Journey North America Tour Schedule, Kicks Off July 9 in Denver, CO

dmeemai on July 7th, 2008 File Under music

Journey just finished their England tour. They kick off their North America tour in Denver, Colorado in July 9, 2008 (that’s in 2 days!). Performing with them are Heart and the Cheap Tricks- two great 80’s rock bands in their own rights so this is going to be a F-U-N concert!! I can’t wait!

*** Please Note! Heart is not included in this show

07/09/08     Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre     Denver, CO

07/11/08     USANA Amphitheatre     Salt Lake City, UT

7/12/08     Harvey’s Lake Resort     Lake Tahoe, NV

07/15/08     Coors Amphitheatre     San Diego, CA

07/16/08     Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre     Irvine, CA

07/18/08     Mandalay Bay Arena     Las Vegas, NV

*** 07/19/08     Casino Anselmo     Tucson, AZ

07/22/08     Mid America Center     Council Bluffs, IA
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Wonderful Revelation For Arnel Pineda and Journey: CD Album Review

dmeemai on June 26th, 2008 File Under Filipino-ness, music, rants/raves

The much anticipated Journey 3-disc CD/DVD full album debuted at number 5 in the Billboard 100 and as of June 21, 2008- “Revelation” is currently number 6 and steady. It’s Single “After All These Years” is at number 21 at the Top Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. *Listen to some of the tracks at the end of this article! ;-)

This independent record sold 104,000 copies on its first week of sales “marking the band’s biggest first week sales since 1996’s TRIAL BY FIRE,” according to Wal-mart stores- its exclusive distributor in the United States. How’s that for track record for Arnel Pineda’s international debut and Journey’s comeback?

What with the Revelation album itself? I wouldn’t say I was blown away on first hearing. Like wine, it has to age. As a ‘new’ fan, it’s a matter of taste and distinction. You either love it or dislike it! You’d have to listen to it at least twice to let the music grow on you- and that’s actually a good thing! It means the CD is that worth listening for without having to skip any tracks! And after having heard it, I must say that I like it!

Arnel Pineda truly deserves to be with Journey! He is the missing piece to this long aching band! Rediscovering Journey through Arnel Pineda is indeed a revelation. I can’t believe how great an instrumentalist Neal Schon is, and so are Deen Castonovo, Jonathan Cain and Ross Valory!
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Arnel Pineda and His Journey Continues…

dmeemai on June 22nd, 2008 File Under Filipino-ness, Holiday, Personal, music, rants/raves


When some middle aged adults begin to experience that their lives are not the way they wanted it to be and they have little time to change it, when they are on the verge of perhaps a midlife crisis, how does one gets his biggest break at 40 years old?

And when he does get it, how does one process fame, (fortune!) and glory coming from very humble beginnings, from surviving as a struggling musician singing covers of other people’s hits and now to becoming a bona fide international rock star performing beside legendary and iconic band as a front man?! How? Try being Arnel Pineda!

His is a story that could have been taken out of a Charles Dickens novel and as Arnel Pineda himself admits in a GQ interview: “My life is a fairy tale. But I’m awake, and I’m dreaming it.” His is a story of perseverance, hope and never stop believing in yourself! His is a true inspirational story of the 21st century not only for aspiring musicians but for everyone who dreams of making it.
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He

dmeemai on June 15th, 2008 File Under Personal, family affairs, music

Also wrote: She

I’m an easy prey to ‘abuse.’ I’m not talking about physical or anything like that, but being taken advantaged of because I’m too trusting and tend to believe on the innate goodness of every person I meet. BUT I’m not going to talk about that oddity or is that idiocy?! I’m going to talk about a man whom I completely and fully trust with my life. One man who is innately good in every way and there is only one man ever!

I’ve known him for 34 years. He’s your perfect guy (almost!). He is handsome, God-fearing, sensitive, intelligent, caring, patient, thoughtful, funny, stubborn, adamant even! He knows when to talk and when to listen. He’d hear your stories no matter how boring or how many times you’ve told him. He offers to drive you anywhere, even just around the corner to satisfy a balot (unhatched duck egg; yes I eat that!) craving. He’d patiently wait for you while you shop in the girls/women’s section til the store closes! He’s at your every school activity, even volunteering to join a committee just to please you. He knows all your cuts and bruises and mends them while scolding you for getting them in the first place! He picks up your friends regardless of distance from each house and takes each one of them back home too! He introduced you to hobbies like stamp collecting and writing or catching butterflies and preserving them. He bought you your first bicycle. He taught you how to ride them. He bought you your first atari when it first came out (never mind if you had to cry and wail for it!). Bought you your first Tretorn in the then famous imported shoe-haven Cartimar in Manila (this was the 80’s!) (…and with the same crying effect!).

