BTS Arirang World Tour in LA...

 ...a prelude.

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by PAM

This is all that I can possibly show right now...

🎶 "...this is international, make it unforgettable..." 🎶

I will be back after I recover from my numbing 'state of ambivalence'... like a hooligan in a merry-go-round.  Until then, I'll follow (you)... into the sun.

***

Image credit: All the images in this post are mine.

***

Looking back...

 ...marching forward - through excellent music!

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by PAM

Just a few minutes into the New Year, the BBC via YouTube has gotten us 'all-nostalgic' and 'sappy'... but 'happy-sappy'... and party-mode happy as well.  

One of the biggest hits of the '80s, "Never Gonna Give You Up" (or simply NGGYU) by the incomparable, Rick Astley, was featured by BBC to close 2023 and usher in 2024... and, oh, boy, what a treat it was, indeed!

🎶"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down

Never gonna run around and desert you..." 🎶

Ah, would you believe that that song was from the '80s?  It still sounds good and fresh, right?  And, you can't help yourself, you just gotta stand up, and dance.  It has that power to get anyone into party mode - a very apt New Year's Eve party song.  Love it!  Rick's voice is so fantastic... he still has 'it' after all these years! And, he looks good, too... maybe, even better than how he was back in the days, huh?  Ah... '80s guys, they mellow so awesomely and so beautifully!  

Trivia:  Rick A. is just a few years older than me. 😉😊  We are in the same age bracket, and yeah... our love for music - in all its fun and happy variants - is as strong as ever.  I love it that he is still around... and doing what he does best!      

NGGYU is not just our party-party song back in the '80s.  It's a 'love song', too.  Guys back in the days would use it to express their love and devotion to their loved one... while keeping it fun and not all that sappy.  If you're a girl back then pursued by someone through NGGYU, you'd feel like you're special, loved and fun  'cause the pursuit is done on the dancefloor.  It was always fun to watch the guys trying to be cool or make a complete fool of themselves on fun note with what they believed were their cool moves.  By the end of the song, you know whether the guys are cool or lame. Whatever it is though... girls always had fun.  Well, we all did!

Back to 2024... these days, NGGYU has an equivalent - a song that is also professing love and devotion.  It's a song by Jung Kook, "Standing Next to You", or simply "SNTY".  It is the main cut in JK's now epic debut album, "Golden".  Like NGGYU, it is also a totally danceable song.  It's just a bit more difficult to sing because JK totally flexed his wide range of vocal strength in SNTY.  Nevertheless, SNTY is a worthy party-party song as well. Here, see/listen for yourself...

🎶 "... they can't deny our love
They can't divide us, we'll stand the test of time

I promise I'll be right here." 🎶

Aww, so awesome, right?  Yes, it is!  My recommendation: celebrate 2023 with NGGYU and get into the 2024 groove with SNTY.  If you feel all great and awesome, then you did it all right!  Happy New Year!

***

Video credit:  Video 1 is owned by BBC while video 2 is owned by M-Net.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

***  

JK + JT and JK + Usher = 3D + SNTY...

...'reloaded'.

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by PAM

The whole world already knows by now: whatever the ultra-talented golden maknae of BTS, Jung Kook (or simply "JK"), touches, it turns to gold, as in solid gold!  Therefore, his first solo album, "Golden", is aptly titled as such.  And, just before embarking on his Military Service in the early days of December 2023, when we thought his "Golden" campaign was coming to a close, he did it again! He had two huge surprises in a row: "3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)" and "Standing Next To You (Usher Remix)".  For the two pillars of the music industry today taking interest in remixing JK's work, puts the golden maknae on a different level as a solo artist.  No amount of hating from 'antis' can deny that.  In fact, the hating confirms it... haters hate good things and successful people.

***

3D with JT iteration

"3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" is the second single to come out of "Golden", which was released prior to the launching of the album itself.  It has this lively rhythm that entices one to sing along, get up and dance... and party!  The song reminds fans what pop music is about - meant to be enjoyed, first and foremost.  Jack Harlow's verses ruffled the feathers of many... but, like I said in another post, the verses were merely misunderstood.  JH was showing how a pathetic, inconsiderate and selfish rake of a dude can be completely turned around by true love... and the hope of being loved as well. Some people listened to the rake part, and stopped!  Naturally, that turned them off, and never saw the budding of a sweet love... in 3D!  JK showed what he can do with his deep arsenal of voice power with fun beat and delicious mix of mild hiphop, dance and R&B genres.  Because of that, it is a personal favorite of mine.  

As if that wasn't enough, the great Justin Timberlake (JT) made the already engaging song to an ultra-loveable one with an added hip verse where JK tried his golden voice in rapping.  Aww-inducing lines such as, "now let me fly you out to Seoul, South Korea.  I just wanna get into your soul like Aretha," pasted instant smiles on listeners' lips... and sent avid listeners to cloud 9! Whew! 

Awesome job, JK and JT!  Congrats!

Wouldn't it be nice to see these two 'boy band alums' go on singing and dancing spree to the tune of 3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)?  Ah, that's like bringing icons of two generations on a sweet talent per talent 'bout' - winner takes all! Can't wait until JK returns to 'pick a fight' - the beautiful collab kind - with JT!  

