I wanted to post this, because I came across DMX's song Hows It Going Down. A song I loved as a freshman in high school but didn't quite understand till I just watched a few weeks ago. And it truly really spoke to me for the first time, especially the last verse.
"But you belonged to Cuz, couldn't belong to me
You had two kids by this nigga, it was wrong for me
But we gon' always be, best of friends
haha
Mad love, Boo, to the end
haha"
Ahhh Savvy Sav. I miss you and think about that turbulent Summer of Love all the time.
I woulda loved to have been the Satre to your Beauvoir, but I'll be here for you, no matter what circles you run with.
The Tonight Tonight Cover by Passion Pit
Was listening to this as I was yelling on the phone with you and how it was the end of any friendship we could've had. We haven't talked in a long time, a major disruption to seeing and talking to each other every day for a year.
This is a particularly forward-looking song, which makes me wonder where we'll be in 20 years and what we'd say to each other.
See-Paws
Well, we didn't quite break up on this song. I still talk to you, you're a homey now, even though I barely see you, whatevs, but we were all so dramatic 10 years ago. Haha.
All Lykke All the Time
So Lykke's been the voice of choice
When I've had my last two...who were...
Where I just wanted a...
And eventually
But then...
Favorite line in all the songs:
"Like a shot gun, needs an outcome
I"m your prostitute, you gon' get some"
Only time I liked to get pushed around is the heat between the sheets.
When I've had my last two...who were...
Where I just wanted a...
And eventually
But then...
Favorite line in all the songs:
"Like a shot gun, needs an outcome
I"m your prostitute, you gon' get some"
Only time I liked to get pushed around is the heat between the sheets.
I Wish You Love
I Wish You Love (Nat King Cole - Charles Trenet Cover) by charles tois
I wish you love.
I set you free.
I wish you love.
I set you free.
Sad Songs of November
Bluesy mood.
Boy o boy, every freakin' year in grad school at around November.
I suffer some kind of significant other heartbreak.
At this point, it's all fodder for comedy.
The application to be my girlfriend/significant other/partner has officially opened.
Qualifications:
1) Breathingand Walking
2) Be really really excited about me at first, just by reading my writing
3) As the months pile on, taper your excitement, find out that I'm not that exciting in real life
4) Get ready to officially cut ties and dump my ass by next October.
If interested, please call 1-323-DNT-CARE, many times
Al Green - How to Mend a Broken Heart
Via my friend Ivan Galavante.
Amy Winehouse - Help Yourself
Wyclef - Gone Till November
New Edition - If It Isn't Love
This was actually a song given to me by a friend named Geetz. Song made me happy and optimistic, so I'll end on that.
Boy o boy, every freakin' year in grad school at around November.
I suffer some kind of significant other heartbreak.
At this point, it's all fodder for comedy.
The application to be my girlfriend/significant other/partner has officially opened.
Qualifications:
1) Breathing
2) Be really really excited about me at first, just by reading my writing
3) As the months pile on, taper your excitement, find out that I'm not that exciting in real life
4) Get ready to officially cut ties and dump my ass by next October.
If interested, please call 1-323-DNT-CARE, many times
Al Green - How to Mend a Broken Heart
Via my friend Ivan Galavante.
Amy Winehouse - Help Yourself
Wyclef - Gone Till November
New Edition - If It Isn't Love
This was actually a song given to me by a friend named Geetz. Song made me happy and optimistic, so I'll end on that.
New Appreciation for the Category of "Classical"
Thanks to these songs, both of which I've already posted on this blog.
However, I must point out that each of these songs have since acquired additional meanings: These two songs below are my fighting songs for the moment in this year 2 of g-school.
I've never really been opened up to the category "classical","classically-trained musicians", "orchestra" or anything else related, though I've tried to be.
There was just no meaning to it for me. In grade school, there was no band, there was no instruments. All we really learned was how to sing church songs and Christmas songs. In my all-boys Catholic high school, the reality was that being associated with music was associated with a stigmatized sexual orientation.
