Friday, January 20, 2023

My Way (Frank Sinatra) Piano with Improvisation by Sangah Noona


Music of Game of Thrones - Light of the Seven (Live)



The new album "Music of Game of Thrones" is out now! The album contains 21 newly recorded tracks with the 85 piece City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (and choir). Here's one of the epic tracks from the album, "Light of the Seven". 1. Main Title 2. Goodbye Brother 3. Finale (From "Season 1") 4. Warrior of Light 5. Winterfell 6. Mother of Dragons 7. A Lannister Always Pays His Debts 8. Dracarys 9. Mhysa 10. Two Swords 11. You Are No Son of Mine 12. The Children 13. Blood of the Dragon 14. Dance of Dragons 15. Atonement 16. Son of the Harpy 17. Light of the Seven 18. Khaleesi 19. Winter Has Come 20. Hear Me Roar 21. The Winds of Winter

The Year of the Water Rabbit

by 

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2022 was “characterized by strength, vitality, and growth, underpinned by the dynamism of the tiger.” It was a year designated as yang, the active principle of the universe in ancient Chinese philosophy. As such, in 2022 we all, or at least some of us, felt enthusiasm, positivity, and productivity, but also restlessness and inflexibility.

Red banner featuring the years of the rabbit

Luckily, the upcoming Year of the Rabbit embodies yin, the passive principle of the universe, “manifesting itself in relaxation, fluidity, quietness, and contemplation.” However, the Year of the Rabbit will not simply be a period for putting your feet up and looking pretty. An astrologer writes, “The rabbit is gentle, quiet, tame, tender, and kind, yet it moves quickly and is very clever.” It’s hardly surprising that a famous Chinese idiom talks about “a crafty rabbit has three burrows.” This basically means that the rabbit has many ideas of adapting to the environment, “and it can move very quickly, allowing it to protect itself during times of danger or when the situation is not favorable.” 


The rabbit is the fourth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle, and it falls between 22 January 2023 and 9 February 2024. If you happen to be a male rabbit, you will “always treat people politely, and with a gentle smile to make people feel that they are credible and sincere.”

black and white figure of a rabbit

When encountering difficulties, you are never discouraged but instead, remain persistent to find enviable solutions and success. The female rabbit is said, “to have a pretty and demure appearance and a pure heart.” As you know, each sign of the zodiac is associated with one of the five elements. In the 2022/23 Cycle, we celebrate the water rabbit, which comes around once every 60 years. The water rabbit has a set of particular characteristics, and is “gentle, amicable, able to adjust readily to different conditions, but with a weak mindset and principles.” And after endless years of Covid 19, you don’t need to look into a crystal bowl to know that “there could be more movement and traveling.” 


People born in the year of the rabbit should look out for lucky things, including the numbers 3, 4, and 6, or any numbers containing them. Lucky colors are pink, red, purple, and blue, while your lucky flowers are the plantain lily and jasmine. And if you are ready to travel, as we all are, your lucky directions are east, south, and northwest. Even more important, probably, are your unlucky charms in the year of the water rabbit. Unlucky numbers are 1, 7, 8, or any number containing them. Please avoid the unlucky colors of dark brown, dark yellow, and white, and never travel north, west, or southwest. But here is the biggest downer of the water rabbit year. According to astrologers, “it is better if you avoid big changes, like getting married or starting a new company.” Yet, it is said that 2023 will be a good year to give birth, and if you work hard you might just be able to receive a promotion. And here is the top tip from some eminent astrologers, “wear red underwear and socks to reduce your bad luck.” I’d be happy to go along with the red undies, but red socks would not be my first choice of clothing. 

Chinese New Year banner of the rabbit

Let’s talk about money. People born under the rabbit sign have a natural talent for managing their finances and may experience an increase in wealth and prosperity. It may also be easier “to earn a living without experiencing too much difficulty,” as the saying work smarter, not harder applies particularly to financial matters this year. According to people in the know, 2023 might be “the time to take risks and pursue your goals with determination.” If you are looking for love in the year of the rabbit, 2023 will provide you the opportunities “for finding and fostering new romantic relationships.” It is a good year for focusing on activities that bring you happiness and reflecting on your relationships. Given that the tumultuous Year of the Tiger has just ended, empathy and generosity towards others will also be necessary during this time. The most suitable zodiac signs for the rabbit are the Goat, the Dog, and the Pig, but please stay away from the Rat and the Rooster. Some of the most famous rabbits seem to be athletes and include Michael Jordan, David Beckham, and the incredible Lionel Messi. However, did you know that Albert Einstein was also a rabbit?

Kung Hei Fat Choi 2023!

ABS-CBN signs global publishing deal for music catalogue

by James A. Loyola

ABS-CBN Music, under ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. (AFPI), which has one of the largest music catalogues in the Philippines has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music Philippines.

In a statement, ABS-CBN Corporation said the deal grants Warner Chappell Music global publishing administration rights to the entire song catalogue of ABS-CBN Music that will open new markets and opportunities for local composers. 

“This partnership with Warner Chappell Music is a great opportunity for Filipino music and our brilliant songwriters to reach greater heights as ABS-CBN strives to champion Filipino artistry on the global stage,” said ABS-CBN Music Head Roxy Liquigan.

Warner Chappell Music Managing Director for ASEAN Jacqueline Chong added, “ABS-CBN Music has been our key partner in the Philippines for many years. I am very excited for this new deal and can’t wait to evolve our partnership to a new level.”

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She noted that, “ABS-CBN Music has a strong brand in the region and we look forward to enhancing that through our global support and expertise.”

ABS-CBN Music has been at the cutting edge of the Filipino music scene and is among the most influential music companies in the country that promotes original Filipino compositions to the rest of the world. It has more than 300 songwriters on its roster as well as thousands of songs in its catalogue.

The ABS-CBN Music catalogue includes the biggest Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits—a genre of Philippine pop songs that has been highly popular in the country since the late 70s.