Yes! by Jason Mraz - Album Review

I've been a fan of Mr. A-Z ever since his tongue-twisting song "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" hit the airwaves in the Philippines. My older brother and I saved up enough money to buy his CD, and soon enough I had a thick printout of lyrics to all of his songs, so I can sing the anytime and anywhere I wanted. He's one of the artists whom I can see supporting until the end of time, based on his track record of churning out well-written, timeless songs that latch onto your heart like "Lucky", "I'm Yours" and "I Won't Give Up". Imagine my delight when I first watched him live - I think my friend Dette had to pinch me and pick up my jaw from the floor several times in order to convince me that I wasn't dreaming. Jason sounds so much better live, not because he sounds horrible in his studio recordings, but because you can feel his warmth and sincerity radiate throughout the entire concert venue. There is just an authenticity he brings with his guitar and soothing vocals that makes him so dang likable as a musician, one can't help but to feel like he's either singing to you or with you. Which is why, ever since I've lived here in the USA, I've tried to catch all of his shows because it really is worth it. I was thisclose to buying tickets to his upcoming concert, but due to a misunderstanding of the terms by Ticketmaster I was unable to and I am currently waiting (not in vain, I hope) for the prices to drop to near-normal in re-seller sites.

With Toca in 2011

Norfolk, VA concert in 2013

Speaking of which, my former roomies and I drove all the way to Norfolk, VA (for 3 hours!) to watch him, and we were lucky enough to snag tickets near the front row. It was an acoustic set, and he had this great all-women band as his opening act; later on they went to play songs together. Imagine my surprise when he announced that he might be touring with them soon. The L.A. based rock-folk band, called Raining Jane, has been together since forever. (Mona, Jason's awesome drummer/sidekick from his previous tour and a member of Raining Jane, along with Caroline from The Corrs inspire me to be better with my djembe skills). Their established group dynamic probably rubbed off on Jason, because his songs from their new album, Yes!, makes one feel like they're wrapped in a warm, fuzzy blanket, similar to how strong, time-tested friendship should feel. Thank goodness they did not go through with making it just a side project, and that they were confident enough to launch it as a full-blown album! I'm so happy for them and for the added exposure to their group, but of course I'm crossing my fingers that this won't be their last collaboration. Ok, now on to the songs! (I'm no longer putting this album on shuffle, because they're meant to be listened to in the order that they appear on the album. You'll soon understand why.)

1. Rise: An instrumental prologue to the next song. It feels like the musical counterpart of the sun slowly rising in the wee hours of the morning.

2. Love Someone: In the same rank as I'm Yours and I Won't Give up, this song is just lovely all around. I won't be surprised if this will be (hopefully not over) used in weddings/engagements in the near future. It is very mellow and a little less syrupy. I always sigh (in a good way) when I listen to this song. With lyrics like:

"When you love someone
Your heartbeat beats so loud
When you love someone
Your feet can't feel the ground

Shining stars all seem
To congregate around your face
When you love someone
It comes back to you"

you'll probably sigh too, am I right? ;)

3. Hello, You Beautiful Thing: Sunny and bright all over, this will make you smile at your reflection in the morning. Because yes, you are a beautiful thing :)

4. Long Drive: Recommended when you're on a long drive with your significant other. Butterflies in your stomach, guaranteed. This makes you remember how fleeting life is, and how we should cherish each precious moment with our loved ones. I love how it starts off slow but not dragging, then the tempo rises like when you're revving the engine (equivalent to when you look over to your SO and in that moment you just appreciate so much his/her presence in your life), then slows down again. They actually made a short movie/music video composed of this song and the two previous songs, which centers on a couple's life together. Watch it below:

5. Everywhere: I don't know how Jason Mraz makes a stalker-ish song into something tender, but he does it with such finesse it's a little scary. Hahaha. Maybe it's because the feeling seems mutual.

6. Best Friend: A lovely, earnest ballad dedicated to best friends/lovers. It might sound cheesy at first listen, but soon enough you'll find yourself thinking of your loved one while singing along.

