Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere

It seemed that I am having a hiatus with blogging, but hey, I'm busy too.
I will get over that soon and maybe look for an inspiration to write and to fulfill this blog's purpose to post tv and music soup. I already got the Amazing race review below, however, I missed a lot of tv shows this week such as the all important American Idol. It could not be a successful blog if i don't post an hour after the show.

Now going to important matters, 6th day of the music challenge. Today is about a song that reminds of you somewhere. This is fitting I just have been to the other side of the Negros island and made a bee line to Canlaon.

The Long and Winding Road - the Beatles

I loathe long and winding roads x|. I was too confident about not throwing-up on the trip that I didn't even bother drinking Bonamine.

Lesson learned: Mother knows best.
Even if the lyric is irrelevant to motion sickness, the title is sort of appropriate.
This video is not by the Beatles, rather it is a clip on a group performance in American Idol.

Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone

I missed to document the 5th day of the music challenge due to a family gathering out of town.
Let's do this.
A song that reminds you of someone,

Don't Love You No More - Craig David

"So why you giving me the cold shoulder now. 
Like you don't even wanna talk to me girl."

But why are you making this thing drag on so long

-OtakuTourist

Summer trip.

I will leave the blogosphere for a while.
Check out soon, for a summary of my trip in Negros Occidental.
Sad to miss out on Idol this week.
See you on the flip side.

-OtakuTourist

TARA 18 Summary : Ep. 9 "I am not very fondue of this fondue".

"We're Good American People." -Zev

The Amazing Race 18:Unfinished Business had aired its ninth episode. The remaining six racers battled it out for the $1,000,000 prize. The locations on this episode are Austria  - Switzerland - and Liechtenstein.

Greg and Mallory, the father-daughter tandem, were able to manage their speed bump with ease.
Four of the six contestants assisted each other on the roadblock to measure the entire length of Liechtenstein (22 km). This 'good samaritan' act had robbed us from watching the racers getting mentally stressed out.This was unfair for the cowboys since they have to measure again for they failed their first attempt.

In Switzerland, they have the detour to choose between cheese or wheeze. Zev and Justin chose the eating task where they have to finish a whole pan of cheese fondue. The other five teams chose wheeze where they have to deliver twenty luggages to different high class hotels. Zev and Justin ultimately chose the right risk and ended the race as the first place finishers. Kisha and Jen; Kent and Vyxin; and Greg and Mallory followed with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th finishes respectively.

This leaves the globetrotters and the cowboys to  slug it out on the wheeze detour. The globetrotters managed to finish their tasks earlier than the other team. However, they misplaced their tickets that they received from the hotels after delivering the luggages. With this, the cowboys were given an opportunity to catch up. However, the globetrotters were able to overcome their dillema. With a game changing u-turn up ahead, the globetrotters wasted no time to u-turn the cowboys. Knowing that they were going to get eliminated anyway, the cowboys completed the other detour without any stress whatsoever.

They were eliminated.

Episode 9 rankings:

1. Zev and Justin
2. Kisha and Jen
3. Kent and Vyxin
4. Greg and Mallory
5. Flight time and Big easy "globetrotters"
6. Jet and Cord "cowboys"

-OtakuTourist

Day 04 – A song that makes you sad.

4th day of the music challenge.

According to the list, today is about a song that makes you sad.
My sad song is:

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M

When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.
Photo by John Catbangan

"Everybody Hurts"

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.) 


...........
Read the lyrics fervently.

-OtakuTourist

Song review: rolling in the deep.

"There's a fire starting in my heart,Reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark."

Adele, the 22 year old English crooner released the song Rolling in the Deep of her sophomore album 21.
She is already an established name in the United Kingdom and Europe scoring multiple hits. Her success in America is variable, with Chasing Pavements being the other single that gained massive success. However, this did not hinder Adele from composing this hit. Eventually, it stormed to America like the 'English wave', managing to peak at #6 in the Billboard charts. Adele's album 21, is now the #1 album in the United States.

This will be my first review of a song. So, please bear with me.

Lamenting over a rocky relationship, Adele poured her heart and soul over this powerful song. It is a fresh take on dealing with heart breaks as it differs from the pop interpretation of Avril Lavigne, the emo acoustics of Secondhand Serenade, and even rock with My Chemical Romance.