 

***

SNTY, soulful with Usher

"Standing Next to You", or simply "SNTY", is the main track of "Golden".  It is a great song - a personal pick for a great song of 2023. As sung by JK, it is a feast to the ears... but it's hard to sing it. One has to have a wide range of vocal prowess to pull it off: from a soft feathery caressing vocals to rhythmic R&B style that invites one to get up, take to the floor for some moves... to soft rocking growl that pleasantly surprises... to that smooth Swan Song-ish falsetto that astounds. JK sang 'em all... and nailed 'em all!  What is even  more amazing is that he can pull off singing it live while dancing with a challenging choreography. 

He performed SNTY live a few times during his "Golden" campaign. He did great in all of them but my favorite was the very first one at iHeart Radio. Why? It was an awesome surprise! A few months before the release of "Seven (feat. Latto)", the first single from "Golden", I remember commenting on one of RM's IG stories where he shared a song by Bon Jovi. At that time, we were still waiting and wondering about JK's solo project, and RM was one of those nudging him to work on his album already. As JK was so well-known for "Euphoria", "My Time" and "Still with You", naturally, people were expecting him to work on songs similar to these old hits.  I think I was one of the few who were imagining something different.  So, I commented on RM's post, "imagine if JK does a Bon Jovi-like song in his solo album, huh. That would be the day!" 

Fast forward to the "Golden Age": In his performance at iHeart Radio... he came in dragging a microphone stand, clad in ripped jeans and a leather jacket like a rockstar! And then he started drawling SNTY like a rockstar, too. By the time he got to the now-famous "t-t-t-take off" part (2:18 - 2:28 min), he sounded like he was so ready to give the likes of Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Vedder and Myles Kennedy a run for their money! Man, is there anything that JK cannot do?  The outcomes of his 'BTS Chapter 2' stint proved his versatility as a singer and performer! He can even act well!  Chapter 2 brought out the best of JK - in every aspect, including having the confidence to go abroad on his own to perform and promote his songs.  The most important strength that he demonstrated is his maturity.  He now can muster the courage to ignore all the negativities and leverage the flood of positive things that came his way... winning many hearts and amassing new fans. 

Last Dec. 15, he once again showed us how much he has grown as an artist as he performed SNTY alongside a legendary R&B artist: the one and only, Usher, in a music video!  'Proud' is an understatement... we, real ARMYs are utterly in awe of our golden maknae, and we thank Usher for recognizing his talent and helping to elevate JK to where he is after BTS Chapter 2. Those of us who followed the growth of this young man together with his BTS brothers, and on his own, too, were left in a flood of tears-of-joy as we watched the SNTY Usher Remix music video!  

"Stop, can you feel that?

It's like heaven and earth move whenever we touch..."

Usher sang his part so beautifully... well, per Usher's usual high standard, of course.  He made the R&B and mild rock-ish sound of SNTY so soulful!  JK pitched SNTY masterfully with his mix of vocal ranges, Usher elevated it to an ultra-smooth cloud nine-ish sound with his beautiful voice and vibe-worthy adlibs.  In the MV, JK performed as if he is equal in talent and superstardom as Usher, because he is getting there... in only a few months into his solo stint. Usher did not  hold back, he did push JK to be at his best. The R&B virtouso that Usher is showed up, turning the choreography to feel like a freestyle dancing. The budding R&B specialist that our JK is played it safe in the beginning, sticking to the choreography, but stood his ground when left alone with Usher by demonstrating his own freestyle as well. It was a beautiful collaboration:  two legends from two generations, side by side in an epic of a song!  It was so enjoyable to watch! 

Congratulations, JK and Usher!

We did get that distinct feeling that the "SNTY Usher Remix" will not be the last collaboration between these two legends.  To show our excitement, we streamed SNTY MV to 60M on the eve of the "SNTY Usher Remix" MV release. And, roughly 48 hours later, we streamed the new Remix MV to 5M. 

***
Image credit: The music video above is from Bangtan TV posted on YouTube while the photo is a screenshot from the SNTY official mv on YouTube - thanks, Bangtan TV, Hybe and YouTube.

Waiting...

 ...for "Golden" by Jung Kook of BTS.

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by PAM

As the world holds its collective breath for the official release of the first solo album of the ultra talented golden maknae of BTS, Jeon Jung Kook (or simply "Jung Kook" or "JK"), I would like to look at videos of the iconic live performance of the late 'King of Pop', Michael Jackson (MJ), and the heir apparent from the early 2000s, Bruno Mars (BM), and see how JK compares to these legendary artists. I think this is the best way to dissipate tension, and to keep the long wait bearable. 

First up, the late 'King of Pop' in his legendary performance of his multi-awarded song,"Billie Jean", at the 25th anniversary of Motown back in 1983 where he unveiled his iconic dance step, "moonwalk", which changed many things in pop music and pop culture per se.  

"Billie Jean is not my lover.

She's just a girl thinks that I am the one but the kid is not my son."

