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Sunday, July 30, 2006

~* NOW PLAYING: NOT AN ADDICT *~


You're hearing Zayra Alvarez's version of K's Choice original song "Not An Addict" which she sang last week at Rock Star Supernova to redeem herself from the bottom three.



Breathe it in and breathe it out
And pass it on, it's almost out
We're so creative, so much more
We're high above but on the floor

It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side

The deeper you stick it in your vein
The deeper the thoughts, there's no more pain
I'm in heaven, I'm a god
I'm everywhere, I feel so hot

It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)

It's over now, I'm cold, alone
I'm just a person on my own
Nothing means a thing to me
(Nothing means a thing to me)

It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)

Free me, leave me
Watch me as I'm going down
Free me, see me
Look at me, I'm falling and I'm falling.

It is not a habit, it is cool I feel alive I feel...
It is not a habit, it is cool I feel alive

It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
I'm not an addict...

~ * ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA: NO, I'M NOT AN ADDICT *~

Yes, another post about RockStar Supernova. What's great about it? Well for one, have you seen how cool their website is? It's a pain in the ass to download for dial-up modems like mine but once it's cached, you won't have any problems anymore.

Second, it's in watching this (and Rock Star INXS) that I get to know good rock songs for download. Like for RockStar INXS, that's only where I discovered The Killers' Mr. Brightside and Foo Fighters' Everlong. For RockStar Supernova, so far, I discovered K's Choice's I'm Not An Addict, Dramarama's Anything, Anything, Black Crowe's She Talks to Angels and Failure's Smoking Umbrella. But you know what I find extremely strange though? I wonder why I've never seen any Pearl Jam song up there on the song selections. I mean, Nirvana is virtually a staple since RockStar INXS... Stone Temple Pilots has seen Plush and Interstate Love Song on each season. So how come the third of the 90s grunge triumvirate was not in RockStar INXS and has not been in RockStar Supernova so far? Eddie Vedder must be wondering too. I mean, how come Live's I Alone has been in both seasons? Isn't Jeremy, Alive or Daughter not memorable enough? Hmm.


And the memorable quotes just keep getting better every week. Here's some of 'em {though not all verbatim}:


Gilby: Did it freak you out being the first to perform tonight?
Storm: I like being first. And I get a clean mike!

Gilby: (to Chris after singing a "reinvented" grossly out of tune Roxanne by Sting) It's cool to take a tune and rock out, man - but that just sucked.

Jill: (after being chided for doing an impersonation of Courtney Love) This was my interpretation. I don’t know what she’s done. I don’t care what she’s done.
Dave: Well if you look at the [Hole] album, she's wearing a white dress,
holding some flowers... [which is exactly what Jill did]

Gilby: Do you even own one of our records?
Zayra: Baby, I was wearing diapers when that came out!

House band guy: (to Zayra during song arrangement/band practice) Hmm. Seems like you're looking for some sort of orchestra sound...
Zayra: Yes, that's it.
House band guy: (deadpans *lol*) Uhh... well... we're not an orchestra.

Gilby: (to Jenny) To me this was a step in the wrong direction. To me that was a little on the "Lilith Fair" side, we want "Ozzfest"!

Tommy: (to Dana) I felt like I was watching a Celine Dion extravaganza.

Tommy: (to Ryan) Obviously you can sing. But I was wondering if you have duct tape stuck to the bottom of your shoes.

Jenny: (after being booted out) I'd describe it as the best slap in the face I've ever got in my life.

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Zayra, the intergalactic queen of the catwalk - photo from rockstar.msn.com

Dave: (to Zayra who was wearing a metallic blue and silver catsuit) You look like you're ready for interplanetary travel, honey.


Tommy: (to Magni) Why would you strap yourself to a microphone and that guitar when you're singing a song about heroes?
Magni: Well, I didn't think wearing Spandex [referring to Zayra] would be suitable for the song.








Dave: (to Dana) You are finally looking damaged enough to be a rock singer. There is nothing worse than a grounded, centered, well-adjusted rock singer.





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lukas, my favorite arrogant rocker - photo fr www.supernovafans.com


Dave: (to Lukas) You really come off kinda arrogant [dramatic pause]... and that is absolutely awesome, dude!


Gilby: (to Jill) The only thing that really bothered me was the humping... Women in music today have sex, like that’s the only thing they can use. You have more than sex. I think it’s cheap, and it’s weak.

