Podcasts . Reality . Variation of it

I've been trying to explore different kinds of podcast channels lately, ranging from crime scenes to game related, something of a short range for my taste. Of course the range of choices won't go beyond what peaks my interest. Laughable as how low my thirst for discovery is at least I found interesting ones.

(Although as I have stated several times in my short span of listening to such things, I end up not fully listening to a lot of episodes due to my brain not withstanding that unpleasant weirdo head ache from so much information. Carrying on...)

The first podcast channel I've ever gotten into was the ever famous "Welcome to Nightvale", due to their interesting world and how sci-fi slash supernatural everything is in their realm. Eventually I've gone and just gotten myself bored of it, even though I go back to it every now and then just to have a good different content to listen to. Don't get me wrong, WTNV is a truly wonderful experience, not including the Cecil-Carlos (or any other) fandom mind you. The realm of Nightvale is mysterious and intriguing, something out of the dream box and just up and out with the normalcy of life. How the morbid can just be something as pleasant as a newly baked pie, without it being overly anything in particular.

WTNV is truly a kudos, something I really am thankful for, especially introducing me to the joys of story based podcast. Even if its comparable to radio dramas, to this i LOL.

Next, after immersing myself to a lot of Jeff Clement stuff from Aural Stimulations, which by the way-ing of the ways a very inspiring experience to Jeffs' production talent, is the Selected Shorts community.

image Source
LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

Selected Shorts is probably the best cup of tea I have ever found. Their aim, to feature short stories or excerpts from selected works by acclaimed, budding or just plain preferred authors.

To me, the Selected Shorts community will be something of a dream. I've enjoyed my life when I was younger telling stories and doing dramas just by the aural kind. Good voice acting, or modulation, or just plain voice it self is captivating in it's way.

Although some story tellers in the podcast was kind of bland to my ears, it didn't hinder me to the wonder of the stories content. Hearing that tinge of enthusiasm which to my thinking probably might be not in their at all and just me hearing things. That is just the grandeur of it, how deceivingly pleasant our minds are. However I am not joking when I do hear how enthusiastic and clear their voices are in telling stories they didn't even write. Which to me I completely understand, especially if they loved the book they were reading.

Next we've got the famous Serial, according to all those blogs I read about good lists of podcast channels. They weren't wrong, just a tad celebrated, but the content of this mystery-drama podcast is good. Better to the ears of my friend though. I just hope she doesn't go and do a thing I do sometimes when I don't like the voice casting or background sound. Quitting half of the story.

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LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

The scenarios though is gripping enough mind you. The investigation and social interaction of the detective (lets just say I nailed the lead voices' character) throughout is good. Just I don't  like listening to the episodes in one go, refer to reason in first enclosed in parenthesis statement.

Up next is another cup of my tea, I am getting well caffeinated in my journey for good podcast channels, in the name of Imaginary Worlds. A podcast by Eric Molinsky, and yes I remembered to edit the name (victory pose, cause it used to say Simon-something...).

image Source
LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

The channel is dedicated to the realm of observational opinions on selected topics under geek-dom. The geek-dom type I can follow, like RPG related games, comics, movies from comics, anything under the sun of the established geek-dom I am slightly well acquainted. Not in a manner of specifics.

He discusses his adventures in the world of Tabletop RPG games, that I never really got the hang of until now, some discussion on trending in the loop of society topics and so on. His inputs are agreeable and some of the people and topics he discuss are the things I rarely hear about, which is good!

My selection isn't too bad but I need more input to fully get the brunt of their content. The type of full content that either enriches me, in a way that maybe one day it would help me while hoping that I won't forget the content in a blink of an eye.

Don't Stay in School . Boyinaband . wow

The first time I heard this song...

(it's "Don't Stay in School")
...I didn't really mind about the lyrics. What I did mind is the awesome tune and rap skills of Boyinaband (or Dave, I'm not sure).

Dave is a really diverse fellow. Things that comes out of his mouth are intriguingly intelligent. Something that sometimes makes my head hurt, but love to hear albeit the struggle of my head to follow. No questions, I am just literally slow at things.

Truth be told I wouldn't be going through his channel without that Reaction video from the Fine Brothers YT channel about "Adults reacting to Don't Stay in School". Which was a relevant thing since the song was intended to be noticed.

Currently his most controversial songs, it garnered such a strong reaction from adults because of the title. If you truly listened to the song, it never said that you should literally leave the school. However, it really rose up some weird shallow like reaction (to me) towards the "misleading" title. Many of the videos with parents involved, luckily has strong conviction towards the concept of a diploma, reacted violently towards the title. But once they hear the song, they praise it. They nod in approval and tell the truth of it.

