Name That Tune

My neighbor across the street is playing Beethoven's majestic Ninth ("Ode to Joy"), the Moonlight Sonata and the baritone aria Largo al Factotum from Rossini's Barber of Seville on his CD player. (Hah! I think I can name every single tune). I can't believe it. So it seems I am not the only one in my neighborhood who listens to classical music.

I always thought otherwise, considering all houses here except mine have videoke machines. Week-ends here can be a torture sometimes, as my neighbors seem to be waging a contest of sorts, throwing full-throated renditions of ABBA and Air Supply at each other. This explains why Panda, Polar and now Grizzly have all decamped and moved somewhere else.

Maybe the air has become saturated with Village People, Laura Branigan and Barry Manilow, my neighbor took my cue and turned towards classical. Marc's correct in saying that the Philippine music scene appears to be stuck with the 70's and the 80's. Dancing Queen, YMCA, I Will Survive, gay anthems from the bell bottom, disco era. I always pass by the Araneta Coliseum and there's always a concert featuring has-been singers from decades past all the way back to the 60's.

Neil Sedaka, the Osmonds (of "Paper Roses" fame), Platters, the "real" Platters (apparently, the former featured members not anointed by the original members--perhaps some organizer picked out the black singers from streets in L.A., dressed them up like the Platters and sent them over to the Philippines to perform at the Araneta) and an assortment of one-hit wonders from the 80's. Even songwriters who used to work with the more recognizable 70's singers have a market here. Yes, we are the official has-been capital of the world. Johnny Mathis, where are you?

I really like it when I play Mozart on the piano and my neighbors across the street would be wailing like ambulance sirens. It makes for a stunning contrast.