YouTube – One year in 40 seconds

One of the coolest things I’ve seen in YouTube, and with 1.1M views (and still growing) since December 26, 2008, I’m not alone on this one.

The Annual “Time to Answer a Lame New Year’s Survey”

It may be lame, but heck, I’m doing it again for this year. A shout out to eleanorstrousers since she also came up with her list for 2007 right after she read my entry.

So here goes:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
   • Got my PADI license.
   • Officially became a cougar.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
   
   • I believe so, my resolution was to think of myself more.
   • Yup, I will continue loving myself – I need to be more healthy (weight, skin, lifestyle, etc)… OH AND I GOTTA START SAVING.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, Gina, one of my best friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my last living grandparent.
5. What countries did you visit? Just the US
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I wrote 3 things last year, but I will just copy the first one: A real, honest-to-goodness, saccharine-sweet, mushy, genuine, heartwarming, but hot and steamy, love life.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
   • September 21 – the day the fire in me burned once more. HAHAHA
   • Not really one date, but it’s an entire season (Summer) – I think this year was the year of summer outings and awesome beach experiences.
   • November 27 to 29 – My family was complete for the first time in 10+ years.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
   
   • Being able to break free from the sidelines.
   • Knowing what battles to choose.
   • Help mold young talents.
   • Finally going to the US to visit my family.
   • Taking awesome pictures
   • I got close with a cousin of mine who eventually moved to Dubai
   • Reconnecting with a College friend (in NY)
9. What was your biggest failure? Never had a boy who stayed on for a little bit.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just some skin problems due to diving.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My 10-22mm lens
12. Where did most of your money go?
    
    • Camera accessories and equipment
    • Diving
    • Dog stuff
    • GAS and driver’s salary
13. Whose behavior merited celebration?
    
    • Lye, my former officemate
    • Anna, my friend and now officemate
14. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
    
    • Myra, my former creative director and friend
    • Paul, my former boss whom I used to look up to
    • Mine
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    • My US trip
    • My new Macbook
    • My Palawan trip
    • My new lens
    • John Mayer’s 2nd Annual Holiday Revue streamed live over the net
    • My new DVDs – Crossroads, Where the Light Is, Sliding Doors
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Wheel by John Mayer (coz I felt that my life just kept on turning around)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    • Happier or sadder SADDER
    • Older or wiser OLDER
    • Thinner or fatter? FATTER
    • Richer or poorer RICHER
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    
    • I should’ve tried to stay healthy
    • Saved up
    • Practiced patience
    • Read
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    • Eating
    • Spending too much money
    • Talking about Andre
20. What did you want and get?
    
    • A ticket to the US
    • A career shift
    • A copy of a concert that would’ve been lost in oblivion if not for a kind person who gave it to me.
21. What did you want and did not get?
    
    • A guy (but no one really in particular)
    • Peace of mind.
    • Confidence
22. How did you spend Christmas?
    • Christmas Eve with relatives
    • Christmas night with relatives and friends
23. Did you fall in love in 2008? Surprisingly, no.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate is a strong word, more of I decided to not mind someone’s existence in this world.
25. What was the best book you read? The Giving Tree
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Still John Mayer. He amazed me in all the musical stuff that he does.
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Just like last year, I didn’t see any movie in 2008.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 33 years old and I spent it with family in Massachusetts
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    
    • Having guys around
    • Sticking to my nice weight
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
    • More corporate, but I still felt sloppy
    • Fashionable, but it still needs improvement
31. What kept you sane?
    • My dogs
    • John Mayer (haha)
    • Friends
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Still John Mayer
33. What political issue stirred you the most? US elections, although I wasn’t into it that much.
34. Who did you miss? Karl, Reg and Andre
35. Who was the best new person you met?
    • Lye, my former colleague who ended up being a good friend of mine.
    • Dave my Dive Instructor
    • My dive friends
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Nothing is permanent and good guys finish last.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: “I believe that my life’s gonna see
    the love I give return to me” – Wheel

Hummingbird

A rare performance indeed.

John Mayer featured this song, entitled “Hummingbird”, during his On His Own, The 2nd Annual Holiday Charity Revue concert.

A special treat to his audience because, aside from it being one of the most beautiful songs he has ever written, it was never part of any commercially-released studio album, but was debuted in one of his live shows during the early part of his career and was only performed a few times to date.

A simple, yet heart-wrenching song that people can relate to.

Once upon almost every morning
I woke up to find her flying in
Hummingbird was making blurs of
Blue and rings of purple in the air

All the while, I was trying to keep her there
Not man enough to need
But man enough to always care

Hummingbird
Hummingbird
That song I heard
That’s my hummingbird

Just because I said I didn’t want her
Doesn’t mean I want her to go
In fact I quite depended on her
But that, I didn’t want her to know

Now that she’s gone I know
All the while, I was trying to keep her there
Not man enough to need
But man enough to always care, always care

Hummingbird
Hummingbird
That song I heard
That’s my hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

And when he played it during the concert at the Nokia Theatre LA Live that one-of-a-kind connection he has with his fans was established once again.

