The 5 hottest Family singers contest/poll or whatever you wanna call it.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:
1 Benedicte Verger Ross
2 Agnes Verger
3 Niki Rudow
4 Crytal Lily Begley
5 Haven Sutton

OK, I'm gonna post who I think are the five HOTTEST Family singers (that means girls by the way).
But WAIT -I decided I need YOUR help to decide WHO gets the billing. So, write in the comment box who YOU think are the five hottest female Family singers & influence my decision. Do it NOW -tomorrow may be TOO LATE!

LET THE DEAD............bury thier dead.

Total awesomeness. The 1st ever Family heavy metal band that actually performs together!

www.myspace.com/letthedead

Deep Thought

"What makes a man?"
-A woman!

Metal Matters

(I wrote this in reply to a topic on Jayman's blog, & I thought to re-post it here.)

To me, metal is an extreme. It is the top of the totem poll as far as rock style music can get. I have very wide musical tastes & can listen to just about anything (well….there’s a few styles that I can’t listen to but I’ll ignore them), but right now i am fully caught up in the metal era. I think it is one of those extra things that is needed to fullfill the tastes of all members. We need to have an alternative to every style/genre of system music that we can, so that we can keep our young people/teens off of the junk out there.
Metal gives me a sort of electric shock. It is very emotion-drenched style of music. The whole screaming/wild drums & guitar thing just pulls you to a feeling of extreme power & feeling & emotion. Dad says that music should make you mad, sad, or glad, and metal takes these to new hights.
You’re mad at the devil & the system? Don’t wisper it nicely & politely, SCREAM IT at them! You’re glad to be a child of God, winning the world for him? Don’t secretly tell the person next to you, SCREAM IT on the rooftops! You’re sad that someone you love left the Lord’s service? Don’t mope in your room, SCREAM IT to the Lord.
And that’s all I have to say about metal. Cheers

Vote For Metanoya!

http://participer.rfo.fr/france-o-folies/vote.php?candidat=5&session=03_meaux

Follow that link & vote for The Metanoya to play at large music festival. Only one out of five bands will win. A vote for Metanoya is a vote for Christ!

The FTTs & Me -Part 3

Continued from Part 2

FTT 11 –Shangri-La.
The first song on this album is arguably the best one. Godfrey once again gave us a glimpse of the rock he would produce in later years with his hit song “Radical Teens”. The driving rock on that song was a new step towards the unconventional, and it drove our parents mad, ha. “Here in Shangri-La” took us to Shangri-La in spirit with Sunny’s vocals & Makoto’s guitar. It also was purported to be the first ever song with all the real instruments recorded –as in real drums rather than a drum machine & real bass rather than a synthesizer. Of course, this album would not be worth mentioning with paying tribute to the smashing number “Outlaw”, which once again gave David Hungarian a snug place as one of the guitar greats. This album was released soon after the Go for the Gold letter & the Law of Love series was printed, and as such there were two very fine songs on those subjects: “Touch From Heaven” & “He’s Made Us A Family” were beautiful numbers which increased the popularity of Francesco & Hopie. Then there was the African-flavored number “Wake With the Morning Sun” which many people bounced to. Asante Sana, A Squished Banana, dudes.

FTT 12 –In The House.
I will go to heads with anybody who does not agree that this tape was THE finest FTT of the pre-CD era (which started with FTT 15). I generally rate favorite albums by the ratio of songs I like/songs I dislike, and in this album, the ratio is 12/1!!! It is nearly impossible to tell you in detail which songs I like from here, & also that would break my rules by naming them all as that would show which one I don’t like, which I won’t do. However, I must give credit to where credit is due & speak of the “greats”. I think the best song on this album would have to be “Love Our Way out of Here”. At the time of the 18th FTT, my brother & I tested the tapes to see which one had the longest straight lead break. Two songs made about even –both were played my Makoto, and one of them was this one! Hopie’s vocals also made a climax here & sealed the deal with me as my top female singer after Sylvia. Don’t you just love her scream at the end of the song? Her other great number here was “Living & Loving”, with more sweet guitar as well as some fine bass. There were 3 other songs that came right after this one and once again had lots of lead. The first was the awesome “World of Uncertainties”, with David Hungarian’s excellent work again. Would you believe it, but the first question I asked him was “How did you make your guitar sound like a horse neighing?” The next song was the beautiful “Always Here For You”& the third was the first song to be published that Makoto actually wrote; “You, My Precious Gift”, we were not disappointed. This tape was released right before on vacation we had and of course it played in the car all the way to the beach, ever time we drove around, and all the way home. And we still couldn't get enough of it! I still don’t get board of hearing it. In fact, I need to go hear it again.

