After speaking in my recent post here about how Duran Duran and their contemporaries in the second 'British Invasion' dominated the beginning of the MTV era in the '80s, I got reminded of the iconic collaboration between one of the best guitarists the world has ever seen, Mark Knopfler, and his famous band, Dire Straits, and the one and only legend himself, Sting. Their song is called, "Money for Nothing"... which started with Sting filling the airwaves with his peculiar voice declaring how he wants his MTV. And the very best time they shared the stage to perform their iconic song is at the historic Live Aidconcert on 13 July 1985 in front of 72,000 people at the Wembley Stadium in London while 100,000 more watched them live via satellite from the other venue of Live Aid, at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. It was watched all over the globe via satellite... and it dropped on our TV set in the Philippines, too. And what an amazing experience it was!
"Listen here, now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it. You play the guitar on the MTV. That ain't workin' that's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and your chicks for free."
The Live Aid concert was the coming together of the greatest music artists of the '80s across the Atlantic, organized by Sir Bob Geldof of the Irish band, Boomtown Rats, of the "I don't like Mondays" fame, and the Scottish musician, Midge Ure of Ultravox, to raise funds for and awareness of the famine in Ethiopia, Africa. It started with the gathering of the frontrunners in the 'British Invasion 2' as a 'charity supergroup' called, Band Aid, to record the song, "Do they know it's Christmas?" (DTKIC) in 1984. I remember, I was freshman in College. I stepped out of my classroom one December morning to listen to it when it was played for the first time on radio... because I knew it was history unfolding.
One of the very best performances at Live Aid happened in Wembley Stadium. It was that of Queen with their larger-than-life late frontman, Freddie Mercury, showing why they are one of the very best music legends of all time. And, of course, the genius guitar player that is Sir Brian Mayshowed up, too, as well as their painfully awesome drummer, Roger Taylor, and their great bass player, John Deacon, strutted his thing on stage, too.
"Mama, ohh, didn't mean to make you cry. If I'm not back again this time tomorrow, carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters."
Ahh... didn't that make you feel nostalgic? And speaking of MTV and other music media that sort of pushed back that classic music medium that endured many generations: the good old radio, how does this make you feel...
"You had your time, you had the power, you've yet to have your finest hour. Radio, radio..."
Ahh... man, what I wouldn't do to go back to the '80s! Queen is too good, right? Right! Alright!
Of course, the great Irish band, U2, with their legend of a frontman, Bono, and their legend of a guitarist, The Edge, also made their mark in Wembley as they performed two of their greatest hits, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Bad".
"How long, how long must we sing this song? ...'cause tonight we can be as one..."
Powerful, isn't it? Then and now, U2 and U2 music are just so iconic... in so many ways. They are absolutely brilliant! I saw them in the Manila leg of their Joshua Tree World Tour... and I lost it, I wept!
Let me end with a song that was staple in the '80s, "Everytime you go away", by the owner of the voice who sang the first line in DTKIC, Paul Young. He just turned 68 yo... and he just got married for the second time, too.
Ah... there so many challenges in this world, but with great music such as these, it just makes our burden a bit lighter. Thank goodness for good music, and thank God for brilliant music artists!
***
Video credit: All videos belong to Live Aid - thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
All these 'whispers' about one of my favorite bands ever, Duran Duran (DD), coming to the Philippines to give our current President a private performance on his 67th birthday is just distressing! It is putting DD in bad light. However, until I hear DD's side of the story, I give them the benefit of the doubt, and I remain a loyal Durannie!
Anyway, I am now reminded about a milestone in DD's career that I missed to chronicle here. Now, after enduring a very long week, indeed, I am definitely in the mood to talk about them and listen to their old and most current songs... and watch some of those interviews that show what incredible artists they are, indeed. So, yep, it's a Friday Night Music time!
One of the things that my 'rock chick' self is very proud of is that day when I finally managed to set foot on the 'hallowed grounds' of Rock Hall - home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), in Cleveland, OH back in July 2019. It was incredible... I absolutely went crazy! But what is crazier is that, two years ago, the stars did align... and Duran Duran was inducted to the Hall of Fame, Performance Category, to join the illustrious RRHOF Class of 2022 with the likes of Carly Simon, Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, Eminem and Dolly Parton. The all-British band that originated from Birminghan, England was inducted to the RRHOF by none other than Iron Man himself, Robert Downey, Jr... thank you very much!
"The origin (of the) story of this iconic band comes down to two words: confidence and faith... and the fact that they have always been transparent about being a work in progress like we all are, I feel that's why I adore these men. That's the gift they've given us. They bestowed that on their fans: permission to grow, and change, and age out of one mode and embrace the next... I'm grateful that these gifted souls are finally receiving long-deserved cementing of their legacy."
Listening to them accept their award brought back a deluge of memories from those days when my siblings and I would wait patiently for the publication of our favorite music magazines to see articles about Duran Duran... and to see whether our comments from the previous issue, which we sent via snail mail would be featured in the latest issue; and those days when we worked ferociously on our school homeworks in order to merit watching MTV and American Top 40, and all other shows that might feature them, their songs and their music videos... as our late Mother has the "undone homework, no TV" policy. In a way, Duran Duran and our other favorite music artists helped us become good students. Duran Duran were one of the first few artists that made MTV the iconic music platform that it is today. As such, they revolutionized the music industry... and I am glad to be a part of that revolution!
Some forty years later... here we all are, finally seeing Duran Duran get inducted to the RRHOF. What a milestone - for them and for us, Durannies!
