Featured: Dieter Can Sing

It's been high school since I've been listening to German eurodisco-pop, specifically Modern Talking and Blue System. Behind these bands is a Pop Titan, Dieter Bohlen.

Europe, especially Germany and Russia, knows who Dieter Bohlen is, and how they see him as the third greatest composer in the world.

I just featured this video, because Dieter has faced a lot of controversies, such as being unable to sing, using playbacks in their performances and yes, not using his own voice in every song he composes and performs but someone else's voice.

These videos are enough proof for me that Dieter can sing. Of course, let's admit it, he doesn't have that angelic voice like his past-duo partner, Thomas Anders, or other artists around the globe, but I know for sure that Dieter can sing. And these videos give justice to the fact that he sings even the high-pitched chorus  parts of the songs since the Modern Talking era.

And as a bonus, here's a wonderful acoustic medley of his Blue System songs.

Point-Of-View: A Graduate's Love Blues

College-- during the final stage of completing your education attainment goals, there are more advantages than disadvantages: higher allowance, more freedom to make your own decisions, open opportunities to work or meet new people, parties, enjoyable school's educational activities, being to different places and an acceptable reason to be in a relationship.

I am not saying that having relationships in high school is illegal, but of course, during those years, parents are more protective of you and on the other hand, you are younger and have little rational knowing on how to make a relationship work. While in college, of course, your parents may consider to let you have a boyfriend or girlfriend because you are older or of legal age (18 and above) which means you are more capable of making wise decisions regarding the relationship you are putting yourself into, although they are also expecting that you'll reach out to them somehow if ever there is more that you need to understand about relationships.

So, that's what exactly happened to me and believe me, I managed making my relationships known by my parents, although I have a feeling that this is a lot more serious than the earlier ones.

Everything worked so well, starting from courtship to dating and finally, meeting each other's parents.



Every relationship is smooth sailing at times, sometimes, experiencing storms or rocked by some corals; but then, two sailors working hand in hand can get through those.

Until that day came, when they announced about it. I never saw it coming.
No, actually, I saw it coming-- we expected it, we worked for it, we yearned for it.
Yes, I am talking about the announcement of our graduation day.

Of course, we want it. We built a lot of dreams for ourselves, for each other and for our own families that graduating can give.

But just thinking about after the graduation makes me worry sometimes

Of course, after collecting all your documents, you will have to find a job, you will have to go to interviews, and if you did not pass, go and hunt for jobs again.

If you pass? Of course, you will have to work according to the schedule they will give you (obviously) and sometimes, overtime is inevitable which might drive you crazy thinking, What? Let's just go out next week? Why can't we just have a date tonight?

Let's add meeting new workmates, getting along with them, going out with them for fun because you have to maintain a good relationship with people you work with. Oh no, how if he/she likes someone new?

After your working hours, finally, time to go home, but uh-oh! You might encounter a looong line of vehicles, a heavy traffic that may eat a lot of hours. Phew!

Then, at the end of the day, you will have to take care of yourself-- do the laundry, eat, clean the house or at least, help your parents with it. How many hours are left for you to have even a little chat or meet-up with your sweetheart?

A rational mind will tell that it is not impossible to handle a relationship while working; while a crazy-in-love heart will just groan in a corner and ask, "How are you going to handle this now? I have such an insatiable hunger for love nothings and stuff like that."

Maybe, the best reply to it is, "Behave, Heart. Behave. Your relationship will be safe with just the right adjustment. Priorities first."

(c) OriginalAs/March21,2015

Point-Of-View: Fifty Shades of Grey Movie

Since I started blogging, I only made reviews about three movies-- A Fistful of Dollars, A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly-- all that came from The Dollars Trilogy. So now,  the fourth movie on the list is Fifty Shades of Grey.

As a reader of this book trilogy, I became interested when I heard it will be coming out in cinemas I wondered how the movie will be different from the book, or will it have any difference with what's in the book?

Unfortunately, I did not memorize stories that I read, therefore, I cannot state any observation whether there are changes in some details or dialogues in the movie as compared to what is written in the book (although I already read blogs that confirm there have been changes like the scene where Anastasia used "Stop" instead of "Red".)

So there, me and my boyfriend watched the movie together. Both of us stared seriously on the screen, sometimes we poke at each other, laugh at each other when the steamy scenes are on and we will awkwardly look away from  it (but only for a few seconds). As for me, the sexual detail of the film doesn't matter too much but the over-all output of it. But yes, I admit, the execution of the sexual scenes are steamy.

Our opinion varied. I focused on the cinematography, the execution of the scenes or the movie being a movie, since I already know the story while my boyfriend seemed to focus on the characters.

