Life After NU

 

The vigil to NU's final sign-off was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Never have I heard of a radio station closing to the sound of its fans, listeners, friends cheering it on as if their cheers could bring it back to life. When the final notes of Lupang Hinirang were done, people just stood around, as if waiting for an encore.

Right now, there's a pretty big void in all of us that cannot - maybe might not ever - be filled :( A big NOW WHAT hovers above us, as a lot of us even tuned in to the 107.5 frequency just to hear the static after that midnight sign off.

NOW WHAT. Sino na magtutugtog ng mga kantang sa NU mo lang talaga maririnig? Sino na ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga independent at up-and-coming rock artists na marinig ang kanta nila sa radyo? Kanya-kanyang kayod na tayo sa pag-alam ng mga bagong kanta sa mundo ng rock n' roll.

Sure, some radio stations have shows that feature rock, as well as fresh OPM rock artists. But no other station before NU featured rock 24/7. Some folks are putting their hopes on UR 105.9...I guess we'll just have to see from here.

But losing NU is not just about losing the music. It's also as if we've lost some friends - the DJs who we pester for our requests, or to whom we just listen to having their interesting conversations on air. I'll admit I hardly know half the current DJs of NU, but I was totally in love with the DJs of the 90's. Though I've long said goodbye to them, it's still sad to know that you'll NEVER EVER hear them again playing your favorite rock n' roll songs.

Like I said in previous posts, matagal na akong hindi nakikinig sa NU, excpet for Remote Control Weekend. So maybe some would say, what's the difference between that and just picking the songs you listen to on your music player? Iba pa rin kasi yung alam mong hindi lang ikaw yung gustong makarinig nung kantang iyon. Kaya kapag Remote Control Weekend, it's all the more special when a favorite song of mine gets played, and it wasn't me who requested it.

So yeah, I will definitely miss the Home of NU Rock. The frequency's back on, by the way. This evening, I caught it playing some 80's hits, which I found were ok to listen to. But then Jose Mari Chan's "Perfect Christmas" came on, and I groaned and I groaned and I groaned. And then I felt sad.

- - - - -

It was a minute before midnight when the first chords of "Ang Huling El Bimbo" sounded off from NU. Standing outside the station in an Eheads t-shirt, I froze in place, hearing a song from a band that I love that isn't around anymore - just like the radio station I love that isn't around anymore. And it made me happy and proud that the jocks chose a very fitting Eheads song for their goodbye. I really felt like crying, but I held back the tears and chose to be happy instead that I was there to share the moment with all the people who loved NU107.

To NU107, I will be eternally grateful for your being a part of my teenage years. Thank you for the great music, and for keeping me company during the most memorable years of my life. To the DJs and staff of the Station That Rocked the Nation, thank you so much for giving us the music we loved. And to the listeners of NU, may we never lose our love for rock n' roll \m/

http://mightydacs98.multiply.com/photos/album/92/11.07.2010_Paalam_NU_107

P.S. Para medyo kwela naman yung ending...

Like I said, after the sign-off, people hovered about the station still. Right outside the station windows, people were standing to have a look at the slowly emptying station one last time. Sabi ng kasama kong si Jerome, kulang na lang punasan nila yung glass ng mga panyo nila, para bang santo :P And others were also saying na parang may lamay, as in viewing ng patay, kasi people were trickling into the station itself to stalk whichever DJs they wanted to see, or to take pictures of the booth while the NU staff were fixing up the stuff there.

This was how I came to know of NU107 and rock music

I was in 7th grade, waiting in my school bus after dismissal time. One of the oldest students in the bus was a high school girl (junior or senior), so she always sat in the passenger's seat as well as had control of the bus radio.

I noticed she liked to listen to the station 107.5, which played noisy music. After this initial exposure to NU, I realized I liked this noisy music. I believe one of the first (if not THE first) songs I heard on NU was Dig's "Believe", a song which I still love to pieces up to this day.

I think my love for rock n' roll was born of my desire to impress my grade school crush, who was into this noisy music. At that time, all I listened to was 96.3 Lite Rock :D So I asked my seatmate then what radio station he listens to. I think he mentioned 97.1 LS, so I tried listening to that. And since I was being adventurous, I decided to check out that 107.5 station I heard in the school bus.

