Better known as the artist responsible for bringing bossa nova into mainstream radio, Sitti has taken on a less bossa nova sound and has started veering towards a more relatable jazz-pop acoustic sound. In her latest single Sinong Mag-aakala, the sweet-voiced singer seems to sound more relaxed therefore sounding better to me. I will not say if she is a good bossa nova artist because I am hardly an expert of the genre, but I will say that I like this change.

Sinong Mag-aakala is a love song that feels as light, as shy, and as beautiful as morning dew. It is a song I can easily imagine as the soundtrack to the moment when you wake up beside the person you love in the morning. Some lines of the song will feel like cliche. “Para lang akong nananaginip nang gising, para lang akong lumulutang sa hangin,” sings Sitti. I can still enjoy the song though, mostly because Sitti delivers the vocals with a delicate clarity and lightness that avoids becoming too dreamy, and therefore avoiding becoming too cheesy.

Watch the official music video of Sinong Mag-aakala directed by Paolo Bernaldo.

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2. Luningning: Jaco Benin’s puppy love?
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Independent contemporary acoustic trio Kithara is back with another single Should I Leave You Now.

Their previous song To Move On was not released on mainstream radio when I first blogged about them, but this February the song made it to the top spot on the Top 30 countdown of Love Radio 94.5FM and stayed there for four weeks. Now, Kithara has entered the countdown again with their new single Should I Leave You Now at number 17 as of writing.

What I really liked about Kithara is that although they are doing acoustic music, they are not trapped by the usual practice of only doing covers. They are able to write their own music. And I’m not even talking about songs that are half-assed and unripe for music lovers. I’m talking about words and music that listeners will be able to recall and relate to.

Should I Leave You Now is another sad song from the acoustic trio Pato, Dex and Poli. The lyrics of the song, written by Kithara vocalist Pato San Juan, start off to introduce the main dilemma of the song,

Should I stay a while
and tell you this is a lie?
Should I stand up
and tell you this is goodbye?

The music video was produced by Fansilog and was launched just this past Valentines. Watch the music video below.

Find out more about Kithara by liking their Facebook page.
You can download Should I Leave You Now or other songs by Kithara here.

You can also find out more about Kithara by going to their live gigs:
Mondays, 8pm: Forest Grill (Timog Avenue, Quezon City)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8pm: Kiraban Bar and Grill (Malugay Street, Makati City)
Saturdays, 8pm: Ang Pulo (Autocamp, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City)

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2. XLR8 releases new song “It’s Time to XLR8”
3. Where is Filipino hiphop in the mainstream scene now?

If you’ve been following me for quite a while, you would know that I’ve been waiting for a songwriting competition as grand as the MetroPop Song Festival, which only lasted from 1977 to 1985 and was revived in 1996 only to see its demise in 2003. The lack of a songwriting competition as grand as the MetroPop has been felt by a lot of Filipino music fans. I have noted in the past that we have been seeing a lot of singing competitions for over a decade now, with singing talents coming to us left and right every year if not every quarter. But I have always asked to no one in particular, who will write the songs for these new singers? Or will they be indefinitely relegated to singing covers and revivals? How will the OPM industry compete better with songs from the international music scene?

On February 16, organizers, OPM supporters and the media came together in the PICC Complex to celebrate the official launch of PhilPOP, the short name for the Philippine Popular Music Festival. PhilPOP is a songwriting competition open to all amateur and professional Filipino composers.

“Filipinos, in general, are musically gifted,” music maestro and PhilPOP executive director Ryan Cayabyab said. “We are well-known the world over simply because of our immense talent. But we are not just a country of talented singers, dancers and actors. With PhilPOP, I also want to shine the spotlight on our world-class composers and songwriters,” he added. The renowned musician also noted that this songwriting event is not a “revival” of another popular songwriting competition in the past decade.

“The competition is open to something new, maybe something old, something new put together, new fusions, new genres, perhaps something that the Filipino can say that ‘ah this is the stamp of Filipino music!’ I am very, very optimistic that something like that is gonna happen,” the Maestro beamed.

Meanwhile, business icon and PhilPOP chairman, Manny Pangilinan, also shared his motivation for lending support to the competition. “There are two reasons why I’m back in the Philippines after living in Hong Kong for so many years. I miss our religion and our music. You hear God’s voice in music,” he said.

Ogie Alcasid, president of OPM (Organisasyon Ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit), also noted, “Hindi po tumitigil yung paglikha ng kanta… Marami pong independent musicians ang lumilikha ng kanta, kinakanta nila… at binebenta nila yung kanilang mga awitin.” The musician also added, “Kultura natin ito. Bigyan natin ng pagpapahalaga. (This is our culture. Let us give it importance.)”

Maynilad president and chief executive Ricky Vargas, who is also the event’s organizing committee chairman, further noted the significance of PhilPOP. “It’s high time we celebrate the artistry of the Filipino songwriter. What better way to do that than by giving them an avenue to showcase home grown talent and shine on a stage of their own.”

Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) president Noel Cabangon, who was also present at the PhilPOP press conference, urged us that the local music scene can learn from K-pop, or Korean pop, which has gained a huge following in the Philippines, saying that the Korean music industry did not compromise Korean culture. “We should be able to create something that’s really Filipino. The challenge is that we have to be able to be conscious with our identity,” he further adds.

Also spotted supporting PhilPOP in the press conference were former Eraserheads front man Ely Buendia and big names in the songwriting scene Trina Belamide and Jungee Marcelo.

The Philippine Popular Music Festival is jointly presented by Maynilad, Meralco, PLDT, Smart Communications, Sun Cellular, PICC, TV5, DDB Philippines and official press launch food provider, Via Mare.

Interested composers can start submitting their entries online at PhilPop.com.ph starting March 1, 2012 until May 10, 2012. Song entries must be in MP3 format and can be in any popular music genre or a fusion of known genres, in any form or structure. Each entry must not exceed four minutes. Contestants can submit a maximum of two songs, either as a sole composer or as a collaborator. Song lyrics may be in Filipino, English, any Filipino dialect or a combination thereof.

There will be three levels of screenings and during the semi-finals, the judges will choose the top 14 finalists. The final performance and competition night will be held on July 14, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The grand prize winner will receive P1 million in cash and a trophy. The second and third placers will each receive a trophy and P500,000 and P250,000 in cash respectively. All non-winning finalists will receive P50,000. A People’s Choice award will also be given to the entry with the most number of online and SMS votes. The People’s Choice award winner will receive P200,000 and a trophy.

Related posts:

1. Fontana Independence Day Music Festival 2011
2. Behind the scenes of the “Delivery Boys” music video from Somedaydream
3. Top 20 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011

Missed the live telecast of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards? Here are some of the performances.

This year included farewell tributes to two top-notch female artists.

Etta James was a winner of six Grammy Awards during the span of her career and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008. She is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Etta James passed away on January 20, 2012. In the late singer’s memory, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt performed A Sunday Kind of Love.

Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt – A Sunday Kind of Love

The Grammys also said goodbye to an artist who has just passed away on February 11, 2012, just a day before the awards ceremony. Whitney Houston is a musical legend known even to today’s younger generation. She has earned six Grammy awards during the course of her highly successful career. One of these Grammys was for Best Pop Vocal Performance for the song I Will Always Love You, which Jennifer Hudson sang in Whitney’s memory.

Jennifer Hudson – I Will Always Love You

The big winner of the night was Adele winning in all the six categories she was nominated in, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Her live performance of her hit song Rolling in the Deep marks the artist’s first live performance after undergoing vocal cord surgery last year.

Adele – Rolling in the Deep

Here are some of the other memorable performances from the Grammy Awards 2012. You can also check out the complete list of Grammy Awards winners 2012.

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson – Don’t You Wanna Stay

Bruno Mars – Runaway Baby

The Band Perry, Blake Shelton and Glen Campbell – Gentle On My Mind, Southern Nights, Rhinestone Cowboy

Nicki Minaj – Roman Holiday

Taylor Swift – Mean

Chris Brown, David Guetta, Lil Wayne, Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 – I Can Only Imagine, Rope, Raise Your Weapon

Foo Fighters – Walk

Rihanna and Coldplay – We Found Love, Princess Of China, Paradise

Chris Brown – Turn Up The Music, Beautiful People

Katy Perry – E.T., Part of Me

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band – We Take Care of Our Own

Maroon 5, Foster the People and The Beach Boys – Surfer Girl, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Good Vibrations

Paul McCartney – My Valentine

Related posts:

1. Grammy Awards Winners List 2012
2. Don’t You Wanna Stay with Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
3. The Voice Season 2 premieres this February on AXN

In this year Grammy Awards, Adele was not only nominated six times, she also won in all six categories, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year. The Brit singer also won Best Pop Solo Performance for her tearjerker Someone Like You, for which she also thanked her doctors saying, “seeing as it’s a vocal performance, I need to thank my doctors, I suppose, who brought my voice back.” Adele’s performance of Rolling in the Deep earned her a standing ovation from the Grammy audience, this performance being her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery a few months ago.

Kanye West also went home with three trophies for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for All of the Lights, and Best Rap Performance (with Jay-Z) for Otis, and Best Rap Album for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Foo Fighters were also big winners as the rock band won their first Grammy ever and picked up four more as the night went on.

