Saturday Photo

 

I heard that quote in the photo collage above sometime ago.  I'm not sure from which movie but I'm pretty sure it was a Hallmark TV movie. As I said over and over in the past few entries in this blog, my 'film-critique-wannabe' days are over.  I watch movies to relax and be entertained these days... and TV movies are now 'my thing'.  Anyway, I got reminded of that quote because, today, I felt that I saw 'soul and perfection' in what was otherwise 'common and familiar'. 

Today, I spent 12 hours with the elder of my two nephews.  We did what we love doing: long drive, eat good food, talk - a looot, and laugh our hearts out.  We used to do this a lot with his siblings and cousins when he was growing up.  We spent many days and hours going around nearby cities and vacation places - to relax, unwind, learn new things, go on adventure, go on foodie spree and shopping spree, just to be together... just making sweet memories.  The only difference is, we used to be driven around by our family driver.  This time, my nephew did all the driving... especially that when he let me take the steering wheel, our car flew from the street to someone's backyard! 😬😳😅

As I am 'partially' moving to a new little house outside Metro-Manila (for work), he helped me take care of a few chores such as furniture and appliances shopping, supervising and helping out as the builders add finishing touches to the new house.  I think I will need another year or so to get the house in the shape that I need it to be but, for now, given the urgency of the need for me to be working in the new site, the mere essentials are good.  To run errands for the home is merely an 'excuse' for me.  What I really looked forward to doing today was spending time with my nephew... which I hadn't done in such a long time.  So when he sent that one-line message, "I'll see you on Saturday, Tita," without any sort of introduction... I think anyone can hear my smile from ear to ear in my own one-liner: "Alright!"  Well, uhm, I had to play it cool, y'know.

I missed my nephew.  He is more handsome than I remember - very tall and good-looking in a very casual and relaxed way... and very articulate, too. I didn't realize how mature he has become at merely 25 years... he has a good job, a very good relationship with a wonderful young woman that he loves and who loves him, too... and by all the stories he told me, it seems that his heart is still in the right place - despite his success and a sweet young love that turns a new leaf everyday and that so many people of his age can only dream of.  I am a very proud aunt - totally!  

Sometimes, I think of the days that I might have spent for 'my own personal happiness', which were spent in another way in order that every member of my family would realize their dreams. In days like today, I realize that this is my personal happiness... seeing my loved ones, such as my nephew, enjoy the happiness that they so deserved.  I am just too happy and grateful to God that I could feel this incredible feeling of having my heart swell with so much love, joy and pride.  It feels like an ordinary day turns into something special - soulful and just perfect!

***

Image credit:  All photos in the collage above are mine.

***      

'Lighthning in a bottle'...

 ...is 'a thing'.

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by PAM

"'Lightning in a bottle'... it's about you, Class of 2024.  It's your story...

every step is an eloquent sentence in this beautiful narrative that is your story."

Nope, not yet time for 'Saturday Photo'.  It's just that a few days ago, 18 June 2024 to be exact, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as the Presiding Official at the Solemn Investiture of the candidates for degrees of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.  That was my second time to have such an incredible opportunity.  The first time was last year at the Solemn Investiture rites for the UST Faculty of Engineering. 

Just like the first time at the Faculty of Engineering, I had so much fun meeting CTHM's Class of 2024 and their parents - on stage. Although, also just like the first time, I had many sleepless nights days before the event.  I was so nervous, I was unable to eat, sleep, or concentrate at all on even the smallest stuff on my plate.  There were instances when I'd freeze just thinking about what to say in my Address of Concession, and whether I'd be able to say the formula correctly in the Degree Conferment part.  I was so stressed out the whole time.  When the moment came, however, it was heavenly.  

The Class of 2024 is a very special cohort of learners in my University.  They started their freshman year in August 2020 - at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They came in on a fully online mode of teaching and learning.  Even their 'Freshman Walk' - one of our most important traditions in the University, which is part of the Freshman Orientation activities, was held virtually as well.  After that, they had to go through a couple of years of virtual instruction.  Very fortunately, my University has a very robust e-learning system.  We have been using Blackboard as our learning management system (LMS) twenty years prior.  Despite that, it was still challenging as we needed to ensure that everyone had stable internet connection, and that they had gadgets with sufficient features to enable them to participate in the virtual classes. It's a good thing that the community spirit in the University helped us overcome the challenges.  It wasn't perfect, but we know that we did everything possible to make the experience of our Class of 2024 as good as the more conventional teaching and learning mode that is only balanced by the use of technology through our LMS.  