As I entered high school, I left behind my grade school crush, but my love for rock n' roll was here to stay. NU107 was my life. It was there that I learned more about rock; it was there that I got to know all the great alternative acts of the 90's (with a lot of help from MTV, too, which I discovered around the same time I discovered NU - by the way, MTV, for me, has died a long time ago). It was just so awesome that the rise of the Eheads, Wolfgang, Yano, Datu's Tribe, Color It Red, Teeth, and all those great acts from the 90's coincided with my high school years - arguably the most memorable years in a person's life. To have these bands' songs as the soundtrack to my teenage years was the best thing ever. And to have NU107 feed me this rock n' roll, especially from the local scene, was just sweet.

Now, it's just BITTERSWEET that NU, like all good things, has to end.

I've outgrown NU for quite a while now. I've lost the patience to listen to new songs; I'm not as receptive as I was back in high school. But I still tune in during Remote Control Weekends when they play the songs I love from the 90's. So when I initially heard of NU's demise, I was saddened, but not heartbroken. But listening to NU now that it's on it's last week and all the shows are saying goodbye one by one and they play the radio ads from my high school days, it's just too much to bear. Every 90's song they play lifts my spirit and breaks my heart at the same time. Even though I've been over NU for years now, it still feels as if a part of me is dying.

If NU107 has touched your life the way it has touched mine, be there on November 7 for 107 Candles for NU107 (see the Facebook event page). One last hurrah for the station that rocked the nation.

P.S. To that high school girl who unknowingly introduced me to the Home of NU Rock, thank you. You actually changed my life :)

Memories of NU107

 

Just some random NU memories of mine...

Listening to the New Music Challenge on the way to school. I still remember it was there that I first heard and loved Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy". There she was, like disco superfly.

Listening to the Gang Bang on Friday(?) mornings with my friend, Sam. I think we had a first period break that was why we could catch the show even if it was a school day. It was during these times that we set our dreams of being at least part of the station's cleaning crew, just so we could hang out/see the cool rock stars there. Turns out our other friend, Christi, would have a short stint as an NU jock. Taob ang cleaning crew dreams namin :))

I miss the Z-Rock 50, Zach and Joey in the Morning, Mr. SLaH (Sex, Love, and Happiness) - who I believe eventually became a DJ too, for a while)...

My first NU Rock Awards was in '98. I tagged along with my sis-in-law and her friends. It was still by-invite-only, and it was held at the Limits Disco in Ortigas. I was sooooo starstruck by all the rockers. Being inches away from Joey Pepe Smith was surreal. But my moment that night was seeing Basti Artadi for the first time - I still remember how I was rendered speechless and motionless by the sight :P When he won Vocalist of the Year, I think I was able to touch his hand as he made his way through the crowd with a high-five. I also loved Zach's Mulan get-up, and his hosting stint with Joey was the best.

I also clearly remember Rock Awards X. I was so happy and proud to see Sugarfree bag the Best New Artist award, and to watch Urbandub, Cynthia Alexander, The Mongols, and Razorback take the stage.

I miss the commercials back when Zach was still there. I love Christmas time when they play Cheech and Chong.

It was on NU that I first heard Hanson's "Mmm Bop" :)) And Kid Rock and Eminem, too.

I listened religiously to the year-end countdown. Amidst the festivities at home, my ear was plugged into the countdown, as I diligently wrote down each song at each rank. Anti-social, it made me :P

And the best part was Remote Control Weekend. That's the only reason I'd listen to NU now. Somehow, I've lost my love for the station. I hardly have the patience to listen to new songs. But I'd always have Remote Control Weekend on.

Growing up in the 90's was awesome. It was made all the more sweet having the Eraserheads, Wolfgang, and all that 90's rock n roll on NU107.

Too bad it has to go away soon.

Kurt

Sixteen years ago, this was on the news...

Kurt, you were a pretty messed up guy (understatement, yeah), but you were a genius, and even if I hardly knew you then, I love you, and I'll never ever get over your loss. I guess I just choose not to move on.

We miss you, Layne

Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 - April 5, 2002)

Do check out the whole set of Alice In Chains' MTV Unplugged; it's one of the most awesome live shows ever.

Cebu Dancing Inmates MTV Version Michael Jackson They Don't Care About Us

Grabbed from loopzero1 on YouTube:

I love it!

Fave MJ moves

I'm not a fan of dance, but I do love MJ's moves.