Jill: (in defense to her errmm brainless humping of Gilby from his behind) I think Gilby’s used to having Axl Rose up there, and it’s a totally different dynamic with a woman on the stage.
Gilby: (retorts to Jill) I played with Heart, two women, and Ann Wilson never had to stoop so low as to hump me to get her emotions out!

Dave: (to Zayra) You know, the past couple weeks has been kinda fun and interesting watching you do your thing. Uh, I don’t know if it’s right for Supernova and my recommendation to you is to get started on a solo career, like, right now.


Dave: (to Patrice) I’m just not seeing anything different and frankly, I’m getting a little bored. You got a 13-week audition here, all right? Change it up from week to week, otherwise, you are wasting this opportunity.
Patrice: (trying to be a smart-ass biatch) Do you do a lot of different things on stage when you perform, Dave?
Dave: Uh, yeah, but see, the difference is that I HAVE a job and I’m NOT auditioning.



Image Hosted by ImageShack.us tommy lee, the hatchet man steps up his antics with the cool hood befitting his role - photo from rockstar.msn.com

So far, the quotable gems of wisdom come from Gilby Clarke and Dave Navarro. Dave is probably PMS-ing over his break-up with Carmen Elektra. Hmm, I wonder if something is going on between Brooke Burke and Dave. Anyway, Tommy is just being funny with being the hatchet man and his sleazy comments. Jason's constipated/displeased looks over horrible rocker performances is a joy to watch as well. His expressive eyebrows and Lyle Lovett-ish wrinkly face says it all.

Last tip, for those who love the show, if you're looking for performance downloads, go here. I got my RockStar Supernova mp3s from there. It's a cool site.

~* ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA: SPANDEX WINS OVER WOBBLY NECK *~

I really thought Zayra would get booted out this time. But after that impressive saving of her ass, she just might pull a "Suzie McNeil" who was the self-proclaimed Queen of the Bottom Three but managed to be in the last four finalists of RockStar INXS last year. We just might have more of Zayra this Rock Star Supernova season. Turns out Supernova questions the passion/commitment of Phil to be IN the band. Phil kept harping on wanting to WIN the contest. And for Supernova, there is a world of difference between wanting to win the show so bad and oh-so-wanting to be in the band. But then again, they probably just could not stand a minute more of Phil's wobbly neck. It bothers me too, actually. Even his "paranoid rocker" side-glancing while bobbing his head and singing still looks fake to me. I still firmly believe he is a true-blue geek trying hard to be in a hard rocker's clothing.

In all fairness, Zayra sings well but her voice doesn't rock enough. She's more of the goth/haunting Bjork kind. Her rendition of "I'm Not an Addict" (K's Choice) won me over though. I like her breathy haunting voice. I just don't want her to do the overly-moany-trying-to-be-sexy rendition of "You Really Got Me Now". I actually pitied her when Dave Navarro told her something like: " I think this is now the right time for you to launch a solo career". But then again, Zayra, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, managed to wow the crowd (and yes, I was very impressed this time) with her K's Choice number.

SCOOP! Dunno if this is true but I read this on the net:

Phil got booted because he said in an interview that he didn't like the Supernova tracks and that he was in this for exposure for him (and his band.) Dave pulled out the article and read it aloud. They didn't air that footage. When the band gave him a chance to say he wanted to front the band, Phil couldn't/wouldn't do it, only saying he wanted "to win" and "love you too." Supernova was justified in letting Phil go after he disrespected their music publicly and made it clear that he wasn't interested in fronting the band.


Come elimination time, the moment Hatchet Guy Tommy said goodbye to Phil, everyone -- the rockers, the audience and yes, even me -- was suspended in utter disbelief. Immediately, the rockers' astonished mouth-hanging-open looks were flashed on screen. I actually thought Phil rocked out in his performance of Smoking Umbrellas (Failure). Basically, Phil rocked more than Zayra. But I guess the story behind it (see SCOOP! above) justifies the band's decision.

