MAD WORLD

"MAD WORLD" is a song by the British band TEARS FOR FEARS which was written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, The song which was included on the band's debut album "The Hurting" was Tears For Fears' very first International Hit, reaching the Top 40 in several countries between 1982 and 1983. It also reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. "MAD WORLD" by TEARS FOR FEARS was first introduced here in MANILA by WXB102 back in 1983. Definitely, a very popular song for PINOY NEW WAVERS back in the 80s. It invaded both the Radio airwaves and of course the Television via Music Video Shows. YUP!! The weird and cool dance moves of Roland Orzabal in the Music Video of Mad World also became an instant hit here in MANILA back on those days. I remember my friends and I used to dance it on soiree parties. Ha Ha Ha!! Synchronized dancing I may say. He He He!! We also used to make the intro sound of the song by making clicking sounds on our mouth using our tongues. Try it guys!! You'll have the Mad World music on your oral cavity. He He He!! Those were the good old days indeed!

Here's what ROLAND and CURT have to say with "MAD WORLD":


"That came when I lived above a pizza restaurant in Bath and I could look out onto the centre of the city. Not that Bath is very mad – I should have called it “Bourgeois World”!"

"Lyrically the song is pretty loose. It throws together a lot of different images to paint a picture without saying anything specific about the world."

—Roland Orzabal



"“Mad World” was the first single off the finished album. The intention was to gain attention from it and we’d hopefully build up a little following. We had no idea that it would become a hit. Nor did the record company."

"It’s very much a voyeur’s song. It’s looking out at a mad world from the eyes of a teenager."

—Curt Smith

Here's the Music Video of the original MAD WORLD by TEARS FOR FEARS uploaded by "NualaDieFee" on YouTube. YUP!! I included the lyrics for you to sing along with too. So start dancing guys and watch the great and very unique MAD WORLD Dance Moves of Roland Orzabal. Wheeew!! It brings back memories of the good old days when life was really simple. That's the 80s......A GREAT DECADE!!





Lyrics | Tears For Fears Lyrics | Mad World Lyrics


After 20 years, "MAD WORLD" would then get a second round of chart success and this time around It's the cover version by MICHAEL ANDREWS and GARY JULES for the 2001 DONNIE DARKO film. The release was a runaway success which became the CHRISTMAS #1 U.K. single back in 2003, a feat Tears for Fears themselves never accomplished.This version had massive airplay here in MANILA after It was featured on the "SMALLVILLE" TV series. YUP!! You can hear the "Mad World" version of Andrews and Jules in almost any FM radio stations for the new generation to listen to when it made it into the Philippine radio airwaves. It was very popular for the PINOY youngsters especially those music enthusiasts. While the original Tears For Fears version featured various synthesizers and percussion, the Andrews/Jules cover version was very different in a way since the beat became much slower and the music score was stripped down. So instead of a full musical backing, it only used a set of piano chords, a cello, and modest use of a vocoder on the chorus. Their version was originally released on CD in 2002 on the DONNIE DARKO film soundtrack, but an increasing cult following because of the movie's DVD release prompted Andrews and Jules to issue the song as a single. The Music Video of the Andrew/Jules version is also quite interesting and has a unique concept which was directed by Michel Gondry and is also very popular on YouTube with its most posting garnering over 21 million views as of this month April 2010. Wheeew!! Talking about popularity!! I wonder If the DANCING INMATES of The Cebu City Jail will do a dance music video of this song? Will It also make that same number of view hits. He He He!! "MAD WORLD" also experienced another resurgence in popularity after a version of it similar to the Andrews/Jules arrangement was performed by Adam Lambert on American Idol Season 8. A recording of this performance was subsequently released as a digital single and reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2009.

Here's the Music Video of the MAD WORLD rendition of Michael Andrews and Gary Jules shared by "orijimi" on YouTube.



So I guess "MAD WORLD" definitely deserves to be here on my little blog "The Doctor Is In". Actually, there were lots of renditions of MAD WORLD but I just featured the two most popular ones. I just can't wait to hear this song on the TEARS FOR FEARS Live In Manila Concert on MAY 2, 2010. Hmmmp? That's roughly two weeks from now. Btw, Everybody is already feeling the MAY 2010 Election Fever here in the Philippines and by JUNE 2010 hopefully we finally have a new President. We are really living in a mad world if you'll be conscious on what's going on around you nowadays. Personally, I still like the original MAD WORLD done by TEARS FOR FEARS. I just don't take the slower version since It gets a little boring.

I'll leave you with the "SPIRAL TRIBE" version of MAD WORLD by TEARS FOR FEARS. I have featured the SPIRAL TRIBE CDs here in my blog before and this remix version makes the song longer and you could also hear some portion of New Order's "Thieves Like Us". I hope you enjoyed again another trip down memory lane!! THANKS AGAIN guys for dropping by!!





All around me are familar faces,
Worn out places. worn our faces.
...It's a very very MAD WORLD!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Tears For Fears - THE HURTING

TEARS FOR FEARS are an English New Wave duo formed back in 1981 by ROLAND ORZABAL and CURT SMITH coming from the dissolution of their first band "GRADUATE" which was really MOD-Influenced. The band's name was inspired by a trauma-based psychotherapy called PRIMAL THERAPY developed by the American psychologist ARTHUR JANOV. In Janov's 1980 book entitled "Prisoners of Pain", he suggested "tears as a replacement for fears". When Orzabal and Smith finally met Janov in the mid-80s, they were disillusioned to find out that he had become quite the term "Hollywood" and wanted the band to write a musical.


