My Vain Sister

My sister is vain when it comes to her body and personal hygiene. She always buys different kinds of cosmetics for her face. She also buys different kinds of soaps for different parts of her body. She has a separate soap for her face, feet, body and armpit. The kind of soap that she buys regularly is whitening soap to whiten her skin. I always tell her that she already has fair skin but she keeps on insisting that her skin is dark. My mother just let my sister’s wants as long as she buys her own beauty things and not my mother hahaha! When it comes to lotion, my sister has three bottles of them; different smells, different flavours (like papaya, avocado and apple). Since my sister likes lotion very much, I have an idea about the gift that I’ll give her on Christmas. I’ll give her l`occitane body lotion as additional to her collection. I bet she will use it immediately the moment she’ll receive it from me because l`occitane body lotion is different from other lotions in her collection. I guess she will recommend it to her friends hahaha!    

Joey Albert’s ”Million Miles Away”

“Million Miles Away” is another hit from Joey Albert after “Over and Over” and “Tell Me”. This song came from her self-titled album in 1984 and it is composed by Robert More. This is also one of my favorites.

Million Miles Away

I'd love to make you mine
'Cause it's the only way to hold you
In my wild imagination
Still don't know how
To grab a chance and spend some time
In just a simple conversation

Refrain:
Just give it a try
Though I'm like chasing rainbows in the sky
I wanna hold you in my dreams
And make believe that it's true
Although I know, I know that it's impossible to do
'Cause you're a star
People love you as you are
You're a million miles away from me

Wished that you were here
'Cause it's illusions every time you're close to me
And sing my love songs
And it's the only way
I could tell the whole world I love you
Although you're a million miles away

Refrain:
Just give it a try
Though I'm like chasing rainbows in the sky
I wanna hold you in my dreams
And make believe that it's true
Although I know, I know that it's impossible to do
'Cause you're a star
You're a star
You're a star

(Instrumental)

Refrain:
Just give it a try
Though I'm like chasing rainbows in the sky
I wanna hold you in my dreams
And make believe that it's true
Although I know, I know that it's impossible to do
'Cause you're a star
You're a star
You're a star
Million miles away from me...

Million Miles Away - Joey Albert Mp3
Mp3-Codes.com

Photo Credit: http://www.titikpilipino.com/album/?albumid=205

Joey Albert’s ”Tell Me”

A piano piece of the song "Tell Me"

The song “Tell Me” became a major hit in 1984, it was written by Louie Ocampo and Allan Ayque and released by OctoArts International. Albert received a Gold Record Award from Philippine Association of the recording industry because of this song. Also, Albert received the Best Female Vocalist trophy in the 1985 Cecil Awards. The song “Tell Me” moreover established Albert as a major Filipino musical artist. This is one of the most popular Filipino songs of all time. Some artists have their own versions of this song such as Rico J Puno (1984), Janet Arnaiz (1991), Lea Salonga (1992), Side A (2001), Joselito Pascual (2001), Zsa Zsa Padilla (2001), Lloyd Umali (2002) and Ariel Rivera and Regine Velasquez (2003). Joey Albert Also recorded two versions of the hit song in 1984 and 2007. 

Tell Me

There are nights when I can't help but cry,
And I wonder why you had to leave me

Why did it have to end so soon?
When you said that you would never leave me

CHORUS:
Tell me, where did I go wrong?
What did I do to make you change your mind completely?
When I thought this love would never end
But if this love's not ours to have,
I'll let it go with your goodbye.

Why did it have to end so soon?
When you said that you would never leave me

CHORUS:
Tell me, where did I go wrong?
What did I do to make you change your mind completely?
When I thought this love would never end
But if this love's not ours to have,
I'll let it go with your goodbye.

Tell Me - Joey Albert Mp3
Mp3-Codes.com

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Albert  

              http://www.shareapic.net/View-23373985-PianistAko-sample-music-sheets.html

              http://www.lyrics007.com/Joey%20Albert%20Lyrics/Tell%20Me%20Lyrics.html

Joey Albert's "Over and Over"

"Over and Over" is Joey Albert's first single written by Gerry Paraiso. Recorded in January 1984, it enjoyed tremendous airplay in local and national radio stations. 

