The Equality Among Inequalities

Oh great! The last time I posted, I had a flu. Now, I think I'm developing one again. ftw!

Last Sunday, I was walking down beside a busy road along our busy city. While walking, of course I saw different people. Different people of different personality. Some auras are weak while some are lucky. And I began to ask myself.

Some people are eating at famous fastfood chains, others in some eatery, others in a 24-hour store, others just buy some biscuits and soda from a store, while others don't eat at all. Some people walk with me, some drives their vehicles or at least ride some, some kicks the pedals of their bicycles, and others just wait in a corner with their wheelchairs on. As I continue walking, I keep asking myself.

 

I saw street vendors and met establishment owners. I saw someone who looks so rich while beside him is someone who almost doesn't have some clothes on because of his next-to-nothing worn-out shirt. There was a kid who eats a burger, while the other kid was just busy running in the streets with his mucous spilled in his face but doesn't care about it. Seeing these things, I asked myself again.

There was a group of guys and gals, wearing colourful shirts and caps making them easily recognized as the so called "Jejemons", and on the other side of the street are wise-looking group of friends wearing their school uniform. There was this lonely lady while I saw that blissful gentlemen. Wondering while wandering, I still ask myself of the question I still can't answer.

And the question? Is of course a statement that ends in question mark.

"Why are people have different lives? Why does destiny gave some people too much luck while others don't even know what is the meaning of bucks? Why does others can not even take a bath because they don't have even a house but others swim in a sea of money?"

I want to sit down at the side of the road at that moment. I want to look what happens to people's lives everyday, every minute. And see how does differences or inequality (as they call it) works.

Who's to blame for this?

I walked a little further, trying to create an answer to my question with what I can see. But a more difficult question attacks my mind.

"Who am I?"

I can say with what I saw, people really is unique against one another. But what makes someone unique from everyone? Is it how he feels? How he looks at life? What he has? How he thinks? How he breath? What?

Do I even have the right to think and say these things?

With the differences of the people in just a certain place, I can only say that this world really is complicated. Too complicated that no mind can be too confident to know everything, even at a certain place at a certain time.

"And I don't wanna hear no more."

--Guns N' Roses (Civil War)

--ag22z

Fire Level

Oh yes, you got it right. I'm hot. Too hot! Unfortunately, literally.

I've been too busy to post a new entry for the last month. Even if I wanted to do an entry as often as possible, my time just keeps on asphyxiating me  and let me do nothing except for academic stuffs. What a waste of time. Yeah I know, subjects is one of the most influential teachers on everyone's life. But I just want to point out that everybody needs to break a little from their "wakeup-takeabath-eat-gotowork-work-eat-work-gohome-doworkathome-eat-continuetowork-pray-sleep" system. (No insult intended. Others are missing 1 thing from the system, just figure it out by yourself.)

I just recreated my acoustic guitar (which I often referred to as "Pula" due to its color red, and also, the guitar that thought me how to do alternative rock licks). I mixed up my mettalic blue, black, and silver paints to do it. Although I still don't have the time to finish it, I already imagined how it looks like when it is done. And surprisingly, it sucks. Not just because I did it, but it has really a "dark aura". Well we'll never know until it's done. Maybe its a way for me to listen to other genres.

This Sunday is my 1st college entrance exam. I'm kinda excited, and somehow feel pressured. Not because of it, but because of our teacher's requirements. Everybody knows I hate doing projects, especially ones needing creativity. I don't have even a shadow of that word, and it makes me sick.

Does anyone wants to trade your lungs to mine? Or is there such thing as lung transplant? Please if there is, tell it to me. Just badly needing it. Thanks

And by the way, I'll just share this to you. At the moment, I really feel like playing a guitar. Writing lyrics also. I want to do these stuffs. But I guess I can't due to my f*****g  health condition. How I wish that this plague that ate me didn't like my flesh and just die. But it didn't.

Advertisement: Who wants to have a band? Or need a band member? I'm available and I also need one. I can play guitar (hard rock, not metal), bass, and a little drum. Just comment or contact me if interested.

Well thanks for reading this piece of nonsense. 'Till my next post.

"We found that part of us we lost along the way."

-- Sponge Cola (Keep the Fire Burning)

--ag22z

In Between Days

I won't be continuing my other blog post for awhile. I want to express myself this time. I mean, express my thoughts at the very moment.

It's already 1:55 AM in my laptop's clock. Somehow sleepy already.

Around 2 hours ago, I was trying to create new material for our band. I just made a 2 stanza stuff, but i don't if it is "luckily" or "unluckily", it some kind of not-a-great-one. So I stopped and let myself do something that I knew I'm gonna be productive.

While browsing my music player, I first saw Mayday Parade's "Kids In Love". I grabbed my guitar and played it. Still bored, I browsed my list again, and found an "unfinished" project. It was Katy Perry's "Thinking of You". Yeah right, I know it's some kind of a "whoa man, you're listening to that song?" thing, but let me clear myself out.

The song was pretty challenging for me. It was kinda a pop-rock or just a pop but we are a rock band, so I have to make it sound great to our band. It was a pressure being the one who manages the guitar that sings. And again, after trying many times, I tried again to create guitar licks and solos for it.