A daunting duty... but so worth it!

To capture the essence of our Class of 2024's remarkable resilience in enduring the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 in a seven-minute Concession Address was such a tall order for me.  So much so that so many times, I felt like I was not equal to the task.  I prayed so hard for the Holy Spirit to lend me wisdom and grant me the inspiration to come up with the right words to say that can sum up the Graduating Class's experience as 'the pandemic Class' so that they (and their loved ones) can all relate, and feel that that was truly their very own special day.  

And then, one night, as I was re-watching the footages of their Baccalaureate Mass in bed, I saw something that sparked inspiration.  It was an image of a group of graduates smiling so happily amid all the lights from their candles and the fireworks above them... their faces seemed to radiate from the light of the candles that they held.  More images later... something 'clicked' in my heart and in my head.  I whispered, "Lord, what are they holding?  It's so radiant... like 'lightning in a bottle'?"  I opened the Notes App on my smart phone... and before I knew it, I had paragraphs after paragraphs of write-up, all revolving around the 'lightning in a bottle' idea.

I started with: "With how your faces shone in the illuminating light from your candles, you appeared like you were holding a 'bottle of lightning'.  Ever heard of that expression, 'catching a lightning in a bottle'?  It's an idiomatic expression that means, 'accomplishing something that is extraordinarily difficult'.  Look it up, it's a thing!  It's a thing because... it's about you.  It's about the Class of 2024.  You all caught lightning and bottled it.  It's your story... and an extraordinary story, indeed!  Because... how does one catch lightning and bottle it, too?  Lightning is a product of electrical discharge between two regions.  It carries a powerful force that strikes in a split of a second with such lethal intensity... much like COVID-19."

And then I proceeded to likening the the light of their candles with 'that Light' that illuminates... the Light that is the Truth, the Light that is God's Love, the Light that is Christ Himself.  The grace they received in their experience as the 'pandemic Class' enabled them to endure that difficult but glorious journey of finding the Truth in all their ordeals.  And in the end, the Truth revealed itself... in the Love that guided them throughout their journey:  The Love from their family, from their teachers and the Thomasian Community as a whole... the Love that is the gift from God... the Love that is Christ Himself.  That Love is the Light that illuminated their faces and hearts in happiness as they celebrated the culmination of their journey at the Baccalaureate Mass.  That illuminating light borne out of that 'lightning' that they caught and bottled, and that they now hold in their hands.  In the future, when they meet challenges in their professional and personal journey, they should not be afraid.  All they have to do is to hold out their hand... open, look down on their palm, and be heartened and inspired by that lightning in a bottle: their own contribution in that beautiful narrative of human courage and the astounding triumph against all odds through love. 

The same is true for us in the University... Class of 2024 is our very own 'lightning in a bottle'.  Their triumph is a reminder that as we did what we did for them - out of love... we, too, caught a lightning in a bottle.  And it shall illuminate our hearts... especially in the darkest of days.

***

Image credit:  All images in the collage above are owned by The Varsitarian - the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines - thank you for the loan.  The other photo is mine.

***

Friday night is music night...

 ...not!

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

by PAM

Friday night is normally 'music night' for me.  Uhm, not that anything in my life's schedule is 'normal'.  I usually spend Friday night listening to my favorite songs and discover new ones... except that all my Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube premium accounts are dedicated to Jungkook's music.  That has been the 'norm' for almost a year now when "Still with you" and "My you" came out in July last year.   So I am just letting JK own all my accounts... except when his hyungs release new singles or albums.  In those cases, I kind of let the hyungs 'borrow' one or two of the accounts in support to and to show appreciation of their efforts.  I am still an ARMY - the authentic kind.  The kind that cares about all seven guys but with a 'bias'... and a 'bias wrecker' (or 'wreckers', to be accurate, in my case).  Obviously, JK is my bias... although he's never been 'wrecked' really, just 'co-biased' every now and then.

***

Friday night, movie night

Anyway, this evening is not about music... it's about movies this time.  