"I am so very proud of these four brothers... the essence of our job is this: we get to make people feel better about themselves... music nourished us and gave us identities... we finally got here, it's a long way from Birmingham - thanks a lot... we are all driven by fans, and we were fans - thank you to all the fans."
While I got to see them perform live at the height of their fame in 1989 at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippine segment of their "Arena" World Tour, I may never afford to have them perform for me privately on my birthday. It is enough though that I have been a loyal fan for more than four decades now, and my siblings and I have an incredible amount of memorabilia and a vault in our heads full of great memories as we grew with this band... and as they kept going until passing this incredible milestone.
Ahh... the rhythm section is tight, tight, tight!Whew!How is it possible that they sound even better now than some forty years ago? I am sure that this is a product of hard work in continuously polishing their gifts as music artists. Ah, such a commitment to one's craft - amazing! I am sure that, brilliant music artists that they are, their journey continues... and our own journey as Durannies continues as well, and that feels absolutely fantastic!
***
Video credit: The videos are from the RRHOF website - thanks, YouTube for the video links.
When one goes through a 're-integration' process in one's community after being away for a considerable period of time, it can be quite a struggle. I know this for a fact because I am going through this right now. Exactly ten days since I got back from a whirlwind 10-month sojourn in the United States (US), I am still ambling around, digesting what I hear around absently... like a 'buffering Jungkoook' (JK)... although not as cute, of course.
Ten months, seven States, twenty cities and towns, and three universities of affiliation, and two more that were officially visited... indeed, there is so much to write regarding my latest US sojourn although I did post a few things about it in this blog already, and yet, the best parts remain in my 'memory box'... waiting to be chronicled here. Sometimes, the memory becomes too vivid in my head, it's like watching it on a screen in front of me, forcing me to 'zone out'... hence, the 'buffering'. This is why I completely understand JK... except that, in his case, I am sure that it's due to his being a genius artist - visions of perfection keep flashing in his head, and they fascinate him... hence, the usually 'euphoric' look in his eyes when he zones out. Or, perhaps, it's just an aftermath of a video game... all of a sudden, he realized a better tactic for winning! Don't ask me why I know... because if you ask, I'd lie! Hahaha...
Anyway, as I continue to struggle to slowly reintegrate in my community even when I hit the ground running at work, let me speed up the process by 'looking back' and 'looking (very) far back'... in this nostalgic post.
***
Looking back
One of the most remarkable songs of BTS, for me, is "ON" from the album, "Map of the Soul: 7", released in the first quarter of 2020, just a few months earlier than the 7th debut anniversary of BTS... and just before the COVID-19 pandemic wrecked havoc worldwide.
The song was not meant to inspire resilience against the pandemic as it was created prior to the pandemic. Rather, it is BTS's reflection and self-affirmation, given the challenges that they surmounted as a group that brought them to where they were on the eve of their 7th anniversary. As it happened, BTS is truly destined for something great, and the words they chose in creating this masterpiece find significance in any form of human struggle. The timing of the release of "ON" couldn't be more impeccable, too, because, heaven knows that, that time, the world needed an uplifting 'anthem' to keep it afloat, which "ON" generously provided! In terms of lyrics, it is inspirational. It is like a battle cry of a generation robbed of supposedly the most significant days of their lives by a brutal virus that claimed many lives - literally and figuratively.
The song acknowledges the uncertainties around, and submits to vulnerability. "Is it the shadow that's shaking, or is it my feet that are trembling? Of course, I am not unafraid. Of course, it is not all okay..." And yet, it is encouraging one to soldier on, no matter what, "but I know, awkwardly, I flow. I fly together with that black wind." And when times became tough... really, really tough, BTS looked COVID-19 in the eye and stared it down without blinking, "Can't hold me down 'cause you know I'm a fighter. Carried myself into this beautiful prison. Find me, and I'm gonna live with ya!" And, the world stood behind these magnificent seven young men to fight for its existence against the pandemic!
𝅘𝅥𝅱𝆕 "Bring it, bring the pain, oh, yeah.
Come up, bring the pain, oh, yeah.
Rain be pourin', sky keep fallin'
Everyday, oh, na-na-na
Find me, and I'm gonna bleed with ya!" đť… đť…ˇ
"ON" is not just your 'regular' fight song. It's a bold defiance against defeat... a refusal to lose, a refusal to bow under the harshness of life in general... and the punishing bitterness of the pandemic in particular. RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V and JK stood their ground, stared pandemic in the eye, and dared it to move them where they stood. Considering how a multitude of our young generation stayed strong throughout the pandemic by just listening to BTS songs, and watching their old BTS Run episodes, interviews and MVs, BTS completely carried their generation to a decisive win!
In terms of music, this song is bound to become one of the most remembered songs of this generation. It bears the signature BTS multi-layer quality with the vocal line and rap line alternating, and sometimes coming together on top of each other faster than a bullet train, to assault the sound wave with beautiful blend of sweet vocals - feathery and thick; and muscular rapping - so bold and daring. This is why it is very hard to beat BTS. The vocal line sing so beautifully, indeed, with such thick, impenetrable quality; but the rap line make the BTS music quality absolutely 'airtight' - hard to copy, hard to match... one of a kind! The accompanying music goes from sway-worthy to hip-hop and break dance-worthy... to just totally explosive! It just grips the listener. The song changes tempo all throughout its 4 minutes and 6 seconds length without losing its grip on the listener. Yes, the song is meticulously produced, indeed, and it's bound to be a classic from this generation courtesy of these extraordinary seven young men from South Korea.
