Dispatches by Adrian Conoza

Image credit: David Brent Johnson via Twitter 8. Producer/presenter of a jazz program in DZFE or Crossover I’m so inspired by the American jazz-oriented program Nightlights that I would like to work for a jazz program or to simply play jazz music. I find it fulfilling to educate the musical taste of the Filipino and encourage him to listen to various genres, including jazz. 9. Work for a talk-oriented radio program I’ve heard from a lot of those who discuss matters and share their opinions on both FM and AM. Among these radio personalities, I often listen to Ben Tulfo ( example ) and Joel Reyes Zobel. I find myself smiling when I listen to Sir Ben's program, but I also get understandable opinions. I’m also inspired by Larry King, who, before having a program in CNN, became an overnight (graveyard shift!) talk show host on America’s Mutual Radio. On Larry's show, he interviewed a particular person; then  opens the line for his listeners to ask questions to the guest; then talk ...

 5. Simply put, a DJ Image from: www.straitstimes.com  Now here’s a primary prospect. I’ve been interested in radio, and I still am. Mostly, among different formats, either it’s working for the jazz station (if ever, Crossover, more classical jazz please…); or for the classical station (I appreciate classical a lot, but it would take a long time for me to cultivate the flair); or the oldies or the alternative. Either it’s at daytime ( “Goooood Morning, Vietnam!” ), or afternoon, or graveyard. In fact, graveyard shift is that which stuck on my mind for a long time, especially when I refused to sleep to get schoolwork done. I got used to being an owl since high school, that graveyard shift might be fit for me. Don’t many start there? Don’t few occupy it? Why don’t I? 6. Speaking of graveyard, an anchor in the graveyard shift. This reminds me of both NBC News Overnight in US and ITN Morning News in UK in the 80's. The earlier’s concept has gained my high regards and great admir...

I haven’t written for this blog for a very long time. I was busy during the first semester of my first year in college, and finally I’m done with it. I’m currently taking up Communication Arts (CA), and for the past 4 months I’ve been learning a lot about this course. Despite times when my mind plays with doubts of belonging to this course, I’ve been appreciating what I’ve learned about communication, as well as mass media—it's forms, history, and growth. Often, moments come when I think of what career I will have upon finishing CA. Many ideas come to my mind, both usual and odd. There are those that I caught from what I’ve learned from media history out of watching television archives and listening to foreign stations and old airchecks—all of them through the World Wide Web. Here are those possible careers that come to my mind, and some of them are conceived and perceived as dreams 1. Continuity presenter on television This is more than a voice-over. It is something more...

“I may not be where I need to be but I thank God I am not where I used to be.” ― Joyce Meyer, speaker and author That quote finally had made an impact on me at this point of my life. Why is it so? Let me explain. Picture credit: www.the-spearhead.com In the past days I've been writing about my life during my third year in high school, which I've centered around my unsuccessful leadership as the elected president of the section where I was in. I've sought my journals to weave a draft day by day. As I've read through my (almost) daily accounts, recollecting sudden happenings in my life made me reflect how hard life has been at that time, and how much I learned from the year-long burden. My eyes and heart, undergoing an ongoing "coming-of-age", were opened to many things, especially the reality of life. "Hand to Face 1" by Tim Patrick Picture credit: http://www.timpatrick.co.uk/ Among those realities, this stands out: leading is not an easy job, especia...

"Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done."—Psalm 9:11(NIV) "Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us."—Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary(Matt. 18:15-20) In a Wednesday evening the night sky encircled Araneta Coliseum. Crowds lined-up and gathered inside the dome, and soon they filled it. While I and my fellow people from the church settled on our seats in an upper box—enough to see the stage where all that happened that night would take place—people continued to group in the boxes above and the floor below. That scene seemingly appear, as our youth pastor noted, that many Filipinos now are aflame towards God, that many Filipinos are gaining an interest in Jesus Christ. For that night was a night of moving and empowering praise to God. That night, the famous contemporary Christian music band Hillsong United came to Manila to perform their first o...

Last year, in my final year in high school, I successfully became a part of our school paper, being a contributor. I wrote much pieces enough for the people in-charge to include or exclude. The next year, I finally had a copy of the paper in my hands, and I found my name on print on the features section. That was already a success to me. And in this blessed day the Lord gave to me, and to my family in year 1997, let the following piece be my offering to you, dear reader. Compared to the piece on print, this is an updated edition. —◘— Picture credit: www.cartoonaday.com Models aren't only the ones with lots of pictures. Even the youth of today, especially our modern-day Filipinas, have lots of them, even tons and tons of them. They're lucky they don't have to use film after film. Thanks to digital camera—no, wait—to touchscreen cellphones, anyone can picture anything, anytime, and anywhere more efficiently. And what do we get? Multitudes of photos uploaded in social media an...