It's been a very busy, challenging... and exciting week for me - all rolled into one short week.  Seriously, I need more days in a week!  As darkness crept in, the day got drenched in a late afternoon heavy rain that is becoming more and more a 'regular' thing as we approach the 'wet season' in this tropical country of ours.  Too tired to mind all the attention-seeking events of the early evening, including my endlessly beeping phone as it notifies me with this and that, I fell asleep after praying my favorite prayer: the Angelus.

I awoke just before 9:00 pm, and I felt so much better.  Rather than going back to work, I decided to just call the night a 'me time'.  JK's voice still fills my house... but, rather than watching his music videos, I decided to watch a movie instead.  I scanned and scanned Netflix and my YouTube subscription... so many 'serious' films, but I paid them no attention.  About five years ago or so, I decided that my days of watching, analyzing and getting emotional talking about  serious films are over!   No more 'intellectual' films for me... I just want entertainment because, anyway, which film can top the "Godfather" series, "Love Story", "The Way We Were", "Good Will Hunting", and the likes?  Of course, all variants of the Avengers, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek films, and the likes are exception.  Not to say that the movies I watch these days are shallow... I just want straight-forward message, no pretensions and trying-(too)-hard-to-be-deep scripts... and no 'artsy-wannabe' either... to pass the time while getting much needed relaxation and updates on 'pop culture'.  I still rave over a number of films, of course... but if it's more than one-and-a-half hour film... I'd think twice.  This is why, these days, I go for TV movies.

There are films that are as short as TV movies but as substantial as my old faves.  I found one of these gems this evening, and I am so happy!  The film is entitled, "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" (ATHK), and it's absolutely brilliant!

"You took a chance, and you went for it.

You never have to look back and wonder 'what if'."

ATHK is a nine-year-old film.  It stars the fabulous Jamie Chung as the LA-based Chinese-American Ruby Lin, and the brilliant but so underrated, Bryan Greenberg as that "Expat" in Hong Kong, Josh Rosenberg, from New York. I love both Chung and Greenberg... and they portrayed their roles in the film so brilliantly.  

The plot is simple enough... just a case of "right person, wrong time":  two people meeting unexpectedly and connecting so wonderfully in the chaos of Hong Kong nightlife.  You rejoice at how they just hit it off so naturally... except that one of them is involved with someone else.  It's like seeing two people enjoying each other's company who are perfectly matched with each other... in wit, in sense of humor, in values and views of the world.  They were strangers, and yet, they managed to uplift each other's spirit, and brought confidence when there was doubt.  You'd wish that, after that evening when they first met, they'd meet again in the future... and have a chance to be together.  And when they did meet later after a year, it didn't feel forced and fairy-tale-ish.  The chemistry between them is so strong... it felt as if they were really meant for each other even when the impediments in their becoming a couple were still there, and even more complex this time.  Perhaps, it's because Chung and Greenberg are a real couple... and they made the film just before they got married.  The chemistry between them just colored the entire film, and it's nothing else but lovely!  

The script is fantastic in that it seems simple and straight-forward enough.  It feels like eavesdropping in the engaging conversation of soulmates (if there is such a thing) who found each other one fine evening when the stars aligned.  The way the two actors brought life to every word with their body language, every glance, every stare, every smile, their tone when they speak... every pause, every small hesitation, every discreet sigh of masked disappointment, every expression of fascination that is pure joy but restrained by a touch of sophistication and the desire for propriety, every playful banter... ahhh, it's too beautiful, I loved it!

The film sets the scenario in which a tug-o-war between what feels right and so natural, and what feels unjust for the people the lead characters are committed to, was central to the story. "Emotional cheating" was a thing in the film.  The way the actors showed restrain in fully giving in to the natural course where life seems to take them, and the overpowering longing of being together just because it feels so right was awesome.  In the end, they let the viewers decide the ending... and it's brilliant!

Have you already seen this film?  Not yet?  Intrigue?  Good!  Go watch... I promise you won't regret it.     

***

Video credit:  The owner is indicated in the video itself.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.   

'Throwback Thursday'...

 ...even when it's no longer 'a thing'.