"Thank you for all of your trust

Thank you for not giving upThank you for holding my handI've always known where you stand"

7. Quiet: Another love song, this time with a softer and smoother sound.

"Heartbeats rise, heartbeats fall
Will you be my constant through it all?

I will hold your hand and watch the world spin idly around this life we're in
Oh yeah everything goes quiet when it's you I'm with"

8. Out Of My Hands: With a laid-back reggae vibe, this song reminds us that nothing is perfect, even relationships (although of course at the end of the day, it's still up to the two of you to work things out. After all, real love is not merely about having feelings but is a constant decision).

9. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday: Originally performed by G.C. Cameron in the film "Cooley High" and popularized in 1991 by Boyz II Men, Jason and Raining Jane's cover seems lighter and more sweet than sad, but nonetheless they are still able to convey how deeply we get affected by people leaving. Through all of these renditions, this song never fails to remind us to make the most out of every moment with people that we love the most.

10. 3 Things: Highly recommended for when you feel down, it is full of positive vibes all around. It's a singing how-to without feeling preachy - the ukulele-infused melody definitely helps a lot in not letting it sound campy.

"Things are looking up

I know above the clouds the sun is shining
Things are looking up
Love is still the answer I'm relying on
Three little things"

11. You Can Rely On Me: Rather self-explanatory :) 

12. Back To The Earth: Here's a little bit of trivia for you: Jason has farming in his blood - his song "Frank D Fixer" from his previous album was written as a tribute to his grandfather Frank Mraz, who had a small farm in his backyard and who also fixed farming equipment for a living. And after years of dreaming/singing about it, Jason now operates an organic avocado farm in San Diego, and sells his produce to a local Chipotle. This song, beyond the upbeat melody, the cute do-do-do start and the infectious end (where everyone claps along and sings in a cappella) is a statement on the importance of sustainable agriculture (and you can start by having your own backyard garden!). I have yet to check if I inherited my father's green thumb, but when I do get the space I'll start off with a herb garden :) Click here to read more about MESA (Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture), an organization that Mr. Mraz supports.

13. A World With You: The song starts off slow, with a guitar rift borrowed from Norwegian Wood by the Beatles. Accompanied by Becky's sitar, Mona's drums, Mai's cello and Chaska's piano, the seemingly simple lyrics blend into a sumptuous song sung between lovers. It's one of his best, hidden songs and I'm sure it will be loved by fans all around the world.

14. Shine: This mesmerizing, ethereal song is the perfect ending to an uplifting album. Thank you for shining your light on us through this album, Jason Mraz and Raining Jane, and may we always remember to shine our light on others as well. And of course, thank you to our great God for blessing these wonderful musicians with their multitude of talents and for guiding them into collaborating on this album. May this inspire you to say a resounding "YES!" to life as well.

<3,

Rainy day blues

Things to do on rainy days (make sure you have an emergency kit, though! It's always better to be on the safe side. Also applicable to snow-ins):

1. EAT. Preferably hot food because rain always makes me feel chilly. (Click the name to go to the recipe)

Turkey Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) from Cooking Light

Champorado (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge) by wokwithray.net

Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken in Tamarind Soup) by http://feastasia.casaveneracion.com

Perfect Potato Soup by The Pioneer Woman

2. READ. There are a lot of upcoming movies that are based on books, and in my opinion it's always better to read the source material first before viewing its big screen adaptation. Unless that's not your thing :)

Ender's Game (from Wikipedia): Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperilled mankind that has barely survived two conflicts with the Formics or "Buggers", an insectoid alien species. In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room, where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.

The Monuments Men: During World War II, a group of British and American museum directors and art historians risk their lives to recover stolen works of art before they can be destroyed by the Nazis.

Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy (this is the movie plot): A CIA analyst uncovers a terrorist plot to destroy the United States economy.

Odd Thomas: A short-order cook with psychic abilities encounters a mysterious newcomer in his small desert town.

