Favorites of 2015

Favorite Movie - Mad Max: Fury Road

Favorite Music Video - Sia "Elastic Heart"



Top 5 Favorite Songs

1. Kygo feat. Conrad Sewell "Firestone"


2. Rihanna feat. Kanye West and Paul McCartney "Four Five Seconds"


3. Drake "Hotline Bling"


4. Ariana Grande "One Last Time"


5. Justin Bieber  "What Do You Mean?"


What about yours? :)

2014 Favorites

Favorite Movie I Saw in Theater - Gone Girl 
I unfortunately saw only 14 movies in cinema this year and while uneven, this film tops simply because it took me to the unexpected and made me think about humanity in the age of electronic exhibitionism.




Favorite Movie I Saw on Torrent - Blue is the Warmest Color 
Aside from its excellent aesthetics,  the film features the best acting ensemble I've seen in years.  This is the perfect supplement to Wong Kar Wai's classic Happy Together.




Favorite Song - Sia "Chandelier" 
A song with brilliant songwriting sang brilliantly by singer-composer Sia.  It may have been overshadowed by its equally brilliant music video but the song is a class on its own.




Favorite Album - The Fault in Our Stars (Music From the Motion Picture) 
I didn't even like the movie (I prefer the book), but the album brought me back to a time when I remember the movie every time I hear the songs from its soundtrack.  




Favorite Music Video - 2NE1 "Happy" 
There's nothing landmark about the video but I love its fashion and color scheme that perfectly complement my favorite K-Pop band.

2013 Favorites

Favorite Movie - Iloilo
I would like my dream movie to be like this, personal but well-crafted, dramatic but real, insightful but not didactic.




Favorite Song - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell "Get Lucky"
Good ol' electronic music that makes you feel good,  gets you up to the dance floor and doesn't make you throw up.




Favorite Album - Emblem3 "Nothing To Lose"
Guilty pleasure of 2013.  If you're a child of the 90's, listen first before you judge. :)




Favorite OPM Song - Yeng Constantino "Chinito"
Never mind the music video that's derivative of a Taeyang-Dara K-Pop collaboration.  Mind instead that this laid-back love ditty has got to be one of the most original OPM songs to come out in recent years.




Favorite Music Video - Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop"
Get past through Miley's tongue-wagging and explicit exhibitionism but focus on its well-photographed images and meaningful art direction that serve the song's lyrics right.




Favorite Viral Video - Ylvis "The Fox"
Just because the video introduced us to a song that never fails to make me smile or laugh!




Favorite Game - Candy Crush
Seriously, who didn't get addicted to this game this year?

Favorite App - Waze
Finally, I can now drive anywhere! Thank you to whoever invented this!

Pop Favorites of 2012

FAVORITE MOVIES
It must be noted that I only saw 14 movies in cinemas last year, a far cry from the 50 films I saw ten years ago.  Yes, I keep track of them. :D  Some of the films here are released in 2011 but are shown in the Philippines only last year.

5. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Director: Brad Bird. Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg

4. Argo. Director: Ben Affleck. Cast: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman

3. The Hunger Games. Director: Gary Ross. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson

2. The Descendants. Director: Alexander Payne. Cast: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller

1. The Tree of Life.  Director: Terrence Malick. Cast: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn

FAVORITE SONGS
2012 was the year when I started buying songs instead of illegally downloading them. :D  Some of the songs in the list are from 2011 but are released on Philippine mainstream radio in 2012.

5. I Love You - 2NE1



4. Starships - Nicki Minaj



3. Settle Down - No Doubt



2. One Thing - One Direction (My guilty pleasure of 2012! :D)



1. Walk - Foo Fighters (My karaoke song of 2012! :D)


There you go! I have no list of favorite TV shows since aside from my own shows, the only shows I watched in 2012 were my old reality favorites - Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol & X-Factor. There is also no list of favorite music videos like before because MTV does not play music videos anymore.  

Favorite 8 of 2008

8 SONGS
I'm sorry I'm so pop but high school forever! :)

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Weezer - Pork and Beans
Sandwich - Betamax
David Archuleta - Crush
T.I. - Whatever You Like
Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
Pink - So What
Leona Lewis - Better In Time


8 MOVIES
Strictly flicks that I saw in the cinema so sorry Wall-E, sorry Into The Wild, sorry The Diving Bell and The...

Juno
Confessional
Jay
Tropic Thunder
Ironman

5 lang pala! Only saw a total of 26 movies in the cinema last year. Sucks!

