Saturday, December 31, 2011

Thank You 2011


2011 definitely was a big year for me. I learned a lot of about work, family and life in general this year. Damn, I'm already 24 years old! Sometimes you just don't notice that time flies, seriously! Thank you God for all the challenges and the blessings this year. Whew! You really tested me this year, eh? I appreciate it a lot :)

Goodbye 2011! Thank you, I will never forget this year ;)

List Tracker


Right now the Philippine Music Charts Thread at Pinoyexchange is covering the various yearend countdowns in Metro Manila radio stations. As I type this we're currently listing the charts of Mellow 947 (Top 100) and Wave 89. 1(Top 90) Check out the thread for live updates! I will post the results of all the charts gathered first thing next year ;)

Here's the schedule of the Year end charts of various Mega Manila FM stations:

Wave 89.1
"89+ 1" Yearend Countdown
December 31, 2011
12 noon - 11PM

Magic 89.9

Magic Top 30 Yearend Countdown
December 31 (9PM-12MN)

RX 93.1

RX 93.1 Yearend Top 20 Countdown
Dec. 31, 2011 (10pm-12 midnight)

Mellow 947
Yearend Top 100 Countdown
December 31, 2011
12 noon - 12 midnight
January 1, 2012 (replay)
6 am - 6 pm

97.9 Home Radio
Easy 20 Yearend Countdown
Dec. 31, 2011 (7-9pm)
Jan. 1, 2012 (Replay 12-2pm)

Tambayan 101.9
Tambayan Top Songs of the Year
December 31, 2011
11 am - 1 pm

102.7 Star FM
Nationwide Yearend Top 20 Countdown
January 1, 2012
11 am - 1 pm

106.7 Energy FM
This is Hit!: The Top 20 Yearend Countdown
December 31, 2011
9pm-11pm

107.5 Win Radio
Top 20 Yearend Countdown
December 31, 2011
3-5 PM
January 1, 2012 (replay)
11 am - 1 PM

Yearend charts of MYX, RX 93.1 [OPM], 103.5 Wow FM and 97.1 Brgy LS are posted here

***

Please check out my various Year in Review posts as well :)

Friday, December 30, 2011

My Hot 100 for 2011

My favorite songs for 2011



  1. Walang Natira - Gloc 9 feat Sheng Belmonte
  2. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
  3. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  4. Rumour Has It - Adele
  5. Falling In - Lifehouse
  6. The Cave - Mumford and Sons
  7. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
  8. 20 / 20 - Pupil
  9. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars
  10. Price Tag - Jessie J feat B.o.B
  11. Someone Like You - Adele
  12. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
  13. California King Bed - Rihanna
  14. [F***in] Perfect - Pink
  15. You Make Me Feel Good - Cobra Starship feat Sabi
  16. Life's a Happy Song - The Muppets Cast
  17. Sing - My Chemical Romance
  18. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson
  19. All of the Lights - Kanye West feat Rihanna
  20. Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull feat Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
  21. The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
  22. Porque - Maldita
  23. Marry Me - Train
  24. Nothing - The Script
  25. Sound of Fire - This Century
  26. Hey Daydreamer - Somedaydream
  27. Iridescent - Linkin Park
  28. You and I - Lady GaGa
  29. Kunin Mo Na Ang Lahat Sa Akin - Angeline Quinto
  30. Last Friday Night - Katy Perry
  31. Pangarap Lang Kita - Parokya ni Edgar feat Happy Sy
  32. I Won't Let You Go - James Morrison
  33. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj feat Ester Dean
  34. S&M (remix) - Rihanna feat Britney Spears
  35. I Need A Doctor - Dr. Dre feat Eminem and Skylar Grey
  36. Rocketeer - Far East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder
  37. Jet Lag - Simple Plan feat Natasha Bedingfield
  38. Ako na Lang - Zia
  39. Don't Let Me Go - The Click Five
  40. Hello - Martin Solveig and Dragonette
  41. Arms - Christina Perri
  42. Helena Beat - Foster The People
  43. Always - Switchfoot
  44. Mahal Kita (Di Mo Pansin) - Kyla
  45. Tambay - Sponge Cola
  46. Never Gonna Leave This Bed - Maroon Five
  47. Kahit Di Mo Sabihin - Juris
  48. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
  49. Marry You - Bruno Mars
  50. Promises, Promises - Incubus
  51. The Story of Us - Taylor Swift
  52. Sino Nga Ba Sya - Sarah Geronimo
  53. If You Ever Come Back - The Script
  54. Back Seat - New Boyz Featuring The Cataracs & Dev
  55. Grenade - Bruno Mars
  56. Lighters - Bad Meets Evil feat Bruno Mars
  57. Domino - Jessie J
  58. Best Thing I Never Had - Beyonce
  59. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes feat Adam Levine
  60. We Found Love - Rihanna feat Calvin Harris
  61. 5 O'Clock - T-Pain feat Lily Allen and Whiz Khalifa
  62. Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag District
  63. Science and Faith - The Script
  64. Just Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas
  65. Linda Blair - Tanya Markova
  66. Wala Na Tayo - BBS feat Kean Cipriano
  67. Waiting For The End - Linkin Park
  68. Lonely Boy - Black Keys
  69. Wag Na - Yeng Constantino
  70. The Edge of Glory- Lady GaGa
  71. Mean - Taylor Swift
  72. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne
  73. Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene
  74. If I Die Young - The Band Perry
  75. Forget About It - All Time Low
  76. E.T - Katy Perry feat Kanye West
  77. Who Says - Selena Gomez & The Scene
  78. TNT - Pupil
  79. Don't Tie Me Down - Kyla
  80. On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez feat Pitbull
  81. Patuloy Ang Pangarap - Angeline Quinto
  82. Boomerang -Akon, Pitbull and Jermaine Dupri
  83. Cheers - Rihanna
  84. Muli - Ebe Dancel
  85. Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay - Sponge Cola
  86. Uncharted - Sarah Bareilles
  87. Called Out in the Dark - Snow Patrol
  88. Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean feat Kelly Clarkson
  89. Halik - Kamikazee
  90. Firework - Katy Perry
  91. Your Love - Marie Digby
  92. Telling the World - Taio Cruz
  93. One Hit Combo - Parokya ni Edgar feat Gloc 9
  94. Good Feeling - Flo Rida
  95. Shake it Out - Florence + The Machine
  96. Questions - Bamboo
  97. Coming Home - Diddy Dirty Money feat Skylar Grey
  98. Up All Night - Blink 182
  99. Gigil - Sheng Belmonte
  100. Criminal - Britney Spears

***

My Hot 100 for 2010
My Hot 100 for 2009
My Hot 100 for 2008
My Hot 100 for 2007

Billboard Hot 100 (Issue Date: January 7, 2012)

For the first Billboard Hot 100 chart issued for 2012, LMFAO's Sexy and I Know It finally dethrones Rihanna's We Found Love after an eight-week run on top. Sexy and I Know It held the #2 spot for 7 consecutive weeks. This is LMFAO's 2nd Hot 100 #1 following the smash hit Party Rock Anthem which returns to the top 10 this week jumping to #15 to #9 due to the an increase in download sales this week. It's not surprise that this song enjoyed a sales spike this song as this will definitely be blasting on New Year's eve parties tomorrow.

Katy Perry's The One That Got Away climbs #5 to #3, just two notches away on landing a historic 6th #1 for the same album. Will she be able to do it? It will be tougher as it seems as Sexy and I Know It and We Found Love are both too strong for Katy's track to overcome. But let's wait and see

Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaboration Ni*** in Paris is up #6 to #5 landing the former his 11th Top 5 hit and the former his 10th top 5 hit.

Adele lands her 3rd straight top 10 hit as Set Fire to the Rain climbs #13 to #7 this week. One notch below is her 2nd #1 Someone Like You at #8. And her first #1, Billboard Hot 100's #1 song for 2011, Rolling in the Deep climbs #41 to #35 this week on its 51st week on the chart. The song is the longest staying song on the chart.

This week's top debut comes from Taylor Swift and folk duo The Civil Wars Safe & Sound. The track comes from the OST of the movie adaptation of "The Hunger Games" which will be shown in the US March 2012.