Here are my top 7 favorite Michael Jackson moves. Most of them are from the Dangerous era, because that's when I really got to know and love MJ's music.

7. Will You Be There (Music Video, 1993)
This is one of my top 5 MJ songs. I love the sign-language moves of the backup singers in the video, as well as MJ's dance during the instrumental part.

6. Black or White (Music Video, 1991)
I'm not actually fond of the song, but I love the video because of how MJ infused his own style into different cultural dances.

5. Remember the Time (Music Video, 1992)
Iman is so beautiful! And the dance scene with all the Egyptian moves was cool.

4. Blood on the Dance Floor (Music Video, 1997)
There are so many things I love about this video: the red suit, the braided ponytail, Susie and the lamp, Mike and the maracas, Susie and Mike doing the salsa.

3. Billie Jean (Live - 30th Anniversary, 2001)
The moonwalk is MJ's trademark move. It may not be an original, but he certainly made it HIS. This, for me, is his best performance of Billie Jean.

2. Smooth Criminal (Live - Dangerous Tour, 1992-1993)
This one's from his Dangerous tour. Love the song. Love the suit. Love the intro. Love the theatrics. Love the moves.

1. Dangerous (Live)
I have no idea where this performance is from. I just discovered it on YouTube after Mike died. In the weeks after his death, I probably watched that video 50 times. It's the hottest dance of MJ ever.

Goodbye Astro...hello Iggi

I know this is nothing compared to the tragedy that is Ondoy that fills the Net and TV and radio these days. But I hope no one minds if I blog about something un-Ondoy for a change...

Nakakainis na 'tong blogging year na 'to ha. Wala na kong sinabi kundi goodbye. Kung hindi tao, kagamitan naman yung namamaalam :(

Friday, the screen of Astrophone, my Motorola V3i, gave up on me. Its fliptop top has been loose for quite some time, and I was sort of expecting its demise already.

Saturday, I was still able to operate Astro using Motorola Phone Tools on a laptop. I was even able to backup my phonebook and calendar. But come Sunday, Astro wasn't cooperating anymore. It couldn't be detected by Phone Tools.

Tuesday, I finally went out of the house and I was able to buy a replacement phone. At first, I toured the open shops (it was only 10am then, lotsa shops were still closed or just opening) looking for a Motorola phone. The idea was that I could simply transfer my backed up phonebook from Astro into my new phone using Phone Tools. Alas, I was surprised to find out that Motorola phones have been phased out already. Ngek. I guess I've been out of the mobile phone market for so long.

Finally, I reentered one of the decent-looking shops in Parksquare 1 and asked for any model of phone that they had for under P2,000. I was offered some Torque phone for P999 - I've never heard of that brand so I asked for any Nokia phones. I was shown the Nokia 1661.

My requirements for a phone are pretty simple. It has to be able to hold a good number of messages and contact numbers, and it has to have a calendar where I could set alarms - I'm a very forgetful person, you see. The Nokia 1661 had those features - plus other features I didn't mind having too!

I haven't fully explored Iggi yet - yes, I find the need to name my devices when I blog about them - but so far I'm pretty much satisfied with its features, given its affordable price of P1,850 (cash; it's P2,000 if you use your credit card).

Some feaures that are new to me (never had these in my phones before) were the flashlight, the radio, and a spreadsheet - this cool app that lets you log your daily and monthly expenses (I'm actually excited to use it hehe; I wonder if it'll help cut down my spending though :P ). And games include Nature Park (no idea what that is; haven't tried it out yet), Bounce, and SUDOKU! Hehehe. So yeah, I'm quite happy with Iggi, considering that I didn't do any research prior to buying it, as I would usually do when scouting out electronics.

So there...goodbye Astro, the most pogi phone I've ever had. You were great while you lasted. I will miss your 80's TV show ringtones (Astroboy for Andrew, Bioman for the bio unit peeps, Shaider for other Pisay peeps, Perfect Strangers for my family, McGyver for my girls, Thundercats for everyone else). I will miss taking impromptu pics and vids with your camera. I will miss playing FrancisM hits on your iTunes.

But I'm sure Iggi will be a good phone to me. Wag lang siyang...never mind. Ayokong magdilang anghel ;)

Ehehe, ang haba ng blog, para lang sa isang telepono.

P.S. If you think I snubbed your texts/calls over the weekend, that's because I was nursing a dying phone ;) If I snub your texts/calls from now on, that's because I'm rebuilding my phonebook :D

"...the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people..."