TEARS FOR FEARS was first introduced here in MANILA by the early disco WXB102 format back in 1983 by playing "PALE SHELTER". This song was from the band's debut album "THE HURTING" which I'm featuring right now. During those times XB was still known as "Cute 102". It was then XB DJ "THE UNBEATABLE", known for that Legendary Manila New Wave Radio Show called "WAVE 180" on 89DMZ back in the 90s, who first played the song on air. YUP!! Andy Santillian aka. "The Unbeatable" was part of the very early XB DJs back then. Btw, I have already featured "WAVE180" here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In" before so just search it on my Label's list. According to "The Unbeatable, during one of his on-air shifts he saw a cassette tape lying around the booth which included the song "Pale Shelter" by Tears For PEARS. YUP!! You got it right guys!! It was spelled with a "P for PEARS" and not with an "F as FEARS". He immediately liked the song so he played it on air announcing the artist as TEARS FOR PEARS and not TEARS FOR FEARS? Well, of course nobody had heard of them back then so even though he was embarrassed he didn't sound that stupid okay. After a couple of days of playing it on air, people then started calling and asking about the song and "The Unbeatable" told them its "Pale Shelter" by Tears For Pears up until a good Samaritan told him that the artist was TEARS FOR FEARS and not TEARS FOR PEARS. Wheeew!! After having gotten over the embarrassment of sounding all-knowing on the radio airwaves but getting the name wrong he still continued playing the song. The requests never really stopped even with those discrepancies of information. THANKS Unbeatable for sharing this trivia for us to know!!


Since we were just talking about "Pale Shelter", then It's fitting for us to hear a special remix version of the song done my our friend from MixMinistry none other "THE MAYOR". YUP!! "The Mayor" was also a member of one of MANILA's Legendary New Wave Mobiles "MODE ZERO" which I have also featured here on my blog before. So to spice up this blogpost of mine I present you "The Mayor" of MixMinistry with "The Mayor's PALE SHELTER ANNEXED MIX" which he exclusively created on their MixMinistry site last year 2009. I uploaded it in a different music file share for you to listen to, but you can download it only on Mix Ministry site. THANKS Mayor!!

LISTEN TO THE MIX HERE:


DOWNLOAD the Mix on MixMinistry Site by clicking their Logo:

THE HURTING was released back in March 1983 and TEARS FOR FEARS achieved their first taste of success with their 3rd single entitled "MAD WORLD" which reached #3 in the U.K. back in 1982. For this album and their second album "SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR", IAN STANLEY (keyboard player/composer) and MANNY ELIAS (drummer) were considered as full band members, though Smith and Orzabal were still essentially the frontmen and public face of the band. Both IAN and MANNY were also popular for PINOY NEW WAVERS during those times. The album was produced by CHRIS HUGHES and ROSS CULLUM which showcased synthesizer-based songs with lyrics reflecting Orzabal's bitter childhood. I guess that's why it was called "The Hurting". Be sure to check all song titles because they really reflected bitterness I may say. This album may be considered as the band's only true concept album as references to emotional distress and primal scream therapy are found in nearly every song. There were rumors here in MANILA back then that both ROLAND and CURT were treated and confined in a Psychiatric Institution when the band was in hiatus. I wonder how true that was? The album itself was a big success and it stayed for 65 weeks in the UK Charts where it peaked at #1 and gained platinum status. It also reached the Top 20 in several other countries and yielded the international hit singles "Mad World", "Change", and a re-recorded version of "Pale Shelter. All three of these singles reached the Top 5 in the U.K. Here in MANILA, the MUSIC VIDEOS of both "MAD WORLD" and "CHANGE" became very popular and had massive exposure on Music Video Shows on Philippine television back then. YUP!! Even the dance steps of ROLAND ORZABAL on both music videos became popular too especially to all PINOY NEW WAVERS. Those were the good ol' days indeed KABAYAN!! Definitlely, the two most popular songs in the album here in the Philippines were "MAD WORLD" and "CHANGE" since almost all FM Radio Stations played them frequently. Since the album is very much available in the internet on different music formats so I decided not to upload it anymore here on my blog. All tracks on the album were played by WXB102 and also got airplay on both POWER105 DZBM and NU107 back in the 80s. Well, aside from the popular songs in the album I really like the songs "WATCH ME BLEED" and "START OF THE BREAKDOWN". Of course, that very enchanting child voice on "SUFFER THE CHILDREN" makes it also a personal favorite.

THE HURTING
TRACKLIST

1. "The Hurting"
2. "Mad World"
3. "Pale Shelter"
4. "Ideas as Opiates"
5. "Memories Fade"
6. "Suffer the Children"
7. "Watch Me Bleed"
8. "Change"
9. "The Prisoner"
10. "Start of the Breakdown"


Btw, if you are a keen observer, both Tracks #2 and #3 namely "MAD WORLD" and "PALE SHELTER" has no gap in between. YUP!! You cannot hear any space just after "Mad World" finishes and when "Pale Shelter" starts playing. This "No Gap" thing was carried down also to their greatest hits compilation entitled "TEARS ROLL DOWN (Greatest Hits 82-92)". It reminds me of the similarities on the CUTTING CREW album "BROADCAST" wherein there was also no gap between "ONE FOR THE MOCKING BIRD" and "I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE" which was also carried down on CUTTING CREW's greatest hits compilation "THE BEST OF CUTTING CREW". Interesting isn't it?

