Tuesday, April 29, 2014

RIXTON's Live Debut Performanc​e on THE VOICE!!!

The four-man band — Jake Roche, Danny Wilkin, Charley Bagnall and Lewi Morgan — hail from Manchester, England. The group made its U.S. debut with its current EP, “Me and My Broken Heart,” and will sing the album’s title song on “The Voice.”

Named by MTV as a 2014 artist to watch, Rixton is set to perform on the “Today” show May 28 and will also make stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York to perform sold-out shows as part of their current American tour.

The Monday edition of “The Voice” ranks as the season’s #1 unscripted series on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, averaging a 4.8 rating, 13 share and 15.0 million viewers in “most current” averages from Nielsen Media Research through the season’s first 30 weeks. In adults 18-49, the Monday telecast is the season’s #2 entertainment program on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox, behind only CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory.”

For more information on Rixton:
http://www.rixtonband.com

http://www.youtube.com/rixtonofficial

https://twitter.com/RixtonOfficial

https://www.facebook.com/Rixtonofficial

https://Instagram.com/RixtonOfficial

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Absolute Play Releases New Music Video, “Hard Easy Semi-Correct”

The long wait is over! Absolute Play’s newest and hottest single, “Hard Easy Semi-Correct” is out now on YouTube!
The song is something that high school and college students can relate with. It speaks of one’s struggles in studying for classes and exams. The catchy beat and the extraordinary musicality make it a very promising single especially to those who love punk rock.
Love from Ely Buendia
After Mr. Tommy Tanchanco, the patriarch and manager of Absolute Play posted the video on Facebook, immediate love and a show of support was given by OPM legend Ely Buendia, saying, “I love this band”.
NEW ALBUM
Absolute Play’s new album, “Children Of Chaos” is also out! Avail of the special Shirt and CD bundle promo for only Php600. For inquiries on how to get one, log on to www.facebook.com/AbsolutePlay and send in your orders.
Young and Promising
Talented as they are, the young musicians of Absolute Play have already composed 11 original songs. They play honest to goodness youth-punk music sprinkled with huge doses of fun, good vibes, and good values.
These youngsters were invited to perform in a 200 year-old pub called Queens Arm Pub located in Barrow, Cumbria, England. This marked the band’s first ever international performance of 5 original songs from their album.
Very promising and inspiring, this youth punk-rock group will surely be the next big thing in the music industry. Their kind of music surpasses boundaries of age, capturing the young and the young-at-heart with their feel good songs.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tom Hiddlestone Sings Bear Neccessities

Hiddlestoners, rejoice! Ever since Thor and Marvel's Avengers, we never get enough of Tom Hiddlestone.
 
On a charity event, Hiddlestone  sang one Disney song, Bear Necessities from Jungle Book. The video seemed to be made by one of the audience whom can't help but laughing throughout the performance and I don't blame them. This is a rare event. I don't know how many things this guy can't do.
 
I already read the reactions of the Hiddlestoners and I intend to share this to fans in my network. Like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook for more music-relevant posts. Say his name. I can't hear you.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SATCHMI Vinyl Day 2014

Now on it's second year, Satchmi Vinyl Day 2014 is a free concert featuring top bands from the country. With this year's headliner, Up Dharma Down, Satchmi will again provide music enthusiasts with a fun and memorable event. Other activities for the day include: 1) Vinyl listening booth, 2) Satchmi pop-up store with special discounts to be given out throughout the day, and 3) Satchmi photo booth.
 
Satchmi brings back the nostalgia in listening to old vinyl records and maintaining this specific interest in this digital era. This will show the current generation how music evolved to now that they are used to digitized music file. I still remember using a record player when my mother still has one.
 
Watch out for the latest music events by liking the L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Nicki Minaj In The Other Woman

Movie release      

Music industry’s most versatile talent, Nicki Minaj stars alongside Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the upcoming estrogen-filled comedy “The Other Woman.”
Photo credits: 20th Century Fox

                Minaj’s role channels a very vocal and fashion-forward assistant named Lydia who works for the stunning and tough New York lawyer Carly, played by Diaz whose boyfriend Mark (Waldau) turns out to be a married guy cheating on his wife, Kate (Mann).  The two women don’t appear to have much in common, other than the philandering womanizer who has been tricking both of them. They become great pals, much to Lydia’s initial dismay, and decide to teach the lying Mark a few lessons to prove that cheating will not work.  Everything becomes more complicated when Carly and Kate find out that the charming cheat has been engaging in yet another affair, with the beautiful Amber (Kate Upton) who is half his age. The three of them join forces and conjure up ingenious strategies to give Mark what he deserves, at the same time the bond between them grows stronger.   

