1/29/13 - Overexposed

I'm at a Payphone......

I'm sure that line has found itself stuck on your head when you heard that song. That is no surprise as Maroon 5 has been releasing catchy music since they debuted a couple of years ago.

Maroon 5 showed their brilliance in pop music when they released their latest album called Overexposed. Before the album was released, they teased us with a song called Moves Like Jagger which was a collaboration with Christina Aguilera and it dominated radio and music channels everywhere. 

Upon announcing their new album, they revealed that they were aiming for a more pop-sounding album. It received mixed reactions and when they premiered their debut single, Payphone, I expected that it will be a good album even though I've seen some comments that they did not like it. I thought it was a good choice for a lead single. It was catchy, it can capture the listeners' attention and it has a sweet message.

Despite criticisms, the album opened successfully on its first week, even opening on #2 on the Billboard albums chart.

The album has a very interesting and colorful cover which somehow shows how the songs in the album are mostly filled with groovy and radio-friendly tracks. If you like pop music, you will like this one. However, if you're looking for their older sound, you may find yourself disappointed like some of the other fans. Though it's still has catchy choruses like their earlier songs, it sounds so manufactured and generic as a whole when compared to their previous releases but if you'll look at it as a standalone album, it is a solid piece of work.

Their second single from the album, One More Night, is a proof how they are such hitmakers. The song spent 9 weeks at #1 on the Billboard chart consecutively which is not so easy to do.

The album is filled mostly of upbeat and midtempo tracks such as Doin' Dirt,Lucky Strike,The Man Who Never Lied and Love Somebody.

The only song I don't like in this album is the ballad, Sad, but I would still recommend this album to everyone.

1/27/13 - Night Visions

2012 has been a good year for music. Some of the artists I like released new music this year and at the same time, there were a couple of breakthrough acts and new artists I discovered last year.

Imagine Dragons is one of those artists I discovered last year and their full-length debut album is one of my favorites this year. As seen in my previous post earlier this month, I got their album as my birthday present and it's really worth it. I could only wish that their album was available here in my country so many people could also support them by buying their album legally.

They are a band who resides in Las Vegas and have been doing shows there before they released this album. Their name is an anagram and only the members of the band knows what it means.

The album is full of hits. Their debut single, It's Time, has an anthemic beat that makes you feel victorious and makes you feel good. It has also been used a lot on movies and TV and has become a mainstay on radio. It even earned them some nominations on some award shows. They follow it up with Radioactive, another song that can get stuck on your head. I have to say that the only weakness of this album is that the album starts strong with the first half and then the latter half takes some time to grow on me, but it eventually did after some time. 

It has great choruses and Dan Reynolds' vocals are quite powerful that you wouldn't expect the album to have some playful beat in it. The bonus tracks on the album are also a good addition to the album.

My favorite songs here are: Tiptoe, On Top Of The World,Demons and It's Time.

1/26/13 - Les Miserables

I admit that I am not a big fan of musicals. Not that I hate them since I do enjoy musical productions but it's not exactly the genre where I feel so hyped for its release. 

Les Miserables is one of those films that has a huge anticipation from people all over the world. It is one of the most successful and celebrated theater musicals adapted from Victor Hugo's work. In fact, for Filipinos, this movie is more memorable as a famous Filipino singer was part of the cast in earlier versions.

Since my aunt gave me a free movie ticket for my birthday, I decided to use it on this film since I have good hopes that I will enjoy the movie despite not knowing a lot about the movie's storyline aside from the fact that it is set in the past and mostly concerned about politics.

Right from the start, the tone of the film can be told as the wonderful visual imagery colored the screens and the music started right away with a production number starred by Hugh Jackman, the movie's leading actor. I know that the movie was a musical but I did not expect that the entire film would be sung in songs. The spoken dialogues would probably amount to less than 10 minutes in total, and that is saying a lot since the movie is almost 3 hours long! But there's no need to fret, despite of that, the scenes are very entertaining and keeps the storyline flow smoothly. Sure there are scenes where I think would be better off as spoken dialogues but they pulled it off just as well as singing them. I can assume that the songs which are already a part of it for a long time are written specifically for this musical.