The best part of this weekend

Actually, the only good part (as I am sick and still bummed out), was the concert. He did a total of 30 songs (some were snippets of old tunes, some were covers). Can’t wait to download the tapes made by some of the people I’ve met in the forums.

It was a special show, and I’m glad to have heard it real time — thank goodness for the internet.

I liked Stop This Train, Vultures,  Belief with Inner City Blues, Hummingbird (drum machine was unique and brilliant), Comfortable, Free Falling, Something’s Missing, In Your Atmosphere, Wheel, Your Body is a Wonderland (seriously, he did a really really great take on the song) and Gravity.

I’m still trying to understand that Clarity + Lost (of Coldplay) cover with No Hook (a recorded Jay-Z track) mix. Who knows? Maybe I’ll like it when I hear it again.

Photo source: johnmayer.com

A lot of the fans said that although the concert was good, it is not at par with the likes of the 1st Annual Holiday Charity Revue (“Where the Light Is” DVD), the 2008 Irvine concert last summer, Madison Square Garden in 2007, etc, but personally, this was an extraordinary show because I finally appreciated the “acoustic Martin and solo Gibson guitars John” that the world has come to know first (I was more of a fan of the relic Strat “Stevie Ray Vaughan-ish” John Mayer Trio and the John + Band gigs in the past).

And hey, this is the first JM show I’ve “attended” (again, thank you internet, you are a blessing), so I’m allowed to say that it was awesome.

Good luck!!!

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS:

Best Long Form Music Video

(For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track.
Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51%
of the total
playing time.)

* Where The Light Is – Live In Los Angeles
John Mayer
Danny Clinch, video director; Lindha Narvaez, video producer
[Columbia]

* Runnin’ Down A Dream
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer
[Warner Bros.]

* Good Girl Gone Bad Live
Rihanna
Paul Caslin, video director; John Paveley, Ruth Paveley & Rupert Style, video producers
[Def Jam/SRP Records/Mercury Music Group/Universal Music]

* Respect Yourself – The Stax Records Story
(Various Artists)
Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video directors; Mark Crosby, Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video producers
[Stax/Tremolo Productions/Concord Music Group]

* Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who
The Who
Paul Crowder & Murray Lerner, video directors; Murray Lerner, Robert Rosenberg & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
[Universal Home Entertainment]

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

(A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written
specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media,
and released for the
first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in
parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Down To Earth (From Wall-E)
Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman, songwriters (Peter Gabriel)
Track from: Wall-E
[Walt Disney Records/Pixar; Publishers: Walt Disney Music, Wonderland Music/Pixar Talking Pictures/Pixar Music]

* Ever Ever After (From Enchanted)
Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Enchanted
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Wonderland Music & Walt Disney Music]

* Say (From The Bucket List)
John Mayer, songwriter (John Mayer)
Track from: Continuum
[Aware/Columbia; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tunes, Specific Harm Music]

* That’s How You Know (From Enchanted)
Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters (Amy Adams)
Track from: Enchanted
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Wonderland Music & Walt Disney Music]

* Walk Hard (From Walk Hard – The Dewey Cox Story)
Judd Apatow, Marshall Crenshaw, Jake Kasdan & John C. Reilly, songwriters (John C. Reilly)
Track from: Walk Hard The Dewey Cox Story
[Columbia; Publishers: Murder by Television/Apatow Music/Popular Misconception/New Columbia Pictures Music/Colpix Music]

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Gravity
John Mayer
Track from: Where The Light Is – Live In Los Angeles
[Columbia]

* I Saw Her Standing There
Paul McCartney
Track from: Amoeba’s Secret
[Hear Music/MPL Communications Ltd.]

* Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen
Track from: Magic
[Columbia]

* Rise
Eddie Vedder
[J Records]

* No Hidden Path
Neil Young
Track from: Chrome Dreams II
[Reprise]

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Lesson Learned
Alicia Keys & John Mayer
Track from: As I Am
[J Records]

* 4 Minutes
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
Track from: Hard Candy
[Warner Bros.]

* Rich Woman
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Track from: Raising Sand
[Rounder]

* If I Never See Your Face Again
Rihanna & Maroon 5
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
[Def Jam]

* No Air
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
Track from: Jordin Sparks
[Jive]

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* All Summer Long
Kid Rock
Track from: Rock N Roll Jesus
[Atlantic]

* Say
John Mayer
Track from: Continuum
[Columbia]

* That Was Me
Paul McCartney
Track from: Amoeba’s Secret
[Hear Music/MPL Communications Ltd.]