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by PAM

I've just been watching this TV movie where a 'city girl' - a 'senseless one', if I may say so, was 'thrown' in the wilderness by a job-related project.  She was thrown-in in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of outdoorsy people who, like her, were competing for a contract with an app developer who organized the 'wilderness throw-in'. She was doing so badly... and it's annoying how she was always insanely hysterical at every turn in the wilderness, which, by the way, was so breathtakingly beautiful.  There was a good-looking guy in the bunch... and, predictably, he took notice of Ms. Hysterical.  And, predictably, she was annoyed at first by his guts and confidence... but eventually, his charm and consistent good nature won her over.  Not that I am not complaining... because I am.  Uhm, yes, that's right, I am complaining!  She doesn't deserve him!  Uh, yeah, I know... it's just a TV movie!

But what's my point?  I do have a point, see. 😅 In one of those scenes where the story belabored the point of how the 'opposites', Ms. Hysterical and Mr. Cool Outdoorsy, slowly fell for each other, they were crossing a gorge through a hanging bridge.  Mr. CO was guiding Ms. H (whose eyes were shut close... what do you expect? 🙄) along the bridge.  And then, he paused in the middle of the bridge to admire the beautiful view.  Ms. H opened her eyes, and gasped... taken by the beautiful view, too.  But, of course, she had to ruin the moment by her 'hysterically impressed' reaction. 🙄

A little part of the Boise River
viewed from the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge
at the Boise State University campus.

I know, you must be asking - again, "so, what's your point?" Hang on, 'cause I'm not here just to bash Ms. H.  I do have a point. Hmm... actually, I have a related story to tell.  Back in AY 2021-2022, I was in a Humphrey Fellowship at Pennsylvania State University ('Penn State').  While in the Fellowship, I had a great opportunity to travel around the US again. I chose to go to some of the places that I haven't been before, and joined events that I have not experienced before... and I loved it!  One of my favorites is my prolonged stay in Boise, ID.  I did a part of my Fellowship there, specifically in Boise State University (BSU), where one of my sisters used to work.  I loved it there!  It's the closest thing to a real 'happy marriage' between the preserved beauty of nature and urban living.  My sister's home, where I stayed, in the four trips that I took to Boise while in the Humphrey Fellowship (twice on vacation with my sister and her husband, and twice on official Humphrey Fellowship business) is located just several hundreds of footsteps from the BSU campus.  In the opposite direction from the campus, several hundred steps away, is downtown Boise.  There are several parks and points of interest in between... and that was why I loved walking to and from the campus... and taking a walk downtown during lunch breaks or before walking home.

"Boise is located in the Treasure Valley, along the Boise River.

The word 'boise' is French for 'wooded', and the name likely originates from 

French Canadian travelers who named the area Boise because it was a rare

wooded valley in the context of high desert area."

One of my favorite walking trails from the campus, specifically, from the library, to downtown and back is through the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge across the Boise River.  There was a long walking trail along the Boise River - the "Boise River Greenbelt", which ran from one region of the Boise City to another.  It is a famous walking, running and biking trail for the locals, including my brother-in-law who is an avid 'walker'.  The first time I walked along the Greenbelt and crossed the River towards downtown using the Bridge, it was between Fall and Winter time: Thanksgiving Break.  And, I was so astounded by the view of the mountains where the river seemed to appear magically, and then disappear again in the opposite direction. I frequented the trail and crossed the river through the Friendship Bridge, and the view took my breath away each time!  Mr. CO's reaction in the TV movie reminded me of my own reaction everytime I crossed the Friendship Bridge.  I took a few dozen photos and videos as well, especially when I was able to catch the sunset.  

In downtown Boise, the Capitol Blvd. where the Capitol is found at its end,
viewed from the Boise Depot on the hill.

When I returned to Boise for Christmas break, I was lucky enough to experience a beautiful white Christmas.  One of the highlights of my vacation was a sunset walk along the Greenbelt, crossing the river towards downtown together with my sister.  And, when I returned in springtime, I got curious, and the Bridge was the first that I visited as soon as I reached Boise... after eating lunch with my sister and brother-in-law, that is.  The view at the river, the surrounding lines of trees so green, and the mountains, was just breathtaking!  But what is most fascinating was that such sceneries can be found right smack in the middle of the City, and they bind the BSU campus with downtown Boise and the residential areas that were made so pretty by a huge variety of flowers.  I enjoyed that very much... along with all those friendly people in Boise that I had the great pleasure to meet, and some became friends. 

My 'I was there' photo, taken at the Boise Depot by my sister.

