RIo 2 Music Video "What Is Love"

Music video release. See my review at the link below. For more animation feature, like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

“What is Love” lyric video performed by Janelle Monáe from Blue Sky Studios’ “Rio 2” family movie is now up on YouTube .

 

                In April 2011, Twentieth Century Fox released Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studio’s CG animated feature “Rio.”  The film was born from the imagination of Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed or directed the global blockbusters “Ice Age,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”

 

                To fully realize the scope and breadth of this magical world and its vivid characters, Saldanha brought together an all-star voice cast, led by Oscar® nominees Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar and Grammy®-winner Jamie Foxx, acclaimed musical artist will.i.am, actor-musician Jemaine Clement, comedic actress Leslie Mann, actor Rodrigo Santoro (a Brazilian native), actor-comedian George Lopez, and funnyman Tracy Morgan.  

 

                The filmmakers enveloped the action – and audiences – with a combination of Brazilian sounds and contemporary pop music.  The soundtrack featured a stellar musical cast performing under the guidance of composer John Powell and Brazilian music legend and “Rio’s” executive music producer, Sergio Mendes. “Rio” became a worldwide smash with a global box office tally of $486 million.  It also was a huge hit on DVD and Blu-ray disc.

               

                Now, Saldanha returns to Brazil and reunites his beloved characters in RIO 2.  In the new film, it’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids, after they’re hurtled from Rio to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful and villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all…his father-in-law. 

               

                Our favorite “Rio” characters are joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy®/Tony winner Rita Moreno.  RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and Wondaland.

 

                In RIO 2 we find Blu, Jewel and their family living the perfect domesticated life in the city.  The offspring are: Bia(voiced by “The Hunger Games’” Amandla Stenberg), who lives with her beak in a book and likes spouting facts and figures, just like her dad; Tiago (Pierce Gagnon, “Looper”) the youngest, who is always up for adventure, especially if it involves destroying something; and Carla (singer/actress/comedian Rachel Crow), the eldest, a spunky teen who longs to get a little space from her protective family so she can express her musical side. 

 

                So, in RIO 2, it’s on…in the Amazon, not only visually, but musically.  “We wanted to look at different musical ‘flavors,’ sounds and exciting new beats that make the soundtrack for RIO 2 even bigger than the first film’s,” says the director.

 

                After Saldanha wrote the story, screenwriter Don Rhymer, who had worked on “Rio,” began fleshing out Saldanha’s ideas.  It was a fruitful collaboration, which sadly ended when Rhymer passed away in late 2012.  “Don was our guy,” says Saldanha. “He embraced the vision of the first film and had really exciting ideas for RIO 2.  His death left a big gap for us.  We were lucky to have the amazing writers Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks and Yoni Brenner help finish the screenplay, but Don was a very special person who played a big role in the project’s development.” 

 

                “Rio 2” released by from 20^th Century Fox and distributed by Warner Bros.

Tippy Dos Santos sings ‘Dyesebel’ theme

 

Young singer-actress Tippy Dos Santos has been chosen to interpret Tangi Kong Kailangan, the theme song of ABS-CBN’s newest primetime show Dyesebel. The song was composed by Francis and Carla Concio specifically for the show.

 

Topbilled by Anne Curtis, Dyesebel premiered last Monday, March 17, with impressive ratings.

 

“I am so thankful that ABS-CBN tapped me to sing the show’s theme song,” says Tippy. “It’s such a beautiful song – perfect for a fantastic series like Dyesebel.”

 

As a singer, Tippy interpreted Dati, the grand prize winner of the 2013 Philippine Popular Music Festival, alongside Sam Concepcion and Quest. She will also release her debut album of original songs within the year.

 

Last year, Tippy starred in the movie musical Idobidoo Bidoo as Tracy Fuentebella, the young lead of the movie. She was paired with Sam Concepcion.

 

On stage, she played Wendy to Sam’s Peter Pan in STAGES’ production of the well-loved fairy tale.

 

Currently, Tippy is part of Galema, and the upcoming movie Once A Princess, topbilled by Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales.

UMD, Manoeuvres, Sexbomb Reunite for Dance Concert

It's going to be the Ultimate Throwback event of 2014 as the Universal Universal Motion Dancers (UMD), Manoeuvres, and Sexbomb Dancers reunite for one Massive Dance Concert!

 

Watch these three iconic dance groups perform at the Trinoma Activity Center on Monday March 31, 2014, to raise awareness for Neuropathy or nerve damage – a condition with symptoms like pamamanhid, tusok-tusok, and pangangawit.

 

This event is organized by Neurobion, a Vitamin B-Complex with Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 that helps maintain healthy nerves, promote efficient nerve function, and reduce pain in the arms and hands caused by Neuropathy.

 

Besides the dance concert, there will also be free nerve clinics, games, and freebies to be given away throughout the day-long event.

