Great Singers and Unhappy Videomakers

(with excerpt from my journal entry dated November 29, 2012, a Tuesday)

It’s past 5 a.m. I just woke up, still sleepy. But I have to wake up early for the…. I slept around 1 a.m. last night so I have no right to complain. It’s my fault that I lack sleep.

You see, I was about to go to sleep around 11 p.m. but then I saw this Youtube video, something about Indonesia vs. the Philippines. And another video that went something like Malaysia is better than the Philippines. I forget which one I saw first, but they turned out to be just stupid viral videos made by opinionated unhappy people.

There was this video titled, “Why Vietnam Hates the Philippines,” but when I got down to watching it, it started to show a gist of the history of both countries, and as I was not in the mood for history lessons, I scrolled down to the comments section, and most comments (from Filipinos, I suppose) were asserting that there is no hatred between the two countries, and that Filipinos don’t hate Vietnam. I think there was one Vietnamese guy who said there’s no such feud going on between the two countries, etc.

Man, so many noisy people out there, coming up with stupidity and hate claims. But then that’s their space. I guess if someone posted a “positive” video on these, there would still be haters and naysayers who’d have a field day in airing their views. But then, while the world cannot get rid of racists “just like that,” racism does not make the world go ‘round.

I was already very sleepy when I chanced upon those videos, and then the “versus” videos shifted from who’s the better nation to who’s the better singer, Filipinos or “them” (in last night’s most memorable case, Indonesians).

One video featured Regine Velazquez, Jaya, and Lani Misalucha singing “The Greatest Love of All,” and they were singing with their voices in full effect, and man, it was rousing. Nawala antok ko. Ahehe. But the author of the video added remarks to the video saying the singers weren’t singing—they were “screaming,” etc.

The author then went on to show three Indonesian singers (who are probably very famous in Indonesia). They were singing in Indonesian so I didn’t understand a word, but their singing was restrained, with not much high notes that compel them to “belt.” They’re actually very good, too, but the author who posted the video was praising them to high heavens. And then he concluded that the best singers in Asia, and in the world as well, are from Indonesia.

Ahehe. Geez, I don’t know what the guy was on to. Had he asked all the singers in his video who were the better singers, he’d probably have a fit. I was laughing so hard.

I then turned to other videos, and I was moved by Aeta children singing with angelic voices. Some of the children wore ragged clothes. They were probably beggars who were asked to sing for a few coins. So talented but very much neglected. They’re singing pop songs that did not really bring out the full beauty of their voices. Although the tone is unmistakable, still it’s sad that they’re more exposed to a culture that, albeit inspires them, doesn’t really alleviate their condition. Maybe it’s because for the longest time, most of us have been looking down at their songs, their culture, their way of life…because of the color of their skin? Paking syet. Racism does get in the way of people reaching their full potential.

I saw another video showing a 6-year-old girl touted to be the next Charice Pempengco, and she sang Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You,” and the comments were unanimous:  She sings really well for a 6-year-old, but her song was rather inappropriate for a little girl. One even wondered, what kind of parents would let their children sing such songs?

But then you and I already know that she did not understand half the meaning of what she was singing. It kinda reminded me of Abigail Breslin’s “Superfreak” dance number in “Little Miss Sunshine.” Just where does the malice lie with such videos?

In one audition video, the same girl sang “And I am telling you...” (I forget the title of that song), and when it came to the part where the words go, “And you, and you, and you…” she sang, “And choo, and choo, and choo…” Oh well. Hehehe.