The Philippines turning Karaoke Republic

Almost all Filipinos love to sing, don't you agree? Be it in the shower or in front of a crowd they don't seem to want to get their hands off that microphone. There are outlets who are willing to let the singer in you release all of your talents but usually, the good ones (Karaoke Bars) are found in Timog.

After a hearty dinner at Comida Ilocandia and a soothing massage at Spaoay, we head off to Karaoke Republik to sing the night away. I recall going to bars like these a few years back but I only knew they can have a certain theme. Looking at their walls, the brainchild behind Karaoke Republic is really a Genius for having a different concept.

Their Facade Outside

What's best about this joint is that you don't need to worry about anything. From your list of songs to your barchow, to your rice meals, Karaoke Republic got you covered. 

 

From what Mr. Jay Lazaro (Marketing Head) showed us, its like traveling around the world without breaking your wallet. Most of the rooms have their unique names like Sing-a-Pore, Yeah-Men to name a few. Some of the rooms were even named after the branches of government like the one we stayed at for the night (Songpreme Court).

If I wasn't full from all the food I ate earlier, I could have finished all the food served to us. I got to sing a song just as when most people are about to leave at almost midnight. :D 

I'd recommend this place to my wife's boss the next time they wanted to do videoke with my wife and her office mates.


Note: Photos are from Ms Dems as my laptop is still under repair.

Farewell Cynthia

Don't get the wrong message. She didn't pass away. But rather she's saying Goodbye to the Local Music Industry as I've read this yesterday from Yahoo. As the music scene here in the Philippines is going down south, I guess there would others following her steps. I just hope this would be the last.

With no local support, Cynthia Alexander migrates to U.S.

Photo taken from Yahoo

At the end of the month, singer, songwriter and bass player extraordinaire Cynthia Alexander is leaving the Philippines.

For good.

Cynthia is uprooting herself and her family and migrating to Seattle, Washington.

Her reason? 

Career-wise, she has had very limited support.

Or, in her own words: “I think I'm ready for change, and new challenges.”

The best there is

Cynthia’s departure is going to be a big loss to local music. As a bassist, she can out-funk and out-slap a lot of male virtuosos. She was, in fact, honored in the 90s by Japan as one of the best there is.

Armed with Joni Mitchell-inspired open tunings, she has written pop melodies for her poems, and gave us beautiful songs that sound deceptively simple in her lilting voice. But when you try to decipher her complex guitar lines, you wonder if plays with more than 10 fingers.

In fact, Cynthia is a multi-instrumentalist. Hand her a paper bag and she’ll probably find a way to extract jewels of melodies from it.

A pop-rock stint

In the mid-90s, Cynthia and I played for pop rocker Lou Bonnevie. Cynthia was skinny but played her trademark muscular bass lines. She sang sweet vocal harmonies (as she did in her former band HAYP, which included guitar virtuoso Noel Mendez). Along with drummer Rene Tengasantos and keyboardist Edgar Mendoza, we had fun on and offstage.

One time, Cynthia and I scarfed down TGIF’s humongous mocha mud pies an hour before a gig. We were so full that we couldn’t even walk upright. Lou was rightfully pissed. “Guys! Why aren’t you moving?? Come on!!!”

When Cynthia got pregnant with her daughter Tala while we were gigging for Lou, she played well into her third trimester. To cope with her growing belly, she simply re-positioned the bass to her right side. She also showed us a few songs that she was writing.

Virtuoso like brother Joey Ayala

Like big brother Joey Ayala, Cynthia is a virtuoso at arranging songs…her way.  It was another facet of Cynthia’s musicality that surprised me.

Also, she is just as adept at Western harmony as she is at Eastern music, spread among many instruments.

When she gave up the idea of re-forming her old band and going for broke as a solo artist, the result was her 1997 debut “Insomnia and Other Lullabyes.” It incorporated Eastern and Western sensibilities very naturally. Truly world-class stuff.

Listen to Cynthia here.

The Jessica Sanchez connection

With Cynthia leaving, I can’t help but think about the hysteria surrounding American Idol also-ran Jessica Sanchez, a Filipino-Mexican American.

Her lineage had us all waving the flag of Pinoy pride. We lionized her as “our own.” Like the half-Pinoy contestants before her whose names we’ve forgotten, we want Jessica to come “home” so we can bask in her glory.

Meanwhile, homegrown geniuses like Cynthia Alexander are leaving home.

Who’s waving the flag?

Will Cynthia continue to wave the Philippine flag for us when she settles and works elsewhere?

Should she?

But then, the other question is: does Cynthia need to go abroad and “make it” before WE wave the flag for HER?

Catch Cynthia Alexander’s send-off gigs on June 14 (RadioRepublic), June 15 (19 East, with Humanfolk), June 16 (Conspiracy), June 22 (70s Bistro), and June 23 (Conspiracy).

Rest in Peace Karl Roy

Taken from facebook

To my surprise, Kapatid Frontman Karl Roy has already passed away due to complications after having difficulty in breathing. He was never been the same after his last bypass operation. The entire music industry is now mourning for the loss of one of the Philippines' premiere frontman. 

On a personal level, he is also one one of my favorites (from the band P.O.T.) as his music was really inspirational to me. Most of his songs convey strong messages like the one I'm sharing at the end of this post (credits to youtube).

