Charice » Buzz

How Charice was Cast in ‘Glee’

max — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:08:36 +0000

LOS ANGELES — When we interviewed director Ryan Murphy in Cancun, Mexico about “Eat Pray Love,” his film with Julia Roberts, we grabbed the chance to ask him how he came to cast Charice Pempengco in his hit TV show “Glee.”

“I knew of Charice because she was on ‘Oprah,’” began Ryan, casual in an all-white outfit in a Ritz Carlton meeting room with a stunning view of the Yucatan Peninsula coastline. “I saw those clips of her singing. One of the producers had heard of her, too, and met with her. I had to meet her, myself. She came in — she’s so tiny and cute. I thought we were just going to be introduced. I’d heard her album. She said, ‘Do you want me to sing for you?’ I said, ‘Okay.’ She opened her laptop… she had a demo—she hit play and she sang. She was in my office for half an hour. When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out.”

“I was just so taken by Charice,” enthused the director, who created the series about a high school glee club, which won the Golden Globe Best TV Series-Musical or Comedy early this year and earned 19 nominations in the coming Emmy Awards. “I loved her spirit. I loved the story of her and her mother. She was just so proud telling me that she had bought her mother a house. So it went from just being a meeting to, ‘Oh, I have to put that girl in that show somehow.’ So we’re writing her a really good role. She’s going to start in the first episode of the new season. I’m really happy. That’s one of those things where somebody walks in and you’re just so touched that you say, ‘I have to write something for you.’ So that’s how it happened.

We asked Ryan, who also created the acclaimed FX drama series “Nip/Tuck” and directed the feature film “Running with Scissors,” to confirm if Charice’s character is a recurring one that we’ll see in coming seasons. He answered, “You never know with that show, but Charice’s role is the same size that Jonathan Groff’s character had this year—her character is not in every episode but she will be in a lot of episodes. She is the rival of Lea Michele’s character. That’s what Charice plays. I wanted to do a diva-off thing.”

Casting controversy

On the controversy about stories announcing that the Filipina singing sensation has been cast in the phenomenally popular show before it was made official, Ryan said with a smile, “I heard about that.”

Asked about a feature film version of “Glee,” Ryan demurred, saying, “I don’t know. I always thought that if I was going to do a ‘Glee’ movie, it would be like the Madonna episode. But it would be an event. We’re going to be on after the Super Bowl this year. We’re going to do a big tribute episode to a big artist and that’s going to be an event. I have a philosophy about television like, if you have an idea, don’t hold it back for six months because you may no longer be on the air by that time. Do it now. Use your weapons that you have now. That’s what makes for really lively, exciting television because there’s a lot of story that you move through, as opposed to little dollops.”

‘Glee’ tour

Ryan revealed plans for the next “Glee” concert tour. “The first tour was so big and unexpectedly popular,” he remarked. “I had never directed a tour before. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing but it worked. So next year, we’re going to do 45 to 60 dates. This year, we did 12 dates. We’re going to do a really big tour and maybe we’ll film that. Maybe we’ll do that as a movie. But I don’t know what a ‘Glee’ movie would be. Also, the thing about television is that you need to go away for a while. Let people miss you. If you’re on a tour and in a movie, they may be like, ‘Enough, it’s too much.’ So I don’t want to kill it.”

“Glee’s” second season, in which Charice debuts, is on Sept. 21. Javier Bardem, who co-stars in “Eat Pray Love,” and John Samos are the other stars appearing in the series set in McKinley High School. Also in store are episodes highlighting the songs of Britney Spears, a tribute to the cult camp classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and another ode to Madonna. There’s a lot of speculation as to who the “big artist” will be featured in the episode which Ryan mentioned will be shown after the Super Bowl.

Source: Excerpt from Inquirer.net

Posted by Max

Charice Performance in Aurora, Colorado Friday June 25th

max — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:23:48 +0000

Charice appeared today at the Town Center, Denver area, where she performed five songs: I Love You, Pyramid, Top 40 Medley, Reset, and Baby (acapella). About 300-500 enthusiastic fans showed up. Charice was rockin’ !!