Below is the complete list of the Grammy Awards winners this year. 78 awards in all, plus the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Record Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep
Adele
Paul Epworth, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Mark Rankin, engineers/mixers
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]

Album Of The Year
21
Adele
Jim Abbiss, Adele, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Fraser T. Smith, Ryan Tedder & Dan Wilson, producers; Jim Abbiss, Philip Allen, Beatriz Artola, Ian Dowling, Tom Elmhirst, Greg Fidelman, Dan Parry, Steve Price, Mark Rankin, Andrew Scheps, Fraser T. Smith & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]

Song Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records; Publishers: Universal-Songs of Polygram/EMI Music Publishing]

Best New Artist
Bon Iver

Best Pop Solo Performance
Someone Like You
Adele
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Body And Soul
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Track from: Duets II
[Columbia Records]

Best Pop Instrumental Album
The Road From Memphis
Booker T. Jones
[Anti Records]

Best Pop Vocal Album
21
Adele
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]

Best Dance Recording
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
Skrillex
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
[Big Beat/Atlantic]

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
Skrillex
[Big Beat/Atlantic]

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Duets II
Tony Bennett & Various Artists
[Columbia Records]

Best Rock Performance
Walk
Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
White Limo
Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]

Best Rock Song
Walk
Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records; Publishers: M.J.-Twelve Music, I Love The Punk Rock Music, Living Under A Rock Music, Flying Earform Music, Ruthensmear Music]

Best Rock Album
Wasting Light
Foo Fighters
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]

Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver
Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]

Best R&B Performance
Is This Love
Corinne Bailey Rae
Track from: The Love EP
[Capitol]

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Fool For You
Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
[Radiculture/Elektra]

Best R&B Song
Fool For You
Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim, Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
[Radiculture/Elektra; Publishers: Jacks Love Emporium/Radiculture Publishing/EMI Blackwood Music, Chrysalis Music/God Given Music]

Best R&B Album
F.A.M.E.
Chris Brown
[Jive Records]

Best Rap Performance
Otis
Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
All Of The Lights
Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A-Fella]

Best Rap Song
All Of The Lights
Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A Fella; Publishers: EMI April Music, EMI Blackwood Music, Headphone Junkie Publishing, Please Gimme My Publishing, Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]

Best Rap Album
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
[Roc-A-Fella]

Best Country Solo Performance
Mean
Taylor Swift
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records]

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Barton Hollow
The Civil Wars
Track from: Barton Hollow
[Sensibility Music LLC]

Best Country Song
Mean
Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music]

Best Country Album
Own The Night
Lady Antebellum
[Capitol Records Nashville]

Best New Age Album
What’s It All About
Pat Metheny
[Nonesuch]

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
500 Miles High
Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Forever (Corea, Clarke & White)
[Concord Records]

Best Jazz Vocal Album
The Mosaic Project
Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
[Concord Jazz]

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Forever
Corea, Clarke & White
[Concord Records]

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
The Good Feeling
Christian McBride Big Band
[Mack Avenue Records]

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Jesus
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]

Best Gospel Song
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Blessings
Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]

Best Gospel Album
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
And If Our God Is For Us…
Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]

Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
Drama Y Luz
Maná
[Warner Music Mexico]

Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
Bicentenario
Pepe Aguilar
[Venemusic]

Best Banda Or Norteño Album
Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends
Los Tigres Del Norte
[Fonovisa]

Best Tropical Latin Album
The Last Mambo
Cachao
[Eventus/Sony Music Latin]

Best Americana Album
Ramble At The Ryman
Levon Helm
[Vanguard/Dirt Farmer Music]

Best Bluegrass Album
Paper Airplane
Alison Krauss & Union Station
[Rounder]

Best Blues Album
Revelator
Tedeschi Trucks Band
[Masterworks]

Best Folk Album
Barton Hollow
The Civil Wars
[Sensibility Music LLC]

Best Regional Roots Music Album
Rebirth Of New Orleans
Rebirth Brass Band
[Basin Street Records]

Best Reggae Album
Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life
Stephen Marley
[Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]

Best World Music Album
Tassili
Tinariwen
[Anti Records]

Best Children’s Album
All About Bullies… Big And Small
(Various Artists)
Jim Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
[Cool Beans Music & East Coast Recording Co.]

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t)
Betty White
[Penguin Audio]

Best Comedy Album
Hilarious
Louis C.K.
[Comedy Central Records]

Best Musical Theater Album
The Book Of Mormon
Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, artists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez,
Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
[Ghostlight Records]

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1
(Various Artists)
Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, producers
[Elektra]

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
The King’s Speech
Alexandre Desplat, composer
[Decca]

Best Song Written For Visual Media
I See The Light (From Tangled)
Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
Track from: Tangled
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Wonderland Music/Walt Disney Music]

Best Instrumental Composition
Life In Eleven
Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones)
Track from: Rocket Science
[eOne Music]

Best Instrumental Arrangement
Rhapsody In Blue
Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: That’s How We Roll
[Telarc International]

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)
Track from: Duets II
[RPM/Columbia Records]

Best Recording Package
Scenes From The Suburbs
Caroline Robert, art director (Arcade Fire)
[Merge Records]

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story
Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)
[Columbia Records]

Best Album Notes
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s
Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Arhoolie Records]

Best Historical Album
Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition)
Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
[Hear Music]

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Paper Airplane
Neal Cappellino & Mike Shipley, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
[Rounder]