The first thing I noticed was how the scenes were cut. I frankly told him I don't like how the scenes were cut, I feel like there are parts of the book that are being taken away or not included. My guy just said that maybe they are trying to fit in all the scenes in the book in standard movie duration (from one to two hours), so some of the scenes had to be cut out to maximize the time. I just agreed on that. Maybe I felt like that since I read the whole book.

About the characters, not all of them or their characteristics seemed to be emphasized or given emphasis in the film. Of course, they shouldn't steal the spotlight from the lead characters but supporting characters just like Taylor are lovable in the books of E.L. James.

Other than that, the visual presentation gave me less amour from Christian Grey than the way I used to like him while reading the books. Jamie Dornan portrayed a very cold man in the movie and not how vulnerable Christian Grey have always been in my imaginations. I can't tell if he executed the character right or wrong; but he did a good job on the film (in my opinion). Dakota did a good job as well, in fact, she displayed more emotions into the film. She was good at delivery of Anastasia's emotions even through her facial expressions.

And yes, my admiration for Love Me Like You Do never changed. I really loved that scene when they were in Charlie Tango and that epic song played. I love the mixing of the song in that scene and the wonderful bird's eye-view shot as well over the bright city lights.

What about my boyfriend's point-of-view?

He haven't read the trilogy yet when we watched. He was quiet on the first parts of the film. On the Clayton's hardware store scene, he started commenting that Christian seemed to be stalking Anastasia, (so to those who have comments like this, you are not alone) then we proceeded into watching. Sometimes, he would ask me questions if this or that scene in the movie was in the book.

Then, when the bar scene came on, he just said, "Look at what alcohol do to people."

The next comment he gave was when Christian Grey showed Anastasia his Red Room of Pain. He laughed at the scene commenting that he's too expensive when it comes to making love. (Oh yes, his financial practicality never fades); it was as if he was trying to tell me "Did he have to buy all that to be able to make love?" He even asked me if Christian will murder Anastasia in the end. I said no. I also remember when he asked me on some part of the film that if Christian will not murder Anastasia, will she kill Christian Grey instead? I gave him a spoiler which did not discouraged him to watch further though.

And on the restaurant scene where Anastasia drinks with her mother, Christian Grey appears again, making my boyfriend murmur that he's really stalking Anastasia.

Until the film progressed and we reached the final scene of love making and Anastasia's confrontation with Christian; which resulted to letting Christian hit her six times.

We asked for each other's point of view and I just ended up saying, "Men shouldn't be sadists."
While he in return said, "Women shouldn't let men do sadist things to them."

Respecting each other's point of views, we played some arcade games before we went home happily.

Note: Edited for additional review/point-of-view

(c) OriginalAS/march152015
Copyrights for the images used belongs to their respective owners

POINT-OF-VIEW: You Are What You Post

Internet has been so helpful to mankind in different aspects. People around the world use it as a means of communication, you can also buy stuff online instead of driving for hours to the nearest or best shopping mall, you are also able to be updated with the events happening anywhere in and out of the country, and you also do entertaining hobbies like writing, watching movies/videos, listening to music and gaming online.

Of course, it is a part of our everyday life on the cyberspace to post. Post what? Anything! Some inspiring quotes, how your day went by, blogs, pictures, videos, your playlist- everything you like!

But just like what they say, consider this: Think before you click.

I am a part of this internet life since 2007 and I am unlike most of the internet users who complains all the time when something new happens (like the new look of Friendster years ago, how come the old Facebook was replaced with a new one that requires you to upload cover photos, etc...)

I love the changes that internet has. It means that people are starting to improve in terms of computer technology. More of our needs are being met by these changes. The hashtags just came to existence lately, around 2014 as far as I remember, and these hashtags help us locate posts about a certain topic much easier than bothering to go to Google to type for a keyword which will offer you millions of websites that has posts about the topic you are searching for. Hashtags on the other hand helps you find topics on a certain website. For example, if you want to find a post on Facebook about dogs, type: #Dogs on the search bar and there it goes.

Seems like I am drifting a little too far from what I really want to discuss about.

You are what you post.

But not exactly.

What you post actually influences what impression people can have about you.

Do you keep posting Biblical verses? Inspirational quotes and blogs? Then, your friends may see you as a religious person. Even if you do not talk about these topics too much personally, they'll have that impression when they notice that you post about religious stuff all the time on your social media account.

What people don't really understand is that they are what they post. Even if they try to be anonymous about it, it will always speak about themselves, their character.

There are posts more annoying than those coming from people who are bragging. These posts are those coming from people who embarrass, degrade, discriminate or bully someone else.