3. WATCH. These movies are currently available to rent at Redbox :)

I watched this yesterday. Yes, it is long and has dragging moments, but it also has a lot of gems inside. The makeup can be distracting but does not detract from the storytelling. A must-watch! (The Asian version of Jim Sturgess is, I must admit, POGI hahaha.)

4. LISTEN. Here are some songs off of newly-released albums.

Other suggestions: Draw, write a short story, do pilates, basically anything to get de-stressed and not get depressed by the rain. It is essential for life, after all.

(Trivia: I used to affix a cutout of Batman's symbol to a flashlight then we'll pretend it's THE Bat Signal hahaha. Childhood is awesome, I don't know why some kids want to grow up fast.) 

Good night and stay dry! :)

<3,

P.S.

Help our brethren in the Philippines who were affected by Tropical Storm Maring by donating to reputable organizations. Remember, every cent counts!

Philippine Red Cross

ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation USA Inc.

Music Videos: Cars

A VW Beetle-filled scene from "Candy" by Mandy Moore

Raise your hand if you wished you had a Beetle after watching Candy by Mandy Moore! Seriously speaking, it was my dream car, and the fact that my father used to drive one also helped in cementing that thought. But VW parts are expensive, so once the Ford Explorer my father passed on to me started overheating, I bought a trusty silver 2012 Toyota Corolla instead (nicknamed "Kotse," the Filipino/Tagalog word for "car" because I'm not really into names lol). I love looking at beautiful cars, but I'm glad that I don't mind if mine gets scratches because it's not swanky enough. I don't know if I'll ever get an expensive car either because I'd rather spend my money on traveling/vacations, charity and investments.

I used to spell Volkswagen as Box Wagon hahaha :) (Image taken from http://www.netcarshow.com/volkswagen/2003-beetle_last_edition/ )

This post is dedicated to my big bro Jong and his love for cars. One of the best memories ever: him building a makeshift car out of seat cushions from our living room sofa when we were 7 and 9 years old. I wish I had a copy of the picture of us in it so I could post it here :) Enjoy and au revv-oir ;)

Music video dump - Melancholic

On Music and Concerts

There's nothing quite like watching your favorite bands/singers perform onstage, holding your screams in because you don't want to be hauled out by security, dancing/singing/dancing&singing along to their songs with friends and strangers, and reliving every moment once it's (alas!) over. These are why I tolerate ribbing from coworkers and other friends about my semi-packed summer concert schedule (see below), even if sometimes they include bands that are not as famous as they used to be (or so you think) like Hanson, 98degrees, and such. The appreciation of good music has been deeply embedded in me since I was a kid, almost always waking up on weekend mornings to John Denver's lyricism and visions of  West Virginia, Eric Clapton's ability to make his guitar sing, Frank Sinatra's velveteen voice and perfect diction, and let's not forget Simon&Garfunkel, Eagles, America, Chicago and Bread. Sometimes classical music too, plus vocal groups like The Platters and of course The Beatles. Growing up (hey 90s kids!) I learned to love the same songs as my peers: I crooned along to Boyzone, sang girl power-infused lyrics by the Spice Girls, stared googly-eyed at posters of the Backstreet Boys and dressed up like Avril Lavigne for a costume party in high school. But weekends were meant for music curated by Pa, and thus my eclectic musical taste formed. I was a teenage oldie, and proud of it.

Not included: Steve Martin, NKOTB with 98degrees and Boyz II Men, and Matchbox Twenty & Goo Goo Dolls

I used to think that Pa was the greatest guitarist in the whole world. And while that might not be true to 99.9999999999% of the population, I still think he's pretty awesome and I will always keep the memory of our morning jamming sessions close to my heart <3 He's why I taught myself to play the guitar (one of the first songs I learned to play was Summer Breeze, which was, decades after the original version, made popular again by Jason Mraz) and why I love serving in Singles For Christ's Music Ministry, although my guitar skills are verrryyyy rusty. Ma and my two brothers have good voices too; in hindsight, we should have formed our own version of The Partridge Family hehehe jk!