SEE PHOTOS AT >>> 95.7 The Party Photo Gallery
(click photo to enlarge)

Charice Performance

Come see a special FREE performance from Charice and have a chance to meet her!

Time: 3:00p.m.
Location: Town Center at Aurora in front of the Food Court
14200 East Alameda Avenue

Denver area fans….get prepared to be blown away. Charice is giving this free performance for you. At her last Mall performance in Toronto, Charice attracted over 5,000 fans. Can Denver match that?

This Friday June 25th, Charice will be in studio with Johnjay and Rich, and well she has only joined one of the biggest TV shows around right now… GLEE!!! As of now the description of her character is that she will be a new rival to Lea Michele’s character Rachel. Charice first rose to fame over Youtube and then she performed on Oprah and her career took off! This is a star in the making and we can’t wait to talk to her in studio on Friday!!

Sources: Simon Malls and FM95.7 The Party

Listen at 95.7 HQ Interview Podcast: JOHNJAY AND RICH

Charice at Johnjay and Rich Radio Interview Parts 1 and 2

video courtesy of Johnjay and Rich – 95.7 The Party Studio, upload by wattscooler

Charice warms-up before the show, singing along with the hosts of the Johnjay and Rich Radio show aired on 95.7 FM in Denver, Colorado

Video upload by CTV Crew

1st song: Charice performs I Love You

Video upload by wattscooler

Click the Playlist to watch 7 videos, courtesy of 95.7 The Party – Denver, Colorado

Intro by Johnjay and Rich, I Love You, Pyramid, Medley, Reset (pt.1 & 2), Baby (acapella)

Posted by Max, Schoen, and Eve

ChariceMania Hits Canada!

Charicematic — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:26:28 +0000

ChariceMania hits Canada! New Pop sensation Charice did an in-store this past weekend at a mall in Toronto where the expected crowd was 500-1,000 people. More than 6,000 turned out for the event celebrating the release of her debut album! You can see photos of Charice, surrounded by the crowd, below:

Photos courtesy of Roland Isberto Photography

Walking from Dressing Room to Eaton Centre Stage

Video courtesy of Warner Music Canada

Charice Answer Questions from Followers of twitter.com/WarnerCanada

Video courtesy of Warner Music Canada

Source: FMOB

Charice at Red, Hot, and Boom July 3rd!

max — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:52:09 +0000

JULY 2 UPDATE: Charice will no longer appear at the Red Hot & Boom celebration according to the sponsoring radio station XL106.7. The Charicemania Team wishes Charice much-deserved rest and relaxation before her upcoming Asia Tour which will keep her very busy indeed throughout the month of July!

Here is the updated line-up:

June 7 Announcement

Charice will appear along with an impressive line-up of artists at The City of Altamonte Springs 15th Annual Independence Day Celebration, Red, Hot and Boom at Cranes Roost Park on Saturday, July 3 from 4pm to 11pm.

Live entertainment, provided by XL106.7, includes 2AM Club, Neon Trees, Jessie James, White Tie Affair, Charice, FeFe Dobson, Big 10-4, and Aaron Fresh.

This is one of the largest Independence Day events in Central Florida, so come early and enjoy the evening.

Charice fans can vote for her in the XL106.7 poll for “Who are you most excited to see?”

More information and the poll can be found at Radio XL106.7.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

Posted by Max

Like a Pyramid, Charice is Rising to the Top

max — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:32:55 +0000

Charice was recently interviewed by MyYearbook.com. The pop sensation dishes on her new album, Oprah and Iyaz.

May 25, 2010 — “…And every step we took we’ve grown/ Look how fast the time has flown/ A journey to a place unknown/ We’re going down in history…” The lyrics to pint-sized pop phenomenon Charice’s #1 dance song, “Pyramid,” couldn’t fit her own rise to fame story more perfectly.

Born to sing, Charice entered countless singing competitions mimicking her idols until it finally landed her a spot on Oprah. When the queen of daytime TV got a hold of her pipes, the music ‘biz knew they had to act fast because this Charice was going to go far. Next thing she knew, Charice was working with proclaimed producer David Foster (Celine Dion, Josh Groban) and recording her self-titled debut album (out now, buy here). Below, myMag caught up with Charice to talk about her recent birthday bash, performing with Iyaz and her secret guilty pleasure.