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Paul Epworth

• Call It What You Want (Foster The People) (T)
• I Would Do Anything For You (Foster The People) (T)
• I’ll Be Waiting (Adele) (T)
• Life On The Nickel (Foster The People) (T)
• No One’s Gonna Love You (Cee-Lo Green) (S)
• Rolling In The Deep (Adele) (T)

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Cinema (Skrillex Remix)
Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)
Track from: Electroman
[Ultra Records]

Best Surround Sound Album
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)
Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
[USM/UMe/Polydor]

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Aldridge: Elmer Gantry
Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
[Naxos]

Producer Of The Year, Classical
Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
[Deutsche Grammaphon]

Best Opera Recording
Adams: Doctor Atomic
Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[Sony Classical]

Best Choral Performance
Light & Gold
Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King’s Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
[Decca]

Best Small Ensemble Performance
Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide
Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
[Cedille Records]

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
Track from: Schwantner: Chasing Light…
[Naxos]

Best Classical Vocal Solo
Diva Divo
Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L’Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L’Opéra National De Lyon)
[Virgin Classics]

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry
Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
[Naxos]

Best Short Form Music Video
Rolling In The Deep
Adele
Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]

Best Long Form Music Video
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth
Foo Fighters
James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
[Exclusive Media Group/RCA Records/Back & Fort]

2012 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, the Memphis Horns, Diana Ross, Gil Scott-Heron

Related posts:

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The energy never subsided in the recent party launch that happened in Urban Athletics in Greenbelt 3, last Saturday night February 4. Also coined as, Pulse Saturdays: We Got Dibs (Dropping Ill beats/brands simultaneously), this event featured local grown artists and brands that imbibe the urban scene.

Headlining the acts were Amber Davis and Brenan of Audio Clef Records, Thyro and Yumi of Viva Records, Pikaso of Turf Entertainment and Ninks of Flip Music. The albums represent a mixture of old school, new school, underground, mainstream hiphop and R&B that will cater to any music enthusiast.

Considered as the “Ambassador for High Quality Music,” Amber Davis brings Light Years to hip urban fashionistas who dig mainstream music. Thyro and Yumi meanwhile establish themselves as among the hottest duo to hit mainstream music with their new album Kiss (Never Let Me Go).

Pinoy Pop Superstar finalist Brenan also makes a comeback with his new school album Back to Me, as distinguished underground artist Ninks launched This Way Up. One of the country’s pillars of Filipino hiphop, Pikaso, also comes up with his new album during the event.

Alongside the album launch was the release of four spanking new brands – Magic 89.9 Boys Night Out Shirts, Empire x Fanboy and Born with Greatness Wipcaps x Fliptop’s Battle MC.

Famed for their naughtiness in the urban radio show Magic 89.9′s, Sam YG, Toni Tony and Slick Rick, or the Boys’ Night Out’s launched their most famous “MOMOL” or Make Out, Make Out Lang shirt. The whole BNO line is now exclusively available in Urban Athletics.

Meanwhile, basketball geeks went gaga over the exclusive and limited release of Hardwood Kings line by Empire x Fanboy Clothing which pays tribute to the legends of NBA.

Wipcaps also dropped their most requested yet cap, Wipcaps x Fliptop’s Battler MC. Born with Greatness shirts was also released to complete the line of Urban Athletics.

The event is presented by Urban Athletics and Team Strato and backed by Viva Records, Audioclef records, Turf Entertainment, Flip Music, Boys Night Out, Empire X Fanboy, Born with Greatness and media partners Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1 and Clavel magazine.

It was a party treat for audio, fashion and partyphiles. Nathan J. of Wave 89.1 along with spin master DJ Spinz of Jeepney Music intensified the Pulse Saturdays: We Got D.I.B.S.! event. Guests enjoyed free flowing beer, beer-pong tournament, live performances, and a raffle draw with prizes at stake.

Related posts:

1. Urban Athletics launches Dada footwear, PSP and Kings on Deck Vol. 2 mixtape
2. Missing You – The Saturdays
3. Fontana Independence Day Music Festival 2011

The Voice is coming back on its second season this February. And if you’re in Asia, you can catch the music and the action on AXN starting February 6.

The Voice offers aspiring singers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by celebrity coaches. Every one of the show’s four coaches, namely Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and country superstar Blake Shelton, are artists who are still selling records and successful in their careers. The four coaches return to their red swiveling chairs with their sizzling chemistry. This season will feature more rounds of blind auditions and each team will have 12 acts compared to last season in which there were only eight acts per team.

The chemistry between the four coaches just sizzles naturally. But even though we watch and laugh at their antics and their friendly banter, they are still getting down to business. The coaches do have fun messing around in their red swiveling chairs, but at the end of the day it’s still about developing talent. Word is that the show will showcase more diverse talents this season. Christina Aguilera’s team will include “everything from an opera singer, powerhouse MC to soul singers.” Christina Aguilera also teased that the four coaches will start the season with a “kickass” opening performance by the coaches this season.