I was in Junior High School when I saw this iconic performance for the first time.  Although I was already a big fan of Jackson Five since the first time I heard "Rockin' Robins", and has been a fan of MJ, after watching him in this performance, I became a big, big, BIG fan!  After this, the room that I shared with my sisters was covered with his posters, and all my school stuff were decorated with MJ stuff. I bought glittery stockings and socks... and wore them with leather loafers.  I was a total fan girl!  But in those times, who wasn't?  Anyway, this iconic performance changed many things in an entire generation... and whenever a turning point in pop music history is unveiled, this becomes the 'reference'.  

When Bruno Mars broke through the music scene, all (myself included) were impressed by his impossibly wide vocal range that rivaled that of MJ.  As such, like MJ, he is able to cover many genres effectively.  Like MJ, he is a prodigy.  He is one of the very few artists who make his songs sound better when he performs them live.  He has so much confidence in what he can do, and he slams you and your imagination with them... and what a slam dunk it always is!  And he seem to enjoy performing, too, so that anyone who watches him live is taken 100%. He just brings on the joy in the music he sings, and it's terrific!  He has a naturally humorous personality, too. That adds to the awesome experience of watching him perform his music live.     

"I'm too hot (hot damn).  Call the police and the fireman.

I'm too hot (hot damn).  Make a dragon wanna retire, man." 

 

Ah, that was good, right?  So good!

And now, JK - the K-Pop prodigy whose beautiful vocals and dancing skills with good looks to match make the global phenomenon BTS music so irresistible.  These days, as the group is on hiatus due to their mandatory Military Service, the world has the opportunity to listen to the 'distilled' voice of the BTS golden maknae in its 'pure and concentrated' form.  The world is completely taken by him!  So far, he has been breaking many records and setting new ones with his first official solo single, "Seven (featuring Latto)", released last 14 July 2023, and the follow-up single, "3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" released on 29 September 2023.

"So, if you're ready and i you'll let me, I wanna see it in motion, in 3D."

He is good, huh?  In my book, he is the rightful owner of that crown as "King of Pop" of his generation.  It is incredible, given that he is Asian, and that he is not an English speaker.  And yet, his global appeal is something that the world has not quite seen before.  Although he has 10 years of performing as a music artist with BTS, he has only started working on his own when he sang with Charlie Puth in that collaboration that produced a huge hit, "Left and Right", released in Summer of 2022.  And then, he sang the theme of the FIFA World Cup 2022, "Dreamers" (featuring Fahad Al Kubaisi).  JK performed the song live in the opening ceremony in Qatar with Fahad.  The 22nd World Cup saw the phenomenal Lionel Messi win the coveted prize in the 'beautiful game' - finally, making him a real contender for the Greatest of All Times title.  And, with a solo career that technically began with "Dreamers, JK is now fast-becoming as one of the strongest and most credible contenders for the "King of Pop" accolade of his generation.  

JK's debut album, "Golden", shall be a testament of his talents and capabilities as a solo artist.  We shall see in  a few days.  I am confident that his star shall shine even brighter.

***

Video credit:  The owners of the videos above are indicated in credits - thanks, and thanks to YouTube for providing the link. 

***

     

"Seven"...

 ...days a week, starting today. Game?

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by PAM

"Every hour, every minute, every second

You know night after night, I'll be lovin' you right

Seven days a week..."

So, here we go, Jung Kook's record to launch his career as a solo artist is rounding the frenzied airwaves and cyberspace since 1:00 PM (KST) of 14 July 2023.  So, basically, it's been about 24 hours as of this writing... and the frenzy seems to heighten, especially as the world waits for the Official Performance Video... with hints from Scooter Braun that it's going to 'shock' the faint of heart.  

The Official Music Video (MV) revealed how good and natural JK is at acting... it just brings smile to one's face.  Well, he's not 'golden maknae' for nothing, right?  Right! The MV has now garnered about 40M views and 5.7M likes on YouTube as of this writing.  The same MV has become #1 trending for music only about three hours after its official release, and stays as such. Crazy? Totally!  Awesome?  Man, must we ask?  It's JK, of course, it is awesome! 💜

Okay... work beckons!  'Gotta run... later! 😅

***

Video credit:  The video featured above is the official MV for the song, "Seven", by JungKook (featuring Latto).  It is owned by Hybe, accessed through Bangtan TV of BigHit Music - thanks.

***

A 'personal tradition' ...

 ...as life goes full circle.

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by PAM

I think that I already established the fact of my 'shallowness' in happiness.  Simple little things make me happy... the simpler, the bigger the happiness.

Six years ago, 2017, on the same day as today, June 27, I found this wonderfully heartwarming TV movie by Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.  It is titled "Christmas with Holly", and it starred one of my fave Hallmark actors of all time, Sean Faris, who played the character of Mark Nagle, and that versatile actress, Eloise Mumford, who portrayed Maggie. The movie came out in 2012 as a 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' movie but I only got to discover it on YouTube in 2017 while recuperating from a terribly  'jealous of a flu'.  For some reason, that seemingly simple TV movie had an incredible impact on me, and I began watching it every year on the same day that I found it on YouTube.  I never talked about this favorite 'personal tradition' of mine though... until today.