(Great my intended "not to discuss anything about the song but more about Dave" went out the drain)

Still the world is unfair. There are still reactions stating that aim of the song, which is to remind the school that they should give the children better life learning education than just academic, was not really necessary. Of course it will not be targeted to everyone but only to those countries that thinks exam scores are better than life points, in an RPG game that is one important matter specially if you're in a battle with a stronger enemy.

This was an amazing feat in itself, to let people be aware of such truths. As I recall, there are a lot of shows that depicts past stories that when people went to school they pursued academic courses because they wanted to or are intrigued. I'm guessing that through the course of history basic academic courses were made available or a staple to everyone due to the unfair division of intellectual levels of each person back in the days, I do not know when. However, it began to grow lazy, that instead of people picking the academics because they see it as a necessity rather they were force fed so that the government can hit two apples with one arrow, diminishing the years that will lapse and the time or money they could save.

Our economy, government, and life IS growing lazier by the day through their impatience.

This is a horrible reality for me, who is and will always be a lazy person that has a mind set of a person who wants to achieve and is rather impatient.

Never mind going back to the past and discovering "this and thats" source. Going back to Dave's awesome singing skills, he seems to has become aware of his greater purpose by making songs that hits the spot in higher places than usual. Like his next song Spectrum, although LGBT issues towards LGBT relationships has been quite the number one easily opened discussion even to my friends. The reality of their pain is very true and shouldn't be dismissed.

(Again, why is the thumbnail his face?)
This song is as spectacular as "Don't Stay in School", even featuring Cry and Minx, fellow youtubers.

Boyinaband >> join him

The Promise . Emma Blackery . appreciation

The first song that introduced me to the wonderful Emma Blackery was an awesome song she collaborated with Dave (Boyinaband from youtube). The name of the song, "The Promise".

Her voice was really my type, the type you just feel like you'd go and jam with in a mellow rock like way (mellow rock, really?). But what caught me was the songs. As everyone who likes Boyinaband knows he is known for making songs that hits you in the "kokoro" just like that (gotta make that post about him soon), or just plain funky rap songs about satirical things. He also produces tons of awesome songs that I completely question why he hasn't hit big yet.

Enough about Dave, more about Emma, I say!

I have not immersed myself to Emma's channel yet, since I have yet to immerse myself to Vloggers instead of Music makers and Let's Play youtubers. Although some of the Let's Play and Music Maker youtubers I do follow has Vlogs of their own. I only pick the Vlogs that has a full on "just listen to it" feel, instead of the ones where you need to follow what they do on the video.

Emma Blackery, as I noticed, has majority of Vlogs and mostly the only videos I have immersed of hers is the official video for "The Promise" and most of her music, that I must say is really funky and cute.

More about the song.

The song, as my ears perceive it, tells the story of how no one should feel left alone. That you should hold on, reminding you that you aren't alone. Because as the song says, they promise they will be there for you. No more cutting. No more aching. They will listen.

This is something of a real thing. People all around us are internally dipped in depressing and rotting conflicts. Some can get their ass out of those tar holes inside of us, while the others struggle harder. Maybe they are weak in the mind, heart or soul, or they didn't get to have that good social support from the people they expect to get it from. No matter, because in the end something will always eat them, and they will struggle.

Being a person who has once experienced, or still do in tiny bouts, is luckily one of the few who has someone or a "group of" to help me with my times of struggle. They were there long enough for one day make me able to stand on my own two fat unstable logs for legs. Finally waiting for my time to help others in a way that fits their need.

I honestly say I am still not able to do so. There is no way for me to help someone who is clinically depressed, just the ones who needs an ear kind of "depressed" which might probably just be loneliness. Or the ones who needs to be picked up from their fall, and do my best to push them slowly back up into the sky.

Enough dabbling.

This song, matching it with a heart breaking video is one insta-kokoro-kill!

The song is one of the most heart warmingli-mazing ones I've listened so far, and I just couldn't help but want to shout it out to the world. Since I cannot sing, therefore I will shout it out. Even if no one will hear me or even notice me. I promise I will still "sing" it.

Because everyone should be reminded of such a good story.

Emma Blackery >> join her

CNN channel . Voices of Africa

I recently encountered the CNN channel in our cable list, I honestly did not know it was there. For the most I like the news on cable channels cause its diverse and at least its not a local one. Plus I rarely get to see news from different walks of the qorld, just in 9gag and honestly I'm surprised I get more events information from that site than our local news channels.