Check out Charice’s fan page on myYearbook! Also follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Q: You recently turned 18 – happy birthday! How did you celebrate?
Charice: I celebrated it in New York with my friends. We had a party in my hotel room and my fans joined online.

Q: When did you first discover your love of music, and when did you realize you wanted to make it your life?
Charice: At the age of four my mother discovered me singing on the kitchen table. I’ve wanted to sing ever since then, I haven’t stopped from that moment on.

Q: Who were some of the musicians you grew up admiring, and what did you take from watching them that you’ve incorporated into your own music and stage performances?
Charice: I grew up listening to the big three: Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey! I’m famous for singing their songs. I entered 100 singing competitions singing their songs.

Q: You recently released your debut album, Charice. How does it feel to have accomplished that?
Charice: Amazing! I now have my own songs, which is awesome.

Q: You’ve worked very closely with 15-time Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer David Foster on your album. What kind of mentor has he been to you?
Charice: He’s become my mentor and godfather. What a blessing to have worked and gotten to know David Foster!

Q: What advice has he given you as a rising star?
Charice: Keep your feet on the ground.

Q: Oprah Winfrey has played a big part in your success; you have appeared on her show four times! What have those experiences meant to you?
Charice: I call her my fairy godmother! I owe her so much!

Q: What was it like to work with Iyaz on your hit single “Pyramid”?
Charice: He’s an amazing human being and artist. We get on great and laugh all the time. Hey, Iyaz!

Q: How do you feel that you can relate to that song?
Charice: I can relate to growing strong from the bottom up. Having a strong belief in yourself – nothing can knock you down.

Q: How did you react when you heard it hit # 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts?
Charice: It was amazing! I have been promoting that song in dance clubs, so it was nice to see it succeed.

Q: What do you hope people get out of your music?
Charice: Happiness and joy.

Q: What’s something that most people would be surprised to hear about you?
Charice: I’m a horror movie fanatic!..

Charice also answered some questions by fans in her profile:

Q: If you saw a shooting star, what would you wish for?
Charice: That’s my secret

Q: When you’re 80 years old, what do you think you’ll be most proud of?
Charice: That’s way too far away to know.

Source: MyYearbook.com, Interviewer: Kate Heath

Posted by Max

A Hit with the Winfrey Set, 18-year-old Singer Charice Faces New Hurdle: Succeeding With Teens

max — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:34:58 +0000

OMG! VIDEO ADDED FROM YAHOO

Strong-voiced teen singer aims for teen audience

Charice, the 18-year-old Filipino singer, wowed audiences on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ singing Whitney Houston and Celine Dion songs. She’s releasing her debut CD which is aimed at teenagers who are fans of Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber.
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Source: omg! from Yahoo ASSOCIATED PRESS – May 14, 2010 12:05 AM PDT

NEW YORK — Charice has already won over the mom market.

The teen wunderkind from the Philippines has been wowing audiences with her big voice and Celine Dion covers on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and other shows for the last two years. This week, she appeared on Winfrey’s show for the fourth time.

But as she releases her self-titled debut album this week, Charice finds herself with a serious challenge as she tries to translate her success with an adult audience to her peers.

“I’ve been singing big songs, and this is the actually the first time they are going to hear me sing Justin Bieber-type of songs, Miley Cyrus-type of songs,” the 18-year-old said recently in her heavily accented English. “I’m just excited for all the teenagers to hear my album.”

Had Charice come along around the era of Dion or Whitney Houston, two of her idols, it would have been easier to make that move. Back then, big-ballad singers with towering voices dominated pop radio.

These days, it’s the grooves behind the big voice that matter.

David Foster, the Grammy-winning mentor behind Charice, probably knows that better than anyone. A legendary producer who has made hits for Houston, Dion, Barbra Streisand, Toni Braxton and dozens of other top names, Foster understands his sound isn’t what makes hits on pop radio anymore (though he still makes hits — he’s the producer behind multiplatinum stars Josh Groban and Michael Buble).