The official music video (MV) is also a work of art. Obviously a humongous effort was put in creating it, and in actually making it. But that's BTS... they never put out something that's half-baked. The seven members put their best foot forward in acting their parts out, creating a mini movie that is both visually impressive and musically unforgettable. Naturally, their dancing prowess were also exhibited, just making sure that they keep their hold of that coveted position - the artists that defined this generation. Their live performances of "ON" were also nothing less than terrific, fabulous... awesome!
***
Looking (very) far back
The first time I saw the MV of "ON", I can't help but be reminded of one of my favorite Duran Duran songs, "Union of the Snake", released in 1983. It is from their third album, "Seven and the Ragged Tiger". There were no similarities in the songs but the theme of the MVs are somewhat related... well, for me, being both a Duranny and an ARMY. See for yourself.
𝅘𝅥𝅯𝆕 "The union of the snake is on the climb.
Movin' up, it's gonna race, it's gonna break through the borderline..."𝅘𝅥𝅱𝆕
I don't think I ever understood the meaning of this Duran Duran song though. Hahaha... and after all these years, I am still struggling to figure it out. Simon Le Bon, the band's vocalist and song lyricist, attempted to explain a few times - seriously and jokingly. He completely capitalized on his attempted British poetry impressionism. His vague explanation never did anything to alleviate my confusion. Dang, Simon!Hahaha... In spite of that, I remained a Duranny until this day! Yep, I am happy to share the fandom with the late Princess Diana, too.
Being a fan does not vanish with time, and with a song that is difficult to comprehend. Being a fan is about relationship with the music that the band created. This is an unbreakable bond because they provided the 'music theme' of one's life. After all, if life is a movie, what helps it to become an obra maestra is a superb musical scoring, right? I may not understood completely what Union of the Snake meant but I remember most of the moments when I sang along with it through junior high school days - the mood and the social debacle around me. I do have history with Duran Duran and their music.
I remember, it was also in 1983 when Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was assassinated at the tarmac of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which was still called Manila International Airport (MIA) that time. I was in junior high school. There was national grieving, political tension, and uprising, which later escalated to the first bloodless revolution in a very long time in the history of mankind, the EDSA Revolution in 1986 - a proud moment for the Philippines. Throughout those times, Duran Duran music and the rest of the "New Wave" music of that generation were our companion in going through that unprecedented social and political debacle in our country. That is history... and nothing and no one can change history.
Back to the Union of the Snake, the MV didn't help my confusion either! Hahaha... but it's visually pleasing, considering how pretty every member of Duran Duran was. Then again, isn't that one of the reasons for MV? It is supposed to aid listeners in song recall. The song did pretty well though, peaking at #3 in Billboard Top 100 for three weeks. Considering that that "New Romantic" era, a subpart of the "Second British Invasion" (the first one being the Beatles and Rolling Stones era), was peppered with SO MANY excellent bands back then such as Wham, Culture Club, The Police, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, and Spandau Ballet, not to mention that it was the time of booming American pop music, too, where the likes of Prince, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, and Hall & Oates filled the limelight. And, for this particular song, Duran Duran had to contend with the very much anticipated second collaboration of the late Michael Jackson and Beatles' Paul McCartney in that phenomenal song, "Say, Say, Say", a follow-up to their first mega collaboration, "The Girl is Mine".
***
Ah, memories... here I am again... *buffering*. Hahahaha...
Alright, I have work to do! I gotta go!
Let me leave you with the live performance of Duran Duran's Union of the Snake at the famed "Live Aid" concert in 1984. Let Simon Le Bon wow (or make you gag, whichever is applicable. Hahaha...) you with his eccentric moves on stage, Nick Rhodes' genius on the synthesizers, Andy Taylor's pretty good guitars, and that very tight rhythm section care of Roger Taylor on drums and the very pretty John Taylor (my forever crush! *blush* Haha... ) on bass.
Ciao!
***
Video credits: The owners of the videos are indicated on the video themselves. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
References: BTS and Duran Duran official websites, and Billboard Hot 100.
...with a little help from my 'friends'. ====================================================================== by PAM Have you ever had one of those days when none of the very few good things that are not brain-numbing around you can seem to console you into believing that you are going to survive another day without freezing your brain over? Well, I'm in that 'hole' right now, and boy, is it dark! It's not that there aren't enough good things in this world, 'cause there are - more than enough, too, actually. It's just that they decided to take a 'vacation' today... and they didn't say so. So, I planned to conduct my day as I usually do. However, without the good things around, it's the worst of worst ideas! But because it's all here, and I'm not about to go wailing, I'll deal with it. Therefore, I'm getting my 'friends' together and haul 'em all in to my 'happy place'.
"The silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload...
...tell me why I don't like Mondays."
Hmmm... I did say 'happy place', but Sir Bob is wailing like a wounded whale. Oy!C'mon, Sir Bob, lighten up, will ya now?
But, we gotta understand, aside from that being his singing style, it was an emotional day for the big guy. He just saw his "big vision", "Live Aid", become a reality. Live Aid was the biggest gathering of artists back in the '80s in various rock stages in the world, but mainly in Wembley Arena in London, England and in John F. Kennedy Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Phil Collins had to famously take the Concorde to perform in both the Wembley Arena and in the JFK Arena on the same day. The live performances were shown around the globe via satellite on 13 July 1985, and with the crowd in Wembley seeing what's going on at JFK and vice versa. Uh-hmm, that's right, they did it back in the days when internet (and all its "brother and sisters", and "cousins, too") was merely taking off.
