I just bought this new album, “Panaginip” of Noel Cabangon . I think I am now a fan of Noel because I also bought his previous album “Byahe”.

Panaginip has 15 tracks which consists of 4 cover or revived songs and 11 original compositions of Cabangon. Unlike his prior album, Byahe, the songs in this new album are mostly done with a full band with orchestral arrangements.

Two original songs, Hulog Ka ng Langit and Ikaw na Sana, were perfectly done in collaboration with Ebe Dancel, former Sugarfree lead vocal, and Diamond soul siren Nina, respectively. Other impressive new songs include “Panaginip”, “Dahan-Dahan”, “Bayani ng Bayan”, Ngayon ang Bagong Simula”, “Walang Katulad” and “Awit ng Naghahanap” which is inspired by victims of political killings. “Sana Dumating Ka”, “Dahil Nariyan Ka” and “Umuulan sa Tag-Araw, Umaaraw sa Tag-Ulan” are 3 longtime original songs of Noel Cabangon.

The cover songs include: “Bulag, Pipi, Bingi” (Grand prize song of the 2nd Metropop Music Festival, originally performed by Freddie Aguilar), the Heber Bartolome classic “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy”, “Tag-Ulan” by Lolita & The Boys and the Pete Lacaba/Ding Achacoso-written “Sangandaan”, which gained attention from the Mike De Leon classic film “Sister Stella L”.

“Panaginip” Tracklisting is as follows:

1. Bulag, Pipi, Bingi
2. Dahan Dahan Lang
3. Hulog Ka Ng Langit with Ebe Dancel
4. Sana Dumating Ka Na
5. Ikaw Na Sana with Nina
6. Dahil Nariyan Ka
7. Sangandaan
8. Panaginip
9. Walang Katulad
10. Tag-Ulan
11. Tayo’y Mga Pinoy
12. Awit Ng Naghahanap
13. Umuulan Sa Tag-Araw, Umaaraw Sa Tag-Ulan
14. Bayani Ng Bayan
15. Ngayon Ang Bagong Simula

Source: Universal Records Philippines Facebook Fan Page

Casting Crowns has just released its latest single entitled “Courageous”, that will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Come to the Well, available everywhere October 18. The song will be featured in the upcoming movie with the same title, Courageous, a new action-packed movie from the creators of Fireproof, showing September 30.

See the music video via GodTube:

Since today is Father’s Day, Casting Crowns is giving away an MP3 format of this song for a limited time only. You can download it from GodTube (click this link to redirect to download page).

COURAGEOUS by Casting Crowns

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chain
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we’re watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees, we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk on
Be with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees, we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Angry Birds became one of my favorite games in my Coby Kyros tablet. I even finished all of its levels or stages in less than a day. Can you do that?

I am not going to discuss how to finish this game in less than a day, though. I only want to share about the Pomplamoose’s version of the Angry Birds’ theme song. If you loved the theme song of Plants vs. Zombies, I’m sure you will also love this Angry Birds theme song by Pomplamoose.

The entire  VideoSong was filmed with a Samsung Infuse 3G phone.

Pomplamoose, on the other hand, via Wikipedia, is an American indie music duo with multi-instrumentalists Jack Conte and Natalie Dawn Knutsen, performing under the name Nataly Dawn. The band formed in the summer of 2008 and sold approximately 100,000 songs online in 2009.

Their videos mostly take the form of “VideoSongs”, a medium Jack Conte defines with two rules:

1. What you see is what you hear. (No lip-syncing for instruments or voice)
2. If you hear it, at some point you see it. (No hidden sounds)

Even the banging the head on the piano bit (0:37 on the video). That’s the real sound according to Pomplamoose.

I am bloging this not because I am a fan of Justin Bieber. I am not a “BELIEVER” of Justin Bieber.

Last night was the first ever concert of Justin Bieber here in Manila, entitled “MY WORLD” and it happened in SM Mall of Asia. I haven’t watched or heard any news about the concert from our local news TV, Saksi or Bandila or Aksyon TV. However, I just saw my former student’s wall update in her facebook about the concert. No, she didn’t watch the concert but she happened to be in SM Mall of Asia and heard few songs. She also mentioned that the concert lasted for an hour only because Justin Bieber was sick. This information, though, is not verified. If you were able to watch Bieber’s concert, can you please validate this claim?

