Bus Window Reflections 09/17/15: On The Road

Well, guess who's back?

First of all, I'd like to say sorry for not updating this blog for AGES! Been busy lately with a lot of stuff. Career, school, you know, the stuff. Anyway, here's a quick BWR post. Here's hoping I could make posting here a lot more frequent in the future.

1.) Double-Decker Bus! So I've read this article, and while I have yet to process it, I was left thinking, "Hey, why haven't this suggestion gained much traction?" I know there is probably some negatives to it that I have yet to see, so kindly point it out it the comments. But I do think it is a good idea. No, it won't solve the traffic problems of the metro on its own, but it would help. I likewise think decongestion of the metro, strict implementation of rules, and a better transit system are steps toward the right direction.

And look, we've had double-decker busses in the past!

2.) So Sen. Grace Poe announced her plans for the 2016 Presidential Election. I have yet to read (see, told you I'm busy) the whole speech, but what I remembered was her saying something to the effect of "Walang monopolyo ang sinuman sa Tuwid na Daan."

While I'm not yet decided on who to vote for in 2016, and while I'm not exactly a supporter of the "Tuwid na Daan" (the program, not the idea. Who doesn't want a corrupt free society?), I agree with Sen. Poe. I dislike it when one person or group of persons think that they are the only good people; that they are the only possible solution and that what everyone else is doing is detrimental to the society. Sure, go ahead and think you are better, but not to the point of discrediting others. This is very rampant in the politics in our country today. I mean, when have you seen a new president continue a project of their predecessor, even if said project is good and working?

What that tells me is that they are much more concern for themselves than their constituents.

3.) So, I was originally planning to put this next idea up as a post on its own, but I don't know if I can. Instead, let me go on and say it here. A part of me wants to experience how to be a Radio DJ. Then I'd have a segment called:

(a) 90 of 90s - 90 minutes of the best of the 90s
(b) Radioke - where we would be playing the songs we often here during videoke sessions
(c) Silver Screen Sounds - tracks from motion pictures, with trivias about the movies
(d) a yet unnamed OPM segment - pure OPM goodness. To add value, we'd talk about trivias and stuff about OPM songs, artists, albums, etc. If I were a big time Radio DJ, I'd even invite OPM artists as guests once a week. Two weeks dedicated for those that have made it already, then another two weeks for those on the rise.


4.) I am somewhat fond of making jersey designs. Here is a sample of one of my designs for our agency's basketball team.

Yes, yes, I know. I won't be designing for any pro team soon, but I just like doing stuff like that. Shows my love for the sport, I guess.


...and to end this post, holy crap can you believe that it is already just 99 days to go until Christmas? It doesn't feel like 265 days have passed since last years Christmas (and likewise, we are already halfway pass September. Time really does fly). So since the Christmas season is upon us, or I guess started since we Filipinos do celebrate four months of Christmas, I'd be leaving you with a part of the song Fruitcake by my favorite band, The Eraserheads. Let me say that these lines are just perfect.

"It's the season for being happy,

but the reason is dead and gone

if the reason for being happy,

takes a backseat when the season is done."

Rewind: The Numbers Game

Bakit numbers?

I was browsing our OPM CD collections and I saw a couple of compilation albums and I thought to myself, "What could be a unique idea for a themed OPM compilation album?" And then it hit me:

Numbers.

That's right, let's make a hypothetical compilation album comprised of songs with numbers in their title. But before we get going, let's set some ground rules in selecting the songs first.

1.) The official title should have a numeral in it (e.g. 1,2,3) and not words (e.g. one, two, three)
2.) Only one version of the song could be included in the list (e.g. We have Bakit Pt.2, Bakit Pt.2 (acoustic), and Bakit Pt. 2 (2014). Only one of those three could be included.)
3.) Songs that have alternate versions whose title has a number on it is included (e.g. Mata and Mata 2) but not if the number added is a year (e.g. Jopay and Jopay (2014))

So, let's begin! The fun starts after the jump!

Rewind: Top Beats for 2014

   I’m back! One year and 25 days later (or 3 posts later, really, just 3 posts? Damn Kelvz! Write more!) I’m back with the 2014 edition of the Top Beats! 

    Now just like last year, the following are my top 20 most played songs for 2014. Remember that it is not a "best songs of 2014" list. So I grabbed my phone and looked at the top played tracks. To not make this list a long one, I would just link you to a YouTube video of the entries for songs 20 to 11, but for entries 10 to 1, I'd post the video directly here. Last year the list was dominated by OPM songs, as 14 of the 20 entries were from local artists. Will we see yet another OPM domination? Let's begin!

20.) Happy

Let’s start this on a happy note! Happy by Pharrell Williams makes it to the list as our number 20 song. Thanks to the Minions and Despicable Me 2 for introducing me to this song. And doesn’t it really make you the bit more happy by just listening to it?

LSS Line: “Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth”

19.) Shake It Off

Taylor Swift! Two for two so far for foreign artists. While Shake It Off is not the usual Taylor Swift song (i.e. songs that are full of “hugot”), I like Shake It Off because it is an upbeat song. I suspect that the reason that it is here is because we used Shake It Off as one of the songs in our team’s performance during last year’s company year-end party.