Actually, Live Aid was the concert that seemed to have come so naturally after assembling the biggest British acts of the '80s to one group called, Band Aid, just before Christmas of 1984. The objective was to record a song,"Do they know it's Christmas?", and all proceeds from record sales was to be used to bring aid to Ethiopia, which was hard-hit by drought and economic woes resulting in widespread famine and death. The front man of Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, and Midge Ure of Ultravox assembled the Brit acts to form Band Aid. Little did they know then that such a seemingly small act of compassion would turn to a historical moment in the global music industry. More than that, it turned the world's eyes to the dire plight of the Ethiopians... making many people in the world more conscious of the economic, political and social aspects, and even the scientific aspect, of the famine that they were suffering from. It was, indeed, an eye-opener for the whole world... one that will change the way we view our global community.
"There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear."
Hmmm... of course, Phil Collins had to play the drums. It's such a natural thing to expect from the man. But, Sting and Bono, and Boy George and George Michael together... and Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet together? And Paul Weller and Paul Young, and Bananarama, too? You bet! And back in the days when they're all in their glorious "big hair" days, too. :) Too good, too good! Just beautiful.
I say, forget NATO, let's celebrate Band Aid and Live Aid instead! And then... reality hits. NATO is here to stay - and, indefinitely, too. Oh, well....
So, why is this important... to me, that is? Well, it is very important because most parts of this huge idealism that I carry around like a sack full of bricks rooted from this. It was when I was watching the live broadcast of this concert on our worn out television that I truly understood what idealism meant! It was when seeing how these guys who loved what they do turned their joy in doing what they do to something really useful and meaningful. Everytime I felt lonely in my own "crusade" to make a difference in my workplace, I'd always turned to these guys. That's how I know that what they did back then had a lasting impact. And, this is part of the reason why I really believe the '80s was a golden decade... and I'm proud that I was a part of that generation that saw the '80s become such an unforgettable decade.
Hmmm... since I'm now in my happy place, let me make the most of it with this...
"Every little thing the Reflex does must be answered with a question mark..."
"All you need is now...." =================================================================== by PAM
A diamond in the mind... now was the future.
"Return to now".... Sometimes we think too far ahead. We feel overly anxious to see what lies ahead. We try to imagine over and over again the many different possibilities. Will it be good? Bad? Will it make us happy? Will it make us cry? Too many questions... paralyzing us from moving forward and taking the needed action. We spend too much time wondering, speculating, wishing the future wouldn't be as lamentable as the past... and we miss much of what goes on around us - now. When the future finally comes, we are perplexed by it - happy or sad - simply because we didn't experience now and, therefore, cannot find the connection between the future right in front of us and "the now" just slipping behind us. We didn't do enough to make sure that the future will be as how we wished it to be - "now". It's too late when we finally realized that, indeed, to be all set for the future, all we need is now.
*** Something old, something new... now I made time to drop by the record store a couple of days back... and I finally got a copy of "All you need is now" - Duran Duran's 2011 album. Yeah, I know, some fan I am! Well, I was busy... and had no life! Anyway, missing an important US Open match just to get the album was an atonement for missing their "Diamond in the Mind Tour" last summer in the US and their Pre-Olympic performance at the Hyde Park in London. As for the album... no, they haven't lost their touch as far as I'm concerned. John Taylor's bass playing is still as awesome as ever, and it is beautifully complemented (and vice versa) byRoger Taylor on the drums to make a clean, "just right" rhythm. The subtlety ofNick Rhodes's signature electronic inputs were tastefully done, not a misplaced "shriek" anywhere... andSimon Le Bonsounds fantastic - better than ever before. Yeah, the "Wild Boys" of the old "Second British Invasion" days transformed Duran Duran's older sound a few notches toward laid-back... but not lazy - a welcome transformation for thenow transformedold fans... like myself. Did I just say "old"? Oh, well.... ***
...'til the mornin' after. ======================================================= by PAM
It's my late mother's birthday today, and this is for her...
"...take a chance like all dreamers can't find another way.
You don't have to dream it all... just live a day."
..."Save a Prayer" - one of Duran Duran's biggest hits back in the '80s. I remember how an older sister and I had to "wrestle with wits" to reason with our mother over decorating our room with Duran Duran's colorful posters (in addition to our Star Trek posters), which my sister "smuggled" through our mail from her friend in Hawaii, who, in turn, "sneaked out" on her own mother to buy and send the posters to us. Aaah-hahaha...the things "silly teenagers" do to fight for a "worthy cause". I don't remember how we reached a compromise... 'cause, ya bet, we did have those posters put up on our walls alright. O, yah! :)
Oh, oh, oh... I think Mama sneaked on me and my sister one time in one of our hard-earned VH1 TV time allotments (wash dishes for five days = 30 minutes per week of VH1) and saw this video...
"The Reflex... buy time, don't lose it."
...and maybe, aside from digging the incredible bass tracks by JT, she thought he was cute, that's why she softened a bit on our "Duran Duran issue". Aaawww! :) But, yeah, that's exactly how she was though... always acting "tough" on us, but the truth is... she was "easy". And, I miss her.
*** Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
An observation from an '80s person who "hangs out" in University lecture rooms and labs. ================================================================================ by Philipina A. Marcelo
Disclaimer, er, Intro
This is something I wrote sometime in November 2011 while taking a break from work, quite sick again, of course... and I've forgotten about it since. Now that I'm taking a big break (from life, in general! Haha...), this suddenly came to mind, particularly after reading these NY Times articles that found their way into my inbox: "Top Universities Test the On-line Appeal of Free" and "Universities Reshaping Education on the Web", both of which seem to suggest that the way to the future of education is via the cyber highway. Luckily, this old piece that never got posted here (until now, that is) is still in my little "cyberspace external thought storage". Ah, the wonders of technology - takes my breath away everytime! :)
So, I gave my old "rant" a little facelift for some "critical update". Hopefully, it makes a little sense.
