GRAMMY AWARDS 2022: ABBA Doesn't Need a Grammy to Cement their Legendary Status But They are my Pick for ROTY

 

ABBA does not need a Grammy to cement their legendary status, but since the Academy included them in the nominees for Record of the Year - my vote goes to them, as a reward for ALL ALL ALL the beautiful records they have given to humankind and ALL ALL ALL the joy those songs have brought to the lives of multiple generations already.

Actually, it's a toss up between their record and the record of this year's most nominated artist, newcomer Jon Batiste, whose Freedom has such a positive vibe and is so distinctive, that it deserves this award.

Although many of this year's nominees are big hits in America, they are not big hits in my personal countdown - just showing the IMMENSE age gap already showing between what the kids now listen to - and what the OLDER generation is listening to - when it comes to new music.  More on that in another article.

For now, let us join in the excitement of the Grammys 2022 and find out who the Academy votes for for ROTY.

David Archuleta Tops my FABE International Top 10 Countdown for the Third Time This Year

 

David Archuleta tops my FABE International Top 10 countdown this week for the third time this year -

#1 What a Wonderful Way to End a Crazy Year (#2)

       David Archuleta

#2 Shot in the  Dark (#3)

       John Mayer

#3 All I Want (#8)

    Olivia Rodrigo

#4 Anywhere Away From Here  (#4)

     Rag 'n Bone Man / P!nk

#5 One of Dem Nights (#8)

     Moneybagg Yo / Jhene Aiko

#6 Blue & Grey (#9)

      BTS

#7 Money (#10)

       Michael Kiwanuka / Tom Misch       

 #8 Oxytocin (NEW)

      Billie Eilish

#9 Breathe Deeper (NEW)

     Tame Impala

#10 When It's This Good (NEW)

       Mykal Kilgore

Wilbert Ross Gets Her Very First #1 Song in my FABE OPM Top 10 Countdown

Wilbert Ross gets his very first number one song in my FABE OPM Top 10 countdown.

Here are my ten favorite OPM songs for the week ending November 26, 2021 -

#1 Di Ko Alam (#2)

     Wilbert Ross

#2 Di Kawalan (#3)

     Maymay Entrata    

#3 Palayo (#4)

     Felip

#4 Crazy (#7)

     James Reid / CARELESS

#5 Teknik (#5)

     Shanti Dope / DJ Buddah

#6 Di Ko Man  (#8)

     Ferdinand Aragon

#7 Dungaw (#10)

     Adie

#8 Baliw  (NEW)

     SUD

#9  Born to Win (NEW)

      BINI

#10 Labis-labis  (NEW)

       Sponge Cola 

Justin Bieber For the 2022 Grammy's Album of the Year

 The only two albums I haven't listened to in this year's nominees for Grammy Album of the Year are Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's 'Love for Sale' and Jon Batiste's 'We Are'.

It could still change my pick eventually after I listen to both of them, but I am quite satisfied with the nominees the members have chosen this year.  

The members have actually chosen some of the most successful albums of 2021.

I would not be surprised if the members chose H.E.R.'s Back of my Mind as the winner.  It took me sometime to warm up to her music but she does grow on you.  In fact, she just had her first number one song in my personal countdown list (she was just a guest of Jhene Aiko) and she may soon get another #1, this time, collaborating with Moneybagg Yo.

My sentimental favorite is Justin Bieber's Justice because it's the first album this year which I truly loved and I love more than 90% of the album.  The only thing I hate there is that gospel song.  Pop celebrities singing about Jesus Christ? Please.......

A close second is Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour'. I love confessional albums and so does the Grammy's.  There is a long list of winners and nominees where the album mirrored the singer's personal life.  I just don't know if the membership would choose another Taylor Swift clone.

For fun, I would choose Lil Nas X's 'Montero'.  I am gay so  I should vote for a gay man's album.  Unfortunately, I am the Queen Elizabeth gay - boring, unexciting, does not push boundaries.  And I do not see myself kissing and cavorting with the devil.  However, it is a very exciting album to listen to, and should court love from some voters.

Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever' is quite uneven and while it does have some high moments for me like Oxytocin, it is quite easy to doze off while listening to the album.

Doja Cat's 'Her Planet' is a fun listen but not exactly groundbreaking.

Just wait for my thoughts on Jon Batiste and Bennett and Gaga.  They might still change my mind.

TV SERIES REVIEW: What I Like about the TV series 'Van Helsing'

 I just finished watching all the seasons of the Canadian horror TV series Van Helsing - and I am sad.  I enjoyed every single episode of the series 

Book Review: Anne Tyler's 'The Amateur Marriage' A Close-up Examination of a 'Perfect' Couple

How often do we look at other couples and conclude that they are 'perfect' for each other - maybe because of how 'compatible' they look, or how their looks complement each other.

On the outside, Pauline and Michael look like the 'perfect' couple - both goodlooking and in the onset - looking so in love with each other.

However, Anne Tyler shows that which is often true in many marriages - that these outward signs are just mirages - and that the truth is - as the statistics are wont to show - half of these 'perfect' couples are heading to splitsville - and often end up with each spouse - wondering what made them fall in love with the other - in the first place.

I have always loved how Tyler shows these intimate portraits of imperfect families - of people wrapped up in themselves - they fail to see what the other members of their family really needs from them.

There is a major event that happens in the middle of the novel which really tests Michael and Pauline's marriage and for sometime they cope - but they soon realize that living with each other is hopeless.

The novel focuses mostly on the couple but it is interesting how their children and their grandchildren also come into play and influence the story.

I really enjoyed reading this as I love intimate novels of couples and imperfect families.  I admire how Anne Tyler keeps making it fresh novel after novel.

 

Bringing More Development to Oroquieta and Ozamiz

I had a fun short vacation in Misamis Occidental - in the cities of Ozamiz and Oroquieta.  It was more like a business trip really and in that short time, I was able to come up with some suggestions on how development can quickly come to these second and third tier cities and make them really competitive against other more developed neighboring cities like Cagayan de Oro.

Since my businesses are mainly online, the Internet speed of the province still has to be improved immensely.  I had difficulty doing my downloading and putting ads since the process kept fluctuating and it took ages to post something.  Also, as the night deepened, it was almost impossible to do any work online.  If the Internet companies there can only make it faster, like Metro Manila fast - the province can invite more businesses which have online presence.  

I was even mulling on putting a satellite office there, since rent and wages are very reasonable, but the Internet speed is just too slow to do any work.  I hope that can be fixed immediately.

Another problem area is the electricity which keeps fluctuating.  Brownouts happen sporadically so many establishments had generators.  That would be extra gastos for businessmen like me who do not need that extra expense.  One had to stay in a hotel with a generator, otherwise, one had to sleep in darkness or not get any work done - which can piss off any businessman.

Infrastructure is ok and it was quick to travel to and fro both cities.  There is a daily flight to Manila and there are buses north and south of the cities.  The roads are also well-maintained so if logistics is your business, it would be no problem.

As for the people, I think one can find capable people there who can do 'mind work' like writing and content writing.  As long as they are trainable, there would be no problem.

Anyhow, these are just some of my suggestions on how development can push the province and its cities to get more businesses to put up shop there.