I can tell you that I am very excited to see what The Voice has in store for us on its second run. Who is not as excited? Maybe American Idol Randy Jackson. In a press conference in January, AI judge Randy Jackson insinuated that The Voice was a show for second chances.

In a TV guesting on “Ellen,” The Voice coach Adam Levine reacted to this comment with the Maroon 5 frontman called Jackson irresponsible. Adam said, “Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that, because he, if anybody should know, that if you’re in this business, you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances, and so we love embracing that and having that be a part of the show.”

Also signing up as guest mentors on the second season of The Voice are country star Miranda Lambert, Lionel Richie, Kelly Clarkson, Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Robin Thicke, and Ne-Yo. So which guest mentors go to which team?

Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert are set to mentor for Team Blake. Lionel Richie and Jewel will be on Team Xtina. Robin Thicke and Alanis Morissette will be helping members of Team Adam. Babyface and Ne-Yo will offer their services for members of Cee Lo’s team. The guest mentors will be assisting the four coaches and their teams during the “battle rounds” of the series.

During the battle rounds the coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together in front of a studio audience. After the vocal face-off, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance. At the end of the battle episodes, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the live stage shows.

In this final performance phase of the competition, the top artists from each team will compete against each other during a live broadcast. The television audience will vote to save their favorite talent, leaving the coach to decide live who they want to save and who will not move on. In the end, each coach will have one star artist left ready to compete against the other teams’ finalists to be named “The Voice” – the winner will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.

Who will make it after the blind auditions? Who will make it to which team? And this year, who will emerge as The Voice? Watch the preview for The Voice Season 2 below.

The Voice Season 2 premieres on AXN on February 6 (Monday) at these times: 9pm (JKT/TH), 10pm (SG/MY/HK), 10:55pm (Philippines). You can also check AXN’s website for their broadcast schedule.

Related posts:

1. The Voice set for Asian premiere this August from AXN

Cornerstone Concerts and Qualibet is getting a piece of the live music action this coming February with a hot concept event for the month of hearts entitled Make Me Sweat: A Sexy Valentines Show. This one-night-only show features up and coming singer and one of today’s hottest TV personalities Markki Stroem and the iconic dance group G-Force on a one-of-a-kind pairing.

Recall that Markki Stroem had shown what he was made of in front of millions of TV viewers when he bade it as a finalist in ABSCBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent” back in 2010. His tall Filipino-Norwegian looks and exceptional singing and songwriting definitely made him a favorite in the show. Stroem’s career is just blossoming and 2012 could be his banner year with his soon to be released album under a major record label. Besides being a first-rate singer, Stroem has also showcased his acting skills during his run as Henry in the Atlantis Productions theatrical production “Next to Normal” where he was nominated as best actor in the Philippine Broadway Awards.

The talented young man will parlay all that and probably a bit more come February 4, when he is paired with one of the country’s most in demand dance groups on TV and in the concert scene.

G-Force is a force to be reckoned with when the topic of dance is raised. The veteran dance group is led by director Georcelle Dapat-Sy and managing director Angel Sy. The A-list dance group has already proved its high caliber standards. Innovative, hip, fresh — those are just some of the adjectives that come to mind when G-Force is being described.

So expect it to be a fine balance of song and dance, and a sexy one at that, as these two acts pair off in a musical extravaganza that will pit youthful exuberance, good looks and the sexually appealing persona of Markki Stroem and the naturally sexy iconic dance group G-Force in Make Me Sweat: A Sexy Valentine Show.

The big night is on February 4 (Saturday) 8pm at the Music Museum. For tickets call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or at 351-4252.

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1. Yeng Constantino: Ok Lang Maging Single sa Valentines

Pop rock princess Yeng Constantino is on a creative streak! The singer/songwriter behind the hit Hawak Kamay is brewing something different and special as she unveils her Valentine musical presentation Ok Lang Maging Single sa Valentines.

The title of the show is a phrase born out of Yeng’s own idea. “It was August last year around the time of my solo concert at the Aliw Theater when I thought of the title, and immediately the concept of a show came to me,” Yeng said. “I thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice to come up with a show with singles in mind instead of the usual Valentines show for couples?’” she added.

Hence, the catchy title and the burst of creative energy from Yeng, who since her 2011 solo concert, has been becoming more hands-on when it comes to her career. “I’m contributing to the whole look of the show, from the concert poster design, as well as the songs that I’ll do and the choice of musicians I want to play with.”

For sure, come Valentines, we’ll be inundated by advertisements regarding dinner dates and other specials with couples in mind. We doubt that you’ll see any other hearts-day event that pertains to “singles” except this one from Yeng Constantino, and there lies the uniqueness of her show. Not only does Yeng have the interest of the singles community at heart, but who better to speak for “all the lonely people” than she who is in the same boat? “I think it’s normal to wish for someone special to come along, but if it’s not the right time, we shouldn’t force it. Let’s enjoy the single-blessedness of our situation,” she positively notes. Yeng Constantino adds that all the song numbers she will be performing will be a case to prove why it’s good to be single.

