Another Day In Paradise

There was a song entitled “Another day in paradise” by none other than Phil Collins which explains about problems in our society today like poverty, homelessness, hunger and other social issues. The contents of this song are somewhat puzzling but very meaningful.

The way people can be callous towards others and the writer’s lack of faith in the ability for people to change. This may also somewhat relate to how we neglect our fellow men for our own materialistic wants and desires. It also brings attention also to our unwillingness to help those who are in need. We are living in a materialistic society.

I may find this opinion be related to all of us but I will really find this song be related also to our politician, businessmen and especially the Catholic Church. Why? First of all, politicians nowadays only know about investigating on this issue, which issue and issues everywhere. They are only wasting time and money on nonsense investigations. Why don’t they spend their budgets on helping the poor, the homeless and those people who are sick but can’t afford to go to the hospital? Second, to all businessmen who only knows profit and capital instead of the welfare of the workers and employees, have you ever think also the hardships your employees & workers are encountering? I know you have a so called “Corporate Responsibility” which aims to help various non-Profit organizations in some of their projects but maybe this is not enough. And to the Church, who has many Catholic Schools (many of which has very high tuition rates), has many offertories during mass (of which is comes from the pockets of the parishioners), and other businesses; have you ever think also of the welfare of other poor Catholics who seeks help from you? I know the Church has a huge financial statements, they don’t even share (even just ¼ of their capital) to those also who are in need and homeless.

Just like Phil said one of the stanzas of the song, we are seeking for God’s guidance. “Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do. Oh Lord, is there something you can say.” Few people in this society really think the welfare or our less fortunate fellow men, but I really hope all of us will do our part in lifting them up. Maybe I could say, “It’s just another day for you and me in paradise”

Get Here

The song “Get Here” sung by Oleta Adams is one of my most favourite songs and this is also one of my father’s favourite piano pieces. This song is all about a person missing someone who has a very significant or very part in his or her life and that person want that someone to be back no matter what happen. I will explain some of the lines or stanzas in this song. This can also relate to our love ones who are apart from us.

A.      “You can reach me by railway, you can reach me by trail way, you can reach on an airplane, you can reach me with your mind” – this explains that the writer wants her love one to reach her or to remember her because she really misses her love one.

B.      “I don’t care how you get here, just get here if you can” – this means that if you love someone, you will find ways to be there with him or her no matter what happens.

C.      “There are hills and mountains between us, always something to get over, If I had my way, surely you would be closer, I need you closer” – there are many hindrances, obstacles and scenarios between two people who misses each other. Even they are apart, if they will had their way, they will surely be closer to each other.

This song really reminds us on how we can communicate with our love ones no matter what happens. We just want our love ones to get here and be with us.

The winner takes it all

“The winner takes it all.” This was ABBA’s one of the most popular songs during the 70’s and also one of my mom’s favourite songs. But do you know that this song can be related to 2 things? The first is all about broken relationships and the second is all about principles. Let’s summarize these 2 things related to this song.

1.       Broken relationships

-          Why this song is all about broken relationships? This song is all about the divorce of the 2 band members of the group ABBA (Agnetha Faltskog & Bjorn Ulvaeus) in 1979. In real life, Agnetha was the one who broke up with Bjorn because whe didn’t want their relationship is in the eyes of public and she’s got sick of it. The composer, Bjorn Ulvaeus, said that this song takes the experience of a divorce. He is right. There wasn’t a winner or a loser and in every broken relationship, there is no win-win solution. Both parties are losers. The first stanza of the chorus “The winner takes it all, the loser standing small” means that in a broken relationship, there is no winner and both are standing small.

2.       Different principles (better related this to some PROs and ANTIs)

-          In some cases, this song is somewhat related to different principles. I will site a good example and that is the controversial “RH Bill”. There are PRO-RH advocates and the ANTI-RH advocates. Well, why did I relate this song to different principles like this issue? My answer:

A.      “The gods may throw a dice” – meaning that in destiny, there is no one who can make a dice turns out the way they want to.

B.      “Spectators of the show, always staying low” – the people who are watching what is happening will not get involve. Why? Who cares???? Maybe they will tell you, “If you don’t educate us about this issue, well, we don’t care what you are arguing about.”

C.      “The winner takes it all” – this line will be reserved for the one who will win in the debate about a certain issue.

In every game of life, there is always a winner and a loser. But we should also remember this line “I apologize, if it makes you feel bad.” Meaning we should also apologize in every not so good situations that we made.

The stanza “The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall” is simple and plain. So why should we complain? But I tell you, the loser will not always be a loser…

Easy Listening songs I've ever heard...

I was on a journey going back to Manila from my 4-day vacation leave in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The driver of the bus suddenly played 3 CDs containing his favourite songs and eventually, those songs I’ve heard really relaxes me well. I didn’t know that he likes “The Carpenters”, “Mike and The Mechanics”, “James Taylor”, “Norah Jones”, “Kenny G”, and among others.

I will not anymore elaborate all the songs containing in his CDs. I will summarize some:

-          The Pretties Thing  by Norah Jones

-          Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones

-          Carribean Blue by Enya

-          Taken In by Mike and The Mechanics

-          Throwing it all away by Phil Collins & the Genesis band

-          Hold on my heart by Phil Collins & the Genesis band

-          Release Me by Wilson Phillips

-          Coming around again by Carly Simon

-          Postcard from heaven by Lighthouse Family

-          Home by Michael Buble

-          When we dance by Sting

-          Let’s wait a while by Janet Jackson

-          Sister Rose by Kenny G

-          Asian Dream by Kenny G

-          The Key to you by David Benoit

-          Dad’s Room by David Benoit

-          Snow on the Sahara by Anngun

I was really delighted by those songs I’ve heard while travelling back to Manila. I hope someday that I will ride again that bus. I will never forget that driver and his CD collection of the best easy listening music.