i just can't get enough!

i'm a janitor or oh my genitals?

video and song of the week! THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS

this band has always inspired me! please check out their latest single "I'm Impressed" and i'm mos def impressed by this video.

i can't get no sleep! deep house oh yeah!

ok so did this video copy madonna's vogue or did madonna copy la india?!
think about it...
i know who is the better singer though...LA INDIA!
i used to dance to this song in my living room when i was just a wee lady.

some songs can just perfectly pull on the heartstrings!

another educational video!

i love scarfs! my past 2 trips to chile have included gifts of massive bags full of scarfs from the 50's y 60's out of mi abuelita lucy's closet. i try to wear them at every gig i do to show them off to lucy, and she gets a kick out of it.

now, this video will teach all of us some basic scarf applications and twists to compliments anyone's outfit this fall.

enjoy!

Pilar's "Piñata" remixed by M.I.S.

click above to buy the single on itunes!

song of the week! "Surprise Hotel" by Fool's Gold

a few years back, i was lucky enough to see the beginnings of fool's gold at backyard parties. former drummer (2002-2004) of los abandoned, garrett ray, plays drums, along with some other very, very talented musicians! super happy to see fool's gold getting out there past the echo park lake vicinity. yay!

Follow The Piñata Adventures! by Julio Salgado

This is the very first episode of Piñata Adventures, from April 20, 2009

song of the week! "Mad World" by Tears For Fears

can we please bring back Top Of The Pops to television or youtube or vimeo or something???!!!
Tear for Fears..."as cool as cocoa"

new music video for mi canción "El Otro Yo"

by the one and only José Asunción!
check out what Club Fonograma had to say about the video:
"This third audiovisual offering is a lot more personal. Four minutes before going into stage, a moment of excitement and nervousness, its nicely framed and aware of its depth, generous to its space and time and beautifully lighted. Enjoy. " - Club Fonograma September 20, 2009

song of my life! "Gangsters" by The Specials

this is the bad ass music i grew up with. thank you very mucho terry hall & 2 tone records!

song of the day: U2 "Bad"

Someday I hope to coordinate an event like Live Aid.
This song goes out to my best friend Augustine's brother Bryon, who passed away last month.

Letras/Lyrics to "Novia De Soldado"

This is a song I wrote with one of my best friends, Bárbara Matas, from Chile.
We also made the video for the song together during my trip down south back in January.



Club Fonograma just put up an EXCLUSIVE FREE DOWNLOAD of the killer remix by Frank Leopold of Mucho Wednesdays.
Check it out HERE

"NOVIA DE SOLDADO"

PORQUE SOLA TE ESPERO, PERAS PARA QUIEN ESPERA
GUINDAS PARA LAS LINDAS, Y ARMADA DE PACIENCIA

OOOH

ESPERO COMO UNA PERA, QUE UNA NOCHE CUALQUIERA
PASES A BUSCARME, PARA LLEVARME AL CINE
O FESTEJAR, MI VIDA, EL FIN DE TANTA GUERRA Y TANTA VIDA PERDIDA
O FESTEJAR, MI VIDA, EL FIN DE TANTA GUERRA Y TANTA VIDA PERDIDA

PORQUE LLEGARA EL DIA
(TU ERES EL QUE QUIERO)

CUANDO VUELVAS TU SANO, NUNCA MAS SOLDADO
TU ESTARAS A MI LADO, PAZ Y AMOR ES LO QUE QUIERO
PARA MI AMOR, Y PARA MI, PARA MI MADRE, Y MI PAIS,
PARA LOS HIJOS DE TODOS AQUI, PARA LOS HIJOS DE LOS DE ALLI

Y ARMADITA DE PACIENCIA, YO SOY LA REINA DE LA CIENCIA
Y ARMADITA DE PACIENCIA, YO SOY LA REINA DE LA CIENCIA

PORQUE LLEGARA EL DIA
(TU ERES EL QUE QUIERO)


