My Ten Favorite Songs of 2013 (#'s 5-1)

#5 Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert - Same Love

I like Thrift Shop.  I do not like Can't Hold Us.  But it was this song Same Love, by Macklemore, which really caught my attention.  The first time I heard it, I had to rewind it several times just to make sure I was hearing the lyrics right!  Macklemore is, after all, a white rap artist, and this genre has never been known to be cozy with the gay rights movement.  Great song with a great message!  

#4 Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound

This was the opening song of the band's concert here in Manila January this year.  It was a breathtaking and pulsating scene and the memory of it has lingered with me throughout these 365 days!  The song is just an instrumental, which is rare in my personal countdowns and it's a bit short but the effect on me is just ecstatic frenzy!  This is by the way, the highest charting song that we dance to in Body Jam class.

#3 Zedd featuring the Foxes - Clarity

This was one of those rare songs where it was love at first hearing!  The lyrics were just apt for what I was feeling at that time and the way the song was arranged makes it reach just a perfect climax!  I learned later on that it had become popular with everyone else.  Well, it would be hard to escape a great dance song like this!

#2 David Bowie - Where Are We Now

2013 opened with this melancholy song from David Bowie, his first number 1 song in my personal countdown since the 80s!  The song has stuck with me throughout the 365 days and is my #2 favorite song of the year, despite its forlorn mood.  

#1 Emeli Sande - Clown

This quiet and sad song from Emeli Sande came out early in 2013 and has maintained being my most favorite song for the year.  I just love it!  I love the spare arrangement and the way Emeli sings it!  Unfortunately, none of her follow ups or songs from her album quite caught my interest the way this did.

Mika and Macklemore Snag Five Nominations in the 2013 myFABE Music Awards

Mika and Macklemore have the most nominations in the 2013 myFABE Music Awards with five.  Mika's nominations include Favorite Performer of the Year, Favorite Album of the Year for the Origin of Love, Favorite Pop Performer of the Year, Favorite International Song of the Year for Elle Me Dit and Favorite International Performer of the Year.

Rap newcomer Macklemore's nominations include Favorite Record of the Year for Same Love, Favorite New Artist of the Year, Favorite Collaboration of the Year, Favorite Rap Performer of the Year and Favorite Rap Song of the Year.

The Killers, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Swedish House Mafia, Zedd, Ne-yo, Jessica Sanchez and Pitbull get four nominations each.

myFABE Music Awards: Favorite Record of the Year

Here are the nominees in this category - 

David Bowie - Where Are You Now

Emeli Sande - Clown

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert - Same Love

Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound

Zedd - Clarity

and the winner is Emeli Sande - Clown.

myFABE Music Awards 2013: Favorite Album of the Year

Here are the nominees in this category -

Carly Rae Jepsen- Kiss

Carrie Underwood - Play On

HBO Show Girls Soundtrack

Mika - The Origin of Love

Swedish House Mafia - Until Now

and the winner is Mika - The Origin of Love.

myFABE Music Awards 2013: Favorite Dance Act of the Year

Here are the nominees in this category

Daft Punk

Robyn

Swedish House Mafia

Tiesto

Zedd

and the winner is Zedd.

myFABE Music Awards 2013: Favorite Dance Song of the Year

Here are the nominees in this category -

Daft Punk - Get Lucky

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound

Tiesto - Maximal Crazy

Zedd feat. Foxes - Clarity

and the winner is Zedd feat. Foxes - Clarity

My Ten Favorite Concerts of 2013

I was lucky enough to see twenty different concerts this year from a slew of local and foreign acts.  Some were disappointing but some were good enough to reach my top 10.  Here they are -

#10 Onerepublic 

 

Thanks to this concert, I was able to discover how good some of the songs were from Onerepublic's Native album, especially Preacher.  Ryan Tedder sounded kinda off though that night.

#9 Aerosmith

 

Steven Tyler growled and sang like a pro the night he was here in Manila.  Too bad I forgot my camera at home!  The stage set up at MOA was just fantastic!

#8 Lea Salonga

An impeccably well directed show, Lea Salonga has the set of pipes which even nightingales would envy.  She was in top form during her show a few weeks ago.
 