It is no surprise that this movie has already garnered awards and nominations. The acting and the musical productions were superb. Hugh Jackman showed his vulnerable side of him as opposed to the tough guy we always see from him. Russell Crow did fairly well despite some criticisms about his singing ability. Anne Hathaway, who is probably the one who has attracted the most attention for her part, was able to own the scenes that she is a part of. Though some may be surprised that she only appears in the movie for around 20 minutes only. But that does not stop her from delivering a gut-wrenching performance. Her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream alone is praise-worthy. Amanda Seyfried was very appropriate for her role as an innocent and lovely woman although she is overshadowed by the entire cast and she is probably the only one of the main cast who doesn't have a memorable solo musical performance. Samantha Barks did great too as well as the other male stars, namely, Eddie Redmayne and Aaron Tveit. Helena Bonham Carter did spectacular as usual and I didn't expect Sacha Baron Cohen to have such a splendid performance.

I downloaded the soundtrack right away when I got home. My only disappointment in the film was that the transition happened too quick and there's a few things that weren't explained properly. I could only wish that they showed more beef to the storylines such as Cosette's childhood or Cosette-Eponine-Marius love triangle. I do understand that the time limit is a problem but maybe they would appear in the deleted scenes sometime.

This movie is the first movie I watched in theaters this year and this did not disappoint. 

1/24/13 - Pitch Perfect

I heard about this movie sometime last year when I downloaded the soundtrack. It was full of covers of mainstream songs and quite similar to Glee. I wasn't so impressed by the soundtrack so I did not bother to find out more about the movie. The movie was not shown here in the country, or at least not yet, so I don't see any hype for this movie.

But recently, the movie has been trending on Twitter locally and I can only attribute it to the pirated releases of the movie that is now available everywhere. Several people online has been praising it to be very funny and full of witty remarks. Some have even compared it to Mean Girls or Bridesmaids.

So when I was trying to find a new movie to buy, I was left with no other choice and bought the movie during my birthday.

Set in a high school setting, the movie is centered on Anna's character and being part of a music club who are competing with other music groups.

I was prepared to have a good time watching the film and burst of laughter but I found myself the complete opposite.

I didn't find it too funny and struggled to find humor whenever a comedic scene is presented. Most characters were boring. I'm disappointed that Elizabeth Banks was lackluster as I have learned to like her after watching some of her previous movies. But she's just a minor character anyway. The major characters were just mediocre and they were just a rip-off of other teen-oriented films or shows. One of the characters, Fat Amy, who even trended on Twitter, is a character that we've somehow seen before with the likes of Melissa McCarthy or any awkward,self-humiliating character played by Michael Cera or Christopher Mintz-Plasse. The good thing is, Anna Kendrick plays her character quite well. But she can't carry the whole movie herself.

The songs featured in the film didn't impress me too. Though they could all sing, they could have chosen better songs and add variation. "The Sign" was used at least 3 times in the whole film! I'm sure there's more songs out there and they chose to repeat one song over and over again.

I couldn't keep myself glued to the film all throughout. I was forcing myself not to tune in to the television or shut down the movie player.

To the people comparing it to Mean Girls, I can't see why they found it similar since this movie tries to be one. I heard a sequel is already in the works. I hope it doesn't get more disastrous.

Overall, Pitch Perfect is a full-length second-rate Glee that attempts to become some sort of pop culture classic but instead of creating their own identity, it loses itself by pure imitation of previous films in the genre.

1/22/13

It feels so nice to be 23. I didn't have a grand celebration or a party but we did have a lot of food during ym birthday last Sunday. We tried to make carbonara for the first time since we usually have macaroni or spaghetti for most events and I preferred it also. We had a bucket of KFC chicken and 3 large boxes of Papa John's pizza and of course, a cake!

The blessing continued to pour as I had a final interview with the company I was talking about last week. This time, I had the interview with the owner of the company and it was held in the Starbucks at the RCBC Plaza beside the office building since he had another meeting. The interview went well and he seemed so friendly. He talked more about the nature of the job and the company and I got to ask all the questions I had. I also found out that they were moving into a bigger office which was just beside their current office which was a relief since they needed a bigger space if they're expanding and I'm also glad that the new office that they will transfer to is in the same building, I was worried that it will move into another area or city. Due to their company's transfer, I may start working with them on February if I do get accepted and have no more other reasons for delay.

Part of me is still hesitant to accept the offer especially since the pay is not so high, even though it is higher than any companies I have worked for. But the environment seems friendly and I think I can at least work it out for at least a year and we'll see what happens from there. Right now, I have to enjoy what could possibly be the last days of my free time.