Being working immigrants, my folks didn't listen much to classical either and left the car radio to my sister and I, which we made sure to fill with Gangsta's Paradise and MC Lyte's Keep Keepin' On.
I saw classical and orchestra music in antagonistic terms, which didn't improve with the internet. I would look for my selection of rap, hip-hop, R&B, jazz. And when I did, I encountered internet battles and micro-insults questioning the legitimacy of rap and hip-hop as "music", mostly stemming from "classically-trained musicians." So I used to see classical and orchestra music as "borgeoisie."
I guess my life in 2011 has gotten so bourgeoisie that my "tastes have evolved to the point where I consume music like someone would consume high art.
Anyhow, the first piece isn't really an all out orchestra, but I appreciate the sounds of the cello.
Hood Internet/Ellie Goulding/Kanye West/Portland Cello Project - All of the Lights Mashup
Said one youtube commenter
Bit of a strange comment that I don't think the commenter would make if Ellie wasn't attractive, but nonetheless I agree and felt the need to point it out still.
The drums pressure-pumping with the cello's importance reminds me of the depths of rising from nowhere.
Madolin Orchestra Ensemble - Always With Me
I don't know many terms for orchestra music, but, it's a piece that cycles, but each time it does, it comes back with something slightly different. The syncness with variation of the guitars gives it many different little flavors. The xylophone players inch deeper and deeper, and the gong drums sound even more important.
This song in its cycles reminds me of all the depth and beauty of Savatri.
However, I must point out that each of these songs have since acquired additional meanings: These two songs below are my fighting songs for the moment in this year 2 of g-school.
I've never really been opened up to the category "classical","classically-trained musicians", "orchestra" or anything else related, though I've tried to be.
There was just no meaning to it for me. In grade school, there was no band, there was no instruments. All we really learned was how to sing church songs and Christmas songs. In my all-boys Catholic high school, the reality was that being associated with music was associated with a stigmatized sexual orientation.
Being working immigrants, my folks didn't listen much to classical either and left the car radio to my sister and I, which we made sure to fill with Gangsta's Paradise and MC Lyte's Keep Keepin' On.
I saw classical and orchestra music in antagonistic terms, which didn't improve with the internet. I would look for my selection of rap, hip-hop, R&B, jazz. And when I did, I encountered internet battles and micro-insults questioning the legitimacy of rap and hip-hop as "music", mostly stemming from "classically-trained musicians." So I used to see classical and orchestra music as "borgeoisie."
I guess my life in 2011 has gotten so bourgeoisie that my "tastes have evolved to the point where I consume music like someone would consume high art.
Anyhow, the first piece isn't really an all out orchestra, but I appreciate the sounds of the cello.
Hood Internet/Ellie Goulding/Kanye West/Portland Cello Project - All of the Lights Mashup
Said one youtube commenter
"The drums are making love to Ellie's voice and it sounds beautiful."
Bit of a strange comment that I don't think the commenter would make if Ellie wasn't attractive, but nonetheless I agree and felt the need to point it out still.
The drums pressure-pumping with the cello's importance reminds me of the depths of rising from nowhere.
Madolin Orchestra Ensemble - Always With Me
I don't know many terms for orchestra music, but, it's a piece that cycles, but each time it does, it comes back with something slightly different. The syncness with variation of the guitars gives it many different little flavors. The xylophone players inch deeper and deeper, and the gong drums sound even more important.
This song in its cycles reminds me of all the depth and beauty of Savatri.
Happy Heart in the Sunshine - Bust A Groove 2
This song for me = 2001. Winter 2001. Madden NFL 2001. Track team. Running Silver Lake. A light-skinnded girl named Rosette whom I never met. Never-ending, optimistic resiliency.
Eternal Summer of 2011
This is dedicated to you.
You, La Brea Tar pits. You, Yao Ming. You, traffic Stops. You, morning jogs. You, parking lots...even at churches. You, reunions. You, Culver City and Marina Del Rey. You, Boogeyboarding. You, food anthropology. You, Mythologies. You, me.
