My Brightest Diamond

Okay, what just happened there in 2009?  It went by like a blur.  All snide comments aside about my utter lack of indie juice for that year, I could say that my personal evolution has tremendously affected the course of this website’s content.  As I review all my entries it’s been so issue-oriented and later on, I tried to experiment on describing sensations evoked by music and vice-versa.  The latter is a somewhat out-of-body experience, if you will, which might require a slight intoxication on my part (again, real or imagined).

But enough of my self-indulgent musings.  This year, I wish to introduce a new dimension to this blog which is to feature guest writers.  That’s right.  Other voices writing on this blog aside from moi. I’m sure by now you’re tired of this highly cynical and weird eccentric behind the keyboard.  Fine.  We’ll drag in another highly cynical and weird eccentric behind the keyboard! Hah.

So yes, expect some guy named Francis to pop into this scene once in a while.  By the way, Francis is a guy I can easily monitor.  By that, I don’t mean in the Foucauldian sense of the word nor at a predatory sense whereby I am the stalker and he is the stalkee.  No.  It is like the kind of monitor where I can see him sitting in front of class and slap his back startling enough that will remind him to write some more.  Take not that Francis is in no way being remunerated for his efforts yet (at least as far as cash is concerned because I will probably be subject to some ‘homework collaboration’ in the future should he ask for assistance in the event that I will be guilt-tripped to oblige).  But you know!  You get the point. He is also a ‘prolific’ indie artist.  By that I mean he has his own myspace! (Okay, up to you if you get my sick and twisted humor).  Kidding.  Again, let’s get that out of the way and just anticipate his words because you can probably pick up a thing or two from this extremely tenacious music geek.

I am also dragging some of my other friends into this salad of music geekery.  When they are no longer pretending to be busy – like I used to do.  Of course, in case they are telling me matter-of-factly that they have work this blah blah blah, I’m sure I’ll find a way to squeeze out a little piece of their wonderful minds once I’ve found their bargain weakness.  So there.  That’s what you’ll be expecting this 2010 in Southisms.  Shove Kim to the sides with her boring commentaries at late and in with the new fabulous music critics who’ve got some fresh insights in to the musical esse.

Now, time for a playlist. Maestro! Music!

My Brightest Diamond - Something of an end [Download]

Moby - Shot in the back of the head [Download]

The Books and Jose Gonzales - Cello Song [Download]

Andrew told me that I could write anything I want on this blog, ANYTHING I was passionate about to write. If you know me personally, it’s hard to tell what field I belong to.  That is because I’ve been all over the place and am practically interested in EVERYTHING.

A few months ago, I took the bold step of turning this blog into everything I was interested in.  And now it’s turn out to be an “anything goes” kind of blog.  But I haven’t done it any justice by waiting for its 2D walls to grow cobwebs.  WELL. That’s always been my bane.  Being too busy living life to write about it.  I even missed writing about the very eventful Kadayawan, but if I released anything at this point, I suppose it’s like stale cheese.  Which is worse than the smell of freshly fermented cheese…you get my point.

So, it’s back to basics for me and that’s the fact that I love music.

Did I tell you that I love music?

The other day, I was just thinking about it when I finally reunited with my lovely guitar after TWO YEARS. That’s a fairly long time to be away from an object you held on to practically everyday.  Imagine you lost your phone and found it two years later: that’s how I felt.

See, when I left Manila two summers ago, someone (who I had kindly sought favor to load my things at the back of the car while I prepared for my trip to the airport) forgot to load my guitar (among other valuable electronic gadgets, irritatingly so).  So by the time I got to the airport, I was cities away from my lovely wooden thing.

A few days ago, I got in touch with my cousin who I haven’t seen for the same number of years and found out that she took the liberty of taking MY guitar with her to Davao.  I just love her, she is definitely the best. That’s why I forgive her for the pink heart-shaped butingting that she pasted on my guitar’s pick guard, it’s alright by me. Even though I would never have approved of it to begin with.  Never mind, we can easily arrange its…removal.

What got me thinking even more while I was finally strumming the thing was how hard it is for a musician to love music without an instrument.  Or to REALLY love music without being able to play anything.  I know you’re all sick of my metaphors, but here’s another one:  It’s like, you can’t really appreciate sex until you’ve done it, in my humble opinion.

I finally get to play a song I’ve been dying to play myself which is Joy Division’s monumental single, “Love will tear us apart”.  For this post, I won’t have you listen to how I played it.  Instead, check out this superb cover from Jose Gonzales (who also made an equally superb rendition of Heartbeats by The Knife as well as Teardrop by Massive Attack).  For me, it’s always a joy to listen to guitar players and hear them sing to the songs that they play.

What more if I was THAT guitar player.

Jose Gonzales – Love will tear us apart (Joy Division cover) [Download]  [Lyrics]