Aca-ntahan

Aca-ntahan: Ed Sheeran! (Dalingay!)

2013. I was on a Victory Liner bus for a 10-12 hour trip from Tuguegarao to Manila. I can’t really recall what my trip was for but I came prepared and downloaded a whole album to listen to. At the time, I was still in my Brian Puspos fangirl stage so everything he recommends, I explore. Somehow, he led me to listen to Ed Sheeran.

Lol, look at my 2013 instagram post with my jailbroken phone. My memory is still quite crisp and the time stamp on the photo is proof! Anyway, yeah I got to know Ed’s music -my favourites were Lego House and The A team but I fell in love with Little Things which he wrote for One Direction. Since then, his career really escalated and my nostalgic self feels the need to see him perform live at least once in my lifetime.

After touring for almost 2 years, he finally decided to conclude it at his hometown in Suffolk which is only an hour drive from Essex. I was ecstatic when I secured the tickets especially when we found out Lewis Capaldi (my husband’s newest favourite) was playing as well. Awesome voice, awesome lad!

I guess all this time, I never really paid attention to how he performs live. I always thought he had a band or something but that whole concert he is THE band, doing his own back up vocals and lead vocals all made possible by the continuous loop gadget thingy. I was blown away, seriously. Pure talent that man is!

Since it was the last tour day, I kind of hoped he would bring out suprise guests like Stormzy or Justin Bieber (hahah wishful thinking much?) but none of them showed up. He didn’t really need them though, and he really went all out on his performance I just sang and jumped the whole set. You can really see the fire in his eyes and the passion for what he is doing. So inspiring and infectious!

Aca-ntahan

Aca-ntahan: Florence and the Machine @ BST Hyde Park

If you’ve been a frequent visitor/reader of my blogs, you might notice by now how much I try to channel my feelings through music. Whoever I end up listening to or whichever artist I follow/admire will always have a story of how it all began. So now, here’s another story.

I have always been a Lola’s girl and when we lost her in 2008, I had a difficult time. I understood it was time for her to go but the sudden void seemed like hell on earth. It was such a struggle to move on and let go. During one of my random outbursts years later, I accidentally came across a new and fresh tune which immediately caught my attention and calmed me enough to actually listen. The words seemed to fit my current state: grief, loss and darkness. I’ve heard songs that I could relate to before but somehow, this one hits on a deeper level. And the voice behind it was so captivating. Very ethereal. So naturally, I researched and found a new musical gem for my playlist: Florence and the Machine. And the song that is now one of my favourite songs ever- Cosmic Love. I know this is more like a love song but the brokenness sort of reached out to what I was feeling at the time. I also instantly became a fan. Then, fast forward to 2011, when I heard Florence’s cover of Drake and Rihanna’s song Take Care I swore from then on it has become my official birthday anthem. I guess it’s safe to say that from the time I found her music, I clung to it and kept it with me wherever I go.

January 2019, days after my birthday, I received an email saying I’ve got 2 tickets to attend the annual British Summertime Time where Florence & the Machine were headlining. I thought it was just spam. I know I wanted to go but it was too good to be true and I didn’t want to get my hopes up over something so unsure. Months passed, I kept receiving update emails but I mostly ignored it because all it kept saying was tickets will be sent to me. If it was indeed legit, then I will just have to be excited once I physically have the tickets until one day, I checked our mailbox – OMFG it was really true! I was crying! Eventually, hubby told me that it was a birthday gift from one of my best friends and I just had to cry a little bit more because obviously, it was a dream come true! Thank you Demeye! <3

To guarantee a spectacular view, we were already at Hyde Park as early as 1pm so we had a lot of spare time hence, the pictures!

It was a really long day but I would say the wait was worth it. We were also lucky cause it was cloudy that day so we didn’t burn under the sun whilst waiting. Among the front acts, I would say Lykke Li was my favourite – what a total performer and she sounded awesome live! I even saw Florence dancing to her backstage. Oh, and in case any of you are also looking for new tunes that have a Frank Ocean-ish feel to it, I would recommend listening to Blood Orange.

And finally, after what felt like a whole shift waiting, here she is!

Her voice was just so incredible. And although I watched videos of her performing on youtube, I never expected her to be so energetic and carefree on stage!

I was literally in tears. For some, it may not be a big deal but these are some of the moments I only ever dreamed of and now, it’s happening right in front of my eyes – all made possible by a very dear friend of mine and I am just so thankful and feel so loved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! <3<3<3 Makakabawi din ako. :)

Lastly, here’s their setlist!

Screenshot 2019-07-17 at 22.15.23

See you on my next music quest next month! Ta!

Aca-ntahan, Acan’t Forget

ACAn’t forget: Zigazig ah!

Writing this entry while on my way home and fresh from the Spice Girls concert. Aaaaahhhhh! My heart is so happy being transported back into the 90s! That being said, I just want to share bits and pieces from my childhood memories of girl power:

I bought my first ever walkman in first grade while we were vacationing in Manila. As in super clear from my memory: sa SM North department store music section I bought a black sony walkman which cost me my whole savings. Of course, para magamit ko siya, I had to buy cassette tapes and my first ever purchased albums were Hanson’s Middle of Nowhere and of course, Spice Girls’ Spice.
First grade din, I was running for a position in the student government org. Siyempre, apart from the speeches, uso yung may pa dance number pag campaign. Our dance: Wanna be by Spice Girls and believe it or not, memorise ko padin yung steps sa chorus part.
Kasagsagan ng Spice Girls fever, nauso yung pink glittery and chunky/ platform shoes. Nagpabili ako sa tita ko kasi di ko afford dahil sobrang mahal parang 3k ata yun from skechers. Good thing my feet barely grew so from 2nd-6th grade ko siya naitawid isuot.
I’ve always loved baby spice but I was intrigued with how pilya ginger spice was. But when I was in high school, I’ve grown to love sporty spice cause I felt she always had a powerful voice plus I loved her song Never be the same.
England/UK/Great Britain first came to my consciousness because of them, and of course, who would forget the iconic dress flag?
When they disbanded, I was in denial. Naniwala ako na magkakabalikan din sila. I think I only came to terms with it nung nagkanya kanyang album na ang mga ate.
My favourite memory would be when my sisters (Fuzzies) threw me a despedida party and Goodbye by Spice Girls was sort of the theme song. I miss them everyday.

Anyway, I think I’ve hanashed way too much! I’m just so ecstatic because after all this time, I finally got the chance to see them perform live. Dati, pangarap lang itetch. Isa to sa mga dineday dream ko nung bata pa ako. Sigh.

I wasn’t able to take any photos or videos apart from the 1 or 2 stories I posted on my IG because I chose to just enjoy and sing and dance my heart out. I even ended up surprising myself cause I still knew every song, every lyric, even the ooohs and ahhhs pakak parin sa memory ko. As in every single song sa set list kinanta ko besh! I still even know the dance steps it felt like I was transported back into the 90s. Bonus pa cause they had Jess Glynne to front act for them narinig ko pa yung isa sa favourite song kong Take me home live oh diba bongga!?

When they started singing Viva Forever, mga veh, medyo teary eyed nako tapos sinundan pa ng let love lead the way then goodbye. Pero what really started the waterworks was when they sang Mama. As in nadama kong national anthem ko siya. Haaaay! Also, I kind of hoped Victoria would make an appearance pero waley ang ate nyo. Sayang but I still had an awesome time.

Just for reference, here’s the setlist!