I am fortunate and very thankful to live near the nation's capital, because the possibility of a good artist/band playing in the area is pretty high :) If budget permits it, I'll be able to go to other concerts that I've just recently heard about <3 Thank God they're not as expensive as John Mayer's tickets, though, seriously! Then again, if it's an artist that you've loved for the longest time, why not? Carpe diem! (This is also why I joined Run or Dye even if I didn't train properly! lol) 

Click on the band's/artist's name to buy tickets :)

Walk The Moon - Sept. 27 at 9:30 Club

KT Tunstall - Sept. 28 at Lincoln Theater

Franz Ferdinand - Oct. 17 at The Music Center at Strathmore

Summer concerts: Hanson!

Can you believe that Hanson has been around for 21 years? In celebration of this milestone, they created their sixth studio album named ANTHEM (full of uplifting songs) and right now they're touring the country to showcase their new songs and celebrate their old hits. I was lucky enough to live near their stop in the tri-state area and that I got to watch them last June 15 at The Fillmore in Silver Spring with my new housemates/roomies! It was nostalgic alright, and of course we were one among many of fan girls ladies whose shrill screams were unlocked after decades of daydreaming of seeing them perform live. I still can't believe that they're all (handsome) fathers and husbands now, but then again I think it's their way of keeping themselves grounded since they're touring a lot and are constantly surrounded by girls ladies who've had crushes on them since they were teens. Their new music is lovely as expected, and I particularly fell for the song Juliet (it's almost my name! lol But seriously, it's the beat that gets me plus the sweet lyrics). Here's a video of the said song from a fellow fan who went to the same concert:

Bonus: a picture of my tired face next to a HANSON chalk-drawn logo. Bear in mind that I also went to the NKOTB/98degrees/BoyzIIMen concert the day before this pic was taken. I don't have a lot of "evidence" from that concert though, because we were seated in the farthest area at the Verizon Center. Next time I'll save money so I'll have a chance of receiving a red rose <3

I covered the second N in HANSON lol but you get the gist

The song below is 13 years old but it hits home hard, more so that my birthday's coming up.

I'll just sing along to Taylor as motivation :) "And we won't go down!"

I already mentioned this song before but I will NEVER get tired of promoting it hahaha. I love it, very reminiscent of college crushes <3 Penny and Me will forever be my favorite Hanson song, unless they come up with something that has the perfect balance of being unapologetically mushy yet sweet and innocent at the same time. Juliet comes close, but not quite.

Cause Penny  Julie and me like to roll the windows down

Turn the radio up, push the pedal to the ground

And Penny Julie and me like to gaze at starry skies

Close our eyes, pretend to fly

It's always Penny Julie and me tonight

I love the fact that they didn't go through the route of the Bee Gees, who despite being brothers, were not particularly close to each other outside their performances. After learning that tidbit, I couldn't help but feel sad for them, because they let fame and creative differences come between what could have been the closest and purest bonds you can form in this life. Hanson, on the other hand, are obviously close-knit, otherwise how could they keep coming up with fresh, new heartfelt songs? I also love that they let each other shine when performing, and how they harmonize really well (see video below. Don't go comparing them to Boyz II Men though, because while B2M are better at singing, these guys play instruments. Apples to oranges!). Ego schmego, when it comes to true brotherhood they got it down pat! Brb, calling my brothers on skype to see if we could come up with a project that will bring the ka-ching in :))

I've been lonely

I've been cheated

Been misunderstood

I've been washed up

Put down

And told I'm no good

But with you I belong

'Cause you help me be strong

There's a change in my life

Since you came along

Just lovely <3

You can buy their new album on Amazon for $10. Help artists continue to churn out songs that you'll love :)

Here's the link:

CLICK HERE TO BUY ANTHEM ON AMAZON

Up next: Hanson's opening acts, Parachute and Honor by August!

P.S.
A shout out to The Fillmore in Silver Spring, which is hands down the best concert venue in the area! I love intimate venues like these because you really get to connect with the artist/performer, plus an added bonus is that the crowds here are well-behaved. Also, the acoustics are great, and the lights (if harnessed properly) are awesome. It helps too that it's in the same city where I live hehehe.

