It was a kind of wild 2016, well just mildly wild, if there ever was such a thing. If this year was a painting, it would be one giant abstract. Yes, pretty much also explains the kind of songs that influenced me and my moods this year – a cornucopia of beats, emotions and lyrics that range from the melodramatic to psychedelic with a hint of angst or celebration or joy and all of the above.
With about 25 days to go before final touchdown of the year, I now present my pick of personal favorite 16 songs of 2016:
16) SIDE TO SIDE by Ariana Grande ft. Nikki Minaj - there’s something in the beat that’s catchy and bitchy at the same time. Something that describes my mood on most parts of each grueling month of 2016. Always will love Ariana’s vocals while Minaj lent the proper swag to an upbeat yet pretty chill song. ‘Ive been there all day…”
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15) CHEAP THRILLS by Zia – The title of the song is simply what it is. A cheap thrill. Entertaining stuff once more from a great artist, Zia. Song talks about no costs to having fun as long as you enjoy what you do, you don’t need dollar bills or money especially when you love the one you’re with.
14) STARVING– Hailee Steinfeld featuring Zedd – oh to have that kind of affection for someone. The all-encompassing feeling of having that one who exceeds every boundaries you set for your life. What made me like this song is partly on the line that says ‘I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you
Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo’. That feeling of being overwhelmed by someone that has changed you forever.
13) HEATHENS – Twenty one Pilots – song caught my attention while watching the movie Suicide Squad. Very apt for the times especially with the many murders and killings in the Philippines in the past few months. These lines from the song got me hooked ‘You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you,
You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you.’ And realizing that all you and your friends are heathens because you need to adapt to the situation, be a little weird when you have to coz there are a lot of psychos in our midst.
12) NOBODY'S BETTER – Z feat. Fetty Wap – there's something in the beat that gets to me. And the exchange of lines between the male and female singers. Pretty much explains how some guys think and how most girls also feel for them to remain secure in the relationship. Where the guy often says what you see is what you get in trying to explain his shenanigans, and the girl saying that she needs a little bit of honesty.
11) RISE by Katy Perry – this is a mantra to survive the year. Katie Perry is like a motivational speaker in a song. Always challenging you to rise and keep up to the challenge. To keep on keeping on. I especially had this as my imaginary background music when faced with a kind of tricky situation as I often find myself in this year. I also dedicate the song to my fave basketball team, Ginebra that paved the way for their being champions this year after 8 long forgettable seasons.
10) 7 YEARS – Lukas Graham – this has been a song that enjoyed quite a lot of radio airtime this year that I couldn’t help getting LSS’d. The singer’s voice was a mix of a melancholy with a touch of a boy band ruggedness. And I love how it touched on the passage of age and time, albeit a simplistic view from adolescence to adulthood to eventual senior moments. And the piano intro..
9) WORK FROM HOME by Fifth Harmony – this simply is a beat to enjoy. And when you thought the song is about working one’s ass off it actually sings about how you’ll work on that relationship with your man. The kind of effort one puts in to make it all fun instead of all work, work, work.
8) DON'T LET ME DOWN– Chainsmokers ft. Daya – this group may very well be the artist of the year for me. With their songs as ubiquitously playing on the radio or on hangout joints as frequent as a Duterte cuss word. Don’t Let me Down is the song that exactly means what it says on the title. About crashing and hitting a wall and holding on to that someone who you will beg and expect to not let you down. As in “I need ya, I need ya, I need you right now Yeah, I need you right now..” Yes, I do need this song to not let me down in times when there are less reasons to find goodness in the world.
https://youtu.be/Io0fBr1XBUA
7) WORTH IT by Fifth Harmony – these girls are rocking it this year. And the song is like an affirmation of what you deserve from life and from those you love. Song caught on latter part of 2015 and went on to start the year. That’s why I love this song that went ringing in my head for some weeks during the early part of 2016. Definitely listening to it is worth it.