"NOVIA DE SOLDADO"
2008
performed by Pilar Díaz
music by Pilar Díaz (ASCAP)
lyrics by Bárbara Matas (SCD)

song of the day! "Paper Chase" by Ayana John

You bitchin' about money lately? Me too and this track is my new theme song to make sure I'm keeping on top of my budget.
Not really the "making of" this song but, more like hanging out with cool people and their thoughts on this song.


here's a live version of the song, not a great recording but you'll hear how good this song is!!! DAMN, I LOVE IT! Go Barbados!

artist of the week! YACHT

YACHT - Summer Song from Jona Bechtolt on Vimeo.

YACHT's new album just came out today and it's super good!
check out the video above, it's a take on one of my fave cult movies... TAPEHEADS!!!



Above is the original clip from the movie that the video is based on. Euro-Pop by Devo!
Watch both videos at the same time in synch!

tony, tony manero!

i am proud to say that chile has produced a different and original film. but my chilena pride can not mask the lukewarm response i had to it. i liked it, i did but, felt like only ONE emotion was being reflected by the characters in this film.
in the movie they call the main character "lifeless" but, that doesn't mean you have to make me feel like i'm watching an almost dead man's heart rate indicator. one long straight line beeping one tone all the way through until you get 3 or 4 instances of rapid beeps to remind you that you are still alive. but, i did like the film, just wished it would have had more vida in it. solo un poquitito más de vida.but that's what we chilenos did not have during pinochet's regime. maybe that's what the director was getting at.

frequencia mod soundtrack was awesome! when i was a kid, i wanted to be them.
check them out y'all! from disco to folklore!

MCA announcement

hey everybody, please pray for beastie boys' adam "MCA" yauch so that he heals quickly.

the zeros! original so cal punk is back!!! show is this thursday july 16

i am very excited to say that the zeros (all original members) are playing a show here in los angeles this week at the troubadour on thursday july 16!
here's some rare footage i found on youtube from one of my favorite so cal punk bands. "don't push me around" is the strokes times 1 million.

funny quote, but true!

Luis Buñuel - "Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese"
or a wine!

maicol!

i still can't write too much about how bad i felt when MJ died.
instead, i want to share this music video that delivers all the things i think he stood for musically and as a performer; unity, love, courage, world peace, invention, respect for african rhythms, fan of electric guitar solos, crazy for street dancing and yelling at the top of your lungs for people all over the world to hear. hoo!

i'm just a girl

since i was 14, i've loved the art of make-up!
and, i enjoy make-up tutorial videos. especially when they are homemade.
you get to learn from a real person, not a model, what works and what doesn't.

here's an interesting homemade tutorial, colors inspired by twitter of all things.


maybe i'll make my own tutorial this summer?!

Don't hate LA

Don't hate Los Angeles - Yes, the Lakers won the championship and yes, the city decided to fork over $1 million for the Lakers parade instead of giving that money to 20 teachers' salaries worth. That's enough to make you...barf on LA but, for the past few weeks I've been contemplating the good things this city has always been about. I want to expose and go back to the Los Angeles that has been forgotten because of the toxic trail paparazzis and money have left behind.

The saviors of this town are its hippies, old school 1970's transplants and environmentalists that can take you away from all the Hollywood crap.
The LA I really adore is being surrounded by nature in the middle of a hiking trail in the Santa Monica mountains, visiting Treepeople on Coldwater Cyn and planting trees, going to the beach and swimming in the ocean knowing that the locals helped clean that spot of water for you to bathe in. Midnight Ridazz for crying out loud is the new environmental movement! LA is one of the few cities in the United States that cares about eating healthy and not use plastic bags at the store. There is conscience in this city, not too far from the fakeness and wacky city budget.

And not all of us "hippies" have long white beards or tie-dye t-shirts on. Some of us have straight jobs and enjoy a Hollywood movie once in a while, yet deep down inside there's a green recycle logo that is light up right next to our heart.