“I knew if I produced the album, it would be adult-oriented. It would skew older. It would be maybe a quick, easy sale, but ultimately, it’s very, very hard to skew younger after you start older, so we made a conscious decision to skew young first,” he said. “I don’t want to say that we crumbled under the pressure of having to go youthful, but I think we hit it square on.”

Though Foster and his sister Jaymes are the album’s executive producers, they left most of the music-making to younger writers and producers like Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, whose hits include Beyonce’s “Halo” and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.”

The album’s first single is “Pyramid,” featuring singer Iyaz.

“I just thought like, teenagers are falling in love … they love this very catchy and very romantic words from all these young artists,” Charice said. “That’s why I thought that this album … they are gonna love it, all the lyrics, all the melody and all the music.”

Can she find success outside of Asia?

So far, “Pyramid” is No. 2 on the dance charts, but it hasn’t yet translated to pop radio. Foster is aware of the challenge it takes to make a hit, but he thinks Charice has a lot to add to the scene.

“There is a lack of organic music right now, and it’s fine — it’s just the phase that we’re in,” he explains. “I think there is room for some more musicality.”

There’s no denying Charice has that. During a recent interview, the diminutive singer belted out “Pyramid” on request, performed a stirring rendition of Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” for an audience of four, then continued to sing — even on her way out the door.

Singing has consumed Charice — born Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco — since she was a child growing up in the Philippines. Raised with her brother by a single mother, she sang in local contests and appeared on TV talent shows in the Philippines and in South Korea.

Fans posted clips of her on YouTube, and she became a sensation. Soon, she was invited to sing on “Ellen,” then on “Oprah Winfrey,” and linked up with Foster.

So far, her rise has unfolded like a fairy tale. But Charice knows there are hurdles, like trying to capture U.S. audiences.

“It’s really, really hard … there’s a lot of great pop stars here. … They’re all talented,” she said. “I don’t know if Americans are going to love me because I’m from other country.”

But Foster said it’s only a matter of time before there’s an Asian superstar in the U.S., and he believes Charice might be the one.

“Being a great singer is not enough, and she has the entire package,” he said.

He adds: “She’s a little bit like Michael Jackson in the head … Michael Jackson was very soft-spoken and quiet and all that, but he was genius inside his head. He knew exactly where he was going, and she truly is the master of her own destiny.”
___

Written by Nekesi Mumbi Moody

Source: Associated Press Release reprinted at…
Today Entertainment @ msnbc.com, CTV Entertainment News, Washington Examiner, The Washington Post, Business Week, The Canadian Press

Which Song is Your favorite in the Album “Charice”?

max — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:42:39 +0000

The album Charice has been released and by now you have listened to the songs. We would like to know which one is your favorite. You can vote for only one song and only one time. This may be very hard to do because they are all so wonderful. Maybe you should listen to them again before you vote. The poll closes at midnight, May 18th. Have fun!..

The various bonus tracks are not included in the poll. We will have a run off between the top three to determine the over all winner if there are requests for it.
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Posted by Max

Charice with David Foster Q Sessions Live

max — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:39:03 +0000

URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Charice has to reach minimum sales quota to stay ON AIR otherwise they will cut the show or her performance! 7,500 orders within 30 minutes for a total of 15,000 in 1 hour!

Charice: Note to God

Charice: In This Song

Charice: I Love You

Charice Featuring IYAZ: Pyramid

IYAZ Featuring Charice: Replay

At first glance, Charice looks like any other teenager: pretty, petite and filled with non-stop energy. But when the 17 year-old opens her mouth to sing – the audience quite literally gasps. In 2007, a web-savvy fan began posting a series of Charice’s performances on YouTube, including appearances on the Filipino talent show “Little Big Star,” and the popular South Korean talent show “Star King.” She instantly became an internet sensation, attracting the attention of 15-time GRAMMY winning producer, David Foster, who invited Charice to perform on his David Foster and Friends tour. Tune in to Q Sessions Live to see David Foster with Charice as she performs songs from her new album Charice, and don’t miss your chance to pre-order her album featuring bonus tracks produced especially for QVC before it hits stores. Performance and release date subject to change without notice. Check your local listings for The QVC Shopping Network to see the show on TV.