Ok Lang Maging Single sa Valentines opens on February 3 (Wednesday) 8pm at The Music Museum with special guests Jovit Baldivino and Paolo Valenciano. The show is brought to you by Cornerstone Concerts, RRJ and Qualibet. Directing the show will be Dido Camara, the brains behind the “ASAP Sessionistas,” while music direction will be under guitarist and producer Jack Rufo.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999. Ticket prices are at Php2500, Php1500 and Php1000.

(Photos: Jojit Lorenzo)

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It’s the last day of the year, and this is the last part of the list of Top 40 songs of 2011. So let’s count them down now while the year hasn’t ended yet.

10 – Raise Your Glass – Pink

In Raise Your Glass, I just love how Pink owns up to and identifies herself as a “dirty little freak” just like most of her fans would certainly identify to as well. I guess that’s part of Pink’s charisma. Even in her previous songs, she has always owned up to being an individual who will not compromise her uniqueness. The music video shows Pink posing as Rosie Riveter, singing in a gay wedding ceremony (wedding kiss included), dancing as a nerd, chilling as a skater, in bed with members of different religious groups, and milking humans so that a cow can drink.

Memorable lines:

So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways, all my underdogs
We will never be never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks

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1. Top 20 Songs of 2011
2. Top 10 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011
3. Top 20 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011

After three hundred and sixty five days of OPM 2011, which artists made waves? Which songs became engraved in the mainstream consciousness? Let’s have a look at the top 10 OPM (original Pilipino music) that conquered the music scene during the year that was 2011. Do take note that I don’t have airplay stats or record sales stats as bases for the rankings. I based my rankings on how popular I think the songs have become, and on how likely these songs will stay on my playlist without being skipped regularly. In short, the more popular and more replay-friendly the song is, the higher it would rank in the countdown.

10 – Kung Siya ang Mahal – Sarah Geronimo

Truth be known, I feel like Kung Siya ang Mahal is one of Sarah Geronimo‘s more boring songs. The song is not very striking to say the least. The pop princess I see here is someone I’ve already seen in the past. It almost feels like she recorded the song back in 2003. Sarah’s vocal performance here doesn’t do much in the way of relaying that she is broken-hearted. By default though, any song from Sarah Geronimo is bound for chart success though what with her very active, very supportive, very loyal fans eager for her every success.

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3. Top 20 Songs of 2011

You’ve seen which songs made it to the bottom half of this year’s Top 40. Which artists do you think made it to the top 20? Let’s continue where we left off and launch ourselves at the Top 20 of 2011.

[Read about the bottom half of the Top 40 songs of 2011.]

20 – Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars seems to be the magic kid these days with all his songs hitting chart success. His huge-hearted urban love song Just the Way You Are was really released in July 2010 in the US, but it really hit hard here during the latter part of 2010. I didn’t think it would continue peaking during the early half of 2011. That is why you’ll see it in last year’s Top 20 as well.

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1. Top 10 Songs of 2011
2. Top 20 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011
3. Top 10 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011

Did it look like 2011 was good for OPM? Let us count down the top 20 local hits that entertained us this year. Do take note that I don’t have airplay stats or record sales stats as bases for the rankings. I based my rankings on how popular I think the songs have become, and on how likely these songs will stay on my playlist without being skipped regularly. In short, the more popular and more replay-friendly the song is, the higher it would rank in the countdown.

20 – Ako Na Lang – Zia

Zia‘s debut this year reminds me a lot of when Julianne first broke into the mainstream music scene in 2007 with Tulak ng Bibig. Zia’s debut has the same fresh vibe forgoing the need for a glitzy or glamorous debut. The talent just speaks for itself. And the personality shines through as well. With Ako na Lang, the singer marks herself as someone candid, breezy, young, and with a bright sense of humor. You tend to forget that she is a member of the Quizon showbiz clan as her singing shows you that she lives through “everyday experiences” just as much as non-celebrities do.

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1. Top 10 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011
2. Top 20 Songs of 2011
3. Top 10 Songs of 2011

2011 is about to end, and so I’m here again to count down the top 40 international songs that we enjoyed this year. Do take note that I don’t have airplay stats or record sales stats as bases for the rankings. I based my rankings on how popular I think the songs have become, and on how likely these songs will stay on my playlist without being skipped regularly. In short, the more popular and more replay-friendly the song is, the higher it would rank in the countdown.

40 – If I Die Young by The Band Perry

If I Die Young was originally released as early as mid-2010 but only peaked in 2011 when it crossed over from the realm of country music to mainstream territory. This song from The Band Perry won in the CMAs (Country Music Association Awards) as the Single of the Year and as the Song of the Year. It was also nominated in the 53rd Grammy Awards for Best Country Song.