FTT 13 –March On Strong.
I remember lots of female teens & YAs flipping over this tape due to the fact that good ol’ Chris Konen had a whopping three songs to hear. Those would be the excellent remix of “Give a Little”, as well as 2 great LJ songs “Take Me Now” & “I Believe in You”. As for me, the only song I remember loving at its release was “Do or Die Life”, which broke new ground in the Rap genre. Later on, I was awed by the guitar on “On Line”, and I rather enjoyed the uniqueness of “So What” & “Anticipation”. Of course Sylvia’s “Love Constraineth Me” & Hopie’s “A Love That Is Real” were beautiful & moving and well loved by me.

FTT 14 –Rhythm & Grooves.
This was the first ever all-dance album and it took the dance nights by storm. I remember when my Jett overseer brought in the tape after devotions & gave us a listen. I recall that my first thought was that I was VERY displeased with the remixes of songs I liked before –especially when the originals were rock songs. However, there were several original numbers that were very fine! Sylvia’s “Rhythm of Your Heart” was a killer! And Francesco’s “Acreditar” made me think that Portuguese songs weren’t all that bad, ha. “Cool Breeze” was an interesting song, and I seriously liked the rock sound that it had. To top it off were the two final numbers, Hopie’s “Lord Gave to Me” (which is infinitely better than the original Simon Black version from the OFM) & “All The Love”, a very cute sounding LJ song. This was the first tape that started the “Black Tape Era”, where instead of a sticker with the title & song names on it, they instead printed the text directly on a black tape with white ink. Consequently, those tapes tend to have no more text on them as it all rubs off. The tapes in this era were FTT’s 14 & 15, NF’s 1 & 2, DC 3 Eagle Bleeds, and the finest Christmas tape ever produced by TFI, Little Drummer Boy.

FTT 15 –Heartbeat.
This album was a climactic change in the Family Music scene. Why? Because it was both the last FTT ever published on tape, & the first ever published on CD! I remember when the entire home gathered together to listen to this CD all the way through. There was swaying, head banging, cheering, clapping, rapping & rocking. “Heaven Send the Rain” was a great continuation of the original techno numbers of the last FTT. “Holy Commission” was a unique Irish-flavored song with Hopie’s fine vocals. “Make It Happen” was….well….a review of all the famous personas of the time, including a billion dollar tyrannosaurus. I spent many hours carefully learning the rap portions of this song til I knew that there was no use pressing Heffner’s girls, trying to ‘Hustle’ Larry, or get help from Wacko Jacko or his dancing. “Wild Cats” was the next song and THAT was totally awesome! Driving rock, first roars in Family music (the Lions, ha ha), and some serious lead! Of course, the best song ever on this album was Hopie’s “Million Voices”, which tied with “Love Our Way Outta Here” for the longest (and coolest) lead break in Family music! “Piece of Heaven” was a very nice rock love song that is still one of the better break-up songs in the Fam. The CD ended on the right note with the driving remix of the old song “Keep From Dancing” (which combined the finest male vocalists in Japan all together in one song –Chris, Jeff, & Francesco), and the beautiful witnessing song “Heartbeat”. We knew Family music had made another jump & Heaven was just a heartbeat away!