After a couple of weeks, I'm also starting to like Storm and Ryan aside from Lukas and Dilana. Storm Large wowed me with her version of Dramarama's Anything, Anything. Her version of the song totally rocks... I downloaded the original version and Storm's flavor to the song added a certain *umph* factor. Her no holds barred stage dive was cool. Her wide-eyed paranoid rocker look becomes her in a strange way. It didn't work for Phil but it works for her. And I bet the guys Googled her already after what she said to Tommy. And wait, did you know she's already 37?!?! I'm surprised that she's actually older than Dilana and Patrice (who are showing signs of aging on their appearance, by the way). Ryan Star finally caught my attention after he did Live's I Alone with matching stage stomping and climbing onto the drum bass. He finally rocked! And how can I forget that ridiculous wide grin he indulged Supernova with after they commented that he looked distinctly uncomfortable and wondered if he was having any fun at all.

Among the women, Dilana's voice never fails to impress me. She did well with Time After Time last week. Her scary-good performance of Nirvana's Lithium is for the books. And Lukas -- some people hate him and I see he's even called the Lemur King (remember the animated Madagascar movie?) on a certain website. Whoever thought that one up, I commend your humor! LOL! Lemur King!!! It's just so funny when you think of the lemur and then look at Lukas with his wild dyed spiked hair, eyeliner and red make-up. However, I must agree with Jason's warning to Lukas about taking care of his voice. I downloaded the mp3s of their performances and after listening to Lukas, I fear that indeed, his scratchy/throaty voice will die on him in the middle of a road tour. Nevertheless, Lukas, despite his being a bad-ass sometimes remains to be my number 1 favorite. All of his performances are well put-together, he has a commanding stage presence and his overall style rocks. I think he's got "rock star" written all over him. I totally dug his gravelly hard rock rendition of Verve's Bittersweet Symphony last week. I especially loved that moment when the stage lights went off and only a lone spotlight was on him as he sang the low-key stripped down part of the song... and then he proceeds with screaming the rest of the song climax with all the stage lights back on. That totally kicked ass!

Like a motorist to a road kill, out of morbid curiosity, I actually look forward to whatever antic Zayra will pull off in the next episode. She is horrible as a potential vocalist for Supernova but she is good in her own swan-gown Bjork/breathy Sinead O' Connor kind of way. And I thank her for making me discover the music of K's Choice.

Jill is starting to annoy me. Her attempts at being sexy on stage is just totally disgusting. What the hell was she thinking in trying to hump Gilby Clarke on stage? Didn't she see Gilby sorta cringe and go away when she did it the first time?! Anyway, she's still like a Nightmare on Christmas version of Dolly Parton. As if an image of a mini-me Dolly Parton rocking out on stage isn't appalling enough. It also disturbs me how she looks like a bleach blonde tinier version of Paula Abdul trying to rock it out.

Magni -- despite singing one of my favorite songs (Plush by STP) and despite the fact that he has a successful rock band who released albums back in Iceland -- still fails to impress me. I don't know why. He does not stink... he actually rocks good but I guess he's not catchy enough for me.

Same thing with Toby. I mean he rocks too but nothing really memorable to date. He's nice though and the poor mate tried so hard to have an orderly song selection process the other time but the eye candy and his notepad got ignored by some of the rabid rockers. His Aussie accent remind me of the cool surfin' turtles in Finding Nemo.

And no matter what, I don't think Josh will succeed in his world domination attempt to create a bluesy-nice-guy rock genre. His melismatic singing is better off for American Idol's next season.

Patrice has a powerhouse grungy voice but I do not enjoy watching her performance. Her Remedy rendition looks constipated.

If Dana keeps up with getting grittier every performance like what she did in last week's About A Girl, she just might stay longer.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

~* THINGS YOU NEVER LEARN IN SCHOOL ... *~




~* NOW PLAYING: Go For You by Basia *~

original photo sourced from http://jacketmagazine.com


I forgot how cute this song was until I heard it once again from Chico & Delamar's Morning Rush...