<3,

OK Go

If MTV still aired music videos, the alt. rock band hailing from Chicago called OK Go would be a household name by now. All of their music videos are so choc-full of creativity and never fail to mesmerize that I can't help but click through all of them on youtube. I first came across this band when their video for Here It Goes Again, where they jump and dance on treadmills in tune to the song, became viral in 2007. What's amazing about them is that they're not all gimmick - sure, their videos are eye-catching, but without good songwriting skills they would just be a generic, run-of-the-mill pop-synth group with no soul. Yes I said that, haha. It's just that I feel a lot of popular artists only release songs that they know will be hits, not because there's an actual story or feeling behind it. Case in point, Selena Gomez's "Come And Get It," which is so awfully written and so synthesized that I immediately switch stations whenever I hear it. Although admittedly, I have had lapses in judgment wherein when I hear someone else sing it, or when I'm concentrating on my driving, I can't help but sing along *nananana.* At least Demi Lovato's song "Heart Attack" was co-written by Demi and has better vocals (though I wish she would not overuse auto tune like she did here, especially in the first part with the alien-sounding *tatatatack,* because her voice is fine without it. But that's pop for you *shrugs*). OK here's the part where I paste a lot of the videos for OK Go, but do check the ones I did not include :)

(trivia: like the band Imagine Dragons, I thought OK Go was from Europe! Ever since I watched the movie Billy Elliot and my cousin gave me a copy of its soundtrack, I've been addicted to bands that sound similar to T. Rex, a 70s rock band from Britain who penned the song "Children of the Revolution.")

Bonus:

Here's the link to a youtube playlist for the OST to Billy Elliot. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE :)

Love lots,

Video Dump

Music picks of the week :)

One of the best performances by the judges on The Voice. The new lineup is, in my opinion, better than the old one (and you can tell by their interactions that they enjoy each other's company more).

This isn't the old Hanson anymore, in case the last song by them that you can recall is Mmmbop. They're older, bluesy-er, but still fun to listen to. I'm so excited to watch their concert on June 15 :D

Plus here's a really good cover of Ain't No Sunshine

Awww...

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Fave part is at 4:04 hahaha

<3,

Outfits, videos and a threadless design

Exciting news guys and gals, my latest design for Threadless is up for scoring! Be a dear and vote for it here <3

Astro Basketball

Growing up, I remember watching a lot of basketball games with my father on our small tv and cheering with him even if I had no idea what was going on, seeing him play in his former company's league (I think he was an MVP a couple of times too? I need to verify this, though, but I'm pretty sure that despite the height disadvantage, he was a great player :) ), and in later years seeing him transition into coaching teams in my youth group, Youth For Christ. That was his other passion, aside from serving in Couples For Christ and jamming on his guitar during lazy Saturdays. Which is maybe the reason why, as "un-sporty" as I am (soccer and wall climbing being the only ones that I really like), I can tolerate watching basketball a lot more than watching football, and thus understand all the hype surrounding that particular game. The design above is a wink to my dad's love for basketball and a nod to one of my many childhood obsessions (I used to reread one particular book on Space during summer vacations). I hope you like it enough to give it a five :) And oh, an interesting tidbit: I asked my older brother to sketch it for me after describing in detail how I wanted it to look like, and he got it 100%! Awesome :D

Here's my outfit for today, in celebration of the uncannily warm weather we're having. Huzzah! I am so ready to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom on Wednesday ^_^

Button-down shirt: Halogen (similar shirt from Jones New York here)

Pants with belt: H&M (I will start collecting these, they're easily one of my dressiest and comfiest pair of pants!)

Leather bag: Cole Haan's Daisy Triangle Tote

Dressing room: Nordstrom Rack (I was returning an item that I intended to use for a contest and saw an opportunity to take an outfit picture hehehe)

Flats: Calvin Klein (my favorite pair, previously mentioned here)

Necklace: Burlington

Here's a closeup of the necklace, which I absolutely adore:

It's a chain of five pearl flowers, each with a rhinestone cluster in the middle - perfect for spring!