(IMPORTANT CHASTER MISSION) Call QVC at 888-345-5788 during the show and buy the special deluxe edition of the album, which includes four bonus tracks exclusively for QVC viewers. It’s important for us to order during the first 30 minutes of the show to let QVC know that we’re watching and buying Charice’s CD.

Check your local listings for the QVC TV channel in your area.

You can also watch the show on live streaming at the QVC web site HERE.

Check the QVC Program Guide HERE.

Charice – Watch QVC On May 11th 8 pm EST May 11 at 8pm EST!

Charice – Chaster’s Promo Guide

Source: Charicemusic.com

Posted by Max

World Premiere of Charice’s Music Video Pyramid

max — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:44:55 +0000

Oprah called her one of the most talented girls in the world. Now, Charice is getting ready to release her self-titled debut album. Watch the world premiere of the video for her song “Pyramid”! Charice’s international music video is being hailed as a wonderful, simple, but lovely video. Please read the comments from fans below the video. Charice proves why she is “The most talented girl in the World”. It was worth the wait.

Pyramid Featuring IYAZ – Official Music Video

Watch Charice’s World Premiere Video for “Pyramid” and be blown away!!!
Be sure to give it a 5-Star rating >>> Charice YouTube channel.

” International singing sensation Charice Pempengco stole the show when she first appeared on Oprah’s stage. Now, this 17-year-old superstar is releasing her self-titled debut album on May 11, 2010! “

NOW AVAILABLE >>> Amazon.com

.Posted by Max

Note: For those in Europe who are not able to watch via Youtube due to Warner Bros. Music restrictions, please watch @ Oprah.com:

http://wbr.fm/oprahcharice

Charice Candy

max — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:34:41 +0000

(MORE CANDY ADDED 4/15) Charice has been a busy star popping up everywhere the last few days. In coordination with the release of her music video, Charice has made club appearances, radio interviews, and festivals. As videos and interviews are submitted, Charicemania will put them here in a bag of Charice candy for you to enjoy!

Charice at 93.7 WSTW Studios

Upcoming Reprise Records artist Charice tears up the 93.7 WSTW FM Studio as she pipes out her vocals to “Pyramid”

Video courtesy of 93.7 WSTW Studios

Mo’ Hangs With Charice!

Charice has much love from Oprah, Ellen and MANY others! HUGE voice from the Philippines, now to the USA! Get to know, Charice Source: Z100 New York

ChaBieber (That’s a Charice/Bieber Combo)

DJMax945 says ” Here is SUPERSTAR Charice chillin’ at Philly’s Q102!! (She’s a superstar cuz she’s been on Oprah & has a SMASH song with Iyaz called “Pyramid”…hit up iTunes and download it!) Who knew she could impersonate Justin Bieber?!?!?! It’s gotta be THE BEST impersonation I’ve heard…EVER!!! ”
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Video courtesy of DJMax945 aka Maxwells House

Oprah’s favorite Charice premieres ‘Pyramid’ video

Since she was discovered by Oprah Winfrey’s producers via YouTube in 2007, pint-sized pop phenomenon Charice has been on the fast track to fame. A favorite of the influential talk-show host – who called her one of the most talented girls in the world – Charice just debuted her music video for ‘Pyramid’ on Oprah.com.

‘Pyramid (feat. Iyaz)’ is the first single from Charice’s self-titled debut album, set to hit stores on May 11th. The song is currently burning up the pop radio charts, with remixes of the song getting spun by DJs across the country. Grab the track now on iTunes.
Posted at theinsider.com website for the popular TV magazine show.

Oprah Discovered Star Blows Clizbeats Away!

Craig and Matt Clizbe of Clizbeats were absolutely delighted to have an unexpected visit to their home state of Delaware by Philippine singing sensation Charice!!! Out of all the talented performers they met, she easily ranks near the top. Standing 4 feet ‘11 inches tall, Charice humbly walks in to the studio’s of Delaware pop station WSTW FM where all the local music related press was gathered to hear her. In a room of people 2 and 3 times her age, Charice politely bowed to everyone she met, and quietly let her record sell her up to the room of professionals. Her reputation of being discovered by Oprah producers on Youtube preceding, there was an eagerness to hear what she was to work with. With that said, there was no way to be able to anticipate the kind of magic that was in store. As soon as the play button was pressed, Charice opened her pint-sized mouth, and proceeded to shake the room with what has to be one of biggest new voices in music history!