Anyway, if that is true, perhaps, many “Believers” are disappointed Especially those who paid for Gold A/Gold B tickets of P5200.

If you were there in the concert, may we ask you to leave your comments or share your experience seeing your idol in person? See the comment field below.

Thanks!

I’ve heard from a reliable source that Desperation Band is coming here in Manila (Philippines) this year. However, we don’t know yet when it will happen. But they will come here for sure.

Desperation Band or DBand, for short, led by Jon Egan, is the band behind the following worship albums:

• Light Up the World (2009);
• Sessions and Remixes (2007);
• Everyone Overcome (2006);
• Who You Are (2006);
• From the Rooftops (2004);
• Desperation: Live Worship for a Desperate Generation (2003)

I remember I got their very first albums not in CD format but in cassette tape.

Desperation Band was first formed in 2001, when New Life Church pastor David Perkins suggested that Jon Egan, Jared Anderson, and Glenn Packiamplay together with their bands at the first Desperation Conference. Held annually in June and July, Desperation Conferences draw thousands of college and high school students who are desperate for a deeper walk with God. [via Wikipedia]

Read more about them from the Desperation Band website.

To keep you updated about the details of the upcoming concert of Desperation Band here in Manila, Philippines, I suggest you subscribe in our blog.

We’ve been blogging Switchfoot concert a few times here in Think Like A Beginner and last Saturday we were able to say that “This is it!”.

We arrived in Philsports Arena (formerly ULTRA) at around 7 PM. It was our first time to be in ULTRA and to watch Switchfoot concert. By the way thanks to BECCA Music for the complimentary ticket you gave us last Blog the Beat event.

The line going to the main entrance for VIP, Courtseat, Lower Level Ringside was quite long. Long enough for us to have a view of the Arena’s back view. Thanks to Kuya Ron’s Canon EOS 350D DSLR camera so we had beautiful shots of the spots.

At last the line moved at around 8:30. Along the line, we took some photos of ULTRA’s main entrance. That was the gate entrance for General Admission and Ringside.

We enjoyed taking some photos while we were in the line. Feeling so excited to get inside the Arena.

The entrance going to the courtseat was getting nearer. Yahuu!!! Switchfoot here we are!

The front act of the event was Imago band. My first time to see them also performed live.

Aia De Leon, the bands vocalist and guitarist at the same time, really rocked the world of the crowd.

Zach Lucero on drums. I know this guy from the then Roadtrip TV show. Channel 27, right?

Imago played three songs namely: Akap, Sundo and Effect Desired None.

On lead guitar, Mr. Tim Cacho.

It’s already 9:20 PM when Switchfoot started to perform. I finally saw in person the members of the band, namely: Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboard, backing vocals), Drew Shirley (guitar, backing vocals).

Tim and Drew were having a good time that time. I forgot to mention, when Switchfoot stepped on the stage and began playing their first rendtion, the crowd in front us stood on their chair so we had to do it also to see Switchfoot.

Got a good shot here – Chad and Jon rocks!

Jerome, our kababayan, yes he is a Filipino for those who don’t know. A very talented man. He can sing, play guitar and keyboard and percussion.

Jon on harmonica while playing guitar.  Got to learn this also.

See, Jerome was playing percussion as well.

One good thing about Jon is he’s a MASA. See Jon joined with the audience from ringside level.

Tim is Jon’s younger brother for those who don’t know yet.

Bruno Mars? No, that’s Jon. He borrowed the cap from one of the VIP audience.

When the concert ended, we took some photos inside the Arena.

We even went up the Gen. Admission level to take some shots.