Mark:  "I didn't know anything about raising a kid.

She said you just start

by loving her.

The rest will follow."

It's amazing that, after six years, I still found the movie engaging, touching, beautiful... magical!   

To me, that long-haired Sean Faris in the movie is still one of the prettiest men in the universe, from whichever angle you look at him... uhm, including his back. 🤭😅😂  He also did well portraying Mark - the single guy who lived in Friday Harbor that became an instant Dad when his elder sister, Victoria, who was a single Mom was killed in a vehicular accident in Seattle. He had to stand in as parent for his orphaned niece because he was listed as legal guardian by his sister.  I still think that the twin child actresses (well, child then, that is), Lucy and Josie Gallina, who played the role of six-year old Holly - Mark's niece, were superb.  They conveyed so much emotion even without speaking a single word - amazing acting there! The same is true with the actors who played the role of Mark's brothers, Scott (Dana Watkins) and Alex (Daniel Eric Gold).  It wasn't exactly that Hallmark 'formulaic' TV movie as it did have a wonderful story line that deviated a bit (or, a lot?) from the Hallmark 'cookie cutter' of movie production, and it's great.  This is probably because it was based on the novel, "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor" by Lisa Kleypas. It is the first book in the Friday Harbor four-book series of the New York Times bestseller author. 

The movie counterpart had all the 'cuteness Hallmark armada': grown-up brothers who all lived in a huge dilapidated house by the water who bantered so comically on a daily basis because that was their way of preventing a deluge of love for each other lest they embarrass each other if they showed emotion; a beautifully vulnerable woman, Maggie, whose heartbreaks made her believe that she wasn't as amazing as she was... until a very good-looking guy with a heart of gold, Mark, came along to give her back her faith in herself by letting her show him how to find his own confidence in himself in raising this child who was thrown off by fate and was groping around, looking for true love to hold on to that only he can give; the cutest of all little girls who was so emotionally broken but spiritually whole because of true and unwavering love from his uncle; and a dog that knows what it wants and knows how to get it!  Simple plot, simple scenes, no deep intellectual points to ponder, no pretentions... uhm, yeah... I know, I've mellowed... and I love it!   

These days, it amazes me that one of my favorite BTS songs, "Magic Shop", which was partly produced by Jungkook, has an almost the same name as the toy shop owned by Maggie,

Magic Mirror Toy Shop. The new shop that Maggie built in Friday Harbor was pivotal in the story because that was where Holly found her inner strength to speak again after her Mom's death confused her so badly it afflicted her with temporary muteness.  She just shut down, and only trusted her uncle Mark, and later, her two other uncles.  When Mark and Holly met Maggie at the ferry, on their way to Friday Harbor from Holly's home in Seattle, Holly seemed to have opened up to Maggie.  It was a slow process of gaining trust and giving trust between Maggie and Holly... until that day when Holly fully gave her trust to Maggie... and to life itself again. Holly spoke again, and her first word was her mother's name, 'Victoria'. The safe and magical environment that Maggie created in her toy shop that encouraged Holly to hold on to the love she was offered was quite similar to the 'magic shop' of BTS for their ARMY... and it's amazing! 

Indeed, this is all that we need in life... nah, not magic. It's love.  It is central to the story... love in many forms... but in whichever form, love's effect is the same - beauty and happiness in life - in all forms.

So, yeah... this is a sweet tradition that I intend to keep for the rest of my life.  

***

Video credit:  Thanks, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, for the video and photos.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

***

Saturday photo...

 ...not!

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by PAM

Milestone!

 

For the first time, I experienced what it's like to preside over the Solemn Investiture of a Graduating Class as a 'top administrator' of the University that I have been serving since 1989.  I presided over the Solemn Investiture of the Class of 2023 of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where I teach!  I recited the 'formula' in conferring a Bachelor's degree and shifted the tassel of the candidates' graduation cap.  It was an incredible experience, and I am very grateful! 💛  

As past immediate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, it was my role to present the candidates for graduation during the Commencement Exercises since 2013.  The last time I did that was for the Class of 2019.  Although I remain Dean of the Faculty until 2022 (but on Sabbatical Leave in AY 2021-2022), because of the pandemic, I did not get to do this for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021.  When I returned to the University in July 2022, I assumed a new assignment under the Office of the Rector of the University.  Apparently, this qualified me to act on behalf of the University in granting the degrees of our Graduating Class during the Commencement Exercises.

In my 7-minute speech, I spoke about the Class of 2023 being "Bulletproof"... with inspiration from the most popular boy band in the world:  BTS.  💜  It was an incredible opportunity... because how many ARMYs can express their admiration for BTS while passing a major milestone in their professional career?  Perhaps, not so many.  As such, I feel blessed... and I thank God for this incredible opportunity.

***

Image credit:  The photos in the collage belong to me, Tomasinoweb and a colleague at UST - thanks!

*** 

     

Saturday Photo

 

How our purple hearts bleed... longing for our golden maknae.

Ah, JungKookie!  Where are you, and what have you been up to?