Over and Over

There are times when I hardly know who I am
'Cause I try to pretend, oh, I try to pretend
There are tears when I feel my world's fallin' apart
I think of you and then
I feel all the love again


CHORUS
Over and over again
I try to pretend love never ends
Once again, ooh, over and over again
I go through it all but love never ends

Over And Over - Joey Albert Mp3
Mp3-Codes.com

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Photo credit: http://www.titikpilipino.com/album/?albumid=203

Songs of Your Life Presents: The Songs of Joey Albert

It has been a tradition that this blog gives tribute to foreign singers and their songs. Now it’s time to give honor and pay tribute to our local singers in their excellence in singing the Original Pilipino Music. I dedicate this episode to the one and only Joey Albert.

Joey Albert is a Filipino pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist and songwriter. An alumna of St. Theresa's College Manila (primary education) and Assumption San Lorenzo (high school and college), Albert began her professional singing career in 1982, right after winning the Dream Girl Filipina contest in The Party, a television program hosted by Ariel Ureta over Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation-Channel 2 (now ABS-CBN Channel 2). Soon after, Albert became a member of the The New Minstrels-3rd Generation, a popular Philippine show band during the 1970s and the 1980s.

As a solo performer, Albert signed up initially with OctoArts International (now PolyEast Records) in 1984. Her first single, Gerry Paraiso's Over and Over (recorded January 1984), enjoyed tremendous airplay in local and national radio stations. Immediately after, OctoArts International released Louie Ocampo and Allan Ayque's Tell Me. The song became a major hit. For "Tell Me", Albert received a Gold Record Award from the Philippine Association of the Recording Industry. Subsequently, Albert received the Best Female Vocalist trophy during the 1985 Cecil Awards, the Philippine Music Industry Awards during the 1980s. "Tell Me" also established Albert as a major Filipino musical artist. The song proved to be very popular with other musical artists as well as generations of Filipino music lovers. Over the years, cover versions of the song have been released by Rico J. Puno (1984), Janet Arnaiz (1991), Lea Salonga (1992), Side A (2001), Joselito Pasucal (2001), Zsa Zsa Padilla (2001), Lloyd Umali (2002), and Ariel Rivera and Regine Velasquez (2003). Albert also recorded two versions of the hit song, in 1984, and 2007.

Aside from "Over and Over" and "Tell Me", Albert's self-titled debut album also produced another hit, Robert More's A Million Miles Away. Say You're Mine, on the other hand, predated the acoustic trend in the Philippines. Albert completed five more albums for OctoArts International: Touch of Love (1984), Expressions (1985), Joey (1986), Maligayang Pasko (1987), and Mixed Emotions (1988). These albums produced many hits, including Louie Ocampo-Freddie Santos collaborations like Memories (recorded January 1984), Points of View (duet with Pops Fernandez, recorded January 1984) and Yakapin mo ako (recorded November 1985). Other hits included Jose Mari Chan's I remember the boy (recorded November 1985), Louie Ocampo and Jim Millbower's Without you (recorded November 1986), Louie Ocampo and Joey Albert's Ikaw lang ang mamahalin (recorded November 1986), Ray-Ann Fuentes's Porma ng porma (recorded September 1988), Tony Perez and Allan Ayque's Back in my arms (recorded September 1988), Louie Ocampo, Joey Albert and Janice de Belen's It's over now (recorded November 1985), Louie Ocampo and Joey Albert's You threw it all away (recorded November 1986) and Sunny Ilacad and Joey Albert's Na sabihin mo (recorded November 1985).

Albert moved to Dyna products Inc. in 1990. Her self-titled album for the company included commercial and artistic hits like Luigi de Dios and Rina Caniza's Only a mem'ry and Roses in the rain, Paola Luz's How can I make you see, Joey Albert's Paano Sasabihin, Archie Castillo and Onie Zamora's Sa akong pagbabalik, and Danny Tan and Jose Javier Reyes' Iisa pa lamang. During the 1990 Awit Awards, Albert received twin nominations as Best Female Vocalist of the Year for Only a mem'ry and Iisa pa lamang. She won for Only a mem'ry.

Meanwhile, Iisa pa lamang reached gold and platinum status. It also became the theme song of a movie produced by Regal Films, directed by Jose Javier Reyes in 1992. The movie featured Richard Gomez, Maricel Laxa and Dawn Zulueta as lead actors. Albert's other hits for Dyna included Luigi de Dios and Rina Caniza's Brief Encounter and Jose La Vina's Just for a while.

Joey Albert's meteoric rise as a gifted musical artist was interrupted by serious illnesses. After surviving cervical cancer in 1995, Albert was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003. She underwent a successful surgery in July 2003 and recovered after a series of chemotherapy. By October 2003, she was besieged with offers to sing again. But Albert had to complete rounds of chemotherapy until March 2004.
Since she migrated to Canada[1] in 1994, Albert has been living in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband Vicente Pacis III and daughters Trixie and Margarita. Between her professional commitments as a performer, she also works as a pre-school teacher and has acted as a judge for PNT Singing Idol.


