I recently wrote a song for one of Viva Record’s new talents.  Her name is Mocha.  I blogged about this months back when her album was still in mid-production… well, the album is out now and is available in your favorite record bars.

The song I composed for her is entitled, “Sige… Paalam Na”, which talks about a person whose been hurt one too many times by someone and ultimately realizes that the relationship he/she’s in isn’t worth saving anymore… and moving on is the only option.

Some of you probably still remember the group, “Two Minds Crack”… the band that performed the New Wave hit song, “Upside Down”, back in the early 80s.

Well, a few months back I posted a remake of their hit single, performed by “Candles”… a band I used to co-manage till they disbanded (creative differences).  This particular remake was included in the group’s debut album which came out during the last quarter of 2006 under Viva Records.  Long before 6CycleMind’s version was ever released.

When I first featured the song here on my blog months back, I got a surprise visit by Two Minds Crack band member, Kevin Jones!  He actually left a short comment below my post commending the band on how well he thought the remake was done.  His message was as follows:

“Hi, I was the lead singer/guitarist in Two Minds Crack and I wrote Upside Down – I really enjoyed the Candles version – keep up the good work!!”

Earlier today, I got another message on the same post… but this time it came from Two Minds Crack co-member, Pete Martin!  His message:

“Greetings Candles…loved the version of Upside Down.Don’t listen to Kevin Jones…. I wrote upside down…. I was guitarist and keyboard player in Two Minds Crack… that Jones fella gets everywhere!Joking aside, we wrote that and first recorded it back in 1983 ish, the finished version being released on The Victory Parade album in 1986. We didn’t find out until the 90’s that it was a big hit over there which was a shame cos to be sure we would have come out and played some gigs. It’s a big thrill to hear someone cover one of your tracks believe me. Keep rocking in the free world son…..and at least you got Kev’s words correct !!! Pete.”

Hahaha… I was particularly amused by his last words (“and at least you got Kev’s words correct!!!”) coz I also found out that Pete is aware of 6CycleMind’s version.  And listening closely to their own rendition of the 80s New Wave classic, you’ll notice that there is quite a number of wrong lyrics in it.

Well, it’s a shame Candles disbanded so early in their careers… but things like these do happen.  Oh well… I guess that’s that.

I suppose it’s only appropriate that I feature Candles’ version of “Upside Down” for everyone to enjoy.  So… without further ado…

UPSIDE DOWN by Candles

I recently stumbled upon an image floating around the net which I haven’t seen in ages!  I was pleasantly surprised to discover an image cap of an old old film entitled, “Penoy Balut”.  This film featured Nora Aunor, Roderick Paulate, Me and Isabel Granada.

Funny thing is… I don’t have a video of this movie… nor can I clearly recall the plot/story of this film anymore.  Hahaha!  If I remember right, this was filmed way back in 1988… and the location where that image was taken is somewhere along Ortigas (actually Granada St.), one of the houses situated in front of JT’s Manukan.  I think.  Hay… feeling nostalgic again… LOL!  Lotsa memories… good times… fun times.  Oh well…!

Well, I know I should’ve posted this update a few days earlier but work and chores have prevented me to do so… so, only now am I able to update my blog. I feel kinda bad not being able to update and post articles as often as I want lately but I guess that’s just how it is… for now.

So, last Thursday, Boy Abunda came over to record a few voice overs for a radio ad that’ll be aired probably this week. I am not allowed to mention the product yet but for those thinking that it might be Argentina Corned Beef… it isn’t.

My little girl, Isabella, stayed up late knowing that Boy would be coming over… she kept on doing the rounds… coming in and going out of the studio pretending to look busy though she was well aware that it was way past her bedtime. I even noticed her shiny lips when she sat beside me by the workstation. I even asked her, “Huy… gabing-gabi na…! Naka-lipstick ka ba?!” She replied, “Lipgloss!” I answered back, “Eh bakit ka naka-lipgloss pa?”… “Eh, kasi dry ang lips ko kanina pa.”, she said. But actually I felt she wanted to look pretty when our visitor arrived so she wanted to be all made up.

So, Boy arrived and stayed for about an hour and a half. We finished our recording with no snags and wrapped up soon after. I had a few shots taken and of course, my little girl had her own pic taken as well. So as promised, below are some pics from that night…

Haven’t been able to blog so much the past few days even if wanted to… various activities have prevented me to actually sit down and really just “blog away” to my heart’s content.  So to my avid readers, my apologies for not being able to update as frequently as I used to.  Family… work… errands… chores… work again… family time… it goes on and on.