If you think this is an all-inclusive "you" as I usually do, you're wrong. In this case, there's only one you.
Martin Solveig - Night Out
You, La Brea Tar pits. You, Yao Ming. You, traffic Stops. You, morning jogs. You, parking lots...even at churches. You, reunions. You, Culver City and Marina Del Rey. You, Boogeyboarding. You, food anthropology. You, Mythologies. You, me.
If you think this is an all-inclusive "you" as I usually do, you're wrong. In this case, there's only one you.
Martin Solveig - Night Out
My Sister's Modelling Days Music
Once upon a time, my lil sister was a model for this "exotic" Filipino clothing line called the Lakambini clothing collection. She got into the LA Times once.
1994-1996 were the years. I attended some 10-15 of her modelling gigs and probably over 50 of her practices; they were defining events for our family, as in my mom and dad would clear out their schedules for this.
While there was a decidedly "feminine" tone to these gigs and practices, and there were tons of hot older mostly Filipina girls, I was a wee-10-year old trying to sort out, perform, and project my own masculinity. LOL, I was hoping someone would take notice of me.
I was taking karate classes and projected out the lessons learned into their practices.
One time when I was doing squats, the modelling coach, Bobby, smiling, asked me if I was doing gymnastics.
"No, it's karate," I laughed off his ignorance and femininity.
If that story was current and featured an adult iteration of me, it would be the thoughts and actions of a super-douche, and I'd give people the license to slap me.
Anyhow, the songs below, decidedly, remind me of good times.
Celine Dion - Power of Love
1994-1996 were the years. I attended some 10-15 of her modelling gigs and probably over 50 of her practices; they were defining events for our family, as in my mom and dad would clear out their schedules for this.
While there was a decidedly "feminine" tone to these gigs and practices, and there were tons of hot older mostly Filipina girls, I was a wee-10-year old trying to sort out, perform, and project my own masculinity. LOL, I was hoping someone would take notice of me.
I was taking karate classes and projected out the lessons learned into their practices.
One time when I was doing squats, the modelling coach, Bobby, smiling, asked me if I was doing gymnastics.
"No, it's karate," I laughed off his ignorance and femininity.
If that story was current and featured an adult iteration of me, it would be the thoughts and actions of a super-douche, and I'd give people the license to slap me.
Anyhow, the songs below, decidedly, remind me of good times.
Celine Dion - Power of Love
The Michigan Football Song
I just love Michigan Football. I don't know why. UCLA is my home school (and the Banana Slugs!), but they've always been defined by college basketball.
Maybe has to do with being the most visual symbol of college football. Maybe it's the Blue and Maize, the song, the brick walls that remind me of the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field. Maybe it's the huge super enthusiastic crowd. I love their symbolic audio: Hail to the Victors, nowadays I just like to see Michigan score a TD just to hear the song.
The best moments to hear that Victory song?
I remember witnessing the amazingly acrobatic Charles Woodson.
Maybe has to do with being the most visual symbol of college football. Maybe it's the Blue and Maize, the song, the brick walls that remind me of the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field. Maybe it's the huge super enthusiastic crowd. I love their symbolic audio: Hail to the Victors, nowadays I just like to see Michigan score a TD just to hear the song.
The best moments to hear that Victory song?
I remember witnessing the amazingly acrobatic Charles Woodson.
The Childhood Hero Theme Songs
There were two cartoons I distinctly remember watching as a child. I was proud as hell to show any and anyone my adoration of them.
1. Ghostbusters
Funny observations from youtube:
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
First, it was Ghostbusters, my first real heroes. My preference of them goes back to my early years in Chicago. I got not only the action figures and the station firehouse, but the proton pack, and even boots to embody the Ghostbusterhood.
My dad took the liberty of taping episodes, and as an 8-year old I kept re-watching episodes I'd watched as a 4-year old. My cousins from San Diego keep reminding me of my first visit to them and how they'd been impressed at how I was able to spell the word "Ghostbusters" backwards. Sretsubtsohg <--- yes, I had to pause and think about how to spell that.