* I’m Yours
Jason Mraz
Track from: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
[Atlantic]

* Closer
Ne-Yo
Track from: Year Of The Gentleman
[Def Jam/Compound Entertainment]

* Wichita Lineman
James Taylor
Track from: Covers
[Hear Music]

Celebrities Encourage America to Vote

I’m not American so this is not directly relevant to me, but since I noticed that I have readers from the US, this video deserves a space in my blog.

But for the non-Americans, go watch. Some of the stars were pretty funny.

School Spirit, the Filipino Way

Today was game 1 of the biggest basketball event in the Philippines — the sweet thing is that it’s a match-up made in scalper’s heaven as the university league’s 2 most popular teams, whose rivalry is legendary in the Philippine’s collegiate sports history, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and De La Salle University Green Archers, played for the championship crown.

Honestly, this is the only time of the year that I get involved in sports, and being a fan of Collegiate Basketball, I cut my dive trip short just to be able to go home, watch the game on TV, while my friends and I cheered for our guys (here’s a hint… I was wearing blue).

Weird that I didn’t watch live as I’m an alumna of the Ateneo (Bachelor of Arts, Social Science, graduating class of 1997) and a die-hard Blue Eagles lover (I will forever be loyal to my school, the best in my opinion)… but the match is a historic one that tickets were sold out the day they were released. ALL 24,000 tickets, GONE.

The Eagles soared high today, showing off their prowess in defense, not letting the Archers choke the hell out of them. Every player did a great job, so double-teaming of the opponent was always a bad move, but even if each had his own strengths, I’m proud of them because they always played with their hearts offered to the team. Good job guys.

I can’t wait to see Game 2, as we try to sweep the best of 3 series.

One big fight!

One of the Best "Crossroads" Performances

by Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall and Robert Randolph

the moment it happened, and the result

watch this vid and listen to what john says in the beginning…

 

below is the photo that captured that moment

and the result…

how i love youtube and flickr!

oh and yeah, i also love what he said in his blog (to accompany the last photo)

summer 2008 is here   06/29 by JM

I’m laying in my London hotel room in one of my least favorite scenarios: the job is done today but the plane takes off tomorrow. The European tour was an absolute blast and I think I speak for the band and crew when I say that all sights are set firmly on the US tour and making it the best ever.

As a 30-year old with an eight-year mainstream professional music career, I couldn’t be happier (and more thankful) to still have a gig. All I can think about when I’m on stage these days is how terrible it would feel to have learned how to make the most out of each and every show after the gig was up.

It’s a funny time to be alive right now, in that I’m not quite sure we’re celebrating like we should. I don’t mean the “Hand me your keys, Dan!” celebrating. I mean the very innate act of celebration; human appreciation. Group reveling. A general sense of “This is my tribe and this is our fellowship.” Like a concert.

I know I’ve written along these lines before, but do you know why it matters? Because someday you’re going to be old, and things are going to change. Your body is going to turn on you. I already know where the L-5 and L-6 discs in my back are, because they’re wearing down a little, and when I ask the doc how we lick this, he says “It is what it is. You’re not 18 anymore.” I have 3 gray hairs that I insist are “mutant clear hairs” but they’re not. They’re just gray. And right on time.

Chances are you won’t get hit by that proverbial bus people always talk about when they’re smoking a Lucky Strike and tipping back on their chair. Odds are also on your side (thank God) that you won’t ever get the news from your doctor that you have only months left to live. But you know what he may very well tell you? That you need a new hip. Nobody ever says “live it up because someday you might need a new hip” but it’s the truth. They don’t say “Be good to one another because in time we’ll all know a medical lab technician on a first name basis” but it happens every day.

My point is that whenever that someday comes, when I slide into the MRI scanner and the thing starts spinning up, spitting lasers and screaming into my ears, I may very well say to myself “I wish I had just one more of those summers.”

Being a young man is kick-ass. Being a young man who knows that being a young man is kick-ass is what it’s really all about. And as a musician, I’m finally learning to distinguish the notes that matter from the ones that don’t. I’m also getting better at knowing those notes as a person, too. I’m excited to bring it all on stage, and even more excited to see you all out there.

Thank you for another one of those summers.

John

yeah john, i wish had one of those summers that i experienced before.

it sucks to be left out

it is so obvious that he wasn’t talking to me.

anyway, nice shots, dude. but why is there a toupee floating above the first john (see photo number 1)? yeah, i’m talking to you.

Tour 2008

Rehearsal (Ricoh GRII Digital, Tripod, Photoshop)

I’m headed back on the road today… It’s kind of like that scene in The Abyss when they put that helmet filled with fluid over Ed Harris’ character’s head. That guy says “we breathe water for nine months in the womb. Your body will remember!”…
I think the same is true for touring. As (relatively) long as it’s been, I’m sure that when I step up on stage and that energy in the room holds the whole thing upright, I’ll sink back in.

It’s the only thing I do globally well, playing music. Everything else in my life tips its hat to it…

The Guitar Rig

Chad, David and George Getting Sounds…

See you out there.