What made If I Die Young really attractive to me wasn’t so much the melody. Although the melody proves to be very easy to the ears, it was the lyrics that got to me. Overall, the lines don’t seem to flow very smoothly from one image or point to the next, but I just can’t help but admire a few choice lines.

Memorable lines:

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I’ll sell ‘em for a dollar
They’re worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singin’
Funny when you’re dead how people start listenin’

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1. Top 20 Songs of 2011
2. Top 20 OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Songs of 2011
3. “Yuoy!”: Q-York makes up words and makes them songs

Dada is the hottest urban basketball brand in Europe that produces clothing and apparel for the hiphop community. Dada began as a hat and t-shirt company in 1995, which was aimed to target the urban basketball youth.

Blade sneakers from Dada

“We are excited and proud that Dada is finally hitting the Philippines. I know that a lot of Dada fans are thrilled to expect popular Dada lines,” said Dada brand manager Marc Vinas. “The Dada urban and athletic line is sold in major athletic retailers worldwide and has been endorsed by athletes including NBA players Latrell Sprewell, Chris Webber, Karl Malone and Horace Grant. Entertainers from Snoop Dogg, Ludacris and even Leonardo di Caprio have also endorsed the product. Watch out for Dada as it hits stores this December,” added Vinas.

“Urban Athletics continues to be the trend-setter when it comes to urban sports fashion and street wear. With the arrival of Dada footwear, our market can expect the freshest drops from this very popular brand. It will definitely excite the members of the hiphop community but the urban fashionista as well,” said Toby P. Claudio, founder of Urban Athletics.

Aside from promoting international brands, Urban Athletics has always believed in supporting home-grown talents. This is the reason behind its recent collaboration with known underground urban graffiti artists Pilipinas Street Plan (PSP). Collaboration gathered PSP’s top creative artists Whoop, Nemo, Jood and Vermont to design limited edition shirts that fused together their signature elements with Urban Athletics’ persona.

Dada Footwear and Pilipinas Street Plan (PSP) x Urban Athletics collab t-shirts are exclusively available at Urban Athletics, located at the second floor of Greenbelt 3.

Celebrity Spottings and Urban Jammings on Pulse Saturdays

Pulse Saturdays, which was organized in partnership with Dada, Pilipinas Street Plan, Nike 6.0, Wip Caps, Nix Damn P, Wika records, flip Music, Unschooled, and media partners, Ms. Clavel, wave 89.1, and Stratosphere productions, launched the Kings on deck Vol. 2: Two for the Bass mixtape for a new round of unique urban music.

Kings on Deck Vol. 2: Two for the Bass mixtape

The mixtape features hot artists in the urban scene like Nix Damn P of YenTown Kid Co. and MC Ron Thug of Wika Records. Fresh and talented hiphop artists such as Pow Chavez, Ron Henley and BNK (Blaze and Kane) performed in the event. To amp up the energy some more, Unschooled, fresh from their bronze medal win in the World Supremacy Battlegrounds in Australia, burned the dance floor.

Urban Athletics launched the first Kings on Deck: Genesis mixtape last October 8, the first of the Pulse Saturdays.

Celebrities knew where to go. Among those sighted were well-known LA-based Filipino rapper Roscoe Umali, Pinoy rapper Dello of Fliptop, FHM goddess Ara Pascual, Playboy playmates Billy Abelada, Allysa Samonte, Jobie Quinn, Philippine All Stars member Matt Padilla and Orwayne De Leon. San Beda Lion twins Anthony and David Semerad were also seen playing NBA 2k12 with Youtube sensation Moymoy Palaboy and Harvey Carey of Talk and Text.

Pulse Saturdays perked up the night with free-flowing beer, an NBA 2k12 competition, and celebrity beer pong. Exciting raffles from brands such as Nike, Wip Caps, Adidas, Dada Footwear and more were given away.

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Sayang is the second single off indie Pinoy band Arko‘s second album Bitter, Sweet and Even.

The Pinoy rock foursome, composed of Brian Sta. Ana (guitars), Ivan Raquid (bass), Boyet Robleado (drums) and Nathalie Parayno (vocalist), has been together for at least seven years. With the launch of their independently-produced second album, the band says that more of their musical influences and their personal styles have found its way into the album compared to their first album where they were more or less still experimenting with their sound. Talking to the band members, I can genuinely feel how they feel for their music and I am not exaggerating. Their passion for Filipino music shows not only in the music they make but also in their opinions about Filipino music in general. They actually think of issues in the music industry that I rarely hear hear other artists talk about with even a tad of real passion.

What I really like about the Arko’s music is that it feels authentic without trying too hard to be in your face. After listening to them, I was convinced that they have 70s Pinoy rock as a musical influence. I like that they are able to put their own flavor into it to make it current. Arko’s vocalist Nathalie is one heck of a vocalist. It’s like 80s Pinoy rock meets jazz and the blues. Her singing instantly reminds me of Cooky Chua, Lou Bonnevie, and Debbie Harry (of Blondie).