It's been more than two months since we saw this young man 'doing his thing' in the cyberspace that brings happiness in our lives... in that distinct way that only he can possibly do.  As the youngest in the family, he will always be 'the baby'... no matter what, and whatever the circumstances, he will always be that one 'kid' who is capable of making everyone happy with his antics, sweet gestures and golden maknae-ish perfection.  He will always be that one who can bring smile to any family member's face - even in his 'brattiest' moment... not that JK is ever bratty.  We are also protective of him, and we hope and pray for his happiness, safety and well-being.  And so, when we don't see him often enough, we worry about him, we miss him... we long for his company.  Right now, that's how I feel... and I hope to see him soon. 

In the meantime, I hope and pray that he is keeping well... happy and healthy, and enjoying life as he always should. 

Come home, JK. 😊💜

***

P.S.

This is not the post about the 'freakin' shop' that I was referring to in the previous post. 😁

***

Photo credit:  I created the collage of photos in this post, which may not be used elsewhere.  JK's photo is from Weverse - available exclusively for members - thank you for the loan.  The background is my own photo.

***

TGIF!

 Thanks, thanks, thanks, thaaaaanks! Then again... 

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by PAM

I have like five (or seven?) intended posts marked as 'drafts' in this little blog of mine since November last year... sounds like two months ago was a distant past.  I have been so inundated by work that I barely find the time to sleep, let alone visit my own blog, so I am losing my sense of time!  Aaarrrgghhhh....

Thank goodness for BTS music (and the individual members' songs these days) that keeps me company every single day from the minute I wake up (if I get any sleep at all, that is) to my last seconds of consciousness (if I get any sleep at all, that is).  It's one of the things that keeps happiness, imperfect as it is, within reach.  It's Friday - a very, very loooong day!  I need a quick shot of happiness now.  So, let's go!

Alright, I know, that wasn't so quick... but it was happiness nevertheless.  Actually, it was happiness... period! 💜

Oh, and speaking of 'happiness'... while watching the compilation of BTS performances above, I opened four 'boxes of happiness' - straight from S. Korea through that 'money-grabbing' global shop called... uhm, see for yourself in the next post.  The freakin' (hahaha...) shop  is an enabler in this BTS 'addiction' that a considerable population of the world is afflicted with... making this 'BTS fever' a real pandemic, too!  Except that it is life-enhancing rather than life-threatening.  Anyway, stay tuned for the next post... if I could keep my energy sufficient to stay upright and type a few things on my laptop for this blog... if I'd get any sleep at all, that is! 😂

***

Video credit:  The compiler of BTS videos featured in this post is indicated in the video itself.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

*** 

Wednesday Nostalgia

 ...at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

=================================

by PAM

A souvenir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH

Finally, a little time to slow down... after that critical deadlines galore, big meetings here and there, a long string of speaking engagements, a peppering of 'painful' just-suck-it-all-in-it'll-be-over-soon events that introvert people like me dread, the release and live performance of JK's 'Dreamers', the release of RM's first album, 'Indigo'... and the 2022 FIFA World Cup where the phenomenal Lionel Messi - my idol - emerged victorious with his Albiceleste side.  He can finally be crowned now as GOAT of the beautiful game (a long post to come soon! ⚽😭🎉) with no plausible objection from anyone, too!!  Whew!  

It has been a lot of sleepless nights - literally. How did I survive the last 30 days? No clue... perhaps, just the sheer force of determination to make it through to 'the other side'! I took a deep breath, focused... and just sprinted with all my might - real and imagined... and a lot of prayers!! 

Anyway, I am putting finishing touches on our Christmas tree just a few minutes ago... in time for the 'big day' and tidying up my room as well.  Now, I gotta admit that tidying up my bedroom is a bit of a challenge that I am hoping I'd overcome somehow... especially that I keep pausing to reminisce on things that should already have found their way in the trash bin a long time ago.  I'm such a sentimental hoarded!  Just a few minutes ago, I found a box of unopened stuffs hidden behind 

Up close and personal...

a framed picture on the floor and leaning against the wall... and my heart started to beat faster. As I peeled off the thick wrappers of each little item, my heart kept skipping a beat with my mouth and eyes wide open with surprise!  Ahh... I love that feeling - being pleasantly surprised! I found items from my travels to Rome, Florence, Shanghai, Seoul and various parts of the US just before the pandemic. I didn't realize I still have these things unopened. I thought, I have all my travel stuffs unpacked a long time ago! 

I will talk about those experiences in another post. I just want to drop by here to make sure that I have something written up about the unexpected finding of this long-forgotten beautiful Christmas tree ornament - a souvenir from my first visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio sometime in July 2019. It was a well-spent 'free time' as I visited my research students who were working on our project on 3D printed food at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU, or simply 'Case') that time. I did stay for a week in Baltimore, Maryland before that for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) series of meetings and a few networking activities with our alumni in the East Coast. 

I remember spending the weekend browsing the

A bagful of souvenirs from the Cleveland
Museum of Art, including a set of coasters
designed with the work of some of
my favorite impressionists.

Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) at the Case campus, which has a superb collection!  The lawn was very pretty, too, and the walk from my hotel to the CMA was so interesting.  I kept finding mini monuments of guitars in the gardens.  I wondered about it... little did I know that I was going to find out in a big way!  

