Fave Band: Mr. Big

Lately, I've been listening to my Mr. Big cassette tapes - Lean Into It (1991), Bump Ahead (1993), and Hey Man (1995), quite sad that I would never hear these songs live again, as the band had broken up years ago and were pretty much not friends with each other.

Much to my surprise and delight, I stumbled upon news at Peyups.com that they are currently having a reunion tour in Japan. I promptly head over to Wikipedia, YouTube, and MrBigSite.com to confirm the news. I was overjoyed to see that it was indeed true. And of course, I was very happy that they were all friends again :)

Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert are considered gods in their respective roles as bassist and guitarist. Pat Torpey's got some cool beats. And Eric Martin's voice is gold. Nothing compares to Mr. Big. I really really really really really wish their reunion tour extends to the Philippines, pero sana kasal na ako nun para may funds ako pambili ng ticket sa concert nila, hehehe.

To the Big fans out there, what are your favorite songs? It's darn hard to pick just a few...but I guess Just Take My Heart would be one of my most favorite songs of all time (love the intro!). I also love Nothing But Love, Goin' Where the Wind Blows, Green Tinted Sixties Mind, and Take Cover.

Photo credit: http://www.ampeg.com/roundsound/The%20Boys%20of%20Mr.%20Big.jpg

Fave TV Show: "The Golden Girls" (1985-1992)

Was out of town for two weeks because of field biology, so I missed the news that Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy on the hit 80's series "The Golden Girls" recently passed away :(

So I did some YouTube-ing tonight and watched some Golden Girls clips. Sobrang tuwang-tuwa ako sa palabas na 'to. The chemistry of the women was excellent and their comedic timing is PERFECT. Kinda like how the cast of "Friends" from the 90's gelled so well.

They don't make shows like these anymore. Some of my fondest childhood memories are watching this and "Perfect Strangers" with my family, then recapping the episodes the next day in school with my friends :P

Opening Credits


Super funny "Condoms" skit. I don't remember watching this though. Besides, I wouldn't have understood why it was funny because I don't think I knew about condoms yet back then :D


More episodes HERE.

Pilot episode Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Rest in peace, Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty.

Remembering Mike Francis (1961-2009)

I remember watching Mike Francis at Glorietta sometime 2004 or 2005. Even though I was alone then and I didn't really grow up to his music, I pretty much enjoyed the gig. He had some of the coolest laid back tunes of the 80's. It was only today that I was made aware that he wasn't really that famous outside of Italy and Manila. Glad we got to enjoy his music, though.

Rest in peace, Francesco Puccioni.

Listen to some of Mike Francis' songs at my Multiply.

- - - - -

80s pop icon Mike Francis dead
By Gerry Plaza
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 03:41:00 02/02/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Mike Francis, international pop sensation in the 1980s passed away Friday due to a lingering illness. He was 47.

The Florence-born Francis, or Francesco Puccioni, had been particularly a favorite in Manila with his name figuring in the top acts during the heydays of electronic pop from 1985-1987, with such hits as “Friends” with Ami Stewart, “Survivor” with Belen Thomas, and his stirring solo “Let Me In.”

His only live album, “Mike Francis Live in Manila” that featured his highly successful 1989 gig at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, proves how his music was well-received in the country.

A greatest hits compilation, “The Very Best of Mike Francis” featuring a mix of his Italian and English hits, was released seven days before his death in Italy.

Things that Rick Astley will never do

Menggai (Ma'am Cheng), her good friend, and I will be watching Rick Astley at the Big Dome on August 1.

Not a diehard Rick fan, but seeing that he's just as cute as he was two decades ago convinced me to at least get General Admission seats and see him perform his charttopping hits: Never Gonna Give You Up, Together Forever, Cry For Help (with that heartbreaking piano intro). He's really got this awesome voice which hasn't changed a bit, and actually looks good on him now that he's more mature than (but still) babyface. (Labo ko, haha!)

So anyway, before I turn in tonight, just wanted to blog about my favorite Rick Astley songs:

It Would Take A Strong Strong Man (1988)

Hopelessly (1993) - just rediscovered tonight how I used to LOVE this song