Keeping up with what I learned, it was a wee bit the end of the segment, and it was about the tragedy in Tianjin(sorry if I spelled it incorrectly), and of the survivors or the people who managed to run away from the location of the fire and area of explosion. There is no greater example of scenario pulling compassion and sympathy from the soul of man than tragedies, it pulls out the human in you. Guessing there will be alot of pessimistic opinions and characteristics that may show, it still gets trodden by humanities hope of helping another. May it be through prayers or actions. So far a know little about what had happened, but there're alot of information online. Proof of the devastating explosion, I saw it somewhere in 9gag(again in that god "informative" website). News of the people helping each other, I guess comparig their situation with my country in disasters isnt so different.

Moving on, after the international news came the show where they feature articles about Africa, I don't remember if its Voices of Africa or vice versa. Hell, the point is, the show was interesting. Got to the point where they featured Wayaala, a pop singer in their country, she sings in a specific dialect that I forgot. But she dances and does her stuff awesomely, they don't live too grande but she's an aetistic kind. Heck even the things she designs are awesome, fabulous in some sense, not my style but it fits her native aspect. I think shes sung a song by Rihanna before, but it only says so in a part of the show. Haven't tried to search it online, maybe when I get the chance to.

Included in the show we're two other women of the arts, the other one was also a musician and the other was a poet. Its wrong of me to be surprised that even to their part of the world that side of their culture is flourishing. Not that I'm saying there isn't in the first place, there is, I just didn't expect they would feature them. I find it a hypocritical thing of me to think, but its better that I prove myself wrong.

Seeing them feature their own brand of whats popular and going on makes me curious of whats happening in the modern culture and entertainment industry of Africa. Looking at the way they make music and hit the jive, rhythms and beats, kind of makes me proud that they arent forgetting to put a little of their tradition and culture in their modern art. Although I bet there are some who'd be tired of it, and think like those country bumpkin in the movies about living the city life. I like it more if the modern finds its way to be mixed with the cultural or traditional heart of things.

Makes me wonder if in the Philippines its our culture or tradition to feature jologs type of media related entertainment. The rap industry ain't bad, however it kinda repeats itself to the same tragic story, which makes me miss the old school way of rapping. Opm industry, I don't really know, I like most of the indie scene ones more than the commercialized popular ones. For metal or rock genres, there seems to be a large lacking of that in our modern culture. Ballads are more of the pinoys thing, I noticed.

Conversing about the cultural and modernistic integration of ttaditional things seems pretty wide of a subject. However, its very interesting to know or learn of people and their aims or dreams. Those projects they do to make the people around them aware. I forgot to mention about that second African singer, she was a female, and she was part of this song collaboration with 7 other female singers of their country. Their song promoted the power of females in the industry of music, or in any aspect in life.

Call it feminazi of me, but I liked it. The concept, maybe in their side of the country women still gets oppressed greatly. Although I know all around the globe gender inequality is rampant, especially for the "third" sex. Well its the support and awareness that counts.

Edit (sept.2.2015): this post failed to up last time, but I'm still loading it up.

music . help . cringe

Just what has been happening lately in our local world. One. Word. HELP.
Or Cringe.

I've just recently encountered some post through my facebook feed about an article mentioning that a group of girls are getting their lime light of fame. Honestly I don't really know who they are and frankly I don't care, or wish I didn't try and know about it. *cringe*

The brain of yours truly doesn't really have any profound knowledge of the local music industry, I'm talking about the music industry of the Philippines specifically. Further more focusing on the "entertainment" music industry, as usual, they pick fancy funny songs that more or less catches the attention of the masses by, between the two, being absurdly annoying publicity or fairly in the line of worthy catchiness publicity.

The song I've encountered is more on the absurdly annoying side of fame.

The song is in our native tongue, and I think this is not the original version of it(I...am not sure, further research are all in halt due to the cringe capacity we can only receive in one go, it. is. too. much!).

Officially in this version it was sung by a comedian actor named Vice Ganda(gay, in every fibre of his being), which is by the way the type of satire comedian that absurdly jokes about almost anything or everything and nonchalantly says apologies when someone gets sore because its just a joke. Don't get me wrong here, I like some of his acts, but to be honest he's a satirical comedian with an almost obnoxious air. What could possibly go wrong!? Ha...Ha...

