Escapade!

Last year was my shlumpadinka year. This year, although slightly improved, is turning into a long rant, so to avoid any more negativity, I will try to think of positive things. Like an escapade. Singing this now:

Escapade
Songwriters: Lewis, Terry;Jackson, Janet;Harris, James


As I was walkin' by saw you standin' there with a smile

Lookin' shy you caught my eye

Thought you'd want to hang for a while



Well I'd like to be with you and you know it's Friday too

I hope you can find the time this weekend to relax and unwind



My mind's tired I've worked so hard all week

Cashed my check I'm ready to go

I promise you I'll show you such a good time



Chorus:

Come on baby let's get away

Let's save your troubles for another day

Come go with me we've got it made

Let me take you on an escapade (let's go)



Es-ca-pade we'll have a good time

Es-ca-pade leave your worries behind

Es-ca-pade you can be mine

Es-ca-pade an escapade



So don't hold back just have a good time

We'll make the rules up as we go along

And break them all if we're not havin' fun



Repeat Chorus



My mind's tired I've worked so hard all

Worked so hard all week

I just got paid, we've got it made ready to go

I promise you I'll show you such a good time



Repeat Chorus


Don't take the lyrics seriously. I don't plan to break any rules. I seldom do.

Luigi Plays Jump!

I can only play the first 11 chords of this song. Luigi heard his dad playing it and learned it on his own. He was asked to perform during the Christmas program of his school, Centro Montessori.

Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

I watched the Philippine Madrigal Singers at the Philamlife Lobby for Christmas Treats, a one-hour concert for the benefit of streetkids. I think the message of this song is very apt for Filipinos.

Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko
Apo Hiking Society

O bakit kaya tuwing Pasko ay
dumarating na
ang bawa't isa'y para bang
namomroblema
hindi mo alam ang regalong ibibigay
ngayong kay hirap na nitong ating buhay

Meron pa kayang caroling at noche buena
kung tayo naman ay kapos at wala nang pera
nakakahiya kung muling pagtaguan mo
ang 'yong mga inaanak sa araw ng Pasko.

[refrain]

♫♬♩♪
Ngunit kahit na anong mangyari
ang pag-ibig sana'y maghari
sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo
tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

Mabuti pa nga ang Pasko noong isang taon
sa ating hapag mayroong keso de bola't hamon
baka sa gipit, Happy New Year mapo-postpone
at ang hamon ay mauuwi sa bagoong

[refrain]
Ngunit kahit na anong mangyari
ang pag-ibig sana'y maghari
sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo
tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

(Instrumental)

♫♬♩♪

[refrain]
Ngunit kahit na anong mangyari
ang pag-ibig sana'y maghari
sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo
tuloy na tuloy parin ang pasko

[coda]
Tuloy na tuloy pa rin (Tuloy na tuloy pa rin)
tuloy na tuloy pa rin (Tuloy na tuloy pa rin)
tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko ♫♬♩♪

Manila, Manila

Maraming beses na kitang nilayasan
Iniwanan at iba ang pinuntahan
Parang babaeng mahirap talagang malimutan
Ikaw lamang ang aking laging binabalikan

(Sounds of jeepneys and barkers in the background)

Manila, Manila
I keep coming back to Manila
Simply no place like Manila
Manila, I'm coming home

I walked the streets of San Francisco
I've tried the rides in Disneyland
Dated a million girls in Sydney
Somehow I feel like I don't belong

Hinahanap-hanap kita Manila
Ang ingay mong kay sarap sa tenga
Mga Jeepney mong nagliliparan
Mga babae mong naggagandahan
Take me back in your arms Manila
And promise me you'll never let go
Promise me you'll never let go

Manila, Manila
Miss you like hell, Manila
No place in the world like Manila
I'm coming here to stay

I Dreamed a Dream...

My nephew's current favorite musical is Les Miserables because he was asked to perform one of its songs during his school's recognition rites. He requested me to sing On My Own when our whole family went karaoke singing last January. Next time, I'd like to sink my teeth into this song made even more popular by Susan Boyle.

