Best
This has been conceived long before as one of my priorities to be posted in this site. But I am really amazed about the dichotomy of my life – as a central banker during long and arduous hours of weekdays and as a bum-whatever-happens-will play majhong during intermittent weekends. There is really no place for blogging, even if my mind wants it. The mind is willing but the tip of the finger wants to experience and touch the gentle Chinese carvings. Ok, without further ado, be it angst or romanticism, I compiled my favorite songs and albums, and will start from, of course, the pinoy acts. I originally planned this as my TOP 10 list, but great songs come in strides, so after I finish compiling them, the list exceeds 10. They are not in order, as choosing them is very difficult for me, and ranking them is libelous, if not suicidal.
Magasin – Eraserheads
This defines my generation. I still remember me as a budding sophomore at UPSF, and E-heads were still reeling from the success of their ultraelectromagneticpop album, when Circus hit the stores. I immediately bought one (tape album as CD was really a luxury then), and savored E-heads new album. The first time I heard it, I fell in love with the song. It transcend the lyrics, the music. I just love it in its entirety! Some things you just cannot explain, like love, like this song.
Butterscotch – Eraserheads
The teen anthem. I am only in my teens, I live only for my dreams. You cannot make me stay, life is a journey anyway. Need I say more?
Esem – Yano
If magasin defines my generation, Esem defines my UP life. Always living life in a tight budget. Nakakainip, Nakakainis, Nakakabaliw, di nakakaaliw ang ganitong buhay. Though I am now making some doughs enough for family to live a decent life, the lines cited earlier is no less applicable in my college life than in my present life. Life's not about money, anyway.
5 Years – Sugar Hiccup
Melody’s melody is a killer. The wails sift through the operatic-like music that will leave haunting you forever, reverberating in the recesses of your mind. Some words are best left unspoken to convey the message. If you don’t believe, try listening to this song.
Tagay – Cocojam
The Pinoy-esque reggae. The song is a funny story, about a man beside the road too drunk to stand up because of an unrequited love. I really like the drunkard’s babbling in the end.
Fire Woman – Hungry Young Poets
Barbie’s voice is torching here. Funny thing is I only know the song after I purchased the two BC’s albums. HYP who? But when I listened to the music, it’s orgasmic! Forget the face man, just by her voice, you could really be hypnotized.
At Nakalimutan ang Diyos – The Wuds
The Angst in religious fashion. This song will challenge you to examine the truth stripped naked from hypocrisy. All the material comforts, all the material success, but what the fuck, if God is taken for granted. Even an atheist can appreciate the song. What is good is it’s also applicable, more so, to those holier-than-thou religious zealots in robes, who can tolerate flagrant electoral cheats, political blackmails. Well, napakahirap gisingin ng gising na nagtutulugan. Now, see what I mean about stripping truth from hypocrisy.
Pangarap sa Buhay – Parokya ni Edgar
Before the proliferation of novelty songs warped in commercialist package, Parokya ni Edgar’s first album was the ultimate novelty in parody. Yano was novelty too but Yano’s more satirical about the political hullabaloos. This is a jolog song long before jolog was coined. A story about wanting to be a member of kuya Germ’s That’s Entertainment clan. The operative word is wanting to be a member.
kapag Sinabi ko Sa yo – Gary Granada
Gary Granada at his romantic best. Few poets, I’ve written before, can mix politics, poetry and music without sounding boring. Gary Granada is but one of few exceptions. My UP days would not be complete if I don’t mention his songs which are staple for the UP community. His are simple but genuine, uncompromising but mellow. But this song is his most romantic one. Take this line. Ako’y hindi romantiko, sa iyo’y di ko matitiyak, na kapag ako’y kapiling mo, kailan ma’y di ka iiyak.
Bring me Down – Rivermaya
Same story for Firewoman. I’ve only got the chance to listen to this some 6 months back, when I inadvertently chose this while running my finger in my component’s remote control (although I was trying to listen to kisapmata). And it really knocked me off my feet. This song’s been waiting to be heard all my life, and thanks for that chance encounter, I was able to. Confession: I’ve never been a fan of Rivermaya before because I saw them as cono band, selling record brands than creating music. What more, with accusation of payola for their first single, ulan, I was really turned off. But Bamboo proved me wrong in later years (I like Bamboo, but unfortunately his CD is best listened by plumbing all his songs). Rico Blanco’s also proved his mantle as well.
