“We always want what we cannot have.” I remember an old friend said this to me in amazement. I couldn’t agree more. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. “Anywhere but here,” so to speak. The Biblical mandate "thou shalt not cove" did not become an integral part of the ten commandments for nothing.

It seems to me that for as long as something desired remains unobtained, some territory remain unexplored, or such thing or even someone remains at bay, the longing stays sometimes to a greater degree. And then it fades once we’d come to understand why, much less when we are gratified.

I find myself in this "longing" situation whenever I'd hear Burt Bacharach's "Wanting Things." The song is a beautiful expression of what is almost human nature --- blame it on Eve?

Here are the lyrics of the song from the album Promises Promises:

Tell me how long must I keep wanting things

Needing things, when I have so much.

There are many girls who have much less than me,

Day by day they make their way.

And they find more in life than I can see.

Tell me,When will I learn to resistwanting things

Touching things that say "do not touch.

"People that I meet seem to think I am strong,

They don't see inside of me.

So they don't know I'm weak and often wrong.Tell me,

Why must I keep wanting things

Needing things that just can't be mine*

(wanting things
that just can't...be...mine...)

The hardest part about moving on, it was said, is not looking back. The Italian film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso written and directed by Guiseppe Tornetore is one that puts a face into this realty. Show me a person who does not appreciate the message of this film and I will show you someone who’s most probably spent his or her life in a fast-paced cosmopolitan environment. Yet I suspect that this film will also struck a chord even to the urbane.

As Wikepedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuovo_Cinema_Paradiso) puts it, “The film intertwines sentimentality with comedy, and nostalgia with pragmaticism. It explores issues of youth, coming of age, and reflections (in adulthood) about the past. The imagery in each scene can be said to reflect Salvatore's idealised memories about his childhood. Cinema Paradiso is also a celebration of films; as a projectionist, young Totò develops the passion for films that shapes his life path in adulthood.”

For those of us who have been blessed to spend a huge part of our youth in some remote but beautiful town in some province, playing with real kids, not computers, riding actual bike in real streets and not the virtual kind, for those of us who later migrated in the city carrying with us pockets full of hopes and dreams, this is a “must see”.

I also believe that a huge part of the film’s perfection is the musical aspect infused into it. I couldn’t think of any other musician to concoct magic for this film than the great Ennio Morricone. Listen to “Love Theme” and get the picture.

I was blown away by Cinema Paradiso. It will always be a film I wouldn’t mind watching over and over again at any given minute.

Additional Songs...

Alfie (composed by Burt Bacharach)
Beatrice (Theme from The Postman)
Boulevard of Broken Dreams (best version by Dianna Krall)
First of May (best version by Emmie Fujita)
From Moment to Moment (best version by Jose Mari Chan)
If You Went Away (sung by Jane Monheit)
Last Tango in Paris (available version by Marlena Shaw)
Loss of Love (Theme from Sunflower) (Henry Mancini)
Nature Boy (sung by Nat King Cole, Celine Dion)
Once Upon a Summertime (composed by Mitchell Legrand, best version by Laura Fygi
So In Love (best version by Jose Mari Chan)
The Summer Knows/Theme from Summer of ’42 (composed by Mitchell Legrand)
Two for the Road (composed by Henry Mancini)
When I Look in Your Eyes (best version by Dianna Krall)
When October Goes (best version by Barry Manilow)
Where Do I Begin / Theme from Love Story (composed by Henry Mancini)
Whistling Away the Dark (sung by Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and many more)
You Will Be My Music (sung by Frank Sinatra)

Excerpt from the article “Meet ACNielsen’s Very Own Musical Talents” by Glady V. Rosales published in its official publication BALITANG ATIN, April-June 2006 Issue

Denice played the keyboards and did back up vocals for Tropa Ni Nonoy

“One Sunday afternoon while working overtime on a report, a very loud rehearsal in the boardroom caught my attention. I barged in and saw familiar faces who asked me to jam with them for a while to which I courteously obliged. Little did I know that one of them endorsed me already to BCN (Bienvenido C. Niles, the company’s Managing Director during this time) since the group was apparently in need of someone to do keyboards. And would I say no to BCN who personally approached me shortly after!”

“Being with ACNielsen Band is a stress reliever, a break from the seriousness that our job entails.”

Playlist?

“Anything that the group thought would be appropriate for the occasion --- from trendy to one as old as the Beatles.”

Outside the company, Denice is known for leading choirs

“I’ve been typecast to do the second voice particularly when singing in a group and probably because I’ve been known to put together choir singing. Back in high school I choreographed four-voices for “Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak” and “Dandansoy” featuring my classmates and both songs won the first place on two occasions of group singing inter-school competition.”

“Looking back in High School, how I juggled as the class Salutatorian, school paper editor and making it to become a two-time singer of the year remains a mystery to me. I believe when you love something you’ll manage to squeeze in time for it.”

Denice has been playing the keyboards since she was 3

“I play the piano, organ or anything that has to do with keyboards. This is my “gift” from Almighty Heavenly Father Yahweh since I was 3 years old. When my parents started to notice that I could play practically any song right after listening to it, they brought me to a number of piano teachers but somehow none of them succeeded in convincing me to complete their courses, which was why I pick up more quickly listening to the tune than reading the notes.”

Musical preference?

“50% Jazz (think Diana Krall, Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sergio Mendez, Sting, etc.) 30% Mellow Classic (think Frank Sinatra, The sound of Motown Records, Stevie Wonder, Henri Mancini, Burt Bacharach, etc.) and 20% is a bit of everything in between.”

I am one of the creatures who have lived the era of “turntables” and “cassettes” (but only because I got indoctrinated to Music at 3 years of age, ha!). I remember the inconvenience of having my favorite hard-to-fine songs recorded from the FM radio playing “oldies but goodies” stuff. This crude way enabled me to be lucky enough to catch them via my cassette recorder (knowing when the DJ would stop talking was a must wayback then!)

One of the great innovations I’m super thankful for today is YouTube. I surprisingly am able to listen to my long lost favorite songs that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to find in offline music stores in this day and age. Although the performers/versions available in YouTube are not necessarily who or what I prefer, to me something is better than nothing. You will also note that a lot of these were compositions of those I consider best writers and composers of all time.

For those who take curiosity in what hard-to-find songs I’d really, really love to listen to over and over again, here’s a rundown in alphabetical order:

A Day in a Life of a Fool (Best version by Frank Sinatra)
Beautiful Maria of My Soul -Theme from Mambo Kings (Versions by Antonio Banderas and Los Lobos)
Theme from The Godfather (Henry Mancini)
It's Wrong For Me to Love You (Ennio Morricone, sung by Pia Zadora)
Loss of Love
Moment by Moment (Sung by Yvonne Elliman)
Nice to be around (Composed and Sung by Paul Williams)
Solitary Moon (Sung by Shirley Horn)
Summer of '42 (best version by Peter Nero)
The World We Knew (Best version by Frank Sinatra)
Theme from Cinema Paradiso (Composed by Ennio Morricone)
Times of Your Life (Composed and Sung by Paul Anka)
Wanting Things (Composed by Burt Bacharach)
When October Goes (Barry Manilow)
You and Me We Wanted It All (Best version by Frank Sinatra)

More to come.....