Billie Joe is back!

He’s my Billie Joe Armstrong, the genius lyricist, the lead vocalist, and the guitarist of my favorite, favorite band—Green Day.

Well, he did not really go away. It’s just for a long time, I stayed away from music. At some point, I did not want to hear the songs that I like. Ironic, isn’t it? (Oh! I miss Alanis!). The lyrics of most songs I listen to are not particularly happy. Hey, I believe that the most beautiful songs are made of the saddest lyrics (sounds like Neruda, huh?). So intense, so meaningful, so dark, so vast. It feels like the words are mine, and the drama is enveloping my being. Okay, enough. This is overly dramatic already.

Anyway, I’m just joyful that I am again listening to the radio (and not DZMM all the time) and to my CDs and MP3s. Last Friday, I took out my Warning and American Idiot albums from their case and inserted it to the car stereo while going to work. I again was exhilarated by the drumbeats, the guitar, and the characteristic voice of Billie Joe. After a long time, of course, Green Day would be the first band I’d like to voluntarily listen to (absolute abstinence from listening isn’t really possible). If only I had their Dookie album, that would be the first (I only have a cassette tape). Nothing has changed. I’m still imagining watching their concert live. And I still sing along with every line that I know, even that of the second voice. Wala akong pinapalampas. I’m just so happy.

I thought of going on a vacation for months and just listening to songs. There are still so many good songs that I want to hear, those that were there before I was born and while I was growing up. At times I try to imagine what life would be without music. And that’s unimaginable. There was music when I was born, music when I am happy, and music when I am sad—and there’s still music at the end.

But I couldn’t afford to have a vacation at this point. I’ve already listened to my Green Day songs. So for next, while driving home, I’d listen to Zach de la Rocha! Au revoir!