My longest stay in Boise was for five weeks, and it was towards the end of spring and halfway through summer.  Naturally, I went crazy!  Boise was so beautiful then... and the whole Boise was a-buzz with summer activities.  There are days when the City was quiet as most people would spend a long weekend, camping in the woods located in the outskirts of the City, or up the mountains.  I do think that it's a fascinating lifestyle, observing environmental sustainability and benefiting from it, too... and I loved it!  I wish to be back... and I hope that, next time, it will be for a longer period.

Did I make 'my point'?  Hmmm... I guess, not yet, huh?  Well, stay tuned then... more to follow!

***

Video credit:  The owner of the video is indicated in the video credits.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

Image credit:  All photos belong to me - I took them unless otherwise indicated.

***

Friday Night Music with JK and Train...

 ...drops of tears in Jupiter.

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by PAM

Train:  "Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken...?" 

Me:  Yeah, I can... and 

JK:  ..."it's a hard pill to swallow...." 

***

The Grammy award-winning "Drops of Jupiter (Tell me)" is one my favorite songs by Train (of the "Marry Me" fame)... maybe, one of my favorite songs ever, too.  I just love the lyrics... the melancholy that it imparts but sang so beautifully in masked sadness by the brilliant Pat Monahan in a backdrop of easy, uncomplicated, and yet, terrific music that has everything - from dramatic piano to romantic violin to a thumping rhythm section. Here, have a listen...

"Now that she's back in the atmosphere with drops of Jupiter in her hair...
she listens like spring and she talks like June..."

These days, listening to "Shot Glass of Tears" (SGOT) from Jung Kook's debut solo album, "Golden"... I have these nostalgic feels that take me back to 14 years ago when "Drops of Jupiter (Tell me)" (DOJTM) was released. Although the songs are completely different in terms of music, tempo and general appeal... lyrically, there are similarities.  The lyrics of SGOT and the way JK interprets it is in-your-face melancholic.  And it's amazing how JK can make even the lowest register of his voice can sound so melodic... and beautiful, even when he is singing live.  So gifted!  His singing is quite different from Monahan's powered and nicely controlled screeches in DOJTM that show his mastery of his craft.  Here, have a listen...

"She got some dangerous hobbies like chasin' after the sun
and making me fall in love."

Both songs talk about one's fascination... and love... for an incredible woman.  And it's beautiful... both.  The lyrical genius of DOJTM is subtle and sweet, "And tell me, did Venus blow your mind? Was it everything you wanted to find? And did you miss me while you're looking for yourself out there?"  So loving and indulging of one's subject of affection... and yet so tenderly longing for some affection, too. It's like a precarious balancing act between selfless love and the quiet desperation for just the smallest hint of reciprocation of one's deep affection.  One can tell that whoever wrote the lyrics (and I'm quite sure it was Monahan), possesses a love that is tamed by maturity.  

SGOT is a bit more juvenile in its hurried desire to let the subject of his affection know of his desperation to be healed by being loved, too: "Need something strong for the sorrow, something strong for the pain so I can wash it away.  I was cold, now I'm freezin'.  Stuck in permanent season, and we both know you're the reason.  I'm not the same as before, I don't feel anymore." 

Both songs are worth spending a Friday Night of music... lovely music - a "soul vacation".  

***

Video credit:  The owners of the videos are indicated in the video themselves.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

Wednesday Nostalgia...

 ...country music and many more! And by 'more', I mean, 'Jungkookie more'!

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by PAM

Ah, it feels like a lifetime ago since I last wrote a 'nostalgic' post here.  I have been preoccupied with so many things - important, unimportant depending on whose perspective... big things and small things, imagined and real... fun and agonizing, and everything in between... 'this and that'.  Yep, I have been totally buried six feet below 'grown-up stuff'... including stuff that makes grown-ups appear irresponsible to some... such as sleeping. Ah, well... 

There are so many things about the debut studio album by JungKook (JK), "Golden", that inspires musing and nostalgic feels... the most surprising of them all are the country music-sounding songs, "Yes or No" (YON) and "Too Sad to Dance" (TSTD), especially TSTD.  