1/18/13 - Jabbawockeez in Manila

I was truly impressed with this dance crew I saw earlier tonight. I admit I don't follow their career and all I know is that they won a dance contest in a US TV show and they have performed here in Manila a few years ago. As much as I would rather rock it out by watching rock bands, I figured that I would accept my aunt's invite to watch since my uncle had free tickets as usual. I watched the show with my cousin and her friends and it felt so nice to have someone to go along with since it feels less awkward standing there in the reserved area while people who are outside by the railings or the upper floors are watching at us.

As usual, the show didn't start on time but they didn't start late. They brought along a special guest, another dance crew who apparently are winners of the same TV show they won. I thought they were gonna open but Jabbawockeez started the show themselves. The  stage was designed with platforms disguised as big stereos and the screen at the back and the sides were also utilized with colorful images all throughout the show. The sound and light effects made the show lively the entire night, not that it was necessary from all the dance moves of the crew alone. After starting the show with a short skit, they didn't waste time showing off their moves. There were skits in between during breaks but it didn't feel forced or unnecessary as they were very humorous and satisfied the crowd with laughter as they changed costumes and broke out to different dance moves/sets so many times. 

I'm impressed by their versatility, their flexibility and most of all, their ability to put on a good show by showcasing their talents. There were a few well-known names in the crowd - basketball players in the biggest basketball league here in the country were in the show watching and even brought along their families.

The show lasted along for an hour at least and they didn't take any long breaks in between which shows how much passion and dedication they have not just for dancing but for entertainment. 

I'm not surprised that they have a good amount of following here in the Philippines because of there immense talent. Sure, there are Filipinos who were also part of the group who performed but I'd like to believe that the passion shown by the audience tonight goes beyond blood ties and reaches out to their talent.

They have performed in a number of malls already and have a few more shows left so try to catch them if you can.

1/17/13

I had a pretty good day yesterday. It almost turned out bad when I was running off late to my scheduled interview at 10 am. 

I was quite lucky when the public vehicles I took didn't have to wait that long and traffic was moderately light. I was already familiar with the office building since I had interviews in nearby buildings so it didn't take time for me to locate the venue. I arrived at the venue 5-10 minutes late and that already includes the delay due to the long lines at the elevator.

I was caught surprised when I knocked on the door to be greeted by an employee and welcomed in their very small office space which was a studio type condo unit with only around 7 employees all working on their laptops. It was a little discouraging since it was even smaller than my 1st company which was already tiny and I was worried of having the interview done in that small space since other people were there to listen. But all of them looked young and looked like a group of people that I would easily adapt to.

After getting my resume, the HR person asked me to go down the lobby and get a table at the Country Style resto which was a relief. I went down immediately and despite only having 2 eggs for breakfast before leaving home, I fought the urge to eat or grab some drink because I thought the interview wouldn't last long. I waited for a few more minutes before the HR arrived. He ordered coffee first and even offered but I declined as I'm not a coffee person.

He didn't wait long before the interview started. He asked a bunch of questions which I was able to answer. Of course, I didn't answer smoothly and had some stuttering moments but the interview was quite light and it felt like a casual conversation. It didn't seem too formal and I felt like talking more to a peer or a colleague than a superior but still keeping my respect for authority.I basically tried to express my interest to learn more about the industry of their business and my willingness to improve my skills. He asked me to rate myself based on some categories and I played it safe. I wanted to ask more about the position and the company but he didn't give me any opportunity to do so which was disappointing.He did tell me that I was already the 6th person whom he has interviewed and they were only looking for two. The interview took around 30 minutes. I thought it was over but he sent me upstairs back to their office to have an exam. The exam was basically to write 2 articles about two given topics. It was quite hard because the topics were uninteresting to me and it was hard for me to stretch the topic based on the limited sources. It took me around 2 hours to finish both. I would have finished earlier if they didn't let me use a netbook which I had a hard time to use because of its small keys.  I was desperate to finish the exam because I was already starving at that point. The employees were already finishing their lunch by the time I ended.

I left quickly after they told me they'll give me a call back if I pass and immediately rushed to the mall to eat lunch. I strolled around while waiting for my mom to arrive. I got a new shirt which was on sale before heading out to the gym.

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the job. I think it's gonna be mentally draining but I think I could handle it for at least a year if I'm given the opportunity. The HR did ask me my thoughts on overtime work so I'm worried that this job might take all my time and something I've been trying to run away from. I know I shouldn't be quick to assume that I have this position in the bag but the thought has been on my mind since yesterday. I'm just praying I'll find a good job soon.

I'll be watching the Jabbawockeez show tomorrow at Glorietta with my cousin. I'm not exactly a fan but I might as well accept the free invitation and I may have myself a good time. I still don't have any concrete plans on the weekend for my birthday though.