The song is titled "Wag Kang Pabebe" which roughly translates to "Don't Be Spoiled", or something akin to that. Honestly, the lyrics itself, although slang and forcibly poetic, isn't that bad. The meaning is clear, and its "modernistically" sensible. Just, not my cup of tea for the whole composition.

Anyways, my purpose slash challenge for myself today is to translate the whole song in english. Not in the same poetic way as it was composed but in literal terms.

Because! I feel like its going to be funny, especially if one tries to sing it in the tune with the video.

Lyrics:
Tagalog (English)

ang puti ng powder sa kanyang mukha (overly white powder on the face)

ang lipstick ay pulang pula, labi parang namamaga (lipstick too red, lips as if sore)

maririnig maya-maya (hearing later on)

pa-english, tag-lish habang nagseselfie (speaking in english, tag-lish, while taking a selfie)

syang pa-side view at nakatitig sa kanyang ganda (facing side view and staring at her beauty)

biglang nagsalita (suddenly she spoke)

oh gutom pala! (oh she's hungry!)

kumakalam na ang sikmura kung anu-anung inuna (stomach grumbling, doing other things first)

mag mamon ka nga (you eat mamon)

nakaka turn-off ka (you are such a turn off

asikasuhin pag-aaral (study first)

sayang ang matrikula (tuition waste)

huwag kang pabebe! (don't be spoiled!)

huwag kang pabebe (don't be spoiled)

huwag, huwag kang pabebe (don't ever be spoiled)

(chorus) [repeat]

hey miss miss miss excuse me please!

dumadami na mga pabebe, boom panis! (there are already many who are spoiled, boom rotten!)

labi mong matulis para bang nang-iinis (already sharp lips that seems to tease)

oh, bebe jan sa singet mo baka kita matiris (oh, spoiled you, i might pinch your groin) 

(verse 1)

miss miss miss excuse me please!

may inuutos pa ang nanny mo kaya bilis (you still have your mothers errand)

nu'ng kaartehan sinabog sa metropolis (when being pretentious was thrown in the metropolis) 

bakit mo sinalo? tuloy daming katalo! (why did you catch it? there are alot of enemies!)

(verse 2)

(chorus) [repeat]

pabebe di lang pambabae (being spoiled isn't just for girls)

may lalaking makikita mo sa videong (there are boys you can see taking videos)

tume-twerk it parang "miley" (twerking it like "miley")

porma'y inaanggulo (posing in an angle)

gwapong gwapo (very handsome)

pero bakit pungay ng kanyang mata kakaiba (but why are your eyes different)*

ang taray ng dating (the effect looks arrogant)

oh teka ate! (oh wait older sister!)

ano ba talaga? (what is it really?)

akala ko ay macho, ba't nilalabas ang dila? (i thought you are macho, why is your tongue out?)

kuya! nalilito na ako (older brother! i'm confused)

pero kahit ano pa… (but what ever it is...)

papa bakit nagpapabebe? (papa why are you trying to be spoiled?)

(chorus) [repeat]

(verse 1 & 2)

(chorus)

oh bebe wag pabebe (oh spoiled don't be spoiled)

huwag umarte ng di tama (don't act incorrectly)

baka mabebe bebe bebe bebe be beh buti nga! (you might be spoiled...) <not translating the next part because its a tagalog term that doesn't exactly translating into anything but the action "bleh", can be compared to "bleh bleh bleh bleh bleh you cannot catch me!" but not exactly>

(verse 3) [repeat]

(chorus)

(verse 3)

manahimik kayo walang makakapigil samin! (shut up no one can stop us!)

Okay, it was not fun to do. I honestly felt like I racked my brain in just finishing the whole thing. Further more I salute all the linguists that specializes in translating Tagalog (slang or not) into English and vice versa. I had to ask help using this website "Tagalog Lang" for some of the terms I don't normally encounter any direct english translation.

This experience is quite exhausting to do. Quite exhausting that it diminished the food I ate an hour ago into sweat, or the weather is just crazily humid right now. *laugh*

Either way. End point. There really is something distasteful about the music our current generation is releasing or composing. I can't avoid comparing it to the music of the later years, the years where I explored my taste for music. Saying that the music nowadays cannot be in par to the music then is true and unjust at the same time, because in the first place each music being released these days are not targeted for everyone. Just for the ones who will appreciate it, like almost all genre or types of medias released.

Hypocrite as I may sound, I feel compelled to abhor this song and wish that its fame would die a young death.

The Philippine music industry is not entirely dying, its just changing for the damn worse.