 

Use the hashtag #FeelKoAngBuhay

“MUPPETS MOST WANTED” MAKES MUSICAL MAYHEM

The Muppets wouldn’t be the Muppets without the musical mayhem that’s made them fan favorites for almost four decades. With songs by Bret McKenzie, who won an Oscar® for the original song “Man or Muppet”in 2011’s “The Muppets,” and a score by Christophe Beck (Disney’s Oscar-winning hit “Frozen”), the soundtrack of “Muppets Most Wanted” features all-star vocalists, including Kermit the Frog, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Miss Piggy, Josh Groban, Constantine and Celine Dion.
 

“The ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ soundtrack is some of the best music by a frog, pig, bear, chickens, penguins and a—uh, whatever—ever recorded,” said Kermit the Frog. “It’s like going on tour with the Muppets, but without the messy cleanup afterwards.”

 

According to McKenzie, the songs are true to the Muppets’ musical reputation: they’re packed with puns, punch lines and Muppets mayhem. “All of the songs are quite story specific,” he said. “They’re very character driven.

 

“‘I’m Number One’ is about the bad frog Constantine being the number one criminal and his sidekick Dominic, being number two,” McKenzie continued. “It’s a power struggle, a classic rivalry song in a style that could be performed in a cabaret venue.”

 

“A lot of the old Muppets songs are like that—show pieces,” adds McKenzie. The soundtrack features a host of show pieces, including the fully orchestrated “We’re Doing a Sequel,” with special appearances by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, along with the whole Muppets gang.

 

“Something So Right” is a ballad written for Miss Piggy and celebrated performer Celine Dion. “Miss Piggy is wonderful,” said Dion. “She’s so charming and sensitive and filled with passion. She has a big heart and it was wonderful to sing with her.”

 

“I was magnifique,” added Miss Piggy, “With a little help from moi, I think Celine may have a big future in singing.”

The soundtrack also includes “Interrogation Song,” featuring Ty Burrell, Sam Eagle and the Muppets. It’s what McKenzie calls “a conversation put to music,” and actually started out as dialogue from the film. Additionally, Tina Fey, who plays feisty prison guard Nadya, takes center stage—complete with Russian accent—with the renowned Josh Groban in “The Big House.”

 

The “Muppets Most Wanted” soundtrack features 20 tracks—including 12 new recordings—plus five bonus tracks. Also featured is a score by Beck, who incorporated styles from around the world in a nod to the international locales the Muppets visit in the film. “This score was incredibly fun to write,” said Beck. “With characters spread across the world, there was opportunity after opportunity to explore many musical styles and settings.”

 

Beck introduced several character themes—Constantine has a Slavic theme, for example, and Kermit and Miss Piggy are accompanied by a love theme (of course) that is an extension of music from “The Muppets.”An 80-piece orchestra was sprinkled with unique instruments, including a banjo, Spanish guitar and a Russian balalaika. “The real fun was the 20-person Russian male chorus, which is heavily featured,” said Beck.

 

When it comes to the Muppets, Beck knows that comedy is key, but that doesn’t mean he needed to weave it into the score. His trick to supporting the funnier moments is to “let the comedy play out,” says Beck. “The Muppets exist in the real world in their films, and their hardships and triumphs are no less serious than those the audience experiences every day. The comedy comes from watching these personalities that we all love interact with each other and their surroundings. They don't need ‘funny’ music underneath—they need very serious music that supports the scale of what is happening on screen.”

 

“Muppets Most Wanted” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

“AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2” TO INCLUDE ALICIA KEYS' NEW SONG “IT'S ON AGAIN”

Social media release

 

(Columbia Records; New York, NY – March 11, 2013) – Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that the highly anticipated motion picture “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” will feature “It’s On Again” by Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar, written exclusively for the film by Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, and Kendrick Lamar produced by Pharrell Williams. 

 

The song will also be included on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, the musical companion to the film, which arrives in the U.S. on Tuesday, April 22, and will be released by Columbia Records and Madison Gate Records. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” will be released in Philippine theaters on April 30, 2014, and in the U.S. on May 2, 2014.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Marc Webb, the film’s director, said, “We were looking for just the right song to close out the film – a song that would be upbeat and exciting, but also contain a note of foreboding. Alicia’s song, ‘It’s On Again,’ is the perfect end note. For the overall score, I’m so amazed by what Hans Zimmer and the Magnificent Six were able to achieve with the music in the film. Every director wants his movie to have a unique sound, but this is beyond unique. It’s completely unlike any movie score that’s come before.”

 

Keys added, “I'm very excited to be a part of such a powerful collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer. This is the next chapter in the Spider-Man legacy and we really feel ‘It’s On Again’ captures the experience, the story—and most importantly—the meaning behind the film, which is that we all have the potential to be extraordinary. There’s a little bit of a Super Hero in all of us.”

 

Zimmer said, “When we came together to form a band to create the music of this film, we did the opposite of what composers usually do – we wrote songs, and from the songs came the themes. We embraced a rock-and-roll ethos on this movie, and it paid off.”

 

Williams said, “Hans has created an iconic score theme and it was exciting to collaborate with him again on this song. When I was making the song, I knew Alicia and Kendrick had to be on it. They take the song to a whole new level."