I am mostly a 'rock chick', and I listen regularly to pop music.  I have soft spot for R&B. Uhm, actually, I am a sucker for R&B.  I never thought of myself as a fan of country music... but having lived in the US for several years in three separate decades and in three different States (and visited a whole bunch of other States), too, without knowing it, I developed some leanings towards country music... okay, 'country pop' is probably the more accurate description of the songs that I like in the country genre, and definitely a lot of 'country rock'.  Then again, even Taylor Swift is, first of all, a country music artist, too!  But if you take a listen to some country songs, you gotta admit, they do have their distinct charm, and they make you suffer from "last song syndrome (LSS)...

"In case you didn't know, baby, I'm crazy 'bout you..."
and I'd be lyin' if I said that I could live this life without you."

Hmmm... 'distinct charm', and that pinch of 'Americana' flavor.  You would think that it is an exclusive 'American thing'.  But then, even that beautiful New Zealand-born Aussie country music phenomenon, Keith Urban, who sings with such soulful depth can give justice to this country con Americana music.  After all, he lived in Nashville for a chunk of his life.  This is one of my favorite songs of his: his first Grammy award-winning song from more than 10 years ago, "You'll think of me".

"I went out driving trying to clear my head

I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left

I guess I'm feeling just a little tired of this

and all the baggage that seems to still exist..."

He is a native english speaker, and a country music artist, too.  So, his music mind is beautifully wired as such... every note shows it, and it's awesome! I am totally a big, big fan. 💖

Now, came "Golden"...  it is astounding how JK - a S. Korean singer who is not an english speaker with a brain that is "hard-wired K-Pop" could sing a song that is quite obviously written for a country singer, or a country pop singer, in a way that sounded authentic country, or country pop.  The song TSTD is a formulaic country: all that acoustics complete with whistling, the narrative way by which the lyrics are written, the melancholy but romantic words, and that bit about an older and more experienced person imparting wisdom to a younger person foolishly in love, etc. - it has 'country' written all over it.  And yet, JK took it on... wore it, and slayed it!      

"So last night I went to the club

Had a couple too many, threw up

Now, everybody's laughing at me

'Cause I'm way too sad, way too sad to dance

I'm way too sad to dance..."

See?  C'mon, you can say it!  It's good, right?  It is.  I love it!  Some friends of mine in the US who hailed from country music-inclined rural America cannot believe that this country pop song, TSTD, that has thin slices of 'Americana' meat, was sang by a K-Pop artist who is unable to guest on American talk shows without an interpreter in tow.  That is not a bad thing... it a great thing, and I'm so proud of JK! 💜

Here, this is one of those country songs (well, country rock, to be exact) that I like... I even sang it live with a band on stage at some point in my crazy life! My band and I prepared hard for it... and we did quite well (c'mon, a girl can dream!). 😉😅 It's "Play It Again" by Luke Bryan - a 10-year-old song that I only discovered about six years ago while on a roadtrip in rural Idaho, USA. 

"She was like, 'oh my God, this is my song

I've been listenin' to the radio all night long

Sittin' 'round, waitin' for it to come on, and here it is.'

She was like, 'come here, boy, I wanna dance.'

'Fore I said a word, she was takin' my hand 

Spinnin' me around 'til it faded out

And she gave me a kiss."

That was fun, right?  Ah, I love it... and singing it live on stage with a full band and a big crowd was one of the highlights of my craziness!  Uhm... I did sing "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift live on stage, too, at some point in this crazy life of mine! Haha... I had so much fun!  

And then I heard JK's, YON.  I knew right away that, after "3D", YON will be my biggest favorite from the "Golden" album, but I do like all songs.  YON isn't country, it's really a pop song... and yet, the lyrics do give a 'country feels', and the beautiful way that JK sang it can actually compel hardcore country fans to add it in their playlists, and it's great!  Here, have a listen...

"Everybody in this club so faded, I'm trippin' over getting lost on you

If we forever started out as strangers, I think my ever after just came true...

...and I gotta know, are you feeling the rush?

If so, then I think I know what's goin' on.

Are we falling in love?  Say yes or no..."

I definitely know what's goin' on here.  JK just won the world over.  Are we falling in love?  Damn, do you really need to ask?  But if you insist, the answer is a definite and a huge, huge "YES"!  So, yeah, let's keep listening... going back and forth between nostalgia and what is fresh and current - JK's music, that is.

***

Video credit:  The owners of the videos are indicated in the videos themselves.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

Looking back...

 ...marching forward - through excellent music!

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

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!

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

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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.

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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!  

 

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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. 

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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.

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

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