I've known of the electronic music "post-industrial" trio Factory Floor in a music magazine called Spin . After hearing electronic patch-ups from their past releases, they finally have a self-titled album. "Fall Back" is one of their singles from the album, and it's a creative collage of sounds (though I didn't mind the vocals, because I'm more into the music) that is very post-modern as well as abstract. The composition can even fit for a traffic report, or simply a talk show's background.

In Daft Punk's latest album, there's a track where the duo collaborates with Giorgio Moroder, then it is followed by a chord progression made by pianist Chilly Gonzales in transition to a slow and soft flow of melodies. It's a bit jazzy in the transition, then it finally reaches the melancholic point, where "Within" begins. "A deep vocoder sings about not understanding the world, being lost and not even remembering his own name," writes critic Nick Stevenson. Another coming-of-age feeling, it seems, though it can be felt by anyone. This reminds me of something: in understanding the world, and being found from being lost, God can help, for He does show the world in His perspective, and He shows the Way for the lost.

We have instant coffee, instant noodles, instant cash...and now "instant crush", at the least for a song. One of the first tracks I've heard from their latest album Random Access Memories . And here, is a brilliant mix of electronic and rock, of acoustic and synthetic (with the help of The Strokes' lead Julian Casablancas). Isn't it a thing with adolescence: having crushes instantly...and perhaps instantly fading away as well?

I am fond of most of the songs in Linkin Park's album Living Things , which I deem is one of their greatest compilations. The first time I heard this, I was amazed. This is a fresh treatment of their unique rock style, piecing together elements from their albums before Living Things . Military-like, yes it really is, with a good interweaving of moody electronic sounds, and really alternative rock riffs. I do like that "army" bridge. It makes the song whole, and much more felt and not just heard.

"...I remember sitting on the bus, and I was trying to write a song and I realized that I didn't have anything to say at all, and I didn't have any feelings about anything...That was a really scary for me, because I've always had lots to say, and lots of opinions whether right or wrong...and it came out of that that we were all feeling this sense of numbness, this feeling of kinda fading away as people. And I just tried to write about that, and it ended up becoming Crystal Ball."—Tim Rice-Oxley, lead of Keane The alternative rock band Keane was first featured on Dispatch on  101 Songs of My Third Year . And they are featured here again. I saw the music video of this song, from their album Under The Iron Sea (what a great title!), on cable television, and it appealed to me. It tells of a story of a man with almost everything he can be thankful for, and suddenly was robbed of these things. He was turned upside down, and so it goes. That's how this video, and th...

“The Philippines needed a modern cultural center for operas, concerts, and plays, and [I] planned to achieve a monumental one through its dimensions, elevations, and splendid decorations, and through its harmonious liens it would symbolize an organ or a cathedral.”—Juan Arellano, architect  "Then out came a woman to meet him     dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.  (She is unruly and defiant,     her feet never stay at home;  now in the street, now in the squares,     at every corner she lurks.)" —Proverbs 7:10-12, New International Version For five times I've gone to the University of Santo Tomas (for I am to attend there in my first college year), and so I've been further oriented into Metro Manila. My eyes have been opened to the surfaces and sights of the wide city during those visits. I've started to gain observations I have to get used to, as well as be familiar with, being not only a college student but also a regular com...

I actually knew this before fourth year, hearing it often on alternative music station Jam 88.3 . It turned out that I heard it again often while Jam is my background while doing schoolwork. Fitz and The Tantrums is one of those current bands I like. They also sort of taking us "back in time", since most of their music sound like Motown music, and 80's music.

I heard this in the end of the movie Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter , though I haven't viewed the movie entirely. But I really like this song, the last track from the rock band's album, Living Things . Full of emotion, energetic in electronica, and strong in rock. I felt with this because sometimes I did feel powerless with regards to situations and people around me.

Here's another great piece from the synthpop trio I do like. Their sound is reminiscent of the 80's atmosphere, especially that it was a time when electronic music, specifically synthpop, grew very much and caught much attention. I usually heard this on Jam 88.3 while doing schoolwork. As I sought for any meaning of the song, I realize that there are many interpretations, and sometimes music is released that way—leaving the listeners to interpret it themselves.