Here is this week's Billboard Hot 100 as posted at Pulse Music Board:

1 2 17 Sexy And I Know It, LMFAO
2 1 14 We Found Love, Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris
3 5 11 The One That Got Away, Katy Perry
4 3 13 It Will Rain, Bruno Mars
5 6 20 Ni**as in Paris, Jay Z Kanye West
6 4 13 Good Feeling, Flo Rida
7 13 17 Set Fire To The Rain, Adele
8 7 25 Someone Like You, Adele
9 15 40 Party Rock Anthem, LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
10 12 12 Dance (A$$), Big Sean Featuring Nicki Minaj
11 11 28 Stereo Hearts, Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam Levine
12 9 27 Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera
13 10 13 5 O'Clock, T-Pain Featuring Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen
14 8 17 Without You, David Guetta Featuring Usher
15 16 20 Headlines, Drake
16 18 11 Young, Wild & Free, Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars
17 14 17 Work Out, J. Cole
18 17 9 Red Solo Cup, Toby Keith
19 32 9 Mistletoe, Justin Bieber
20 19 35 Pumped Up Kicks, Foster The People
21 29 6 The Motto, Drake Featuring Lil Wayne
22 25 7 You Da One, Rihanna
23 22 20 Not Over You, Gavin DeGraw
24 24 11 Make Me Proud, Drake Featuring Nicki Minaj
25 28 11 Domino, Jessie J
26 23 13 I Don't Want This Night To End, Luke Bryan
27 26 27 Love You Like A Love Song, Selena Gomez & The Scene
28 34 35 Super Bass, Nicki Minaj
29 44 12 I Like It Like That, Hot Chelle Rae Featuring New Boyz
30 NEW 1 Safe & Sound, Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars
31 20 24 You Make Me Feel..., Cobra Starship Featuring Sabi
32 21 16 Mr. Know It All, Kelly Clarkson
33 30 8 International Love, Pitbull Featuring Chris Brown
34 54 20 It Girl, Jason Derulo
35 41 51 Rolling In The Deep, Adele
36 35 19 She Will, Lil Wayne Featuring Drake
37 31 34 Just A Kiss, Lady Antebellum
38 27 39 Give Me Everything, Pitbull Featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
39 33 7 Marry The Night, Lady Gaga
40 42 14 Tattoos On This Town, Jason Aldean
41 55 13 Strange Clouds, B.o.B Featuring Lil Wayne
42 46 18 Fly, Nicki Minaj Featuring Rihanna
43 39 15 Paradise, Coldplay
44 56 5 Rack City, Tyga
45 47 7 Ours, Taylor Swift
46 48 24 God Gave Me You, Blake Shelton
47 49 8 Blackout, Breathe Carolina
48 38 9 Lotus Flower Bomb, Wale Featuring Miguel
49 58 6 Take Care, Drake Featuring Rihanna
50 43 22 Easy, Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield
51 45 14 Drink In My Hand, Eric Church
52 60 10 A Thousand Years, Christina Perri
53 36 13 Keep Me In Mind, Zac Brown Band
54 61 5 Tonight Is The Night, Outasight
55 84 7 The Trouble With Girls, Scotty McCreery
56 51 15 Let It Rain, David Nail
57 NEW 1 Wild Ones, Flo Rida Featuring Sia
58 53 16 All Your Life, The Band Perry
59 50 19 We Owned The Night, Lady Antebellum
60 52 10 You, Chris Young
61 NEW 1 I Do, Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & Andre 3000
62 68 4 Turn Me On, David Guetta Featuring Nicki Minaj
63 64 19 Brighter Than The Sun, Colbie Caillat
64 63 10 Heartbeat, The Fray
65 57 12 Party, Beyonce Featuring Andre 3000
66 66 13 When We Stand Together, Nickelback
67 65 4 Can't Get Enough, J. Cole Featuring Trey Songz
68 80 4 Wish You Were Here, Avril Lavigne
69 NEW 1 Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex
70 67 10 You The Boss, Rick Ross Featuring Nicki Minaj
71 77 6 Levels, Avicii
72 RE-ENTRY 5 Blunt Blowin, Lil Wayne
73 83 4 Bait A Hook, Justin Moore
74 RE-ENTRY 4 Mirror, Lil Wayne Featuring Bruno Mars
75 RE-ENTRY 6 Donald Trump, Mac Miller
76 NEW 1 Better Than I Know Myself, Adam Lambert
77 72 3 Alone With You, Jake Owen
78 RE-ENTRY 7 Rumour Has It, Adele
79 71 12 I'm Gonna Love You Through It, Martina McBride
80 91 10 Countdown, Beyonce
81 NEW 1 Stupid Hoe, Nicki Minaj
82 69 7 Lonely Boy, The Black Keys
83 100 2 Ass Back Home, Gym Class Heroes Featuring Neon Hitch
84 85 6 Storm Warning, Hunter Hayes
85 RE-ENTRY 2 First Of The Year (Equinox), Skrillex
86 RE-ENTRY 2 Drummer Boy, Justin Bieber Featuring Busta Rhymes
87 87 20 Nothing, The Script
88 NEW 1 Knock Knock, Mac Miller
89 94 6 Love On Top, Beyonce
90 RE-ENTRY 3 Party On Fifth Ave., Mac Miller
91 70 20 Baggage Claim, Miranda Lambert
92 RE-ENTRY 2 Strip, Chris Brown Featuring Kevin McCall
93 98 3 Good Good Night, Roscoe Dash
94 NEW 1 Wobble Baby Wobble, V.I.C.
95 74 7 Home, Dierks Bentley
96 82 9 Shake It Out, Florence + The Machine
97 89 19 Sail, AWOLNATION
98 88 4 Camouflage, Brad Paisley
99 73 17 That Way, Wale Featuring Jeremih & Rick Ross
100 59 3 We Are Young, Glee Cast


Year in Review: Three Thoughts on Pop Music


1. Adele definitely is the biggest star this year. I personally never thought she would break out this big in the US this year. Her sophomore set "21" already sold 5.6 mil copies this year! For the 44 weeks she charted on the Billboard 200 she only left the top 5 once (#7 and it happened during a busy holiday week when there are several new albums were released). And the singles! Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You topped the Hot 100 for 7 weeks and 5 weeks, respectively. And those type of songs don't usually even make it to the top 20 of the chart. She topped both the yearend charts of US (for Rolling in the Deep) and UK (for Someone Like You). Adele is definitely a refreshing change in the pop music charts this year. I hope she sweeps in the Grammy Awards next year. Predictable, yes but well-deserved

2. CD sales continue to go down unfortunately. Locally, just looke at record bars Astrovision and Odyssey, the section for the music CD sales shrink further more this year. The only ones selling right now are adult contemporary leaning albums, compilation revival albums, Kpop albums (but only in the first two weeks, they are extremely front loaded) and acts with regular TV exposure. Bands don't sell that well anymore. The digital means through selling music is still not polished here while it's exploding elsewhere. I wonder when it will become a thing here.

3. This year the teams of the major pop stars are strategizing to make the charts to favor them and set records. Discounts and remixes are some of the things they do advance on the chart. Nothing wrong it because they are not breaking any rule at all and those strategies wont work if there's no demand for the artist in the first place. But still, it feels like when they reached the top, it feels a little awkward because they have to resort to such tactics to achieve their goal. I think success feels more earned if it happened the natural way. Just sayin'

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Year in Review: Expressions of the Year



This blog entry was inspired from a GMA news online article. These are the words /phrases that became part of the conversation of most Filipinos. Most of the times these expressions are used in a joking manner but one things for sure they have become an essential part for bonding with your friends and loved ones. Here the expressions that mattered this year

5. Award!
- This is gay lingo that was even made more famous by the box office hit Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, It is often used to express delight or approval for something.

"Does this dress look good on me" "Award siya 'te"


5. Wagas

- Wagas in english describes something that is pure. This word is often used to exaggerate an opinion about someone's performance or preoccupation on something.

"Kung maka-gamit ka ng pabango, wagas! Maligo ka kasi ng maayos!"

4. Havey/ Waley

- A play on words "have" and "wala". First heard these words used in the talent show Showtime. When a performance impresed the judges they would say it's 'have" because they "have it" but if the performance disappoints or the attempt to make a standout performance fails they'll describe it as "waley" because "walang dating" (no impact). These words are now used to comment on anythingn and everything.

"Yung mga projects na pino-propise niya waley naman eh dapat nakinig siya sa suggestion ng iba na havey na havey"

3. Peg

- I don't know if this gay lingo but I first heard the use of peg at work (a media production company) when we brainstorm on projects and we use the word "peg" to describe someone or something that we would like to pattern our current project is. Now the word peg has been used to describe the inspiration of someone's look or actions.

"Wagas ka naman kung iyakan yang ex-boyfriend mo, KC Concepcion ang peg mo?"

2. Ikaw Na!

- Thanks to JP for reminding me of this and how stupid of me to forget about this! This is even have an english version via "you already!". "Ikaw na!" expresses extreme compliment to someone usually in a sarcastic tone.

"Ikaw na ang model employee! Tama na ang pag-over time dyan!"


1. "Kapag ______ ba _______ na agad? Hindi ba pwedeng _________ muna?"

This joke was made famous via the box office hit Praybeyt Benjamin. You will first make comment on something that is stereotypical but then you have a punch line in the end.