                Nicki Minaj’s unexpected casting coup added something to the movie that producer Julie Yorn hadn’t counted on: “We all have a sense of Nicki’s persona and larger than life personality, but she came in with the most humble approach and attitude. She was dying to sit at the feet of these other women and learn.”  We always wanted for the character of Lydia to be sassy,” Yorn continues.  “But what was disarming about Nicki was her likability, which actually changed the scripted character.  Lydia became a really important ally to Carly. That’s the chemistry part of it that you don’t expect.  Cameron and Nicki bonded from day one and so you just get a whole different dynamic than anticipated.”

                Minaj was a welcome surprise for director Nick Cassavetes, as well: “Lydia says things to Carly that are couched as truths, and that are really preposterous, but they have this unexpected truth that suggests sometimes the correct thing is to do the incorrect thing.”

                According to Minaj, Lydia is very opinionated. “She has her own outlook on life and relationships, and you can’t change her mind about anything. She develops a real friendship with Carly.  And Lydia really wants Carly to settle down and meet the right man. So she gets involved a little bit in bringing Mark down and getting Carly to fall in love with someone who’s a good person.” 

                Lydia is an important person in Carly’s life, because, says Minaj, “Lydia’s the friend that is going to give you tough love. I happen to be that kind of friend. I don’t like when my best friends are sad about a guy. I think all women need a friend who’s going to let us cry and mope, but we also need the friend that’s going to say, ‘Okay, pick it back up.  Let’s go.  You know, we’re not going to be walking around the office moping.’”

                Patricia Field helms the movie’s costume design department and styling Nicki Minaj was another highlight for the designers.  “It was really fun to get the chance to dress Nicki for this role,” says Field’s longtime collaborator and protégé Paolo Nieddu.  “She’s the secretary, and the sexy secretary is an image everybody can imagine, so we went with almost a cartoon sexy secretary, with exaggerated colors and prints and lots of different accessories. Every day is a new Lydia.  So you never know what you’re going to get with her.”

                Lydia’s looks include high fashion, sexy, and body-conscious pieces that would fill the closet of a girl with a sugar daddy footing the bill.  Some of her designer looks are by Gucci, Roland Mouret, Versace, Herve Leger, Proenza Schoeler, and McQueen – all paired with the most extreme, expensive designer shoes that only a diva could stand wearing to the office.  Nicki Minaj, a noted fashion icon in her own right, was also thrilled to learn Field would be joining the team: “When I heard that Patricia Field was a part of this movie, I was very excited because I knew everybody would be eating their hearts out when they saw all the clothes we wear in this movie, and I knew it was going to be fresh and fun.”

                Check out this funny and endearing story on (female) friendship when “The Other Woman” opens May 7 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Waiting for a Star to Fall by Boy Meets Girl now on Vevo


I first heard this song from a 1990 movie, Three Men And A Little Lady. Since then, I love the song event to this day. Boy Meets Girl is a pop duo composed of George Merill and Shannon Rubicam. They were a couple and had one daughter who also appeared in the video. But they still work together.

They wrote songs for various artist including the late Whitney Houston and wrote few singles for themselves. The story behind the song was fascinating. While watching Whitney Houston's concert, Shannon actually saw a falling star. They submitted the song to producer Clive Davis for Houston's album but turned it down.

They submitted it to Belinda Carlisle and made a recording but didn't include in her album. Boy Meets Girl did the song themselves and became a hit wonder.

In my opinion, there was anyone better to sing this song than the duo themselves. It was upbeat and it makes you feel good. I would love to play this song like John Cusack did in Say Anything to my falling star. For more featured songs, like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook and follow @Mark_Templar on Twitter. Here's the lyrics of my feature song:

I hear your name whispered on the wind

It's a sound that makes me cry

I hear a song blow again and again

Through my mind and I don't know why

I wish I didn't feel so strong about you

Like happiness and love revolve around you
Trying to catch your heart

Is like trying to catch a star

So many people love you, baby

That must be what you are
Waiting for a star to fall

And carry your heart into my arms

That's where you belong

In my arms baby, yeah
I've learned to feel what I cannot see

But with you I lose that vision

I don't know how to dream your dream

So I'm all caught up in superstition

I want to reach out and pull you to me

Who says I should let a wild one go free
Trying to catch your heart is like

Trying to catch a star

But I can't love you this much, baby

And love you from this far
Waiting for a star to fall

And carry your heart into my arms

That's where you belong

In my arms baby, yeah
Waiting

(However long)

I don't like waiting

(I'll wait for you)
It's so hard waiting

(Don't be too long)

Seems like waiting

Makes me love you even more
Waiting for a star to fall

And carry your heart into my arms

That's where you belong

In my arms baby, yeah

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Classical Guitarist Berta Rojas In Manila

In Paraguay, the mainstream musicians are the classical musicians. From Paraguay, classical guitarist Berta Rojas is going to perform here in the Philippines for two nights. One in Manila at the Meralco Theater on May 15(8PM) and in Cebu on May 17.
 
I am not totally into classical music but I learn to appreciate it. I also have some selections from the classical genre that I like to play. I have my favorites in almost all music genres. I may be listening to Van Halen one day and to Vivaldi the next day.
Skype conference with Berta Rojas
 
Most Filipinos in this generation are not into classical music. But there is a devoted few that still performs classical music. I started listening to classical music when some of my friends performs classical tunes in choral performances.
 
