Neko

Current Music: Billie Holiday - “Solitude”

      in my solitude.. you taunt me…
      with memories.. that never die…

uh.. ok.. this is not 60’s.. its.. 30’s lolol! eh.. there are even some reports that claim her first appearance to a compilation was released in 1920’s!

With her taunting lyrics and hypnotic melodies.. the purest vocals and a style all on her own, who would not love Billie? erm.. on second though.. i tried to play Solitude to a friend of mine years back.. and lol.. he just laughed within the first two lines.. thought i was joking when i said listen to this.. i luv this song.. then played it on his walkman.

eh…

Now recalling Billie Holiday’s life, the tragedie which probably sumed up this almost-perfect legendary blues goddess.. started young with separated parents, raised by uncaring relatives, sent to reform school at 10 after being raped, been a domestic help, prostitue at 15, a series of abusive relationships. A struggling artist, she fought the gory of racism and criticism she engulfed in the music industry; addictions from alcohol and marijuana, to opium then heroin, and lots of periods of depression and being arrested at 32 for possession of heroin. At 44, on her death bed, was arrested again for possession of heroin, in her private room. Died, after a month and a half, unable to fight withdrawal and heart and lung disease all at the same time. And Fame came only after her death.

Oh, that still makes me sad tho. But the cruelty in life is, the beauty in tragedie is sometimes the things considered to make a name live on forever.

Erm…

Last night my dad called. He’s with a friend who knows somebody who knows somebody that has a cousin who knows somebody who works in Araneta Coliseum. Yeah, the place where The Beach Boys will hold their concert. Oohh.. I could get backstage pass!???!!! Nope. Just reservations. Oh… pff!

Then i heard him announcing who’d like to come and watch. Eh, apparently, none of them were familiar of Beach Boys that they even asked me to sing a line of a famous song. Well, i did not, of course! But i mentioned some songs.. eh doesnt ring a bell. to anyone! And my ear drums have counted more than five voices.

Well, what year were they famous? One queried. I said 1960s. And they all laughed cheering ohh… thats even older than The Cascades! Who had a concert here weeks back. Eh i proudly said they’re even the influence of Beatles! And i think we all made each sides clear. They would rather watch that local female artist who sing like a cocatoo having a bad day after a long flight migrating from the south! Yay! And ehem, excuse me, I dont look like her! Pleeeeaaassseee!!!

I was not irritated actually, thinking these old greesers think im far out off this decade. One even hollered “Youd probably see most of the audience on wheelchairs and dextrose!” And “the concert hall will smell of soil!” (amoy lupa na!) Haa… even that made me laugh!

To those who dont know that Filipino joke, it meant people so old you can almost smell their graves!

Eh.. id still want to go. Besides, this maybe the last time they even land on Philippine soil!

Oh well, a simple “No, find another bunch of oldies to tag along” would be much easier. Some people just like to poke fun to the eccentric. Eh.. wait til they hear Billie Holiday! well, erm let me go back way back to Skip James… hehe “I’d rather be the devil, to be that woman’s man / Aw, nothin’ but the devil, changed my baby’s mind”..

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note: Read and Listen to Billie Holiday’s Biography and audio samples

Last line was from Skip James’ song “Devil Got My Woman” …now that’s another story!

photo credit: DJ Chill