Here's another great piece from the synthpop trio I do like. Their sound is reminiscent of the 80's atmosphere, especially that it was a time when electronic music, specifically synthpop, grew very much and caught much attention.
I usually heard this on Jam 88.3 while doing schoolwork.
As I sought for any meaning of the song, I realize that there are many interpretations, and sometimes music is released that way—leaving the listeners to interpret it themselves.
Another house music single I saw and heard on Australian Network's music program rage.
Obviously, Lana del Rey's vocals express a low mood, yet they contrast with the energy brought by Cedric Gervais's remix, which is what I really like in this. And so, another nice blend of electronic dance music is made.
Again, it's the technique of house that I appreciate here.
When before I've been into 80's music and present alternative music, now I've included 2 different genres. Thanks to 2 different radio stations I've been listening to recently.
Last year, I started frequently listening to 98.7 DZFE, making it my background music while doing schoolwork, especially when I stayed wide-awake until dawn and when I took a week-long semestral break.
Before, I didn't listen much to classical. But with 98.7, I listen more and more. Before, I thought I wouldn't get to listen to this station, though I know it already as a child. Now, I got myself to listen. DZFE helped me to further appreciate this kind of music, as well as jazz (initially) and church music (e.g.: "A Mighty Fortress").
The difficult thing, I guess, is knowing the titles. Unlike modern music, you may listen and take note of the lyrics, then search it on the Net. In classical, you have to pay attention whenever an announcer speaks.
Not only do I hear classical music on DZFE, but also programs and segments that make it "The station that cares to uplift the inner man". DZFE, as a Bible precept station as well, delivers engaging Christian programming. Some of those that I've been listening to often are Listen To The Bible, A Different Perspective, Just Thinking with Ravi Zacharias, and Pure Sex Radio.
It's good to know such a service still exists in a mass-market-dominated frequency modulation (FM). Not only does Far East Broadcasting Company(FEBC), the broadcaster of DZFE, serves us with this so-called "music of the mind", but also "food for the soul".
From the local airwaves, we go to Australia's digital vibrations.
It's so interesting that I found a station like ABC Jazz, one of the many broadcast services made possible by the government (again: the government).
By the way, aside from United Kingdom's BBC, Australian Broadcasting Company is another pioneer in radio. They broadcast various material, including classical and modern music; evena station presenting their local music in a large scale, "unearthing" local talent and then sharing them 24/7. Now that's something innovative and great!
ABC Jazz presents jazz further and deeper than the jazz I'm hearing at 105.1 Crossover. Because of the station, my interest in jazz flicked and flamed brighter.
An interesting feature in ABC Jazz is when you listen online, you get to know the song actually playing on air. They have a window for the stream of the station, sharing what was just played, what is currently playing, and what plays next.
I recommend these stations not only for those who like these types of sounds, but also those who like to dwell into new music, though not necessarily new.
I salute these 2 services for keeping their music, and radio, alive. First, the FEBC here in the Philippines, for being the only Philippine station bringing classical music since the 50's, as well as staying committed to bring "Christ to the world by radio". And then the Australian government: good thing your funds go to appreciative use.
Fourth year opened me to classical music, from the lessons at the MAPEH textbooks to the broadcasts of 98.7 DZFE. I was introduced to many musicians and composers who made their mark in music, including Claude Debussy.
He made this piece; actually, a piece of another piece(called "piano suite"). It's a piece which I remember hearing in my younger days, playing from a Reader's Digest giveaway CD entitled Enchanting Moments, which I consider as a child as a compilation of very sad melodies.
How wonderful classical music can depict moods and paint pictures (in our minds)—like a calm and lovely mood inspired by the moonlight in the middle of the night.
This is, I claim, the first classical piece I know and appreciate.
Disco is revived in this pop and R&B single by Justin Timberlake, who is very well-known to most of us.
As a music reviewer noted, this another "moving" song has some similarity with a Michael Jackson record. "Take Back...", then, is another piece of deriving formerly-used elements and stringing them together with modern ones into good music.
