My instrumental version of an Eraserheads song

It’s more than a week today since I watched this great reunion concert, but all those happy and nostalgic memories are still on my mind.

I was inspired by the last song the Eraserheads performed that night. The title is Lightyears from the band’s Fruitcake album. The song’s lyrics became more meaningful and significant in the context of Ely Buendia’s mother who passed away just two days before the band’s historic concert. And so I composed an piano/flute instrumental version of it the day after the concert.

I did the instrumental using the open-source music maker NoteEdit on my Ubuntu Linux laptop. I listened closely to the original song’s melody and rhythm, and I strived to preserve the essence of the original sound in the instrumental, in particular the melody, key and chords. I also kept the instrumental as simple as possible.

So ladies and gentlemen, here it is:

Eraserheads - Lightyears (instrumental by Perry Valdez)

Big deeper, north of nowhere
Outside the room inside my mind
(I) look forward to tomorrow
But can I leave yesterday behind
How it feels so strange
To have grown and change
Now it’s not the same

Coz time slips and slides into another place
And try as we might to understand each other
Doesn’t really matter where you are
It always seems so very far
It’s like you’re light years away
You’re light years away from me

Little deeper, south of somewhere
It looks much closer than it really is
I held it in my hands
But you’re forever out of reach
Far as the eye can see
Nothing is meant to be
Doesn’t mean much to me

But oh, if I only had a rocket ship to fly
I’d be right there in a minute
But it doesn’t really matter where you are
However near is still so far
It’s like you’re light years away
You’re light years away from me, oh…

Far as the eye can see
Nothing is meant to be
Doesn’t mean much to me

But time slips and slides into another place
And try as we might to understand each other
Doesn’t really matter where you are
It always seems so very far
It’s like you’re light years away
You’re light years away from me

Look forward to tomorrow
But can I leave yesterday behind

The songs the Eraserheads would have performed

We all know that the Eraserheads reunion concert was cut short due to Ely Buendia’s poor health. He was rushed to the hospital just after the first set of songs. I was there at the concert.

Some fans proceeded to the backstage after the Eraserheads staff and the promoter left the venue. They found a piece of paper containing the full set list of what the band would have performed that night.

They are:

First Set

Alapaap
Ligaya
Sembreak
Hey Jay
Harana
Fruitcake
Toyang
Kama Supra
Kailan
Huwag Kang Matakot
Kaliwete
With A Smile
Shake Yer Head
Huwag Mo Nang Itanong
Light Years

Second Set

Maskara
Poorman’s Grave
Torpedo
Trip to Jerusalem
Back to Me
Maselang Bahaghari
Maling Akala
Tikman
Spoliarium
Magasin
Para Sa Masa
Overdrive
Pare Ko
Minsan
Ang Huling El Bimbo

Eraserheads reunion concert updates

This time, the Eraserheads reunion concert is not for free anymore. Ticket prices are Php 800 and Php 1,300 (Php 824 and Php 1,334 if you purchase from TicketWorld). You can also buy from selected National Bookstore branches, such as the one in SM Megamall.

The concert will still be held in the Fort Bonifacio open field and will start at 8:00 pm. It’s going to be strict in there. The gates will open at 3:00 pm and will close at 8:00 pm. It’s recommended to bring an ID with you.

The band will perform more than 20 songs. There will be no front acts and no acts in-between performances.

The concert will be produced by Radiohead Media  Solutions, Inc. in cooperation with Sony-BMG. Philip Morris will not going to be involved in the concert.

See also Pupil’s site. 

Eraserheads reunion concert at Fort Boni

The Eraserheads will have their reunion concert on August 30, 2008  8:00 pm at the Fort Bonifacio open field, Global City, as officially announced by Philip Morris. The concert will be an invitation-only event. Invitations will be distributed exclusively through an age-restricted website.

Update: (Unofficial announcement) The site is going to be updated very soon, please read the mechanics carefully on the updated website. You are going to download an invitation ticket which can be printed only once. If you lose this printed ticket, you will lose your ticket forever. So take care of your ticket.

At the concert venue itself, please bring government-issued ID’s (SSS ID, postal ID, voter’s ID, etc.) for your proof of age. I recommend those ID’s with both your photo and your date of birth on it.

Official Confirmation: Here’s an email message from Philip Morris Managing Director, Chris Nelson, dated August 8, 2008:

Dear All,

I wish to inform everyone that we have confirmed in media today that the Eraserheads will be performing in a one-night only event as part of our Marlboro Red Nation promotions which we have been running for the past two years for our adult smokers. The event will be held on August 30 at the Bonifacio Global City open grounds in Taguig City.

PMPMI supports regulation of the manufacture, marketing and distribution of our products. This is why we supported the passage and implementation of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

The event is permitted under the provisions of the law related to promotions. The Eraserheads performance is not a form of sponsorship which is not allowed by the law. PMPMI’s participation in the event is not as a sponsor, but as a promoter.

This is an invitation only event, restricted to adults and not open to the general public. Invites to our adult smokers will be distributed exclusively through an age-restricted website which is also permitted under the law. Invitations will also be reserved for our trade and business partners, and selected adult guests.

We acknowledge the interest the event has generated and we will strive to keep everyone updated on the developments.

Best regards,

Chris