3rd MyFABEMusic Awards: Collaboration of 2012

This category was created to honor all the collaborations in the different genres of music.  Here are the nominees for the Collaboration of the Year award.  

Gary Barlow with the Military Wives and the Commonwealth Band - Sing

Gotye and Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know

Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill -  Don't Rush

Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

Simple Plan and Natasha Bedingfield - Jet Lag

And the Collaboration of 2012 award goes to Gotye and Kimbra.

 

3rd MyFABEMusic Awards: Rock Song of 2012

Doing concerts in the Philippines does help some foreign acts boost their stock, at least in my personal countdown.  This is pretty evident this year in my Rock Song of the Year category, where ALL of the nominated songs came from acts who did a show here in Manila in 2012!  

The reason why doing a concert here in Manila helps the act is that I review the playlist of the artist doing the concert - and because of it - I am introduced to that artist's discography which is not usually played by local radio.  

Looking at the songs nominated in this category this year, only one song, Simple Plan's Jet Lag, was ever played in local Manila radio.

The rest are just my personal favorites - gems I discovered from the artist's concert playlists - songs which they all performed in concert this year.


Here are the nominees for the 3rd MyFABEMusic award for Rock Song of the Year. 

Edwin McCain - Shooting Stars

Evanescence - Swimming Home

Simple Plan / Natasha Bedingfield - Jet Lag

Vertical Horizon - All Is Said and Done

Vertical Horizon - The Lucky One 

And the Rock Song of 2012 is Edwin McCain's Shooting Stars.

A Rockin' Night with Simple Plan: Get Your Heart On Tour Manila 2012

This is the third time that the band Simple Plan has performed here in Manila (and interestingly, I was able to watch ALL THREE!).  Way back in 2005, they performed here with Avril Lavigne in a joint concert in a very rocky field at the Fort, then had their very own show in 2008 here at the Araneta also, and finally, this one is their third, in support of their album Get Your Heart On. 

While I was waiting for Jen near the gate, I noticed that the crowd was pretty young! Parents who I think were about my age were actually dropping off their kids and friends at the gate, telling them to have fun and take care!  I was actually kidding Jenny that she should not forget to bring her school ID, lest the security guards don't allow us inside! 

Anyway, we went in around 8PM, grabbed us a cheeseburger and big iced tea from the ever reliable Wendy's and found us a quiet corner on the side which afforded us a good view of the stage.  At around 8:30PM, the lights went out and the local band Kamikazee performed!!  Que buenas suerte!  I love one of their songs, Halik, which they promptly performed!  Judging from the audience's reaction, they have a solid following among these young kids!  They were singing along to the songs of the band!  Nakakahiya for me since it was only last year that I really followed OPM, kaya ayun, Halik lang ang alam kong song nila.  Jenny even knows the name of their lead singer, Jason ata yun, who she says she sees in Waltermart! 

After doing 5 songs, with me only knowing Halik and that Darna song, Kamikazee finished their set and Simple Plan came out around 9PM starting their set with their hit Shut Up!  They followed the same exact set list they performed in Hong Kong 2 days ago.  No complaints here!  I love all the songs they performed. I was actually taking videos of most of the songs since I really like them!  Of course, my most favorite is Jet Lag, which I sang along with them, and a host of new songs from their latest album, like Summer Paradise, Can't Keep My Hands Off You, You Suck at Love and Astronaut.  They also sang their old reliable hits like Perfect, I'm Just  A Kid, I'd Do Anything and Welcome to My Life.

It was an energetic and frenetic show all throughout since the band doesn't really have any "slow song", and their lead singer, Pierre Bouvier was jumping here and there!  The audience members were definitely true blue fans as they could sing along with the band and their colored sticks were constantly moving song after song after song, it was very beautiful to see from where we were seated!  The band promised to be back and I'm sure they will be, soon as they release their next album and I'm sure these kids I've seen tonight will still be there supporting them - and maybe add a few new fans too!

Concert Review: Simple Plan, Simply Perfect

You know that you are not young anymore when you start complaining that the music is too loud. I did not complain though. It’s just that after two or three songs from the California-based band New Found Glory, I could feel my head vibrate as if a tympanic drum was playing inside it. The band’s punk rock vibe reminiscent of more mainstream acts like Green Day, set the stage for the main band of the night, Simple Plan.

The night started acoustically though, with Jamie Scott as the first opening act. Vic and I came late; we only managed to catch his last song, a forlorn tune about rain. Apt, because the guy is British and England and rain are always intertwined. After 2 and a half hours, at around 10PM, it was only then that Simple Plan burst into the stage with a song, My Generation - from their latest album.

This is our second time to see Simple Plan – the first one was three years ago, under the stars at the Fort, when they were billeted dually with another Canadian act, Avril Lavigne. Nothing has removed the edge of the band though, live as well as studio-wise. It is interesting to note though that their latest effort is veering slowly towards pop-rock. The first time I heard Your Love is A Lie, I thought I was listening to a dance tune rockified. Interestingly, they only played maybe five songs from the latest CD, the other three were When I’m Gone. Instead they played their more popular hits from Shut Up to Addicted to crowd favorites like Welcome to My Life and Perfect.

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe the band members just got older, but I think they are more subdued now, as performers, as compared to 3 years ago. At the Fort, everyone was standing on their chairs and the guys were jumping all over the stage. Oh well.

Most interesting part of the show was when they incorporated Salamat into their Thank You hit, so instead of singing “Thank you” in the chorus, they sang “Salamat!”.

Sadly, they did not play my favorite song, No Love, from their latest CD. That song is just dripping with angst and despair, themes which do not anymore depict the band’s current state of being. They are now playing punk rock with a more joyful vibe.