Music Break: Circle of Life (Broadway)

Although I'm very bummed that I never got to watch my favorite Disney flick, Beauty and the Beast, the Broadway adaptation of Lion King seems breathtaking regardless—and you see that in the beginning act.

I am so watching this soon.

Music Break: Just a Love Song and Beautiful in my Eyes

Okay, I admit, I have a soft spot for ballads and love songs. But I have strict standards as to how sappy it has to be. Boyband ballads are disgusting and I wouldn't go anywhere near them. For the most part, remakes of past hits are acceptable, since they build on an already successful foundation—i.e. they're already good to begin with.

Christian Bautista, a Filipino singer and a good friend, released an album last year called "Just a Love Song...Live!" and it contained these two songs. Both—well, I'll give him this because he rendered them so well—are remakes, and actually I don't mind.

Simple lyrics, soothing melodies, and both registering low in the too-sappy scale. My favorite of the two is "Beautiful in my Eyes." I got choked up a bit the first time I heard it. Seriously.

Music Break: Vincent

Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) - Josh Groban
I got interested again in Vincent Van Gogh's art after reading a piece about his mastery of evening painting in an issue of Smithsonian magazine. (One of my newest acquired magazines. I just lost three: PC Magazine, EGM, and Plenty—all have folded. Boo recession.)

Very nice melody, the vocals are soothing (even the original one by Don McLean, though I prefer Mr. Groban's rendition) but it's not something you would want to dedicate to someone for one simple fact: It's a song about Van Gogh, who may be a fantastic painter, but this is the same man who cut off part of his ear lobe and committed suicide. Not exactly a "romantic" song to offer to someone.

Music Break: Answer

One of my all-time favorite songs in any genre. Very mellow, heartfelt, and just soothing to the soul.

Music Break:Day Break

I'm almost done with my Stylista post. Will have it here by tomorrow.

For now, a song that I've been playing over and over again. Really fantastic, and performed by an obviously talented artist. If you've been following my blog, you'll know who I'm talking about.

"Angels" Medley

I promise this will be the last Brad Bass, Adam Fleming, or Bobby Cronin video link I'll post for this month. The mix of songs is just so superb--and Mr. Bass did the songs justice--it deserves to be propagated.




On a side note, this is also for those who lost their lives and those left behind to heal during the tragic events that happened in September 11th.

EDIT: To those who asked me what songs Brad Bass sung, here they are in order: "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan, "Angels" by Robbie Williams, "Reach the Sky" by Bobby Cronin, and "Defying Gravity" by Stephen Schwartz (one of the songs in the Wicked! musical).

Reach for the Sky

It's official: I'm a Bobby Cronin fan. Brad Bass gives an inspiring performance of Cronin's "Reach for the Sky." Some lines can be a little granola and maybe corny, but when the showmanship is this great, you tend to forgive and excuse them.




Is anything ever the way they seem?
Is life just a passing of wasted dreams?
I don't know, I can't tell
Why the hell do I dwell?
One thing's flawlessly well
Yes, I try to get by
Without discovering why

Hold on everything's going too far
Cast off, it's how I feel
Let go, everything is like I'm on hold
Although I wish I could fly
One day I will fly

Is anyone ever the way they seem?
Is life just a hoax or a broken dream?
I don't know, I'm not sure
Open the door, what's in store?
Inside I know there's more
But then why do I try?
Not to let life whisk by

Slow down everything's going too fast
Run down, it's how I feel
Let go, everything is like I'm on hold
Although I think I can fly
I'm ready to fly high

I know I can reach the sky
And if I crash
I'll swim through life's changing tides
I know I will triumph fast
And I'll walk tall
I'll walk with a perfect stride, for the pride
Feeling alive, knowing I tried, knowing I could, knowing I'm good
My centric life is better than it seems
My life will not befall a wasted dream
Now I know I can see
Look my way I am free
I am finally free
I will not be that guy who lets his life whisk by

I know I can reach the sky
And if I crash
I'll swim through life's changing tides
I know I will triumph fast
And I'll walk tall
I'll walk with a perfect stride, for the pride
Now I'm alive, yes I'll try,
Yes I should, yes I'm good, yes I am, yes I can
I can, I know I can fly

Welcome to my life 4x

[Renditions vary from performer to performer, this one is specifically for Bass's. But I opted to change "I know I will drown fast" with "I know I will triumph fast" because it fits better with the rest of the lyrics.]

Til Death Do Us Part

And here's a very sweet one that will sound great as a wedding song.

It's lovely because it talks about how awkward expressing one's feelings towards another is.

B.R.A.T.T. Camp Music

In the post prior to this, I posted a YouTube video of one of the songs performed in Bobby Cronin's musical, B.R.A.T.T. Camp. I haven't seen it myself, but I found the songs catchy.

This one has been enjoying repeat iTunes play on my iBook, much like Welcome to My Life. Enjoy!

Welcome to My Life

I fondly remember a project I had to painfully endure in high school, for music class. Well, each one of us had to sing in front of everyone, with a song of our choice. Our grade was based on not just vocal prowess (which meant us guys with a less-than-appealing music box stuck in our throats already were in trouble) but on—curiously enough—showmanship. Meaning, you can suck at the singing part, but if you gesticulate wildly and act like it's a one-man show on Broadway, you can still walk away with an A.

I had delusions of grandeur, say the least, and opted for a mellow ballad, you know, so I could finish the song without my voice grating. The "What were you thinking?" moment came when instead of bringing in prerecorded music—which is what 95 percent of the class did—I chose to learn its chords on a freaking organ.

Note, before that project came into our laps, I had no idea how to play the organ, nor did I care enough to give it a try. My rehearsal was very mechanical, as if I'm memorizing Mathematical formulas (okay, this part, your fingers should be this way and touching this, this, and this key) because it was the best way I know how to learn to play without having to go through the basics. So when I eventually memorized the final set of notes for the very last word, I thought I was set.

But life being life, it never is that simple.

Let's just say that come "performance" time, I choked, panicked, forgot the lines, and worst, it was painfully obvious that I had no clue how to play an organ—and the people seated in the front row of the class knew and understood that fact all too well. I barely made it with a passing C grade.

After that fateful day, I squashed all hopes of learning to play a musical instrument; and vowed never to let my delusions of actually singing for an audience get the better of me.

If I would be given the chance to do it again, however, I would gladly sing the main lead's part in this video. But instead, I'll just have somebody else provide the music, and use the recorded material for the girl's part.

Warning: Lyrics contain profanity and adult subjects.