Arko’s second album Bitter, Sweet and Even was also launched at the same time as Fansilog.com, an OPM website catering to music enthusiasts and fans alike. Besides being an all-Filipino music content website for fans, Fansilog also offers a medium for Pinoy artists and bands to upload their songs and music videos and let their fans know where their next gig will be. In fact, Fansilog is inviting artists and bands to submit their songs and if Fansilog likes it, they will produce the music video for free (as of the moment).

As a taste of things to come, Fansilog launched Arko as its first featured band. Fansilog worked with Arko on their music video for their song Sayang. You can catch the official music video by heading over to Fansilog or by clicking on the image below.

You can also help the song climb up the Myx Charts: text “MYX REQUEST SAYANG ARKO” and send to 2366. You can also enjoy fourteen original tracks from Arko by getting their album Bitter, Sweet and Even from an Astrovision branch near you.

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Kelly Clarkson gives us Mr. Know It All. The song serves as the lead single from her upcoming album Stronger, set for release on October 25.

It does look like the word that has been circulating for a while is true that the vocals would be more or less raw and not autotuned, which I actually like with Kelly. There’s a certain edge and attitude to her voice that is showcased better when it’s raw like how it is here in Mr. Know It All.

I do prefer Kelly Clarkson when she goes uptempo with a kick-ass attitude like in her past hits Since U Been Gone and Walk Away, but since she is such a versatile vocalist, she can sing in any tempo and any genre and I would still be happy. In Mr. Know It All, Kelly goes midtempo and returns to pop-rock.

Mr. Know It All will be on iTunes on September 5. For now, listen to the track below.

How do you like Mr. Know It All? It’s been a while since Kelly released a single. Is this what you have been expecting from Kelly Clarkson? Feel free to leave your comments below.

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Nicki Minaj releases her latest single Fly, a collaboration with Rihanna. The song comes as the eighth overall single from Nicki Minaj’s debut studio album Pink Friday.

I didn’t really like the song when I first heard it. But after listening to Fly a couple of times more, it started to grow on me. The song has an inspirational feel to it, talking about conquering and surviving adversity and negativity. Nicki Minaj spits out lines against being stereotyped and boxed in. The hook, delivered by Rihanna, becomes a mantra. I can totally see the song becoming a self-empowerment song. I feel like I’m already soaring just listening to the song. Fly gives you a feeling of determined courage that in effect almost gives you a taste of victory already.

Nicki Minaj plays the part of someone who has been down and out but now ready to stand up and win. “Get ready for it, I came to win,” the song says. In Fly, Nicki Minaj proves that she isn’t just the larger-than-life and tough celebrity she is known to be but also a softie at heart.

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Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, two of today’s hottest country music superstars, finally do a duet with the song Remind Me. The song comes as the third single from Brad Paisley’s album This Is Country Music.

Sure, the song also sings about pain, but beyond that Remind Me is just so full of longing for things to go back to how they first were. The song is basically about rekindling the flame in a relationship. Filled with lines describing beautiful memories, Remind Me gives us glimpses of those sweet and tender and sometimes even foolish moments that made sparks fly between loving couples.

However, just as the hook and the title says, Remind Me is still a sad song, although it is a sad song that is still hopeful. It doesn’t choose to linger on the pain. It chooses to focus on holding on to those sweet memories wishing that these memories will serve to reignite the fire in the relationship.

The hope of rekindling the relationship builds up very naturally as the song progresses from start to finish. Even the excellent vocals from Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley show how that hopeful feeling grows as they go from verse to verse. By the end of the song, you might even forget that Remind Me is a song that springs from sadness.

Every situation is certainly a glass half-empty or a glass half-full depending on how you look at it. Although Remind Me leaves the story open-ended, never really telling if the couple did end up as in love as before, you just can’t help but hope for the best for the couple personified in the song.

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Who’s Laughing Now comes as the latest single from English singer-songwriter Jessie J‘s debut studio album Who You Are.

In the song, Jessie J aka Jessica Ellen Cornish makes references to people who have put down and bullied her before she became a famous pop star. Who’s Laughing Now seems to be pitched as a song about self-motivation. I kind of see it as a song about pride and revenge though, although the vengeance part not as physically aggressive or violent as shown in the official music video. As the title suggests, the revenge really is just the laughing part that comes as an afterthought.

Some might listen to Jessie J singing Who’s Laughing Now and think that the song is a about bullying in general. I, however, think that the song wasn’t really meant to be a statement about bullying, but just Jessie J telling her story. Don’t you think the song’s general vibe is a bit immature? There’s a little insight in there, but the songs comes off as a bit self-centered to me. I mean, come on, it’s a song that enjoys laughing at her past detractors and how these people now appear to admire her. I call that immature, but I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. That is actually what I like about Jessie J, she is not afraid to show who she is, immature or not, in telling a story in her songs. This makes her all the more “real” to me, not just a manufactured pop star. She is imperfect, relateable, and likeable.

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