Anyways, there is more work ahead… Boy Abunda will be coming over to the house/recording studio tonight to record a few voice over spiels for an upcoming radio commercial of a product that he is an exclusive endorser of.  I am unable to disclose the brand name or type of product for now.  I’ll be sure to post some pics of the recording session soon after.

I’m pretty sure it’ll be short, fun and sweet!  He’s probably used to all the voice over recordings he usually does at ABS-CBN for “The Buzz” so this particular session should merely be a cinch for him.

So there…  guess that’s it for now.  I’ve finally updated my blog after a long while, but I hope to increase my blogging frequency soon… Tata for now!

Cheers!

Okay… not to mock or make fun of anyone… but this guy (err… gay) is just asking, rather, “begging” to be ridiculed…! Talk about conviction! This person has just magically turned the word “avid” into “rabid”!

All for one simple cause: “LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE”!

8 Million Hits in You Tube in a matter of days… an instant (ridiculed) sensation… hilarious!

Ok… I’ll shut up now… just watch the vid if you haven’t stumbled upon it on YouTube yet… (giggle!)

It’s finally out! As promised by director Jon Favreau, a new IRON MAN teaser has been very recently released due to insistent public clamor…

Similar to the one they presented over at Comic Con 2007, but with additional footage and modified editing.

Enough with the introduction! Watch the new IRON MAN teaser below in all its awesomeness!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better… Steve Jobs announces (and reveals) the newest design of the iPod which he calls the “iPod Touch“!

8mm thin (can you believe that?!) and the display is just as big as that of the iPhone… no more click wheel (except for the new Nano)… all touch screen! In fact, you’d mistake it to be an iPhone if you don’t look closer…!

Oh man! Me likey… AGAIN! Me likey… so much!

Check out the vid below (courtesy of CNN.com):

I recently guested on QTV’s, “The Sweet Life” which is hosted by Lucy Torres-Gomez.  And if you were paying attention to my blog a few weeks back, you’d know that this is already my second appearance on that particular show.  The first one was when I came out with my little daughter and, frankly, she had most of the exposure then.  Haha!

This time around, I was invited to be part of German “Kuya Germs” Moreno’s surprise birthday celebration.  Kuya Germs’ 75th birthday is still on October, but the program was doing a series of advanced tapings and the “tribute” was one of them.

I was asked to bring a card for Kuya Germs, but I thought a birthday card too simple… too… ummm… common.  So, I decided to give him a personalized CD of all my recent compositions with a birthday message written on the side of the disc.  Why a disc filled with compositions, you ask?  Well, mainly because I never really would’ve realized my interest in music long ago had it not been for his show that I was a regular of:  “That’s Entertainment”.

That was where I actually honed my talent as a musician… I even, for a time, became a musical arranger for his weekly Sunday television program, “GMA Supershow”.

Anyways, I was called in on stage to surprise him and to share with televiewers some good memories I’ve had of Kuya Germs.

So, I went in… exchanged pleasantries and went on to present my “token”.  Before I handed the gift, I explained on-air why I opted to bring that particular present.  Then I continued to read the small message out loud in front of him (the text was small and considering his age, I was afraid to strain his eyes…)

The message read:

Kuya Germs, maraming salamat sa lahat ng tulong at aral na ibinahagi ninyo sa akin.  Kung ano ako ngayon… kung ano ang aking naabot… at kung ano pa ang aking mararating… malaking bahagi nito ay dahil sa inyo.

Mahal ko po kayo.

Maligayang Kaarawan po.

- Chuckie Dreyfus

And as I looked up at him to hand it over, he took it and wanted to speak to the mic… but he couldn’t.  His eyes were welling up.  He tried to speak but got choked up… he stopped and looked down… sobbing… silent.  I thought we were gonna cut.  But we continued to roll… silence all around… only his sniffing could be heard.

Then, short of breath… he spoke.  He told everyone how much he was proud of me… he gripped my hand so tight and still continued to choke up in tears.  I didn’t actually think I’d make that kind of an impact on him during that taping.  I had never made him cry like “that”… I mean, by myself… yet I did.

I cannot fully put into words how I truly felt during those minutes… But as much as I knew that the show’s episode was done for him… to pay tribute to his accomplishments in the industry… a celebration of his life… and in recognition of his importance in showbusiness… during that particular moment, it was I who felt important… and that everything I have achieved was all that mattered to him.

Happy birthday, Kuya Germs.

Thank you for everything… God bless you always…

Finally, the trailer for the upcoming AVP sequel entitled, “Alien vs. Predator – Requiem”, has been released. You can watch it below… for those who get squeamish on scenes with blood and decapitations… just skip the vid. Gory trailer… gory. But, hey… what’s an AVP flick without a bloodfest right?!

Enjoy!