Music and Me

I was born in a family whose livelihood was built on music. My dad and his siblings were either folk singers or band members here and abroad. My cousins from both sides can carry a tune. It was no surprise that when I turned 12, I asked dad if I could have his old 12-string guitar. Now this guitar was way older than I am. He bought it when he was in Japan. I call it the Japayuki Yamaki.

It wasn't very easy learning to play the guitar. I had to take down the six other strings of Yamaki because dad said I had to learn the basics first. I didn't want to ask help from him. I was a rebel and I wanted to learn on my own. With the help of a Jingle chordchart, I inched my way into stardom. Well not really, hehe... First song I ever learned to play was The Beatles' Elenor Rigby. My mom would laugh at how I sucked at strumming.

I never really was a serious guitar player. I played at drinking sessions most of the time. Back then my brain wasn't too crowded yet that I was able to memorize song after song after song. I also learned to play lead a little. But real life got in the way. My life as a striving student was my priority.

So now I still know how to play but I admit I need tabs or chords to finish a song. Most of the time I am content with listening to the most rockin' songs, letting out a sigh, and thinking, sana pala tinuloy ko na lang.

People say I have an old rock and rollin' soul. I say I was born in the 50's, died in the 70's and got reincarnated in the 80's. I remember one stormy day at the office, after my usual night shift, a bunch of older guys were "jamming" in our office pantry. They were playing Don Mclean, Elton John, John Denver and the likes. I just sat there with them like I was a close friend and said, "malakas pa ulan eh, pwede makisali?" Instantly I had four new friends. They were surprised that I know the lyrics better than they do. Try singing American Pie and Country Roads Take Me Home from start to finish. And oh, add Skyline Pigeon and you basically have a picture of what went on that cold morning.

And I admit I love going to Bloomfields events. Throw in Area One in a big heap and I'm all set. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Zombies - ah, guilty pleasure!

Since I was still a pink slob of flesh with a mouth in the 80's, the hand-me-downs from older cousins and friends introduced me to The Third Wave. I loved The Cure and a bunch of one-hit-wonders instantly. This was what we fondly call The Bagets Era. Cute pa si Niño Muhlach nun. Thanks also to a group of "New-Waver" friends in highschool, I never got away from the Europeans' slice of pop music.

My own adventures lead me to discover The Youth, Yano, Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Razorback and Wolfgang in the early 90's. I was heavily into Pinoy Underground music also and I was a frequent listener of LA Rock. My dad thought that he had created a monster. He wasn't all wrong.

Then came the teenage angst. Rock music got me through it. Billy Corgan was my ultimate hero. His poetry made me tear up inside. I turned into a Rock and Roll Encyclopedia then, always updated with the last releases, saving my lunch money to buy cassette tapes and a Walkman. I got into a 24/7 Alternative Rock music craze, with the help of NU107. Name it, I can play/sing it. Maybe not very well but still...

So now here I am shuffling songs in my iPod while typing away this nonsense essay. U2 followed by RHCP and then Gin Blossoms and then Incubus and then David Cook and then Danny Elfman and then Breathe and then Splender and then Jars of Clay and then America, and then DC Talk and then Korn and then Fuel... I guess you get the picture. There isn't a pattern.

One thing is clear though. There isn't an RnB/HipHop song in my playlist. Never has and never will be.

My recent visit to BigSkyMind made me realize once more that I'm the ultimate music whore. From Don Mclean to Robert Smith to Guns and Roses to The Smashing Pumpkins to Toad the Wet Sprocket to Live to The Killers - I sang every damn song! I still can't believe I missed Rockeoke night with my favorite geeks!

Your thoughts and violent reactions are most welcome.