Anyway, after a couple of hours at the CMA, I wanted to do more. So, I ventured in the City Center with my students, and visited 'The Rock  & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum'. I studied for a year at the Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, OH sometime in the mid-90s, and I visited Cleveland a couple of times.  It never occurred to me then that  the 'Rock Hall' was located in Cleveland!  Apparently, it was established there to honor the man - a disc jockey named Alan Freed - who referred to the music genre that was making waves in the 1950s as 'rock and roll'. I am glad that I finally had a chance to check it out.

We saw an incredible amount of exhibits from the likes of Elvis Presley, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to the likes of Michael Jackson and Oasis, and many more in between and beyond!  Being a big R&R fan, I had a 'field day'!  But after half a day, I was so overwhelmed that I was going dizzy.  Surreal!  It's a good thing that the 'Rock Hall' is adjacent to the Great Lakes Science Center, too, where famous Ohioan astronauts, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Judith Resnick... among other cool science and engineering stuffs were featured. So, we went to visit that as well... while we waited for a show at the Rock Hall to come on.  It was an INCREDIBLE experience! 

Anyway... I need to take it all in again. So, I am taking a little break. And, what better way to take a break than to drop by here in this blogsite for a few minutes to reminisce and share the experience? 

Until then...

***

Photo credit: The photos featured here belong to me, and were processed for the sole use of this blog. They may not be used elsewhere.

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"Jack in the Box"...

 ...four months hence.

===============================================

by PAM

One of the most important tests to establish the timelessness of a work of art is longevity. When the work remains relevant for a long time... then it becomes a classic.

Jack in the Box:  A work of art that spells daring and
stunning revelation from J-Hope.

j-hope is the first BTS member to launch his solo album, "Jack in the Box"(JITB), just a month after the 9th anniversary of their debut as a group this year. It was a daring move... but j-hope was ready. He is an epitome of hard work. He usually spends a grueling amount of time to iron out the tiniest wrinkle in his work in painstaking detail - it's just his nature. He commits to perfection with the brute force of discipline and hard work. He's got extraordinary combination of talents, too:  he writes, he raps in powerful and/or rhythmic verses, he sings and he dances like no other. Therefore, he can slay the heck out of any live performance even those that require death-defying moves!  These give him 'wings to fly'... and land on the ground solidly with both feet.

Now, four months after its launch, and inspired by the release of a behind the scene video of J-Hope's stint at Lollapalooza 2022 on Bangtan TV, I decided to revisit JITB. 

"Yeah, I'm thirsty... I want some more!"

JITB hit the ground sprinting with "More", which unveiled a completely different side of the cheerful and sunny Hobi. The opening tune is so 'menacing' that a listener's heartbeat quickened... pushing the heart on the verge of exploding by the time Hobi finished the first verse. And then, the heartbeat got into the rhythm... the senses were filled with j-jope's patent rapping in a powerfully hoarse voice... only, this time, he was 'rap ranting', luring the listener to the edge of the ledge... and by the time j-hope screamed, "I want some more!" all hell broke loose! And we jumped with him, flew with him as he took us to a different level in his musical power while opening his heart on how he views the exhilarating but chaotic success of BTS. In no time, we were all headbanging with our BTS Sunshine... commiserating with him in his frustrations, and joining him as he lets out more of himself... more, more, more! 

Whew, what a way to launch a solo album!

"Arson" is an excellent follow-up single. It kept the energy high, and the curtain that hides the other side of Hobi continued to roll down... and ripped to pieces!  My goodness, what a revelation this song is regarding the life that he leads as a K-Pop superstar. It just tears an ARMY's heart to pieces. Any ARMY who listened to this song became more understanding of his plight, and of their plight as BTS. And the admiration for them deepened as our eyes were opened to the gigantic challenges that they had to overcome... and the pain that they had to endure to keep the superstardom ablaze - mostly not for themselves anymore these days but for others. j-hope reflects, and looks into his and BTS' future in this song, and it's exciting to think what that future might be... if a future together is still in the cards, that is.  But they kept assuring ARMY that they are coming back together as a group again in 2025 after their military enlistment.  Well, we shall see then.

"My dream, done..."

JITB shows what a fantastic story teller j-hope is.  He showed this in "Pandora's Box". He revealed the origin of his 'pseudo name', j-hope, and revealed his thoughts with a beautifully made rhythm in the background.  "STOP", "Future" and "What if" are all deliciously introspective... honest, no pretenses, no annoying preaching that hides behind 'artistic license'. j-hope gave it to us raw, like a person opening up to a trusted friend. We don't usually hear the innermost thoughts of Hobi. His role in BTS allows limited chances to take a peek into his soul. In "Safety Zone", he went all out in telling his story and his thoughts regarding his celebrity world from his vantage point. It is absolutely stunning, I love it!  In the entire JITB, he invites us into his soul... and we were very pleasantly surprised!  After JITB, we never look at Hobi the same way again... especially after he performed JITB solo at the iconic Lollapalooza 2022 in Chicago..