I listened to the words again last night and was amazed at the powerful story they told.

I Dreamed a Dream
From Les Miserables

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Here's the link to the famous video.

And another video from the same talent show, of a little girl who also could sing like an angel.

Youtube has disabled embedding of these videos. Please go to the links and enjoy!

It's never too late to dream. :)

Now Playing: Time and Tide

I've been told that I can't go problogging if I keep posting non-original content to my blog. I guess I have to create another blog for that dream to become a reality, for in this blog, I will indulge in sharing the songs I sing, the movies I watch, the poetry I read, and the beauty I appreciate.

This morning, I traveled back in time and played this in the car over and over again. I think I'm going to form a band with some friends and sing old songs in harmony!



For now, this is my personal karaoke. :)

Time and Tide
Basia

It's hard for me to stop my heart
love never knows
when the time is right
I don't want to hurt
anybody but
can't help loving you

I never felt like this before
I know this is passion
worth waiting for
let love take take its course
that's the only thing
for us to do

We got time, oh baby,
there's no rush
gonna be a better
day for us
hang on
and I will
wait for you
our love will always stay as good as new

Time and tide
nothing and no one
can stop us now
for better for worse
this time I'm sure
it's gonna last

How can I stop my heart?
Love never knows
when the time is right
don't want to hurt
anybody
don't want to make them cry
don't want to make them cry

We've got time, oh baby
there's no rush
gonna be a better
day for us
hang on
and I will wait for you

Our love will always stay as good as...
new

It's a matter of time
only a matter of...

Time and tide
nothing and no one
can stop us now
for better for worse
this time I'm sure
it's gonna last
gonna last forever

We got time, oh baby
there's no rush
gonna be a better
day for us
hang on
and I will wait for you.

I think Mrs. RJAQ and TSP will sound good when they do a cover of this song. I can do keyboards and backup vocals. :)

Another Amazing Anniversary

To add to my two previous posts about anniversaries for 2009, this year we're also celebrating 10 years of Lingkod QC's predecessor, Friends and Lovers in Prayer/ Friends and Lovers of Prayer (FLIP/FLOP). We're going to have a reunion on February 14, 2009 at Lime 88 that sits behind Mirac's house in Mandaluyong.

Calling all QT's! Leave a message or e-mail me if you want to attend. It's going to be a night of music, friendship, great food, and more! God bless.

Now Playing: Remembering You

The video and the song played during Fr. Geoffrey's Youth Alive despedida, October 18, 2008.  Read about him here.

Remembering You
Steven Curtis Chapman
The Chronicles of Narnia Soundtrack

I found You in the most unlikely way
But really it was You who found me
And I found myself in the gifts that You gave
You gave me so much and I

I wish You could stay
but I'll, I'll wait for the day

Chorus
And I watch as the cold winter melts into spring
And I'll be remembering You
Oh and I'll smell the flowers and hear the birds sing 
and I'll be remembering You, I'll be remembering You 

From the first moment when I heard Your name
Something in my heart came alive
You showed me love and no words could explain
A love with the power to
Open the door
To a world I was made for

Chorus
And I watch as the cold winter melts into spring
And I'll be remembering You
Oh and I'll smell the flowers and hear the birds sing 
and I'll be remembering You, I'll be remembering You 

The dark night, the hard fight
The long climb up the hill knowing the cost 
The brave death, the last breath
The silence whispering all hope was lost
The thunder, the wonder
A power that brings the dead back to life

I wish You could stay
But I'll wait for the day
And though You've gone away
You come back and

Chorus
And I watch as the cold winter melts into spring
And I'll be remembering You
Oh and I'll smell the flowers and hear the birds sing 
and I'll be remembering You, I'll be remembering You 

And I'll watch as the sun fills a sky that was dark
And I'll be remembering You
And I'll think of the way that You fill up my heart
And I'll be remembering You

I'll be remembering You
I'll be remembering You
I'll be remembering You

I'll be remembering You

What If...

What if today were the last of all days? I ask myself this question, buoyed by a growing desire to spread my wings and seek another land.

