’t get mad? They fell into a quiet disappointment - true. But you could also feel that thankfulness about.
The concert ending itself was a drama - almost like the lyrics of an eraserheads song.
On music, one of my personal favorites is “How to Save A Life” by The Fray. For some odd reason, I can relate to the lyrics:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
The repeating piano melody is also quite haunting.
While listening to it I recall bungling instances in my life that cost me some friends. They became angry at me over something they saw as unforgivable. I said sorry. To them - it wasn’t enough.
Has that ever happened to you? You know, anything you do just seems to make it worse? You want to keep the relationship - but they don’t.
Painful, but what the heck, what do you do?
Me, I just listen to music. I “Let it be” (as the Beatles would sing it):
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And you wonder why Beatles music is still playable? Simple. It’s timeless.
There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends i still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all
Songs like these inspire me to write music again (I used to compose songs in College).
Though i know i’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i’ll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more
In my life i love you more
Singing offers a short respite. Then… you move on.
And have a never ending HOPE that - we’ll have FUN again someday.
Pearl Jam was one of my favorite bands back in College. Back then I considered them the epitome of angst and really loved their songs. The band has taken top story spots on Digg.com today because they were censored by AT&T for a rendition of the song “daughter.”
Pearl Jam’s performance of their big 90’s hit “Daughter” morphed into the melody from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” and Eddie Vedder served up a pair of anti-Bush lyrics to the tune. “George Bush, leave this world alone,” he sang. “George Bush, find yourself another home.”
In summary, Pearl jam didn’t like what happened and now pushes for a neutral net.
I’m not really a fan of chill out music but this is one song that I really like. It’s quite a difficult song to find. I don’t know where to get a CD locally. If you happen to have a CD with this music, could you lend me for just a day?
I’m posting it here just in case there are people out there who are also looking for this song. (Press the > play button to listen to the music).
it was no surprise for me
so i was not that sad
still i wanted to know how
things could go so bad
chorus
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
there are things that i can’t be without
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
you, i can’t be without
i’m not sentimental but
still i have to say
when i think of those distant days
i really wish you would stay
chorus
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
there are things that i can’t be without
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
you, i can’t be without
if i don’t look that sad
it’s because i knew it
if i seem a little cold
it’s because i’m well prepared
if i don’t look that sad
it’s because i knew it
if i seem a little cold
it’s because i’m well prepared
chorus
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
there are things that i can’t be without
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
you, i can’t be without
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
there are things that i can’t be without
i’m in a mess now since you left my world
you, i can’t be without