Her songwriting on Rolling in the Deep completely drowns out the current songs in the Billboard charts which focus only on catchy tunes but totally debunking on lyrics that make people think. Think 'S&M' and 'E.T'.

The song began with a guitar piece that introduces the upcoming  vocals. Halfway to the chorus, drumbeats start to play with its thumping sound that makes you want to stomp your feet. Adele explodes in the chorus with her high notes which is completely tolerable without any sharp notes.

In this particular song, Adele made us know that she is clearly in distraught.

"The scars of your love remind me of us,
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all,"

To the chorus. She begins with the words "We could have it all". You can feel as a listener that she makes the guy regrets for ever leaving this fine lady. However, without her lover, then we would never hear how Adele's take on a relationship that is rolling in the deep.

Adele's powerful voice  also helps Rolling in the Deep gain worldwide success. It is rich, full, and earthy which is uncommon nowadays as some artists use auto-tune.

The music video of Rolling in the Deep is basked on sepia tones. It is simple yet deep with many symbolisms that are scattered all over the video. Adele is in a messed-up room, sitting down on a chair belting out her sorrow. The best part of the video is the scene wherein hundreds of filled glasses where scattered all over the floor and as soon as the drums drop the beat, the water started to ripple out.

Overall, I give Rolling in the deep by Adele five out of five.


-OtakuTourist

Posts to anticipate this week.

Here is just a short list of my planned blog posts that I hope I would get done by the end of this week.

I went up to the mountain, because you ask me to.

1. My first song review.
2. Review of American Idol - Wednesday show
3. Review of the Amazing Race 18
4. Daily music challenge
5. Hinigaran trip in Negros Occidental

There you go.

Have a great week.

-OtakuTourist

Where to go?

Thoroughly enjoying the road less travelled...Where it takes me, don't care, life is a journey, not a destination.


-OtakuTourist

Day 03 – A song that makes you happy.

This is day 3 of the music challenge. Today will be a song that makes me happy.
I won't drag this for too long so here it is.

My happy song is:

Sister Golden Hair - America

This song goes way back in 1975 - the era of disco and over-all fun music.
I heard this record surprisingly in the most unconventional place, Robinson's Place.
An old-school band performed foreign hits from the 70's and 80's on the middle part of the mall.
Sister Golden Hair was playing, the moment we passed by with the mall's grocery carts.

Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, Sister Golden Hair surprise 

Me and ma looked at pa, because we knew that he used to listen to this song. I can sense that nostalgia.

I instantly searched all over google and learned that America played it. The song is about a man who told his bride that he is not yet ready to get married. Although I usually reflect on a song's lyrics, I completely neglected it at first and continue to enjoy its catchy melody. No wonder it came to be a #1 Billboard hit. I went on to download a bunch of their hit songs: "Ventura Highway", "Sandman", "Tin Man", "Horse with No Name", etc.

Sister Golden Hair has eventually become one of my songs which I play whenever I want to feel good after a bad day.

Filling in the final puzzle.

Puzzles.

Our folks from home introduced you to your very first puzzles. This is the simple, four-piece puzzle where you sometimes put in your mouths and kicked with your tiny feet never to be found again.

As you grow older, your puzzles becomes more perplex and complicated. The four pieces that you used to fit easily has turned into hundreds of similar looking shapes.


Let me tell you a story that I personally made about puzzles.

Drawing closer to completing the 12x12  puzzle, Oscar feels that rush of adrenaline pumping in his veins. The moment he puts that piece to its place makes him believe that he can complete a masterpiece.
Sweating. Shaking. Anticipating.

Finally, he held that final puzzle piece. He fits it in on the center of that large 12x12. Done. Euphoria floods in his system. Oscar scans his finished product with that sense of pride as he have made it with his very own hands. Then....

...he realized that he missed a piece on the left corner of the puzzle. His heart starts to beat fast and he breathes heavily. Oscar searches for it everywhere, however, it seems like it is never to be found.

He sit back to his chair, thinking and staring at his supposed to be masterpiece. He tries to keep calm by thinking positive thoughts and he even starts to pray. However, something tells him to finally accept that at this time he can not finish the puzzle. It took him time to finally heed that voice in his head.

After an hour of deliberating, Oscar decided to leave that one piece short of a masterpiece on his table, believing that one day he would fill that final puzzle. Until this very day, that incomplete art is still gathering dust on his unused work table.