Fave 5 of 2007!

Yep! I am so mainstream! :)

Fave Films

1. Babel
2. Pisay
3. Hairspray
4. Bourne Ultimatum
5. Enchanted


Fave TV Shows

1. Ugly Betty
2. Gossip Girl
3. Chuck
4. Survivor: China
5. American Idol 6


Fave Songs

1. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
2. Cool Off - Yeng Constantino
3. Umbrella - Rihanna
4. Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston
5. Won't Go Home Without You - Maroon 5


Past Faves
2006
2005
2004
2003

6 Favorites of 2006

FILMS
1. Donsol
2. Devil Wears Prada
3. Borat
4. The Departed
5. Casino Royale
6. V For Vendetta

SONGS
1. Sugod – Sandwich
2. Perpekto – Dong Abay
3. Nobela – Join The Club
4. Hawak Kamay – Yeng Constantino
5. Unfair – Chai Fonacier
6. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira

MUSIC VIDEOS
1. Pag-agos – Up Dharma Down
2. Fixing The Radio – Ciudad
3. Walang Kadala-dala – Sandwich
4. Sugod – Sandwich
5. First of Summer - Urbandub
6. Jeepney – Sponge Cola

And then I realized na pangit ang number pag tatlo lang ang list so I decided to add another category. :) This time, mas personal.

MOMENTS
1. Cebu-Iloilo Trip
Work siya para sa pre-show interviews ng dalawang celebrity housemates pero grabe, kahit backpack lang and on short notice, ang saya pa rin. Iba talaga ang hospitality ng mga Visayans. Tsaka parang na-fulfill na rin kahit papano nito ang matagal ko nang pinapangarap na road trip.




2. PBB Celebrity Edition Post-Big Night Inuman
Hanggang ngayon, winawarningan pa rin ako ni Richard na ‘wag ikalat ang mga pinanggagagawa niya that night. Hahaha!



3. Cinemalaya 2006 Viewing Marathon
Nag-trigger siyang buhayin muli ang aking pagiging film buff kahit sa konting panahon lang. Tuwing Cinemalaya na lang ba babalik ang aking passion for cinema?!? ‘Wag naman sana.


4. Bahura Outing
Wala talagang makakatalo sa impromptu resort outing. Since high school pa lang, tried and tested na ang formula na ‘to. Kaya it’s just fitting na kasama ko ang mga high school friends sa aking only resort gimmick of 2006.



5. Malate Gimik
I’m sure, ito ang number 1 ni Mira. Hahahaha!



6. 10th Year High School Reunion
Short kasi I had to fly back for work the following day, but definitely sweet! Hehe.

I Heart Torrent!

Eversince my VCR died, I haven't been able to follow new TV shows. The last new show whose first season I fully watched was Desperate Housewives and that was still in 2004. But thanks to Torrent (the new VCR for those who don't have Tivo), I think I am going to follow two new shows whose pilots I enjoyed.


Ugly Betty


Heroes

I still have to download the network version of The Nine's premiere. I heard it's good. I didn't enjoy Studio 60 on Sunset Strip (too close to home!) and Brothers and Sisters (loved Griffiths and Flockhart more in their old shows, Six Feet Under and Ally McBeal respectively.)

How about you? Any new shows to recommend? :)

My Favorite 5 of 2005

MOVIES

1. Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros
2. Fever Pitch
3. Closer
4. D’ Anothers
5. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

(6-10)
6. King Kong
7. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
8. The Constant Gardener
9. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
10. A History Of Violence


MUSIC VIDEOS

1. Hanggang Kailan – Orange and Lemons
2. Fix You - Coldplay
3. Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
4. Get Me - MYMP
5. Anino - Imago

(6-10)
6. Masilungan – Sandwich
7. Cool – Gwen Stefani
8. Kahit Pa – Hale
9. Maybe – Up Dharma
10. Prom – Sugarfree


SONGS

1. Neon – Sponge Cola
2. Fix You - Coldplay
3. Original of The Species – U2
4. Kwarto – Sugarfree
5. Masilungan - Sandwich