I'm through with love
It's only a madness
I'm finished with this
This moment was never my joy
Who needs a heart break ?
Don't want anybody to call my own
But when you're near
The sweetest sensation
Takes over my heart
I feel like I'm losing control
These moments of weakness
Allow me a glimpse of heaven

But I've been so strong
Can it be true
It's like a mystery too soulful
For you broke my resolve
Now I'm fighting I try
but I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
Now I'm fighting I try
but I cannot deny
that I could really go for you


I'm looking for clues
What else to do
I take leave of my senses
Give back all defenses
I have to comply
Can no longer deny
That I could really go for you
Oh I have to comply
Can no longer deny
That I could really go for you

Go for You

It could be so good
I'm wishing anew
Or why should I resent something I've always missed ?
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

~* ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA: WEEK 2 IMPRESSIONS *~





So it's the 2nd week of Rock Star Supernova. As always, Dave Navarro is endearing. Tommy Lee's personality is entertaining. Gilby Clarke is brutally honest. Jason Newsted's facial expressions give a clue to what he's thinking. I haven't picked a favorite yet but here are my first (and second) impressions:

CHRIS - He's way too cocky. And to think he royally sucked re-arranging Sting's Roxanne last week! He was singing Roxanne off-key! His 'look' reminds me of Red Hot Chili Pepper's Anthony Kiedis.

DANA - She looks like a young Drew Barrymore. She's too young and I'm afraid she'll get sexually harassed by the 3 aging rockstars if she ends up being their vocalist.

DILANA - She rocks. But she scares me sometimes. She sounds like a scary gravel-voiced witch sometimes... but she rocks! I can see her fronting Supernova. She's bad-ass enough to rock with those bad-ass guys. She was asked to do Week 1's encore of her Lithium number.

JENNY - She looks like Daryl Hannah. I don't remember her performances. Poof.

JILL - She's so vertically-challenged that she's like a Dolly Parton mini-me. But she did a good screaming number this week with Hole's Violet. Still not a rockstar to me though.

JOSH - He reminds me of John Leguizamo. He's got a nice voice but he's better off joining American Idol. He's trying to inject blues to hard rock--which, by the way, won't work if your band members are from Metallica, Guns n' Roses and Motley Crue.

LUKAS - Another strong contender, I think. I can see him being the Supernova vocalist (based on the 2 weeks performances). He looks the part too. Nose ring, spiked hair and shaved eyebrow and all. His eyeliners make him look like Greenday's Billie Joe. After seeing that first week confrontation, he's potentially the guy who will ruffle the other rockers feathers.

MAGNI - Ah, Magni from Reyjavik, Iceland! He reminds me of the Vertical Horizon bald dude. Haven't been wowed by his performances though.

MATT - Aww. Poor, poor Matt. The very first one booted out. He sang Yellow by Coldplay on the opening night and then some Duran Duran song in a lame attempt to save himself from the Bottoom Three doom. His style is more of something like a Brit pop-rock thing. His goo-goo puppydog eyes remind me of Paul McCartney.

PATRICE - I don't know why but her singing with a guitar tonight reminded me of Josie and the Pussycats. Must be her brown-blond hair.

PHIL - He's a geek. He fails miserably in trying to pass himself off as a bad-ass rockstar (which I think is what Supernova's about). He's more of the spineless whiny swooshy emo rockstar.

RYAN - David Blaine, is that you? No memorable performance so far.

STORM - Did you see how she fixed her hair in tonight's performance? Baby Spice, is that you? Sometimes, she looks like Ginger Spice. Tell me what you want, what you really really want.

TOBY - Toby from Down Under. Hmm. Blue-eyed macho dude. Can't remember anything else.

ZAYRA - What the hell was she thinking when she chose Evanescence's Bring Me to Life?! She doesn't even have a rocker voice at all. I know she's pretty and tall but she just doesn't cut it. She should be sashaying down the catwalk instead of trying hard to win a contest wherein she doesn't even have a clue what GNR, Motley Crue & Metallica's music were.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

~* PHOTOS GALORE *~

Just got copies of our photos from Vic & Drew's wedding last June 14.


with kodak/ex-kodak people (there's buddy, my cool ex-boss in my other dept.)

more kodak people

note the terrified look on my face. i hate the part
when they call out the singles (for a game) during
the throwing of the wedding bouquet...

the vavavoom singles of the night with the beautiful bride

bianx and i with the bride & groom

the customary wacky shot with the newlyweds

~oO0Oo~



Yes, I had a lot of fun in Photoshop... I am sitting in front of my PC instead of watching the Larios - Pacquiao fight on TV now. I felt like jazzing up the shots from our ATC nights with Abbie, Tin, Charo & Jako...


after we watched x-men 3

pigging out on jap food @ tempura. candid shot daw kunyari.

at seattle's best


i was gonna put a "camera-shy" caption
but abbie said the shot was more like a "talk to the hand" .
don't blink. you'll see the original photo ;-)