To Be Continued……………

The FTTs & Me -Part 2

Continued from Part 1

FTT 06 -Stir It Up.
No, this tape had nothing whatsoever to do with stirring any kind of cream soup -and a good thing too or I would have burned it! I remember the fine day one a my teachers brought this new fangled tape it to play it to us OCs. (Yeah, thank you Gabe.) I remember that all my fellows loved "Charlie" from the start, while me with my very refined music tastes gave my love to "Doublespeak". That is still (after 13 years) my favorite song on the album. In fact, for any of you who like to hear guitar instrumentals I would highly recommend downloading the BMT from the MO site & giving it a listen. It's awesome. I remember liking very few songs on this tape, as they all seemed either slow with little or no rock guitar, or Latin, which I never really enjoyed. Of course, "Charlie" was & is a great number -and only the original (frowns down the remixes which removed Makoto's lead break)! "Uncharted Seas" was very well done, as was "Instrument of Your Peace". Originally I really liked "Set Me Free", though I have since grown tired of 'approaching level six security zone'.

FTT 07 -Bold & Brave.
This tape was oft heard playing by some new listener, but i didn't get the chance to hear it for myself for about 2 weeks after it was released. My teacher (the mother of the man who gave us Stir It Up) though it wasn't for my age -til my Dad cleared it up (Txs). Then one fine & sweaty cleanup day I got the full dose, back to back with another new release DC's Dropped Out. The only song I remember from that first hearing was "When Will the War Be Ended", a song I disliked until the pictures (music video) came into my imagination. Of course, the song that was the hit with my guitar busting brother & I was "Spend Time", which was all the more helped later seeing Makoto himself playing it at the 1998 India Concerts. Awesome! "Essence of Life" was swallowed by all young females with the urge to dance. (And you can see THAT on the selfsame India Concert) This tape also came out around the time Family Fun 16 came out -yes the one where Chris Konen made his debut & performed his way into the hearts of the entire Family teen girl population on the first ever real Family music video! What many didn't know was that his debut actually came with a song on FTT 07 called "The King's Return", which also had some sweet guitar by his brother Jeff. Another song which passed me by due to total lack of knowledge of the reason behind it's writing was "Jesse's Song", written by Jesse of the Austin Accident, which I still know next to nothing about. Now I hear that song & realise in it's quiet way it was a preceding to the rock era that was coming to the Family -listen closely & you'll see.

FTT 08 -Breaking Down The Walls.
I got this tape on a pre-release recording that was played during a home activity. I remember the first song "Breaking Down the Walls" was totally awesome! I also remember my parents hating it (my Dad still does). Then this tape was lost to me for years, as I think we only had one copy as a home. The next time I heard it was a year or two later, and I started catching some of teh greats in it. I had favorites like "He'll Help You Hold On", "As Time Goes By", "Know The Power"(guys, there is some SERIOUSLY good guitar playing in the background at the end if you listen closely -including the first ever tapping), & "Want Every Bit of Your Love". For some time this became my favorite pre-CD era FTT. I still really, really love it. And now I have added "When I'm Loving You" (a great Haven LJ song), "Child of Weakness", & "Close Your Eyes" to my list.

FTT 09 -Destined
I don't recall exactly when this album was released, but I do remember it being the most played FTT I have ever heard, possibly because there seemed to be a lot of cleanup days at the time. I recall that I didn't think much of this tape, and would have rather heard more of the last one or the other tape that was released around the same time (LJ 02 -Desiring You). Of course, times change & people change, and soon I was in love with "The Upper Road", "You Will Always Care", & "His Love Is Worth It All". I still do not fully understand why just about everyone I knew, and many I didn't know, loved "Lady Maria". I didn't -until Rebellion of David made their kick-arse version! Later, when rediscovering the old tapes at 16, I added "Days of Preparation", & "Don't Put Down Your Crown" (Jeff Konen's debut) to my list. This was the tape that started me chasing Amiee -then called Hopie, as my top favorite female vocalist (since my 1st favorite Sylvia kinda slowed production).

FTT 10 -Heaven Is
This was another tape, like Breaking Down the Walls, where the first song was the beginning of the storm that was the tape. "Heaven Is" was just sexy! This tape also accomplished the deed of making my brother JP want to play guitar like David Hungarian, who he still gives the "thumbs up" too, and for a good reason! With the number "Consider the Poor" it was a guitar experience! (I really should make a music video of that! I have more than enough poor people clips from Cambodia.) Vas also kicked some heavy duty arse with his awesome songs "I Feel It" & "All I Wanna Be". But it was Makoto's guitar licks at the end of "Something Better" that were the rage with the me and JP. I also have a special love for "The Helmet" & "Angel's Wings", both gripping spiritual numbers. But, please never ever remind me that I once liked "X-Tasy". Oh dear!

