THE RESURGENCE OF...

Britney Spears...
She is a pop icon of the late 90s.
Who wouldn't remember her and her songs: Baby One More Time, Oops... I did it again and the likes. To date, she is still one of the best-selling pop singing stars in the history of contemporary music. She has sold gazillion albums and still counting, I guess.

I am no big fan of Britney, but looking at her persona, I must not deny the fact that she is an image to reckon with...

Her life is an open book. From her emergence to stardom to her scandalous and troubled life that came afterwards... and now, her resurgence to hold her grip on her stature in the music arena.

Recently, she released an album: Femme Fatale, which debuted at number one in the Billboard charts making her the first female to have six number one album debuts. (source:http://www.britneyspears.com). That is a feat to beat, don't you think so?

I already got a glimpse of her single, 'Till the World Ends' and it is making a statement. A statement that says, 'I'm back!'

Looking at her performance, I noticed that it is now different in a way. She somehow lost the power and stamina of her youth. Her signature moves in her music videos are still there, but they are not as dynamic as before. Let us just say it is called the passing of the youth. Her vocals are still the same. Listening to her makes me say, she's like Paula Abdul and Madonna, they are better dancers than singers. I am not trying to be critical about her but let us be honest that there are many singers out there better than her vocal pipes.

Again, I am not a big fan of Britney, but it is about her life that interests me. Her rise from her soon-to-be-dead career reminds me that:

All of us inevitably go through life's ups and downs, it is normal, but, when we fall big time, we are all given a chance to reclaim ourselves and be back standing with our own two feet.

All of us are not exempted from failures, but when we have the right people around us who can support us... love us... risk for us... then we can all stage a fiery comeback, just like Britney.

In the end, we can always say, "Nothing can put a good man down."



source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywQDCnJUyvw

breaking the records

Manny Pacquiao has once again proven superb prowess in the boxing ring as he knocked out Ricky 'Hitman' Hatton on their second round fight for the Junior Welterweight Championship last 3rd May 2009 held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

He has already landed in the Boxing Hall of Fame for being the only boxer to achieve five titles from different divisions.I read an article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer (dated 4 May 2009)and let me quote:

"Pacquiao enshrined himself as the only boxer who fought in four weight classes in four successive fights and won them all..."

He is truly a global and phenomenal athlete... a well-loved figure by the Filipino people.

I agree with one of the newspapers that on the day of the fight, the clock stopped in Philippine territory as everybody was glued on television to watch the battle of East and West. Manny Pacquiao has carried the torch of Filipinos burning and its flag waving up high to the entire world. He has made the Philippines known once again in the international arena.

He has embodied the Filipino values and aspirations...

someone who has a strong faith in the almighty.
someone who has strong family ties.
someone who gets enthusiasm from friends and supporters.
someone who has achieved success from rags to riches.
someone who has a life that can inspire the aspirants.

A man worthy of praise and accolades.
MANNY, YOU ARE A TRUE FILIPINO PRIDE

breaking stereotypes

I am not really an avid fan of reality television programs,but today is different. I saw this video clip of Susan Boyle (courtesy of You Tube) when she auditioned for British Got Talent. I would say I had goosebumps while listening to her. It is not only her style of singing that awed me, but the song as well. Her performance was totally a big surprise to the judges and the crowd.

It started when Simon Cowell called her on stage and had a some sort of interview. She is not physically attractive (according to media standards)like the usual pop singing sensations that we get to see on television. She is already past her youthful years. During her short chit chat with Simon, the audience and the other judges seemed to have prejudged her already based on her looks and personal background. It was pretty obvious from their facial reactions and Simon's tone of voice.

The moment her song was played and she opened her mouth to sing, everything changed. Susan Boyle wowed the audience and the judges. I guess the song helped her as well in breaking the stereotype initially accorded to her. She sang, "I dreamed a dream" from Les Miserables. From the song you can feel a sense of struggle yet a hope of liberation at the same time.



I myself couldn't believe that she had captivated the audience because they kept on their thunderous applause and scream; and at the end of her performance they gave her a standing ovation. Obviously after that she got the unanimous decision from the judges to be accepted in the reality show 'British Got Talent'.

Thank you, Susan Boyle for breaking the media stereotypes and for sending a message to the world that talent above all makes the difference.




Lyrics | Fantine - I Dreamed a Dream lyrics

francis m's time

It was only late afternoon today, 6 March 2009, I learned that Francis Magalona died after months of battling with Leukemia. Yes, it came to me as a surprise but deep inside me I know that this sad moment is possible as he was undergoing treatment.

Who is Francis Magalona, anyway?


aka Francis M... the master rapper... a prolific song writer in the Philippine music industry... He is considered an icon by his peers in the music biz...

He is known for his song, "Mga Kababayan ko!" (My fellow country men!) which took the air waves by storm during the early 90's.

He is one of the hosts in the longest running afternoon variety show in Philippine television, "Eat Bulaga".

So many tags and accolades I can enumerate, but more than anything else, he is the man behind the song KALEIDOSCOPE from which this blog of mine sprouted.

His words from the song KALEIDOSCOPE moved me to see the world and people fairly and without prejudice. It made me appreciate individual differences, thus my respect for humanity strengthened. His song made a difference in the way I view life.


And today, as I pay respect to a good man on his well lived life, I share to you his song...

KALEIDOSCOPE

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

P.S.

Francis M, goodbye and thank you!