I guess that's it for todays blogpost guys!! I'll leave with the title track of the album. I also included the lyrics just in case you wanna sing a long with it too. THANKS for dropping by!!

LISTEN and SING-A-LONG to the title track
THE HURTING- TEARS FOR FEARS



Lyrics | Tears For Fears Lyrics | The Hurting Lyrics


This is THE HURTING!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

EVO-XR Tears For Fears Remixes

My KABAYAN and blogger friend bingbong aka. McDoc have done two great remixes of TEARS FOR FEARS songs namely "SUFFER THE CHILDREN" and "EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD" before. Since I also love these two songs, I decided to share McDoc's remixes to you too here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In" because the band will be having a concert here in MANILA on MAY 2, 2010. He posted this in his cool "Evo-XR Remixes" Blogsite last year 2009 and definitely these two Evo-XR versions are great original creations of his. Both songs were introduced here in MANILA by WXB102 back in the 80s. "SUFFER THE CHILDREN" was the first TEARS FOR FEARS composition just right after the 1981 breakup of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith's previous band "GRADUATE". This song would eventually be re-recorded for TEARS FOR FEARS smashing 1983 debut album "THE HURTING". According to ROLAND ORZABAL, the song title "SUFFER THE CHILDREN" bears a resemblance to a Biblical passage on The Book of Matthew (19:14) wherein JESUS CHRIST teaches on the innocence of children. The song reached #52 in the U.K. Singles Chart back in 1985. Caroline Orzabal provided the enchanting child voice which made a mark for those who remembers this song. I wonder how old is she right now? On the otherhand, "EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD" was the band's 9th single released in the U.K. and the 3rd single from their record breaking second album "SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR". It was also their 7th U.K. TOP 40 Chart hit which peaked at #2 in April 1985. In the U.S., the song reached #1 on both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Singles Sales and was the lead single from that 1985 album and gave the band their first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit which remained there for two weeks. Wheeew!! Talking about chart success!! According to ROLAND ORZABAL, the beat of "EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD" was borrowed from another U.K.Top 40 chart hit by a SIMPLE MINDS song entitled "WATERFRONT". Actually, some Filipino artists have released their own versions of "EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD" and one of them was BAGETS and 80s Icon Raymond Lauchengco on his 2007 "FULL CIRCLE 80s" album which I already featured here on my blog last MAY 2009. Just check my "OPM" Labels for it. Btw, I'll be featuring both "THE HURTING" and "SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR" albums here in my blog so just stay tune.

So without further a do, I bring you the TEARS FOR FEARS remixes of McDoc!!

LISTEN TO
"SUFFER THE CHILDREN McDoc Evo-XR 8185 Mix" Here:


DOWNLOAD IT HERE:


LISTEN TO
"EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD McDoc Evo-XR Suburban Remix" Here:


DOWNLOAD IT HERE:



Check out McDoc's Evo-XR Remixes Blogsite by CLICKING the LOGO:


So why EVO-XR? According to McDoc, Its the EVOlution of eXtended Remixes. YUP!! He just loves listening to Extended and Remix Versions of songs. His blog showcases his unique talent of creating extended/remix versions of songs that does not have an official extended/remix versions. He also loves to create his very own extended/remix versions of his favorite songs mostly of the NEW WAVE Genre and the 80s. Well, that's the McDoc Remix style. I hope you enjoyed listening to bingbong aka. McDoc's TEARS FOR FEARS Remixes. THANKS bing for sharing these stuffs!! THANKS AGAIN guys for dropping by!!

That's McDoc's
TFF's Evo-XR Remixes!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Tears For Fears MANILA 2010

Finally, the long time rumors of TEARS FOR FEARS coming to MANILA has come to an end. PINOY NEW WAVERS get ready for ROLAND ORZABAL and CURT SMITH of TEARS FOR FEARS Live In Manila on MAY 2, 2010 at the ARANETA COLISEUM brought to you by Ovation Productions. Just continuing my month long TEARS FOR FEARS Special here on my little blog "The Doctor Is In" so I hope you'll enjoy the ride. So get ready to travel back to memory lane. See you there KABAYANS!!