LOS TRES: artist of the week AND of my musical life!

Currently I'm taking a summer break from playing live shows to focus on songwriting again.
And what I usually do when I'm getting myself back into writing mood is, I go way back...to my musical roots and influences.
One of the artists I listen to every time I need to get the writing juices flowing is, the one and only, Los Tres and main songwriter Alvaro Henriquez. Back in the 1990's, they were my main influence to want to become a songwriter.
Here's one of my favorite songs and videos of Los Tres, "No Me Falles" from 1999.

SOMOS TONTOS, NO PESADOS!

artist of the week! EXENE CERVENKA!

Exene Cervenka, from X, is more than the artist of the week, she's the survivor of the week.
LA Record just came out with the news that Exene has been diagnosed with MS.
Click here to read her brief statement on her diagnosis. She has the perfect attitude...staying positive. Let's support Sweet Relief, an organization that helps musicians attain healthcare. I mean, think about it...bars, clubs, and concert halls are not knocking down any musicians door to provide health insurance coverage.
This is one of my favorite X songs:

On Letterman playing live and an interview!:

Not only do I have a signed, framed limited edition poster of Exene on my wall, but she's been an influence to me and so many other female singers, especially us that reside in Los Angeles and looked up to the LA punk rock movement.
VIVA EXENE!

Las letras que salen de una Piñata

Gracias to everyone that's been asking for las letras to my song "Piñata"
Aqui estan, here we go:

"PIÑATA" lyrics by Pilar Díaz

FUCKED UP JUST LIKE A PIÑATA
ON THE FLOOR AND FEELING NADA
BEATEN HASTA ENSENADA
ES LA FORMA EN QUE ME TRATAN,
NEWSPAPER, STRING AND WRAPPED CANDY
SHEETS OF MULTI-COLORED FANCY,
PASTE, I’M WASTE-ING WHILE YOU’RE AIMING
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AGAINST ME.

OVER YOUR EYES, A BANDANA
BLINDING ALL OF YOU FROM GANAS
SET ME FREE QUIERO ESTAR SANA
HASTA QUE ME LLEGUEN CANAS
KNOWING THAT SOON YOU’D ALL BREAK ME
INTO PIECES FOR YOUR TAKING
MY INSIDES FEEL ROUGH AND HOLLOW
AND NOW I’M JUST FULL OF SORROW

CHORUS: TAKE YOUR PIECE, I’M BREAKING, I’M BREAKING LIKE A PIÑATA

“IN THE WRONG PLACE, AT THE WRONG TIME”
TELL MY FRIEND WHILE ON THE ROPE LINE,
“IT’S YOUR ASTROLOGICAL SIGN,
SHE SAYS WE SELF-DESTRUCT IN SLOW TIME
BUT, I’M JUST ENTERTAINMENT AT A PARTY
WHEN THE KIDS ARE FEELING NAUGHTY
Y AHORA NECESITO QUE ME SALVEN O ME QUITO

ONCE YOU HAD ME HUNG UP NICE AND PRETTY
WITH DÉCOR OF PASTE AND FRILLY
(AND) NOW I HAVE BECOME THE PAIN OF YOU LOOKING FOR TREASURE
THERE’S NO PLEASURE IN THE SHIT YOU BIT
AND I WILL BE SAVED FROM THE HIT
PORQUE AHORA YO QUIERO VIVIR

CHORUS: TAKE YOUR PIECE, I’M BREAKING, I’M BREAKING LIKE A PIÑATA

artist of the week: emily haines!

emily haines is now officially an honorary sudaca, yay!
she went to buenos aires, argentina in search of inspiration for the latest metric album.
watch this video to see what it's all about. i think i'm on the same boat when she talks about being simple with your writing and thinking. it seems like with a simple mindset, you have more energy to write, more joy enters your life, and one truly enjoys time with others no matter what's going on around you. whoever said being an artist means one has to be complicated in life is full of it. artists are already complex...give them room to breathe, support them, and just see what amazing creations will be inspired.
my "oprah" chat is over. :)

song of the day...a green day!