Here I remember dancing, since it's disco—revived/modern disco. And so I remember gatherings like a turn-over ceremony, a.k.a. prom, where I dream of mixing the songs throughout the night.
This just tells me there is still a very very wide room for retro music in me. Good thing "retro" is revived in music like this.
Something "novelty" and local. So upbeat and very funny. In my native terms, a sort of "kwela".
I remember this song being used for a part of a dance performance of our section (and of another) for the convocation activity of our batch, which took place before our report cards—with first quarter grades—were issued to us.
Though many may not like these kind of sounds because it's pop-ish, I find it good hearing something inciting positive vibes like this modern Pinoy hit, which even utilized a Simon-like drum device.
For sure, many of us know Macklemore because of his hit single "Thrift Shop", which even garnered the No. 1 spot in Triple J's Hottest 100 in 2012.
But I like this one better. It was almost an anthem for me as a senior.
The piano riff, the trumpet fanfare, the fast-rap of Macklemore blended with a chorus of Ray Dalton, and the impressive and vibrant bridge ("And all the people say!") are what make this song so moving.
Before I even knew that this song is entitled "Intergalactic", I've heard it, especially the robotic-voiced lines "Intergalactic, planetary, planetary, intergalactic".
I finally knew the song after looking into some of the songs at an Australian radio station's—Triple J's—Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years in 2013. This is the 100th track.
Some research informed me that this piece consisted of many samples and elements derived from other musical pieces. "Intergalactic" now looks like a jigzaw puzzle for me.
People often see the youth as bringers of a good future, and a good future does await for each and every youth; though sadly it isn't much accessible to some.
Young people are the ones who start to learn about life, both in and out of school. They also begin to see, experience, and learn different things. Yet, they are also exposed to the ruinous and mind-altering world in front of them.
I have fears about my generation, fears about my fellow youth including the ones nearest to me. Here they are:
Picture credit: time.com
1. I fear that the youth will pose, and be exposed, on sexually explicit media.
Prostitution has just gone into print and video. The youth take off their dignity as much as something (or everything) is taken off them for the craving of maladjusted eyes, impure hearts, and defiled minds.
No matter how much celebrities say "Hindi naman masyadong bastos", it is still vulgar. However a female may be hailed for her figure—just to be lusted over by voyeurs—it's not only gross, but disrespectful.
Picture credit: time.com
2. I fear that the youth will find happiness somewhere else, where they will usually find destruction there.
I'm afraid many are going places without knowing the places themselves. These places the youth are prone to go to not only includes what can be seen in Gloc9's song, but also what can be spotted around us—drugs, alcohol, tobacco. These aren't places of happiness, nor of fulfillment.
I suggest a place for the youth to go to: Jesus Christ.
Picture credit: time.com
3. I fear that the youth will be exposed to things they should not know yet.
We may know enough, but not the full picture for now. We are often curious, but we shouldn't always feed that curiosity.
We tend to behave in inappropriate ways when we expose ourselves to things which we have to know, or touch, at the right time, but not at this young period.
Picture credit: time.com
4. I fear that the youth will become early parents because of lack of knowledge, lack of discernment, lack of values, and lack of morality.
While the youth undergo a complex metamorphosis of themselves, they need to be aware of the responsibility they are starting to grasp, now that they're bursting with growth, emotions, and dreams.
Ignorance among the youth must not be tolerated. They need to learn to be careful of their actions and words, as well as prioritize what needs to be prioritized.
Picture credit: time.com
5. I fear that capitalism will take the youth captive.
Advertisements, phones, gadgets, games: these are some examples of how the youth are taken captive. Enslaved to these materials of the modern world, being controlled by things rather than having control over them, they are deprived of productivity, hard work, and other values they should learn to uphold.
Youth, it's not bad to celebrate the beautiful (or handsome) on you, but please be content with that—of what God gave you since birth. Don't get too far.
—
Dear reader, especially the youth, if you're the type of person who thinks, then I don't have to fear about you. Still, many around there are stubborn, or careless.