SHOUT!!
LET IT ALL OUT!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

2 TFFs in MANILA

PINOY NEW WAVERS have something to look forward to next month MAY 2010!! "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way" will refer to it as "2 TFFs in MANILA"!! Why? It's about Two bands with an abbreviation of TFF namely "THIS FINAL FRAME" and "TEARS FOR FEARS" that will be invading MANILA this MAY 2010. Firstly, the new album of THIS FINAL FRAME" will sure hit MANILA's Record Bars. YUP!! This band from Liverpool, England headed by PAUL SKILLEN on vocals which made waves for PINOY NEW WAVERS with that controversial song entitled "STORIES" will be releasing their latest album "MY BLUE HEART" here in the Philippines courtesy of UNIVERSAL RECORDS. Hmmmp? Very interesting right? This new album will be launch on the last week of April and by May the album will hit all the major record bars. So do get your personal copies okay. Here in MANILA, THIS FINAL FRAME's song "STORIES" followed the footsteps of SEONA DANCING's "MORE TO LOSE". YUP!! If "More To Lose" was to "MEDIUM by FADE", then "Stories" was to " 10 PORTRAITS OF A JEW by SNAKES AND LADDERS". Definitely, exclusive PINOY NEW WAVER's true stories. He He He!! Of course, the main event here in MANILA coming next month will be the other TFF and the most popular of the two none other than "TEARS FOR FEARS Live In Manila". YUP KABAYANS!! Finally another New Wave Band coming over here in my beloved country just few days before the much anticipated "MAY 10, 2010 Philippine Presidential Election". It would be really great to see and hear TEARS FOR FEARS' ROLAND ORZABAL and CURT SMITH perform LIVE and sing their classic songs here in MANILA. Wheeew!! I can't say more about it because TEARS FOR FEARS was really big around the world and also here in the Philippines back then. Who wouldn't know TEARS FOR FEARS? With such hits like "Change", "Pale Shelter", "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and much much more. Hopefully, these two TFFs events would be both successful. I just wish that THIS FINAL FRAME would also do a concert here in MANILA in the future. There were actually rumors before but It remained as rumors. He He He!! So KABAYANS, be sure to get hold of the Original CD of THIS FINAL FRAME and be there on the TEARS FOR FEARS Concert on MAY 2, 2010. Btw, that's two of my VINYL RECORDS from the TFFs bands on the Blogpost Header Photo. THANKS AGAIN guys for dropping by!!

I'll leave you with a TEARS FOR FEARS MASH-UP created by DjDocT exclusively for my little blog "The Doctor Is In" which I published here two years ago back in December 21, 2008. This is one of the New Wave Mash-ups for my Music Project entitled "New Wave Mash-acre" I asked him to make for my blog back then .This is his newer version. THANKS DJDocT!!

TEARS FOR FEARS vs. BARRY WHITE



That's
Two Formidable Forces!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

HAPPY EASTER!!

-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Semana Santa Pilipinas 2010

HAVE A BLESSED HOLY WEEK!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

EARTH HOUR PILIPINAS 2010

Today is MARCH 27, 2010 and the whole world is one to make a stand and save our one and only planet "EARTH". YUP!! It's EARTH HOUR 2010 and last year 2009, I also did a blogpost of EARTH HOUR 2009 and supported this move. The Philippines ranked first among 88 nations in terms of local participation in Earth Hour 2009 wherein over 10 million Filipinos in 647 cities and municipalities switched off their lights during the event, saving an estimated 611MWh of electricity which is equivalent to a temporary shutdown of a dozen coal-fired power-plants. So KABAYANS, it would just take one hour of your time to switch off your lights tonight to be part of this advocacy to save Planet Earth. My little blog "The Doctor Is In" supports this environmental event. EARTH HOUR returns as the largest environmental event in history. Last Thursday,March 25, 2010 we experienced a 4.0 magnitude EARTHQUAKE here in MANILA with an epicenter of 6.0 magnitude in Mindoro. YUP!! We have to get out of our working areas because the whole building was dancing and just in case an aftershock happens. It was really a scary moment. Last January 2010, more than 220,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured when a 7.0 magnitude quake struck Haiti. On February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude quake(the 7th largest ever recorded)killed hundreds more in Chile. Of course who would forget TYPHOON ONDOY, one of the worst Tropical Depression here in my country last September 2009. Recently, El Niño is wreaking havoc on the nation’s water, food and power supply. Are these the signs of times? Well, many experts blames it on climate change and of course the people's careless action on Planet Earth. So guys, let's start to be aware of these things okay. So tonight switch off your lights from 8:30-9:30pm. Let's save Planet Earth for the future generations to cherish.



Now in its third year here in my country and envisioned as a celebration of climate change solutions, Earth Hour Philippines 2010 aims to inspire 15 Million Filipinos in 1000 towns, cities and municipalities to switch off and join in the revelry in an environmentally conscious manner. Cities from around the world, from Europe to Africa, are expected to join in this major environmental event. I hope everyone would join this event to show our own support to save our dearest planet. The one and only planet we live in...... PLANET EARTH!!

I'll leave you with the THEME SONG for EARTH HOUR PHILIPPINES 2010 entitled “IF WE TRY” composed by REEV ROBLEDO sung by Percival, Christina Juan and the WWF-Philippines staff: Jose Ma Lorenzo Tan, Anna Montenegro, Mayj Tolentino, Carmen Tan, Marie Sonsehrey Bretana. Recorded at NOISY NEIGHBORS.

LISTEN to "IF WE TRY" HERE:
Earth Hour Philippines 2010 Theme - If We Try by WWF-Philippines


CHECK OUT MY Interesting EARTH HOUR PHILIPPINES 2009 BLOGPOST last year which included music from DURAN DURAN, PETER WOLF, O.M.D., BMX BANDITS, and Pinoy Alternative Rock Band YANO !!