To Be Continued...............

The FTTs & Me -Part 1

Now, I know, in all likelihood no one actually reads this blog, or goes on it, or anything -but just in case somebody does stumble upon it at some point, I thought they might be interested to know about my musical journey that made me into the Family Music freak I am today. I'll be going through all the officially released albums (FTT/TCD, LJ, NF, DC, MB etc), telling a little about my first impressions of them when they were released and how I view them now. Hope you enjoy -let the finger-pointing-while-laughing begin!

FTT 01 -Hearts Aflame.
I remember when this was released it was the first modern, produced by young people tape that had come since the DC album "Back on Track". Naturally it took the young people by storm. But sadly, it didn't take me. Actually I hated this album for years. No, not because the songs were bad -but because of the music videos that were released around the same time. What happened was that on happy Family Day, we went hiking in the mountains & then we swam in a man-made reservoir to cool off. I was 7 or 8 years old and I couldn't swim! The consequence was that I nearly drowned because of the steep slope of the reservoir. If my older brother hadn't stopped playing with his buddies and rescued me at the last minute I would not be here today (Thank you Petrus!) After that, we went home & lo & behold, Burn Free 2 was to be played for the home that night. Problem? Yep, watch it! Almost every song had some part filmed by the sea or a large body of water. (The Wave!!) AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH. Not what I wanted to see after nearly filling my lungs with the liquid! Hence I couldn't hear that tape with drowning coming back to haunt me! I only started liking that tape after about the age of 16, when I started broadening my musical tastes & thinking music videos in earnest. Nowadays, "The Wave" is a song I like quite a lot. There are now several songs I think are/were pretty good on that original FTT. Songs like "Hearts Aflame", "The Antenna", "God's Explosions" & "If I Never Saw Your Face." I still don't like Burn Free 2, bad memories (not to mentions hairdos), ha.

FTT 02 -Flying High.
I remember hearing a conversation between my Dad & a VS about the new tapes. The VS was telling Dad that there were 2 new ones (Flying High & Hot or Cold) that he would like to play for the home. He did, but I wasn't invited. (too young) I remember that my Mom bought a copy of this tape for my big brother, and that I was envious of his "personal"copy. I later found out that he didn't like the FTT, ha. I remember liking this one a lot -especially "Psychic Waste" & "Johnny's Shoes". I am also irritated to remember that certain a female teenager (Yes, if you're reading this Stephanie, I'm talking about YOU) would play "Run to You" over, & over, & over again! Nowadays, the only songs I really like from that album are "Heaven Beyond Tomorrow"& "Flying High".

FTT 03 -Hot or Cold.
I have little memory of this tape at its release, besides the song the album is named after, as I think it may have been more of a "headphones tape". Though i do remember hearing a LOT of the old-style RAP songs, which drove the FGA's nuts! A year or two later, my brother JP & I and two other friends all got really into music -we wanted to start a BAND! (Yeah, a group 9-12 year olds! Whoohoo) The guitar works on this tape -especially the still-awesome songs of "Safe in the Arms", "All Hail to the Queen, & "Win the World Together" were often played by my aspiring guitarist brother. Now I add "The Cathars" to that list of great songs from this album.

FTT 04 -Plugged In.
Yep, and the first song on that tape "Tap Into The Power", was memorised & sung by all young OC & Jett rappers. "They Got The Money" was an immediate hit, and still is a very awesome song! At it's release, I was a big fan of "Space City Park" especially the treat-with-the-girls part. Times change, ha. Both of Sylvia's songs ("Jesus, Loving Jesus" & "A Hug & Touch") were always deeply loved by me. And this album would not be complete with out the eternal, all-time hit, first Francesco number "Til the End of Time"! Embarrassingly enough, JP & I actually recorded our own version of that song. Him playing guitar (Did I mention he wanted to be Makoto Nobuka?) & me singing -with all the correct vocal intonations, yet TOTALLY off-key! I pray that recording is at the bottom of the ocean or destroyed by atomic weapons! "Mystery Babylon" & "Your Love Takes Me Higher" are now also loved by me.