Actually, I don't know what is the need to post these. If you are angry with someone else, you can deal with it personally, talk about it, solve it and make a compromise. People who lash out their insults to another in social media are nothing but cowards. They cannot face their enemy so they stab them on their backs.

Being always online, I see people posting sex videos. Even if I do not watch them, the video's thumbnails and descriptions give the detail or give a clue on what the video's content is.

If it were a clip from a movie, I might have just let it pass. But mostly on Facebook are not from movie clips, but from real people. Where is your respect with someone else's body? Where is your respect with that person? Where is your concern with people? Why not just approach them? Tell them what can be the consequences of their mistakes than traumatize them by posting it on social media? And for lovers, oh, for Pete's sake! Where is your respect to your other half? And self-respect as well? Do you even think that that video will impress everybody like, "Wow! He's having *** with such a bombshell" etc, etc.

It is just annoying. I have to say it. Oh yes, I am what I post. I display my concerns about things that I observe. But I try to in the most subtle way that I can.

Let's have a little re-cap. I already discussed two annoying things that I encountered online: sex videos and hate posts.

Now let me tell you about an additional to the list.

Bashers.

Of course, it's okay to voice out what you hate. (In fact, I am doing it right now.) But brothers and sisters, there is no need to exaggerate or emphasize your hate for that person/thing/movie/book, etc. Just state out your opinion about it if you want. Say why you don't like it, example: I don't think this movie's really that hot.
But do not go to the point like: This movie's such a trash! Do not watch it! Even the actors look like toads.
I know, that's a much more subtle statement that I gave as an example of bashing, but please, that attitude won't do any good but trouble with those who are against your point of view. No one respects a basher, remember that. Do not honor yourself by proudly saying you know how to fight for what you think is right because you are wrong! In this world, not everyone will love what you love. Not everyone will think that your favorite movie is the best in the world. Not everyone will think that classical music is boring. Not everyone see things like you do and you have to respect that.

Anyone who you think is acting wrong or bashing should be approached with respect too. You don't have to go down to their level to prove them wrong. Treat them kind to show them that's how they should treat other people too. Do not motivate them to act like a basher by acting like them. Imitation, as they say, is a form of flattery.

Other than that, feel free to post to your heart's content. Just make sure you can accept the consequences to it. And brace yourself for people who do not know how to be human and kind, and turn into machines when they are behind their social media accounts. Not everyone will like you after all because.... "You cannot make everybody happy, you're not a Nutella jar."

Image Source: weheartit.com

(c) OriginalAS/march102015

POINT-OF-VIEW: Happy Women's Month in Philippines

Last March 8, women around the globe celebrated the International Women's Month. Philippines on the other hand celebrate the month of March as Fire Prevention Month and Women's Month.

Women (and being a woman) are celebrated around the world-- their role, their contribution to the family and society, their mark on history and their importance-- when this day of the month comes.

Here's my previous Facebook posts for all the women/girls around the world:

It's so nice to be a girl-- to play styles with your hair, color your face with lipstick and make-up like the way you paint the town red in your presence with your friends and family, but the happier when you face the challenges with make up or not, doing the things that make you happy and the things you are passionate about.
It's so nice to wear clothes to be beautiful, but the happier it is when you wear what you are comfortable with.
It is so nice to be soft knowing that your have your loved-ones to help you out, and so nice to be brave and strong to defend your loved-ones in their weaknesses and darkest times.It is so nice to wear high heels, but the happier when you wear flats and you still feel tall and proud of being who you are.
It is so nice to be a true friend, a loyal best friend, an understanding girlfriend, a supportive sister, a loving wife, a nurturing mother and the best girl for the job in whatever profession or career you are taking.
You don't have to be too much of a feminist to be a real girl-- a real girl needs a man, not for money, not for power, not for confidence nor any kind of conveniences, but because she has a good heart that sees men not as evil creatures nor competition but people who can be her friend, her father, her brother, her teacher, her best friend, her lover. Just believe in girl power and leave the judgment about men alone to men, for they know themselves better.
It's so nice to be a girl especially if you love yourself for who you are, if you love people for who they are, and you live the moment the best way a girl can. Your role is hard to ignore in history. Maybe you haven't written yours yet, or maybe you are starting to make a mark on history today; but keep in mind you are here on earth to learn, no need to rush or impress people or the society.
In spite of all what other people think, how they judge you, it doesn't matter but your own happiness and the good things that you do. Yes, you are just a girl, but its the nicest feeling that a girl can have, to be her real lovable self. ‪#‎HappyWomensMonth