 

The film’s epic score was composed by Oscar®- and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six, which features Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr (of The Smiths, Modest Mouse), Michael Einziger (of Incubus), Junkie XL, Andrew Kawczynski, and Steve Mazzaro. The soundtrack also features new songs exclusive to the film performed by Pharrell Williams, The Neighbourhood, LIZ, and Alvin Risk. In addition, Phosphorescent’s “Song for Zula” is also featured on the soundtrack.

About “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”:

 

Directed by Marc Webb. Produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner. Screen Story by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner and James Vanderbilt. Based on the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!” ALL SET ON MARCH 19

MANILA, Philippines – How do we keep our music playing?

Music industry stakeholders will convene to push our local music industry to greater heights at the PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!”  on March 19, 2014  (Wednesday) at the Diosdado Macapagal Hall,  Landbank Plaza Bldg. located at 1598 M.H. Del Pilar cor. Dr. J. Quintos Sts., Malate, Manila.

The PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!” is a conference which aims to unite various players in the music industry in making conscious commitments to the development and promotion of original Filipino music.

The convenors of the Pinoy Music summit are led by the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.  (FILSCAP), along with the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Philippine Association of Recording Industry (PARI), Assosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Foundation Inc. (AMP), Music Copyright Administrators of the Philippines (MCAP) and PHILPOP Foundation.

The convenors recognize that original Filipino music faces many challenges, yet thrives nonetheless through various evolving forms. Local music not only stands as an expression of our culture but it can also be pushed to be an important driver for economic progress.

           Singer-songwriter and FILSCAP President Noel Cabangon will be acting as the conference director, fully supported by singer-songwriter and OPM President, Ogie Alcasid.

Stalwart composer and PhilPop Foundation’s Executive Director, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab will talk about the State of the Filipino Music Industry.

The PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!” will also feature important talks on the effects of technology and legislation on the development of local music, as well as insights from the industry players of successful music models abroad.

Various stakeholders of the music industry – musicians, record labels, the government sector, media, and various representatives of the music consumer groups will be invited to the said event.

Through focused group discussions among the speakers and participants, the PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!” aims to propose recommendations and programs that will propel our local music industry towards new directions.

The one-day summit will be concluded by special performances from the country’s leading musicians and artists.

The PINOY MUSIC SUMMIT 2014: “BASTA PINOY, PUSH MO YAN!” is this year’s boldest event in the promotion of local music, uniting music makers and music lovers to keep our local music playing, loud and strong.

            For further inquiries, please contact Camille Miserale, Head of PMS Secretariat at (m) 0942-3776275 or email: petatheatercenter@gmail.com

Japanese singer Aisaku releases new Tagalog single

Japanese act Aisaku, with his convincing skill at singing Tagalog songs, releases a new single which like his previous hit, is another Japanese original interpreted by Ted Ito.

The song is called “Alaala Mo” a moving love song first recorded by Ito as an album track. This time, Aisaku’s version premiered its way to mainstream radio when it was first played recently over Barangay LS FM. Production of the music video of  "Alaala Mo" is now underway. Watch out for the video premiere on MYX and MTV Pinoy which will happen really soon.  "Alaala Mo" is an equally strong follow up to Aisaku's hit single "Ikaw Pa Rin" which was heavily supported on local radio and music channels.

“I am a Filipino by heart even though my pair of eyes makes me look like I'm asleep,” quipped the Japanese-born singer whose rendition of Ito’s signature piece “Ikaw Pa Rin” won Best OPM Cover at last year’s Gawad Musika Awards & Consumers Quality Awards.

A mall tour to promote the new single promises Aisaku’s growing fan base the exposure he deserves. He will be performing this Saturday (March 8) 5 pm at the Atrium of Robinsons Magnolia. Copies of his album, wherein both “Ikaw Pa Rin” and “Alaala Mo” are included, will be sold at the venue as buyers will get the chance of having their CDs signed by Aisaku himself. Awesome prizes also await those who are going to watch the show. Products like K-Palette Japanese Eye Make-up & Cure Natural Aqua Gel (by Beauty Box Corp distributed in all Beauty Bar branches) will be given away to lucky winners during the show.

The self-titled album is produced by Janette Ito of Japan's i&i Records in tie-up with Japan Home Centre and distributed by Universal Records.

A partnership with a major content provider is in the works and will definitely provide a greater reach for Aisaku’s music.

Vocal about his love for Filipinos, he shared, “I find the Filipinos more fun to be with. I love the Filipino humor, the culture, and best of all, the close family ties. I love my parents and I am glad that I know how to show my love to them like a Filipino son can do.”

Other cover songs Aisaku recorded for his album are “Remember Me” (Renz Verano), “Honey My Love So Sweet” (April Boys), “Isang Tanong Isang Sagot” (Donna Cruz), “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit” (Leah Navarro), and other Tagalog tracks of Japanese roots.

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For booking inquiries, kindly contact Grace Foronda at +639178058870+639178058870 or gracelomboyforonda@gmail.com

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