i had never heard this song until yesterday while putting up curtains in my new place.
my friend augustine came over to keep me company and was playing "you tube DJ"
and then i found this song...just now - years after it's release. goes to show you what i miss out on by not having a working car stereo! it's such a perfect pop song and there's nothing like going back to the 1960's structure of pop songwriting; start the song right away with the hook chorus and simple chords. keep the same beat the whole way through the song. build to the pre chorus/bridge that has unexpected melancholic chords. then, top it all off with the use of acoustic guitar, tambourine and indian sitar leads. oh, and, i believe almost every 60's song has the word "girl" in the title or in the lyrics. bravo green day!

i heart ukulele

movie trailer about the new ukulele movement.
after watching this i'm thinking "god...do i look like a drunk english man when i play the uke?!"

make your fingers move!

this is so funny to me. i've always liked it when people make their fingers "dance", it puts a smile on my face.
but, breakdancing fingers? that just tops it for me...LMFO (translation: laughing my fingers off)

canción del día!/song of the day!

i like the retro 80's influence this video and song has but like even more that it looks and sounds very NOW at the same time! i call it fresh-vintage. viva javiera!

artist of the week! LES RITA MITSOUKO

my friend bárbara turned me on to this band YEARS ago. bárbara grew up and lived in france for many years in between chile, spain and the US. so she has exclusive knowledge of many european acts that i might have missed out on by living in the good ol' USA. LES RITA MITSOUKO is for sure a huge influence for me, especially in my previous band.
yesterday i took a walk on the beach to watch the sunset and surprisingly heard LRM on my ipod after the album i was originally listening to finished. OH RITA! I HAD NOT HEARD YOU IN SO LONG! Vraiment unique!
this is LRM recording my favorite song "C'est Comme Ca" from the Jean-Luc Godard 1987 feature film Soigne ta droite




here's the full song at a live concert a few years ago! it just makes me want to get up and shake it all out! hope it makes you feel like singing along and dancing too!




a legit music video of their first hit!

ok that's it for this post, i'm obsessed with LES RITA MITSOUKO again...AU REVOIR!

song of the week! Los Jaivas "Sube A Nacer Conmigo Hermano"

I grew up listening to this band because mi tio Eduardo would play their record over and over and over again on the weekends at my grandma's house. A few years ago while visiting Chile, I found their CD box set at a record store and bought it immediately. The CD included this song which represents the fusion Latin America was creating in the 70's with traditional folkloric music and rock. This video shows them at their "peak" time in the early 80's. But, more importantly - after years of being exiled in France, Los Jaivas were accepted to come back to Chile for this festival while Pinochet's dictatorship still ruled. . .Los Jaivas then became Chile's musical pride. And still are...

more skateboarding videos! this time it's a WOMAN on the wheels!

best cover of a rock song in norteño style!

yes, it's gael garcia bernal singing - not bad!


this version is my favorite!

la dona verano

who i aspire to be like someday!

PM DAWN!

i just moved to a new little duplex in atwater village (so cute!)
and was going through my boxes of CDs (remember CDs?!)
looking for some music for my boyfriend's party. while we were looking, he found my PM DAWN CD "Jesus Wept" from 1995!
OMG! that CD got me through a lot back then. so, ever since saturday i've been on a 90's r&b kick
here's some good stuff i've found so far. GOD, PM DAWN IS SOOOO GOOD! they are the pioneers of mash up i think. every song uses a very recognizable sample of a whole song and they write their own song on top of it! enjoy, and in standard PM DAWN style - PEACE!

Whale & Dolphin Safari in SoCal! who knew?!

