Ahhhhhh...nothing like singing for two hours to help one temporarily rid themselves of all the stupid DRAMA in their life! My friend [who was having all this guy trouble] and I went to Japan Town to that Korean Karaoke place and dropped $50 so that we could sing whatever we want for two hours, and most of those two hours were spent singing to lame @ss midi music backgrounds and even more lamer videos! But we were able to forget about all the depressing stuff of our lives and sing stoopid songs that we otherwise would never have sung in front of others [i.e. i actually sang "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo"] Don't knock the Disney! Everyone grew up on that stuff, don't even lie.

Don't you just love that "6 degrees of separation stuff"? It turns out a friend of mine from school actually grew up with one of my X-girlfriends. I was trippin'.

And I don't know why but I've been on this Kevin Smith tip for the past week. My roomies rented "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and after seeing that one I just had to watch mallrats again, and now I feel like seeing Dogma too.

Do you still remember you and your ex's song? One of ours was "When I Fall In Love" the version by Celine Dion and Clive Griffith. It's so cool how songs can just elicit so many memories. Tonite I sang "Whip Appeal" by Babyface and remembered my old middle school crush -- she loved that song and we ended up slow dancing to that one. [And since we're on the subject, do you guys remember your middle school slow dances -- how our backs used to hurt? heheh]

Well, I'm beat, I have work and my mind is jell-o right now! Be back with you in a few

Till next time

Make Mine Music

~No Tations

Okay okay my NCAA tourney chart sucked, but that's because I don't follow college hoops and I usually make my picks on gut reaction. [I know, excuses, excuses.] So yeah, anyway, I had my fantasy baseball draft, and came away with A.Rod, Bonds, Mariano Rivera, and, in the biggest coup of the night, local boy Jimmy Rollins. FYI, my middle brother Paulo actually played with Jimmy when they were in the 14-15 year old Babe Ruth Tournament. And Babe Ruth was in JFK with Kevin Bacon....

Anyway, the SF State Chamber Singers had another performance this past sunday. It was pretty fun, another warm up for our Cuba trip, which, by the way, is in a couple of weeks. We had a meeting about it to, and everybody is starting to feel it, that buzz in the air, like when something big is coming up and you can't wait. We'll be leaving on the 9th for Miami, but alas, no partying for us. It's a quick overnite and then straight to Cuba. Oh well, I guess the hotties in South Beach will just have to wait till next time.

Vince Taylor, 5 time Master Mr. Olympia [yes, he juices with those 'roids] was at my store the other day. He's freakin' huge. 5' 8" and 240 in his season weight. But he was off season right now and he was even freakin bigger than that. You know, if you put your mind to it [and inject needles into your calves] YOU TOO can be a superhuman. All kidding aside, he was a really cool guy and seemed to have a good time at our Serramonte store.

PCN Choir update:
I've succeeded in creating a 4 part harmony for 'We Could Be In Love', pretty much out of my @ss, but it doesn't sound half bad. With me, I'm always thinking of better harmonies, or different ways of singing, so if I don't write stuff down, I'll forget which parts I give to the different voice sections. BUt the main point is that people are having fun, and that's all that matters.

Tomorrow I'm singing the alma mater of SFSU [do people still sing those in the 2K2?] Anyway, I gottao get some more rest so take care everyone and till next time....

Make Mine Music

~No Tations

Well, first day of the NCAAs and already my tournament pool chart is shot! And I don't even follow college hoops until March Madness anyway. Did I ever mention that I got accepted to USC and the only reason I really wanted to go was because they have a dope @ss marching band? But I'm glad I ended up at SFSU [no offense to you Trojans out there!]