FTT 05 -In It Together.
Revolution for Jesus & Godfrey's 1st song! Forever a hit & forever hated by the adults, ha! Once again, Sylvia sang her way into my heart & made me love her. There weren't/aren't too many other ones that I particularly love from there except "When Heaven's on My Mind", though there are quite a few others that I do like. I do not remember the release of this tape at all.

To Be Continued...........

"Bedlam" Is Back!

Spinoff from the band "NOMAD" located in Budapest, Hungary, "X-BEDLAM" presents a heavy message with the heavy music! David (Guitar) & Andy (Vocals), both Hungarian nationals team up with their old band friends to give the youth of Budapest a radical message wrapped in awesome music. With songs such as 'America the Whore' & 'Face of Distress', I believe this is going to go places!

Check out their myspace page for snippets of the songs: www.myspace.com/xbedlam

Metanoya Music Videos

They've hit the number 5 and it's still 5-star! Watch these awesome music videos by an awesome band! The Metanoya!

Levons Nos Verres


Despising The Shame


What Good...?


The Room


Feel Alive
Feel Alive--The Metanoya

Forever Xtreme!

This is the song. The song that we were banned from having a copy of, for fear it would get out to those who hadn't attended the XD 2007. Well, as some ppl know, it did get out due to someone who had it, ha ha. But the good news is, it has been officially released for everyone's enjoyment! Yay!
For those of us who were there at the XD, the feeling of power that came when we heard this song was indescribable, as I'm sure many of my fellow XDers will tell you.
You want the song? You can have it!


FOREVER XTREME

Verse 1
It has begun
We are called to many places
All together now to come & face the sun
No longer young
Prepare to stand together
To get ready for forever
Let it be sung
The choice is done
Mediocrity disgusts me
From myself I wanna bust free
To kingdom come
Now I know more
Yes, No more afraid of trying
No more afraid of dying
I’m to the core!

Chorus
Extreme I’ll be
No more time for what was me
I’m living for eternity
Jesus, I give you full sway
Make me stronger every day
Forever extreme!

Verse 2
I've tasted love
In its real and perfect form
Truly different from the norm
And I want more
Time to expose
With the shadows can no longer hide
With the evils of the system we will collide
So bring it on!
In the power of our lover
We wont cower under cover
Afraid of hell
Satan watch out!
Because we are coming at you
We swear that by the time we are through
You’re gonna yell
Because…..

Chorus
Extreme I’ll be
No more time for what was me
I’m living for eternity
Jesus, I give you full sway
Make me stronger every day
Forever extreme!

It's the LYRICS that count.....