(6-10)
6. Masayang Kalungkutan – Pinwheel
7. Spoliarium - Imago
8. You’ll Be Safe Here - Rivermaya
9. Don’t Lie – Black Eyed Peas
10. Action! Action! – The Brockas


PAST FAVORITES
2003
2004

Pop 5 of 2004

Pop 5 Songs of 2004
5. Come Clean – Hilary Duff
4. She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5
3. Balisong - Rivermaya
2. I’m Shakin’ - Rooney
1. If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys


Pop 5 Music Videos of 2004
5. Sinta - Sugarfree
4. Make It Slow - Ciudad
3. Love Profusion - Madonna
2. You Don’t Know My Name – Alicia Keys
1. Astro - Radioactive Sago Project


Pop 5 Movies of 2004
5. 50 First Dates
4. Collateral
3. The Bourne Supremacy
2. School of Rock
1. Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2

10 Music Videos of 2003

Finally, the 10 essential music videos of 2003 (to my standards, at least)! :-) I decided to yank out my list of 10 for television since I realized it would just be a list of the TV shows I watch. Besides, my fave TV shows don’t change that much every year. Anyways, music video is a short film genre I so adore. Back in college, watching music videos was an early morning habit for me. It just felt therapeutic. Just like all the others I guess, I wanted my daily dose of MTV. (Can’t do the same now since I usually wake up late for work already.)

I especially love music videos that present new and innovative concepts. I also look at their editing and cinematography, if they support the song’s feel, lyrics and tune. For me, a good music video should be a video that makes the viewers appreciate the song better, or even elevate it to higher standards. If watching it confuses the viewer as to whether s/he likes the song or the video, then the video succeeds in this purpose.

Only music videos played in regular rotation on MTV and Myx last year are eligible for my list. I only have 13 “MTV’s” as favorites so I guess I should mention the 3 which didn’t quite make it. The first one was Dido’s “White Flag”. I like the concept of two superstars longing for each other but couldn’t just connect. However, the video has noticeable flaws in its technical aspects. I also like how the video of Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” complement the song’s jiggy beat. It’s just that I have seen too many dance videos showing the same visuals already. Then there’s Robbie William’s “Something Wonderful” which I consider funny but very Robbie in his narcissistic best.

10. GOSSIP FOLKS by Missy Elliot
Missy Elliot should be commended for the technological innovation in her videos, like in this one. Its cinematography is experimental but successful in execution. The visual editing also fits with the song’s scratchy beat. Moreso, the dance choreography is splendid.

9. THE SCIENTIST by Coldplay
Winner of Best Direction award from last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, the backward-motion video also brings back Coldplay’s main asset – Chris Martin’s magnetic video performance (also maximized in the band’s breakthrough video “Yellow.”)

8. WHERE’S THE LOVE? by Black Eyed Peas
The digital video-like cinematography gives urgency to the song’s message. The “Benetton” casting of the bit players is perfect and the question mark symbolism is well played up. The rappers all give convincing performances.

7. HEY YA by Outkast
The concept of having Andre acting all the band member roles is good enough. What’s even better is that this retro video reminiscent of the Beatles’ first U.S. performance in the Ed Sullivan Show perfectly captures the song’s feel and catchy tune.

6. BIGGER THAN MY BODY by John Mayer
Mayer is clear with his message. Despite his overnight success, he would like us to believe that he remains grounded and he knows the fans are there for the songs and not for the songwriter.

5. TROUBLE by Pink
Superb direction and “technicals” in here. The western movie theme is well complemented with the cinematography and production design. I’m more in awe with its editing, though. It jives very well with the music’s beat. Watch closer.

4. DAMAGED by TLC
Superb acting performance from the actress who plays Freddy Rodriguez’ wife in Six Feet Under… A very affecting storyline… Excellent use of “puzzle pieces” symbolism... Girl power, indeed!

3. CAN’T STOP by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Another excellent video concept from the Peppers. Brilliant art direction and stirring performances from the band members, as usual! This time, they bring to life the visuals of an avant-garde artist whose name escapes me at the moment. (Can somebody tell me?) Whatever, I definitely can’t stop addicted to this video. :-)

2. ROCK YOUR BODY by Justin Timberlake
Wonderful in its rawness and simplicity. The point of the video is direct. We are selling Justin Timberlake’s appearance and dancing skills. Point well taken.