I still raise my head up, nevertheless, for the youth who have prudence, heart, fear of God, and much more, faith in Christ.
—
How about you? What are your fears about our youth? I'm willing to read your replies. Kindly comment (try to find the place/link for comments, please) or tweet me @adrianconoza
Here is another fresh treatment to house music, from a French duo named Justice.
I've discovered this while playing SongPop on Facebook, and I observe that this is something different, especially that it incorporates an orchestral intro. That's a figment of the concept of the album (entiled Cross, stylized as †)where "Genesis" is track #1; the concept is an "opera-disco album".
I find this as house music that is really different from the usual beats and drops.
(You may know that this song has some curses. Thankfully, there's a clean edit of it, though this lacks completeness.)
This is one of the remarkable tracks of my fourth year soundtrack.
First, I like the way it flows from near-spoken-word lines to a lonely chorus to a pumped-up rap from De La Soul to another lonely chorus synced with guitar effects...
Next, I used this song in a Trigo pair project. My classmate (chosen by draw lots) made the video, and I wrote the lyrics. I used this song as the template, thanks to another classmate who has "Feel Good" on his phone.
Lastly, I actually heard of the notable bassline and the childlike-uttered words "feel good" back when I was very young.
And finally, I know what is the title of this song I've heard several times on radio.
I've been into constant reading since second year, thanks to my so-called sanctuary—a secondhand bookstore with branches at a mall near my house and a mall near my high school campus.
My interest for books and literature greatly increased throughout high school. I've discovered prominent authors and brilliant works. I unearthed old books that I consider as treasures.
This great inclination made me hunt for more books. I became attracted by the stories and ideas inside the thick and thin stacks of print, bounded by either a thick material or a thin carton. I've been amused whenever I saw a good book that I thought interesting or essential to read.
So from time to time, I have purchased many books. These books formed a small library in my room. I've even counted them before, and they amounted to around hundreds.
The books I've bought stacked up, and, overtime, are left unread.
I've realized lately that I've collected a lot of books, and for years, I haven't read all of them. I've decided to let go of many of them, giving them to friends who like to read like I do.
Indeed, I like to read a lot of books, to dwell into different avenues of literature. I find it hard, however, to read all that remains in my shelves. I started, nonetheless, to get into these books this summer.
I may find it nice that I can have a lot of literature in my hands, but I reckon I miss a lot on books. I got myself out-of-control. I miss the chance to read new worth-reading books, or even good finds at the secondhand bookstore.
Dear reader, are you an avid reader too? A bookworm? If so, I hope you also think of your book consumption and purchase.
Credit to carmenyamigos.blogspot.com
I realize that reading will be more money-saving and satisfactory if we read what we buy once we already have it (that's why for now I have to refrain from buying books for myself).
Most probably, you've thought much about what you chose to buy, especially when under tight budget. You're attracted by the story, or whatever's inside the book, and even read the back cover or the overleaf several times. Don't waste your money buying books then have them piled up, left unattended. Have self-control.
After that, read the book constantly. Don't stunt your reading progress. Get through the book daily, in as many pages as possible—as much as you can—until you've finished it.
Then, when you're done with it, that's the only time you can choose another book to read at the bookstore, or instantly go to another book you've already bought. Isn't that exciting visiting the bookstore to get to read another book you might like?
Read what you've bought and read it constantly, until you're done with it. This habit will be much helpful for you to enjoy reading further, as well as to invest money wisely.
This time, let me share two songs in my soundtrack in one whole post.
I want to let you hear the music, not just read what I wrote about it, because sometimes I find it hard to describe songs, unlike music magazine writers—they do it with ease.
Anyway, the thirteenth and fourteenth songs are, consequently, another indie track and another Beatles hit.
The robots-in-public were back with Random Access Memories, including its main single, "Get Lucky".
Daft Punk has done something new, something different from what they did in the past albums, where beats and synths and vocoder-sounds were linked to house and electronic.