This seems to be a year of losing people who mean much to me or to society...

Anabel Bosch (musician), January 2009
Mike Francis (musician), February 2009
Francis M (musician), March 2009
Bea Arthur (actress), April 2009
Auntie Lalen (my mom's sister), June 2009
Michael Jackson (musician), June 2009
Tara Santelices (musician), July 2009
Cory Aquino (former president and icon of democracy), August 2009
Shella Paz (co-teacher and friend), August 2009

Here's something I recently posted on my other music-related Multiply:

One too many icons have passed away in recent months. With each passing comes the end of an era. And yet, life must go on for the living.

And here's a beautiful quote from the director of Disney/Pixar's animated film, "Up" (emphasis mine):

"Basically, the message of ["Up"] is that the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people, and it's so easy to lose sight of the things we have and the people that are around us until they're gone. More often than not I don't really realize how lucky I was to have known someone until they're either moved or passed away. So if you can kind of wake up a little bit and go, Wow, I've got some really cool stuff around me every day, then that's what the movie's about." - Pete Docter, in an interview about his movie "Up"

Rest in Peace, Shella (1984-2009)

Baguio, May 2009

Every time someone is gone too soon, there are nothing but questions in my mind. But it seems that the answers to those questions aren't meant to be understood. How do you even begin to comprehend such things?

Shella, your students are mourning your loss, but their blogs and tweets and status messages also celebrate the life you have lived, the life you have so generously shared with them even for just a short while.

I only got to know you last May in Baguio, and for that I am both sad and glad.

Rest now, Shella. Someday, we'll get to hang out again.

He would've been 51

Happy birthday, MJ.

Rest in peace, Cory (1933-2009)

I was too young to understand nor appreciate the importance of the Aquinos to Philippine history. But because of all the tributes for President Aquino before and after her death, I came to realize how much she and her husband have done for and how much they mean to our country's democracy.

Today's farewell to President Aquino was very moving, instilling both a sadness for her passing, as well as pride in being Filipino.

Once again, it crosses my mind how painful it is for the immediate family to lose their matriarch. After all the news cameras are packed away, after the crowds have gone home, they are now left to mourn by themselves, and that is when the real sadness usually sets in. For us, we have lost an icon of democracy. For them, they lost their mother.

But at least now Cory is at peace already and free from pain. Her daughter Kris revealed in interviews over the weekend that Cory was looking forward to being with Ninoy again. It was only tonight that I found out (through my mom) that it was Ninoy who penned the words to "I Have Fallen In Love With the Same Woman Three Times". I first heard the song when Christian Bautista sang it during ASAP's tribute to Cory. I heard it played again as I watched Cory's burial on TV; it was the original version by Jose Mari Chan (edit: Just learned that the song is on Chan's Constant Change album, which I had as a kid; I guess I never took notice of the song until now.)

Here are the lyrics to the song. You can view the full poem on YouTube, where a montage of pictures have been uploaded as a tribute to President Cory. According to the YouTube description, the poem was written by Ninoy for their 19th wedding anniversary, while he was imprisoned in Fort Bonifacio. This is an excerpt from the poem, which was not included in the song:

My only escape is to cling to the woman of my dreams
Who gave me a life full of love, a love full of life,
She is my urge to live, my sole motivation to survive,
She taught me not only to dream, but to make dreams alive.

I heard on TV earlier today that one of Cory's grandsons tweeted that his Lola Cory and Lolo Ninoy are having a contest in heaven whose funeral would have more attendees. (Just heard a few minutes ago on The World Tonight that an estimated 300,000 turned out for Cory's funeral today, while around 2M people were there at Ninoy's funeral procession in 1983.) The image of them together again is the one thing that makes all this less sad and painful, I guess.

Rest in peace, Tara.

I don't know her personally, but I truly feel saddened by her passing. It's always like that for me when someone dies, especially one so young, and one taken away by such tragic circumstances.

News articles have described her as the girl who resisted a jeepney holdup. A musician who was passionate about the arts. An Atenean graduate who was just about to fulfill her biggest dreams.

All those are true. But, first and foremost, Tara Santelices was a daughter and a dear friend.

I just pray that her family and friends would have the strength to let Tara go. They probably know in their hearts that she now truly is at peace. But it's never easy to let go of a loved one.