6) PILLOW TALK by Zayn Malik – when you think of pillow talk and that eyelashes of Zayn, damn! But this is the kind of song that may be trying too hard to be sexy and sensual but came out just a wee bit cute. But I still love it. Especially the cover of Jojo during one of her live performances. There’s a part in the song that describes the bed in less than innocent terms and which somehow got me hooked in listening and singing to it.
5) TILL THE END – Jessie Ware – first time I heard this song playing was on the movie Me Before You. A surprisingly beautiful love story and one of the best movies I watched this 2016. It was playing as a background during a wedding scene and I got hooked on it. Turns out it’s by a favorite British singer- Jessie Ware whose sultry voice lent the perfect vibe to the melody. I especially adore the part when she sings ‘and And even when it's raining I don't see the clouds again.’ Captures the essence of being so in love with that person that all the crazy and negative things around don’t matter as long as you’re with him.
4) I HATE YOU, I LOVE YOU - Gnash ft. Olivia O'Brien – this is such a sweet sad love song about having the kind of love that is largely unreciprocated yet even if you hate the feeling you still love the person. Love singing the chorus especially when the feeling matches the frustration one gets when there is conflict in the relationship.
3) SECRET LOVE SONG – Little Mix ft. Jason Defulo - there's always something about songs that sings of keeping behind closed doors that gets me. An ideal song for belting out with all the pent-up emotions of a love that's real but hidden. Plus I love the range of vocals of this mix of female singers. Powerful voices that each sound has its own character. There's something about the over-all theme of the song that just speaks to the heart. When there are secrets hard to reveal.
2) ALL I ASK - Adele (collaborating with Bruno Mars) - afte having us at Hello last year,she brings us all we can ask for in a love song. The Adele melancholy vibe. I especially love the part about making memories that we can use. It's like speaking of a time spent with someone we may not have forever that a one special moment or night spent together can be a beacon to light us during darker days even when both have gone their separate way. Oh, the Adele effect and add to it the artistry of Bruno Mars who helped co-wrote this song with her. Also love Bruno Mars' live cover of this on BBC Live. The feels! This is all I ask for in a love song.
1) CLOSER - Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - I just couldn't stop singing and listening to this song this year. Like hey.. And could well relate to the part of '4 years no call, and now I'm looking pretty in a hotel bar..' after seeing your ex after no communication for well, 4 years. and then picking up from where you left of. A dance music that is part electro-pop and part club music that has an element of the brooding ambiance lent by the female vocalist. It has made it to my top choice of 2016. I just love how it brings me closer to that feeling of not so long ago just by listening to it. a blast.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
GINEBRA 2016: From Kangkong to KAMPEON!
After 8 loooooong years, my favorite PBA team, Ginebra is on its way to reclaim the throne - the championship title that has eluded them for so long.
Despite the heartaches of past PBA conferences, the agonies, the cursing of the fates - (or at biased officiating, actually), I remain steadfast on my own fanaticism. This is the only time I allow myself to be a true-blue fan in all its essence. Since 1986 and now 20 years after, my adulation for the team has
never wavered. Through players & coaching transfers, I remain a fan, almost loyal to a fault.
Have gone through a lot of almost wrist-slashing moments when players would have sub-par performances in the past years or whenever referees' bad calls will result in losses. The cursing and banging of the hand against any hard, solid surface (like my niece' boom box for instance). Those losses were indeed painful.
After that 2008 championship, the struggle has become real. More so for us Ginebra fans who not only had to contend seeing past favorite players move on to other teams or retire, of coaches we've come to love that were transferred to other teams or got sacked & the many knockout games that resulted unfavorably for our team. But most especially had to endure the endless mocking and insults thrown our way by fans of other teams. Even by some of those not really into basketball but just for the heck of it felt it's their right to throw shade at the Ginebra fans because they cannot understand how a team that seemed to have seen the last of its better days and which almost always got itself kicked out of contention every PBA season should still command such attention and adoration. And how win or lose, and despite being branded 'Kangkong' by haters the fandom could not be shattered. The support is genuine, the faith in the team always shone through, even during the worst game days. The same faith that has also sparked an out of this world applause and cheer whenever a crucial win is secured.