The guys consider it a true honor to be able to meet Charice. Her talent exceeds that of many in the music industry, and her humble and down to earth spirit is an example for us all. God has truly blessed her.
See Charice videos and article at >>> clizbeats.com (4/14)

Der Make up und Beauty Blog, from Germany

Click >>> HERE

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Kids World has a complete bio on Charice.

Click >>> HERE

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KISS FM 99.3: The O Show

New Artist Charice stopped by to chat with O.C. and perform her new
hit single “Pyramid” featuring Iyaz.

Part 1 – Charice Interview 4/10:

Part 2 – Charice Interview 4/10:

New York Post on Pop Wrap

Check out the latest from the New York Post on Pop Wrap… Read what writer Ryan Brockington has to say with this great review of Charice’s Official Music Video… “Pyramid” is a true pop video my friends, brought to us by our new fave pop princess Charice. It’s her first, and premiered on Oprah’s Web site last night … which is all you really need to know. A dash of high-school scenes (life is hard), a moment alone on a stage (who am I?) and some smoke and lights (oh, that’s who I am!), viola, insta-freshman perfection.

Source: New York Post: New Music Videos from Charice, Drake and John Mayer (4/13) ..

Charice Opens for Deborah Cox Cherry Weekend

Next, check out the Town Danceboutique video as Charice opened for Deborah Cox. Watch David Foster grinning from ear to ear as he raves on about our princess.

Video courtesy of shiqueeta

Charice on the Jack Diamond Morning Show

Watch as Charice charms Jack Diamond.

Video courtesy of JackDiamondRadio

Jack Diamond tweets about Charice

.Check this post daily for additional goodies as they arrive. ”To the Top Baby”

Posted by Team Charicemania

Charice at HOT 99.5 in Washington

max — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:42:33 +0000

Hot 99.5 in Washington D.C. sent us the link of a two-set song and interview of Charice. Charice charms the crew with her laid back polished interview. Here is what Jerry Houston of 99.5 had to say about our star: ”She is such a great and talented singer!!!”

We were so lucky she came by to perform! Enjoy as Charice gives another superb performance. Here she sings “Pyramid” and “In This Song”. After the show, please let the guys at Hot 99.5 Radio know how much we appreciate them for sharing Charice with us. You are in for a real treat.

Pop phenom CHARICE performs LIVE

…

Click HERE for the show.

Interview Excerpts:

DJ – “This is my friend Charice and Charice is from the Philippines. Really, I’ve been doing this job 20 years and this is one of the coolest stories of how Charice got discovered.”
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the cherry blossoms are blooming while Charice is here in town.”

“Pyramid”
Charice: This is my second single, my first was Note to God. But this is my first pop single and this is actually my first time to sing a pop song cuz I usually sing ballads. I’m really glad I’ll be singing it for you, so I hope you like it.

Bridge:
Through the storm, we stood through the test of time, building a new design…
Shapin it so divine… a love no one can define, zodiac stars align.

“In This Song”
Charice: I wanna talk about the next song. This song is really, really special for me cuz David Foster wrote this song for me. What’s special about this song is he wrote this song because this is the story of my life. It’s included in my album.
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IN THIS SONG

How will I know
Where I’m going now
This broken road
Is trying to tear me down
But deep inside I found
A sacred place
That I never knew
Where I feel safe when the road is untrue
Here’s what I learned to do

[Chorus]
Just sing this song
And it takes me right back
Where I belong
And every day there’s a new bridge to cross
But I’m never far from home
If I bring my heart, my soul, my own
In this song

No…
I don’t depend on friends
Cause they come and go
My belief in myself
Is gonna carry me through
That’s why I’m learning

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh…
I’m learning now
I’m ready to sing

[Chorus]
Just sing this song
And it takes me right back
Where I belong
And every day there’s a new bridge to cross
But I’m never far from home
If I put my heart, my soul, my own

[Bridge]
I may not have
All the words
That I need to say and
Though I won’t always be strong
But I’m never afraid
Cause I hold my destiny, it depends on me
Alone, alone…

