Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Bruno Mars Packs So Much YUM!


Date night with the hubby ended up being a Chamorro group fieldtrip to Seattle's Key Arena to watch Ellie Goulding open for the tiny and terrific, BRUNO MARS.


He was charismatic, sexy, musical (playing electric guitar and drums), and entertaining. He had my husband dancing and me and my girls hooting and hollering.

Just blogging for posterity. We sat as usual in our nosebleeds seats (still a whopping $50.00 each/parking another $10.00), section 206, row 13 (my special number), seats 1-7. Thank goodness for the large screens.

Footage from YOUTUBE, by fans with more expensive seats.
LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN (Encore)



GORILLA



WHAT A MAN!

Friday, February 22, 2013

I ♥ Young Chamorro Talent. Who are these Amazing girls!?


"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."--Billy Joel




The lovely voices of these Chamorritas have grabbed me via Facebook and a friend from Guam who shared (Thanks, Bea!). These talented girls go by taotaotanu on Youtube and it looks like they are from Tinian. I listened to their first song for their dad and connected instantly, having lost my father almost six years ago. I love their harmonies, lyrics and the fact that they sing in Chamorro in the end.


I wish these lovely ladies the best of luck. "Jo and Jana" (I had to fish the comments for their names). I would totally buy their album!

Biba Chamorro talent!



Esta Later!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Music, Mraz, Muse for Moving My Writing

Many writers will tell you that music fuels the writing process. That is no different for me. As I put the finishing touches on my romantic comedy novel, Secret Shopper, I find that setting the musical mood is very important, even if I’m merely editing.

When I did my first draft, I was so engrossed with Jason Mraz. Two of his beautiful ballads drove the love story I was creating. Beautiful Mess and If It Kills Me. His gorgeous lyrics seemed custom fitted for my main characters, Phoenix and Thomas. That was 2010.

BEAUTIFUL MESS-Jason Mraz


IF IT KILLS ME-Jason Mraz-Lyric Video

Three years later, as these characters evolved and the redrafting of their story occurs, I find myself editing to many songs, but I am once again pulled to lovely Jason Mraz. His new song with Christina Perri, Distance perfectly describes my character, Phoenix. She puts up walls, creates distance even if LOVE is staring her right in the face. Why do we do this?

DISTANCE-Christina Perri & Jason Mraz

Also love ARMS by Perri.



*So, thank you Mr. Mraz for being a constant in my book’s evolution.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Dusting off My Michelle Branch CD...


When I bake something or cook something, it’s just the same feeling as writing a song for me….”—Michelle Branch

Dusting off my Michelle Branch CD has brought me to revisit my ideas of balance, motherhood and creativity.

For the last week, I’ve been playing my Michelle Branch CD (2001-The Spirit Room) in my car. My 4 year old daughter approves. She especially loves, Everywhere, All You Wanted and Goodbye to You—perhaps because I keep sifting through to play them again and again. Her main concern as the melody for the next Branch song starts, “Is this the same girl?”



This album came out around the time I was having a major shift in my relationship, so as the scars of that break-up were healing, Branch’s words were there for me to cling to. Before IPods, I had my enormous CD player on my dresser and often sang along to this very CD.

I Googled Branch yesterday to do my own version of VHI’s Where Are They Now? I was vaguely aware of her switch to country music, since I was busy having my children by this time. Apparently, as Branch was making her appearance in her new form, The Wreckers—a duo, she too was developing her domestic side, marrying her bassist, Teddy and having a child as well.



She’s still gorgeous and I was always intrigued by her lyrics and melodies. Watching her video, Everywhere, ten years ago, my Asian spidey senses tingled and I knew she had Asian pedigree somewhere. I guessed Japanese, but she really is a quarter Indonesian. I only found this out yesterday too.



So, I'm going to catch up with what music she’s produced since I lost track of her 10 years ago. She’s still as beautiful as when she first hopped onto the music scene.

ESTA LATER!



A Story of a Stolen Mermaid--(and the Infringement of an Artist)

Fact: I wrote Sirena: A Mermaid Legend from Guam in 2010. Fact: My brother, Sonny Chargualaf is the talented artist behind the imagery. ...