3. A body shot (the more putol, the more soshal) wearing a band (Paramore) tee. I just love the fact that I get to attend a couple of music festivals this year and get to explore more music genre from pop punk to heavy metal. This year also is a sad one for music lovers as so many artists decided to go on a hiatus and some bands even have decided to part ways for good (also read as: focus on other things aside from actually making music. Sigh. Urbandub. I still love them, though. And I look forward to the future.)

4 and 7. A photo of The Script and Ed Sheeran. There have been so many great concerts in 2014 that I have been fortunate to watch and these are just two of them. It was a good diversion and stress reliever, attending these gigs, not to mention the fleeting happiness that one get having to hear their favourite songs being performed right in front of their eyes.

5. A photo of an almost empty train. This photo symbolizes the change of professional home. Work stuff went just as frantic as a roller coaster ride this year and I am still adjusting to the new job (not really new as it is of the same field) and environment but at the same time, I am happier than I have ever been, learning new things everyday (hands on from scratch) and exploring more of the design field.

6. A more putol, more soshal photo with me wearing an Oops! sweater. It actually is my cousin's sweater but I just could not help but take a photo of it. Its design is from one of Louis Tomlinson of One Direction's tattoos. I have been more vocal with the fact that I actually fancy them (especially Zayn) this year and was able to see them on both their concerts here in Manila in the first quarter of the year (minus Zayn, the sole reason I even decided to go but oh well). Tough year for their fandom, to be honest but man, if we Archies have made it through two years of hiatus due to Mormon mission with practically minimal to almost no updates, you sure hell can as well.

8. A photo of my CNBlue and Jung Yong-hwa's album bought in Japan. I'm surprised to find these in the selection but also, it's cool to have this included and I look forward to finally getting to see them in action this 2016. *hopeful*

9. A photo of the sky and the National Museum. I did not get to travel a lot but I did get to visit quite a few museums and gallivant around the city. Major plus is getting to experience all of them with some of my treasured friends.

Analysing the results  (read: the things I usually just post in Instagram. That’s probably a more accurate thing to say. haha), it just showed my love for music, books and travels. There are so many things that are still yet to be achieved, to have gone to, to get to experience but with all the things that has happened this year, the only word that I can think of to describe it is grateful; I really am and I am looking forward to whatever the Lord has planned for 2016.

Here's to the new year! Let's make it the best one yet!

Not really the one to rant about work and stuff as I'd rather deal with personal things in person (which explains the amount of fangirling posts on most of my social media accounts and of how as much of a social butterfly that I am, I only open up and talk regularly to a chosen few). But this recent development calls for some extra long scribbles.

I just realised that aside from the still on-going Book Challenge, this new song alert is becoming a thing on my blog. Well, we should not deny our ears and hearts for some good tunes, right? So here I am again, trying to do a "review" of a recently released song/single, promoting the record in my own little way.

So yesterday, a lovely new song called "Love Me" from The 1975 was released and heck yeah, what a comeback. Remember when they caused online panic back in June/July when the band and the lads' social media accounts went MIA, lost, disappeared all of a sudden? Then they announced that they are going for a comeback, a fresh new vibe, going back to basic kind of record and tours. The day has finally arrived and I am mostly delighted.

Love Me is such a jam. 

It has that old pop rock vibe that is remarkably The 1975's but it also sounded so fresh. It is reminiscent of a Beatles track that I am yet to figure what but the effect on me is just the same. It's vintage-sounding but electropop/modern-ish at the same time.

Matty Healy's voice is snarky and sexy and even the almost incoherent (read: beautiful) accent (that might be a problem to some but the accent is one of the best trademarks that this band from Manchester has, in my honest opinion and I am really delighted to hear it again) is just on point. The bass and guitar riffs are enchanting, as always.

The title would make you think of probably a cheesy ballad but it's not. What I loved the most about Love Me? The shady and yet straightforwardly honest lyrics. Calming and yet revolting. Mocking, eye-opener. Pure genius.

"You've got a beautiful face but you've got nothing to say." This is almost how most of us are getting into. We get blinded by aesthetics. We lose track of the things that matters the most, at least in the music scene where it should be all about the music.

Play music. Listen to music. Buy music. Respect the musicians.