1. GIRLS AND BOYS by Good Charlotte
FUN is manifested all over the video. The concept of having old people go back to being, yep, boys and girls is simply fantastic and wacky at the same time. The video also succeeds in its 80’s feel, which just complements the tune (specifically the clapping part). It’s without doubt the hippest, happiest and my most favorite video of the year. :-)

10 Songs of 2003

I really had a hard time limiting my favorites to ten. Not just because I love many songs from last year but also because there was really no stand-out song for me. Unlike, say, in 2001 when U2's "Walk On" was my personal anthem, this year I consider my top 5 songs of equal bearing. I had to resort to their "singability" factor to rank them as such. This means that if I can sing the song beautifully on "videoke" (ahem!), then it's ranked higher than the others. Hehe.:)

For a song to qualify on my list, it has to be released as a track or single in mainstream radio (with emphasis on the word mainstream). Album cuts that weren't released on radio are excluded. That's why even if I love Coldplay's "Warning Sign", it's not part of the list simply because it wasn't given radio airplay.

Other than that, the criteria's still subjective. I lean more towards anything pop (whether it be pop-rock, pop-pop, pop-alternative, pop-anything actually.) I'm sorry but I'm not that fond of love songs, rhythm and blues, mellow music, eurodance, rap and hip hop (although there are 3 hip hop songs in my list, which, I guess, basically reaffirms hip-hop's place in music culture last year.) What more, I am not a lyrics person. I believe both lyrics and melody should complement one another because if you only like a song because of its lyrics, you might as well write poetry. Last year, I'm mostly depressed, so songs about this state are easily favorites. I guess I'm telling you these so that, more or less, you'll understand why these songs are tops for me. I mean, I don't like it myself when my favorites are not in other people's favorites. :)

I listed 27 tunes as favorites last year and these are the cream of the crop...

10. CLOSE by Paolo Santos
Forget the overplayed TV commercial. Forget that it's a theme song of some teenybopper movie. And admit that it's a well-composed, well-sang piece that's gotta be the breakthrough song of this once indie artist now dominating (and really dominating) the airwaves and paving the way for all these acoustic hoopla.

9. CRAZY IN LOVE by Beyonce and Jay-Z
It's all about the trumpets, baby. It's all about the trumpets.

8. HEY YA by Outkast
"Trip", "Hip", "Hop", and "Funk" all combined in their real sense.

7. BIGGER THAN MY BODY by John Mayer
This catchy first single from his latest album just proves how talented this Mayer geek is. It also proves that you don't have to rest on your laurels by playing it safe and playing the same kind of tunes like most singers. You can constantly experiment and explore new musical possibilities in every song you offer.

6. WHERE IS THE LOVE? by Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake
Critics may not be that supportive of Black Eyed Peas going "pop" in their new album but you can't deny that last year's anti-war theme was also a fresh listen compared to the generic hip-hop tunes proliferating these days discussing nothing but sex and violence. It helps that I can rap this well, too. :)

5. BEAUTIFUL by Christina Aguilera
Never mind Aguilera's schzophrenic image. Focus instead on this well-composed piece of pop by Linda Perry and the "Beatlesque" piano accompaniment playing in the background. Okay, Aguilera's voice was also good.

4. I'M WITH YOU by Avril Lavigne
Never mind Lavigne's contrived angst. Focus instead on this well-composed piece of pop by The Matrix and the early 90's melancholic feel accompanying the singing. Okay, Lavigne's "yeah, yeah...yeah, yeah...yeah, yeah...yeaaahhhh" was also good.

3. LIKE A STONE by Audioslave
The ex-Rage Against the Machine members didn't go wrong when they hired ex-Soundgarden lead Chris Cornell to front their new band. Cornell's nasal growl (if there's such a term) perfectly complement the melodious instruments in this powerful tune about pain and longing. Like a Stone simply rocks! (No pun intended). :)

2. UNWELL by Matchbox20
It's very eerie how the song's lyrics aptly describe how I felt during my depression moments last year. This is a very very sad song and I looove it!