CLICK THE PHOTO:



Calling PLANET EARTH!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

The Camerawalls "The Sight Of Love"

THE CAMERAWALLS is a FILIPINO INDIEPOP BAND formed by CLEMENTINE CASTRO aka. CLEM on vocals back in 2007 after the disbandment of another Pinoy Band "ORANGE AND LEMONS" which made music buzz due to their very controversial CARE-inspired hit song entitled "PINOY AKO" for the "Pinoy Big Brother" Reality Show. The other Two Members of The Camerawalls are IAN SARABIA on drums and LAW SANTIAGO on bass. The band released their debut album “Pocket Guide To The Other World” back in 2008 under CLEM's INDIE RECORD LABEL "LILYSTARS RECORDS". What I'll be featuring in today's blogpost is the band's newest single entitled "THE SIGHT OF LOVE". I just can't seem to get enough of this great Indiepop song so I decided to make a blogpost out of it. YUP!! It's another superb song which I heard first on JAM 88.3 last month February 2010. “The Sight Of Love” is not included on the band's 2008 debut album since It's just newly released as a Free Download Digital Single. This is The Camerawalls fourth official single, following “Markers Of Beautiful Memories,” “Clinically Dead For 16 Hours” and “Solitary North Star” which were all from their "Pocket Guide To The Otherworld" album. This new single features The Camerawalls now with a fourth member PAO PERALTA on guitars. The song features guest vocalist, SARAH GAUGLER from the Pinoy Indie Electropop band TURBO GOTH. GREAT MUSIC and GREAT BAND!!

So guys I present you "THE SIGHT OF LOVE" by "THE CAMERAWALLS feat. SARAH GAUGLER"!! I hope you'll also like the song and the music video as much as I did. I also uploaded the song just in case you still don't have a copy. Feel free to download the song. Another PINOY PRIDE!! THANKS AGAIN for dropping by!!

LISTEN and WATCH the MUSIC VIDEO of

"THE SIGHT OF LOVE" here:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

Wake Up To
"The Sight Of Love"!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

The Thought

THE THOUGHT was a FILIPINO NEW WAVE/PROG ROCK BAND which was formed back in 1987 composed of JOJO ARMAS on vocals, JOEL YU on guitars, and BOY RAMOS on sequencers and drums. This band should not to be mistaken from the early 80s band from NETHERLANDS of the same name. YUP!! This is PHILIPPINE MADE!! I was able to get in touch with one of the band members Boy Ramos via POGZ of Dead Pop Stars and one of the DJ Host of "Ballad Of The Times". Boy would eventually be the new addition to this great New Wave Radio show on NU107. THE THOUGHT was featured on "Ballad Of The Times" last January 27, 2010 and Boy was the only band representative present on the show that evening. He then referred me to their lead vocalist Jojo Armas to complete this blogpost of mine. So big THANKS to BOY and JOJO that we are featuring them here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In". So how did the band started? Jojo and Boy unofficially met at La Salle Greehills High School Fair back in 1986 when Boy's band beat Jojo's band on a band contest back then. Then in 1987 both Jojo and Boy decided to get together and jam with the former band mates of Jojo. Boy was the classmate of Jojo's sister so that's why Jojo considered this as their official meeting. Hmmmp? Unofficial and official? Interesting!! He He He!! After sometime, they decided to join a band contest at DLSU and this time they were already in one group and this was also the first time that they were introduced as "THE THOUGHT".


THE THOUGHT was known for their inclusion on this PINOY BANDS NEW WAVE COMPILATION entitled "NU ROCK: THE ALBUM" made by none than NU 107 back in 1988. They were one of the eight PINOY Bands featured on that great compilation which I will also feature here on my blog in the future so watch out for that too. Although, not as popular as the other bands on that NU107 compilation album, still I give credits to these guys since they were part of that movement back in the 80s here in MANILA. And having a song released on a Vinyl back on those days, then this band really made a mark on Philippine Music especially on the underground scene. Not so many PINOY Bands during those times have that great opportunity to record their songs on a major record label. That's THE THOUGHT for you!!


I asked JOJO a couple of questions and his answers are well indicated.

Why the name "The Thought"? Was it related to a Foreign New Wave Band of the same name?
JOJO: I think I came up with the name. I only found out about the "other" (hehe) a couple of years later from mobile DJ friends of ours in DLSU. I wish I had the net then so that I wouldn't have used the name. Since we formed in 87 and the album came out in 88, maybe we were really the original The Thought? He He!! Anyways, I thought The Thought was appropriate because I wanted to convey in music the thoughts, ideas and psychological reactions to the things that happen not only to one's self but also to the societal, philosophical and environmental aspect of life in general. Among the 3 tracks we recorded, Listen and I Am Was Not What exemplifies those thoughts. Mirrors of Conscience which was written, words and music, by Joel Yu, talked about love which also affects us all. It is actually a rearranged cover version of his other band's material. As of now, I still do not know how the other Thought looks or sounds like.

Who were the original members?
JOJO: Initially there was Boy, myself, my cousin Joel Yu on guitars, Anthony Reyes on keys, Alain on bass and another guy on drums but I forgot his name. Wala pa kami kasing sequencer noon. He He!!

What was your very first gig?
JOJO: The 2nd Crescendo in 1988, a DLSU band contest.

What was your most memorable gig?
JOJO: For me it would have to be Mayrics in 1990 which was aired live on NU.

What were your influences as a band?
JOJO: Initially music from XB, then NU. Each band member had a different favorite genre or influence and I really feel that combining those differences made us what we were. I believe that these difference also contributed to the fact that none of the original members stayed on. The other reason being is that some of them also eventually left for abroad. Oh well... Speaking for myself, I was initially heavily influenced by The Cure and The Smiths.