[Chorus]
So, just sing this song
And it takes me right back
Where I belong
And every day there’s a new bridge to cross
But I’m never far from home
If I give it my heart, my soul, my own
I keep giving my heart, my soul, my own
In this song
In this song
In this song

Posted by Max and Eve

My Pacquiao-Clottey Fight Experience

max — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:34:58 +0000

When Admin notified me about the upcoming Manny Pacquiao fight with Joshua Clottey, I decided right then and there I was going to attend. The fight would be held in the sparkling new Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, Texas. I live only 350 miles from Dallas so I knew this may be my only chance to see Manny Pacquiao fight live. Never in my wildest imagination did I think it would be an OMG experience. First, I got to see who, pound for pound, is arguably the greatest fighter in the world, and I also got to see Cowboy Stadium.

I left home for the 7 hour drive at 5:30 am. I was to pick up a buddy of mine on the way whom I had asked to go with me since my wife is not interested in boxing, and has a troublesome knee that precludes walking long distances. My friend had already seen the stadium, but jumped at the chance to see Manny fight. So I picked him up and the closer we got to Dallas the more my anticipation grew. We arrived at our hotel in mid-afternoon, and the fights did not begin with preliminary bouts until that evening, so we had plenty of time to drive around the area.

The Dallas Ranger baseball stadium, Six Flags Over Texas (a large theme park), and Cowboy stadium are all in the same proximity. Only when we were approaching Cowboy Stadium did I realize I was looking at it over Ranger Stadium. It is hard to envision how huge this complex is. I have posted two pictures I shot from a distance below. They do not do justice to its size, but do show its beauty.

…

Traffic was already becoming heavy around all sides of the stadium. I noticed private parking that was about half a mile away, and signs were advertising $30 parking which I thought was quite expensive. Only later did I learn the 14 lots on the stadium property cost $50 to park a car for this fight. We made our way back to the hotel to rest and eat dinner before we went to the stadium because we heard food was very expensive inside the venue. At the hotel were many Hispanics for a convention. I noticed some Filipinos were there also.

About 5:00 pm we went to a nearby restaurant that had been recommended by a friend of mine who has season tickets to Cowboy games and goes there frequently. It was a buffet and after we were seated and eating, I noticed the table next to us had four people. It looked like a man, his companion, a teenager, and what must have been a grandmother. I just had to find out if they were Filipino so I asked them. “Oh yes”, they said. They were going to the fight as well. Well, you know what I asked next, don’t you?

I said, “Have you guys ever heard of Charice?” The lady said “You mean Charice Pempengco, very excitedly”? When I replied yes, they all got excited and said “Ya, she is a really good singer”. Suddenly, it was as if we had known each other for years, hahaha. So, yeah…..you know what’s coming next. I said “Have you heard of Charicemania, her fan site?” Again they said “Oh yes”. I wanted to jump straight up. Pushing my luck, I related “Have you heard of a writer on Charicemania named Max?” This time I got blank looks and heads shaking no. Dad gum it, hahahahahaha. I was tempted to inquire of other Filipinos I saw in the restaurant, but for some reason, decided to pass.

We went back to the hotel and checked with the front desk about a shuttle service to carry us to the game and back. Good news, three shuttles were continually going back and forth to the stadium until well after the fight. We had 10 people riding on the shuttle with us, and we all started talking about the fight. Everyone was unanimous in predictions that there was no question Manny would win. It was just how long would his opponent last.

We left for the stadium about 6 pm and the shuttle pulled up as close as possible. We still had to walk about 200 yards, but I was so excited by this time that I did not care. Our tickets I had printed on my PC from Ticketmaster were accepted without any questions, but I noticed the guards acting like they were watching for what carry-ins one might have. I had put my camera in my pants pocket and there was no problem getting by security. I wondered what would have happened if I had worn the carrying case that hangs on my neck.

Below are pictures I took of the fight sign in front of the huge glass doors, and one of me by my buddy to prove I was there.

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Observe the huge glass doors of the stadium. Wow, I estimate they were at least 50 feet high, and there were five doors in all. The doors can be completely opened and there are another set on the other side of the stadium. It takes 30 minutes for the doors to fully open. The roof of the stadium also opens, giving one a feeling as if you were outside we were told.