Paraguay is not that different from the Philippines. Both countries are former colonies of Spain. Both the Philippines and Paraguay are mixed-cultures. If classical music dominates the music fandom in Paraguay, why can't we developed the same interest in our classical Pinoy music. Hopefully, the concert of Ms. Rojas may start with it. Besides her, there are some classical guitarist that will also perform during the event.
 
I got to hear her talk about her concert during a conference via Skype. Hopefully, she will try to sing some Pinoy tunes here. For more updates on the latest concerts, like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Save Me Hollywood takes stage at 2014 Castaway Music Festival

Blogger's note: Forgive. I have no official photo for this one.
 
Save Me Hollywood is set to take on the stage once again for another star-studded music festival. This time, it’s going to be at the 2014 Castaway Music Festival which will be held at SM City Pampanga’s “The Amphitheater” on April 26 at 4:00pm.            

The Castaway Festival is yet another one of Save Me Hollywood’s various gigs. With less than a year after the release of the band’s debut album, things have already looked bright for the all-star collaboration, especially with the response of the youth to its music. More and more youngsters are getting hooked with the band’s underground vibe, especially after leading radio stations like RX 93.1, Magic 89.9, and Jam 88.3 started airing their tracks.

Save Me Hollywood has also become present in many important rock music festivals and events, where they perform side by side the country’s most popular bands like Parokya ni Edgar, Franco, Rico Blanco, Barbie Almalbis, Rocksteddy, and Wolfgang.

The group’s debut album, “Your Story To Tell” which was produced by 12 Stone Records and is being distributed by Universal Records is available in all major record stores nationwide. The album can also be dowloaded from iTunes and OPM2Go. Just go to the following links:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/your-story-to-tell/id660155307
https://www.opm2go.com/albums/save-me-hollywood-your-story-to-tell
For more info about their latest gigs, you may go to the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savemehollywood.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Gloc-9’s Myx Music Awards bodes well for mainstream Pinoy music

Gloc-9 won four major awards in the Myx Music Awards 2014 (MMA2014), the most for any artist who was nominated.
 

But what is more important about this win, is not so much the fact that Gloc-9 won in four out of six categories that he was nominated in, nor that he won four times more than any other artist.
 
It is that Gloc-9 won it for a song like “Magda.”
 
The idea of Magdalena is not new. The legend that is Freddie Aguilar introduced us to “Magdalena” in the early 1980’s, a folk song about the plight of a girl who was misunderstood because of the work she was forced into doing. In the Aguilar song, Magdalena is seen as “sawimpalad,” living a wretched life, where her story is one of choicelessness.
 
Gloc-9’s “Magda” does not point a finger at this woman’s life. The songwriter tells this story with compassion and understanding. Spoken from the perspective of her childhood sweetheart Ernesto, the story is allowed its romance, as it is allowed its heartbreak and undoing. Because Ernesto speaks of Magda, we are given the chance to see Magda as a spit of a girl, as someone who left her childhood behind. In the present she is a woman who is trapped in the cage of her own doing.
 
The song does not judge Magda, as it does make her human. She is treated as solitary and independent, she is allowed her own individuality, her own voice.
 
This is Gloc-9 at his most creative, where his decision to use another character to speak about Magda allows for a distance, a non-judgmental stance about her character. It is this creativity that was awarded by the MMA this year. But more importantly what they were honoring was this rapper-songwriter-artist’s decision to tell a story we would rather not hear, of a woman we would rather be blind to.
 
And this is really the value of Gloc-9’s quadruple wins in this year’s MMAs. He won for the song “Magda” in the context of mainstream original Pilipino music that makes hits out of repetitive lovesongs and novelty. He won for “Magda” at a time when the originality and relevance of original Pilipino pop music is being questioned.
 
Each MYX Music Award is composed of 60% audience votes and 40% artist or peer votes. And on a year when Gloc-9 wins big for a song like “Magda,” we are being told how the audience and the members of the industry as well, are in fact ready for difficult stories and complex songs.
 
Winning those four MMAs for “Magda,” as such, is not just a measure of Gloc-9 as artist. It is a measure of what the audience of local music is ready for. One hopes original Pinoy mainstream music heeds this call for creativity and relevance.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Lionel Richie All Night Long! Live in Manila

It will be a throwback Saturday as balladeer and Commodore Lionel Richie will serenade you with his greatest hits on April 5 at Araneta Center.
 
This is part of his World Tour which includes U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia.
 
This five-time Grammy winner just released his latest album, TUSKEGEE; the town in Alabama where he came from. Distributed locally by MCA Music(Universal Music Phils.).
 
Tickets are available at ticketnet.com.ph . Price ranges from P845.00 to P11,620.00 . For more updates about the latest concerts, album releases, interviews and more, like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.