Fin. :D

Lesson: You can never say that your life is perfect. Even you feel like it, you have to realize that there is always that one blank part of the puzzle. Go on and enjoy your life and fill in those missing pieces.

-OtakuTourist

To Love Somebody.

You ain't got to be so blind.

There's a light
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There's a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain't got you, ain't got 

(chorus)
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you

In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain't got to be so blind
And I'm blind, so very blind
I'm a man 
Can't you see what I am?
I live and breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain't got you, ain't got you, baby

---------------------------------

This song had been place on repeat. 








-OtakuTourist

Day 02 – Your least favorite song

This is the second day for the 30-day music challenge which is your least favorite song.

I have a problem with the phrase 'least favorite'. Does this mean that it is supposed to be a song that I really like and even considered a favorite but I ranked it as my least liked song? It could be. However, it could just simply be a song that I loathe the most.

After a short deliberation, I took the latter one, simply because it is easier to make a decision. Barring several earworms and novelty songs. My least favorite song is:

E.T -  Katy Perry feat. Kanye West

Not to take it away from Katy Perry, she did make some respectable tunes. She already garnered six #1 hits, E.T as the sixth. However, this song is literally extra-terrestrial. I don't think any guy with a rational mind would like to be called an alien. 

It is incredibly cheesy "Take me, ta-ta-take me.Wanna be a victim,Ready for abduction" and then you add Kanye West to the mix with his hard-to-swallow rhymes. For example, "I know a bar out in Mars, Where they driving spaceships instead of cars". 

Then there is that music video. Katy Perry looks incredibly fine for an alien. Halfway to the video, I'm thinking maybe I can finish this video, and there came the gazelle legs and that WTF spaceman. A total 360 from the cool, awesome, fireworks-on-peoples-body and that Fergalicious-esque video of her first single in Teenage Dream.

Maybe she wants to breakaway from her pop tunes: "Fireworks", "California Gurls", and "Teenage Dream", and start going techno or extra-terrestrial for that matter.

Anyway, I hope everything goes well for her next time. 

-OtakuTourist

Easter Sunday.

Let us all celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He saved us from our sins. He died for us and so we must live for Him.


Happy Easter Sunday everyone. 

-OtakuTourist

Day 01 – Your favorite song

As I scan through my Itunes playlist, I realized I have a bunch of favorite songs. 

My decision of choosing a favorite song had been put into a dead stop when all the songs are rated with five stars. Damn it. haha

Threading through...I concluded that I truly have a diverse taste in music. The timeline ranges from the 70's to the recent days. I believe that is something to brag about esp. in an era of pop-techno autotunes.

I'm pretty sure I am delaying this post, it is just because picking your very own favorite song is truly difficult.

I finally decided that I am picking a song which I am enjoying for a long time; a song that does not seem to leave my list of top 25 most played; and a song where I don't have to erase just to fit my awfully,short-in-memory, 4GB ipod.

My favorite song is:  You and I Both - Jason Mraz.

The starting lyrics were: 

"Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me. Oh things are gonna happen naturally."

Beautiful song. Beautiful lyrics.

My father introduced me to this song.

The song talks about how the guys tells the girl that they were the perfect two. That is what I think it is, you may interpret differently though.

There you go, my Day 1 of my 30 day-music challenge.

-OtakuTourist

The 30 Day Song Challenge...

I got this idea form brookiebabble. 
Anyhow, this will be a great way to share to you my taste buds for music.
Here is the list:

Day 01 – Your favorite song

Day 02 – Your least favorite song

Day 03 – A song that makes you happy

Day 04 – A song that makes you sad

Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone

Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere

Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event

Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to

Day 09 – A song that you can dance to

Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep

Day 11 – A song from your favorite band

Day 12 – A song from a band you hate

Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure

Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love

Day 15 – A song that describes you

Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate

Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio

Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Day 19 – A song from your favorite album

Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Day 22 – A song that you work out to

Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding

Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral

Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh

Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument

Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play

Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty

Day 29 – A song from your childhood

Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

-OtakuTourist

Summer blogging

It's been almost three months since I last posted in this blog and I am totally going to make up for it.


Summer is still here and all I ever did was stare at a blank computer hoping for a miracle to happen.
So in order to at least transform some of this boredom to productive stuff, I decided to do some summer blogging.


Check some of my posts soon.

-OtakuTourist