"Music Box: Reflection" allows some respite from the stunning surprise of  new discoveries in Hobi's head. The sound of the winding music box seems to allude to a time of wait as they undergo military enlistment... a time to 'lull to sleep' professionally, but, perhaps, not artistically. But the moment we listened to "=(Equal Sign)", our 'familiar Sunshine' is back. This is where the 'longevity' of JITB is hinged, I do believe. 

j-hope with IU at "In The Palette"

JITB is the current state of mind and heart of j-hope, and it shows his depth and daring as an artist, too.  It shows j-hope as the fearless rapper and indomitable song writer, whose artistry is influenced, but not changed, by the phenomenal success of BTS.  Four months hence, it is still refreshing to listen to JITB... "More" still quickens the heartbeat, and "Arson" and "Safety Zone" still leave us open-mouthed by their honesty and openness to vulnerability.  One day, j-hope's circumstances will change... and he will have a new story to tell.  In my humble opinion though, the song that is not time-bound in JITB is "=(Equal Sign)".  The message is timeless, and the rhythm is easy and beautiful, too.  This will resonate for a long time:

"Hate'll paralyze your mind
"Gotta see the other side
"It costs ya nothin’ to be kind
"Not so different you and I
"Lookin' for love in a different light
"Until we find that equal sign"

Alright, I'm off to watch Spain vs. Germany on World Cup 2022. Will go running afterwards. I have my playlist with me, and it starts with "More" and ends with "Arson" with "=(Equal Sign)" as encore while I do final stretch.

***

Image credit:  All photos are borrowed from the IG account of j-hope.  Thanks for the loan, Hobi.

***

The boys who reside in my heart...

 ...and many more!

===================================

by PAM

TGIF! 

The week has been incredible... challenging for the most part at work, but there are a lot of things that deserved to be celebrated, too.  I guess that the more challenging things are, the sweeter 'victory' tastes when it's achieved... regardless whether it's fully or partially achieved, actually achieved or merely imagined.  After all, 'victory is a state of mind', according to a World Cup-related social media post where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are featured. I think that, for our sanity, we should always look at the bright side... of course, with our eyes wide open, too, to see the gloomy side.  When we focus on the bright side, it is easier to imagine how to extend the brightness to lighten the gloomy side.  When we see the big picture, there is always a way to do this.  When we see none, there is also such thing as 're-thinking priorities'... and 'regrouping' to plan the next best strategy.

Whatever it is... the week is over, and it's time to loosen up a bit... or, a lot!  

***

The bright side       

I had three critical meetings and an important webinar this week that went so well.  Questions in my head were answered, things that were vague were clarified; and new possibilities rose in the horizon, and, boy, don't they look amazing!  I have yet to figure out a lot of things still, and the work does not get easier... but it gets interesting - very interesting... and exciting!

But what is truly interesting and exciting was a message that I received from my youngest sister.  She sent me and our sisters photos of the art works of my nephew - the eldest of her two kids, and that boy who resides in a huge space in my heart.  Let's just call him "LA".  He is now in the first grade at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School where his own father studied, too.  He obtained straight A's in the first quarter of the School Year (SY), and we are, indeed, very proud of him!  He has always loved Mathematics since he started schooling at age 3 years... but his Mom and Dad have been doing a great job motivating him to give all subjects equal attention.  So far, so good.  But what is amazing is how he has been doing so well in his Arts subject, too!  Obviously he has such rich imagination and terrific creativity.  

LA celebrated his 7th birthday last month,
went trick-or-treating as Batman for the first time after two years
since the pandemic, and have been showing excellent job
in his art works (photos 1 to 4, clockwise starting
at the upper left hand side) besides Math and Science.  

LA is a gamer - a very good one!  Hehe...  His parents (and us, aunties) let him play because we see him gaining confidence in talking to people, suggesting creative solutions to practical problems, and strategizing to master his school works the way he tries to master his games.  His mind is fast developing to a tactical mind... strategic and naturally a problem solver.  I like that because my fervent hope is that he becomes an engineer like, uhm, ahem, yours truly (and his Dad, too, actually!).  Hahaha... I am okay that I don have kids of my own, but I cannot deny that I often wish that one of my nephews and nieces would become an engineer someday.  All are grown-up now... except LA and his younger sister.  So, my hope is alive and well!  Hehe...  #meddlingauntie mode.

Anyway, sometimes, we see LA playing online with teenage gamers as well as older gamers (including my brother-in-law, actually)... and he manages to win!  Unlike other kids, he does know when it is time to study... and to babysit her little sister, or entertain adoring aunties and uncles, and his doting grandparents!  When I got sick last year, he set aside time to pray for my recovery everyday.  His Mom would message me, and there was always a video greeting from him... always telling me how much he loved me, and that I should eat well to get well soon.  And that gave me the biggest reason to keep fighting for my life.  With God's grace, I did survive... and that deepened my love for this boy.  In a way, I owe him my life now... of course, along with other family members... and the fabulous doctors in my University.

If there is another young man that I adore more than JK (the son that I never had), it will definitely be my dearest LA - I love him to bits, and I will always do.  He speaks in almost the same manner as JK... with sweetness and in such adorable voice. I have another nephew that I love fervently, too - JPM.  He is tall, sporty, and a very good-looking young man... like JK, too, of course.  Hahaha...  but I think that he (and his girlfriend) will totally cringe if I feature him in this little blog of mine.  Hahaha...

