Reese Lansangan - It's Gonna Rain (Cover)

感情もイギリスの天気みたいに

移り気だったらとても

楽なのに... 逆なの

It's gonna rain

Kings of Leon - Dancing on My Own

I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, ohh

I'm right over here, why can't you see me, ohh

I'm giving it my all, 

but I'm not the girl you're taking home

I keep dancing on my own

Armi Millare - Tao

Isip ay nalilito

Pag nakakakita ng bago

Lahat ng bagay sa mundo

Ay isang malaking tukso

Lake Street Dive - I Want You Back

Oh baby, all I need is one more chance 
Won't you please let me back in your heart

Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go 
But now since I see you in his arms

Vienna Teng - Ain't No Sunshine / Lose Yourself

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

Ukulele Underground Philippines - Bahay Kubo

It's that time of the year again- all day all night jamming on campus! Yes, it's Magdamagang Pukpukan, and yes, we did a 24 hour marathon because it's our 24th anniversary: 7am Friday until 7am Saturday, and I was present for 19 of the 24 hours!

Crazy right? I've been saying that since our 22nd anniversary but as you can see, crazy doesn't mean impossible. And though I've been consistently against (albeit passively) this incredibly stressful and tiring event, I admit, I've enjoyed it immensely, especially this year! Well maybe because I took a backseat and didn't involve myself much in the organization of this year's MP. Ah, the joys of being an audience member.

I totally fangirled all afternoon during the lecture series (I even have the fangirl photos to prove it!) Joey Ayala was incredibly fun to listen to as always. Eudenice Palaruan made me want to join a choir again, but only under his direction! Heber Bartolome and his band are much too awesome (note to self: learn guitar, attend his songwriting workshops) and last but most definitely not least, and probably the highlight of my day: OMG. JESS SANTIAGO REMEMBERS ME! 

These one sentence summaries do not properly reflect all the feels I had that afternoon; I will have to devote an entirely different journal entry for this or else I'll just go on and on and that part was just 6 of the 24 hours!

The evening was allotted for our guest performers:

The Concert Chorus (and Prof. Jai Aracama's powerful solo!)
Katribu Kolektib
UP Filipiniana,
Margaret of Polecats Manila,
PUP Banda Kawayan,
UP Dance Sport Society, (total win on gender-bender partners! absolutely loved it!)
Fire Flow Artist Resty Yalung,
Kaya Green Band,
SulatKamay,
The UP Repertory Company,
Ciudad Tribu,
Malate Literary Folio,
Ukulele Underground Philippines,
Bunga Arts Link  (documentation purposes, pagbigyan mo na. HAHA)

One of my favorite performances of the night was Ukulele Underground Philippines (UUP)'s interesting version of Bahay Kubo. Without looking at the video description, can you guess the mash-up tune? ;D

Carly Rose Sonenclar - Brokenhearted

Upon hearing "Feeling Good" on my playlist, I suddenly remembered little miss Carly Rose's auditon for X-Factor USA. I only saw that performance on Youtube, and I can still remember how absolutely floored I was with what I heard the second she opened her mouth. I start to wonder, hmm, whatever happened to her? Late in game, I know.

One Google search later, I found out she went pretty far in the competition; dude 1st runner-up! A bajillion Youtube searches later led me from one performance to another and she's always so consistently good! Damn, if only I could have her sense of musicality at that age, and her tooone!

This here particular performance of hers is a easy favorite for me. (it even tops her audition piece! which I so loved.) I have massive respect for singers who write their own songs, but next to that are the singers who can interpret any song into their own. It takes more than just having a new arrangement; we all know that doesn't always work.

Take this one for example. 'Brokenhearted' is a song by Karmin, whose original arrangement is incredibly upbeat and fun. I do enjoy Karmin and all, but even when I first heard it, I was a bit confused with the song. A happy song about a heartache? Bipolar much?

Then I heard THIS. Now this sounds like a broken heart!

In a daze, going crazy, I can barely think 
You're replaying in my brain, find it hard to sleep, 
Waiting for my phone to blow

Bummer the whole song wasn't aired, because I totally prefer this slow version over the original. I did find another youtuber, Michala Todd, covering the entire song in the same style: alternate here! :)

"Habanera" - The Muppets

I am not even kidding. This one syllable is stuck in my head, I think my housemates are starting to hate me now, and I don't even blame them.

What started as a side reference comment about the accent of the Swedish Chef, led to an hour or more of random Youtube clicking of these Muppet videos. This one is by far the easiest to sing along to, don't you think? Probably clicked the play button over ten times before I decided it was annoying. Realization too late! It's now stuck in my head.

It's still hilarious though. :D

Leah McFall - I Will Survive

The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down

Yes, this is my current LSS.
Yes, this is extremely cute and adorable to no end.
Yes, this is excellent parenting, imho.
Yes, this is what I plan to do with my own children.