Photo credit: http://docmenchblogs.blogspot.com/
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Albert

Difficulties With School Projects

My sister studied in a high school under science curriculum. As we know, if an educational institution is under science curriculum, you are entitled to more pressure. The standard of education is more defined and structured so there is bigger expectation on you.  Since you were able to pass the qualifying exams, it means that you can perform your duties and obligations as a student in that school. My sister often complains about too many projects that their teachers assign them. I advised her to be systematic in doing them because if not, she will suffer. I asked her to make a checklist of her projects that are to be prioritized, arrange them from the “most” to the “least”. She should also indicate the deadline so that there would be no more problems in accomplishing them. I also asked her to find a website that helps her in doing projects faster. Find a website that gives Project Ideas and Project Samples for to easily accomplish her task.

When My Aunt Got Sick

My aunt got a severe illness last year; she was confined in a hospital in Manila. Her daughter did all the necessary things to do just to get back her (my aunt) physical strength. I actually visited her in the hospital; I myself witnessed how the hospital workers deal with their patients. The doctors, nurses, hospital attendants and technicians were very warm in welcoming us. They are all accommodating and I think that is one of the reasons why my aunt got well in that hospital. After three weeks of my aunt’s stay in that hospital, they became close to the hospital workers. Because of that, her family gave them some gifts as token of gratitude to them. After that, I thought that it’s nice to be a hospital worker; It is a noble job. I thought of phlebotomy schools california that develops the best hospital technicians in the country.     

Enjoying My Favorite Songs

I appreciate all types of songs but I like old songs the most. Oldies are the other term for old songs and I grew up with them. My parents too love singing in the karaoke their favourite old songs. To give my parents pleasure during their free time aside from singing, I download their favourite songs from the internet. They always request me to play the songs every weekend during their relaxing time. One time, my mom asked me to play the song “Have a Good Time” by Sue Thompson, one of her favourites. Suddenly, the sound of the music became distorted and gone. I found out that there was a problem on the file; it is corrupted. I hurriedly made a dll download from dll files. I found a site that give dll4free and I made it! The song played again.

Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour”

The song “My Cherie Amour” is originally written in 1966 but released in 1969; it is a soul classic by Stevie Wonder. This song was co-written by Wonder, Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby (he also served as producer of the song). 

The song was based on Wonder’s life, a story about a woman whom he was fell in love with while in school at the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing, Michigan. Moreover, this song was written as “Oh My Marcia” for Wonder’s girlfriend but after they broke up, the lyrics were changed to cherie amour. In 1969, the song became a number 4 hit on both the Billboard pop R&B singles charts.    

Chart Performance           

               

Chart (1969)                                                        Peak Position

U.S. Billboard Hot 100                                              4

U.S. Billboard Easy Listening                                      3

U.S. Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles                4

UK Singles Chart                                                        4

Canadian RPM Top Singles                                         14

Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary                           14

Lyrics:  

My Cherie Amour

La la la la la la
La la la la la la

My Cherie Amour, lovely as a summer's day
My Cherie Amour, distant as the Milky Way
My Cherie Amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine

In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never notice me
My Cherie Amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine

Maybe someday you'll see my face among the crowd
Maybe someday I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, Cherie Amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine

La la la la la la
La la la la la la

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Cherie_Amour_%28song%29

           http://www.lyrics007.com/Stevie%20Wonder%20Lyrics/My%20Cherie%20Amour%20Lyrics.html   

Photo credit: http://viagemusicaldiversos.wordpress.com/2008/06/

Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed”

I heard this song ”Overjoyed” sung  by a Filipino singer Paolo Santos in 2003 and 2004 and it was great. Although both of Paolo Santos and Stevie Wonder are good singers, I like Wonder’s version more that Santos'; I still believe that the original is the best haha! “Overjoyed” is a 1985 hit single released by Stevie on the Tamla (Motown) label. The single went on to No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the early 1986, remaining in the Top 40 for six weeks. Also, “Overjoyed” was a No. 1 hit on the adult contemporary chart, the eight of his career.  

In addition, this song was written first for the 1979 album “Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants” but re-recorded for the album “In Square Circle”. In the liner notes for the song, "crickets, nightingale & additional bird sounds, ocean, pebbles in pond, stone dropped, crushing leaves" are listed under "environmental percussion". Here is the lyrics and audio of the song “Overjoyed”. 