*** Rewind...
Okay, first, let me entice you with this old video...
No, it's not by coincidence that this video features John Taylor of Duran Duran - the iconic "New Romantic" idol of the '80s. I have been waiting for an opportunity to put this up here 'cause this is another "justification" why this man remains to be (one of) the biggest crush(es) of this life of mine - excellent artist, brilliant thinker and absolutely charming (that's the surviving teenager in me talking, obviously)... and very good looking, too (there... I said it! I'm that shallow - then and now.). Not that you care, right? Right! =)
But, yeah, admittedly a chunk of my teenage life was sweetly anchored on Duran Duran - their music and poetry, unique and glamorous style, youthful wisdom and daring... anchored mostly on JT, mainly on JT. :) And that's how the "pop culture" then was a large "part" of my College education... it provided the soundtrack for my College life, and JT was the best part of it all. At some point though, when he's fallen in that notorious show business moral abyss, it kinda broke my heart. But he came around, has evolved... and now, that gorgeous British young man who glamorize playing bass and who has always been a big inspiration for me for years is now giving talks in Engineering events... in the academic world, too - my supposed world! Wow! :) Makes me think about how far I've gone, too, in my own path, and how much I've evolved as an individual... after all these years. See, JT - the prince of the "pop culture" of my teenage and young adult life - has that effect on me... until now. And, I don't mind. :)
As delicious as the idea might be, this post is not about JT though... it's about something else. Boooo! Hey, I'm on a crusade here (ahem, if you must know, I'm trying - very hard - not to laugh), so bear with me, okay? ;)
"Ordinary 18-year-olds love digital technology because it allows them to construct a reflexive surrounding. The part-time job tires them and the classroom irks them to death, but the blogs, games, shows, videos, music, messages, updates, phone calls... they mirror their woes and fantasies. It's a pre-packaged representation of the world, a "Daily Me," a rendition of things filtered by the disposition of young users. All of them groove the input, and the screen becomes not a vein of truth but a mirror of desire."
"The classroom irks them to death"??? Really? Wow! What a scary thought - for an academic!
While the book was written based on observations on American young people, still, reading the book by Mark Bauerlein back in 2010 caused some panic for me. Therefore, I have been trying to understand how so many internet-savvy, pop culture-worshipping University kids these days behave, at least, in this developing country where I am from. It's a bothersome activity that a University professor with more than 20 years of experience can get sucked into these days.And it's proving tobe dangerously close to an activity in futility, too. So, why bother? Well, because it's worth it, our students - our future - are worth it.
All the "trouble" is worth it...
(1) ...because there is such a huge change in the "knowledge traffic" in the classrooms and lecture halls these days. It used to be a predominantly easy one-way stream, where the source is the professor and the receivers are the students, and switched to a two-way conversation as the traffic cruised to perfect times. Lately, however, the traffic has been building up to a jarring congestion - mostly, in the minds of the students. But the change, methinks, can be managed into a platform of high productivity.
(2) There are frustrating barriers between the source and the receivers these days that a one-way traffic, where it survives to an aching wreck, has become a robotic sort of activity - devoid of real involvement. And that conjuring a "true" two-way traffic has become close to impossibility. However, I seem to have found another route to reach out to kids on the other side of the conventional learning realm where they hang out mentally... and that's exciting!
(3) Most kids these days care more about their physical image rather than cultivating a culture of brilliance in their personalities - symptoms of overdose of that venomous Hollywood concoction, also known as "pop culture v. 2k" - that version that is mostly the frustratingly shallow and sex-crazed spin-off of the old ones, and it's so potent and far-reaching that it can invade many societies via a mere click - of the mouse, that is! But an overdose can be fixed... if we do the right thing - quickly.
No, I'm not complaining nor am I criticizing. I'm just talking about an honest observation, which, for all I know, could be downright idiotic and misinformed - so forgive me - and finding a way to contribute in dealing with it, so the University does not become irrelevant in educating kids these days. Heavens forbid!
*** Is there a way out of this... or around this knowledge traffic congestion?
It might be worthwhile for "old" University pillars to realize some of the benefits of "web reading", the most important of which, is that it "permits non-linear strategies of thinking" (Sutherland-Smith, The Reading Teacher, 2002).
For the serious academics, that should sound exciting - an unknown territory to be explored and conquered. Alas, one-way and two-way traffic is no longer the route of Generation Y: exciting, challenging generation.choice by this internet-savvy, wired generation. They are the "here and now - right now!" generation. They prefer the "randomness" of things... the swift and constant movement, and turning about of discussion - on the internet... and in the classroom! They want greater participation, in fact - in their own terms - in the classroom, the way they get to conduct their activities in the internet independently - with considerable freedom. The taste of independence on-line is like taking a bite of the proverbial apple... the effect is permanent and irreversible. The "biter" can only be "saved" from "eternal damnation" by a "legitimate redeemer". The question is, are University educators willing to play the role of "redeemers"? How does one redeem this generation, in the first place? Do they need redeeming at all... especially when their world - hooked up mostly to the world wide web - is now the "real world"? Perhaps, it is us, educators, and our "antiquated" methods of teaching that needed redeeming? Perhaps, it is the educational institution on this side of the planet, as a whole, that needed some sprucing up? Tough!