"Kapag kinukulit ka ba may crush na sa iyo agad? Hindi ba pwedeng may ADHD lang siya muna?

***
Check out my other Year in Review posts;

Top 20 Movies
US Networks Scorecard
Ten Thoughts on Local TV

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Year In Review: My Top 20 Favorite Movies


I watched a lot of movies this year in the theaters. I saw around 50+ movies this year, up sharply when I just watched 8 movies last year. I used to wait for movies on DVD (or some other means ;) and I just cherrypick what movies to watch in the cinemas. Not the case this year. I guess when I got the gig of writing movie reviews for Pinoyexchange this year, it renewed my love for watching movies in the theaters. It really is different watching movies on the big screen especially if there's a good crowd watching with you. Communal experience at its finest. And also I went through a tough time at work early this year and I wanted to have an escape before going home so I went to watch movies until it became a habit. It's a bit costly but I don't care because I had a good time. I love stories. To be specific, I love well-told stories regardless of genre. I admit my taste in movies is more mainstream and commercial but I'm slowly expanding my horizons. I even watched Cinemalaya and Spanish Film Festivals this year which is a great experience. My interest with box office also escalated to the point that it was already on par with my fondness for music charts and TV programming! I love analyzing what movies the audience like or rejected. It fascinates me. Anyway, because of my stronger passion for movies this year I decided to make a top 20 list of movies that I loved this year. There is an entry in my top 20 that is actually a 2010 title but it was only released here this year so I counted it as a 2011 title for me. It was tough narrowing the list to 10 especially that it's an overall list including both foreign and local titles so I decided to screw the convention and expand my list to 20. There are some movies that was shown here that I really wanted to watch but wasn't able to (Arthur Christmas) and some 2011 movies that I was looking forward to see but their release dates was moved to next year (Moneyball, The Ides of March, Footloose remake) and a lot of movies I'm interested with will not be shown here until next year (The Muppets, We Bought a Zoo, War Horse, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) so my list will be just limited to movies I saw in theaters or 2011 titles I saw through other mediums. Anyway, the following 20 movies made the cut because these are the ones that I enjoyed one way or another, some admittedly have flaws but the good stuff outweighed whatever weak points it had.

20. The Beaver
- A flawed but fascinating and disturbing look inside the mind of a depressed man. Mel Gibson's personal troubles might be a factor for his performance but it was fantastic turn for the disgraced actor.

19. Hanna
- The music score is one of the best this year and Saoirse Ronan continues to deliver roles beyond her age and she totally kicked ass in this movie. Cate Blanchett was an effective villain as well.

18. Won't Last a Day Without You
- The best local commercial movie this year thanks to solid direction, a sensible script and great cast chemistry. It's the movie that earn its "kilig" moments.

17. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
- One of the most enjoyable flicks this year. The Burj Khalifa action sequence is worth the ticket price alone. I like the fact that it proves that you don't need to resort to 3D gimmick to deliver "wow" scenes.

16. Bridesmaids
- I watched this recently via DVD a couple of days ago and it lived up to the hype. An R-rated comedy that unlike other similarly rated comedies this year did not abuse the freedom of the rating to just deliver raunchy jokes without substance at all. Great character development and terrific performances from the ensemble makes this one of the best comedies this year.

15. Super 8
- The coming of age story part of the story was very effective and features standout performances from Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney. I love the old school vibe this movie had.

14. Kung Fu Panda 2
- Of the three animated sequels that came out this year, this is by far the strongest and the one who didn't lose the charm of the original and even delivered a story that's funny, focused and heartwarming at the same time.

13. Amok
- An underrated Cinemalaya movie this year and while the story is thin, the excellent direction makes up for it as it features one well-executed rampage scene that features a lot of crowd but the direction was flawless.

12. Niño
- Another underrated Cinemalaya gem this year. The film started a little slow but picked up as it progresses. It was family drama that didn't resort to theatrics and focused on developing rich characters with broken souls. Towards the end of the movie it delivers a "musical sequence" that gave me goosebumps.

11. Real Steel
- This movie was criticized for being cheesy but you know what for me its sentimental story done right. It's one of the best father-son stories because they carefully fleshed out the characters to make you understand them more and you will actually witness as the bond is starting to grow. And oh the robot boxing matches were well executed and exciting to watch. People were cheering in the theaters during the climactic final boxing match. That's how effective the movie was for making the people care for the characters.

10. Contagion
A star studded movie that didn't let the fact that it has many big stars in the ensemble overwhelm the film. It painted a subtle but very frightening picture of a world in jeopardy.

9. Rango
- A western-inspired animated movie about a lizard with an existential crisis. Sounds crazy right? But Rango was able to pull off this one of a kind movie with intertwining themes. It's not really child-friendly per se but definitely one of the standout and unique animated movies released commercially.

8. X-Men: First Class
- A prequel/reboot that successful takes the franchise to a compelling fresh start. This movie proves that superhero blockbusters don't have to be all about special effect as this movie's strong point is the character development and interaction. You would actually care for the heroes and anti-heroes because they are not one dimensional.

7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
- Another prequel/reboot that told a well-crafted origin story that pays honor to the original while making a mark on its own. Features a mesmerizing performance from Andy Serkis in performance capture where you could feel the emotion the character who can not speak at all.

6. Amigo
- An American movie set in the Philippines that was released for a week here in July which unfortunately people barely noticed at all. It dealt with the little known Philippine-American war and handled the story with such poignancy that you can't help but think about it after the credits start to roll in.

5. Tangled
- This is a 2010 movie that was only released here last February. This movie successfully balanced the old school Disney vibe and the new generation CGI animated films. Simply magical that features well-rounded characters, Tangled is a welcome addition to the Disney classics.

4. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
- Perhaps the most successful Cinemalaya film of all time as it was able to crossover to the mainstream audience. A very good satire of misguided Philippine independent filmmaking in the industry, while it tends to be self indulgent at time you just can't help but be impressed with the audacity of the filmmakers to point out their peers' pitfalls in such a funny yet effective approach.

3. Crazy, Stupid, Love
- One of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a long time. It has a mature love story at the center and surrounded by subplots that work at the same time. Powered by a strong ensemble led by the terrific Steve Carell, this movie proves that romantic comedies can be more than just about the characters getting together in the end and living happily ever after.

2. Warrior
- I failed to see this movie when it was shown briefly in the theaters and I was glad I was able to see this movie via DVD because it is one of the most powerful movies I've seen of all time. At first glance, you might think this is your typical guy movie because the story is set in the world of Mixed Martial Arts but this is more than just a sports or action movie. While the MMA fight scenes are expertly directed and executed, the movie is more about people who are broken inside who tries their best to make fix themselves but it's not as easy as it seems. Thanks to excellent performances from Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton the film's message was effectively relayed to the audience.
Link
1. Winnie the Pooh
- The thing is as a child I was never really fond of Pooh and his friends. Sure I watched it every Saturday morning back in the day but Pooh stories are always too simple for my taste but when I saw this movie in the theaters last October I suddenly find myself appreciating the legacy of Pooh and his friends. The story of this movie, as expected, is simple and perhaps older kids won't really enjoy it (and moreso adults) but I just like what the movie represents. It's about the joy of childhood innocence and creativity. As I've written in my review of this movie " One can’t help but feel nostalgic watching this movie as you remember the days when you were a young child playing with your toys and assigning them characters and concocting up stories. In our minds the world our toys live in is vibrant, colorful and the movie perfectly captured that feeling. Winnie the Pooh is ultimately a children’s movie but it’s nice reminder to us adults of how the simple things in life are magical" .

