2014 Mixtape

So I meant to write this annual mix tape post last 12-13-14, but again, work and other things ate up my time. That has been my constant excuse in the latter half of the year, but I hope that that will change as the year turns. Since I do not want to break tradition, I told myself I’d write a post during the holiday break, so I wrote some songs in my notebook…

…and found that I actually had a hard time filling up the 14 slots for this year.

It’s not that I had so many songs. It’s really more that I didn’t really have a lot of songs to choose from because I realized that I didn’t listen to so many songs this year because I was so busy. Too busy.

So annoying.

But I still made it, anyway – much thanks to my last.fm account for keeping track of all my music. Then I realized how different this year’s mixtape will be from 2013 and 2012…but it’s okay. It’s the good kind of different. :) I’ve been thinking of putting one together for my father for his birthday. Last year I got him some cool gadgets and he was really happy, CLICK HERE to see where I got them. Still working on his mix tape though, but may post it later this week!

1. Delight by Robin Nievera

[youtube YLHrxHfzFdM]

Things could change or rearrange
But I will delight in Your song

I wanted to include this in my half-year soundtrack, but I realized this fits better at the end of the year because the title of the song is my word of the year. :) I heard this during the Jars of Clay concert last year and I liked it a lot, and I listened to it over and over again back then, especially during the hard moments. I realized that I didn’t really listen to this recently, so I played it again as I was writing this and I smiled because yeah, I will delight in Your song. :)

2. Sink My Feet by Jillian Edwards

[youtube 5VgXiFKwJ3E]

I wanna sink my feet down in security
Unmoved by changing tides and
Shadow shifting lines
Then I’d see the stars, see the sun
And I’d see all that has been done

This song, like Audrey Assad’s Good to Me, came at the right time this year. It was the time when I was experiencing several changes in my life, coming from the things that happened in the previous year. There were so many things at this time in this year that was hard that I knew all I had to do was to sink my feet in His grace, because of all that He has done. :) This song still calms me down whenever I hear it.

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When you hear this chorus

Also known as: Mayday Parade in Manila…well, a bit of it, anyway

So, I meant to blog, but as always, I haven’t blogged much. That just never change lately. Oh well. But I see a blogging event coming soon, so…wait for it.

In the meantime, I will leave you with this. Last week, I went to my third concert for 2011. This is one of those concerts that I did not think I’d go to, if it weren’t for some people convincing me to go with them. Not that I mind, of course, since I ended up liking the band anyway. It’s kind of nice to do that, be a part of a screaming fan crowd and also kind of watch it too. I like the novelty. :)

But anyway. I can’t say much, because, well, I’m not really a fan (yet), but it was a great night. Meralco Theater had good acoustics, and the band was so hyper. The screaming fangirls were awfully loud, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re a fan. Oh, and I still can’t get over how thin the lead vocalist is.

So I apologize for the lack of pictures. Some people can recap the event better than I do, really. But here’s a video of one of their hit songs, Three Cheers for Five Years:

[youtube 5ybOVLkXois]

And another, my favorite, but it’s the song with an insanely long title that I have a hard time remembering the entire thing. Seriously.

[youtube ENohXVsGOmw]

Now if only they have happier songs…

Hurricane Switchfoot

Also known as: Switchfoot in Manila 2011
Could also be known as: The best band in one of the best concerts this year.

Almost four years ago, I kind of had the best 24 hours of my music-loving life. I was part of Switchfoot‘s street team on their first visit to Manila, and it was one event that definitely goes down in the books. One that I will always, always look back on fondly. I didn’t have much proof because I was too busy, except for some parting shots like this:

Jon Foreman, circa 2007
Jon Foreman, before leaving Manila in 2007. Tim and Chad in the background.

And this:

With kababayan, Jerome Fontamillas

When news came out early this year that Switchfoot will be coming back to Manila for their Hello Hurricane tour, there is no doubt that I would be there to watch it. During their first visit, the producer was our friend so she recruited us to help her sell tickets and manage the event. It was chaos, but hey, it was fun. This time around though, it was a different group producing (our friend had long retired in concert production business), so my street team friends and I talked about volunteering again. However, because of busy work schedules, my best friend/concert buddy Happy and I just decided to be an audience on this concert.

But of course, we had to get the best seats we can manage. And that’s where having volunteer friends come in handy. :)

VIP ticket. Row A. Nothing less from the BEST BAND IN THE WORLD.

How close is VIP Patron Row A to the stage?

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