Moving Thoughts: Gary V, "At Ease"

In a recent column on the state of the NBA offseason, Bill Simmons cleverly organized his thoughts on the different player movements and franchise transactions around his favorite exchanges from what he calls his favorite movie of the decade, Almost Famous. While Simmons' column is, in itself, a worthwhile read, I would like to enjoin you to refrain from clicking on the link above just yet. One of the reasons why Simmons' work resonates with so many readers is the gleeful abandon with which he acknowledges the tremendous influence of popular culture in his personal formation. He recognizes (with a shrewd insight into the human psyche that many people rarely give him credit for) that many people's lives may not be movies, or sitcoms, or seminal works of music, but for many people, they wish they were. We all walk around with a soundtrack to our lives, and one of the ways we lay bare our souls is through the ever-changing playlist that we use to define ourselves.

This brings me to Gary Valenciano. Gary V has been a major influence in my life since early childhood. The first cassette tape I ever remember buying was Gary V's Moving Thoughts. And from time to time, under the heady influence of the light buzz one associates with a fine wine sipped leisurely, or under the even more wonderfully intoxicating lilt of nostalgia, I recall the many long hours commuting from Ateneo to Parañaque that were made bearable by Mr. Pure Energy's music.

Gary Valenciano will hold special fund-raising show at Megatent entitled "At Ease" to build a medical and diagnostic clinic for retired military men. For more information, visit his official website or check out the special page for the concert at Facebook. Relive the golden memories of our youth by helping to ease our valiant retired enlisted men into their golden years.