Some would never get it. But most die-hard sports fans especially bonafide Ginebra fans will not find it strange that we've held on for so long. That's just how we hold on to life, mostly.In never-say-die fashion as what we've come to know Ginebra since Jaworski days, who after getting hit and stitched on during a game still returned from the hospital to lead his team to a come-from-behind win.
That's just how it is. If Ginebra is known as the never-say-die team, the fans are known for being never-say-die fans. We'll always be around. We're always around even those agonizing times when we've been mocked as our team became a perennial participant in the haters' imaginary 'Bora Cup' aka 'Boracay cup' - with reference to teams going on an early vacation usually off to the beaches in Boracay after being booted out.
And now - back to the present 2016. Our mighty team Ginebra is back in the Finals. They almost had a chance back in 2013 but got swept by Alaska so this new opportunity at being king and ending the 8-year title drought is what we've fervently hoped for. The time is just soooo ripe!
Since the conference started, I already noticed their game improving tremendously. There's a certain sense of mission, a fluidity to their game that was missing in past months, a renewed passion in how the players move that got the fans excited. Before the eliminations ended, I told my brother that Ginebra is playing like they're finals-bound. The level is just ahead of the other contending teams.
We saw the never-say-die spirit of the team back in harness, even right at the start of the conference. With their main big man Slaughter out due to injury, that did not discourage them and they played even better right from the first game, with renewed enthusiasm shown by the other half of the twin tower- Japeth.
And then came Brownlee - we saw his first game, suffering from cramps yet would ask to be fielded back in to fight off cramps and the jetlag. He was in and out during that game but we noticed that the heart is right there. That attitude that wore off the whole team. We saw it on the rebounding prowess of the rookie, Scottie, in the purpose-driven moves of Sol & Devance' leadership that inspires his team.
And how we saw that spirit with the way LA Tenorio also came out with his resurgence of sorts reminiscent of 2013 when he almost won the MVP award.
We saw the same never-say-die spirit rubbing off on Coach Tim who in just 3 conferences has really whipped up the team into an instant title-contender. The way he was reacting in the sidelines, turning from mentor to fan on every spectacular play of his team even if it is by his design or by fate's own design.
And then there's the holdovers from the last 2008 title- Mark & Jayjay Helterbrand. Both have shown signs of slowing down but their hearts and passion to win the game and win it for the fans are always there. Despite playing in probably the last phases of their careers, from the bandana brothers of yore to the 2016 Ginebra's own version of the 'Titos of Manila', they are still our 'Fast and Furious' the 'id' of the team, its heart and soul made more evident by their scintillating performance during the Finals' Game 4. They are as hungry as the fans to win this title now.
So this Oct 19, in Game 6, as the balloons or confetti fall down, and that old familiar Gi-ne-bra chant echoes down the halls of the coliseum, and champagne corks and beer cans start to pop, I know my own tears will fall along with the legions of fans. To wash down all those years of pent-up emotions and frustrations - as our team Ginebra again replicate the struggles of life and teaching us lessons along the way - to not give up despite the odds.
And being happy and aware that any one special moment of triumph and pure joy will always be greater than any long years of hardship and disappointments. We know we'll never take it any other way. this has got to be it.
And all because our own 'Kangkong' has now become Kampeon'. From chumps to CHAMPS!