While granting these kids the "permission" to take the helm of dicussion in the classroom may not be wise, and in fact, spells all sorts of danger for "chaos", it might be worthwhile for the professors to try stepping back and let the kids weave their own thread of intelligent spell. Of course, much of the success of that depends on the educator's ability to moderate the "weaving" of thoughts in the "random traffic"... and that requires an extensive know-how and massive updating in one's field of expertise. The Dedicated and committed faculty: key to addressing the issue.question is, are educators willing to do that? And the even bigger questions are: Is the University willing to allot a big chunk of its resources to assist its faculty members along this line to ensure long-term impact towards excellent education? Are University administrators willing to dedicate their energies to explore these areas of "new approaches" that will turn this massive internet influence and internet-inspired behavior as vehicle for success rather than obstacle? Are Universities willing to acknowledge the end of the "traditional" one-way and two-way approaches in the classroom? While, I admit, that these are not easy questions to answer, especially for some universities where faculty members view the Academic profession as a mere 8-h a day job, they need to be answered nevertheless - and quickly, too!
In the hope of making students feel at home, rather than "irked to death", in the classroom as they do in their personal "cyber spaces", I tried a few things to give a sense of "randomness in the classroom". I tried to provide the "we're in charge here" feeling to the students as well, while we all managed to stick to the contents of the syllabus.
(1) Injecting the lectures with interesting here-and-now goings on in the specific Multi-media-enhanced lectures.topic - providing multi-media illustrations via Powerpoint slides in a lecture so designed that all components appeared random, unplanned and unexpected... they "just came up" - 'cause the topic is that cool, practical and very relevant to what they do everyday, and what they hope to do later professionally... and that is true, too! Most of the materials are a mix of those from on-line scientific resources and pop media centers that I enroll in, which provide updated materials relevant to courses I'm teaching, be it, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics or Membrane Technology. The key is blending "serious science" with "pop culture" in a formula that inspires curiousity. I found that it's very effective to put these blends in front of the lecture because that stirs students' interests and compels them to willingly "commit" themselves to the topic on hand. Why? Because the lecture was set on a backdrop that's familiar to them, a fabric they consider "non-allergenic" - their beloved www.
(2) Giving students their sure "five-minute shot to fame" in the classroom through Problem Set discussions, and paper presentations that are relevant to the subject matter in the syllabus. It's amazing how that turns out each time! Group presentation/thesis defense.Many of those who first struck me as shy or aloof take the helm of discussion with inspired gusto... unleashing highly insightful ideas that astonish me to speechlessness - in a very good way, I assure you! Obviously, their hours and hours of "practice" in their very own cyberspace give them all that "raw intellectual ammunition"... all educators have to do is point them to the target so they get their shot to fame right. Once their "fame" is established, the students become more confident in actively participating in the "randomness" environment... and they move on to the next semester owning a part in their class's collective brilliance. None of that can be achieved in the "traditional one-way going two-way" approach where only the "most confident" and born-to-privileged-life people shine and the "shy ones" are constantly pushed to the rear and stay in the shadows until the end of their stay in the University... their potentials never tapped and groomed to perfect bloom.
(3) Using laboratory courses as a platform for "innovation" where the students are largely in-charge. "Boring" lab courses where "recipe-type" experiments are followed in activities that effectively box intelligent thinking to coma-like sleep can be resuscitated Innovation Challenge.to life by dangling a huge challenge on your students faces! This "internet kids" are highly competitive... that's why they spend sleepless nights trying to win on-line games, or best their peers in their blogs' design and contents, or outdo everyone else with the most witty tweet. Their competitive nature could be channeled to productivity in the classroom. Discuss the basics... and then have them work on their own projects where you discreetly see to it that the basic lab skills are incorporated. They work to perfect their prototypes, competing for the prize of the most innovative project... not realizing how skilled and creative they have become once their prototypes are perfected. And they only have themselves to thank for it... they are in-charge, right? :)
*** Is there a way to reach these kids in their hangout?
They hang out in the cyberspace... and professors need to figure out how to gain access into their "strong passworded" psyches. And I'm not talking about faculty members (ahem, especially administrators!) hanging out on Facebook and Twitter (and blogs! hehe...) 24/7 with no worthwhile intention... they just want to be considered "in" and "cool", and be popular with students! My friends, there are better things to laser point our energies to - seriously! I should know... right?! ;)
Kids these days seem reluctant to accept an "invitation" to go deeper into the heart of a subject
matter presented to them. They want a "personalized" approach... like the "invite" was exclusively for them. Peer-assisted activities in the lab and in the classroom. They need to identify themselves with the subject matter before they let themselves engage with it. This is why, the subject matter, no matter how technical, say vena contracta effect or pump cavitation, has to be "spinned" to a pop culture ("the culture of now") language when the invite is issued to them. Sometimes, it helps to solicit the assistance of their more "learned" peers whom they look up to as well, to issue the invitation. And when they accept, guide them in by talking in a more "experiential language" until they become interested and decide to try things out for themselves. And then when they're involved already, and have reached the point-of-no-return, "pull a trick on them" with learned subtlety - without them knowing it - and bathe them with pieces of new knowledge, using technical language this time.
Later, when they leave the classroom or the lab with new information gained, they had the feeling that whatever new things they know now, they discovered on their own - via their own decision to learn, too - and it's cool! Once again, that feeling of being in-charge, of being given the free reins to steer their learning experience in a way that is meaningful to them.
