What better time to put out a Music Issue than a little over a month after the close of season 5 of American Idol? Not just that, but also right before the arrival of the gorgeous Pussycat Dolls for a one-night concert at the Araneta Coliseum. (Not to mention the Black Eyed Peas one night before the PCD.) Talk about music overload!

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I'm this close to being tone deaf, especially when it comes to singing a few bars of (name any song, even the Alphabet Song will do). I'll never know how in the world I ever reached grade 2 in piano and how I managed to play the Menuet back when I was 10 when I could hardly finish Chopsticks now without hitting a single wrong key. Or even a half-dozen wrong keys.

But not wanting to disprove SPEED editorial assistant and resident DJ Angela Robinson that Filipinos are awash in musical talent-as she so eloquently states in her Lifestyle article in this issue-I should count myself in the minority when it comes to musical genius. Or the lack of it.

My grandma and older brother are both accomplished pianists, with my bro being a songwriter and arranger too. And I miss those days when I would wake up to anything from a Beethoven to a Benoit on our baby grand filtering through my bedroom door. Now my eldest nephew, Sean, can play a guitar.

In the office, we've had a vocalist who very nearly made it to the finals of Pinoy Pop Superstar, and we've also got guitarists as well as keyboardists. So don't be surprised if you see a SPEED band soon, probably managed by SPEED creative director Edmund. (Not sure yet if the band will be called Parokya ni Edmund, though.) But I digress.

Music Issue. There, we're back. And you probably bought this issue because it contains tons of music and a myriad other things related to it-or simply because you were enthralled by the six gorgeous cover babes who are as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears.

In any case, prepare for a musical treat as we celebrate everything that has anything to do with tunes, beats, rhythms, harmonies, and melodies, all in this 142-page symphony of sounds.

Happy listening, I mean, reading!

Manny N. de los Reyes
Editor-in-chief
mdlr@speed-mag.com
speedmagazine@pldtdsl.net