It was some kind of a blessing in disguise for me not being "too inspired" to write today. 'Cause I was clearly "more inspired" to create licks. As an avant-garde guitarist, I tried to formulate a lick that would fit to the "missing link" of the song. And fortunately, I finished it. I finished the lick already, and surprisingly, I also had some modifications for the verses and other parts of the song.

Even though I finished the lick, I wasn't successful still at create a great guitar solo. Making me stick to the first idea I had.

Meanwhile, I'm still hearing my sister and cousin talking from the next room.

The start of classes will be a day from now. No idea nor imagination to what will happen on that day. I really want to go to school already, considering different factors. These factors include daily allowance, reunion with classmates and jamming with my bandmates. But there's one thing that prevents me to loving the start of classes. It's the required short hair for all male students.

I haven't visited the barber shop for around 3 months, making my hair grow in between 1 to 2 inches long. And I like it. I don't want to have short hair again. It really looks bad, real bad. But it's an order to be follow though. So I guess, I have no choice. Damn!

Well, I bet this entry will end here.

"My girl was the envy of every friend of mine. She slept safely in my arms."

-- Mayday Parade (Kids In Love)

--ag22z

The Naturally Infamous Selection

Yeah, I know. I'm posting new entries every another day, but I also know that when school days hit my calendar, I won't maintain this momentum anymore.

"Ultraelectromagnetic Jam: The Music of The Eraserheads" (UEM Jam for short), this is the first album that I tried to listen to that made me aware of the band Eraserheads. It is a tribute album in relation to the band's break-up during their almost-a-decade fame in the Philippine music scene. 

With their biggest hit "Ang Huling El Bimbo", Eraserheads, also known as E-heads, became the most influential band even as of today. But as a band, they said that one of their influence were Nirvana. Nirvana was a 3-piece Grunge band with members Kurt Cobain (Guitarist, Vocalist), Krist Novoselic (Bassist, Backup vocalist) and Dave Grohl (Drummer) .

Anyway, since "UEM Jam" is the album that introduced me to Eraserheads, I was also introduced to the songs only available in that recording. I am a fan of Sponge Cola, that is why their rendition of "Pare Ko" was the first song that I try listening to. I played it in my computer set with medium-high volume. At first, I thought to myself "Ah, I already heard this track before". But unaware of the lyrics, I continue until the chorus, which called the attention of my sister and mother. The chorus is made up of local explicit words such as... just kiddin', I won't post it here.

Other hits also caught my ears, including 6 Cycle Mind's "Alapaap", Imago's "Spolarium", M.Y.M.P.'s "'Wag Mo Nang Itanong" and Cueshe's "Hard To Believe". "The songs are great, so the artist are! The songs are created incredibly in terms of technicalities and lyrics." was the things I said to myself. 

Together with Sponge Cola's "Palabas", I was indulged to the album for months. How was I addicted to it? Simply this way. After I got home, I'll start my computer and open the music player program. I will play either of the two. Sometimes, I'll only listen to one album per night, sometimes alternate, and sometimes even playing a single song or two from the albums. Why didn't I became bored to it? It is because I like what I'm hearing.

Of course everyone of us have a favorite amongst the favorite in a certain thing. Mine's in the "UEM Jam" is Sponge Cola's "Pare Ko" and "Neon" in Sponge Cola's "Palabas". These two songs became the prime hits played most often in my music player.

Later on, I was convinced by myself that I must hear the original versions in the "UEM Jam" to distinguish which covers are "hot" and which are "not".

It took me kinda long time (since I can't really remember how long) to have a copy of one of the most famous and influential albums in Philipine music industry. The Eraserheads' 3rd album, "Cutterpillow". Reaching 10x platinum status, "Cutterpillow" produced the band's some of the biggest hits in their career. This includes  the travel-inspired story "Overdrive", the substitute song "Superproxy", a song about a dying man "Poorman's Grave", a full acoustic mellow song "Fill Her" and the song that tattooed Eraserheads in the music scene "Ang Huling El Bimbo".

I was already sick of "UEM Jam" while finding a copy of "Cutterpillow", making me stick again to one song, "Neon".

to be continued...

"Though I can't see you, I can feel you."

--Eraserheads (Fill Her)

--ag22z

Shape Of The Faded Shadow

I used to be a "Cueshean", but things always differ, ayt?

After hearing Sponge Cola's Gemini, I was immediately interested with the band. I tried to hear some of their songs, but had no idea where and how to hear it. Until fate delivered it to me. (Thanks Fate!) A friend of mine lend me his album collection. The collection includes Parokya ni Edgar's  "Inuman Session Vol.1", Hale's debut album "Hale" and many more stuffs from different artist which I'm not aware of at that time. While checking out the albums, I noticed a CD that stand-out against the others, and it gave me an instant smile. It was "Palabas", Sponge Cola's debut album.

Excited with what I have in my hand, I grabbed my sister's CD Player and played the song while I was lying on our sofa set. But ironically, I fell asleep during that 1st round of album.