Despite the heartaches of past PBA conferences, the agonies, the cursing of the fates - (or at biased officiating, actually), I remain steadfast on my own fanaticism. This is the only time I allow myself to be a true-blue fan in all its essence. Since 1986 and now 20 years after, my adulation for the team has
Have gone through a lot of almost wrist-slashing moments when players would have sub-par performances in the past years or whenever referees' bad calls will result in losses. The cursing and banging of the hand against any hard, solid surface (like my niece' boom box for instance). Those losses were indeed painful.
After that 2008 championship, the struggle has become real. More so for us Ginebra fans who not only had to contend seeing past favorite players move on to other teams or retire, of coaches we've come to love that were transferred to other teams or got sacked & the many knockout games that resulted unfavorably for our team. But most especially had to endure the endless mocking and insults thrown our way by fans of other teams. Even by some of those not really into basketball but just for the heck of it felt it's their right to throw shade at the Ginebra fans because they cannot understand how a team that seemed to have seen the last of its better days and which almost always got itself kicked out of contention every PBA season should still command such attention and adoration. And how win or lose, and despite being branded 'Kangkong' by haters the fandom could not be shattered. The support is genuine, the faith in the team always shone through, even during the worst game days. The same faith that has also sparked an out of this world applause and cheer whenever a crucial win is secured.
Some would never get it. But most die-hard sports fans especially bonafide Ginebra fans will not find it strange that we've held on for so long. That's just how we hold on to life, mostly.In never-say-die fashion as what we've come to know Ginebra since Jaworski days, who after getting hit and stitched on during a game still returned from the hospital to lead his team to a come-from-behind win.
That's just how it is. If Ginebra is known as the never-say-die team, the fans are known for being never-say-die fans. We'll always be around. We're always around even those agonizing times when we've been mocked as our team became a perennial participant in the haters' imaginary 'Bora Cup' aka 'Boracay cup' - with reference to teams going on an early vacation usually off to the beaches in Boracay after being booted out.
And now - back to the present 2016. Our mighty team Ginebra is back in the Finals. They almost had a chance back in 2013 but got swept by Alaska so this new opportunity at being king and ending the 8-year title drought is what we've fervently hoped for. The time is just soooo ripe!
Since the conference started, I already noticed their game improving tremendously. There's a certain sense of mission, a fluidity to their game that was missing in past months, a renewed passion in how the players move that got the fans excited. Before the eliminations ended, I told my brother that Ginebra is playing like they're finals-bound. The level is just ahead of the other contending teams.
We saw the never-say-die spirit of the team back in harness, even right at the start of the conference. With their main big man Slaughter out due to injury, that did not discourage them and they played even better right from the first game, with renewed enthusiasm shown by the other half of the twin tower- Japeth.
We saw the same never-say-die spirit rubbing off on Coach Tim who in just 3 conferences has really whipped up the team into an instant title-contender. The way he was reacting in the sidelines, turning from mentor to fan on every spectacular play of his team even if it is by his design or by fate's own design.
And then there's the holdovers from the last 2008 title- Mark & Jayjay Helterbrand. Both have shown signs of slowing down but their hearts and passion to win the game and win it for the fans are always there. Despite playing in probably the last phases of their careers, from the bandana brothers of yore to the 2016 Ginebra's own version of the 'Titos of Manila', they are still our 'Fast and Furious' the 'id' of the team, its heart and soul made more evident by their scintillating performance during the Finals' Game 4. They are as hungry as the fans to win this title now.
So this Oct 19, in Game 6, as the balloons or confetti fall down, and that old familiar Gi-ne-bra chant echoes down the halls of the coliseum, and champagne corks and beer cans start to pop, I know my own tears will fall along with the legions of fans. To wash down all those years of pent-up emotions and frustrations - as our team Ginebra again replicate the struggles of life and teaching us lessons along the way - to not give up despite the odds.
And being happy and aware that any one special moment of triumph and pure joy will always be greater than any long years of hardship and disappointments. We know we'll never take it any other way. this has got to be it.
And all because our own 'Kangkong' has now become Kampeon'. From chumps to CHAMPS!
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