I looooove musicals. I am a closet frustrated theater artist. So when I come across a musical I really, really like, I fall for it hard. My cousin Katrina introduced me to The Wicked three years ago. It was right about the time that I was also starting to develop a girl-crush on Idina Medel's voice.

There is nothing like Idina singing as Elphaba. Nothing. The range of her voice gives me goosebumps. And the passion that comes through when she sings is incredibly moving. Truly an artist at the helm of her craft. :) And of course Miss Chenoweth certainly holds her own as the flighty but well-intentioned Glinda.

Below are my five favorite tracks:

*Idina's most recent vocal appearance was in the movie version of Rent. Kristin Chenoweth is taking a break from Broadway and is currently cast in the series Pushing Daisies.

Palawan-based artists with a truly tribal vibe! Big ups to local talent.

Aya -- the Saint Etienne track is the one I was telling you about.

All the other tracks were routinely played, hummed or (in the case of Astro) horned, in the White Stallion (aka Dom's soon to be lifted CRV).

I heard about them through The Ellen Degeneres Show. Love 'em. Cupid's Chokehold is the latest single that has suddenly put a spotlight on the achingly urban Upstate New York group. My personal favorite is the everyman worded "Beautiful Day."

A little Ziggy to bring back humid afternoons listening to tunes in room 3. Full stomachs on fiesta day with no waves and not much else to do but swing in a hammock and ask groms to climb for coconuts.

Three cds for a whole weekend. Road trippin from Manila to La Union to Baguio.

Ska sounds save the day.

After you listen to this song, go to YouTube or Google Video or whatever site gives you your torrents and watch the video.

And then go out and do something good for someone. :)

Some of my favorite tracks from the Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical "Avenue Q"

Fave tracks from the Capoeira, Spiritual Vitamins album.

"Meu Deus muito obrigado. Pela capoeira eu pode joga."

Favorite tracks from Putomayo's Cover the World album.