For some reason, I had a liking for the character named Winston, the guy wearing light blue, and the only black character in the cartoon series. I do not know why. Maybe I related to him? Maybe something subconscious, heh.
I don't know how it happened but all of a sudden when I was 5 or 6, I started liking the Ninja Turtles. I know it was sometime after my family moved to LA in 1989. Suddenly, I got the action figures, and the Nintendo Video games to go with them. To this day, I can't really recall many episodes or even the movies made about them, I just remember which characters embodied a certain collection of traits and where I fit in: Donatello, the machine genius, Leonardo the leader, Raphael, the rude, wise guy, Michaelangelo, the party guy. Leonardo or Donatello.
1. Ghostbusters
Funny observations from youtube:
So terrible. That ghost was having a good time, minding his own business. Avoiding the trash cans trying not to cause trouble. But no. Our society will not tolerate dirty dirty ghosts.- miguelangel39
Why does a ghost need to avoid walking into trash? JankyToe
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
First, it was Ghostbusters, my first real heroes. My preference of them goes back to my early years in Chicago. I got not only the action figures and the station firehouse, but the proton pack, and even boots to embody the Ghostbusterhood.
My dad took the liberty of taping episodes, and as an 8-year old I kept re-watching episodes I'd watched as a 4-year old. My cousins from San Diego keep reminding me of my first visit to them and how they'd been impressed at how I was able to spell the word "Ghostbusters" backwards. Sretsubtsohg <--- yes, I had to pause and think about how to spell that.
For some reason, I had a liking for the character named Winston, the guy wearing light blue, and the only black character in the cartoon series. I do not know why. Maybe I related to him? Maybe something subconscious, heh.
I don't know how it happened but all of a sudden when I was 5 or 6, I started liking the Ninja Turtles. I know it was sometime after my family moved to LA in 1989. Suddenly, I got the action figures, and the Nintendo Video games to go with them. To this day, I can't really recall many episodes or even the movies made about them, I just remember which characters embodied a certain collection of traits and where I fit in: Donatello, the machine genius, Leonardo the leader, Raphael, the rude, wise guy, Michaelangelo, the party guy. Leonardo or Donatello.
To Store and Use For the Rough Times
Wondering why these songs are not on the local radio anymore.
I guess not happy enough.
I guess not happy enough.
2Pac Baby Don't Cry (Feat. Outlawz) - Subtitulos Español BY MAGNARE from 2pacmakaveli on Vimeo.
One of the Most Durable Songs Ever
Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up.
First heard it when I watched Bend it Like Beckham.
Reminds me of Luol "the star" Deng, the concepts of resilience, pliability, and running up hills no matter what.
First heard it when I watched Bend it Like Beckham.
Reminds me of Luol "the star" Deng, the concepts of resilience, pliability, and running up hills no matter what.
2Pac - Pain
When I first fell in love with basketball, I wanted to watch every movie with any mention of it. There was a slew of basketball movies: White Men Can't Jump, Blue Chips, and then this movie with 2Pac Shakur, Above the Rim.
The last movie, I didn't get at all. I thought it was violent, they said lots of bad words, and I was scared of 2Pac.
Dom had been bumping this song a few months ago, and I was too lazy to look up another 2Pac song.
Now I came across this song when looking for a lighthearted youtube comment about how violent the streetball game portrayed in Above the Rim was, "these niggaz is playin' NBA Blitz." I came across the above clip, and for various folks in my life I think it makes sense.
The last movie, I didn't get at all. I thought it was violent, they said lots of bad words, and I was scared of 2Pac.
Dom had been bumping this song a few months ago, and I was too lazy to look up another 2Pac song.
Now I came across this song when looking for a lighthearted youtube comment about how violent the streetball game portrayed in Above the Rim was, "these niggaz is playin' NBA Blitz." I came across the above clip, and for various folks in my life I think it makes sense.
