Music

  • #ListenTo 8 Quintessential Birit Songs

    Since we’re all sad from what went down at this year’s (or last year’s) Miss Universe pageant, the best remedy for our sadness is singing. Karaoke, in particular. If you’re in need of karaoke songs for maximum cathartic effect, here are 8 quintessential birit songs for you to sing:

    8. Basang Basa sa Ulan (Aegis)

    Drenched in the Rain, translated. This is everyone’s favorite karaoke song. The challenge is to sing the song in the same octave as it was originally sung. Birit moment: The key change

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6SMDQoUtk]

    7. Through the Fire (Chaka Khan)

    Chaka Khan! This song is far from chaka, because this is a birit classic. Birit moment: “Through the test of tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime”

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyj1uLacxtg]

    6. Listen (Beyoncé)

    A favorite in singing competitions, singers auditioning sing this song to flaunt their range. This is the quintessential diva song in her catalog. Birit moment: “I’ve tried and tried to say what’s on my mind, YOU should have known oh”

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYEDhWuP_w]

    5. Through the Rain (Mariah Carey)

    Classic music video. This was during Mariah’s Charmbracelet era. Birit moment: This is one of Mariah’s softer songs, but the song soars to birit levels by the last line of the bridge, then key change.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRNdmkH8zrI]

    4. When You Believe (Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey)

    Diva showdown! This is from the animated film, The Prince of Egypt. Birit moment: The glorious bridge (“…says hope is very neaaaar”) and final chorus

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaXY4IdZ40]

    3. Dadalhin (Regine Velasquez-Alcasid)

    Will Bring, translated, as in The wind will just bring my dream away. The primera biritera of the Philippines, Asia’s songbird. Sad lyrics + epic melody = karaoke classic. Birit moment: “Ang lahat ng ito’y pinangako moooooo-oh-oh-oh-ohhh”

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEE4N3Zg4RI]

    2. And I am Telling You I’m Not Going (Jennifer Hudson version)

    Another one from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, for which Jennifer Hudson won her Grammy. Her performance in the movie was her breakthrough moment into stardom. Birit moment: “Tear down the mountains, yeah scream and shout…” to the end

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiSRSgqE4E]

    This song was originally sung by Jennifer Holliday, who also gave us this iconic moment from American Idol. Slay!

    1. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)

    Arguably, the mother of all birit songs. Birit moment: “And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU]

    (You may listen and sing along to all of the aforementioned songs in this Youtube playlist.)

    What are your go-to karaoke birit songs? Share them in the comments below.

  • #ListenTo The Ransom Collective

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    With The Ransom Collective
    Amiciness with The Ransom Collective at Indayog

    The Ransom Collective is a six-piece indie folk band composed of Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar, and owner of an awesome name), Lily Gonzales (keys), Muriel Gonzales (violin), Leah Halili (bass),  Jermaine Choa Peck (vocals and percussion), and Redd Claudio (drums). I got to see them live in St. Paul College Pasig’s concert event Indayog: An OPM Music Festival during their school fair. That was the first time I heard of them, and I immediately fell in love with their sound. I loved it so much that I even bought their self-titled EP, which of course I got the band to sign. Their music reminds me of a lot of bands (and I confess to not listening to a lot), so I’m just going to drop their names here: Stars, The Lumineers, a folkier Bombay Bicycle Club (it makes sense in my head, okay). Other blogs have also made the Mumford & Sons connection, but I contest that it’s only because they’re both in the indie folk sphere that accounts for the similar sound.

    The Ransom Collective EP Signed
    My own copy of the band’s EP. Also available digitally on iTunes

    The best track on the EP is Run. It starts with just the keyboard and guitar, then 30 seconds in, the drums kick in, then a short violin solo, and it just soars from that moment. Perfect to blast in your car and sing along to on a road trip. Although, I’ve got to say, The Ransom Collective is a much better experience to behold live. Their recorded stuff doesn’t do their sound justice. I heartily recommend watching them in concert and in gigs.

    Follow the band on social media:

    Buy their self-titled EP on iTunes, or stream it here:

  • Jessie J Live in Manila

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    Jessie J reading a heartwarming fan mail from a guy named Joshua Tan.

    Jessie J and her music were her inspiration to stand up and be alive amidst all the adversities he is experiencing in life.

  • #PhilPop2014 Top 12 Finalists

    This is the Philippines’ annual songwriting contest that started in 2012. It is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and composers. Judging by this Top 12, it’s evident that the professional writers seem to be at an advantage to qualify.

    Anyway, my favorite would have to be Love on a Broken String written by Jude Gitamondoc and Therese Marie Villarante as it is the most current-sounding of all the entries, and the one with the most decent lyrics (seriously, listen [or not] to Qrush on You for product placement, or Hangout Lang for a booty call in song form and references to one of the most unproductive showbiz issues of the year). The only negative is the weak middle eight relative to the very strong chorus. (Jungee Marcelo’s Salbabida has the best middle eight.)

    I also like Toto Sorioso’s Awit Mo’y Nandito Pa which sounds like a pleasant inspirational, hopeful hymn. I also love the syncopation in the chorus — if you listen closely there’s an extra beat that throws you off at first, but then falls back into place. I have to note though: I think I’ve heard this melody before, it’s super familiar.

    My least favorite would have to be Hangout Lang penned by Allan Feliciano and Isaac Joseph Garcia. According to their biography on the website, they wrote the song in half an hour… and it shows. Production is dated, and the lyrics, no comment na lang.

    Generally, there still isn’t much diversity to the songs in the final. This year is filled with a lot of R&B/urban artists (to list: Kyla [though she sings a power ballad here], Jay-R, Kris, Thor, Q-York), so is R&B up for a comeback in the Philippine music scene? Honestly, I don’t think so, but at least these artists are getting experience and exposure.

    The grand finals night will be held on July 26, Saturday. Who do you think will win this year? What do you think about the entries?

  • Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again

    Holy Scandinavian goodness! This Norwegian-Swedish partnership is showing everybody how excellent pop songs should sound.

    Although the lyrics aren’t as spot on as Röyksopp’s production, it does get a bit meta when Robyn sings “Wait for it, wait for the buildup” as if hinting at something big in the chorus. And the chorus does soar, and it continually builds up to the end.