- - - - -

GMANews.TV - Tara Santelices, jeepney robbery victim, passes away
abs-cbnNEWS.com - Atenean holdup victim dies
Inquirer.net - Rob victim dies days before 24th birthday

Mourning "Michaels"

I just realized that I mourned for three consecutive "Michael musicians" in the past months.

Mike Francis, born Francesco Puccioni, died last January.

Francis M, born Francis Michael Magalona, died last March.

Michael Jackson, born Michael Joseph Jackson, died last June.

So ok, Mike Francis was a stage name, and Francis M never really used the Michael in his name, pero wala lang. Napansin ko lang.

In each case, a part of my childhood died along with their passing. But that's the beauty of music - it lives forever.

Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror, and other MJ songs on acoustic guitar

Here's Sungha Jung, one of my favorite guitarists, playing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", as arranged by fingerstyle guitarist Adam Rafferty.

Here's Rafferty's fingerstyle take on MJ/Jackson 5 songs (Billie Jean, I Want You Back, Rock With You, I'll Be There):

I just love how fingerstyle guitarists play different parts of the song (vocals, lead, bass, etc.) simultaneously on one guitar. Nakakabaliw panoorin.

Here's Tuck Andress (of Tuck and Patti) and his wonderful jazzy version of Man in the Mirror, my favorite MJ song.

It doesn't matter if he isn't their biological father...

...he was their DADDY.

Saw this on YouTube, some home videos of Michael with his kids - Prince thanking Michael for giving him ice cream, and Paris wanting to be a dancer and singer like MJ when she grew up (with Prince saying "Me too!" in the background - gaya-gaya hehe).

Never Can Say Goodbye, Michael...

I didn't even know this was a Jackson 5 song. I think I'm more familiar with the Gloria Gaynor version. Anyways...

- - - - -

This morning's public memorial for Michael Jackson was one of the most touching events I've ever witnessed. Truly something befitting the King of Pop.

There were all these superstars paying tribute to who Berry Gordy of Motown called "the greatest entertainer that ever lived". There were all these common folks who simply wanted to pay their last respects to the King of Pop. But what really mattered was that there was this family grieving over the loss of their father, brother, and son - and they had the whole world to not only grieve with them, but, more importantly, to celebrate his short life with them.

Usher's "Gone Too Soon" was the most touching performance. You could feel his sorrow as he approached the casket of his idol and ended his song with a heartfelt sigh.

Brooke Shields' tribute was the most sincere, and the most candid. In that short span of time, we got to know Michael as very few people did. You could see by the way she shook and held back her tears that she was very distressed about the passing of a dear friend.

I love this shot. It's like Michael was showing the world his dear Brooke.

But it was Paris Jackson who had the most heartbreaking moment. There's nothing as painful as losing a parent. She was very brave to come forward and give her little tribute to dad. Too bad though because they keep playing it over and over now on TV; it takes away the solemnity of the moment.

It was all so bittersweet. Where was all this love when Michael needed it the most?

Rest in peace now, Michael. Like Marlon said, maybe they'll leave you alone now.

- - - -

P.S. Brooke Shields is still so beautiful. And Blanket Jackson is such a cute 7-year-old, what with the long black ponytail and the gum-chewing.

U2 pays tribute to Michael Jackson as they kick off world tour

U2 does a bit of "Man in the Mirror" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" towards the end of their performance of "Angel of Harlem" in Barcelona last June 30, 2009. Bono said the song was written for Billie Holiday, but for that night they were playing it for MJ.

http://www.nme.com/news/nme/45792 (Scroll down for an embedded YouTube video of the performance)

Image credit

From CNN - Jeff Buckley: 15 Years of Grace

I only knew of Jeff Buckley because of Last Goodbye. Then during one trip to Tower Records in the early 2000's, I spotted the album Grace on the shelves, on sale. I immediately grabbed it.

Now there's Grace Around the World, featuring live performances of Jeff Buckely from '94 to '95. I think I've seen that on the shelves, too. But buying CDs, a favorite pastime of mine, is on hold as I focus on my wedding fund :D

CNN explores the enduring legacy of Jeff Buckley, 12 years after his death. Quinn Brown reports.

Michael's still an awesome dancer at 50

Damn, Michael. At 50, you're smokin'

Too bad we never got to see that awesome show you were putting together.

Click to see video on CNN: Jackson rehearses with dancers