The Storm of 2010
Career-wise, I was fine and moving up.
Mentally, I was getting chewed up.
Sprinkled in were moments of happiness, but mostly moments of sadness, bittersweet opportunity, and resolve.
Let's just say that these songs remind me of sleeping at my godsister's couch in her condo in the winter of LB, using OKCupid to find a date (I know it shouldn't be stigmatized, but I feel dirty and slightly pathete admitting that), and the actual rainstorms that closed out 2010 in Southern California.
I'm reminded of Metro subway station and looking at an old flame and her new beau.
As did this song. This song also reminded me of a lonely Christmas and New Years.
Mentally, I was getting chewed up.
Sprinkled in were moments of happiness, but mostly moments of sadness, bittersweet opportunity, and resolve.
Let's just say that these songs remind me of sleeping at my godsister's couch in her condo in the winter of LB, using OKCupid to find a date (I know it shouldn't be stigmatized, but I feel dirty and slightly pathete admitting that), and the actual rainstorms that closed out 2010 in Southern California.
I'm reminded of Metro subway station and looking at an old flame and her new beau.
As did this song. This song also reminded me of a lonely Christmas and New Years.
Tribute to DDL Roundhouse
Came to the party late because DDL Roundhouse came together for the last time on July 16th in Pasadena. This also marked the very first time I saw them live.
DDL Roundhouse had a bunch of elements --- a nine-piece band: a DJ, a drummer, a keyboardist, a singer, MC's, a bassist, a guitarist, a trumpeteer.
From what I remember reading an old description, their name is based on a Street Fighter move --- the Hurricane Kick executed by the characters Ryu and Ken. DDL Roundhouse stands for the buttons you'd press to execute the most powerful hurricane kick. "DDL" stands for Down, Down, Left, and the Roundhouse is the Roundhouse kick, the button C if you had a Sega Genesis.
They were an LA-based group and cranked out jazzy hip-hop. I really think that they deserved better promotion, and more shows.
I'm proud to say I went to school and was friends with what was their keyboardist and resident beatboxer --- Jason. Surely enough his last show brought me back with a few of my high school buds from way.
I really liked a few of their songs and overdid the replay button on a few:
The one below was my favorite.
Hopefully DDL's just kidding about the final show and this was just the start to get serious about marketing themselves more.
DDL Roundhouse had a bunch of elements --- a nine-piece band: a DJ, a drummer, a keyboardist, a singer, MC's, a bassist, a guitarist, a trumpeteer.
From what I remember reading an old description, their name is based on a Street Fighter move --- the Hurricane Kick executed by the characters Ryu and Ken. DDL Roundhouse stands for the buttons you'd press to execute the most powerful hurricane kick. "DDL" stands for Down, Down, Left, and the Roundhouse is the Roundhouse kick, the button C if you had a Sega Genesis.
They were an LA-based group and cranked out jazzy hip-hop. I really think that they deserved better promotion, and more shows.
I'm proud to say I went to school and was friends with what was their keyboardist and resident beatboxer --- Jason. Surely enough his last show brought me back with a few of my high school buds from way.
I really liked a few of their songs and overdid the replay button on a few:
The one below was my favorite.
Find more D.D.L. Roundhouse albums at Myspace Music
Hopefully DDL's just kidding about the final show and this was just the start to get serious about marketing themselves more.
Summer of the Nutty Professor 2---Thousand
Man.
Mother.
Fuckin'
High
School.
I came to this very elite Los Angeles high school with very high expectations of myself; then I quickly found out that I was a no one.
There was always someone smarter, more athletic, more unique than me...what place did I have?
I was just another Filipino kid, what I perceived to be a marginal, don't-participate-in-class-maligned "8:15-2:20 student." And I wasn't even that good as just a student.
The year 2000 marked the middle of my term at this high school. A time of intense identity searching.
Some highlights:
And this:
Mother.
Fuckin'
High
School.
