Echo Binary

It’s amazing how iTunes became so popular in 21 different countries that it had reached close to one billion downloads already. As Apple approach their one billionth purchased download, they have launched a countdown webpage to celebrate the event. Apple had also opened a contest starting from the 950,100,000th download. An iPod nano and iTunes Music Card will be awarded to user for the 100,000th song downloaded. The grand prize includes 20-inch iMac, 10 60GB Video iPods (5 white, 5 black) and $10,000 worth of iTunes downloads. In order to grab the grand prize the user must be able to purchase the one billionth song. In addition, Apple will create a scholarship in the name of the Grand Prize winner to a world renowned music institution.

Unfortunately the contest is only open to iTunes music store enabled countries.

Links:
iTunes
iTunes Music Store One Billion Songs Countdown
Technorati Tags: iTunes, countdown

I’ve been playing the open beta of Rising Force Online - Philippines a.k.a. RF Online - Philippines or RFO-Ph. Whenever you launch the game there are 3 music that play randomly when you open the login interface and one of them includes lovely lyrics in english. The other 2 music are instrumental renditions — a piano solo and a symphonic version. I was intrigued so I searched for the title of the song. I transcribed the lyrics that I could understand and I googled it. Alas, I found it! The name of the song is “One”. In fact the title is already in the filename of the MP3 background music that comes with the game under C:\Program Files\RF Online\Snd\Bgm\1_RF_Online_ONE.mp3. It was sung by So Jung Lee and it was originally used in Japanese drama series “Friends”.

Anyway here’s the lyrics for the song.

Title: One
Artist: So Jung Lee

When I saw you for the first time
I knew you were the one
You didn’t say a word to me
But love was in the air
Then, you held my hand
And pulled me into your world
From then on, my life has changed for good
Now I’ll never feel lonely again ’cause you are in my life.

Love, how can I explain to you
The way I feel inside when I think of you.
I thank you for everything that you’ve showed me.
Don’t you ever forget that
I love you

Love, I know that someday real soon
You’ll be right next to me
Holding me so tight, so I will always be yours
Although we can’t be together now
Remember I am here for you
And I know you’re there for me.

Whenever I long to be with you,
I just close my eyes and pretend you’re here
I see you, I touch you, I feel you, like real
Nothing can ever change
When I feel inside.

How long must I be far away from you
I don’t know dear, but I know
We are one.

Links:
Rising Force Online - Philippines
Technorati Tags: Rising Force, RF Online, Levelup Games

If you’re a fan of new wave music in the 80’s then Fra Lippo Lippi would ring a bell in your ears. Yes, it’s a new wave band in the 80’s. I found some FLL’s mp3s in my 2nd hard drive while doing some “house keeping”, so I took some time browsing Allmusic.com to know more about their songs… What interests me is the fame that this band had achieved in the Philippines whereas their music were not really famous in the US during that music era. If you read Fra Lippo Lippi’s biography in Allmusic.com, they were “largely unknown throughout most of the world” yet they managed to get in the Philippine radio. It really amused me that their music topped the music charts in the Philippines. Actually I didn’t know they sang some of the familar songs I know by tune — I just found out today that they sang “Upside Down”, “Angel”, “Light and Shade”, “Everytime I See You” and “Beauty and Madness”. I’m sure my parents know this band.

I like some of their music especially the piano instrumentals but I’m not really a big fan of new wave music. However, I virtually like any music when it has a catchy tune or rhythm. Some of FLL’s songs have a jazzy melody that I appreciate more these days.

Regarding the name Fra Lippo Lippi, I did a small research about their band name and apparently it was taken from Robert Brown’s poem of the same name.

Who will see the beauty in your life?
And who will be there to hear you when you call?
Who will see the madness in your life?
And who will be there to catch you if you fall?

- taken from the chorus of “Beauty and Madness”

Sail on the wings of a cloud
Where to, well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die every day to be free
Be proud to wear the colours that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
Be weak, if you want to love.

- taken from the chorus of “Light and Shades”

Familiar?

They are collectively known as Mojofly and it was the highlight of the day. The band performed some neat indie music down our school lobby, which was temporarily transformed into a music stage, thanks to freshmen week programme. The stage set has 2 decent sets of loudspeaker cabinets, typically found in concerts, and they’re huge, connected to several music gears, amplifiers and equilizers.

The synths were quite good because even if the music stage was inside the school lobby, echoes were minimal. The sound coming from the loudspeakers were solid, you could feel the trembling deep bass. And when the drummers hit the cymbals you’ll cringe because of the crisp sound.

Anyway, I was not able to watch all of the jamming because I have classes but I think the programme was great. It was hosted by Joey and Miles of Magic 89.9 and they even gave away some cool freebies (bring me’s).

It’s really a rarity to see these events going on in our school and I really appreciate it amidst the looming pressure of case studies and exams.

I was browsing the new album releases at OPM section in Tower Records, ATC when I noticed a seemingly sesame-street-like album cover. Oh! “Halina sa Parokya” is the title of the album. Without doubt, that’s a Parokya ni Edgar album. Hilarious, I thought. Chito and Vinci made up 2 puppets that resemble themselves (look closer, you’ll see)! There goes Buwi looking like the dirtbag Oscar the grouch. I don’t know about the rest…. I don’t recognize their imitated characters. They look… odd.

It seems that this album cover was inspired by Sesame Street and its local counterpart Batibot. I don’t know why… I just laughed when I saw the cover. LOL. That’s so wity and humorous. They look like kids trying to portray Batibot and Sesame Street desperately. On the musical side, the tunes of Parokya ni Edgar in this album stay true to their roots, keeping the songs distinguishably Parokya ni Edgar. Most of the lyrics in this album are so comical you’ll just laugh in between tracks. That’s the typical Parokya ni Edgar style that no one could match.

The familiar song “First Day Funk” as featured by Rexona is included in this album. I wasn’t surprised when I heard a rap song in the album because of Parokya ni Edgar’s influences in rap. The song is titled “Bagsakan” featuring Francis Magalona and Gloc-9. Man, that’s really a good collaboration. There’s also a song entitled “Walang Nangyari”, a spoof of Andrew E’s hit single “Andrew Ford Medina”. Here’s my favorite… “The Ordertaker”, a somewhat explicit yet funny rendition of System of a Down’s “Toxicity”. Just listen to it and you’ll be surprised how close Parokya ni Edgar managed to perform instrumentals as good as the original.

Of course there are more songs in the album, but the songs I mentioned above captured most of my attention while listening the sample CD in Tower Records… Geeez, I wanted to get a copy of that album but I didn’t have the budget. Nevermind, I will manage to get one soon.