As we entered the stadium, I was impressed by how clean and well appointed it was. The floor is concrete covered by a clear coat that gave it a very polished look. Our seats were on the main level where we entered, but we wanted to look over the interior before we went to our seats. There are seven levels plus the mezzanine level and suites on the top two levels. The venue can accommodate 105,000 people, but was set up for 45,000 for this fight. Some of the upper levels were closed off. There were concession booths about every 100 feet, and plenty of rest rooms. We walked as far around as we could go, but the various ticket areas were roped off, and we were limited how far around the venue we could walk. Then we decided to rest for a while so we headed for our seats to watch some of the under card matches. There were three more hours before the main event.

I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelmed I was when I gazed out at the “Jumbotron” as the astoundingly huge four sided TV screen is called. Jumbo does not even begin to describe its immensity. Here are pictures of it.

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The “MISTUBUSHI ELECTRIC” letters on top of the Jumbotron are about 10 feet high. This should give a perspective of how mammoth it is, simply astounding. The picture on the screen is crystal clear, better than any HD TV I have watched. The videos I made of the action mainly were shot from the screen. The bright blue light shining from corner of the screen was the only complaint I had about my whole experience. Supposedly, its purpose is to prevent videotaping of the event, and you can tell when you view the videos that it did hamper me considerably.

The undercard fights continued until past 10 p.m. when the main event was scheduled. We drifted in and out of our seats to exercise our legs, because the seats are quite close together preventing one from stretching their legs. Also, I am a people watcher and out in the concourse, as time went by, it became more and more crowded. I observed that at least two-thirds of the crowd was Filipino. I have to say also that everybody was well behaved. Occasionally, a chant would begin – Clottey, Clottey, Clottey from the Clottey fans. Almost always that drew a Manny, Manny, Manny response, hahaha.

Until about 9:00 pm the crowd was sparse….the seats were about one-third occupied. Then as the main event time drew near, suddenly all of the empty seats disappeared. The atmosphere was becoming electric. You could sense the excitement building. The last preliminary fight went the full ten rounds. It seemed like forever. Down on the main floor, the crowd was packed. I should point out that floor seating sold for $3500 each (ouch). Suddenly the Jumbotron started flashing celebrities on the screen. First was Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team, and this magnificent stadium. Then shots of some of Dallas greatest players and coaches…..Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmett Smith, and Barry Switzer to mention a few. At each introduction, the applause and shouting let these greats know the crowd appreciated all of them.

10:00pm and the crowd was getting more and more excited. Another Clottey chant followed by a thunderous Manny, Manny, Manny. You should have been there. Security clears a path from the entrance toward the ring. Anticipation continues to grow, a constant noise from the crowd which by now occupied every available seat in the stadium plus some standing. Wow, here come the Dallas Cheerleaders prancing into the arena to a thunderous beat emanating from the semi-tractor truck size speakers hanging from the ceiling. Exciting is not the right adjective. It was almost as if the overhead beams holding up the roof were dancing to the beat. Finally, Joshua Clottey makes his appearance toward the ring, dancing to the beat. Clottey fans screaming Clottey, Clottey, Clottey. All of this is captured on the Jumbotron and in my video cam, although I could not hold my camera still.

Then, Manny Pacquiao, the WBO World Welterweight champion, appears and walks with his entourage toward the ring, and lights up the screen with his face beaming. The crowd goes absolutely nuts screaming for Manny. My chest was pounding from the excitement and the thunderous roar…..OMG unbelievable. I tried to capture the excitement by videoing the action, but it is just not same as being there. Please listen to the crowd as Arnel Pineda completes singing the Filipino National Anthem. Ah, I can see it now in a future event…..Arnel and Charice singing the anthem to Manny at the next World Championship Fight.

The rest of my experience can best be described by asking you to watch the videos sequentially. I apologize for the poor quality. This was my first attempt at filming and it obviously shows. I tried to pan away from the action occasionally and give you a sense of the crowd, the excitement, and the pure unadulterated joy of the Manny Pacquiao fans.

To view the videos, simply mouseover onto a play icon at the end of each title.

.Written and Posted by Max