"We've just come to represent a decline in the standards of WHAT WE ACCEPT!"

And they go like, be the man who keeps them off their feet instead of them resorting to just stay online at home trying to make a change as the lyrics directly implies. (Talk about a music reform.)

However, towards the end, ironically they go: "Love me, if that's what you want to do." They'll do what they want/ought to do as well; them bastards leaving you wanting for more.

Wowza. I am now very much looking forward to hear the rest of the new record.

Sara Bareilles is being her usual genius self once again and came up with this very brilliant song off Waitress the production and I am moved.

It's like my life is being translated into a song at some point. It has reminded me of the many rejections that I had in my life that it seemed like a normal life routine (being rejected). It 's like I lost my optimistic self and embraced my failures deeply. Or maybe I am having this typical "good girl problem": that the real me has been hiding in the strong persona that I am allowing the people around me to see all along. It reminded me of the feeling of missing someone so much that it became a constant feeling and felt like as normal as breathing. It has reminded me of my many flaws that I almost gave up on working on improving for the better. Moreover, doubting about the "strong faith" that I apparently possess that everyone around me has been mentioning for forever.

At the same time it has opened my eyes for more truths and realisations.

This girl is more than all those negative thoughts and that there will always a chance to improve for the better. This girl is loved and hugely appreciated and that she am so blessed beyond belief that everything is already handed out to her if she would just look further around her. Her faith is stronger than ever and she should just only focus on Him and Him alone and that it is going to be enough, embracing the happiness that she has been depriving myself of and all the other great things in life just because she has been scarred and scared. And that it is never wrong to feel bad at all, just as long as she would not stop to seek to get that girl back to be able to radiate it to the world no matter what it will entail.

Everything is the same and yet different. New beginnings are looming..... the passion inside is burning. It is never going to be easy but the future is just as exciting and to be honest this girl could hardly wait for the life the world is to offer. This girl is more equipped than she ever was in her life.

***

It's not simple to say,

Most days I don't recognize me.

These shoes and this apron,

This place and it's patrons

Have taken more than I gave them.

It's not easy to know

I'm not anything that I used to be.

Although it's true,

I was never attention sweet center

I still remember that girl.

She's imperfect but she tries

She is good but she lies.

She is hard on herself.

She is broken but won't ask for help.

She is messy but she's kind.

She is lonely most of the time.

She is all of this mixed up

And baked in a beautiful pie.

She is gone but she used to be mine.

And it's not what I asked for.

Sometimes life just slips in through back door

Carves out the person

And makes you believe it's so true.

And now I've got you.

And you're not what I asked for.

If I'm honest I know I would give it all back

For a chance to start over

And rewrite an ending or two

For the girl that I knew.

Who be reckless just enough

Who get hurt but

Who learns how to toughen up when she's bruised

And gets used by a man who can't love

And then she'll get stuck and be scared

Of the life that's inside her

Growing stronger each day

'Til it finally reminds her

To fight just a little

To bring back the fire in her eyes

That's been gone but it used to be mine.

Used to be mine

She is messy but she's kind

She is lonely most of time

She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie

She is gone but she used to be mine.

****

Intro

Hmmm sounded a bit like WDBHG I felt like  singing "Counted all my mistakes..."

(Niall)

Down to Earth

Okay, they are back to the Earth from outerspace. DMD video, yeah? And YAY it's Niall on the first verse!!

Keep 'em falling when I know it hurts

Faster than a million miles an hour

Trying to catch my breath some way somehow

Down to Earth

It's like I'm frozen but the world still turns

Okay, Zayn

Stuck in motion and the wheels keep spinning round

Moving in reverse with no way out

Again, Zayn. In reverse, meaning it felt like going back to the beginning as that's what it may have felt when he left?

And YAY for more Niall's!!!

(Liam)

And now I'm

One step closer to being

Two steps farther from you

Okay this hurt. Ziam feels. They are trying to move forward

When everybody wants you

Everybody wants you

Felt like calling out, nobody wants you to leave, Zayn you see?

*

(Harry)

How many nights does it take to count the stars?

