10/25/2005
2005 NU107 Rock Awards predictions
I admit. This is the year of the good-looking rockstar. If you’re not blind enough to see, it’s everywhere. Ael, Ira, Champ, *cough* Cueshe *cough*.
Whatever happened to real talent? I mean, when the Eraserheads started the OPM rock revolution a decade back, it’s not because they had noses of Brad Pitt and the eyes of Tom Cruise, but because they played music with passion.
It seems that the prerequisite this millennium is to have minimal musical talent while looking like a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy success story. Metrosexual rockers, here we come.
When has rock become sanitized? Kurt Cobain and John Lennon must be turning on their graves right now. Cobain must be saying to himself looking down at us from nirvana, "I killed myself for this?"
But what could I do about it, it’s what makes the cash register ring. And in this age of digital file-sharing and piracy, every peso counts.
If this proves to be a boon or bane to OPM rock, it remains to be seen.
Since I didn’t get to nominate for the NU Rock Awards this year (the last time I did, if I’m right, was a few years back when they still accepted nominations online with the support of a sponsoring website), I present to you a bold prediction on how the nominees and winners would turn out this year. This would be the first time I would be doing this. I usually base my prediction when NU107 releases the list of nominees.
Artist of the Year – Hale
Nominees: Bamboo, Spongecola, Orange and Lemons
No one epitomizes pretty boy rock more than Hale. Other bands are just a far second. Down with Ael, Bamboo, and Ira. Here is rockdom’s new poster boy: Champ!
MTV VJ Mark Abaya pales in comparison. Ely Buendia who? Kupaw rockers Miggy and Jamir don’t hold a candle to this year’s champ.
Listener’s Choice – Hale
Whoever wins Artist of the Year usually is Listener’s Choice.
Best Male – Champ
Nominees: Bamboo Mañalac, Ael, Clem Castro, Mark Abaya
Duh-uh!
Best Female – Kitchie Nadal
Nominees: Barbie Almalbis, Aia de Leon
The trend continues on the other side of the fence. There is a reason why these two awards are put up this year.
Kitchie overexposed.
Best Vocalist – Champ
Nominees: Bamboo Mañalac, Clem Castro, Aia de Leon, Ael, Ebe Dancel
Pretty boy rockers rule! Groupies drool!
You’re not the best in the lot, but you are the best looking. That should count for something.
Best Guitarist – Ira Cruz
Nominees: Armo, Mike Elgar, (OnL)
Since this is the year of the pretty boy rocker, this is what I call vindication for Ira. Finally, he gets judged for his looks not for how lousy he is with the axe.
Best Bassist – Nathan Azarcon
Nominees: Japs Sergio, Bhuddy Zabala, Mally Paraguya
Although I could play bass guitar, I’m not particular with fellow bass guitar players.
Best Drummer – *insert name of drummer here*
Nominees: *insert name of drummer here*, *insert name of drummer here*, *insert name of drummer here*
*insert comment here*
Song of the Year – Hallelujah
Nominees: Broken Sonnet, Hanggang Kailan, KLSP, Akap
Unfortunately to you Hale groupie, NU107 was wise enough not to play The Day You Said Goodnight. Fortunately, they also didn’t include in their playlist the Chandelier-ripoff Pinoy Ako. At least they have enough decency not to be coerced by ABS-CBN to air their uh… products even if NU sometimes plug ABS shows and vice versa. Then again, the Lopezes have MYX to exploit.
Music Video of the Year – Kwarto
Nominees: KLSP, Akap, Apoy, Pikon, Hallelujah
Having Anna Larucea cameo on it took the cake. Trina of Batang X lives!
Lifetime Achievement – Wolfmann
Not because the guy’s already dead, but because he could have done more if he is still alive. Besides, he is a highly respected person in the scene even if he didn’t have that big a groupie base as compared to Champ.
Album of the Year – Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot
Nominees: (Bamboo), (Spongecola), Hale, Take Two
You know you made it big time when people start singing your song and you don’t get as much airtime as Hale to do so. Plus, the second largest network in the country asks you to create the theme song of their new flagship program.
And it all started with the flimsy but LSS-inducing “Umuwi ka na, baby” line. So, whoever said I dislike OnL for ripping off, think again. 80s music rule!
Producer of the Year – (OnL)
Nominees: (Bamboo), (Spongecola), (Rivermaya), (Greyhoundz)
I don’t know who the producers of their albums are, but most likely whoever wins Album of the Year also would be Producer of the Year. Consistency… and redundancy.
Album Packaging of the Year – Take Two
Nominees: (Bamboo), Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot, (Greyhoundz), Hale
This just shows that I haven’t been to record bars lately. I don’t even know how these artists’ album covers look like.
Raw Award – NA
It’s not that there’s a band named NA. I have no insider information on who Francis Brew would choose as this year’s winner.
Best New Artist – Soapdish
Nominees: Menaya, Up Dharma Down, Kiko Machine, The Late Isabel
Pretty boy vocalist, check. Easy to listen tunes, check. Depressing and easy to relate to lyrics, check. Why Soapdish already has the formula to success!
Sucks to the other new bands. Either they are not pretty enough or they are not pop enough.
Whatever happened to real talent? I mean, when the Eraserheads started the OPM rock revolution a decade back, it’s not because they had noses of Brad Pitt and the eyes of Tom Cruise, but because they played music with passion.
It seems that the prerequisite this millennium is to have minimal musical talent while looking like a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy success story. Metrosexual rockers, here we come.
When has rock become sanitized? Kurt Cobain and John Lennon must be turning on their graves right now. Cobain must be saying to himself looking down at us from nirvana, "I killed myself for this?"
But what could I do about it, it’s what makes the cash register ring. And in this age of digital file-sharing and piracy, every peso counts.
If this proves to be a boon or bane to OPM rock, it remains to be seen.
Since I didn’t get to nominate for the NU Rock Awards this year (the last time I did, if I’m right, was a few years back when they still accepted nominations online with the support of a sponsoring website), I present to you a bold prediction on how the nominees and winners would turn out this year. This would be the first time I would be doing this. I usually base my prediction when NU107 releases the list of nominees.
Artist of the Year – Hale
Nominees: Bamboo, Spongecola, Orange and Lemons
No one epitomizes pretty boy rock more than Hale. Other bands are just a far second. Down with Ael, Bamboo, and Ira. Here is rockdom’s new poster boy: Champ!
MTV VJ Mark Abaya pales in comparison. Ely Buendia who? Kupaw rockers Miggy and Jamir don’t hold a candle to this year’s champ.
Listener’s Choice – Hale
Whoever wins Artist of the Year usually is Listener’s Choice.
Best Male – Champ
Nominees: Bamboo Mañalac, Ael, Clem Castro, Mark Abaya
Duh-uh!
Best Female – Kitchie Nadal
Nominees: Barbie Almalbis, Aia de Leon
The trend continues on the other side of the fence. There is a reason why these two awards are put up this year.
Kitchie overexposed.
Best Vocalist – Champ
Nominees: Bamboo Mañalac, Clem Castro, Aia de Leon, Ael, Ebe Dancel
Pretty boy rockers rule! Groupies drool!
You’re not the best in the lot, but you are the best looking. That should count for something.
Best Guitarist – Ira Cruz
Nominees: Armo, Mike Elgar, (OnL)
Since this is the year of the pretty boy rocker, this is what I call vindication for Ira. Finally, he gets judged for his looks not for how lousy he is with the axe.
Best Bassist – Nathan Azarcon
Nominees: Japs Sergio, Bhuddy Zabala, Mally Paraguya
Although I could play bass guitar, I’m not particular with fellow bass guitar players.
Best Drummer – *insert name of drummer here*
Nominees: *insert name of drummer here*, *insert name of drummer here*, *insert name of drummer here*
*insert comment here*
Song of the Year – Hallelujah
Nominees: Broken Sonnet, Hanggang Kailan, KLSP, Akap
Unfortunately to you Hale groupie, NU107 was wise enough not to play The Day You Said Goodnight. Fortunately, they also didn’t include in their playlist the Chandelier-ripoff Pinoy Ako. At least they have enough decency not to be coerced by ABS-CBN to air their uh… products even if NU sometimes plug ABS shows and vice versa. Then again, the Lopezes have MYX to exploit.
Music Video of the Year – Kwarto
Nominees: KLSP, Akap, Apoy, Pikon, Hallelujah
Having Anna Larucea cameo on it took the cake. Trina of Batang X lives!
Lifetime Achievement – Wolfmann
Not because the guy’s already dead, but because he could have done more if he is still alive. Besides, he is a highly respected person in the scene even if he didn’t have that big a groupie base as compared to Champ.
Album of the Year – Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot
Nominees: (Bamboo), (Spongecola), Hale, Take Two
You know you made it big time when people start singing your song and you don’t get as much airtime as Hale to do so. Plus, the second largest network in the country asks you to create the theme song of their new flagship program.
And it all started with the flimsy but LSS-inducing “Umuwi ka na, baby” line. So, whoever said I dislike OnL for ripping off, think again. 80s music rule!
Producer of the Year – (OnL)
Nominees: (Bamboo), (Spongecola), (Rivermaya), (Greyhoundz)
I don’t know who the producers of their albums are, but most likely whoever wins Album of the Year also would be Producer of the Year. Consistency… and redundancy.
Album Packaging of the Year – Take Two
Nominees: (Bamboo), Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot, (Greyhoundz), Hale
This just shows that I haven’t been to record bars lately. I don’t even know how these artists’ album covers look like.
Raw Award – NA
It’s not that there’s a band named NA. I have no insider information on who Francis Brew would choose as this year’s winner.
Best New Artist – Soapdish
Nominees: Menaya, Up Dharma Down, Kiko Machine, The Late Isabel
Pretty boy vocalist, check. Easy to listen tunes, check. Depressing and easy to relate to lyrics, check. Why Soapdish already has the formula to success!
Sucks to the other new bands. Either they are not pretty enough or they are not pop enough.