Who are the other members?
JOJO: Aside from the guys mentioned above, we were also able to play officially as The Thought with the ff:

GUITARS:
Jonathan Khonghun
Uri Djemal

BASS:
Robert Dungca
Derek Ileto
GJ Torres
Frank O' Connor

DRUMS
Ned Javier


Do you remember the band's final gig together and when was this?
JOJO: The last big crowd event we played in was at the Ateneo for a San Miguel contest. That would probably have been in 91 or 92. Boy and Joel Yu came out once as the Thought sometime in 07 in a bar in Makati that was formerly Kalye. They played with other bands from our era (yes, we can't deny our age anymore!) including The Dawn.



As what I've mentioned a while ago, The Thought was one of the PINOY BANDS featured on the NU107 "NU ROCK: The Album" compilation. Definitely, we have to know the story behind it so here's my question again for Jojo regarding this said compilation.

Can you share your experiences regarding the making of the NU ROCK compilation, the recording process, the promotional tours, and the TV appearances? How were you guys picked by NU107 to be part of the compilation?
JOJO: The song on the album was actually a song we recorded for the purpose of airing in NU when they started accepting locally recorded stuff. The song was recorded in 1 day (if only we knew better then!) at the 16 track RJ recording studios along Makati Ave and the street of Tia Maria's. Only 3 members recorded that song namely Boy, myself and Joel Yu. Engineered by Voltaire of Warhead. I'm not sure how Octo Arts picked it but I supposed it was passed to them by the folks in NU. We were a bunch of noobs then so when we were asked who produced the track, our immediate reply was ourselves thinking it was a who-financed-it question! The song started out with Boy letting the original incarnation of the group hear his keyboard part during a jam. Soon everyone started to put his instrument and the song was eventually completed. We performed it live for the very first time at Crescendo. The cash prize we won there was added to our recording budget for the song and the rest, as they say is history. The Thought came out in only 3 TV shows, all noontime variety game shows! It was Regal Family on IBC 13, Eat Bulaga GMA 7 and another lunchtime show that I do not remember. I remember this instance where Keno, a former local singing idol, asked us if we had Pond's facial cleanser and from that moment on feeling showbiz na kami! Ha ha ha!


So I guess that's a lot of information for you guys regarding PINOY 80s band "THE THOUGHT". When I was making this blogpost I realized that the photos of The Thought on the "NUROCK: The Album" Vinyl and the Cassette Tape were two different photos. Wheeew!! So what I did was I also took a photo of my original "NUROCK: The Album" Cassette Tape cover which I apologize for It's poor quality since I don't have any scanner right now. Btw, the Blogpost Header Photo of The Thought I used was from the Vinyl Record Cover which I just modified. I hope that both photos help spice up this exclusive blogpost of mine of "The Thought". Btw, I remember Boy Ramos saying on air that one of his memorable experience of The Thought was the "NUROCK: The Album" launching at the Legendary Skating Rink at ALI MALL in CUBAO called "SKATE TOWN". He remembered the place being full of audiences trying to catch all the bands featured on the said compilation album performing their songs.

Here are three more questions I asked JOJO:

How are the band members right now? Any of you still in the music scene?
JOJO: As far as I know, only Boy is the most active. Joel Yu plays for him once in awhile. Boy told me that Uri Djemal is with a NY recording studio. They get to talk over in Facebook. I don't have a Facebook account. hehe I am still active in the music scene but on the TV and concert production side of it. I do get to play on stage with other bands but only seldomly. The last gig I played in was at the Phil. Jazz Festival last Feb. 21 at The Fort as a guest player for one of the bands.

Do you have anything to share other than what we have tackled?
JOJO: Among the 3 tracks that we recorded, only 2 got airplay - Listen and Mirrors of Conscience. Mirrors was recorded in 89 and got the most airplay on NU. It stayed in the Sprite 7 at 7 segment for 3 months. I Am Was Not What, which NU turned down, actually made it big in Boston college radio stations. The Thought gets the last laugh on that one. hehe

Any final messages for those people who still remember your band and to those who will read this exclusive blogpost?
JOJO: Be well. Peace and love to everyone. As Master Yoda said "Do or do not. There is no try." Enjoy music and let's enjoy more of it. Success and more music to you guys!!

Btw, Boy played the three songs of The Thought on "Ballad Of The Times" when the band was featured on the radio show. Aside from "LISTEN", the other two songs were "MIRRORS OF CONSCIENCE" and "I AM WAS NOT WHAT" which I included here on my blogpost just for your listening pleasure since the band decided not to make these songs available for download. LISTEN to these songs by PRESSING THE PLAY BUTTON.

"I AM WAS NOT WHAT"

Find more The Thought songs at Myspace Music

"MIRRORS OF CONSCIENCE"

Find more The Thought songs at Myspace Music

Visit THE THOUGHT:
http://www.myspace.com/thethought

I'll leave you with their trademark song from the "NUROCK: The Album" compilation entitled "LISTEN". This song reminds me of PINOY GOTHIC band IDENTITY CRISIS especially the sound on "TALE OF TWO" album. So listen to "LISTEN" by THE THOUGHT. You can download the song just in case you don't still have a copy of it. I wanna THANK Jojo and Boy for helping me out and trusting my blog to feature THE THOUGHT!! This is "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way" of giving tribute to the band that was there on the New Wave Scene when it matters here in MANILA. THANKS for dropping by!!

Listen to "LISTEN" here:



DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:



Btw for added info, here's a photo of The Thought, the obscure 80s band from the Netherlands that released three albums from 1982-1989.

