...because I am back to the 'old territory' with some out-of-the-box J-Hope.
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by PAM
HOME! Yep, back to my very own room, very own bed... and very own desk at home. And back to my senses, too, today... after ambling dazedly in the house... between sleep and half-consciousness, recovering from massive jetlag. There's only so much studying and traveling that one could do... especially in this day and age... and in the middle of this pandemic, too. So, yeah, I.am.back... and will be here for a long while!
My temple still hurts from all the sleepless hours. I so love to go out and take a long walk outside... but it's been raining so much, and the rhythmic sound of raindrops on the roof had been lulling me to sleep in the middle of the day - not helping. I need to unpack, too... and I feel daunted by the task of rearranging my stuff in my closet, throwing away some, or giving them away to who might need them... and making room for new stuff in my bookshelves, desk, shoe rack, and what have you!
But, first things first... I need music! I think that should speed up the process. But what to play... BTS? Hmmmm... I love them, but maybe not this time. I need something more 'classic'... rock? Yeah, definitely rock! The honest-to-goodness rock chick in me has been struggling to stay quiet for the past ten months, and it's been waiting to let loose. There was no chance to do that while being a Humphrey Fellow in the US... except that one time when the radio in the van played "Paradise City" by Guns n' Roses while we were on our way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with our Coordinators. I just automatically screamed my lungs out without thinking, "take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and girls so pretty! Oh, won't you please take me home!" I was sitting at the back, and my colleagues turned to look at me in shock... and I froze. "What...?" is all that I can say, feeling strangely guilty. One of my younger colleagues said, "whaaat? You know this song? Damn, I love you!" It was my turn to be shocked! Ah, the power of music, it begets love! Hahaha...
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'Old Territory': Let's rock, yo!
So, yeah, let's do alternative rock today! Let's see, what can we play? Hmm... let's go for Collective Soul! Alright, let's begin with the CS song that got me hooked to their music... "The World I know".
🎝"Has all the kindness gone
Hope still lingers on..." 🎝
Hmm... that felt good, huh? I heard this song for the first time in early 1995. I bought that CD in late 1995 while a visiting scholar at Ohio State University (OSU) using a hard-earned scholarship money. Hahaha... those were the days! Although that hasn't changed much lately. Anyway, that song introduced me to CS music... and deeper into the grunge era with the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Matchbox 20. CS remained to be one of my favorite Alternative Rock bands today. Here's one of the most popular CS songs, which I love, too, "Shine".
🎜"Teach me how to speak, teach me how to share, teach me where to go
Tell me, will love be there? Will love be there?
Whoa, heaven let your light shine down..."🎝
That sounds good and hopeful, right? Just a couple of hours ago, I received an Advisory from the Philippine Consulate in New York City through our Philippine Humphrey Fellows Alumni Association. It was about how a Filipino tourist was attacked and was very badly hurt. The Advisory was asking all Filipinos to be careful and vigilant when roaming the City. It made me feel sad... and I cringed a little bit because a few weeks ago, I was in NYC for business. I then roamed the City with a friend. We re-visited all-time favorite spots, and explored new ones. That line, "...teach me where to go... tell me, will love be there," resonated to me as I think about our visit to NYC and that terrible news. It makes me want to pray, "heaven let your light shine down." Anyway, my friend I participated in a Philippine Independence Day parade while in NYC, and checked out the Filipino Food Fair that followed. It was awesome! But, I digress... I will write about that at some point here.
In the meantime, let's go back to CS music. I'd be a remiss if I didn't include this song that I do believe defines CS as a band to me and to many others, "December".
🎜"Just tilt my sun towards your domain, your cup runneth over again
Don't scream about, don't think aloud
Turn your head now, baby, just spit me out
Don't worry about, don't speak of doubt
Turn your head now, baby, just spit me out"🎝
That's beautiful, isn't it? Ed Roland's voice is husky as a rock vocalist's voice should sound, but also sweetly soft, deep and calming - a rare combination that makes CS's music truly unique as well. The lyrics of their songs are deep and insightful, too, without sounding 'preachy'. The rhythm section though is quite 'perforated' in this song. The bass is lost in all that beautiful drumming, but Ed Roland's unique voice fills up the gaps, sealing them off... resulting in an 'airtight' sound that makes for a truly distinct Collective Soul sound. I love it! When they sang this live at the Woodstock in 1999, the sound was a bit more 'muscular'... and then rhythmic, and then just all-out loud - too good! Click here, and see/hear for yourself. Warning: it is addictive!
Rock music ain't great if it ain't 'loud', right? So, here's a vintage CS rockin' sound, also at the Woodstock in 1999. The (collective) soul-gripping, "Where the river flows".
🎜"Don't feed me sorrow, pain is a poison I digest
Find yourself another soul to hold (You think, you thought I know)
Off upon my journey I must go (to where the river flows...)"🎝
That started out rough and, perhaps, not as gripping as the recorded version. But it did pick up, and hit the spot bullseye in the end - awesome... and remains awesome after more than 20 years! I love it that their rhythm section picked up beautifully in this song, too - matched Ed's vocals to the tee... incredible!
Here's a bonus song - a rock bomb (make sure you have your earphones on)... click here.
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Massive HOPE in J-HOPE
So, after listening to all these songs by CS, y'all probably know by now why, among many more reasons, I COMPLETELY dig and support J-Hope's "Jack in the Box" album, right? The first track, "More", is AWESOME. Indeed, it leaves you begging for mooore!
🎜 "I'm in my element, soak up the music
Bring it all, I'm doing it all
Hah, shout out
I say, MORE!" 🎝
Hobi is an incredible music artist of this generation. However, with the very thick 'multi-layer' quality of BTS music - song after song - his contribution is just one of the many layers no matter how significant it is. As the main dancer of the Group, his dancing, which is incredible, too, is usually highlighted more than his music. With his dancing, rapping and singing, he is undeniably one of the very best performers that K-Pop has ever produced... and yet, musically, he has so much more to offer. I am so glad that, musically, he is taking the center stage with Jack in the Box. The album separated Hobi's music from the BTS multi-layer mold... and what we have is a J-Hope music distilled in its purest and highly concentrated form... and it's very impressive, indeed.
Among many others, he shows the range of his creativity and capabilities in making music that is so out-of-the-BTS-box, and it's absolutely rockin' beautiful! He tells his own stories, his views, doubts, visions and dreams though his songs without having to worry about stepping over the BTS perimeter. I'm sure that is absolutely liberating for him! His raspy voice, which he brings from whisper to scream that is so delicious to hear, mixed well with the edgy music, is a new K-Pop formula that catapults J-Hope to that new generation of Korean music innovators. When you can make music that contrasts in sound and production from what you are so used to, then you truly are an artist in your own right... and you are worth-listening. Hobi is all this... and MORE! I intentionally mixed Hobi's "More" with the classic CS songs to prove a point: J-Hope is on his way to becoming a legend in the music industry!
One day, I will write a full review of Jack in the Box. That's a promise.
Alright, great! I'm all fired up now. Let's go!
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Video credit: Credits are indicated in the video themselves. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
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