1. MARIPOSA by Sugar Free
Yep, last year's anthem for the lonely is also my number 1 pick. It's been sometime since a Pinoy alt band came up with a song this good. The idea of giving a somewhat happy tune to very sad lyrics was also refreshing. I'm definitely looking forward to singing this song on videoke. Screaming "Ayoko nang mag-isa!!!" will be pure catharsis. :)



Special mention to Parokya ni Edgar for giving us the funniest song of the year. No, not the overplayed "Mr. Suave" but the hip-hop parody "The Yes Yes Show", which also pokes fun at other Pinoy bands' over-inflated egos. Definitely, a laugh trip and some genius' writing! :D

10 Movies of 2003

There is no objectivity in this list. The films' aesthetics and quality have nothing to do with this list. These movies are my top 10 simply because I immensely enjoyed watching them and I see myself buying their video versions. Some crap movie's high ranking will definitely be a surprise but I stand by it coz I was entertained by it. Period. It's safe to assume then that the list tells so much about my personality. As the saying goes, tell me what your favorite movies are and I'll tell you who you are. (Okay, I made that up.) :)

But for a semblance of objectivity, the films qualified for the list are only those that were shown theatrically in the Philippines last year. Or at least, those I have seen in theaters last year. Let me also tell you that even if I'm a film buff, my movie log states that I only watched 56 films last year (not that much) and for trivia's sake, I placed 23 as favorites. :) The first movie I saw in 2003 was the overhyped Mano Po and the last and only MMFF movie I saw (so far) was Bridal Shower (a disappointment but well, entertaining.)

And oh, the movies I worked for, the fairy tales Till There Was You and My First Romance were exempted. Not that they would place in the Top 10 anyway. :)

10. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Director: Steven Spielberg
Spielberg's first commercial movie after Lost World: Jurassic Park 2, the film attests that Steven is indeed one of the superb visual directors around. The movie is very entertaining and succeeds in bringing back Leonardo DiCaprio's charisma which seems to have waned after that big-movie-you-know-what. Favorite scene: The one wherein DiCaprio's character looked through the window and saw her half-sister for the first time, mere minutes before the police tracked him down.

9. PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson is another visual director whose movies manifest nuances through music, situations and cinematography rather than dialogue; Punch-Drunk Love being one of them. The film also brings out fine performances by the always reliable Emily Watson and comedian Adam Sandler. This is definitely a far better version than its commercial counterpart Anger Management (which also stars Sandler.)

8. THE HOURS. Director: Stephen Daldry
Too much of girl power maybe but one can't deny the sublime and beautiful poetry the film shows. The ensemble gives emotionally-charged performances, my favorite being Julianne Moore as the 1950's repressed housewife. The themes discussed in the film are all relevant and affecting.

7. THE MAGDALENE SISTERS. Director: Peter Mullan
Biased, yes, but very powerful and true. The film bravely exposes what we already have known about the negative aspects of religion. Geraldine McEwan acts beaufiully as the villaneous Mother Superior.

6. BABAE SA BREAKWATER. Director: Mario O' Hara
Last year's best Filipino picture, enough said.

5. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. Director: Audrey Wells
Blithe and very entertaining. Diane Lane succeeds in telling us that Unfaithful was not a fluke. This is the perfect movie for the hopeless romantics out there.

4. JACKASS: THE MOVIE. Director: Jeff Tremaine
Heck, the title's a misnomer. It's not a movie but a series of inane pranks and gross stunts. But why was I laughing out loud and thorougly entertained while watching it?! Does it mean I'm a jackass myself?! :)

3. 28 DAYS LATER. Director: Danny Boyle
This is probably my favorite zombie movie of all time. The film's premise is so haunting and eerily familiar, you will forgive the explicit human being as zombies symbolism. The first five (I didn't time it) minutes of the flick, the one after the prologue, is a definite classic. Cillian Murphy is the next IT British import.

2. CITY OF GOD. Directors: Katie Lund and Fernando Meirelles
The best docu-drama ever. The film's so complex, so rich, and so reality-based you'll end up thinking that those rapper-poseurs with their contrived anger and insipid clans are a bunch of wimps compared to the characters of the City of God. It's one of the most powerful movies I saw in terms of exposing the social ills of poverty and everything on it.

1. SWIMMING POOL. Director: Francois Ozon

I love you Spike Jonze but Swimming Pool is the best meta-movie last year (better than your Adaptation)! This pseudo suspense thriller is well directed, well-acted, well everything, it's gotta be a classic. The ending is like it or hate it but it actually doesn't matter for by then, you know you are served with a very fine and original material. For succeeding in mixing the terms "entertaining" and "art", Swimming Pool is tops for me. :)