That's the time it would take to fix my heart 

Cheesy lines. But it worked ha

Oh baby, I was there for you

You have their full support, love

All I ever wanted was the truth

Apparently he wanted to pursue something that feels real to him. Can never fully blame him, really

Yeah, yeah

Oops, reminded me of More Than This. Anyone?

How many nights have you wished someone would stay?

Still not over it, yeah? Never getting over it, honestly 

Lied awake only hoping they're okay?

No communications then huh

I've never counted all of mine

If I tried I know it would feel like infinity

Oh.

(All)

Infinity

Infinity

Yeah

Infinity

Catchy.

(Liam)

Eyes can't shine

Ziam. :( but for some reasons it remind me of Harry, when he's not smiling, or smiling but doesn't even reach his eyes. Something's really wrong

Unless there's something burning bright behind

There goes the reason to move forward. The fans

Since you went away there's nothing left in mine

Again, Ziam :(

I feel myself running out of time

The pressure and desperation to come up with something huge. The rush to give something back to those people who has never left their side. I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing

(Louis)

And now I'm

One step closer to being

Two steps farther from you

ZOUIS :( with flashback: "I was shouting Zayn, Zayn but he never come"

When everybody wants you

Everybody wants you

Took him 5 months to "recover" aka 1/4

(Harry)

How many nights does it take to count the stars?

That's the time it would take to fix my heart 

Oh baby, I was there for you

All I ever wanted was the truth

Yeah, yeah

How many nights have you wished someone would stay?

Lied awake only hoping they're okay?

I've never counted all of mine

If I tried I know it would feel like infinity

(All)

Infinity

Infinity

Yeah

Infinity

Whew. So there.

Maybe it's just me being a Zayn AF even from the start that somewhere in the back of my mind, I could still hear Zayn like he has never left. That even after everything that has happened, there still is a Zayn part that would fit in this song somewhere. Maybe a missing bridge part or a highlight solo? We will never know. But that's not to say the song is not good without him because it is fine as it is and even better, to me, than Drag Me Down. Also, because Niall slayed his verses and I am so happy. At the same time it felt like going back to the olden days of minimal Louis verses, but then I think his verse is just fitting so yeah, who knows, there will be like a No Control in the new album where he gets to sing more. We just have to wait.

If I am the one to decide, I would have named this album a self-titled album "One Direction" as it would have made more sense, like a rebirth (technically) / rebranding from five lads to now officially four just like what Paramore did when the Farro brothers left the band back in 2010/2011. To be honest I cannot help but compare their situation to Paramore's back then. Paramore were a four (sometimes five)-piece band and at some point it felt like the end when two of the founding members have left. (Which coincidentally, Josh Farro was not able to go to their Manila show that year due to his wedding preps. Why am I feeling like, hello Zayn? Manila leg? Ring a bell?) But they came back real big as a three-piece: soldout shows here and there, bigger record sales and recently, they even bagged a Grammy nod. Their music sounded differently (Hayley-centric to me and there were like only 3 or 4 songs from the deluxe edition that sounded so close to their previous records) from the previous record but that's quite expected, to be honest. Should the Farro brothers have stayed I think music is ever evolving and any band or artist would have to try new musical techniques and stuff, anyway. The only difference is that, Paramore never announced a hiatus (if I remembered it correctly) and they took some good two years to release the epic Paramore self-titled album, that is (when 1D is releasing them barely a year from the previous one, as usual and a few months post-Zayn).

Going back, Made In The A.M, really? Somebody joked Made In The "After Malik" and it kind of made sense. Ha. Or maybe they literally have recorded most if not all of the songs in the morning then there's that. 

No matter, Infinity is a nice song and if the new songs from the album will all have this kind of vibe then I do believe they are on the right track.

And it will be a feast in all of our senses, at least until they decided to regroup after the "break".

I just wish there would be a better promotion for the album this time.

Support, carrots, support! You may check the links below.

Made In The A.M Pre-Order Links:

Itunes: http:///smarturl.it/1DmitamDXiT

Google Play: http://smarturl.it/1DmitamGP

Stream Link:

Spotify: http://t.co/18nDqWCiGl

Landline by Rainbow Rowell started slow but I was surprised as it progressed towards the end that I actually like it, loads better than the previous one (Fangirl), I have to say. 