Sure, I admit, none of these is an easy task. It can be physically, emotionally and mentally taxing... why do you think do I get sick so often these days??! It's hard!This is why it is imperative that Universities must be very careful in recruiting faculty members... while absolutely necessary, it is not enough for a prospective faculty to just have a scholarly track record and/or stellar industry experience because teaching is more about the ability, willingness, passion and the humility to keep working hard to convince these kids that learning is an integral part of their personal development - the most fun part, in fact! It is through learning that they could continuously evolve as individuals... and they learn learning best in the campus. Faculty members should be willing to demonstrate this by seizing every opportunity to learn new things themselves as well... because how do they teach about learning and the positive and joyful impact of sustained learning, not only in the personal level, but in the societal level as well, when they've stopped learning a long time ago? That is why, it makes sense that: (1) generally, PhD - the ultimate test to withstand the initially enormous pressure of systematic learning, that later empowers one to conjure up and acquire that "sixth sense" to enjoy and share the true beauty and bliss of learning - is the minimum requirement for University professors, and that (2) sustained research - the "direct line" to learning - must be a part of the faculty's work program.
Uh-oh... I think I just drove right into the parade of those who believe otherwise. Oh, well... we all choose our battles, and I choose this!
*** Physical image vs. personal image is decided via role models
It is a pity that kids these days have to live in a culture of shallowness - the kind of culture conjured up irresponsibly by the Hollywood media... and annoyingly being "championed" by local TV/Cinema outfits through their own Programs/movies. Gah! From Paris Hilton to the out-of-control Lindsay Lohan - why the media has to exploit and exaggerate
reports on their misconduct and sad down spiral is appalling. Why the media won't focus on what ever talent Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna or Madonna had rather than their eccentric ways and/or their penchant for exposing their underwear (and what's beneath it) is not helping either. Ugh, and don't get me started with the Kardashians - please!! Local media and local TV/Cinema outfits follow suit, of course - all for the love of money! Tsk! The media influence is so freakishly huge and hard to avoid, even when parents cut-off TV/cable services, because of the limitless accessibility to just about everything through the internet. And the poor misguided kids tend to confuse the message with the physical image they see, and follow those sick images instead rather than striving to polish their own talents and be good at what they do.
But vanguards of the "old pop culture" can provide a bridge between the "then and now" divide, and bring back the idea that pop culture is not necessarily a dumbed down, sex-crazed collage of real artistry, and intellectual and scientific adventures! Fortunately, most professors these days lived back in the days when pop culture was still highly respectable. Therefore, once in a while, Sting gets into the discussion of sound waves in Physics, or the film "The Hunt for Red October" in discussions on sonic, subsonic and supersonic flows in Fluid Mechanics, or even "The Real Genius" when discussing the ethics of research. :)
Being there when confusion creeps in will help these kids significantly. Educators must not be afraid to lose "popularity" with their students by pointing out the good message behind the confusing images that assault their impressionable minds... because that's what they're there for in the first place.
*** So what now?
As JT pointed out, pursuing a passion at an early age, was a test of manhood for him, and it was through the constant and ardent pursuit of this passion that he followed his dream... and succeed, too! Kids these days, while highly competitive, have everything at the tip of their fingers - via internet. Very little challenge, and therefore, they rarely experience the truly exhilarating joy of success. Therefore, educatorss must strive to make them feel that exhilaration... because that can be "addicting", too - in a very good way.
With my research students, I usually create a huge challenge to them... by "using myself" as the biggest "obstacle" to their success... and yet, might hold the "key" to
The excitement and fulfillment of working hard in the lab.their success, too, at the same time. Therefore, they have no choice but to figure out this obstacle while keeping the key within their reach. Without being obvious, I steer the "project ship" to safe waters... while they see me as a perilous iceberg! And because, they want to steer clear from the peril, they try to work out a plan and execute it, trying desperately to avoid mistakes by the painstaking attention to details, all the while keeping their eyes on the key... not realizing the tremendous training and discipline they are getting as they go along. Once the research project becomes successful, I let them bask in the glory of success, so they experience the wonderful feeling, and get convinced that the struggle to reach it is just a small price to pay. And then, that realization becomes a learning experience, which firms up their character, a constant reservoir of energy and inspiration when the going gets tough, and it becomes a part of themselves... a transformation, which is what education is really all about.
Care must be taken when this approach is employed though... there is no one-size-fits-all to this. Students have different characters. Others can take the heat, others breakdown at the slightest pressure. Therefore, the balance between the obstacle and key to success must be calibrated and re-calibrated to obtain the same outcome each time. There is a simple technique: sincere and deep caring. Therefore, this approach is strictly not recommended for the educator with unhealthy ego and prone to power tripping... it can ruin both the educator and the student... and, perhaps, the learning institution. That could be tragic.
***
Another note: I originally planned to write this in a three-part series of posts, and this is the first, but things changed. So, this might just be the first and the last post on this topic... but things are in a flux these days, so we'll see....
...this is absolute reality!
======================================================= by Philipina A. Marcelo
All those news stories from Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan... and on the political turmoil in the US in the middle of yet another threat of recession poised to slap the country - and the world - painfully, made me think of a song from the '80s. "Absolute Reality" by The Alarm... one of what I consider the most "powerful songs" of the '80s because of its potent message. I remember singing this with siblings and friends with all my youthful energy, and at the top of my lungs, too, at the end of those fun "Battle of the Bands" during my college days. It's almost the "anthem" of the Manila youth of the '80s (okay, at least, those who follow "alternative music" then)... and I'm so proud that it is, too. :) Needless to say, I was a fan of The Alarm... so much so that when I started teaching, right after graduation from College, all my examinations were under the file name, "Alarm '89". =)
"You may just be afraid in this power mad age... but there's one thing, we all must find some peace in our time..."
