The New Smokey Mountain is looking for singers

Back in the 90’s, the era when “text” is just an illustrated 1.5 inch x 1.5 inch cardboard that we boys flip by 3’s up in the air and then shout “pati pato’t panabla” (while the girls play 10-20 with their Chinese garters), you’re totally OP when you don’t know any song from the Pinoy pop band Smokey Mountain. That's why the song hits were quite huge back then.

For those who don’t know them (or those who deny to know them just to hide their real age), Smokey Mountain was a Filipino singing group formed by musical director, composer, conductor Ryan Cayabyab and had James Coronel, Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Tony Lambino as its original members while Jason Angangan, Chedi Vergara & Zhar Santos joined James Coronel for the second line-up after Cruz, Hidalgo and Lambino left the group.

Who can forget these lakas maka-High School lines:

“Bakit kaya nangangamba
Sa tuwing ika'y nakikita
Sana nama'y magpakilala
Ilang ulit nang nagkabangga
Aklat kong dala'y pinulot mo pa
'Di ka pa rin nagpakilala”

Hay, I just spent 30 minutes watching Youtube clips of SM and good thing I remember that I have to finish this post. I have a big crush on Geneva and Chedi back then (I’m blushing now). Anyways, just want to share the good news to this who dreams of becoming a part of the Smokey Mountain history. Not as residences huh? But as member of the new Smokey Mountain that could be your key to your future singing career.

If you’re interested, go to www.audition.ph to check if you’re qualified or not. Submission of application is until April 30. The great thing about this is that former members of SM will do the screening, interview and selection process. They will also have a reunion soon to celebrate the birth of the band 25 years ago.

So what if you’re not qualified? I have option B for you. Viva Artists Agency (VAA) is looking for new talents and they can include in future shows of Sarah Geronimo, Anne Curtis, KC Conceprion, Richard Mamuyac, errr, delete that last entry.

Just go to the VAA office at no. 61 Scout Madrinian cor. Scout Ybardaloza, Timog, QC on Aporil 5 and 12 from 10am to 3pm. Bring one whole body photo, one close-up photo and an audition piece in CD and VCD (cassette tapes is not an option, okay). And I almost forgot, you must be 11-17 years old nga pala.

So what, are you waiting for? Join now! (Lakas maka-Uncle Bob Lucky 7 Club)  

Red Hot Chili Peppers is with us again!

 

Whenever we have visitors at home, I would base the music that I'll play in the living room on my first impression on how our guests look.

If we got some 50 something folks, like say my father-in-law type, I'll grab my Beatles CDs and let it do the whole entertaining thing for the duration of their stay.

When my wife brings her office mates in our house, I would enter our bedroom and switch whatever I'm watching on TV (no matter how much I'm into it) to Channel V or MTV so I won't do a thing for them until they leave (unless my wife gives me "the look," I'll say and offer some drink).

When former classmates intrude our abode, the foolproof thing to do to make them enjoy the stay is to turn on our PC and ignite the non-stop playlist of mp3s of either Eraserheads or Red Hot Chili Peppers hits.

Among the artists I mentioned above, RHCP has the latest to offer.  After five long years, the band has finally released their tenth studio album "I'm With You" which sounds perfect for their fans who have waited for their new materials.

For those who never heard of RHCP (which is only likely is you're deaf since birth), they're just one of the most successful acts in rock history who have sold more than 60 million albums, including five multi-platinum LPs, and won six Grammy Awards, including “Best Rock Album” for Stadium Arcadium, “Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group” for “Dani California, “Best Rock Song” for “Scar Tissue,” and “Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal” for “Give It Away.” The band holds the record for the most No. 1 singles of all time at Alternative radio, a total of 11, and a combined 81 weeks at No. 1.

The band is composed of singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith and their new guy, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. 

Now, so much for RHCP 101.  Here's some info about their album which I learned from the great guys of Warner Music Philippines who invited bloggers in a by invitation only viewing of the band's most recent exclusive interview during their trip in Hong Kong:

I’m With You is the band’s first new album since the two-set Stadium Arcadium, which debuted at Number One in 28 countries around the world, including the U.S. - their first Number One album on the Los Angeles quartet’s home turf. The album spawned three Number One Modern Rock hits: “Dani California” (which spent 14 weeks at No. 1 and is one of three songs in the history of Billboard’s Alternative Chart to debut at No. 1), “Tell Me Baby,” and “Snow (Hey Oh).”

The first single from the album is entitled The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie and it just kicked me on the jaw and told me to dance.  I am no dancer but my head knows how to bang and swing a little especially if the track is just irresistible.

This multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rock band will definitely have a new hit with this album that features 14 songs describe by one music fanatic as "hard-pop spin on classic Chili Peppers funk, with a creeping bass line and a marching-disco rhythm in the chorus reminiscent of the late-Seventies Rolling Stones."

I can't find a perfect ending for this post since I can't stop listening to the album. Oh well, I can just mention the title of this article as an adlib.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is with us again!