Overjoyed

 Over time, I've been building my castle of love
Just for two, though you never knew you were my reason
I've gone much too far, for you now to say
That I've got to throw my castle away

Over dreams, I have picked out a perfect 'come true'
Though you never knew it was of you I've been dreaming
The sandman has come from too far away
For you to say, "Come back some other day"

And though you don't believe that they do
They do come true, for did my dreams
Come true when I looked at you
And maybe too, if you would believe
You too might be overjoyed, over loved, over me
[ From : http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/stevie-wonder-lyrics/overjoyed-lyrics.html ]

Over hearts, I have painfully turned every stone
Just to find, I had found what I've searched to discover
I've come much too far for me now to find
The love that I've sought can never be mine

And though you don't believe that they do
They do come true, for did my dreams
Come true when I looked at you
And maybe too, if you would believe
You too might be overjoyed, over loved, over me

And though the odds say improbable
What do they know for in romance
All true love needs is a chance
And maybe with a chance you will find
You too like I, overjoyed, over loved, over you

Over you

Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed Audio 

Sources and Photo credits: Wikipedia.com
                                           http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/stevie-wonder-lyrics/overjoyed-lyrics.html 

Stevie Wonder’s “Lately”

I love the song “Lately” by Stevie Wonder. It was recorded for his album entitled “Hotter than July” in 1981. This song was notable covered by R&B group Jodeci and released as a promotional single for the live album Uptown MTV Unplugged in June 1993 (Wikipedia).  This song tells about of the woman who betrays her husband. I hate the story (about infidelity) in the strongest possible terms but I like its melody. Wonder’s voice is very cool in this song. Here is the lyrics of the song ”Lately”. 

Lately

1st verse: 
Lately I have had this strangest feeling, 
with no vivd reasons here to find. 
Yet the thought of losing's been hanging, round my mind... 
Far more frequently you're wearing perfume, 
with you say, "No special place to go" 
But when I ask will you be coming back soon, 
you don't know, never know. 

Chorus: 
Well, I'm a man of many wishes, 
I hope my premonition misses, 
but what I really feel, my eyes won't let me hide, 
cause they always start to cry. 
cause it's time could mean goodbye. 

2nd Verse: 
Lately I've been staring in the mirror, 
very slowly picking me apart. 
Tryin' to tell myself I have no reason, with your heart. 
Just the other night while you were sleeping, 
I vaguely heard you whisper someone's name. 
But when I ask you of the thoughts you're keeping, 
you just say, nothing's changed. 

repeat Chorus twice. 

For those of you who want to listen to this wonderful song, catch it here. Steve Wonder - Lately

Sources:  http://www.lyrics007.com/Stevie%20Wonder%20Lyrics/Lately%20Lyrics.html

             Wikipedia.com

Photo credit: http://rulk.blogspot.com/search/label/Especial%20Stevie%20Wonder

Guide in Life

All people have problems in life. They say that you are not normal if you do not have a problem; I absolutely agree with this saying. There are some cases when problems lead to depression. Of course nobody wants that to happen and we have to do something with that to prevent. Prayer is the greatest solution to frustration and depression because God is the most powerful and above all. There are also some people who can really help us in times of troubles like our parents, friends, relatives and colleagues. We can also rely on life coaches like life coach Santa Barbara if we need on phone and off phone advisers. Life coaches are like guides that lead us to the proper way in order for us to have peace of mind.   

Photo credit: http://sconline.webs.com/

I Just Called To Say I Love You

One of Stevie Wonder’s popular songs that I’ve mostly heard in the 80s was “I Just Called To Say I Love You”. This song was released on August 1, 1984 and became the soundtrack of the movie “The Woman In Red” in the same year. It scored number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks from October 13, 1984. I am an 80s kid so I am very much familiar with this song. Furthermore, my mother and her brother (my uncle) really like this song. Through this very cool song from Stevie Wonder, I can remember my childhood days.

For those of you who want to sing this song, here is the Lyrics.

   I Just Called To Say I Love You

No New Year's Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact here's just another ordinary day

No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

No summer's high
No warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies

No Libra sun
No Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
of my heart

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
baby of my heart 

Here's the music video with Stevie Wonder singing.

Sources: http://www.lyrics007.com/Stevie%20Wonder%20Lyrics/I%20Just%20Called%20To%20Say%20I%20Love%20You%20Lyrics.html

Photo credit: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/stevie_wonder/i_just_called_to_say_i_love_you___i_just_called_to_say_i_love_you__instrumental_/