144. (Jesus:) I will ask you a question: In the days of old, didn't I instruct My children to build a temple? Didn't I instruct My children to burn sacrifices to Me, to slaughter the beasts, to burn them? Wasn't it part of their worship and praise and atonement? And didn't the heathen also have temples and have sacrifice and have worship to their gods?
145. Though these actions, these motions, were similar, weren't they also different in spirit? For some worshipped Me, and the others worshipped false gods, gods that were not gods. Didn't priests of both do the same thing? Didn't My priests slaughter the beasts and offer them up to Me for My people, and didn't their priests slaughter the beasts and offer them up unto their gods? These things are very much the same, but some of it was Godly and the other was ungodly.
146. I make this parallel to show you that at times the action can be the same, but the spirit is not the same; that there can be two actions that look the same, but one will be unto God and the other unto Satan, the god of this world. So it is with this music, for when My children, My priests, play and sing unto Me, even if there is a similar sound to that music which worships the gods of this world, even though they seem and sound so similar, as the two temples seemed so similar, yet they are so different.
147. What made it different? They did the same actions, they went through the same motions. The difference was that My people worshipped Me, the true God. Because they obeyed Me and because their hearts were pure, these actions were actions unto God. So when My children play music unto Me with pure hearts, and they are My children who obey and listen to Me, then this music is as praise to Me.
148. But understand that there is a difference between the music that has a message in the words, and the music that is the message, that has no words. The music that has the message in the words is a vehicle for the message of the words. The music carries the message into the hearts and the minds of man. It is a powerful vehicle for delivering the message. With this vehicle, the vehicle is not so important because the message is contained in the words. When the words uplift Me and praise Me, when they bring forth My Message, this will be what is understood and received in the hearts and minds of men.
149. The music will take it there, and once there, it will go 'round and 'round. It will be heard over and over in the mind and in the heart, and it shall settle there, and what settles there is the words and the message and the simple tune. For when you think of any song, no matter what the vehicle, and you think about it in your mind and heart, you remember the words and the simple tune. The vehicle transported it there, but you don't always remember all the instruments, you simply remember the message and simple tune. So do not be afraid to send the message on an elaborate vehicle, on a vehicle that is acceptable and is welcome and is desired, for in the end, what is remembered is the message.
150. But the music without the words is the message and, as your David has said, some is Godly and some is not. If a Godly person plays music that is ungodly, the message of that music remains ungodly, for the music is the message. If an ungodly one plays music that is Godly, it remains Godly, for the music is the message.
151. Haven't I promised that I would pour out upon you the music that would reach the hearts of your young ones? Haven't I said that there is a multitude Here who wish to inspire this music and these words? It is Here! Spread the message that it is Here, and it will be given! If these will come before Me and cry out to Me, I will give it, that they may have all their needs supplied. I will give them music that will be for them and that will reach their hearts, that will encourage their souls, that will speak their thoughts, that will express their needs, that will explain their feelings and that will inspire them to serve Me, to come to Me and to march to the tune that I play for them, as they march towards the End!
152. Do not hold them back and do not be afraid, for they are My children, raised from their youth with My Words! If they will now seek Me, I will give them blessings, and I will bless them with the sounds of Heaven! (End of prophecy.)

153. Isn't it fascinating to see how the Lord answered our question? He drew that parallel between the temple sacrifices that His children made and the very similar ones that the Devil's children made. He said that though they seemed to be doing the same thing, that the Spirit was different. He said that two actions can look the same, but one can be good, because it is done as unto the Lord, and the other will be bad, because it is done unto Satan.
154. What He is saying in answer to our question is that, yes, we can produce music which sounds similar to the System! This is because we have Godly lyrics and are doing it as unto the Lord! The Godly message is the important thing, and the music is just a vehicle! Even if the music is somewhat on the wild side, if the message is solidly Family, and is Word or Word-based, it won't matter, as the music will simply be a vehicle to get the message into the hearts of the listeners.
155. On the other hand, He said that with instrumental music, the music itself is the message. It's like classical music which doesn't have words. Some of it is beautiful music inspired by God, and whether a Godly person or an ungodly person plays it, it will still remain Godly. In other words, the message of the music, even though it doesn't have words, will be Godly. If the music is ungodly, it doesn't matter who plays it, Godly or ungodly, because the message of the ungodly music is ungodly.
160. So you see, with music that doesn't have words, the music is the message, but with music that does have words, the words themselves are the message, so the music is less important. So, my dear young people, let's write songs that have the message of God, the message for the youth of today, the message for our Family youth as well. We want teen music for our teens! Can you do it? You can if you pray! The Lord says the songs are there for the asking; all you have to do is to tune in and receive them. Will you? The Lord says if you will, He will "supply all your need for music".
(New Music for a New Day! [#3022])

The Band

Anyone wonder if Neo actually does anything regarding music besides just listening to it?? Now you'll know- I play drums in a band here in Cambodia. This year at Christmas we performed 6 concerts at different locations, and damn, it was fun! The members of the band are:

David Oresko: Vocals, Guitar
Lea Soldner: Vocals
Neo Soldner: Drums
James Soldner: Bass

Here are some clips of us playing in our band room/studio:

CHRISTMAS EVE


WHAT IS THIS I SEE


SILENT NIGHT


Thought you might enjoy that.