Chart Recap Extra: Album Sales 65

Here are the best selling albums in the Philippines courtesy of Astroplus [TO FOLLOW] and Odyssey. These charts are first posted at the Philippine Music Charts Thread at Pinoyexchange.com

Odyssey's Top Sellers
December 12 – 18, 2011

Overall
  1. Mr. Simple - Super Junior (Universal)
  2. Pure… Christmas - Various Artists (Sony Music)
  3. It’s A Waka-waka Christmas - Various Artists (Ivory Music)
  4. No Water, No Moon - Bamboo (Polyeast Records)
  5. Christmas - Michael Buble (Warner)
  6. Supershow 3 Live - Super Junior (Universal)
  7. Under The Mistletoe - Justin Bieber (MCA Music)
  8. Speak Now World Tour - Taylor Swift (MCA Music)
  9. Patuloy Ang Pangarap - Angeline Quinto (Star Records)
  10. My Christmas Wish - Cadio (Universal)
OPM
  1. It’s A Waka-waka Christmas - Various Artists (Ivory Music)
  2. No Water, No Moon - Bamboo (Polyeast Records)
  3. Patuloy Ang Pangarap - Angeline Quinto (Star Records)
  4. My Christmas Wish - Cadio (Universal)
  5. Christmas In Our Hearts - Jose Mari Chan (Polyeast Records)
  6. Non-stop Pilipino Xmas Medley: Aming Bati - Various ArtistS (AMII Music)
  7. Smash Christmas - Various ArtistS (AMII Music)
  8. Annebisyosa - Anne Curtis (Viva)
  9. Da Best ang Pasko ng Pilipino - Various Artists (Star Records)
  10. Breathe Again -Jed Madela (Universal Records)

source
Astrovision/Astroplus Top-Selling Albums Overall
December 12 – 18, 2011
  1. Mr. Simple
    Super Junior (Universal Records)
  2. Super Show 3
    Super Junior (Universal Records)

  3. Pure… Christmas
    Various Artist (Sony Music)
  4. Outbound
    Christian Bautista (Universal Records)

  5. It’s A Waka-waka Christmas
    Various Artist (Ivory Music)
  6. No Water, No Moon
    Bamboo (Polyeast Records)
  7. 21
    Adele (Warner Music)
  8. Garrie Concepcion
    Garrie Concepcion (Star Records)
  9. Speak Now World Tour
    Taylor Swift (MCA Music)
  10. Patuloy Ang Pangarap
    Angeline Quinto (Star Records)
  11. Smash Christmas
    Various Artist (AMII Music)
  12. Christmas
    Micheal Buble (Warner Music)
  13. Under The Mistletoe
    Justin Bieber (MCA Music)

  14. Live At The Royal Albert Hall
    Adele (Warner Music)
  15. Pure… Crooners
    Various Artist (Sony Music)
  16. Christmas In Our Hearts
    Jose Mari Chan (Universal Records)
  17. Party Christmas Hits
    Various Artist (PolyEast Records)

  18. Mylo Xyloto
    Coldplay (PolyEast Records)
  19. Annebisyosa
    Anne Curtis (Viva Records)

  20. With Love
    Gary V. (Star Records)



Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Year In Review: My US Networks Scorecard


As part of my weeklong Year In Review series yesterday I shared my Ten Thoughts on Local TV and today I'll discuss my assessment of how the US Broadcast networks fared this year with their programming. I thought of having the usual top 10 list of favorite shows or episodes but then again I'm not updated with a good number of hourlong series that much unlike the sitcoms which I follow a lot so my top 10 would be heavy on 30-minute sitcoms (and heavy on shows from the broadcast networks as well) so I just decided to share my thoughts on they performed in their programming this year since that is one aspect of US Television that really fascinates me.

ABC
Grade: B


ABC is still a vulnerable network but they are not in disastrous state like NBC (more on that later). They have hits on the schedule but still has a lot of weak spots to improve on. This year they cancelled a bunch of freshmen shows which just shows how weak their development have been the past season failing to land a hit show. The only survivors of that 2010-2011 batch are Dana Delany's procedural vehicle "Body of Proof" and the sitcom "Happy Endings" and both are midseason shows. ABC really tend to give their midseason projects more chances for renewal than the ones launched in the fall (of course I'm talking about the "bubble" shows). Some examples of that are What About Brian, Eli Stone, Better off Ted and Castle. All those shows had mediocre to awful ratings but they had potential (whether ratings or creative wise) so ABC give them a pass but only Castle became a hit in the long run. It's no wonder ABC set aside some of their potential new programs for midseason next year. The pilots of Good Christian Belles, The River, Apartment 23 and Scandal will premiere next year. Premiering in the fall it's quite risky because most shows tend to lost steam by spring so it makes sense to reserve the ones which could benefit the network on longer terms for midseason where they can air all episodes without reruns. This year though the shows ABC launched in the fall had more promise than the previous batches. The only one that really bombed out of the gate for ABC was the remake of Charlie's Angels which is a bit surprising since you would think a known franchise would be an instant hit but this was not the case here. I personally think they made a bad call in casting the 3 angels. They need at least one girl who is quite popular or is generally considered charismatic. The audience already aware of what the show is all about so one thing that would entice them to watch it is the cast but this one premiered very poorly so the interest was not there right from the start. ABC's second new drama failure the 60s drama Pan Am premiered well at least but faltered in the succeeding weeks following the trend of a lot of ABC freshman dramas in the past which opens big but loses audience week to week until cancellation meets them. ABC's 3rd failure the sitcom Man Up actually had a decent showing but was losing too much of its lead in and when a show is sandwiched between two high rated shows, the ratings should be better but the ratings discrepancy Man Up had with is lead in (Last Man Standing) and lead out (Dancing With the Stars) was huge so there's no really potential for it to grow from its anemic ratings. ABC made a bad judgment of pairing Man Up and Last Man Standing just because they are "man" shows, Last Man Standing's appeal is that it is a family friendly show not because it's about a man in the world of women. ABC will pair it with cross dressing sitcom Work It next year which I don't think will last as well but let's see. ABC successfully premiered 4 news shows this year with Revenge, Once Upon a Time, Suburgatory and Last Man Standing. Still to early to tell is this shows can survive for a second season given that spring ratings are usually lower than fall. Suburgatory is sandwiched between hits The Middle and Modern Family and is producing good results but it will face American Idol next year so let's see how it will hold up. Revenge and Once Upon a Time started well although both are still vulnerable to hitting lows by midseason given how volatile ABC dramas are but I think both shows will survive unless they fall to drastic levels like below 2.0. Last Man Standing repeats well and given how it manages to hold up the 8pm slot against NCIS and Glee, this would survive to a next season, it's the type of show that grows over time ala The Middle. As for ABC's veteran shows, Grey's Anatomy is holding up quite well I must say, sure it's no longer the ratings powerhouse it used but it still is one of top rated not just on ABC but across all networks as well. Meanwhile, ABC did the right call by making this season the final one for Desperate Housewives, the show is hitting series low on its final season despite having a strong lead in with Once Upon a Time. The numbers should go up as the series comes to an end but I doubt the series finale will even reach the ratings it had 3 seasons ago. Castle's ratings are so intermittent (going for almost series high one week then fall drastically the following week) but it held decently given the weak Dancing with the Stars this season. Private Practice continues to benefit from airing after mother show Grey's Anatomy although to be fair it's 2-hour ep without Grey's support did decent. I won't be surprised if ABC will bench Private Practice for a couple of weeks to give way to Shonda's new drama Scandal. Fridays are decent for ABC and they relocated Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which will end its run next year (but will return via special ala Fox's America's Most Wanted). Shark Tank will replace it next year. I don't think ABC will try to have scripted programming back on Fridays anytime soon they have to fix their other nights first before they even think of Friday. Lastly, ABC's strongest night this year is Wednesday thanks to Modern Family blowing up in the ratings this year. The Middle should also be credited for an increase in ratings this season and providing a good lead off for the night.

CBS
Grade: A-

For the first part of the year, it looked like CBS Monday lineup is going to crash and burn after Two and a Half Men stopped production because of Charlie Sheen's drama which ultimately lead to him getting fired from the show. Without new episode of their Monday night anchor, CBS faltered in the ratings on Mondays. But things turned around this fall when the reformatted Two and a Half Men with Ashton Kutcher replacing Sheen premiered to monstrous ratings and while the show dropped to normal levels, it's still by far one of the highest rated shows in the US and what's even good news for CBS is that 8 pm lead How I Met Your Mother is scoring consistent high ratings this season so far (up sharply from it spring ratings this season when 2.5 Men had no new episodes), 2 Broke Girls lived up to the hype that it was the highest testing sitcom pilot ever for CBS with the high ratings it has been getting all season and the top rated new show of the season, Mike & Molly and Hawaii 5-0 while relatively weaker compared to the 8-9:30 pm shows are still delivering ratings any network would die for. Tuesdays continues to be strong with the NCIS duo although new show Unforgettable is not making a mark yet despite weak competition from ABC (Body of Proof) and NBC (Parenthood) although the ratings are decent it's almost near the ratings The Good Wife was having on this time slot a year ago. Relocating CSI to Wednesdays, 10 pm was a good move as it solved the weak link of the night making CBS Wednesdays a strong night. Thursdays is a mixed bag while The Big Bang Theory exploded in the ratings this season (just as the show premiered in local syndication) the new 8:30 sitcom following it How to Be a Gentleman flamed out just to be replaced by perennial reserve show Rules of Engagement. Persons of Interest while not a flop by any means is underwhelming at 9pm dragging along The Mentalist at 10pm. But for what is worth CBS "problems" at Thursdays is still not on the catastrophic side at all and they could easily turn things around. Fridays showed the continued growth of Blue Bloods at 10 pm and steady ratings for CSI: New York but the new show they launched at 8pm A Gifted Man is struggling. I hope CBS will not give up on airing scripted shows anytime soon. CBS biggest problem right now is Sunday as The Amazing Race is the only one keeping it afloat with The Good Wife and CSI: Miami both struggling to gain traction on such a busy night. The Good Wife is a prestige show for CBS and if not for that it would have been cancelled long ago because the ratings are really far from CBS's average but I hope they won't give it up with this show anytime soon. CSI: Miami is a victim of football overruns and although the ratings are low, I don't think any show on CBS right now (well except NCIS but it's their top rated drama so they won't move it all) can endure the the overruns and CSI: Miami when shown on a regular time does decent (and sometimes improves on its lead in The Good Wife).