Just thinking of all that I'm leaving behind overwhelms me. Thank God for RDL and co-discerners on this journey, otherwise I'd be too scared to move. But I want to.

I can't find a nice version to upload here, but this song by Hourglass captured my feelings as I was driving to work this morning. It is good to ask these questions. It is good to know I can follow my dreams without fear.

The Last of All Days
Hourglass

If today were the last of all days
Would it change how you feel who you are
Would you rise for a moment
Above all of your fears
Become one with the moon & the stars

Would you like what you see looking down
Did you give everything that you could
Have you done all the things you intended to do
Or is there still so much more that you would

Follow your dreams to the end of the rainbow
Way beyond one pot of gold
Open your eyes to the colors around you
And find the true beauty life holds

Would you live for the moment
Like when you were young
And time didn't travel so fast
Be free in the present
Enjoying the now
Not tied to a future or past

Follow your dreams to the end of the rainbow
Way beyond one pot of gold
Open your eyes to the colors around you
And find the true beauty life holds

You would probably say all you wanted to say
But doesn't that strike you as strange
That we'd only begin start living our lives
If today were the last of all days
If today were the last of all days

The S Word

A term that describes my state today is "unglued".  This, despite several therapeutic lunches and dinners with my friends for the past week.

 

Last night, I tried practicing some piano pieces for Fr. Geoffrey's Recital but stopped after repeating the same mistakes for almost twenty times.  My piano teacher, Mama, agreed that it was probably just an off night.  "Artists and athletes have those", I explained to her.

This morning, I cried all throughout the Charismatic mass.  I was not a member of the Catholic community that sponsored it so I felt nobody would remember me sniffling all throughout, from Opening to Closing song.  God could hear me, I could sense His presence, but I just stared back at Him.  What could I say that had not already been said about my situation?  

After mass, I was at my usual post as money counter after the mass, but I felt like I was the world's worst counter.  I mean, I love the Pondo ng Pinoy project of our diocese, but the sight of all those twenty-five centavo coins made me dizzy and Fr. Steve had to repeat counting some of the rows I neatly piled.  

Then I drove for my parents and nephews to Serendra this afternoon.  I committed several driving booboos and after a third driver honked at me for straddling two lanes out of indecision, I said out loud, "Yes, I know I'm being stupid."

Luigi, my 11-year old nephew, looked at me and said, "No, Tita Ella, you're not stupid."

And just like that, I wanted to hug him, my saint of a nephew, who once said that "I think everybody should love everybody". But if everybody loved everyone else, this would be Heaven already.  That's why there are people we cannot love and people who cannot love us yet.  We are still on Earth.

Luigi doesn't read this blog so I can very well say the S word here.  That's another apt term to describe me nowadays:  Mighty Stupid. Yes I'm being hard on myself. You'd think by now I've learned. I played a game I couldn't win. I don't even like games, so what was I doing in the first place?

I'll just sing.  This ought to summarize what it's been like.

Out of Reach

Gabrielle

From the Bridget Jones's Diary OST


Knew the signs
Wasn't right
I was stupid for a while
Swept away by you
And now I feel like a fool
So confused,
My heart's bruised
Was I ever loved by you?

Out of reach, so far
I never had your heart
Out of reach,
Couldn't see
We were never
Meant to be

Catch myself
From despair
I could drown
If I stay here
Keeping busy everyday
I know I will be OK

But I was
So confused,
My heart's bruised
Was I ever loved by you?

Out of reach, so far
I never had your heart
Out of reach,
Couldn't see
We were never
Meant to be

So much hurt,
So much pain
Takes a while
To regain
What is lost inside
And I hope that in time,
You'll be out of my mind
And I'll be over you

But now I'm
So confused,
My heart's bruised
Was I ever loved by you?

Out of reach,
So far
I never had your heart
Out of reach,
Couldn't see
We were never
Meant to be

Out of reach,
So far
You never gave your heart
In my reach, I can see
There's a life out there
For me

The Winner Takes it All

I cannot help it.  After watching Mamma Mia on the big screen, I cannot shake off ABBA songs from my head, especially this one, which made me cry while watching the play on stage last year and again while watching the film with mama mia yesterday.