So yeah, has anyone taken part in those Pilipino association spring shows aka PCNs? I'm supposed to be directing the choir part of it but everyone keeps telling me, "I'd sing but I am scared about the audition." Audition? If you wanna sing, come and join! I remember a spectator who watched the hip hop [modern] dance tryouts who said, "You mean they're actually gonna cut people? Won't that just turn away those who'd like to participate?" Heck yeah, it would. But I understand, as an artist, how people who are proud of their work, like choreographers, would want only the best ones performing their work. But I also understand that with enough support and nurturing, even those who claim to be tone deaf can sing a part, and not only just sing it, but sing it good! So no, I don't turn away anyone, and yet I'm still proud of my work as a performer, artist, etc. And so are the choir members as well.

Okay, I saw two really pretty women today at work. Just had to tell someone! Lord have mercy! Take care y'all and be safe tonite...
And till the next time

Make Mine Music

~No Tations

Late on a Saturday night...

I just got back from that movie theater in Berkeley on Shattuck [I don't know the name] where I went to watch the indie film "Scratch". It's a good movie. It seemed long, although I did yawn a few times, but I think that was because I was tired. No, it's not about itching and rashes, it's about DJs and turntablism and digging and making beats, etc. For awhile I used to be one of those that thought that turntables weren't real instruments but little by little my mind is being changed. I did feel a whole lotta pride knowing that Filipinos played a big part in that movie and that we're being recognized for our achievements within the hip hop circles, perhaps now we can move on to that one that we don't get as much recognition, that being the element of rap. Hopefully soon though, we've already proven ourselves in the other three elements...

Also, there was a high school choral fest going on at SFSU today. The Chamber Singers performed as well as high schools from SoCal, MidCal and the Bay Area. All did great jobs. We did all right but those classically trained singers need to feel those cuban songs. You can't just read those rhythms from a piece of sheet music, you need to feel them, but as long as you're stuck in a piece of sheet music you never will. When my fellow singers can let themselves go and feel the music we'll be alright but I still shudder to think that if we were going to Cuba next week, we'd make pretty good fools of ourselves. We'll get it. I'm feeling them. You see me dancing in the back! My director said I'm a dancing fool. But, HOW CAN YOU SING THAT MUSIC AND NOT WANNA MOVE! I told people that if he doesn't want me to dance keep singing old french and latin!

So yeah, there goes...and one more thing. Once again, the Bay Area is where it's at for anything that has to do with the arts. The director of the movie told the audience that throughout the filming for the movie, the Bay is the epicenter. There are a lot of things out there people, go check em out. Till next time...

Make Mine Music
~No Tations

Okay then, what's been going down?

Well, I auditioned for a solo on a black spiritual called "Steal Away" but didn't get it. My damn director makes me nervous. Plus, it was for an adlib part and for me, I needed to sing a little of the song so I could feel it -- 'let the spirit move me' to be blunt. So it was a little hard [for me, that is] to just start the solo right off the bat without being able to sing it through so I could do the adlib off of how the song is moving me. Anyway, I didn't get it, but actually, it's all good because the guy who got it really wanted the part. OH well, I think I can live with that. =)

So yeah, I practiced with the SFSU PCN choir and we learned some harmony for the OPM "Nandito Ako". I love that song, even though I couldn't even understand it, it just sounds so pretty. I'm so impressed with all the so-called 'shower singers' and people 'who can't sing.' It seems like all they need is a little shove in the right direction and *poof* INSTANT SINGER! All you people who say you can't in tune -- well, at least you can hear the difference between in tune and out of tune right? That's the first step in ear training. A little practice and I'd bet you'd be singing more in tune in no time!

For the PIN@YS out there: If you've ever been to the Philippines you know how musical our kabayan are. I couldn't go anywhere without my cousins telling me to sing them a song. That's also a first step -- a first step into performance. If you really want to start out at the right place, go to either church or in front of family. They don't mind mistakes because you're sharing your divinely given talent with others. And plus, all of those spectators know that if singing were THAT easy, they'd all be doing it.

Well, it's late and I must off myself to the sleeping bag which is my temporary place of slumber, that is, until I'm able to get my futon here. So rest up and have fun all. I will be back soon....so until then

Make Mine Music
~No Tations