CW
Grade: D

What a trainwreck this network (could we really classify them as such anymore) as the show's ratings are just way too low and the only saving grace is The Vampire Diaries which is by a wide margin the network's top rated show. All shows are within the 0.6-0.8 range that is so pitiful. I have a soft spot for this network because it's one half WB which I loved back in the day. CW made a mistake of narrowcasting their target audience to young women who really don't watch TV live that much anymore. Sure, Gossip Girl put them on the buzz meter but that show is now falling behind in the ratings that even newcomer Hart of Dixie is performing better than them. CW needs to develop more shows that caters to a wider audience but for now they have to deal with what they have right now and just hope that things will be better next season.

FOX
Grade: B+

FOX is in good shape in general with American Idol proving that the format is the star and was not affected at all with Simon Cowell leaving. They even gave genre fans a bone with renewing Fringe even if the ratings does not justify one just because they can afford to do so. But there are areas for concern: While X Factor USA helped the network cure their fall programming woes by airing on the slot reserved for American Idol by spring and giving the network 3 hours of solid ratings per week it was not the hit that was expected it to be given the enormous hype. A lot of money was spent for this franchise mainly because people were counting on this to be the American Idol of the fall (ratings wise) but it wasn't. The ratings are good and hit level but not a phenomenon. But of course this is still the first season and reality shows could always grow over time. American Idol was not this big during its early seasons anyway. Glee still delivers in the ratings but the third season showed a big fall in the ratings and reduced buzz. The show is a victim of its own insane hype but it still has a chance to recover but it might not be able to reach the season 2 ratings heights it enjoyed. Fox finally found a live action comedy hit with Zooey Deschanel's New Girl but after being pre-empted for a month due to baseball coverage the show returned down in the ratings although still in the hit zone. Raising Hope is struggling and the new sitcom they launched I Hate my Teenage Daughter is not doing well either. You would though the Animation Domination is as solid as rock but when they launched Allen Gregory it pulled the lined up down, good thing the show only had 7 episodes and Fox still have other sitcoms on bench to take over. But for me the biggest concern for Fox right now is Mondays with House's ratings down a lot this season and the expensive, long-delayed Terra Nova floundering on Mondays. Terra Nova's 1st season is over since the production flow of this show could not accommodate a back 9 even if Fox wanted to so Fox will try out JJ Abrams' Alcatraz in its slot. If Alcatraz becomes a hit or at least rates higher than Terra Nova, the latter is done. Fox will also launch Touch this year. House could likely see a final season this year due to its high production cost and mediocre the same reason that killed 24 earlier this year. But whatever troubles Fox is so minimal compared to ABC and NBC and they still have American Idol to save their ratings average to compensate for flops.

NBC
Grade: C

Poor NBC. They really tried this year but all the shows they launched are flopping hard. Their acclaimed Thursday sitcom block is struggling as well and their only hit comedy The Office is now facing rought times after the departure of lead star Steve Carell. Same case with their long time drama Law and Order: SVU which lost their lead man Christoper Meloni which might have affected the show's big dip in the ratings. The expensice Sunday football package is the only one keeping them afloat right now but they have a good chance on turning things around next year as they have the Superbowl and they will use the post-Superbowl slot for the second season premiere of The Voice. Despite NBC disastrous woes they were able to pull off a minor miracle this year by launching a new hit show via the reality competition show The Voice. Not only did it do wonders in the ratings for NBC, it was the only true blue ratings smash of the 2010-2011 freshman batch overall (CBS's Mike & Molly and Hawaii Five-O started great but was affect the Sheen-Two and a Half Men fiasco that pulled their ratings down toward the end of their first season run). NBC will wisely use The Voice as lead in to their much hyped Broadway drama Smash which has the potential to become a hit. Right now fixing NBC overall is tough to do but if they manage to pull a successful ratings lineup with The Voice and Smash next year it would be a start for a bright new chapter for this once powerhouse.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Year In Review: Ten TV Thoughts

As 2011 comes to a close, I'll share a series of "Year in Review" posts and first up is my observation on local TV this year



1. This is a very big year for Eat Bulaga. The longest running noontime show in the country had a banner year once again and I felt like they are more popular than ever. This could be an aftermath of ABS CBN losing Wowowee where I suspect a lot of its former viewers defected to EB but then again the show's Pinoy Henyo and Sugod Bahay/Juan for All, All for Juan segments are just brilliant, that you really can't help but fall for its charms. This is truly a legendary show, come on 30 years and counting and you're hitting another peak in popularity again? Amazing! Eat Bulaga sort of became "no network war" zone with a lot of its hosts doing projects with other networks (shows in TV5 and movie collaborations with ABS CBN).

2. For the past decade ABS CBN News Channel [ANC] was the sole local news channel in the country but this year we didn't get just one but two more local news channel. GMA wisely junked the hodgepodge channel that was Q11 and launched GMA News Channel and TV5 also launched Aksyon TV Channel 41 (the former home of MTV Philippines in the early 2000s). I think it's a great development since news and current affairs shows have been put in the back burner in their respective networks by airing in the late night/early morning timeslots and now with their own channels, we can now see the shows (mostly well-produced) on a good time slots. Plus we now have different options with media coverage plus it's also a good alternative programming if you're sick with the local soaps and reality shows dominating primetime. Also coming in the airwaves next year is Solar Entertainment's very own local news channel. These are exciting times for the broadcast journalism industry.

3. The most anticipated TV comeback this year was the Magandang Gabi Bayan's Halloween special. Although technically they didn't use the MGB name but instead had the title of "Kababalaghan" but it was the same team who produced the MGB specials anyway and most importantly it was hosted by Noli De Castro. The excitement for its return was fascinating as it was a testament how huge MGB's impact was. It was a communal experience for us back then. We grew up watching those specials and even in hindsight some of the stuff shown was not really scary, it was really fun looking back. As for the "Kababalaghan" special it was a mixed bag. It started promising but petered out in the end. It's really hard to match the 90s specials but hopefully they can do better next time :)

4. If there's one formula that was successful in the local telenovela scenes this year was the child-centric soap from Mutya to Munting Heredera to Daldalita to 100 Days to Heaven, soaps with children as leads has become reliable and staple programming for the local networks, with those shows anchoring the network's primetime blocks. Simply put that kids have this certain charm that watching them is a delight. I guess the innocence is just endearing and warms our heart.

5. Speaking of soaps, the two shows that I believe define the year are Mara Clara in ABS CBN and Amaya in GMA. The former was a remake of 90s classic that was able to match the popularity of the original. That's a rare feat I must say. I myself watched that soap and admittedly the story went to ridiculous route towards the end but it was simply addicting and compelling to watch. The latter on the other hand was risky move on the network to start a historical drama but it paid off. It's good to know that the local audience is interested to watch a show about our local heritage. After all, Korean historical dramas Jewel in the Palace and Jumong were such big hits here so it was about time that a local historical soap shines.

6. TV5 was more aggressive than ever this year and I must say that they are quite successful. While they are still the #3 network and they still have a long way to go to reach #2, TV5 is now seen as a viable player and is now taken seriously in the industry. I personally find them that they are rushing to be a top network and that they need to slow things down but I have to commend MVP's leadership for bringing out the potential in the old ABC 5. It's really good that there are now three major players in the broadcasting industry. Competition brings out the best in everyone. Although I hope it would be a mature competition because let's face it the network war that has been going between ABS CBN and GMA is silly because the way they promote loyalty and personal attacks. Sadly I think TV5 is trying to play the same game too (hello Cristy Fermin!) but I wish they do a different approach next time. They have the potential to be something different and be a trailblazer

7. Talent shows and reality show franchises are losing steam. The popularity of Showtime, Pilipinas Got Talent and Talentadong Pinoy dwindled this year while the current editions of Pinoy Big Brother and Survivor Philippines are off to shaky starts and they don't seem to have the buzz that they used to enjoy. Is it viewer burnout or the producers are not able to inject a fresh take on their respective shows?

