SONGS THAT TUG AND HUG

In the movie Children of a Lesser God, a deaf-mute (played by fiery Marlee Matlin, who didn't have to act the role) asked her talking-hearing lover (played by the magnificent William Hurt) what MUSIC was like.

Otherwise an eloquent, creative teacher who taught speech to hearing-impaired kids, Hurt's character pondered the question reluctantly. Then he closed his eyes, looked up, smiled -- ecstatic. Before long, he was a man gone wild, arms flailing, face contorting -- until he gave up in sheer frustration! He was angry he lacked the body language to explain what music is to his beloved who never heard a sound before.

In that movie, love wasn't able to bridge the chasm between the world of silence and of sound.

This musical tag I have been tugged to do is only for those who reside in the house of sound. It assumes that bloggers hear.

Alas, this assumption is only partly true of this blogger -- who's tone-deaf and can't sing in tune and in rhythm to save her skin. But who nevertheless sings perfectly in her mind (I swear I do!). And who can't imagine how life would be without music and its magic.

And that entitles this blogger, in spite of impairment, to comply with a musical meme from two blog buddies.

Here you are -- Houseband00 and Sassy Mom -- seven songs among so many that hug and tug. Chosen for their power to make me stop (whatever I am doing, including my blogging) and listen with something resembling rapture.

1. A Case of You by Diana Krall - "I can drink a case of you, baby, and still be on my feet" -- how would you feel if someone drawls that out, throaty-like, to you? I bet you'd swoon!


2. Memory (Midnight) by Barry Manilow - Originally a poem by the divine T. S. Eliot. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and set into music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it became the showstopper song in "Cats" (the musical).
   
3. Spolarium by the Eraserheads - Here Ely Buendia spills out his angst, demanding why this world can be so colorful and yet so broken. I sometimes want to second the motion when he yells "Pwede bang itigil muna ang pagikot ng mundo."


4. Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by Bituin Escalante. "Kung ako na lang sana ang iyong minahal, di ka na muling luluha pa" -- the classic story of unrequited love, sung with lilt and catch in the throat by an underrated singer.


5. Imagine by John Lennon - A vision of a world that only exists in the mind of Lennon and other dreamers; makes one wanna go down on his knees and weep because it seems so beautiful and ... impossible.


6. The Way We Were by Barbra Streissand. When I hear Barbra sing, its almost like hearing the winds whisper, rivers gurgle, trees rustle. What I mean to say is THAT voice is so uncannily like God's.


7. Pipikit Ako - written by daughter as theme of her award-winning thesis-film, Pirouette. It is chockful of poignant images I didn't know young people are capable of conjuring. You might say it's a biased choice, but hey, listen: "Pipikit ako, pipikit at magpapatihulog. Tutuksuhin ng hangin ang tastas ng aking paldang lumalagpas sa gilid ng bato. Nais kong lumangoy sa kawalan, lumangoy sa kawalan. Pipikit ako't sisisid sa karagatan ng mga bisig mo. Pipikit ako't sisisid sa karagatan, sa nalalabing karapatan ko. Nakabukas man o sarado ... Pagkatapos, sasabak ang aking katawan sa kawalan. Bahala na kung ano ang makita pagbukas ng aking mga mata. Mga matang nakapikit, nagpupumilit sumilip. Ooooh pipikit ako't sisisid ... pipikit, sisisid ooooh."

Now let's see, what seven songs tug and hug you -- Sheilamarie, Mari, Gina, Chateau, Myepinoy, Prab, and Ladycess!?!

Notes:

1. Translation of "Pipikit" for the non-Pinoy reader :

I will close my eyes, close my eyes and freefall into the wind, teasing the tattered hemline of my dress thence into the void. I dive into the never ocean of your arms -- unsure if it would catch me or let me fall. I will close my eyes and swim the shallow pool of what remains of my right to your love. Then I will open my eyes to espy the truth -- happy or sad. Before then, I will close my eyes and dive into the never ocean of you ... close my eyes and dive, close my eyes , ooooh ..."

2. Image: from the Piroutte DVD cover.

3. Suggested links: Dimaks shared http://www.musicovery.com

channel (all genres) in his blogsite -- cool. Try also http://www.tristancafe.com for original pinoy music -- you can listen to Ako na lang sana and Spolarium here.)