Here’s the line up or set list of Switchfoot:

• The Sound
• Stars
• Bullet Soul
• Gone
• Your Love is a Song
• Free
• Always
• Awakening
• Meant To Live
• Mess of Me
• Learning to Breathe
• This Is Home
• We Are One Tonight
• Only Hope
• Hello Hurricane
• Dare You To Move

Tour dates of Switchfoot for May until September are as follows:

Following my last two posts about the Switchfoot’s concert here in Manila: Switchbook is Back in Manila and an update of that post, here’s another update on the said concert.

When I first encountered an information that Switchfoot is coming here in Manila for the second time, there’s no complete detail yet.  So I sent an email to Switchfoot through their Contact US page.  And finally, yesterday, I got an answer from them. The concert is indeed set on April 30 at Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra), 7:30 PM.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• VIP                           P3500
• Courtseat                 P2500
• Ringside                   P1800
• Lowerbox                 P1500
• Ringside II                P  800
• General Admission    P  500

Tickets are already available starting yesterday, February 11 at the following ticket outlets:

Please click this image to go to SM Tickets website.

Please click this image to go to Ticket World website.

This concert is part of their Hello Hurricane Tour which aims to promote their newest album with the same title.

The email sent to me yesterday also contains upcoming shows in Australia, Canada and the US.  Switchfoot is very busy!

Here’s another info I got from them:  their album Hello Hurricane has been nominated in 53rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. Congrats in advance!  And not only that, their new album Vice Verses is underway!  Click the link below to check out this glimpse of studio magic…

Switchfoot – Vice Verses Studio Update #1

Godtube brings the exclusive premiere of the hit song by KUTLESS “Everything I Need”. The said song is from the album “It is Well”  under BEC Recordings.

Kutless is Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 2000.  The name Kutless was derived from a verse in the bible, specifically Romans 6:23 – “Christ took our beating and paid the wages of our sin”,  He took our cuts for us leaving us.  The band has already released eight albums, namely:

1. Kutless (2002)
2. Sea of Faces (2004)
3. Kutless – Live in Portland (2006)
4. Hearts of the Innocent (2006)
5. Strong Tower (2005)
6. To Know that You’re Alive (2008)
7. It is Well (2009)
8. Kutless: The Beginning (2010)

Kutless’ official website is www.kutless.com.

This is an update on my post with the same title.  I just saw it now from Becca Music that Switchfoot’s concert will be on APRIL 30, 2010 to be held at PHILSPORTS ARENA (formerly ULTRA).

Perhaps BECCA will post the ticket prices few days from now, so I suggest you follow or subscribed or frequent this blog as I will be posting updates every now and then on this blog.

After more than three years since their last concert, Switchfoot will be holding their second concert – Hello Hurricane Tour 2011 – here in Manila (Philippines) this coming April.  This was announced by Becca Music, Inc., though the details are not yet available, who will probably manage or coordinate the said concert.  Becca Music is also the event coordinator of Planetshakers’ past 2 concerts and the upcoming one on March.

I checked Switchfoot’s tour dates from their website and didn’t find Philippines in the line up.  Although, I can see it’s possible because they will be in Australia on April 22 and 23.  Perhaps, Becca Music is still smoothing up some details of this concert.  We’ll let you know when we already have the exact date.

About Switchfoot (from Becca Music):

Switchfoot – comprising Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) – has sold over 4.4 million albums in its career. Founded in San Diego, CA in 1996, Switchfoot released three independent records before its breakthrough album, 2003’s The Beautiful Letdown, which was certified multi-Platinum. Each of the band’s subsequent studio albums – 2005’s Nothing Is Sound, 2006’s Oh! Gravity and 2009’s Hello Hurricane – debuted in the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 and elicited critical acclaim.

The Best Yet, the group’s first-ever greatest hits collection, was released in November of 2008. Switchfoot has been touring extensively in support of Hello Hurricane and has recently appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” In addition to StandUp For Kids, the band has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, the ONE Campaign, To Write Love on Her Arms and numerous other charities.

Their latest Hello Hurricane (2009) is their first self-produced album as an independent band. It is also just the first release of four albums-worth of material as announced by Switchfoot. Their next album will be called Vice Verses, set to be released at an undetermined date.

Switchfoot last came to Manila in September 10, 2007. Their upcoming 2011 concert will be the second time the band visits the Philippines.