It was the scene, the backdrop, the stars, and the sea.  There was no plot to speak of, but this song speaks volumes.

Thank you for the music, ABBA.  Somebody take me to the videoke soon or I'll sing in front of my computer all week.

The Winner Takes it All

I don’t wanna talk
About the things we’ve gone through
Though it’s hurting me
Now it’s history
I’ve played all my cards
And that’s what you’ve done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That’s her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I’d be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It’s simple and it’s plain
Why should I complain.

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you? 
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name? 
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

I don’t wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You’ve come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all...... 

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be

Free/One

Lighthouse Family

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say 
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear 

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart 
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free 

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea 
And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say 
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear 
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear 
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear 

One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should 
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers

One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other Carry each other
One One One One One...

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

(This song wouldn't stop playing in my head yesterday.  By 5p.m. I had a migraine.  I still have it now, hence I shouldn't be writing this.  I'm stopping now.)

My Minnie Mouse Night Shirt Says "Having a Me Moment"

To chase the blues away, we need to laugh a little.  Once in a while, we need to pat ourselves on the back and say we did a good job at something.  

So allow me to have a "me moment" and just to sing about...

ME

(My reflections on the song "You", originally recorded by Basil Valdez)

I give you hope,
The strength, the will to keep on;
No one else can make you feel this way
And only I
Can bring out all the best you can do;
You believe I turn the tide
And make you feel real good inside.

I push you up
When you're about to give up;
I'm on your side when no one seems to listen
And if I go,
I know the tears can't help but show
I'll break your heart and tear it apart;
Then suddenly the madness starts.

Refrain:
It's my smile,
My face, my lips that you miss,
My sweet little eyes that stare at you
And make you say,
You're with me through all the way.

'Cause it's me
Who fills the emptiness in you;
It changes ev'rything, you see,
When you know you've got me with you.

I push you up
When you're about to give up;
I'm on your side when no one seems to listen
And if I go,
I know the tears can't help but show
I'll break your heart and tear it apart;
Then suddenly the madness starts.

(Once more with feeling...)

It's my smile,
My face, my lips that you miss,
My sweet little eyes that stare at you
And make you say,
You're with me through all the way.

'Cause it's me
Who fills the emptiness in you;
It changes ev'rything, you see,
When you know you've got me with you.

(Last na...)

It's my smile,
My face, my lips that you miss,
My sweet little eyes that stare at you
And make you say,
You're with me through all the way.

'Cause it's me
Who fills the emptiness in you;
It changes ev'rything, you see,
When you know you've got me with you.

I only wrote this because I know you won't read this anyway.  You don't have to thank me.  I know what I did last summer.

I Need a Hero. Now.

I saw Superman Returns on HBO and could not help wishing I were Lois Lane.  There are worse things in life than to be caught between James Marsden and Brandon Routh.  Cyclops and Superman, fighting for your love.  

The rest of us women have to settle for humans.  In X-Men, I soo wanted to be Jean Grey, and run off with Wolverine and leave "the kid".  But I digress.

I've always had a thing for Superman, as I wrote in my other blog.  He is boring as far as Batman and Spiderman fans are concerned, but there can only be one SUPERman.  His strength and speed are only matched by his Hollywood versions' stunning looks and awesome built.  A girl could deliberately fall off a cliff if only to be rescued by Superman.

But there are no sighs here. I know, in the real world, I generally try to avoid cliffs.  Period.

Let me break into a Bonnie Tyler song now.  This one's for you, Superman.  Wherever you are.  

Holding Out for  a Hero

(From the Soundtrack of Footloose, with a Remake in Shrek II)

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need

[Chorus]

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder end rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

[Chorus]

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind end the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood

How Beautiful

How Beautiful
Words and Music by Twila Paris

Also recorded by Oggie Benipayo and Sr Bubbles Bandojo, rc
Sing of Him

How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sin and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price

How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