***

'Offside'

In football, 'offside' is one of those things that we, fans, always debate about (with the referees!  Hehehe...)!  It is probably because, most often, decisions in football matches related to the offside rule tilt the favor (or odds, depending on whether you are in the losing or winning team) of the game... and often critical to winning or losing.  

So, JK has been working on the soundtrack of the FIFA World Cup 2022 (WC2022) hosted by Qatar.  He has been working on the Opening Ceremony performance on 20 November 2022 as well. Of course, there have been many issues on the supposed 'unsuitability' of Qatar to host the "Mecca of Football" that is the World Cup, in which 32 of

JK, on his way to Qatar, in preparation
for his performance at the FIFA WC2022

 the best of the best teams from about a hundred national teams advance to compete for the pride of taking home and keeping the 'holy grail' of football for four years.  People bring up Qatar's alleged human rights violations and its aversion to diversity and inclusion. I do believe that that is fair.  When something is questionable, by all means, queries must be raised and answers have to be pursued until provided, and with accuracy and clarity, too - whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  

However, the WC2022 is about football though.  The players work on the mastery of their skills in painstaking discipline and commitment as professional footballers just to be able to have the rarest chance of representing their respective countries in their lifetime in this awesome event!  Many living legends of football, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, no matter how mesmerizingly successful they are in the football clubs where they play and played, cannot be fully considered by some passionate football fans to be 'complete' legendary footballers because they have not won the World Cup yet. And, we, football fans always look forward to watching our favorite teams and these legends of the 'beautiful game' to compete in the biggest football stage in the world... and when our teams do not win, we wait for the next four years to get yet another chance.... and the next three years and 11 months will be a long and painful build-up to the next World Cup!  

In any case, win or lose, we enjoy the process of seeing the countries come together... chant and cheer - united as one in the spirit of sportsmanship, if that is the only remaining set of virtues that this world has.  So, to disrupt this beautiful process due to political agenda is just very, very disappointing.  I believe that not everything should be turned to politics and global gatherings a venue to push for personal beliefs and agenda.  That leaves us with no space to breathe... and just enjoy life, and each other's company - as human beings... say, in this case, human beings that are enjoying the 'beautiful game' that we love. We can promote awareness of our cause while enjoying the game and observing mutual respect... but we do not need to turn it to an impassioned 'crusade' at the World Cup.  It's too stressful, and it takes away focus on the 'beautiful game'... and miss the chance of coming together peacefully, learning about each other and from each other.  Then again, that just goes to show how important the World Cup is.  People choose it as a venue to express passionate advocacy.

These days, many ARMYs (or people pretending to be ARMYs to breach this powerful fandom?) are guilty of violating the 'offside rule' in fandom etiquette

'Dreamers', soundtrack of the FIFA WC2022

as they publicly lambast JK for moving forward in his performance at the WC2022 Opening Ceremony.  I imagine it must be very toxic for JK... that can gnaw on his mental health. They compare him with artist/s who supposedly declined the invitation to perform, citing Qatar's Human Rights record in their press releases.  Everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion, of course.  And yet, this/these artist/s and the many critics of the World Cup 2022 come/s from and perform/s in countries where people are abused, disrespected and/or treated unfairly on a regular basis, if not everyday, due to the color of their skin, their gender, and/or their ethnicity, or due to the social class in their society where they 'belong' that is perceived to be inferior compared with others'.  I'm sorry, but I find the actions and the justifications to be contradicting. If we don't try to reach out to one another in peace and without judgment, cross the understanding divide and extend a hand in peace, and influence each other positively - through our reconciliatory actions, professions and/or artistry, how do we achieve harmony, peace and mutual respect?  As a football fan for decades now, for me, the World Cup is one of the global events where I can feel optimistic about us, humans.  The passion shown by the players and their coaches, their impressive skills that are mastered through hard work, the unbreakable determination to bring honor to one's country through strategy and innovation, teamwork, humor - lots of humor and camaraderie among fans and players... there are so many uplifting and inspiring things that can only be found and experienced at the World Cup.

And so, I applaud JK for his courage to 'walk the talk' in his (and his brothers' at BTS) commitment to make this world a better place - where people are united as one - through music.  Consistent to his values and his adherence to mutual respect, he did not retaliate in any way to his detractors and haters, nor did the smile on his face was wiped out by disappointment or rejection.  He 'turned the other cheek'... and just went on, and tried to create a beautiful music that he, obviously hopes others would appreciate - for its worth and message, and not for anything else. 

And so, I wait, in great anticipation of the release of his song, 'Dreamers'.  I have no doubt that it will be awesome because that's just the way he does things, the BTS way: the very best... or nothing at all!

***

Image credit:  (1) The collage of photos belong to my sister, borrowed just for this post. (2) JK, on his way to Qatar - borrowed from Big Hit IG account.  (3) As an update to this post on 19 Nov 2022, the 'Dreamers' poster is borrowed from the Big Hit IG account - thanks for the loan.

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