8 Sports coverage on TV improved a lot this year. Everyone from Solar Sports to ABS CBN sports and the newbie TV5's AKTV sports channel at IBC 13 stepped up. Even GMA 7 is doing sports coverage too (not just a collaboration with Solar) via their GMA News Channel. The fact that the SEA Games this year was covered by both ABS CBN and AKTV was a good sign. I really hope the younger generation (yikes I feel old) would be more involved with sports and just play computer games. I think what I like about the sports coverage in broadcast media this year that it was not only limited to basketball and boxing but there was football, volleyball, tennis, baseball, martial arts among others. I hope the Palarong Pambansa and other various regional meets would get ample media coverage as well as to further promote various sports in the country. We are lagging behind our ASEAN neighbors when it comes to sports and getting the public exposed to sports via the media will help us in the long run because it will nurture interest and eventually involvement.

9. With online streaming and torrent downloading rampant these days, cable channels [ETC, Jack TV, Star World, Fox Asia] are now adapting to it by airing some of their acquired US programming close to their original airdate in the US . Sure, they are still hours or days ahead but it's a big improvement when we used to get shows a season or two behind. This won't stop downloading per se but it at least make these channels competitive and relevant. Believe it or not, a good segment of the viewing population still prefer to watch TV programs on actual TV sets. Who knows in the future we could get legal streaming/downloading from these channels as well.

10. Social networking is now a big part for the broadcast networks. Through Twitter and Facebook the networks are reaching their audience closer than ever before. It's more interactive but one of the downsides though is that because of the fast transmission of information people tend to digest it at face value. Sometimes people are so gullible that they don't bother to verify or even question the information they received. The tendency to be the first one to know leads to people not thinking critically anymore. On the good side though through these social networking sites, people are able to share their insight and also gauge public opinion. And most importantly people can reach out through these avenues. Remember Lola Aurelia? That's a good example how the fusion of social network and broadcast media can bring good things.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Chart Recap: 2011 Yearend Charts 1

For the regular chart recap click here

Yearend charts season is here! First on the line are yearend charts coming from MYX, RX 93.1, 97.1 Brgy LS FM and 103. 5 Wow FM. All these charts are first posted at the Philippine Music Charts Thread at Pinoyexchange.com

MYX Hitchart Yearend Countdown
December 25, 2011
  1. Hey Daydreamer - Somedaydream
  2. Pangarap Lang Kita - Parokya ni Edgar feat Happy Sy
  3. Firework - Katy Perry
  4. Born This Way - Lady GaGa
  5. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  6. Mr. Simple - Super Junior
  7. Walang Natira - Gloc 9 feat Sheng Belmonte
  8. 20 / 20 - Pupil
  9. The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
  10. Back to December - Taylor Swift
  11. That Should Be Me - Justin Bieber feat Rascal Flatts
  12. Ako Na Lang - Zia
  13. Wala Na Tayo - BBS feat Kean Cipriano and Eunice
  14. Delivery Boys - Somedaydream
  15. Sino Nga Ba Sya - Sarah Geronimo
  16. Don't Tie Me Down - Kyla
  17. Forever Young - Sam Concepcion
  18. I'm Already King - Christian Bautista
  19. Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears
  20. The Boys - Girls Generation
*1st OPM to hit #1 on the MYX Hitchart Yearend since 2008 with Sarah Geronimo's A Very Special Love. First OPM solo male artist to top the chart

MYX International Top 20 Yearend Countdown
December 24, 2011
  1. Firework - Katy Perry
  2. Born This Way - Lady GaGa
  3. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  4. Mr. Simple - Super Junior
  5. The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
  6. Back to December - Taylor Swift
  7. That Should Be Me - Justin Bieber feat Rascal Flatts
  8. Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears
  9. The Boys - Girls Generation
  10. Next To You - Chris Brown feat Justin Bieber
  11. The Edge of Glory - Lady GaGa
  12. Last Friday Night - Katy Perry
  13. I Wanna Go - Britney Spears
  14. The Story of Us - Taylor Swift
  15. Who Says - Selena Gomez and The Scene
  16. Grenade - Bruno Mars
  17. Jet Lag - Simple Plan feat Natasha Bedingfield
  18. Louder - Charice
  19. Lonely - 2NE1
  20. What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
Pinoy MYX Countdown Yearend
December 24, 2011
  1. Hey Daydreamer - Somedaydream
  2. Pangarap Lang Kita - Parokya ni Edgar feat Happy Sy
  3. Walang Natira - Gloc 9 feat Sheng Belmonte
  4. 20 / 20 - Pupil
  5. Ako Na Lang - Zia
  6. Wala Na Tayo - BBS feat Kean Cipriano and Eunice
  7. Delivery Boys - Somedaydream
  8. Sino Nga Ba Sya - Sarah Geronimo
  9. Don't Tie Me Down - Kyla
  10. Forever Young - Sam Concepcion
  11. I'm Already King - Christian Bautista
  12. Pera Pera - Sandwich
  13. Tambay - Sponge Cola
  14. Pawiin - BBS feat Kean Cipriano and Jay Durias
  15. One Hit Combo - Parokya ni Edgar feat Gloc 9
  16. Wag Na - Yeng Constantino
  17. Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal - Itchyworms
  18. Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay - Sponge Cola
  19. Fallin' - Sarah Geronimo
  20. Siguro - Yeng Constantino
103.5 Wow FM Pinoy Playbor Top 20 Yearend Countdown
December 24, 2011

1. Jeepney Love Story - Yeng Constantino
2. Tinamaan Ako - Anne Curtis
3. Saan Darating Ang Umaga - Angeline Quinto
4. Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal - Itchyworms
5. Pangarap Lang Kita - Parokya ni Edgar feat Happy Sy
6. Tantaran Chuchuruchuru - Willie Revillame
7. Wow May Ganun - Mr. Fu
8. Di Na Bale - Bugoy Drilon
9. Porque - Maldita
10. Too Much Love Will Kill You - Jovit Baldivino
11. Walang Natira - Gloc 9 feat Sheng Belmonte
12. Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin - Juris
13. Ang Sarap Maging Single - Eevee
14. missed it :(
15. Tila - General Luna
16. Ituloy Mo Lang - Siakol
17. Kung Wala Na Nga - 6cyclemind feat Kean Cipriano and Yeng Constantino
18. Wala Na Tayo - BBS feat Kean Cipriano
19. Sino Nga Ba Sya? - Sarah Geronimo
20. Pagkakataon - Shamrock feat Rachelle Ann Go

97.1 Brgy LS The Big 10 Yearend Countdown
December 25, 2011
  1. Everything and More - David Archuleta
  2. Back to December - Taylor Swift
  3. Wala Na Tayo - BBS feat Kean Cipriano
  4. God Gave Me You - Bryan White
  5. The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
  6. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  7. Shembot - Eat Bulaga Dabarkads
  8. I Will Reach You - Westlife
  9. Ako Na Lang - Detour
  10. Forever Young - Sam Concepcion


Chart Recap 178 (Philippine Music Charts)

UPDATE: The 1st batch of Chart Recap: 2011 Yearend Charts is up just click here

Note: MYX had their Yearend charts this week which I will post later on on the first batch of the Chart Recap: 2011 Yearend Charts Edition. Also included on the batch are RX 93.1's OPM Yearender ( they announced the regular Top 7 of the week during the show which is posted below. I will update it with the #8-#20 once their website is updated), Brgy LS FM's Yearend Top 10 and

Here is this week's recap of weekly music charts in Mega Manila FM radio stations. These charts are first gathered and first posted at the Philippine Music Charts Thread over at Pinoyexchange.com. If you want to check out last week's recap then you can find it here and as for the latest available albums charts just go here

97.9 Home Radio Easy 10 Countdown
December 23, 2011
  1. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
  2. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
  3. Lighthouse - Westlife
  4. Dreams Don't Turn to Dust - Owl City
  5. Tinamaan Ako - Anne Curtis
  6. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  7. Arms - Christina Perri
  8. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat
  9. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson
  10. Just a Kiss - Lady Antebellum
Mellow 947 10 Strong Countdown
December 16, 2011

  1. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
  2. We Found Love - Rihanna feat Calvin Harris
  3. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars
  4. Fly - Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna
  5. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
  6. Domino - Jessie J
  7. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
  8. Criminal - Britney Spears
  9. Called Out in the Dark - Snow Patrol
  10. Push - Avril Lavigne
December 23, 2011
  1. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
  2. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
  3. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars
  4. Domino - Jessie J
  5. Criminal - Britney Spears
  6. Push - Avril Lavigne
  7. Called Out in the Dark - Snow Ptrol
  8. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
  9. We Found Love - Rihanna feat Calvin Harris
  10. Fly - Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna
Wave 89.1 Soul Review Countdown
December 23, 2011
  1. Sabotage - Wale feat. Lloyd
  2. A-- Back Home - Gym Class Heroes Ft Neon Hitch
  3. Do Ya Thang - Rihanna
  4. Young, Wild and Free - Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa feat. Bruno Mars
  5. Fireball - Willow Smith feat Nicki Minaj
  6. Strip - Chris Brown feat Kevin McCall
  7. Fascinated - Freesol feat. Justin Timberlake
  8. Dance (A$$) - Big Sean
  9. Good Feeling - Flo Rida
  10. T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)- will.i.am feat Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger
  11. No Girlfriend - Git Fresh
  12. If You Want - Brandon Starz feat Sammie
  13. Up! - LoveRance feat. Iamsu! and Skipper
  14. Boo Thang - Verse Simmonds feat. Kelly Rowland
  15. Only Wanna Give It To You - Elle Varner feat J. Cole
RX 93.1 Countdown Top 7 and Wannabees*
December 23, 2011
  1. Domino - Jessie J.
  2. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
  3. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
  4. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars
  5. Ako na Lang - Zia
  6. The World As I See It - Jason Mraz
  7. Criminal - Britney Spears

*Top 7 announced at the OPM Yearend countdown show. Will update this (#8-#20) as soon as I have the info on hand.