1/15/13

I received two new cds today! I asked my mom to buy it for me during her flight to the US and I'm glad she was able to get it for me. I was asking for more cds but she couldn't find the others but these two will do. I've always loved Maroon 5 and their last album was great while Imagine Dragons is one of my favorite discoveries last year and their debut album is filled with spectacular hits. Their album wasn't available in our local record stores so I had to ask my mom to buy it for me. It's a good birthday present to me since it's coming up this Sunday. I also had my mom buy me some in-ear earphones cause I needed one that doesn't fall of my ear. If only this will last for more than 6 months at least....we'll see about that.

Speaking of my birthday, I don't know if I can celebrate it. It's a Sunday and my mom has a flight that day so we can't go out and I'm stuck at home. Maybe I can go out the day before with my friends but I'll have to ask my friends.

One last good news I have to share is that I have an upcoming job interview tomorrow at a company in Makati. Though I'm doubtful about the position, I think this one's a laidback company where I could learn if I get accepted. The company deals with internet marketing and the position will involve some SEO functions that I haven't mastered but I wouldn't mind if I don't get accepted but this looks like a job that I can look forward to. I just hope it's not a shifting or a field-oriented job cause that would definitely be a disadvantage. But it would be a nice present if I could land myself a decent and manageable job for my birthday.

1/14/13

I may have something good to share but I'm keeping it to myself for now. :)

1/13/13

Just received some good news this morning that I can't wait to share!

Our internet's been screwing up lately so I couldn't post any updates lately but I've been doing nothing much except for playing some old school games on the computer. I am still thinking of ways on how to celebrate my birthday. :p

1/10/13

Anybody caught the premiere of the second half of Pretty Little Liars' third season? It was quite disappointing. They didn't address some past issues and they keep on adding crazy and exaggerated subplots. I do hope it gets better. I have quite some more to say but I got to go for now.

1/6/13

I just realized that my birthday is coming up this month and I don't have anything in mind what I want to do or what I want to get. In fact, I feel like I don't deserve anything after a terrible year that could have been better if I exerted more effort. 

I know some things are out of my control and there are external factors that are constraining me from my goals but I don't want to make that as an excuse.

But before my birthday, my younger brother is celebrating his own this coming Wednesday. At least there is a celebration to look forward to.

1/2/12

We have a new dog! It's an addition to our house pets. We inherited him from our grandparents and his name is Yogi. We already have another dog whose been with us for a couple of years already whom we also inherited from our grandparents before. He is actually a cousin of our new dog. I don't really know why we took him in but it's always nice to have some pets to play with!

1/1/13 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!Another year has passed by and I hope everyone is having a good start so far.

As per our usual tradition, we had our annual family reunion with my father's side of the family. Lots of great food and it feels nice to see some relatives and cousins whom I haven't seen in awhile and all grown up now. We also had some relatives from Norway and Chicago coming home this year to celebrate the holidays. We played Bingo like we usually do but I did not win anything unlike last year but my brother did. We also exchanged gifts and I got a couple of nice things like some shirts and a perfume. I am surprised and a bit disappointed that I didn't receive a lot of money though. I was looking forward to buying some new stuff.

2013 already didn't start well for me as I had to restore my iPod because it deleted all files from it and it wouldn't sync with iTunes.

2012 was not so good for me. Although the real life events may be colorful, my personal life was nowhere memorable in a way that I would like to remember it. The year went by so fast that I barely had any significant positive changes in my life.

There were a couple of highlights during the year though. I had been part of a wedding entourage and I can't believe it's almost a year since it has happened. I've watched several concerts this year and probably the most I had in a year. Not forgetting to mention that I rode a public bus in this year alone more than the total of any other time in my life. I also saw a slight improvement of my body though I have to work harder. I also got to watch several great movies this year such as Spiderman,The Avengers,The Hunger Games and The Perks of Being A Wallflower. 

I didn't make resolutions or goals early this year because I knew I won't be able to fulfill them and I was right. I did not really discover or been to a new place this year aside from knowing how to travel to and from SM North EDSA, nor learned a new skill/talent or any achievement to be proud of. My social life hasn't been that buzzing either with limited interactions outside my social circle and the fact that HR staff of companies I applied to are the ones I remember as new people I've met is just sad.

But I don't really want to prolong this blog by posting how the past year has been so unfruitful and I'm leaving it by saying that I'm looking forward to a brighter year. I hope to discover something new for myself and maybe try to get myself involved on something that I can be proud of.