No Music, No Life Vol 6: I Escaped the Mayan Apocalypse!

Did Foo Fighters have a great year? | Credit: Time Entertainment

Since I began blogging in 2005, I have been writing about my notable songs of the past year. Some of these songs are actually old ones (meaning, they weren’t released during the year I blogged about them) but because my Multiply blog (RIP Multiply Blog) was geared for personal stuff, I did not care how the general public would feel upon reading my Song of the Month. I have lost interest in remembering which song I have abused in my iPod in recent years so I just wrote about the remarkable songs. This year would be the same. However I will be blending the past with the present, because I have to admit that I have written in a more personal level this year as compared to the past four years.

As always, this music writeup has its own calendar year (starts the December of the previous year and ends the November of the current year). I am keeping that tradition even if December is pretty much done and I already know about this month’s Song of the Month.

First Quarter (December 2011 to February 2012)

Foo Fighters – Arlandria
 

“My sweet Virginia… I’m the same as I was in your arms”

This was my December 2011 Song of the Month. I have to admit that it was a bit late because ‘Wasting Light’ was released early that year. But with most songs, it takes time for it to resonate and gain my attention. This mind blowing single was my favorite ‘psych up’ song while jogging the windy streets of our village in Antipolo. No actual lyrical resemblance for me during that time (as all I wanted was a song that pumps me up). But in retrospect, it has its meaning now. I was starting to miss everybody in the Philippines last December because I was about to be assigned to the United States for quite some time. But as I left and as I lived my life in Atlanta, I started to realize that I am still the same old guy in the Philippines. I continued to appreciate how awesome my family, teammates and friends in the Philippines are.

Foo Fighters – A Matter of Time

No lyrical resonance that’s why there is no actual quote. I just loved the melody and the way Dave Grohl sings this song.

Foo Fighters – These Days

“Easy for you to say.
Your heart has never been broken.
Your pride has never been stolen.
Not yet, not yet.”

It has been a Foo Fighters start of the year for me. This one was very memorable because Atlanta’s rock station was usually playing this song. It has been quite a while since NU 107 stopped airing so it was very refreshing for me to have a rock station to listen to. I have played this song for months because I love how beautiful the song is. Its lyrics might be interpreted as hatred for something, but I did not view it that way. After all, there was no particular person I am referring this song to. Grohl’s delivery is superb in this song (especially on the soft parts). His emotions are raw whenever he sings these lines. I feel for it. In my life, I have experienced my heart broken a lot of times and my pride being stolen as well. And when these things happen to your life, whatever advice people give you does not seem that easy once you are bleeding and feeling the pain for it.

Before the World Ends (You Know, if the Mayans were Right): The Best TV Show Episodes of The Year

How I Met Your Mother pulls off a Christmas surprise | Credit: CBS

If you have watched WWE, the sight of the babyface¹ wrestler getting badly outdueled by his opponent must be a normal experience for you. His opponent grapples and throws him into the canvass. He gets clotheslined ruthlessly. The ‘face’ suddenly looks pitiful as the audience starts to root for him to have some life. His opponent does a brutal submission move and the face starts to lose some strength. The referee carries his hand up to check if he still can survive the match. His hand falls. Once. Twice. At the last check, the wrestler’s hand is about to drop but he summons all his will to keep it up. He closes his fist and stand up as the fans cheer for him. He is alive! Good Lord, he is alive! The crowd goes nuts. The babyface wrestler punches his grappling opponent to break free. You know how the rest goes, the babyface carries on with his momentum to win the match in underdog fashion.

That was the feeling I had on ‘How I Met Your Mother’s Season 8 Episode 11/12. Just like wrestling, this scripted show has become lazy and predictable for a lot of times this year. But because I already followed it through the years, I find myself watching it episode per episode. Hoping for some life. Back in its heyday, I could easily recall notable (or even minute) details of the previous episodes. Right now, the last memorable episode I could remember is Marshall’s father’s death (or maybe Robin’s narration episode last Christmas). Heck, I could not even remember who Ted’s last girlfriend was before he reunited with Victoria. But on this Christmas episode, HIMYM definitely threw a brilliant haymaker. I know this might sound strange in the present time but I think that episode is one of the year’s bests.

When the Going Gets Tough

It was one of those days. It was a Saturday afternoon and I just woke up from nap. I did not want to wake up yet but I have work on six and I need to charge my mobile phone. Dad just approached me and told me that the Ateneo Lady Eagles (The Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team) have a game going on. I nodded that I knew of it but I want to continue sleeping. He told me that the team was down by two sets against NU and their star setter, Jem Ferrer, is injured. I did not react but deep inside this was how I felt:

“Great. I am having a horrible week and I get to hear news like that. It is a bad idea to watch after all. I do not want sports to further destroy my day.”

Problem was, my mobile phone charger is downstairs. I have to pass by the TV to see the horror unfolding. While I was heading down, I had some glimmer of hope. Dad loves to joke about sports outcomes. He says my team is getting beat down but the truth is, they actually won. But by the time I reached the TV, alas, the Lady Eagles were really getting beat badly. I proceeded back to bed to sleep. There are more important things in life than sports.