On the record

MUSIC HALL
Performing tonight
Cynthia Alexander & Humanfolk

1. Look at us. June 15th, Friday, two friends and I went to 19 East in Sucat to watch one of Cynthia Alexander's send-off gigs. She's headed to the States. I've always loved her, but I've never seen her perform live. The same is true for my friends.

At dinner before the show:

'How was the Lady Gaga concert? Were there a lot of protesters?'

'I'm not sure, but I don't think that was a huge group. I think it was just the people on Twitter that's making the whole thing sound like a bigger deal than it actually is. The problem is something gets re-tweeted a few times and it's as if it's already news.'

'True. Look at us, we're here.'

2. Pag-isahin. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable evening. The show started at 9:30 and we said good night at 3 in the morning. In Cynthia's solo set, she played all of our favorites. All.

But what struck me was a new song, which lyrics was written by Vim Nadera:

Hanggang kaya mong gumising at kaya kong managinip, kaya nating pag-isahin ang darating at aalis.

Left: solo set; right: with Humanfolk

3. Moving. Of course she talked (tersely) about the much-discussed departure:

I'm not leaving, I'm moving. You think, 'What am I going to do there?' [audience shouts, Stay here!] I'll be on Facebook, don't worry. [drumroll] I'll be coming home. I'll be doing another album. You'll listen to it, right? [audience says yes]

4. Punless. And the tired yet still indulgent Cynthia Alexander signed my copy of Walk Down the Road:

Razel, punless, but Surely Peaceful
Cynthia Alexander

'What's your name?'

'Razel—like Rapunzel.'

'Oh, you're called Rapunzel? Really?'

'No, just Ra-zel. It's Rapunzel without the pun.'

'Ah, yeah.'