I couldn't find en embed code for this short video on SoCal's whale and dolphin safari trip.
Who knew that only a few miles from Dana Point, Orange County there are thousands of dolphins and some whales waiting to see us humans?! I think it's time for me to take up scuba diving again or for sure take this boat ride out to sea and watch these lovely water creatures.
here are the links:
WHALE AND DOLPHIN SAFARI VIDEO
DOLPHINSAFARI.COM

Mark Gonzales, skateboarder and artist.

wow! my second post about a skater. can't help it, i really enjoy watching skateboarding. i found this while searching for hosoi videos, and think it's hysterical, life affirming and the dude's got cojones.

check out his wikipedia entry, he's got plenty of accolades and success as a skater, artist, writer, actor, and... skater...again.
Mark Gonzales

Christian Hosoi, skateboarder.

when i was just a tween, along with my crush for c. thomas howell, was a big ol' crush on then skater boy, christian hosoi.

this is hosoi and mark gonzalez going at it in a very old school 80's skating competition, the music is perfect so cal punk!



this is a beautifully shot slow-mo film of hosoi at his peak, CHRIST AIR aerial trick. classic! hosoi is the one in the aqua blue neon lycra shorts y black converse.
i think skateboarding is one of the best things to watch in slow motion because when you watch in real time, everyone is skating so fast - there's not enough space and time for the eye to catch every detail. yay for whoever discovered slow motion!

realities of being a female touring musician

canción del día!

Let's go back to 1985...ska revival AND songs with purpose and meaning!

melvins melvins melvins!

pilar & filip vs. the melvins! from pilar díaz on Vimeo.
it's taken filip and i a few tries recording a new song due to unexpected, past volume 11, crazy-insane music jams coming from the always loud but lovable, melvins!!!

4.9.09 good reads!

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
this book took me almost a year to read...now that i'm done, i love it! but it took me a while to love it...the beginning was good but it took a while to develop all the characters. but, worth the wait to understand each character's background and story, since they all overlapped with each other.



what a work of art. i kind of want to read it again but this time see how fast i can read it. just kidding. there are so many people out there like lala's character; second, third generation latino. feeling like a ping pong ball when relating between two cultures and i think in this story, generations as well.

if you've ever driven from chicago to texas to mexico and back, you'll relate.

if you have a mexican family, you'll understand.

if you've romanced about your family's past, your heart will sink.

if you're a woman longing to see the world again through your eyes when you were just a girl, read this book!

yay for 8 months of caramelo!








View all my reviews.

4/3/09 ULI'S BIRTHDAY!

uli punches piñata from pilar díaz on Vimeo.
I went to Uli's birthday party in Echo Park last Friday. Around 1am, her husband and friends decide to dangle in front of her a piñata that later was full of small liquor bottles, cigarettes and twix candy. I've never seen someone box a piñata! GO ULI!

bedtime song...nite nite.

me encanta esta canción! good to listen to before going to sleep.
and i love this video because it's done all in one shot.
i discovered GEPE during my trip to chile this past january.
got to see him LIVE too! but, i only got a few minutes of his performance because my flip camera was running out of batteries. i'll post up that video soon.

Our friend Teresa is auditioning for the TV show "Top Chef"
We helped her make a little video while she cooked lamb, paella y fennel salad
YUM! GO T!!!
video by Jose Asunción
music by Pilar Díaz

March 23, 2009 Dilley, TX

Hanging out in Texas, experiencing my first BIG RED drink. Buying at a drive-through liquor store and drinking from a glass bottle is always best! Foto by José Asunción.

pilar con vino y queso y todo eso!

i had never heard of this song until today.
why do pretty, well-structured, hooky nostalgic songs make me sad and happy at the same time???!!!

3.8.09 cancion de la tarde - daniela romo "yo no te pido la luna"

3.3.09 song of the night: YURI!

Hit the Piñata!

music video by José Asunción

mi viaje a chile 2009: video #1

organillero de ñuñoa from pilar díaz on Vimeo.