After reading Hazel's blog, I have to make a confession: My tastes are really very base; I love reality TV shows! So the other day I was watching Nouvelle Star, a rip-off of American Idol, and I happened upon Julie, this young contestant with a slightly jologs vibe, singing Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas" in a kinda cool, slightly raw, very modern way and--why is this happening all the time now?--I was so touched I got all teary eyed! (Claudine Barretto, isthatchu?)
Which led to me sending an e-mail to the poet Pete Lacaba, asking him to make a salinawit of the Brel classic. Now, you have to understand that this act of e-mailing Pete shows very clearly my desire for the translation. Years ago, when he was our copy editor at The Sunday Times Magazine and I had to remind him of stuff that needed doing, I was so petrified by the idea of him catching me at a grammatical error that I'd proofread even the notes I'd leave him on Post-Its. "Hi Pete! We need the story on the kung-fu champions today. Thanks!" I'd go over that, clap a palm over my forehead, then slip the neglected comma in between the "Hi" and the "Pete!" OC, that's me.
So anyway, I was lucky. Pete had already worked on "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and sent it along with the 58 other salinawit he'd done. I fully intend on memorizing the lyrics and singing it for Pierre one of these days, in the hopes of weaning him away from his all-time favorite Tagalog song that is a good song, there's no denying it, but I've been hearing "Anak" since I was little listening to the radio with Yaya Maura as she did laundry in the afternoons so I think I deserve a change.
Pete might just do a Julie and sing "Huwag Mo Akong Iwan" on 29 May, when the Singing Writers (Pete, Charlson Ong, Marne Kilates, and Michael Coroza) belt it out at a gig at the Conspiracy Garden Cafe in Quezon City. Bien Lumbera and Becky Anonuevo will have their salinawit sung by Susan Fernandez.
And now I come to the point of this post. I'd love it if one of you can go, make a video, and post it on YouTube. Sige na, plis?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
As I've said at least they've got the music in them and the talent to be proud of ! Unlike other TV reality shows puro kaartehan lang at kalaswaan ! Am I right ?
Mamushka, I've always wondered, since I'm a slob when it comes to grammar: why the comma between "Hi" and the subject? I've seen this used in other correspondence and it sounds stilted in my ear...
Also: naghahanap na ko ng mamang kalahating hubad in exchange for figly heaven. :D
At least Pierre's favourite song is Anak by Freddie Aguilar. My husband's favourite Pinoy song is Mr. Suave by Parokya ni Edgar. He knows the lyrics by heart and sings it with a thick French accent and occasionally dances to it in front of guests, to my horror. Knife thru my heart, gun to my temple, anyone?
Kala
PS. Apol, why don't you make videos and upload them on youtube? Video blog! Parang talk show about life in Provence! I'd totally watch your channel. Ako mag e edit, game.
oh my...
Ogie's bf sang "If You Go Away" during his necro...
I sure want to see Pete's "Hwag Mo Akong Iwan."
anyway atih... you have been tagged! see my blog for details.
HAZE, another confession: I even sometimes watch Mademoiselle Swan :)
ABI, I'm a Strunk and White fan. The rule is somewhere in that slim volume.
KALA, I am so sorry but I can't stop laughing because I suddenly realized that actually, medjo magkahawig si Julien at yung lead singer ng Parokya ! And please don't hate me for saying that!!!
Hi, GWYN! IANNE also tagged me for this. I shall get to it, promise.
Post a Comment