The song came out about a quarter of century ago now... and yet, its powerful message still begs to be heeded today. Here's the complete lyrics...
Ooh, yeah, yeah..
Hey, now, now...
Hey, hey, hey!
You may be rich
You may be poor
You may have nothing in this world at all
You may be black, you maybe white
You may be a prisoner in your own times
You may be lost, you may be found
You may have been beaten up and knocked to the ground
You may have belief, suffer from deceit
Or you just might be blind
Oh, no, no...
You may affect the truth
You may be seen as false
You may be a king or a vagabond
You may be up, you may be down
You may sit in judgement with the rest of the clowns
You may have love
You may have hate
You may be the President of the United States
But even you, you can't sit and hide
While the world's resources die.
This is absolute reality, reality, reality
We are all the cause,
The solution to reality
Ooh, yeah, yeah...
Hey, now, now...
Hey, hey, hey...
You may be in control
You may be controlled
You may sit down 'til you do as you're told
You may work hard
You may never work at all
You may be accused but you don't know what for
You may be innocent or partly to blame
You may just be afraid in this power mad age
But there's one thing we all must find
Some peace in our time.
This is absolute reality, reality, reality
If I may speak of truth this is absolute reality
The absolute time, the absolute place
The absolute now for the absolute solution
It's absolute reality now
Now, now, now
This is absolute reality, reality, reality
This is absolute reality reality reality
This is absolute
Oh, reality!
La la la la la
This is absolute
La la la la la
Reality
La la la la la
This is absolute
Reality
Hmm... I miss those days... those days when there is so much meaning in what people commit themselves to - including music, especially music, just because it's one of the most far-reaching media that most people can appreciate.
I bought CDs two weekends ago to update my music library... okay, who am I kidding, right? Of course, I went to see if Duran Duran's "All you need is now" was already available in the music stores here in Manila! :) Just my luck, didn't find it... so, I bought "other stuff" instead, more specifically, some compilations of the more popular songs these days - yep, "iTunes on CD"! :) Many of the songs made my head bob a bit, and my fingers snapping to some nice rhythm. Some are almost as catchy as "The State of the Nation" by Industry or Men at Work's "Who can it be now". Lots of "full-bodied", crystal-clear and seamless sound mixes that illustrate how advanced technology has become in recording studios these days... but I didn't hear much metaphors... no wisdom, or powerful messages from the stuff I was playing. Okay, ahem, maybe wisdom is too much to ask... afterall, the "artists" of these days are no U2, Style Council, Tears for Fears nor R.E.M. of the "Losing my religion" fame. :) They are a bunch of "happy people" - only a few with real talents, say, Lady Gaga, for instance - who just wanna have "fun".... As to what "fun" means these days is another story altogether! But I guess you can tell by the loads of moaning sound from most of today's music - nothing subtle about them at all... unlike Bryan Ferry's or David Bowie's delectable take on passionate love!
Oh, well... to each his own, I guess? :) I guess! I'm just getting old, that's probably what this is! Wait... I am old!Dang! =)
*** Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
Here's to you, raise a glass for everyone. Here's to them underneath that burning sun... Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
It's Christmas time! Well, everyday is supposed to be Christmas day, isn't it? And Band Aid's music marked Christmas with a song that makes people aware of their ability to free millions of less fortunate people from the enslaving bondage of hunger... and actually challenges people to do so: "Feed the World".
Watching this video is like watching my teenage days... frame after frame is filled with memories. I consider myself very lucky to have spent my teenage days in the '80s - during those awesome days of the second "British Invasion". And this video is a testament of those wonderful days... showcasing those brilliant British and Irish acts - from Duran Duran to U2, from Culture Club to Wham, from Status Quo to Ultravox, from Spandau Ballet to Bananarama, from Sting to Paul Young, from Paul Weller to Jim Kerr, from Phil Collins to Bob Geldof. Ah, they who filled my teenage days with unforgettable music.
Assembled by Boomtown Rats's Bob Geldof of the "I don't like Mondays" fame and Ultravox's Midge Ure of the original version of "Dancing with tears in my eyes" fame, Band Aid was a gathering of among the most famed British and Irish (and American) recording artists in the '80s. The "supergroup" recorded "Do they know it's Christmas?" to raise funds to aid the famine victims of Ethiopia. It was a successful single, shooting to #1 in the British Chart upon its release in November 1984, and remained in the #1 spot for five weeks. With one million copies sold on its first week of release, the record remains to be the fastest-selling record of all time in the UK, and one of the biggest-selling records in the UK (and the world) to date. It raised more than £10 million for the Ethiopian famine relief fund.
In the following year, the record became a concert dubbed as "Live Aid", featuring the contributors in the original single plus a few more, and their American counterparts, USA for Africa - the brainchild of the late Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. I remember being awed by how Phil Collins flew on the Concorde to be in two continents (North America and Europe) to perform in the two venues for the intercontinental concert and via-satellite global airing of "Live Aid": the Wembley Stadium in London, England and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Close to 2 billion people from about 150 countries watched the live broadcast of "Live Aid"... and it was a truly joyous occasion for music fans all around the globe. As a teenager, it was a "magic moment" for me. I saw how talent, will and commitment to wonderful things can create a miracle - bringing people together for a common cause, and producing remarkable results, too. All of that while letting happiness envelope the globe... through music. Absolutely brilliant!
*** Acknowledgement: Thanks for the video, YouTube.
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