…He is handsome, God-fearing, sensitive, intelligent, caring, patient, thoughtful, funny, rude and stubborn, adamant even! He knows when to talk and when to listen…

He takes you to the beach. He takes you travelling to great places! He taught you how to drive and how to drive carefully! He appreciates and encourages your passions. Your triumphs are his and your woes and worries are his to carry as well. You can always count on him for anything and I mean anything. He supports you through and through whichever side of the fence you are. Above all, zero vices! He doesn’t smoke, drink or gamble.

His only flaw is that in most cases he is a passivist. In a fight or flight response, he’d more likely to hide than fight. There were trials when we needed for him to stand up and he was helpless. Mom, strong and composed as ever, pulled us out through the storms. He didn’t want changes. He didn’t want to leave his comfort zone. He is vulnerable and powerless when confronted with tribulations. Then again for all that he is, what he has given to me, my mom and my sisters, how he influenced and shaped our lives to be better- somehow more than makes up for that soft character. He has proven his love for all of of us and is proving it time after time. We couldn’t ask for a better man!

I sure do love this guy! I’m not his favorite (I think?! ha!) but he’s got so much love to give to all of us that it doesn’t even mean that he loves me less and it doesn’t really matter! We all have our favorites, you’d have to respect that. Through all my angry years with my mom, he’s been there. I have been a difficult child to raise, I admit that. ;-) He (along with my mom and sisters) has put up with my idiosyncrasies and eccentricities all these years! I’m proud of him and am proud to be his daughter. He’ll always have that spot in my heart that no one can ever fill. I love him oh so dearly and I make sure he knows it! And if he happens to come across this post, here’s to you dad: “You have my love, trust and respect for always! Happy Father’s Day! I couldn’t have asked for a better father…” © 2008

Note: This first appeared on my First blog in June 2005. I reaffirm it to this day and everyday of my life.

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A Brief Charice Pempengco Encounter at NAIA

dmeemai on March 8th, 2008 File Under Celebrity Sightings!, Filipino-ness, Personal, music

charice pempencgo

What a way to kick off my Philippine vacation! While waiting for my luggage at the baggage area (which took forever!) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, my tired but quick eyes saw Charice Pempengco across the baggage carousel! She and her mom were getting their stuff and nobody even noticed them! Well, it was one in the morning and everyone just wanted to get out of the busy airport fast. We were on the same Hong kong to Manila flight!

I rushed to their side and shyly asked if she was Charice! She politely said “opo” (yes). I felt so old for a while there. I congratulated her on her first US TV guesting at the Ellen DeGeneres Show last December 2007 and asked about her first trip to the United States. She said she was so happy for the opportunity and she enjoyed her stay very much. I asked if she visited New York and watched a Broadway show (my fave thing to do in New York!). She exclaimed yes, the show “Wicked”! I gamely sang a few lines of the song “Popular” from the musical hit which I saw twice already! She nodded and grinned. I thanked her for chatting with me and wished her luck on her singing career. Such a sweet kid!

charice_pempengcoTo those unfamiliar with Charice Pempengco, her popularity in the Philippines grew when she became one of the finalists in a singing contest sponsored by a major TV station. She became a household name in the internet, thanks to YouTube user FalseVoice who was the first to upload a video clip of Charice singing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”.

The video became an instant hit despite being called a fake by most viewers who couldn’t believe that such powerful voice could come from a 15 year old Filipina. The video and increasing worldwide prominence paved way to appearances in Sweden, South Korea and ultimately the United States.

The small talk wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t ask for a photo with her, so I did eye bags and all! It was really nice meeting you Charice! You are so polite, friendly, accommodating and very down to earth. Don’t lose that when you climb up to stardom! Now, I am a fan! Good Luck! :-)

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Filipino Arnel Pineda: New Lead Singer of Journey

dmeemai on January 7th, 2008 File Under Filipino-ness, music, rants/raves, web finds

arnel_pineda

It’s official as announced on the Journey website, Filipino Arnel Pineda is the new lead singer of Journey! Journey is the world famous American rock band from the 80’s. Thanks to cover bands all over the world and the internet, their most popular songs “Open Arms”, “Faithfully”, “Don’t Stop Believing”, “Anyway You Want it”, “Wheels in the Sky” among others are still alive as it was over 2 decades ago.

The group saw many changes over the years, with different band members leaving and returning but the biggest was when original and popular lead singer, Steve Perry left in the 90’s because of an injury.