Another house music single I saw and heard on Australian Network's music program  rage.  Obviously, Lana del Rey's vocals express a low mood, yet they contrast with the energy brought by Cedric Gervais's remix, which is what I really like in this . And so, another nice blend of electronic dance music is made. Again, it's the technique of house that I appreciate here.

When before I've been into 80's music and present alternative music, now I've included 2 different genres. Thanks to 2 different radio stations I've been listening to recently. 98.7 DZFE : The Master's Touch dzfe.febc.ph Last year, I started frequently listening to 98.7 DZFE, making it my background music while doing schoolwork, especially when I stayed wide-awake until dawn and when I took a week-long semestral break. Before, I didn't listen much to classical. But with 98.7, I listen more and more. Before, I thought I wouldn't get to listen to this station, though I know it already as a child. Now, I got myself to listen. DZFE helped me to further appreciate this kind of music, as well as jazz (initially) and church music (e.g.: "A Mighty Fortress"). The difficult thing, I guess, is knowing the titles. Unlike modern music, you may listen and take note of the lyrics, then search it on the Net. In classical, you have to pay attention whenever an ann...

Fourth year opened me to classical music, from the lessons at the MAPEH textbooks to the broadcasts of 98.7 DZFE. I was introduced to many musicians and composers who made their mark in music, including Claude Debussy. He made this piece; actually, a piece of another piece(called "piano suite"). It's a piece which I remember hearing in my younger days, playing from a Reader's Digest giveaway CD entitled Enchanting Moments , which I consider as a child as a compilation of very sad melodies. Then, when I was a senior, aside from knowing Debussy in a textbook, I saw Google celebrating the musician's 151st birthday , with this dramatic tune, accompanied by a night-themed animation. How wonderful classical music can depict moods and paint pictures (in our minds)—like a calm and lovely mood inspired by the moonlight in the middle of the night. This is, I claim, the first classical piece I know and appreciate.

Disco is revived in this pop and R&B single by Justin Timberlake, who is very well-known to most of us. As a music reviewer noted, this another "moving" song has some similarity with a Michael Jackson record. "Take Back...", then, is another piece of deriving formerly-used elements and stringing them together with modern ones into good music. Here I remember dancing, since it's disco—revived/modern disco. And so I remember gatherings like a turn-over ceremony, a.k.a. prom, where I dream of mixing the songs throughout the night. This just tells me there is still a very very wide room for retro music in me. Good thing "retro" is revived in music like this.

Something "novelty" and local. So upbeat and very funny. In my native terms, a sort of " kwela ". I remember this song being used for a part of a dance performance of our section (and of another) for the convocation activity of our batch, which took place before our report cards—with first quarter grades—were issued to us. Though many may not like these kind of sounds because it's pop-ish, I find it good hearing something inciting positive vibes like this modern Pinoy hit, which even utilized a Simon -like drum device.

For sure, many of us know Macklemore because of his hit single "Thrift Shop", which even garnered the No. 1 spot in Triple J's Hottest 100 in 2012. But I like this one better. It was almost an anthem for me as a senior. The piano riff, the trumpet fanfare, the fast-rap of Macklemore blended with a chorus of Ray Dalton, and the impressive and vibrant bridge ("And all the people say!") are what make this song so moving.

Before I even knew that this song is entitled "Intergalactic", I've heard it, especially the robotic-voiced lines "Intergalactic, planetary, planetary, intergalactic". I finally knew the song after looking into some of the songs at an Australian radio station's—Triple J's— Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years in 2013. This is the 100th track. Some research informed me that this piece consisted of many samples and elements derived from other musical pieces. "Intergalactic" now looks like a jigzaw puzzle for me.

Picture credit: time.com People often see the youth as bringers of a good future, and a good future does await for each and every youth; though sadly it isn't much accessible to some. Young people are the ones who start to learn about life, both in and out of school. They also begin to see, experience, and learn different things. Yet, they are also exposed to the ruinous and mind-altering world in front of them. I have fears about my generation, fears about my fellow youth including the ones nearest to me. Here they are: Picture credit: time.com 1. I fear that the youth will pose, and be exposed, on sexually explicit media. Prostitution has just gone into print and video. The youth take off their dignity as much as something (or everything) is taken off them for the craving of maladjusted eyes, impure hearts, and defiled minds. No matter how much celebrities say " Hindi naman masyadong bastos ", it is still vulgar. However a female may be hailed for her figure—just to be ...