102.7 Star FM Perfect 10 Countdown
Dec. 25, 2011

  1. Kunin Mo Na Ang Lahat Sa Akin - Angeline Quinto
  2. We Can Be - Apl de ap
  3. Gisingin Ang Puso - Liezel Garcia
  4. California King Bed - Rihanna
  5. Hindi Kita Iiwan - Sam Milby
  6. Kahit Di Mo Sabihin - Juris
  7. Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
  8. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon Five feat Christina Aguilera
  9. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne
  10. Jet Lag - Simple Plan feat Natasha Bedingfield
97.1 Brgy LS Big Ten Countdown
December 18, 2011
  1. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars
  2. Ulap - Voyz Avenue
  3. Louder - Charice
  4. Breathe Again - Jed Madela
  5. We Can Be - Apl.de.Ap
  6. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
  7. Cheers - Rihanna
  8. Rain on Me - Pitbull feat. Marc Anthony
  9. Kahit Umiwas Pa - Jake Vargas
  10. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
UR PINOY ROCK COUNTDOWN
December 16

1. Hijo - Tamalee
2. The Bloomfields - It's Complicated
3. Afterkol - Ikalawang Kisapmata
4. Hansom - Desidido
5. Suicidal Genius - Saliw

SS:
Nanay Mo - Porn
Kalayo - Lumaban Ka
Chris Cantada - Heartbeat
White Sunday - Lahat May Dahilan Pa
Soledads - Stay Away

It's Christmas!


Merry Christmas to all the readers of my blog :)
(and to those who don't observe it, Happy Holidays!)

Thank you Lord for another year of challenges and blessings. This is definitely a memorable year for me. I really learned a lot of things in life. Thank you for keeping me and my family safe and away from any kind of harm. Thank you for all the things I experienced in my job this year. It was really a tough year but thank you for being there for me. I'm sorry if there are times I doubt my faith. I know I have more things to learn in life but with You on my side, I will survive.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Movie Reviews Roundup

I've seen a couple of new movies the last few weeks that I've been wishing to write a full length review here on my blog, unfortunately I didn't have the time to do so but anyway here are a few thoughts on the last movies I've recently watched in the theaters:


The Adventures of TinTin


I'm not really familiar with the Tin Tin comic book series but since I've read good reviews about it and it is a collaboration between film titans Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson so that was good enough for me to check this one out. It started a little slow and admittedly quite bored me but when they started the action sequences things started to pick up. The chase scene in Morocco was so imaginative and it was just done in one long single shot which is very amazing to watch. For that alone the movie is worth watching. The story itself is basic adventure movie stuff but it's a fun and I hope this makes enough in the box office to warrant a sequel because I want to see more of what Spielberg can do with animation. 8 / 10

Won't Last a Day Without You



One of the better mainstream local flicks I've seen this year. Yes this is a your typical romcom where the leads end up together in the end but at least the journey to the resolution was an enjoyable ride and they had actually dimensions in the story. For one, it touched the complications of relationships although the approach used was light weight. Sarah Geronimo continues to exhibit that undeniable charisma and coupled with wide acting range, she's bound to do great things when the time comes she will do serious movies. She has it already so I hope she can have a material soon that will showcase what she is capable of as an actress. Gerald Anderson did fine as well and I think in this movie he finally graduated from the teenybopper stigma to a bonafide leading man. 8 / 10

The Road



The technical side of this horror movie is very polished, it was great to look at and captured the creepy mood very well. I like the fact that this movie didn't resort to cheap scare tactics as it chooses to use the atmosphere to bring out the creeps. The story is OK since it's divided into three timelines with something that connects in the end. I didn't quite like how they tied up storylines though as it felt a little contrived. The acting is pretty solid even for the newcomers who usually annoys me whenever I see their TV projects but they were handled well here. Best in show is Carmina Villaroel, she was just effing scary as the ruthless mother. 8 / 10

New Year's Eve


The movie is OK but forgettable. With too many stars in the ensemble that each needs to have substantial screen time, it's hard to make a cohesive story but it definitely sets you in the holiday mood. The audience in the theatre I've seen it responded well on Sofia Vergara's scenes. And the thing is, Sofia's character is such a cliche uttering predictable jokes but yet she sells every joke so well. The other vignette that worked out well and that was quite enjoyable was the pregnancy race with Jessica Biel and Seth Meyer. Michelle Pfeifer is aging gracefully but she was teamed up with Zac Efron who overacts but in fairness they have chemistry. Hilary Swank's & Robert De Niro's story felt a little emotionally manipulative but they pulled off the heart-tugging scene and I was moved. Josh Duhamel's story had a good "mystery" buildup but the resolution was blah. Sarah Jessica Parker just played a slightly tweaked version of Carrie and Abigail Breslin, whom I loved in Little Miss Sunshine, was annoying here. Halle Berry's story felt like an afterthought. The stories of Lea Michelle-Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl-Bon Jovi suffered due to lack of chemistry. And worst of all Ryan Seacrest's "acting" is so awful! With that said I find the Rotten Tomatoes score of "7%" for New Year's Eve extremely low. It's not great by any means but it's more enjoyable than movies that had higher RT scores like The Change-Up and Bad Teacher. 5.5 / 10

Immortals


The movie lacks a compelling narrative to keep you interested especially on the first part when things are just too slow but the great visuals will distract you anyway from noticing the flaws. This film is indeed lovely to look at but it's not enough to be fully satisfied with this flick. Truth be told, I'm not knowledgeable with Greek mythology but still I can notice that the story is not fully realized and just used bits and parts of the rich mythology to form a story. The climax features amazing action sequences which is worth watching but there was no momentum before it and you can't even root for the protagonist because by the time we get to the climax you would likely forget why is he fighting this battle or why was he chosen in the first place. There's a good reason behind it but it lacks the foundation because it was not developed properly as the story is all over the place telling too many stories at once without developing a solid core. The main cast is great though especially Mickey Rourke who exudes menace effortlessly. Immortals' production values is polished and the battles scenes were executed well, it's just frustrating that the viewers will to have to endure a messy narrative first to get there. 6 / 10

Lion King 3D



I never saw this movie in the theaters when it was first shown almost two decades ago so I was excited when I found out that the 3D re-release will be released here as well. What can I say, this is definitely one of Disney's best and watching it made me miss of the Disney magic in the 90s. I've said this before in my Winnie the Pooh review that despite my adoration for CGI animated movies (most especially Pixar) traditional animation will always have that certain charm and intimacy that CGI can't provide. The movie was converted well in 3D as it still looks crisp and great on the big screen but ultimately the 3D effect didn't add anything to my viewing experience. But still the opportunity to see this masterpiece on the big screen is enough for me. It's just way too different when you watched it at home. When I watched this in the theater there were only like 20 people which is understandable because it's a movie that is available on home video for several years already so it might not be worth it for some. Interestingly, the crowd I watched this movie was mostly adults around my age! I guess we just want to relieve our childhood once again. 9.5 / 10

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol


I saw this movie twice. First was on a regular cinema in Glorietta and the second was via IMAX at SM Mall of Asia (I got SM Gift Certificates from an officemate and I used it purchase an IMAX ticket) and well this one of the best action movies I've seen in recent years and definitely used the large screen format quite well. First of all, the mission - the story - is nothing complicated or new for that matter, it's basically stopping a nuclear threat. It's a simple premise but it's OK because its serviceable and competently constructed. The action sequences were just good, the much advertised Burj Khalifa scene delivered. It was so exciting to watch and was expertly executed! Another great action set piece was towards the end that used a parking area amazingly. It was so imaginative! Major kudos to director Brad Bird for the flawless execution. Tom Cruise's age is already showing here but he's still a solid leading man and the rest of the team: Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner were good as well. Renner in particular exudes great charm here and it bodes well for him because he'll be the star of the next Bourne movie. All in all, this is what blockbuster action movies should be. The movie will still be playing in IMAX screens during the MMFF festival so you could still check it out. 9 / 10

***

I wanted to check out Arthur Christmas but it only lasted a week in the cinemas and all the releases were in 3D! I think aside that it is an unknown material, the fact that you could only see it in costly 3D hurt it! The distributor should have release it in 2D and it could have stayed on the theaters longer. Oh well, such a shame I wasn't able to catch this in the big screen.