Since then original member lead & rhythm guitarist and at one point lead vocalist, Neal Schon, has been looking for a new lead singer to revive the group. In his frustration, he sough the internet and spent days looking at videos in YouTube until he came across a video of the Zoo, a Philippine band popular in the club scenes in Manila and Olongapo. Schon couldn’t believe what he was hearing when he saw the group’s video with Arnel Pineda on lead vocals giving his own rendition of Journey’s songs. He said that Pineda’s voice was just too good to be true! He knew then that Journey found their new voice in Arnel Pineda! The rest as they say is history, or in this case- still a history in the making for the new Journey. In Pineda’s case, his “journey” to real stardom is only beginning…

Who is Arnel Pineda?Zoo band

To be honest, I’ve never heard of him until the official news that he is Journey’s newest member (and lead vocalist at that)! Born and raised in the Philippines, 40 year old Arnel Pineda is a singer-songwriter with a successful steady musical career in Asia spanning 25 years performing mostly in Hong Kong. He belonged to numerous bands over the course of his career and has released a self-titled album in 1999. Before Journey, he was with the band called the Zoo. The Zoo recently released its first album “Zoology” in the Philippines, in September 2007 under MCA Universal records with 13 original tracks, most of which are written by Pineda.

I must also admit I’m not a Journey fan but this great news caught my eye! The internet has done it again! In the US, MySpace paved way for Colbie Caillat to be discovered and get the much deserved worldwide recognition! Her song “Bubbly” was played over 30 million times in MySpace before she even officially recorded the song so that record companies were the ones coming to get her and practically swooning over her for a record contract and not the other way around! Last December 2007, it was 15 year-old Filipina Charice Pempengco wowing the US audience by guesting in Ellen de Generes Show. Charice was “discovered” by the Ellen crew in YouTube! Now, it’s Arnel Pineda preparing to take the US market and the world by storm! See this short news clip from CNN on Arnel Pineda’s discovery lifted from Youtube and uploaded by user ndgomez777. It gave me goosebumps!

Truly, he is under a lot of pressure to show to the world what he can do especially to loyal Journey fans. This early on, he already has received a lot of negativity from the die hard fans. He will most likely be compared to the original Steve Perry. C’mmon you guys, give this guy a break! Let him live his dream! Let’s all wish Arnel Pineda the best of luck and hope that the audience will see what Neal Schon and the rest of Journey and their producers saw in him- a great, fine talent!

His first public appearance with Journey is slated on February 21, 2008 at the Festival de Viña del Mar at Quinta Vergara Arena in Chile. More tours are scheduled and a new recording album for Journey with Arnel Pineda is set for release in Spring/Summer of 2008.

Find our more about him and his Philippine Band, the Zoo in Friendster! The photos in this blog were lifted from the band’s profile pics in Friendster.

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Oh Frankie Valli, You’re Just Too Good Be True!

dmeemai on October 5th, 2007 File Under broadway fanatic, music

Johnllyod CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU. I wanna hold you so much! Where were you all my life? I might just as well be in love with the real Frankie Valli, only he’s 70 years old now. BUT I am currently in love with his music and John Lloyd Young- 2006′ Tony Awards Best Actor in a Broadway Musical.


JERSEY BOYS is Broadway’s newest No.1 musical hit and twentysomething John Lloyd Young is Broadway’s newest musical sensation! To say that the show is phenomenal is simply an understatement! There are no words to describe it. The performers are superb, memorable and perfect in their roles! The story is touching and inspiring! Clever and unbelievable! No question it won Best Musical, Best Lighting Design, Best Actor and Best Featured Actor in the Tony Awards, the highest coveted award in Theater. It is what Oscars is in the movies.

John

Jersey Boys is the Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. This group along with the Beach Boys were perhaps the only American groups to have survived the British Invasion of The Beatles in 1964. They sold over 100 million records worldwide making them the most successful boy band in rock and roll history.

In 1990, The Four Seasons are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know you don’t know him and his group if you were born after the 70’s. I didn’t know him or the group either. But you’d be surprised as I am to know that majority of his songs are probably songs you love and listen to all the time.

“Oh What a Night,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Stay,” “Let’s Hang On to What We’ve Got,”"Bye Bye baby,” “C’mon Marianne,” “Working My Way Back To You,” “Who Loves You,” “Fallen Angel,” “Sherry,” “Grease,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “My Eyes Adored You” are just among his and the group’s hits! All those songs powered by a great storyline and magnificent cast make it one of the best Broadway shows to watch. It’s the music industry meeting the Sopranos and Goodfellas or the Godfather, put comedy and drama into it, then you have a sure winner!

Jerseyline

The Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast) CAST RECORDING is a must-have cd to add to your collection even if you haven’t seen the show! But hey, if you happen to be in New York and have only one show to watch, make it this one! ©

Jersey Boys. The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
August Wilson Theater
245 West 52nd Street
New York City, New York
Date opened: November 2005
Official Jersey Boys Website
Broadway.com

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