Here, they were making a throwback to past sounds. For the first time, the duo were doing drums and guitar. Still, they included some electro.
They even collaborated with many artists for the album, and here in this single they worked with singer Pharell Williams(Happyyy...) and guitarist Nile Rodgers(of the 70's band Chic:"Ahhhhh...Freak out!").
There's even a joke regarding the line "We're up all night to get lucky": isn't that what students do often?
Here's one amazing performance of "Get Lucky", where Stevie Wonder joined them:
Because of my classmate's interest in Beatles' music, as well as a friend's, I got curious about the music of one of the prominent bands in rock and roll music throughout time.
If today girls are going bonkers over 5 Seconds of Summer, or The Vamps, or Before You Exit, before—around the times of my parents, or maybe yours too—girls were crazy over the English 4-piece band.
Nonetheless, Beatles' sound is classic. Like here in this song, I'm taken back to time, as well as good music that made its mark in rock and popular music.
I heard the Australian alternative rock band when I caught a live concert on Australian Network. Then I heard this song again one Saturday on rage, a weekend music show, on the same cable channel.
This is, so far, the song I'm only familiar of from The Rubens. Yet, I did feel strong emotions while listening to the song. I felt like the song tries to express.
One time in the beginnings of 4th year I thought: time for me to change and gather myself. Time for me to change and be a better man. Never do the same faults.
Out of all the mix of modern and past in Daft Punk's latest album, Random Access Memories, this one is said to be the only purely electronic piece, with a modern style.
However simple and minimal this composition is, the vocoder-voiced lyrics, blended with those sung by another electronic musician Panda Bear, are catchy that they even sound like an 80's radio commercial.
They even paint an imagery of an upbeat dance party that was slowed down.
"Gun" is the first song I've heard from the Scottish electronic band whose sound is considered to be a new generation synthpop that is similar to the sounds of the 80s.
They are a great trio consisting of a female and two men, all working together in synthesizers and samplers. The beautiful vocals of Lauren Mayberry stands out, going well with the electronic sound CHVRCHES weave.
Regarding the video above, I remembered the original Solitaire game on computer when I first saw it.
The late Walter Cronkite (1916-2009), former newscaster of CBS Evening News in the US.
Before I gained desire for literature, I was inclined to journalism. Being a television enthusiast helped me to get myself closer to the field, watching newscasts, unearthing clips, and observing the styles of anchors and reporters. I remember frequently watching CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News during my elementary days, since I was less busy at those times.
However, the flair shifted at 2nd year, from this field to another, and that field is literature. I became more fond of fiction and poetry, instead of news and its associates.
There is this show, however, which I discovered maybe when I was at 2nd year, and which I think will be the program I would work for if I were a journalist. It's a very old show from the 80's in USA which was well-known for its unique style of news delivery, as well as for airing in the wee hours of early morning when TV stations were then supposed to be off-air. Thus, the program was named NBC News Overnight.
Observing this one-of-a-kind newscast, it is really different from a standard news program in many ways.
The anchors talk in a conversational manner. They don't even identify themselves at the start, for their names will be shown in the title sequence.
As I read it in one of the anchor's memoir entitled And So It Goes, Linda Ellerbee stated that Overnight presented stories as the reporters thought it should have aired, not cutting it off to fit the limits of the primetime newscast (NBC Nightly News).
She also wrote that some stories were even aired with reports of the same story as covered by different countries or by different states in US, which I believe served to give different perspectives to the news.
A notable segment in Overnight was "Newsreel", where a pile of news items were shown, each item given at least fifteen to twenty seconds, since the stories are only worth "less than twenty seconds" to be reported.
Another good thing about the program is they also air something what CNN or BBC now calls a developing story, and they put lighter stories to provide rhythm alongside heavier items.
Then around the closing of each program, each of the anchors will give his and her essay to cap off the program. And here, Linda Ellerbee is known for her quote that ends every show, until its final show on December 3, 1983—"And so it goes."