I could not care less if there are so many questions left unanswered, or if there are plotholes from the guy's past love. 

Maybe because I am a sucker for happy endings. Maybe I really am a firm believer of love and that all things are going to work out well where there is love. I really  enjoyed reading this one.

I have not made it past the first few pages that some might argue that it is too early to come up with such judgment. But as far as the excerpts and reviews from all over the place that I have read, there are far better sexually-driven written books than this series that one may check, making this a complete waste of time. Harsh words as these may seem, but yes.

With all due respect, though, to fans, but maybe this series just is not my cup of tea. I still think it is far overrated and is getting the hype (sorry to say) that other books deserved more.

She writes so light that you could basically finish reading a novel in one sitting. Her characters are so real and interconnected that you could relate to them at some point.

With this being said, one of the saddest books that I have read is probably Sidney Sheldon's Stranger In The Mirror. It is a very haunting read, also, very liberating. It will certainly put things into perspective. 

There maybe quite a lot of sex (uh, typical Sheldon but he's done it with class) and behind the scene (in the industry) stuff that will blow your mind.

Lastly, it is good to be reminded of the consequences that comes with the pursuit of our dreams and that we should not lose ourselves (hence, seeing a stranger in the mirror) in the process of acquiring the things (we thought) we really wanted to have. 

Fans mostly dominated by working people who just got out of the offices congregated to the Mall of Asia Arena to what has been one of that grand gigs to be remembered til the grave as Danny O'Donoghue, the frontman has coined it. It was a great escape from all the stress of the week and to ease the hassles of the Friday traffic madness that one must have endured on their way to the arena.

Whether you have been a massive fan from day one (or even way back when Danny and Mark Sheehan are still a part of a boyband called Mytown with the latter sporting a long hair in contrast to his bald these days) or occasional fans or someone who is seeing them for the first time, they are bound to awe and touch hearts and that is what they have exactly done.

A few disclaimers/notes:

1. My concert buddy and I still have a post-concert depression from seeing One Direction perform in the flesh last month so expect a couple of One Direction references all throughout this post.

2. April 18th is actually my 24th birthday and what a way to celebrate it, right? Seeing your favourite lads and meeting them eventually. We'll get through that later.

The night started with a laidback set by Arizona native, 24-year old Colton Avery who wowed the crowd with his vocal prowess with his cover of Michael Jackson's Human Nature being the highlight of his set. I will be honest, I do not know him prior to the performance but being a budding musician and getting the chance to meet him afterwards, I learned that he's a genuinely nice guy and I am positive that the future is bright for this man. Who knows, he might headline his own tour sometime in the future. Guess we'll have to wait on that.

The feels started to escalate as local rock band Silent Sanctuary took the stage and even with such a short set, they were so good. It was such a proud moment as The Script later on the show has acknowledged them. They did not get to sing my favourite song called Rebound but it did not stop me from enjoying the set.

I could write a hundred things about how awesome The Script's No Sound Without Silence Manila leg of the tour is but a tribute post will never be enough. So here I will try to break them down into five major points (in no particular order).

1. They always perform from the heart.

The band composing of Danny O'Donoghue on lead vocals/guitar/keyboard, Mark Sheehan on guitar/vocals and Glen Power on drums always give off that you-are-missing-half-of-your-life feeling if you happen to not see them at least once in your lifetime. They always give it their all, and genuinely, if I may add. "You are making us feel like we are the best fucking band in the planet." Danny once said and you know that he totally meant it. At one point they've blurted "I know you love to sing.." in reference to their previous Manila shows and you'd know we have a special place in their hearts. They perform with so much passion that it cuts you deep through the heartaches, and lift your spirit through the sincerity of their songs in whatever it is that you are going through. And in their faces you would see the happiness out of doing the thing that they love the most: performing and sharing their music to the world.

My only issue would be that I do not know if it's just the effect of being located quite far from the stage/speakers or they sang some of the songs on a lower key (harder for a girl but not impossible to sing along with) and that Danny has to omit some of the highlight high notes (uh...remember One Direction minus Zayn Malik's high notes?) so I ended singing all of them. Not that I am complaining, though. It sure is a fun time. 

2. The setlist is pure genius. So are the banters.