‘Tis the time of the year when I come up with my top five favorite songs which in some way have become soundtracks of my life. It has been a tradition between me and my bestfriend to come up with this list, and have it shared with each other, for nothing more than love for music.

5. I Want to Know What Love Is (Mariah Carey)- Mariah has always been a staple in  my top five list (Don’t Forget About Us was my #1 fave song for 2006). In the tradition of all her previously successful remakes like Without You, I’ll Be There, Open Arms, I Still Believe and Against All Odds, Mariah has again proved that not all cover songs are less powerful than the originals. This song is little breathy in the beginning but has showcased Mariah’s signature way of belting songs towards the 2nd chorus especially with the choir as her back up vocals.

4. Fireflies (Owl City)- This is one song that will catch your attention the first time you’d hear it. With some mix of electric music, Fireflies has become an instant hit with its bizarre yet witty lyrics. The song has climbed up the US charts and has been a top 5 hit in the Billboard Hot 100. Who would forget the line “It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep..”, bet you’d be thinking over what the line means and find yourself smiling after.

3. You Make it Real (James Morrison)- I have previously blogged about James Morrison, on how his vocals are just really amazing, plus the fact that his songs are really sweet and magical, those which you can sing along when you’re in love or broken-hearted. His husky voice adds more flavor to the song and makes it more soulful. One particular sweet line in You Make it Real goes, “when all my faith has gone, you bring it back to me, you make it real for me…“

2. Halo (Beyonce)- I didn’t really dig this song when I first heard it. But after contemplating on the lyrics, I started to like it months after it has been topping the charts. The song pertains about finding your angel after such a long time of building walls around you ’cause you have been jaded by love. But then again, love comes along, and you’re just amazed that there really is someone for you, with that nice little Halo.

1. Found (Phillip Larue)- This song pretty much describes how I am feeling right now. The first line struck me oh so right and I felt as though everything has fallen into place, “faster than a shooting, baby you stole my heart, and I never want it back…” Its bridge somehow sums up that there is really someone fated for you to love, whom you can say, “we were made to collide, you and I, are lost…“

There were five more songs I have considered to be part of my list, however I felt as if I had to choose more happy songs than those sad ones like Don’t Forget (Demi Lovato), Stay (Gavin Degraw), Never Say Never (The Fray), Russian Roulette (Rihanna) and Speechless (Lady Gaga). I guess a lot of things just change when you’re… in the mood for love.

I miss doing stuff by myself. Not that I don’t enjoy the company of my family and friends, I do. It’s just that, I miss my old self. I honestly don’t know what I have become for the past years. I miss laughing, crying, giggling, screaming, almost anything I could ever imagine… Alone.

Enough of my melodramatic intro. What I’m trying to get into is that I’ve watched a movie alone today. I remember watching Atonement, The Kite Runner, Dan in Real Life, among others, all by myself. The truth is, I enjoy a movie better when I am alone; no one to discuss the plot with and no one to speculate what’s going to happen next with.

I’ve been aching to watch Management ever since I’ve seen its trailer. I honestly have never heard of Steve Zahn until I’ve googled him, and I was surprised to have liked him the first time I’ve seen a movie of his. I’m not much of a Jennifer Aniston fan either, but I admittedly started to like her since Marley and Me and He’s Just Not That Into You.

If I would be a movie critic whose reviews are often quoted in a one-liner, I’d probably say that the movie is “Surprisingly Sweet and Touching.” I haven’t seen a feel-good movie for quite some time and I can say that this one’s worth the wait since Catch and Release. Moreso, the movie taught me a not so hypocritical thing in life; that it’s okay to be selfish sometimes, or rather, it’s okay to stop being selfless sometimes and just let someone take care and love you.

I’m wondering though, is watching a movie alone a selfless or a selfish to do?

I had a blast last night. Halos mapaos ako kakatili lalo na para sa idolo kong si Nina. Kaso, napansin kong mas napalakas yata ang tili ko ng lumabas na si Richard Poooooooon! At dahil nagback out si bestfriend, I had no one to share the kilig factor hearing The Big Band Crooner swoon the audience with his smooth voice. Actually, third wheel ang drama ko last night dahil ang kasama kong nanuod ng concert eh ang loveteam na sina Boo and Chervs. Habang holding hands ang dalawa eh mag-isa naman akong pumipikit pikit pag naririnig ko na ang malalamig na boses nina Juris, Nina at Aiza.

Pero ang totoo, wala naman akong nafeel na inggit, promise. Sana nga lang next time eh may kaholding hands na din ako. Chos!

One year na pala ‘tong blog na ito. Sa loob ng isang taon, ang dami ng pagbabagong naganap dito sa aking munting mundo. Mula sa pagbabago ng anyo, ilang beses na rin ako nagpalit ng blog name (Living Life for the First Time, Absolute Zero, Undiscovered, TheClockStopper, The Emancipation of Me). Hindi kasi ako makunte-kuntento, at eto na naman, nagpalit na naman ako, halaw sa unang album ng aking idolong si Jason Mraz.

Sa loob ng isang taon eh andami na rin palang nangyari sa buhay ko na naishare ko sa blogosperyo. Andyan ang emo days kung saan puro na lang tungkol sa mga ex ko ang sinusulat ko, at yung tipong todo effort pa sa pagpili ng English words para mas malalim (kuno). Andyan yung mga super happy days ko naman, to the point na nagiging preachy na ako, yung tipong magbibigay pa ako ng advice on how someone should live his or her life. Andyan din ung mga feelingerong poet days ko kung saan eh nagcreate pa ako ng isa pang blog para sa mga poems ko. Andyan din yung mga posts na nagpapakafeeling David Sedaris ako, trying to be funny without intending to sound too comical.

Nasaksihan din ng blog na to yung mga tipong turning points sa buhay ko. Shortly after ko sinimulan ang blog na ‘to ay nag-out ako sa mga closest friends ko. Siyempre lahat ay nagulat kasi hindi naman daw nila inakala. Yung iba nga eh pinipilit pa na baka naguguluhan lang daw ako. Nai-share ko din sa blog na ‘to yung mga naging problema ko sa pamilya ko. Nag-hiatus pa nga ako para lang makasama ko sila ng mas maraming oras. Pero bababalik at babalik pa rin ako sa pagsusulat, sabi ko sa sarili ko.

At since anniversary post ito, susubukan kong magpakaiba. Actually, first blog entry ko ito na hindi purely English, nagsasawa na kasi ako magpakanosebleed sa mga sinusulat ko.

Anyway, wish ko lang naman eh more power sa blog na ‘to. Oh di ba parang showbiz lang.

 

What I like about you is that you’re so feisty yet so soft-spoken; you’re so fierce yet so benign; you’re so determined yet so carefree. I remember, I was so frightened to try surfing back then and you were the one who helped me realise that I can do so much more outside my comfort zone. Whatever your plight is right now, just don’t forget that I’ll always be here for you. And if you’re daunted with “flatness,” remember that you can float through life and make waves. 

Happy birthday J, love lots!