LSS Line: “That's what people say mmm, that's what people say mmm..”

18.)Takipsilim

Most of your probably are not familiar with this song, but our first OPM song is brought to you by the band Paramita. Kung ang Shake It Off ay walang hugot, ang Takipsilim ay puro hugot! This most likely is the least known of all the songs in this list, so I advise you to check it out.

LSS Line: “Aaminin ko na ang buhay ko, ay walang kulay kung 'di dahil sa 'yo”

17.) Prom

OPM makes it two in a row with a Sugarfree song! It’s been years since Sugarfree disbanded, and while Ebe is still active in the industry (and isn’t shying away from performing Sugarfree songs), but their songs still feel like they were just released yesterday. Prom is their de-facto concert opener. Most probably would also be their opening song in a reunion concert in the future.

LSS Line: “Parang atin ang gabi, para bang wala tayong katabi..”

16.) Tabi

Tabi as performed by Paraluman with Kean of Callalily is one of those songs that manage to always enter whatever playlist I create. It’s a simple yet beautiful song. How I wish one day I could sing this song with someone who is by my side. (Yiii!)

LSS Line: “Naranasan mo na bang madapa at masugatan?”

Entries 15th onwards after the jump!

Rewind: Top Beats for 2013

"Why do you listen to that crap?"

Thankfully, no one has ever asked me that. I listen to a lot and various music, so who's to say that I won't be on the receiving end of that question? Anyway, this post is not exactly about that. But it is about music.

2013 has just ended and we are now on the 2nd day of 2014. Then I wondered, what did I listen to the most the past year? So I grabbed my phone and looked at the top played tracks. It actually works very nicely because I just got my phone early 2013, so all of the play count accumulated is from 2013 only.

The following are my top 20 most played songs for 2013. Remember that it is not a "best songs of 2013" list. To not make this list a long one, I would just link you to a YouTube video of the entries for songs 20 to 11, but for entries 10 to 1, I'd post the video directly here. Let's begin!


20.) I Won't Give Up

Jason Mraz' I Won't Give Up sneaks in at number 20. I say sneak in because I could still clearly remember I just started listening to this song around October, effectively giving most of the other songs at least a half year head start. Then again, I probably shouldn't be surprised, as I Won't Give Up is definitely one of my favorite songs right now. It just seems to...fit. :)

19.) Crazy For You

As performed by New Found Glory, not by Spongecola, let's just get that out of the way to begin with. Not that I have anything against Spongecola mind you. This is a song that I can say I am actually surprised to be here. I don't really remember listening to this song that much at all, but eh, stranger things have happened.

18.) Makapiling Ka

Told you I have nothing against Spongecola. I do wonder if this is the only song by Spongecola that made the list. That being said, "Pagmulat, ikaw pa rin ang hinahanap sa umaga." I must say, this is one of the best Spongecola songs from their later albums.

17.) After All This Time

If there is one song that I would bet would reach the top 10 of this list, it would be After All This Time by the Itchyworms. I just absolutely love this song since the first time I heard them play it live when they launched the song during the Roots-UP Fair 2013. Lovely melody, marvelous lyrics (though I do not relate to it, if you're wondering about that). Seriously, give it a try. You'd love it. Plus, the music video is also great, to say the least.

16.) Wag Ka Nang Umiyak

Another one of those "I could have sworn this would be a top 10 song" songs, Wag Ka Nang Umiyak by Sugarfree is just one very beautiful and heartfelt song. Now this is a song that I would sing. While it may not have made my top 10 songs for 2013, I'm betting that this is a song that would constantly be among my most played songs for the foreseeable future. That's how much I love this song. And is it just me or do all great songs just have equally great music videos?


Entries 15th onwards after the jump!

Rewind: After all this time, The Itchyworms are still really good.

We first heard it during this year's UP Fair. Itchyworms performed this song live before it was even released in the market. And in that instant, we became big fans of the song, and we're just again amazed at the amazing song writing talent and performance by the band.

It wasn't the usual Itchyworms though, not the light hearted kind of song like Akin Ka Na Lang, or the "pang-inuman" song like Beer. It was more mellow, but that is totally fine with me. Change is sometimes good, and in this instance, excellent.

It also helps that it is one heck of a music video. Don't tell me that that song, together with the video, didn't even pull a bit of your heart strings. Just a perfectly suited MTV for the song.

This really is a perfect example on why I love OPM. I think it is no coincidence that after this fair, me and my brother seemed to have regained our interest in our OPM collection. See, we (well, mostly him) buy original CDs of OPM artists, as we are really big fans of OPM and we believe that that is the least that we could do to help the industry. Plus, for a collection, a library of OPM albums ain't half bad, right?

So there you go, after all this time, Itchyworms definitely still has it. Have been a fan since their Antipara days, and looks like it is going to stay like that for a long long time.

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

As a new part of every post in here, I'll be sharing what is playing in the background while writing my entries, coupled with a line or two from the song/s. It is very rare that I write anything while not listening to music. Obviously for this entry, I was listening to the aforementioned Itchyworms' song, After All This Time. So let me leave you with a line from the song. 'Till next time, thanks for reading The Bakit List!

" 'Cause whatever I do, it's no good without you."