:D

Nicole Cross - Stay

I threw my hands in the air, said, "Show me something,"
He said, "If you dare come a little closer."

Casey Abrams - I Saw Here Standing There (Beatles Cover)

Melanie Martinez - Seven Nation Army

Ben Howard - Call Me Maybe

It was May 20 when I first heard this song; I was in a resort hotel room in Catarman, Northern Samar.  It was the first time in a week that we actually had a cable TV, but nothing really interesting was on, so me and my roommates ended up watching MYX, listening to songs, fixing my clothes and other stuff, trying to fit them all in my bag.

Carly Rae Jaspen comes up, and although I've not heard of the song before that day, she looked quite familiar, then I remembered her in an episode of Ellen, where Justin Bieber was introducing her as his newly signed singer under his label. I'm no Bieber-hater, but I'm not a big fan either. So admittedly I was quick to judge her.

Before the music video played though, the VJ did hint on a funny ending to the music video that we should look out for. Good thing she mentioned that, because I might have not cared to finish watching it. I was slightly irritated at her character in the video; I didn't really approve of the whole "look-at-me,-I'm-being-sexy-washing-a-car", but I couldn't deny, the song was extremely catchy, and I really did like the chorus. The refrain though I disliked, (well i think it's the refrain, okay I'm not sure...) the one that goes, "Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad." It just really doesn't make any sense. Then, the twist in the end happens, and all of us just laughed, and that really won me over somehow. I was singing the chorus a few times that afternoon, but when we got busy again, I had forgotten about it.

Fast forward a few days later, I had gone back home to Bacolod, and I just start to hear it EVERYWHERE. (Along with that song by One Direction, and another song by Nicki Minaj) Over and over and over again. By that time, the song had successfully embedded itself deep in my head. And now that I've flown back to Manila, I can't get away from it. There's not a day that I don't see a mention of that song in at least one Facebook wall post. A lot of it are parodies or maybe people lip-singing to it, but the most wonderful post about it is this guy's cover. 

It's not as catchy, true. But I think it's a pretty awesome cover. Had I heard him first, I would have never imagined it as a pop song. I think I'll be looking more into Ben Howard now.

*Although I thought CRJ looked kind of old for a girl in her late teens, I'm surprised to find out she's actually 26! I also found out that she actually did sing this song when she was on Ellen. I had flipped channels before I got to see her perform it. I guess I just wasn't really interested in her then. Well, I am now.

Whitney Houston (Glee) - How Will I Know

Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers - I Can't Go For That

I became a big fan of Hall and Oates fan ever since getting addicted to their song "One on One". I get excited at the mention of their name, I don't exactly know why, people often find it odd that I giggle like a school girl. I find it odd too, in the looks department their not exactly my cup of tea, but it's a love I can't explain. XD

I suddenly remember the time that I caught the movie "You Again" on cable -the one with Kristin Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver. I was absolutely ecstatic by the end of that movie! Go ahead and watch it to figure out why.  ;)

Another case in point; a friend had posted a YouTube link to a video of this group singing "I Can't Go For That" in a van. I don't always click links posted by other people, but seeing someone do a cover of Hall and Oates, I just couldn't resist clicking.

I so did not regret that decision. These people are the BOSS! And now I think a new song is competing as my most favorite Hall and Oates song. XD I haven't been this happy with a H&O cover since The Bird and The Bee! Actually I think I like Nicki Bluhm waaaay better. It's not even just the cover that blows my mind, is that they did this recording, on the road, with an iPhone! These people are the real deal! I'm a frustrated musician and THIS is what I strive to become! Their Van Sessions are the most awesomest thing ever that ended up watching their whole playlist. 

I seriously want to be part of their posse. Or at the very least have my own friends who'd be up for a musical road trip like the ones they have.

***

This song somehow reminds me of "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That." Just a more up beat and cheerful, don't you think?

Florence Welch - I Don't Wanna Know

I was searching "I Don't Want To Know" on Youtube, in hopes that it'll match to a video of a song by Fleetwood Mac. I did find want I want, but another link lead me to this excellent cover by Florence Welch of Florence + the Machines. 

This RnB song suddenly got so much more soul and feeling! Florence, you can do no wrong.

You Really Got a Hold On Me - Haley Reinhart

Smith - Baby It's You

"Baby It's You" 

Smith (Cover, Original by The Shirelles)

Written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams) and Mack David (lyrics). 

A Group Called Smith (1969)

I've heard all the versions, and all of the covers available on Youtube. In my honest opinion, no one has sang it better than Gayle McCormick. No one got even close. If anybody came near, it would be Haley Reinhart.

Hell yes I'm a fan, it's actually because of her that I learned of this song. No, I have not seen Death Proof yet.

The Nymphs - Enter Sandman

Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beast under your bed,
In your closet, in your head