Yatta!! Looks like we made it. xD

Dear Mr Panganiban,

We are pleased to inform you that your group NEWTONE is one of the top ten groups who have passed the pre-screening and will perform on the J-Pop Anime Singing Competition Grand Finale on July 25, 2009 at the Market! Market! Activity Center.

In this regard, we would like to get your confirmation as early as possible if your group will continue to the final level of the competition. Furthermore, we would like to remind you that expenses (i.e. transportation, meals, accommodation, costume, etc.) incurred shall be borne by the participating groups. Likewise, we would like to tell you that the prizes (Nihongo lessons from the Nihongo Center Foundation) are Manila-based.

Should your group decide to push through the next level of competition, we would like you to:

· Submit a short write-up about your group (50 to 100 words) and your group photo (you can email this to jicc-mnl@japanembassy.ph)

· List your equipment requirement for your performance (i.e. amplifiers, drum sets, etc.)

· Tell us the title of the Anime/J-Pop piece you will be performing for the competition

We would like to hear from you by June 4, 2009 regarding the points above. We would contact you through email or phone for updates on the J-Pop Anime Singing Competition. Should you have further questions, please call (02) 551-57-84 loc 2318.

Japan Information and Cultural Center
Embassy of Japan
2627 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, 1300
Tel. No. 551-5710
http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp

Something to ponder on..

Ok.. apparently, kami pa lang ni Jica yung nag-comment dun sa SINGLE.. pero narinig ko na rin yung comments ni Neil, di nga lang through group mail. Oh well, dun sa mga walang comment, you can forever hold your peace.. if that's what you prefer. xD

I thought of three possible songs for the Live Performance, assuming we make it. Heto yung songs in my order of preference:

1. innocent starter - Mizuki Nana
2. さくらんぼ - Otsuka Ai
3. ALONES - Aquatimez

Why not ALONES and Sakuranbo? First, the song must involve all the members of the band on stage. ALONES features 2 Acoustic Guitars, 1 Lead Guitar, a Keyboard, Bass and Drums (6). Sakuranbo features 2 Lead Guitars, a Bass and Drums (4).There are seven of us, and there's just no way we can allow the other member to just stand on stage. Not to mention the fact that we don't have the complete tabs for both songs.

innocent starter is probably something most of us hasn't even heard of. Na-discover ko lang to when it got my attention after listening to Mizuki Nana's discography. I managed to find a guitarpro file for the song and I edited it to suit our purposes (by edit, i meant pinahirap ko yung track na ako tutugtog. Guitar 1 at Guitar 2 dapat yun, pero pinagsama ko na sa iisang guitar track.) No more problem with the tabs.

As for the cast on stage, Jica will be vocals. Jica will no play anything else and will focus only on vocals. Back-up Vocals, I'm not quite sure kung kaya ko.. after all, I'm also the lead guitarist. Carmen will have to learn to play guitar basics, and try to borrow her own guitar. Ako na bahala magturo kay Carmen, at kay Mangs who will be doing Acoustic Guitar. Si Master yung keyboard, si Neil yung bass as usual, at this time, si Ed yung drums.

Since the song is unheard of, it's quite fresh. Hopefully it will make the same impression to the audience as it did to me. Btw, thanks to this song, I'm already in EP 3 of Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. xD

Tomorrow

The SINGLE's finally out. Jica did a pretty good job with the delivery (along with Sison). I think it's time we hope for the best.

However, if I were to comment on it--we made a nasty blow-job. Can't blame anyone actually.. I had Art Studies to cram on as well.

The bottom line remains the same: WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB!!

For Tomorrow: The mixing was rushed, the drum fill-ins went haywire, the bass track didn't turn out to be as good as expected, and we only had one attempt on the recording for the voice track.

For LIFE: Some of the lines were not sung right, and those lines just had to be obvious.

Lesson learned--when you manage to get all the time in the world, don't think twice--practice!