So what are your thoughts about
THE THOUGHT?
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

masaGHANAng PACMANalo!!

CONGRATS AGAIN PACMAN!! I guess my KABAYAN Manny Pacquiao is really unstoppable these days since PACMAN has now won 12 straight bouts. Wheeew!! That's what you call a TRUE CHAMPION!! YUP!! That's a total of 8 World Titles in 8 Different Weight Divisions and it's indeed a World Record Achievement for Manny who just won over Joshua Clottey via Unanimous Decision at the sold-out Cowboys Stadium last Saturday MARCH 13, 2010 (U.S. Time). Let's still give credit to Clottey since he is the first opponent after two years to hear the final bell while fighting with Pacman. YUP!! Clottey managed to stay alive up to the 12th round of the fight. Well, It was a very lopsided fight that didn't have much intesity running throughout, but the important thing for my KABAYANS is that Manny won again. That's PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO!! This would be my 4th Blogpost regarding PACMAN's bout here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In" and all of those were indeed "CONGRATULATION" blogposts. I'm not anymore going to the details of the fight and let's leave it again to the experts okay. Btw, Rock Band JOURNEY's Filipino Lead vocalist ARNEL PINEDA sang our PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM.


So why the blogpost title "masaGHANAng PACMANalo"? MASAGANA is a Tagalog word that means "BOUNTIFUL" and PANALO is also a Tagalog word which means "VICTORY". Of course I used GHANA since It's the country of origin of Joshua Clottey. Everybody knows why I used PACMAN. So I guess that's my little tribute again to my KABAYAN Emmanuel D. Pacquiao aka. PACMAN "The Greatest Fighter Of The Era". THANKS for dropping by again guys!!

CHECK OUT all my PACMAN Blogposts on my Blog's "SPORTS PAGE" by clicking MANNY's photo:


Isang Masaganang Panalo!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

The Collector's Disease

It's MARCH 2010 and I'm still infected with such disease. Well, being a Music Collector I just can't think of it If I'll get tired of getting these stuffs that I really love listening to. Music is my form of relaxation and enjoyment. It's my own little way of getting out of the real world. I've started collecting music mostly from the New Wave/Post Punk Genre and It's subgenres since the early 80s and up until now the journey continues. This musical genre was really big here in MANILA back on those days and so by traveling back to the past with my little blog "The Doctor Is In" gives a great relief of remembering the good old days. Although, I don't have anymore the luxury of time to listen to all my Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassette Tapes, DVDs, VCDs, and other materials related to the music that I love unlike before, It's still nice looking at what I've collected the past decades. It's a sort of a time machine that you wouldn't like to stop riding. Any treatment or cure for the so-called "The Collector's Disease"? Hmmmmp? I guess none. He He He!! It's just your daily dose of medication in the form of music. Like what I've always stated here in my blog "MUSIC MATTERS, AND MEMORIES OF IT MATTERS MOST". This is more than just a Swine Flu or your regular illnesses...... It's a disease that a lot of people are infected with. He he he!! I'm sure you are too. Right regular visitors and lurkers? Ha Ha Ha!! Of course, I don't have the complete discography of all the bands since up to now I'm still on the never ending process of buying the stuffs that I love and even discovering lost gems. Unfortunately, these stuffs are getting more expensive as the years passed by so It's getting more difficult to squeeze it in to your budget unless you are really filthy rich I guess. Do you want to be treated? Naaaah!! This is one disease you might have second thoughts of curing it. Ha Ha Ha!!


Most of my blogposts here on "The Doctor Is In" usually features the music that I really love listening to. I usually mention WXB102, POWER105 DZBM-FM, and NU107 since these three radio stations have really influenced my kind of taste in music a lot. Although, there were New Wave radio shows back in the 90s and the millennium here in MANILA that added to my awareness to the genre, but nothing compared to the intensity back in the 80s. Many of the music materials I have were one way or the other were played by these radio stations. They were the ones who made a big difference on MANILA RADIO back in the 80s. I've noticed lately that the music of the 80s keeps on coming back and It even influenced a lot of Artists/Bands of the new generation so that's how powerful the Eighties Decade was in terms of music. I also love collecting obscure ones since It adds up flavor to my listening pleasure and It's also nice discovering and exploring gems of the past that you weren't able to hear during those times. The younger generations right now are very lucky with the presence of the Internet. It's a powerful medium to discover music and unlike in those days we just have to rely on imported magazines and even the local ones to know about the bands we want to listen to or we want to discover. The audiences for today's music are vast with those websites and video sites that an artist/band could expose their creativity. Nowadays, It's just right on your fingertips and kaboom... "Google It!!". I guess that's all for today's blogpost guys!! THANKS AGAIN for dropping by!!

ARTISTS/BANDS materials on the photos:

APRIL SHOWERS
THE LOVERS SPEAKS
H2O
THIS MORTAL COIL
SEONA DANCING
FRUITS OF PASSION
VOICE OF AMERICA
LITTLE MURDERS
TEARDROP EXPLODES
DEPECHE MODE
THE SMITHS
THIS FINAL FRAME
BAMBOO INDUSTRY
HAPPY DEADMEN
BONNIE HAYES WITH THE WILD COMBO
LAURIE ANDERSON
THE JACK RUBIES
EYELESS IN GAZA
GENERATION X
THE ESSENCE
THE CREATURES
THE DAMNED
THE SOUND

YUP!! That's some of the list of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi causing the infection. Ha Ha Ha!! I'll leave you with the LIVE VERSION of a DEPECHE MODE song taken from their classic "101 Live album".......... none other than "SHAKE THE DISEASE"!!