Nostalgia Fit: Sheena Easton's It's Christmas All Over The World

It's a shame that this song is not getting recurrent airplay on radio because this is such a well-crafted song and should have been a contemporary Christmas classic. Listening to this song really makes me feel the Christmas spirit for some reason. The movie [Santa Claus] which this song came from was also one of the old holiday classics that reminds me of my childhood. Oh nostalgia! Anyway, listen and be reminded of the wonderful charm of It's Christmas All Over The World by Sheena Easton.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Billboard Hot 100 (Issue Date: December 31, 2011)

On the last Billboard Hot 100 chart this year, Rihanna and Calvin Harris' We Found Love surpasses Adele's Rolling in the Deep with the longest running #1 for 2011 with the song spending its 8th week at #1 this week. The song also surpasses Rihanna's personal best with Umbrella and Eminem's Love The Way You Lie, which both spent 7 weeks atop the chart.

Rihanna could likely spend at least two more weeks at #1 with no song coming close to its airplay lead while the sales for the top songs are pretty close on sales. The one I could see as a potential #1 in the future is no other than Adele's Set Fire to the Rain, the 3rd single from her blockbuster album "21" which is close to selling 6 million in the US by the end of the year. Set Fire to the Rain jumps #21-#13 this week and the song is currently #4 on US iTunes and is rapidly increasing in airplay so without a doubt this song has a good shot to be Adele's 3rd #1 hit. Her first #1 and Billboard's #1 song for 2011 Rolling in the Deep is still charting at #41 on its 50th week on the chart.

Re-entering on the Hot 100 this week is Ke$ha's Sleazy at #37. The song from her 2010 EP Cannibal got a boost via its remix titled Sleazy Remix 2.0: Get Sleazier which features an all star rap ensemble that includes Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, T.I. and Andre 3000.

Christmas is almost here so what songs of the season are firing up the charts in the US? The highest Christmas song on the chart is Justin Bieber's Mistletoe at #32. Other Christmas songs on the chart is Glee's rendition of Do They Know Its Christmas? at #92 and Michael Buble's cover of the Mariah Carey holiday staple All I Want For Christmas is You at #99. Billboard actually introduced the Holiday Songs Chart which ranks all Holiday songs throughout the years combining both airplay and sales. And on this song any song, whether old or new can chart. Per Billboard rules a Christmas song can only chart on the year it was released so for the succeeding it will go recurrent already. The Holiday Songs chart's #1 is the aforementioned Mariah Carey song which has become a contemporary Christmas classic. Would you believe that the song only peaked at #86 when it charted in 1994? Well the song definitely stood the test of time and Mariah Carey might have 18 Hot 100 #s on her belt but All I Want for Christmas is You might be the song that she will be most remembered for in the long run.

Here is this week's Billboard Hot 100 as posted at Pulse Music Board:

Billboard Hot 100

01 01 13 Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris, We Found Love
02 02 16 LMFAO, Sexy And I Know It
03 03 12 Bruno Mars, It Will Rain
04 05 12 Flo Rida, Good Feeling
05 04 10 Katy Perry, The One That Got Away
06 06 19 Jay-Z & Kanye West, Ni**as In Paris
07 07 24 Adele, Someone Like You
08 09 16 David Guetta Featuring Usher, Without You
09 08 26 Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger
10 10 12 T-Pain Featuring Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen, 5 O'Clock
11 11 27 Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam Levine, Stereo Hearts
12 14 11 Big Sean Featuring Nicki Minaj, Dance (A$$)
13 21 16 Adele, Set Fire To The Rain
14 15 16 J. Cole, Work Out
15 13 39 LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, Party Rock Anthem
16 16 19 Drake, Headlines
17 17 08 Toby Keith, Red Solo Cup
18 22 10 Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars, Young, Wild & Free
19 18 34 Foster The People, Pumped Up Kicks
20 19 23 Cobra Starship Featuring Sabi, You Make Me Feel...
21 20 15 Kelly Clarkson, Mr. Know It All
22 24 19 Gavin DeGraw, Not Over You
23 25 12 Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night To End
24 27 10 Drake Featuring Nicki Minaj, Make Me Proud
25 23 06 Rihanna, You Da One
26 31 26 Selena Gomez & The Scene, Love You Like A Love Song
27 26 38 Pitbull Featuring Ne-Yo, AfroJack & Nayer, Give Me Everything
28 38 10 Jessie J, Domino
29 30 05 Drake Featuring Lil Wayne, The Motto
30 46 07 Pitbull Featuring Chris Brown, International Love
31 28 33 Lady Antebellum, Just A Kiss
32 34 08 Justin Bieber, Mistletoe
33 29 06 Lady Gaga, Marry The Night
34 33 34 Nicki Minaj, Super Bass
35 36 18 Lil Wayne Featuring Drake, She Will
36 35 12 Zac Brown Band, Keep Me In Mind
37 RE 02 Ke$ha Featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, T.I. & Andre 3000, Sleazy Remix 2.0 Get Sleazier
38 44 08 Wale Featuring Miguel, Lotus Flower Bomb
39 42 14 Coldplay, Paradise
40 32 20 Dev, In The Dark
41 40 50 Adele, Rolling In The Deep
42 39 13 Jason Aldean, Tattoos On This Town
43 43 21 Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield, Easy
44 49 11 Hot Chelle Rae Featuring New Boyz, I Like It Like That
45 50 13 Eric Church, Drink In My Hand
46 37 17 Nicki Minaj Featuring Rihanna, Fly
47 65 06 Taylor Swift, Ours
48 41 23 Blake Shelton, God Gave Me You
49 58 07 Breathe Carolina, Blackout
50 45 18 Lady Antebellum, We Owned The Night
51 54 14 David Nail, Let It Rain
52 56 09 Chris Young, You
53 47 15 The Band Perry, All Your Life
54 52 19 Jason Derülo, It Girl
55 60 12 B.o.B Featuring Lil Wayne, Strange Clouds
56 57 04 Tyga, Rack City
57 55 11 Beyoncé Featuring André 3000, Party
58 61 05 Drake Featuring Rihanna, Take Care
59 12 02 Glee Cast, We Are Young
60 62 09 Christina Perri, A Thousand Years
61 68 04 Outasight, Tonight Is The Night
62 59 20 Lady Gaga, Yoü And I
63 67 09 The Fray, Heartbeat
64 63 18 Colbie Caillat, Brighter Than The Sun
65 71 03 J. Cole Featuring Trey Songz, Can't Get Enough
66 70 12 Nickelback, When We Stand Together
67 72 09 Rick Ross Featuring Nicki Minaj, You The Boss
68 RE 03 David Guetta Featuring Nicki Minaj, Turn Me On
69 64 06 The Black Keys, Lonely Boy
70 66 19 Miranda Lambert, Baggage Claim
71 74 11 Martina McBride, I'm Gonna Love You Through It
72 90 02 Jake Owen, Alone With You
73 73 16 Wale Featuring Jeremih & Rick Ross, That Way
74 77 06 Dierks Bentley, Home
75 48 02 T-Pain Featuring Lil Wayne, Bang Bang Pow Pow
76 79 07 Kenny Chesney, Reality
77 80 05 Avicii, Levels
78 53 02 Fun. Featuring Janelle Monae, We Are Young
79 91 02 Keith Urban, You Gonna Fly
80 84 03 Avril Lavigne, Wish You Were Here
81 NE 01 Tim McGraw, Better Than I Used To Be
82 81 08 Florence + The Machine, Shake It Out
83 87 03 Justin Moore, Bait A Hook
84 75 06 Scotty McCreery, The Trouble With Girls
85 86 05 Hunter Hayes, Storm Warning
86 97 02 Waka Flocka Flame Featuring Drake, Round Of Applause
87 82 19 The Script, Nothing
88 95 03 Brad Paisley, Camouflage
89 100 18 AWOLNATION, Sail
90 99 02 Edens Edge, Amen
91 RE 09 Beyoncé, Countdown
92 NE 01 Glee Cast, Do They Know It's Christmas?
93 69 03 Grouplove, Tongue Tied
94 98 05 Beyoncé, Love On Top
95 78 18 Thompson Square, I Got You
96 NE 01 Lee Brice, A Woman Like You
97 89 09 Romeo Santos Featuring Usher, Promise
98 RE 02 Roscoe Dash, Good Good Night
99 NE 01 Michael Bublé, All I Want For Christmas Is You
100 NE 01 Gym Class Heroes Featuring Neon Hitch, Ass Back Home