#7 Enrique Gil

 Probably the only non-singer who was given a chance to have a concert this year.  Enrique only had to take his shirt off and the Araneta Coliseum would turn into a shrieking mess!  This boy is definitely hot!

#6 Lawson

 

When Lawson came to Manila last April, they were not that famous yet but they have since gained more popularity and I won't be surprised if they fill up the Araneta Coliseum when they come back here!

#5 Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz's show didn't have too much gimmickry and he has depended solely on his earnest delivery of many of his hit songs.  Thanks to this show, I was introduced to I'm Coming Over and A Beautiful Mess.  Lovely, lovely songs!
 
#4 Gary Valenciano

A veteran already of almost 30 years of live shows, Gary V.'s series of intimate shows during the stormy month of August was probably the most cozy show I saw this year!  Gary just set the mood right for the whole show!


#3 The Killers

I don't know why I  got emotional during some of the songs that Brandon song during The Killers' concert here but I did and Brandon really performed the band's songs pretty well!  Definitely a show I would watch again if I can!
  
#2 Swedish House Mafia

One of the best concerts I have ever seen!  Electrifying opening song! Tight set!  Lots of reasons to stay dancing!

#1 Alicia Keys

Alicia's show had some wonderful surprises - it added to the already tight and exciting set she had prepared for everyone that night!  Another memorable concert!

Emeli Sande Tops My Personal Countdown For the First Time

Emeli Sande finally gets her first top forty and first  #1 song in my personal countdown this week, as Clown, zooms in from #6 to #1 this week.

Both Les Miserables and the remake of the movie Footloose place three songs each from their respective soundtracks, into the top 10 this week

Here are my ten favorite songs for the week ending January 25, 2013 -

#1 Emeli Sande - Clown (#6)

#2 John Mayer - The Age of Worry (#7)

#3 Tamar Braxton - Love and War

#4 Les Miserables - One Day More (NEW)

#5 Samantha Barks - On My Own (NEW)

#6 Anne Hathaway - I Dreamed A Dream (NEW)

#7 Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound (1)

#8 Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson - Fake ID (NEW)

#9 Hunter Hayes and Victoria Justice - Almost Paradise (NEW)

#10 Ella Mae Bowen - Holding Out For a Hero (NEW) 

Swedish House Mafia Occupy Seven Slots in My Personal Countdown this Week

Due to their successful concert here last week, it's no surprise that Swedish House Mafia occupies seven of the ten slots in my top 10 this week.  They also get their fourth #1 song this week.

Here are my ten favorite songs for the week ending January 18, 2013 -

#1 Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound (RE)

#2 Swedish House Mafia - Miami to Ibiza (RE)

#3 Swedish House Mafia - Antidote (RE)

#4 Swedish House Mafia - One (Your Name) (RE)

#5 Swedish House Mafia - Sweet Disposition (NEW)

#6 Emeli Sande - Clown (#3)

#7 John Mayer - Age of Worry (#4)

#8 Tamar Braxton - Love and War 

#9 Swedish House Mafia - Calling (Lose My Mind) (NEW)

#10 Swedish House Mafia - Save the World (NEW)

Chart Performance: Swedish House Mafia

Swedish House Mafia has seven top 10 songs in my personal countdown, four of those went all the way to #1.

2010 - One (with Pharrell) (#1)
2010 - Miami to Ibiza (with Tinie Tempah) (#1)

2011 - Antidote (#1)
2013 - Greyhound (#1)
2013 - Sweet Disposition (#5)
2013 - Calling (Lose My Mind) (#9)
2013 - Save the World (with John Martin) (#10)

Swedish House Mafia Manila Concert Pictures

My pictures don't do justice to how great the laserlights were and the videos and the fireworks, in last night's concert by the Swedish House Mafia.  All of these elements just came in sync at the right time they should've and it formed a perfect mix of music and visuals which made us, the audience, really party to the max!

Swedish House Mafia Concert Pictures Set #1

The Swedish House Mafia put on an amazing show last night combining a state-of the-art video graphic, laser and firework show with their equally thumpin' electronic dance music!! Manila's hard-core clubbers went all out in last night's incredible rave party!! I was happy to discover that I could still jump to the music although it was exhausting considering how many hits this group has! I haven't danced this crazily in a concert in a looonng time!