The Late Karl Roy (Credits to DPP)

Below is a message from Kathryn Roy, Karl's sister.


It is with deepest sadness that I share the news of Karl's passing. He was called Home today at 1:01 a.m. Manila time (Tuesday, March 13th), surrounded by those who loved him most - mommy, Keith, Kevin, Krys, his daughter Arianna, and our cousin Jack (Roy-Duavit).

Please continue to pray for Karl. He brought so much joy to others but, unfortunately, did not have enough of it in this life. He's in a better place now, with Lolo Pepe, Lola Conching and Daddy.

Thank you for your kind words and your prayers.

God bless!

Kathryn

       

"Salamat kapatid". Wherever you are, thanks for rocking our world through your music.

A Night of Live Art, Music and World Acclaimed Tiger Beer

As taken from their facebook fanpage

Nothing to do on a Friday night and wanted to try something new, why not head to Kyss located at 535 Gen Luna Street, Makati Ave., Makati City this coming Friday (November 18, 2011) as Tiger Beer is having this monumental event. There would be a graffiti showdown between street artists Ekis and Nuno working on a Gold Theme. Turbo Goth will be providing the music to make sure we would enjoy the show. with their different kind of music I'm sure everyone would enjoy listening to. And to enjoy this one of a kind experience, Tiger Beer will provide free-flowing beer to those who will attend on Friday.

So what are you waiting for, save the date and head of to Kyss by Friday and enjoy the night with Tiger Beer.

20 Things You Didn't Know About Nirvana's Nevermind Album

On September 24, 1991, Nirvana’s album, Nevermind, was released. One of the most influential albums of the past two decades, it ushered in a new sound that shed the gloss of the 80s, and singlehandedly defined a generation. I was only in grade 6 back then as well as I wasn't musically inclined that time until I got to listen to their songs back in 1994.

The Album Cover 20 Years Ago

The success of Nevermind paved the way for Seattle grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden, and its influence can still be felt to this day. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this seminal album, we’ve compiled a list of things you might not know about the album that changed it all.

1. Nevermind wasn’t Kurt Cobain’s first choice for the album title. It was actually supposed to be called Sheep.

2. Dave Grohl wasn’t the only drummer on the album. Ex-Nirvana member Chad Channing, who was Nirvana’s drummer for their previous album Bleach, played the drums on the song “Polly.”

3. Inspiration for Nirvana’s biggest hit came from a line of graffiti Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna wrote on a wall, which read “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit.” It was meant to tease Kurt who was then dating Tobi Vale, also from Bikini Kill, who used Teen Spirit deodorant. 

4. Sales of the deodorant Teen Spirit skyrocketed after the album was released.

5. Cobain said that playing "Molly's Lips" with The Vaselines at the Reading Festival, which was a few days after shooting the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, was one of the greatest moments of his life.   

6. Kurt brought Frances Bean’s (his daughter) toys for the recording of “Drain You.”

7. The opening lines, “One baby to another said I’m lucky to have met you” in the song “Drain You” were actual words then-girlfriend Tobi Vail had spoken to Kurt Cobain.

8. Most of the songs in Nevermind were written about Tobi Vail. Although “Lithium” was written prior to meeting Vail, he re-wrote the song to reference her.  

9. There are only three chords used in the song “Territorial Pissings”: A5, F5, and D5. 

10. The baby on the cover of Nevermind is Spencer Elden, and has since joked that he’s “the world’s biggest porn star” since so many people have seen his penis. In 2008, Spencer recreated the cover image, although this time he kept his shorts on. 

11. Cobain’s original idea for the album cover was a photograph of a baby’s head as it began its exit from the vagina but was rejected when he tried to get the license for the photo.

12. The song “In Bloom” was written for Cobain’s best friend Dylan Carson, lead singer of the band Earth, and who, three years later, would buy Cobain the shotgun he'd use to end his life.  

13. The song “Breed” is a re-write of the song “Imodium”, which was inspired by Tad Doyle of the band Tad, who had intestinal problems. 

14. There are two versions of the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video. You can watch the original cut of the video here:

15. They hired photographer Michael Lavine for the band photos. Before the shoot, Kurt hugged Lavine and showed him his gum infection, which was the unfortunate result of infrequent toothbrushing. Lavine is also known for having photographed other grunge-era bands White Zombie, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Sonic Youth and The Flaming Lips, as well as the cover for Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Deathalbum.

16. Before performing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on a live British television show, Cobain declared, “Courtney Love, the lead singer of the sensational pop group Hole, is the best fuck in the world.”  Check it out at the 1:00 mark of the video below.

17. Three months after Nevermind’s release, on Christmas Eve of 1991, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were still living in a tiny room at their friend’s apartment. 

18. A week before Nevermind hit number one on the charts, Cobain overdosed on drugs. Courtney Love found him lying on the floor at 7 AM, the morning after he performed on Saturday Night Live, and revived him by splashing him with water and punching him in the stomach. 

19. The album’s only F-bomb can be heard, though barely, on the song “Lounge Act”. 

20. After performing “Territorial Pissings” on Saturday Night Live, Cobain and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic began french kissing. Needless to say the network refused to air the footage on reruns.

If you want to watch some of its video (where I got this), you may check FHM's website.Also, MTV has its say with Nevermind 20 years later.