"'Cause I, I know I can never be enough to replace your whatever." This was the line that made me realize that my eyes are already looking in the light that shines so bright by that time. I try to take a glance to the player to know the track number. And it was 4. But I don't know what is the title since the album cover is somehow far away from me. And hell yeah, I'm too lazy to get it.

That song caught my attention in no time. It has a dramatic rhythm and emotional lyrics. The chorus sounds like a desperate broken guy that can only do nothing. The verse is very solemn. But when the bridge came, it became very intense with the heavily distorted guitars. After the track, I only said 1 thing: "Wow!". It was the song that moved me too much. But still, don't know it's title.

Other tracks also convinced me that the album is worth listening for. After I try to relax myself to the other stuffs that I have, the album collection was returned to my friend. A few days after, I wanted to hear "Track No. 4" again. So I turned on my computer. But I was enraged when I saw my music player. I forgot to copy the album to my computer! At first, I think of it as a hoax when I just can't find the copy of it. But days, days not hours, days after searching for the file in my whole computer over and over again, I surrendered. 

As months passed by, I somehow forgot things about "Track No. 4". But one faithful night, as I was walking in a street near a fastfood chain and a church, I saw a CD stand and I went to it. I was surprised with what I saw. It was Sponge Cola's "Palabas"! I immediately bought the album without bargaining it (Yeah, it's a fake one. I know, I know it is bad. But I still don't have a job. Isn't that a great excuse since original albums are expensive for a wallet of an elementary student?)

As we went home, I played it in our car.After 2-3 months, I heard "Track No. 4" again, and smiled. This time, I was holding the cover, so I got a chance to take a look at the title. And at last! I already know the title. "Track No.4" is called "Neon".

In connection of me learning to listen in this newly-heard band, I tried to listen to other albums and artist. As I was doing research and hearing different songs from different artist that belongs to different generations of different genres, I realized what I like. It was the Alternative Rock dimension of the Pilipino music scene also known as "OPM Alternative Rock".

I started listening to different bands such as Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Pupil, Sandwich, Moonstar88, Mojofly, Stonefree, Sugarfree, Soapdish, Mayonnaise, Imago and others that I'm sure I forgot. I was enjoying these bands while hearing a band name that I am not aware of. They even don't have a chart-topping song at that time, but everyone that talks about OPM does not forget to mention the band name. Until one day, a friend asked me "Meron ka na bang Ultraelectromagnetic Jam?", I answered "Ano po iyon?"

"Ultraelectromagnetic Jam.". And that was the first time that I had a clear knowledge about the band that they are talking about, The Eraserheads.

to be continued...

"Now everything is silent, and everything is still without you near."

--Sponge Cola (Neon)

--ag22z

Memoirs and Indefinites

It was almost a year since I last visited this page. I even never thought of visiting this site again. But, I guess I'm already here by now.

The past year is great for me.I was stuck at Sinner's Lounge for a couple of months, and my musically-inspired days began after that. My regular daily practice routine came back into me. I was doing it before, but accidentally stopped it due to personal reasons, making my musical skills to somehow fade.

I started listening to music when I was around 6 years old. At that time, Pop icons are dominating the music era. And of course, every icon has their own signature song. Signature songs in that time include Britney Spear's "Oops! I did it again", Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a bottle", Westlife's "Fool again", Backstreet Boys' "Larger than life". And I'll also admit, I liked it.

They had their own commercial success by that time, until they slowly slowed down their pace. And thus, dominated by another music genre called "Hip-Hop/Dance"

Yeah, my knowledge in the edge of Hip-hop/dance is very limited, making me unable to discuss something about such stuffs.

By the year 2005, I was again interested in the music scene. It was Original Pilipino Music (OPM) that whispered in my ear. OPM Alternative Rock Bands came out from nowhere, or should I say, their time for fame is at the very moment?

At that era, there was this undisputed contrast between 2 bands namely Cueshe and Hale. I was listening more in the side of Cueshe since their debut single "Stay" won the race to my auditory nerve against Hale's "The day you said goodnight". Hence, making them my instant favoured band.

This scene became my heaviest influence. The artists made me realize that I want to have a musically-inspired, musically-inclined and musically-oriented life. My soul knocked my mind, telling him that he wants to have a band, desperately.

When I watch bands perform, I was so jealous to even just their so-called "rockstar aura". I try to look like it. Wearing lousy shirts, loosely fit jeans, rubber shoes and even a dog chain connected from my wallet to my belt buckle. But there is still 1 thing that I can't do even if I want to, to have a long hair. Oh crap...


After sometime, I noticed that I was too "locked up" in Cueshe's works. With that, I was starting to get bored in their music. My blood get pumped back again when I saw this music video. A very dark-themed video that included hundreds of chairs and an extremely large curtains. There is a story about the music, but the video stands on its own, and it is based on a very popular novel. The band is composed of 4 members and the video contained creepy-like stuffs (including a sudden show up of a lady in white). The melody was very humble but was heavily distorted  by the middle of the song and a simple outro licks that will soon be a great LSS factor for you. And yes, you got it right. It's Sponge Cola's "Gemini".

to be continued...

"Let me know if dreams can come true."

--Sponge Cola (Gemini)

--ag22z