Overnight received positive reviews, as well as a duPont Columbia Award for being "possibly the best written and most intelligent news program ever"; and Time magazine's recognition of the newscast as one of the best programs of 1982 and 1983.
I'm so fascinated by this innovation of NBC News in the 80's. For me, it is an interesting show that shows how a television newscast should be—a show that sees the viewer as a smart one, and that breaks the barrier between the newsmen and the viewers.
Not all newscasts act that way anymore, I suppose (correct me if I'm wrong, therefore). The constant items in the news are killings, fires, accidents, crimes, and what else but showbiz gossip!
I'm glad there's Solar News. They're the best for me in the present when it comes to television news here in the Philippines. Anchors are calm and not coughing. The things that really and have to matter are the top stories. Entertainment for them is not gossip, and is even an inclusion of music. So, if there would ever be an overnight newscast in the Philippines—which seems impossible—then Solar News is the fittest place.
If I were a journalist, I would work on Solar and hopefully anchor a program like Overnight, as well as do some show like 60 Minutes, which is also a fascinating and sensible program I regularly catch and watch.
Yet, I'm now inclined to literature and the arts, including music. The best journalist I could be would be writing a column on a lifestyle section of a broadsheet, and of writing how my day was every night before I sleep.
It is also out from their debut album Settle, and they are joined by female vocals that fit well with the duo's beats and synths (there's even a bass alongside it).
To inform you, whoever who reads this, as well as listens to the video above, this is the 100th post of The Teenage Dispatch, ever since 2011. I'm glad this blog reached as far as this.
Post #100 eventually landed on the 6th song for Songs of 4th Year (S4Y), and so I feature another Bjork track, first song of her album Post.
You might as well know that this was featured on the movie Sucker Punch.
The song can be simply stated as a darkened mix of electronic bass, slow beats, and meaningful lyrics. It's a sort of "wake-up call", knowing that it was inspired by her brother's damaging situation at that time.
Now here's another unique and fresh piece from this great modern talent, set in a low mood with occasional bursts to uplift that mood, blended with some soul and jazz into it.
This is a bit of minimalist—something Blake is known for. If you will take a look at the live set-up with his band of 3, it consists of Blake's piano and vocals; then someone's drum pads with cymbals; then another's bass pedals (an instrument I knew because of them) plus other electronic gadgets and even a guitar in other performances.
This modern piece of what we call house music (or for others "deep house" or "garage") is one of those neatly, yet brilliantly structured mixes in the debut album of this English electronic duo named Disclosure, entitled Settle. More great tracks are in the album.
This is one of those pieces of creative music that aren't much heard by the youth, and are worth hearing.
By the way, this song sounds like a soundtrack to Gran Turismo on PlayStation, the original one with the CD player and the controls.
Being a radio enthusiast, I found out a radio station in New York, U.S.A. which is one of the pioneers of the all-news format since 1965. It is 1010 WINS in the amplitude modulation (AM). Unlike stations here in the Philippines where news and talk combine, 1010 WINS delivers news non-stop, dividing an hour into three 20-minute newscasts. In each slot almost everything is filled in: national and world items, sports, business, weather and traffic. It almost "give[s] you the world" through those broadcasts.
When you need the news or other information, just turn your radio on, then go to 1010 AM, and there's the information. You don't have to stay long, I assume. You can simply consume and digest information in 20 minutes or less than that, and also listen to it "2, 3, 4 times a day".
Internet is a myriad of information. Compared to radio, in today's generation, many will prefer the Net for news and information. In addition, there is a stream of information brought to us by our friends, followers, by personalities, brands, and groups, through social media.
Now, let's consider: how much information we consume in the Net, and how long we do that?
First, is the information worth your time?
Well, if that's for some assignment, then fine. But, how about those out of that given condition?
Internet has helped us so much in gathering information: from facts to include in our research to updates to find out from peers. Yet, there are many piles of "information" out there that aren't really information.
Time and consumption, in this matter, really relates to each other. So, here's another question: is your time well-spent in this consumption?