LISTEN to SHAKE THE DISEASE here:



Let's Shake
The Collector's Disease!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

THE DYLANS

THE DYLANS were a Neo -Psychedelic British band formed in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England back in 1989 by Vocalist/ Bassist Colin Gregory who was a former member of 1,000 VIOLINS. Together with Colin were Jim Rodger and Andy Curtis both on guitars, Quentin Jennings on keyboards and Garry Jones on drums continuing the 60s tinged retro style of 1,000 Violins but with a nod to that so-called "Baggy" scene. The band got their name from one of the characters on a children television program called "The Magic Runabout". DYLAN was the Spacey Rabbit character and so the band's name was not really related to Rock And Roll. He He He!! It was back in 1990 when THE DYLANS were signed to Beggars Banquet Records Indie subsidiary Situation Two which is RCA Records in the United States, who released their debut single, "Godlike" back in January 1991. The song reached #5 on the Top 10 of the UK Indie Chart back then. The band subsequently replaced Curtis with Andy Cook and then released two follow-up singles namely "Planet Love" and "Lemon Afternoon" just before the band's Stephen Street-produced self-titled debut album was released in October 1991. THE DYLANS were introduced here in MANILA by NU107 back in 1991 by playing their one and only MANILA hit "PLANET LOVE" coming from their self-titled debut album. I first got to hear the band when I bought this PHILIPPINE Alternative Compilation Cassette Tape entitled "THIS IS MODERN ROCK : Beggars Banquet.... The Experience Continues" back in 1991 when it was released here in MANILA same year. The song "PLANET LOVE" was included in the said compilation. YUP!! It was only released on cassette tape format and we will be featuring this compilation here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In" in the future since I still have it on my vaults so watch out for that too. "MODERN ROCK" was the term used by NU107 back in 1989 describing this form of music that seems to be another term for New Wave on the late 80s since the decade is about to end and the 90s is about to begin that time. I can still remember that NU107 was "The Home Of New Rock" and "The Rock Of The 90s"!! Those were the good ol' days indeed!! After that extensive 1991 Tour, The Dylans returned in 1992 with another single entitled "Mary Quant in Blue" with further line-up changes wherein two members namely Jones and Jennings leaving the band to be replaced by Craig Scott and Ike Glover which definitely makes the band very different from their original line-up in 1990-1991. The Dylans were signed up to Atlantic Records due to the growing interest in the band in the United States then moved to the main Beggars Banquet roster in the UK for subsequent releases. Two more singles were followed by the band's swansong 1994 Spirit Finger album which were "Grudge" and "I'll Be Back To Haunt You". The band released two albums and these were The Dylans (1991) and Spirit Finger (1994) before splitting up in 1994 due to the disappointing album sales



If you'll be talking about THE DYLANS here in the PHILIPPINES then there's no question about it that PINOY NEW WAVERS would remember their song "PLANET LOVE" which remained to be their signature song here in MANILA. Definitely every PINOY New Wave collector should have their 1991 self titled album "The Dylans" in their music collection since the NU107 classic "PLANET LOVE" is in the album. YUP!! I have my original CD of the album so get your copy too guys!! The album contains 12 cool tracks which also includes the UK INDIE Top 10 Hit "GODLIKE" which unfortunately didn't made it big here in MANILA during those times. Well, If you're interested to have a copy then I uploaded the entire CD just for your listening pleasure but I still encourage you to get the original one okay. This is clearly for promotional use only. ENJOY THE MUZIC!!

THE DYLANS (Self-Titled)
TRACKLIST

1) She Drops Bombs
2) Planet Love
3) I Hope The Weather Stays Fine
4) Sad Rush On Sunday
5) No Coming Down
6) Mine
7) Particle Ride
8) Ocean Wide
9) Godlike
10) (Don't Cut Me Down) Mary Quant In Blue
11) Love To
12) Indian Sun

DOWNLOAD MY CD HERE:

PASSWORD: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/



Aside from "PLANET LOVE", I uploaded two more songs for you to listen to here in my blogpost namely "GODLIKE" and "(DON'T CUT ME DOWN) MARY QUANT IN BLUE. As usual, just PRESS PLAY to Listen to the songs and Watch the video.

LISTEN TO "GODLIKE" HERE:


LISTEN TO "MARY QUANT IN BLUE" HERE:



Finally, I was able to upload again a Music Video directly here on Blogger which I haven't done for the longest time due to difficulty since the previous MTVs I used on my blogposts were linked on YouTube. I really love listening to"PLANET LOVE"!! Great song indeed and It brings back memories!!

WATCH AND LISTEN to "PLANET LOVE" here:





Btw, do you know who the real DYLANS are? Well, it just pop up my mind that Legendary Rock Icon BOB DYLAN and his son JAKOB DYLAN (Lead Vocalist of THE WALLFLOWERS) are THE DYLANS too. He He He!! This father and son musicians of their generation are the real Dylans right guys? That's all about my "THE DYLANS" blogpost for today folks and I hope you enjoyed it again the way I did making and conceptualizing it. THANKS AGAIN for dropping by!!

This is
THE DYLANS Planet!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD