At Home with Harry's House

 Life hasn't been as it was.

And that's how you put in the intro Harry Styles' new hit.

With that, Harry Styles' new record "Harry's House" definitely solidified his music growing on me.

This started with "Adore You" last year, and although there hadn't been any addition aside from the earlier "Sign of the Times", I could say Harry's won me over his music style. Watermelon Sugar Rush (Or High), kidding, I know it's Watermelon Sugar High - the thing is that it's still growing on me.

What really hit me on the single "As It Was", aside from the up-tempo chords and sort of '80s new wave sound that it had, was the relatability of the words. It spoke about something that has not been happening at present. As English teachers would say, it's about the habitual past. You're going to be bombarded with the words "used to", "previously", and of course, "as it was".

Life has not been as it was.

"Answer the phone

Harry, you're no good alone

Why are you sitting at home on the floor?

What kind of pills are you on?"

I've been having a close relationship with the song's third verse, except that I'm not named "Harry". But unlike him, I haven't been good alone, sitting at home (as I'm staring into nothingness), and I'm on some kind of metaphorical pill to keep my mind off of things.

And honestly, I don't know where to go from this. As I'm writing this, my train of thought can't keep it's head on the greatness of that Harry Styles song. Instead of spilling sad anecdotes, I should be speaking about how and why 'As It Was" has been played in my music streaming apps a hundred times more frequently. But I guess that's for another time.

Also, more sad anecdotes for next time. The past year has really been a rollercoaster ride, and unlike the Jonas Brothers, I don't think I'd ever want to go back and ride this rollercoaster I've been on the past year again.

Human: You, Man, and Music

Being a lover of music ever since I was a child, I was able to listen to musicians/songwriters from different generations. With the wonders of today's technology, I should really be very grateful for being able to experience timeless (or and sometimes dated) music.

With that, I observed a common subject: being human. Many songwriters wrote about events that happened to them which in turn were relatable to listeners. Relatability, for me, could be the primary reason why songs could sell or become hits.

Interestingly, there were also songs written bearing the same title, or almost identical ones, like these three: 

1) Only Human by the Jonas Brothers

"Only Human" promotional photo from Wikipedia

As part of their massive 2019 comeback, the Jonas Brothers released an album called "Happiness Begins" and one of the singles was "Only Human".

Unlike the other songs on this list, this had a lighter subject and was not in any way about the tragedy of being trapped in the cycle of sadness. However, it talked of the indecisiveness and lack of focus that humans normally have. 

Described in the form of romance, human's indecisiveness often becomes a hindrance in letting happiness begin. In reality, the described romance may be replaced with dreams and goals that we are so used to dream and fantasize of without actually doing the work and.effort required.

2) Only Human by Jason Mraz

"Only Human" promotional photo from Wikipedia

Perhaps this was the most beautiful composition among the three on this list. Jason Mraz gave his listeners another masterfully-created craft. Starting off with a smooth bassline, the song's opening lines were ushered in as he sang "A squirrel in the tree, is he watching me? Does he give a damn? Does he care who I am?". Questions were already asked and the mystery of the song would just go on until its final chord would be played.

Like most of his compositions, actual meanings were left to the listeners' own interpretations. With that, there could be tons of literal and figurative interpretations of the song, which in turn captured the very essence of being human - being adaptive to cope with the different seasons of life, being open to changes.

3) You're Only Human (Second Wind) by Billy Joel

"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" promotional photo from Wikipedia

As opposed to Jason Mraz's seemingly metaphorical composition of "Only Human", Billy Joel's "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" featured straightforward and clear storytelling about someone who was about to lose it, told by someone who had conquered his/her inner demons.

Billy Joel was also depressed for a time which in turn led to both sad moments of his life and also truly heartfelt compositions like this one and "Tomorrow Is Today". 

"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" talked about the importance of standing up again, and.bouncing back from your mistakes and failures. 

Although positive encouragement is great and will always be welcomed, the case is not like that most of the time. Mistakes and failures often define the personality of a person as dictated by the society in which we live in. And that is one human flaw we shall try to refrain from doing. Certain mistakes and wrongdoings shall be punished, penalized even, however, there are still some that should be treated with compassion and understanding. One must know where the fine line is.

"Don't forget your second wind," as the song reminds us.

Jonas Brothers' Cool: The Sequel to Burnin' Up

The follow-up single Cool was not only a follow up to "Sucker" but also to the Jonas Brothers 2008 hit single "Burnin' Up". 

The Jonas Brothers in "Cool" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

There were tons of references made in the song like the Post Malone lyrics, the Game of Thrones nod, the perfume, Kevin Jonas' guitar strap, and the flying V guitar, and more, but I would just be covering the ones that referenced the aforementioned 2008 hit single.

LINK: Burnin' Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KNEZJ6KkLI

LINK: Cool - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_JbZvHc92U

The new Jonas Brothers single started out with a conversation with another man while they were all sitting down, like the opening of "Burnin' Up" where Big Rob handed them the script.

The Jonas Brothers at the start of "Burnin' Up" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

The Jonas Brothers at the start of "Cool" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

There was also that "red Dress" lyric reference in the first stanza of "Cool", a nod to the famous line in the 2008 hit. Moreover, the trio was singing poolside once again.

The Jonas Brothers poolside in "Burnin' Up" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

The Jonas Brothers poolside in "Cool" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

For their latest single, Joe Jonas sported a thick mustache close to the one that Freddie Mercury had during the 1980s. He did not have to wear fake mustaches anymore like he did for "Burnin' Up" and another 2008 release, "Love Is On Its Way".

Joe Jonas' Rick Lava character in "Burnin' Up" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

 

Joe Jonas in  "Cool" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

Joe Jonas definitely proved himself wrong when he said he could not grow a mustache. 

 

Joe Jonas combing his mustache in "Burnin' Up" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

 

Joe Jonas combing his hair in "Cool" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

"Cool" certainly felt like a song to chill out with for the summer. It also had the mood of a song from the Jonas LA soundtrack. Additionally, the music video would definitely fit as a sequel to the Miami Vice-parody, "Hot Tropic", in Joe's segment in "Burnin' Up". Even the fonts used, they looked the same!

Joe Jonas and Big Rob in "Burnin' Up" screengrabbed from YouTube.com

The Jonas Brothers in "Cool"  from Facebook.com

After burnin' up, the Jonas Brothers would recommend for us to just be cool.

Jonas Brothers: Reunion 2012 Versus Reunion 2019

The reunion of the Jonas Brothers in 2019 was not a first time for them, and for us fans. Back in 2012, they already made quite a successful comeback, but not as successful as today.

After the Jonas Brothers finished their Fall Tour in 2010, they took a break and only performed together once in 2011. The concert was the Concert for Hope in March 2011. Soon after, they were on their solo ventures. Thank God for 2012, for that year, the Jonas Brothers released a short video clip of them producing some new sound, for a possible new song. In line with that, a new song surfaced entitled "Dance Until Tomorrow".

The Jonas Brothers touring in 2010 from dailymail.co.uk

May 2012, Joe Jonas visited the Philippines for a few days due to a clothing line endorsement and promised to take his brothers with him back in the Philippines, hinting the possibility of a reunion! July 2012, in his 4th of July performance in Philadelphia, Joe finally talked about their upcoming reunion.

Joe Jonas riding a pedicab in Manila, Philippines back in 2012 from mykiru.ph

Eventually, Kevin Jonas had a TV show with his wife, Danielle, called "Married To Jonas" that featured their lives as a married couple. The show was also in line with the reunion of the trio. A reunion concert was set to happen on October 11, 2012, along with additional tour dates set in the Philippines, Singapore, Russia, and the United States.  The reunion concerts featured three new songs namely, "Let's Go", "First Time", and "Wedding Bells".

Married to Jonas Season 1 title card from Amazon.com

The Jonas Brothers performing in their reunion concert in New York City from ecosia.org

Now, what changes made the reunion in 2019 different from that one?

1. Similarly, the Jonas Brothers reunion had been surfacing over a year earlier. Photos of the Jonas Brothers filming something in Australia came up and shocked the world. Even though I thought that the filming was only for The Voice in  Australia wherein Joe was a coach, I was wishfully thinking for a reunion. Months later, the trio was spotted together again numerous times.

The Jonas Brothers filming in Australia from Twitter.com

2. They announced their reunion with a bang via Sucker. The reunion in 2012 was different because the reunion was already announced months before the sold-out concert. Instead of making the fans wait for something scheduled, they made the fans wait for something that was not scheduled. That made their followers shocked, excited and surprised because the comeback was very unexpected. I was very much surprised, too. It was the morning of February 28, 2018, when I learned about the reunion and that there would be a new single released on the next day at midnight. There were also the "Hello Again" video and the "Carpool Karaoke" along with a whole week of guesting in the "The Late Late Show with James Corden", and appearances on different radio stations. The contents were just coming right at you but still could not get enough.

The Jonas Brothers with their significant others for the "Sucker" music video from RollingStone.com

3. Much like in the 2012 reunion, they were linked to a TV show. There was thMarriedied To Jonas" in 2012 which was a reality show, and the "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in 2019 which was a talk show. What made the #LateLateJonas guesting better for me was the musical performances that they made like the parody of the "Year 3000", and the first ever TV performance of Sucker.

The Jonas Brothers with James Corden from coupdemainmagazine.com

4. In their 2012 reunion concert, the Jonas Brothers released three new songs of different themes and played them in all of their concert dates from October up until their 2013 Summer Tour. The songs were "Let's Go", "First Time", and "Wedding Bells". However, they were just live performances of possible singles. For whatever reason, the trio never released them as a single. Among the three, only "First Time" was released as a single months after. They seemed to be not confident enough to do what they eventually did this time around with "Sucker".

First Time, a single released in 2013 from wikipedia.org

Sucker, a single released in 2013 from tuftsdaily.com

5. Instead of having a big concert to announce their reunion, the Jonas Brothers went back to their roots and performed a short set of songs to surprised, and lucky fans in New York, Los Angeles, Atalanta, and the Penn State Bar. Tickets to those pop-up shows had to be won in a radio contest. You would surely know that the Jonas Brothers was successful in making a comeback when you see those jam-packed concert venues, like the one they played last April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis wherein they played a 19-song setlist.

The pop-up show in Penn State Bar wherein "Cool" was played for the first time from wbsradio.com

The Jonas Brothers playing at the NCAA Final Four concert in Minneapolis from startribune.com

We are so lucky to have the Jonas Brothers back again. It feels so good that they finally got their shit together, and for them, we did bear with them and waited for them to give us timeless music once again.

MOVIE REVIEW: Reprisal

Did you come across this film thinking that Bruce Willis will display a John McClane-like performance? Well, you were tricked which was what happened to me, too.

Movie poster from teaser-trailer.com

Willis portrayed James, an ex-cop, who is a neighbor to the lead character played by Frank Grillo, Jacob. The glorious Olivia Culpo had a  supporting role as Jacob's wife.

Jacob encountered a bank robbery in the bank where he was working in. The robbers killed one from the staff who tried to retaliate.

Jacob was haunted by the events and soon after, sought help from the friendly neighbor, James. Along with his wife, was his sick daughter. (Spoiler alert: You know it. There is a hostage scene later in the film.)

Willis' part was limited, as he was just the "inside man" that Jacob needed to overcome his dilemma since James was an ex-cop. They teamed up to identify the culprit from the robbery. Eventually, an intense car chase commenced, however, with  Jacob and the culprit. James was only on comms and did not do any sort of action.

In the film's end part, the identified culprit took Jacob's family hostage. James helped, and showed up with a shotgun as his weapon of choice. But again, he did not do much for the sake of action, except perhaps for some clever decision-making which helped our main man, Jacob.

A shootout with a couple of undercover police, contacted by James, and the culprit, and Jacob occurred as James and the wife looked for the hostaged daughter. Jacob needed some time to disarm the culprit because he wanted to catch him alive, for the sake of the whereabouts of his daughter. James entered and shot the culprit dead.

Jacob rushed to the dead body confused and worried that he might not know where his daughter was.  Little did he know that James came into the scene and had already rescued his daughter.

Overalll, the film was a good heist film. However, the takeaway for me was the billing of the actors, specifically for Willis. Of course, they made that as part of their marketing strategy. And for that matter, I could say that it was effective. I could only speack for myself though. They wanted to let people know that the hero of the Die Hard movies woold star in a movie so they gave him the second billing. However, his part in this film was just a supporting one. That might make movie watchers be disappointed with the film. 

If you're  into plain action, this one would be a good pick. It had some thrilling moments and an interesting plot, especially with Jacob's dilemma of being traumatized, and his switch from being a family man into a vigilante.

Remembering the Only Jonas Brothers Concert in Manila... Yet

By October 30 of 2018, it would already be five years since the Jonas Brothers made the announcement of the band breaking up in a TV broadcast. That was over a year after they tried getting back together after at least a year of rest as the Jonas Brothers.

Joe Jonas' fan selfie from  the Jonas Brothers Philippines Facebook page

By 2010, Nick Jonas has formed his side group, Nick Jonas and the Administration, while Joe Jonas released a solo pop-RNB album in 2011, Fastlife. The last tour of the Jonas Brothers was the 2010 Fall tour which also had the promotions for Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. The last time they were on stage with the band together was when they performed in the Concert For Hope in March 2011. Since then, the burning question was this: Are the Jonas Brothers over?

But no, they were not over. At least, not until October of 2013.

They made a series of reunion concerts, starting in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and then reaching Asia and Russia. The next stop was in the Philippines, a two-night concert (one in Manila, and another in Cebu) on October 19, and 20, 2012, and featured a mostly similar 26-song setlist to the one they had in New York City which ran for almost two hours!

I could remember the concert very well because it was the first time that I watched a foreign act, and also the first time that they were all here to perform. Back in May of that year, Joe Jonas was in Manila for a clothing line endorsement and had a two-song performance with “Just In Love” and “See No More”. He promised that he would bring his brothers with him soon and thank God he kept his promise. We were all fortunate to see them here before that unexpected break-up.

The Official Concert Poster from the organizer (not mine)

We were all hyped during the band’s entry to the stage with the song “We Will Rock You” in the background. After that, the trio was getting ready to open the night with their hit “When You Look Me In The Eyes”.

With that, I’d like to point out something that I noticed with Nick’s singing during “When You Look Me In The Eyes”. Since they started reuniting in 2012 and until their last performance of this song in their 2013 summer tour, and even in the digital album “Live”, I only got to hear Nick sing the coda part of this song similar to what he used to do back in their early days once and it was this Manila concert. I wouldn’t be able to point out the differences of the performance through writing, so here’s a video for that.

Notice these periods from these videos. All links are not mine but from other YouTubers. Thanks.

2010 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3T6KVGWLpQ (3:42-3:55)

2012 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAAl2k4iSzk (3:50-4:06)

2013 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXpg45vev2I (3:40-3:51)

If you’re a fan and you’d notice this, I’d be pretty sure you would have the same chills that I had upon learning this.

Another thing that I noticed during the show was that there were no gimmicks, or trickeries, involved in the show. There wasn't even any runway for the ever-energetic Joe's roaming around the stage, like what fans saw in the "Jonas Brothers 3D Concert Experience". These things proved that the night was purely intended for celebrating and singing their old and new music with them.

Aside from that, I could also remember singing out to the new arrangement for some of their songs like the reggae version of “Hold On”, country version of “Pushin’ Me Away” and “Gotta Find You”. I also liked the semi-acoustic set up they did for “Give Love A Try”, “Turn Right” and “Gotta Find You”.

One last thing I could recall was everyone singing all throughout “Lovebug”. A funny moment was when Joe did not need to sing any of his parts because the whole crowd was singing it.

The trio during "Lovebug" from http://www.gmanews.tv

To close out the show, they had “Burnin’ Up” and the band introduction and their own introduction which was then followed by their final goodbye and bow to the crowd in the same old Jonas Brothers way.

What a night to remember, and to feel alive for all JoBros fans indeed. We definitely need more.