In a way Net surfing is fun, and in a way it's informative, and in a way it's entertaining. But, we have to be aware of the time we're using. Before, TV has been considered as a time-waster, and it still can be. Now, the Net is another time-waster.
If 20 minutes is enough for an American to capture "what's happening" through 1010 WINS, can we not consume enough information in the Net for not too long?
That depends on what you're doing at cyberspace. Research through Internet may demand a lot of time. Checking out what's happening with your connections, however, may just require a few time. Relentlessly scrolling the News Feed is tedious over time. Consuming material such as an image of underarm hair, or a portrait of a tape-covered face, even of overexposed vanity are just a waste of time as well.
As much as Net can be useful, it can be destructive, unless you use your mind and be smart. You can be bored at times, but you can prefer to read a book.
I do appreciate Net's availability in mobile devices. By those means you can conveniently view social media for only a while, and you can go "2, 3, 4 times a day" with a click of a finger (as long as you have control over your phone!).
In the Internet, as much as in other forms of media, time and consumption are related to each other, so please be sure that when you're consuming information at Net, you're consuming sensible and useful ones, although a dose of entertainment won't be bad, especially when you need to take a break. And I do hope this piece was worth your consumption.
Was it? Have any thoughts? Please tell me: @adrianconoza, or on Google+, or adrianconoza@gmail.com
Here are a bunch of guys (including a kid having fun) rocking along in a wide-enough obviously air-conditioned room, into an example of The National's well-known indie rock music and "dark, melancholic" music.
This is the first song I've heard from the band, and I suddenly began to gain interest for their sound. I'm even reminded of post-punk band Joy Division.
I figured out an alternative title after looking into the lyrics: "A Love Letter to Jo".
I started appreciating Rico Blanco's works as a musician when I was in third year, as he launched an album that's very different from his other releases, entitled Galactik Fiestamatik.
The album heavily featured synths and electro combined with large amounts of drum beats. "Lipat Bahay" stands out, though, because it's much of a mellow song among the album's upbeat tracks, including "Amats" (featured on "101 Songs of My Third Year").
Obviously, the song tells of change. Mementos of childhood, memories of past, and missing much of what you've lived with for many years.
Fourth year was such a change as well, yet it gave way to good beginnings—a fresh start.
As regularly as possible, I'll share these songs from different genres and different times. I'll make a different approach as well: one song per post, and no counting down. I'll shorten the long title as well in the next posts—S4Y.
And so we'll start with this song from Bjork in 1995.
"It's Oh So Quiet" is originally a 1948 German song, so this is a cover of an English cover.
I heard and saw this music video on cable, and I finally found out who Bjork is (she's also pretty there).
Let me give my own interpretation. The music starts calm, like a ballet, until it breaks into a "big band" sound. Suddenly, the cute and still vocals of Bjork shifts to screams of excitement—"of falling in love." It goes on like a sine curve—calm, then excited, then calm, then again excited. Yet, it never tires itself out. As classic as the original cover, reminiscent of the jazzy 50's and 60's sound that I like; but Bjork's version is much stronger and wonderfully developed.
Another interpretation, if you may. Life seemed to be just alright, until different things show up and make you thrilled, electrified, surprised, overjoyed, and sometimes disturbed and out-of-control. And often that's because of limerence.
Let me share to you one of the funny—for me—scenes, and one of my favorite scenes in School of Rock, one of my favorite movies in the present.
You can really see here how Jack Black acts like a rocker.
I can see the imagery he's telling with those figurative phrases (e.g.:"beam of light"), and those sounds of instrument he's mimicking—"wew-bem-bem-bem-bem-bem-bem-bem..." + "sh-g-dig-g-dig-g-did-g-dig".
He does sing his "sample" like classic rockers do. Combined with his dance and stances, I do find the scene funny. Yet, I like it.
How about you, dear reader? Have you watched the movie? Do you like it as well? Tell me, if you may: @adrianconoza, or on Google+, or at adrianconoza@gmail.com.