I came to this very elite Los Angeles high school with very high expectations of myself; then I quickly found out that I was a no one.
There was always someone smarter, more athletic, more unique than me...what place did I have?
I was just another Filipino kid, what I perceived to be a marginal, don't-participate-in-class-maligned "8:15-2:20 student." And I wasn't even that good as just a student.
The year 2000 marked the middle of my term at this high school. A time of intense identity searching.
Some highlights:
- My godsister Cheryl was at the height of her coolness: she graduated high school! And she was having this watergun fight called Waterfest...the first year we had it at rinky dink "dirty" Griffith Park, this year we had it at the "cleaner," official cool place in the Valley where the pookashells, chinese character bracelets, and raver kids were out in full force. There was this kid named Richie with the biggest nose but had the coolest raver moves ever.
And this:
A Rap that Launched a Love Affair
con hip-hop.
1995, Summer.
I took this song, and said I was going to be a hip-hop fan. I was going to listen to Power 106. I was going to be one of the cool kids like those kids in the 8th grade, Cheryl's grade. If I memorized this song, I would officially have my pass.
I could be invited to their clique, their partiessssyeah didn't happen.
On the song itself, I couldn't tell if Coolio was trying to send a good message or a bad message.
But I got hooked by the visuals of the music video :
-Coolio's standing dreadlocks
-intense ass L.V. sweating his ass off in smoke and what looks to be like pain
-all the eses in the movie cuts
-the dude in the Dickies shirt being blocked out on MTV and BET because I thought it meant something bad when it was really them not wanting to advertise Dickies; I thought Dickies was gangster-wear from then out; starting wearing Dickies myself in '06 when I got them at the thrift store for cheap
-yelling Chicano student at the end
Gangsta's Paradise, 1995.
I desperately wanted to let everyone know that this is what I was down with.
I officially began to assert my newfound hardcore, hard-riding hip-hop identity at the local Disneyland for my sister's 8th birthday by telling some white person named Doug standing in line that "rock music and KROQ sucked."
Of course my 11-year old self assuming that said white person was indeed into "rock music and KROQ."
This all coincided with/facilitated me suddenly watching Family Matters so much, In the House with Coolio, Fresh Prince...yyy, I started to loved anything to do with black people, and that included my first favorite woman...Tyra Banks, foo!
Looking back at all this 15 years later, hey, sort of a dated song, but not a bad song to get into, gracias Coolio.
Somewhat relevant to me today.
1995, Summer.
I took this song, and said I was going to be a hip-hop fan. I was going to listen to Power 106. I was going to be one of the cool kids like those kids in the 8th grade, Cheryl's grade. If I memorized this song, I would officially have my pass.
I could be invited to their clique, their partiessssyeah didn't happen.
On the song itself, I couldn't tell if Coolio was trying to send a good message or a bad message.
But I got hooked by the visuals of the music video :
-Coolio's standing dreadlocks
-intense ass L.V. sweating his ass off in smoke and what looks to be like pain
-all the eses in the movie cuts
-the dude in the Dickies shirt being blocked out on MTV and BET because I thought it meant something bad when it was really them not wanting to advertise Dickies; I thought Dickies was gangster-wear from then out; starting wearing Dickies myself in '06 when I got them at the thrift store for cheap
-yelling Chicano student at the end
Gangsta's Paradise, 1995.
I desperately wanted to let everyone know that this is what I was down with.
I officially began to assert my newfound hardcore, hard-riding hip-hop identity at the local Disneyland for my sister's 8th birthday by telling some white person named Doug standing in line that "rock music and KROQ sucked."
Of course my 11-year old self assuming that said white person was indeed into "rock music and KROQ."
This all coincided with/facilitated me suddenly watching Family Matters so much, In the House with Coolio, Fresh Prince...yyy, I started to loved anything to do with black people, and that included my first favorite woman...Tyra Banks, foo!
Looking back at all this 15 years later, hey, sort of a dated song, but not a bad song to get into, gracias Coolio.
Somewhat relevant to me today.
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