Akap – Imago
I have just listened to Imago recently, and now I’m addicted to them. I first heard them when I and my wife watched Rockestra. That was a re-awakening for me. Gosh, all these bands were playing new tunes and the crowd was going to stupor and we – we didn’t know a damn what these bands were singing. Then came Imago. Aia was pretty, and she sang well. So I hunted for Imago’s album (as well as most of the performers in the Rockestra), and was it great. Two-thumbs up, as critics would (ac)claim. And Akap was a great song. This is another case of unrequited love, fully aware, wanting to beak from it, but cannot.
Gusto – Pan
The great Dong Abay strikes again. Gusto is arguably his best song from Pan’s repertoire of great songs from Parnaso ng Payaso. This explores contrast, dialectics. For me, the subliminal message was everybody has the right to choose, but the choice should not compromise another being to forcibly do what he does not want. But just to wax philosophy, if one is constrained by another to do what he wants, will that justify his being cruel? Just a thought.
Corporate Attire – Cambio
Another product of Rockestra. Before, I disgusted Cambio, and can’t believe the irreverence it was wrecking on E-heads hits. Nevermind that Buddy and Raymond (was Marcus also an original member? Cant remember anymore) were the brains of Cambio. But hearing female versions of E-heads classics was unbearable. But lo and behold! Cambio was fantastic after all. So I looked for their album (a pity all I have now was a pirated CD, have to buy the orig stuff later), and I discovered a mine. Corporate Attire was a satire for pen pushers like me, and a self-glorification for them, musicians. Although it may look vain in some instances, forget the lyrics and the melody’s good.
Someone else – Barbie’s Cradle
Sporadic guitar riffs echo cries. Barbie’s words haunt. And it’s really frustrating when someone wants to be with or go to somebody else.
Tatsulok – Buklod
Another remnant of UP days. Never a song can depict the corrupt hierarchy of Philippine society than this one. An anthem for political liberation.
Magasin – Eraserheads
This defines my generation. I still remember me as a budding sophomore at UPSF, and E-heads were still reeling from the success of their ultraelectromagneticpop album, when Circus hit the stores. I immediately bought one (tape album as CD was really a luxury then), and savored E-heads new album. The first time I heard it, I fell in love with the song. It transcend the lyrics, the music. I just love it in its entirety! Some things you just cannot explain, like love, like this song.
Butterscotch – Eraserheads
The teen anthem. I am only in my teens, I live only for my dreams. You cannot make me stay, life is a journey anyway. Need I say more?
Esem – Yano
If magasin defines my generation, Esem defines my UP life. Always living life in a tight budget. Nakakainip, Nakakainis, Nakakabaliw, di nakakaaliw ang ganitong buhay. Though I am now making some doughs enough for family to live a decent life, the lines cited earlier is no less applicable in my college life than in my present life. Life's not about money, anyway.
5 Years – Sugar Hiccup
Melody’s melody is a killer. The wails sift through the operatic-like music that will leave haunting you forever, reverberating in the recesses of your mind. Some words are best left unspoken to convey the message. If you don’t believe, try listening to this song.
Tagay – Cocojam
The Pinoy-esque reggae. The song is a funny story, about a man beside the road too drunk to stand up because of an unrequited love. I really like the drunkard’s babbling in the end.
Fire Woman – Hungry Young Poets
Barbie’s voice is torching here. Funny thing is I only know the song after I purchased the two BC’s albums. HYP who? But when I listened to the music, it’s orgasmic! Forget the face man, just by her voice, you could really be hypnotized.
At Nakalimutan ang Diyos – The Wuds
The Angst in religious fashion. This song will challenge you to examine the truth stripped naked from hypocrisy. All the material comforts, all the material success, but what the fuck, if God is taken for granted. Even an atheist can appreciate the song. What is good is it’s also applicable, more so, to those holier-than-thou religious zealots in robes, who can tolerate flagrant electoral cheats, political blackmails. Well, napakahirap gisingin ng gising na nagtutulugan. Now, see what I mean about stripping truth from hypocrisy.
Pangarap sa Buhay – Parokya ni Edgar
Before the proliferation of novelty songs warped in commercialist package, Parokya ni Edgar’s first album was the ultimate novelty in parody. Yano was novelty too but Yano’s more satirical about the political hullabaloos. This is a jolog song long before jolog was coined. A story about wanting to be a member of kuya Germ’s That’s Entertainment clan. The operative word is wanting to be a member.
kapag Sinabi ko Sa yo – Gary Granada
Gary Granada at his romantic best. Few poets, I’ve written before, can mix politics, poetry and music without sounding boring. Gary Granada is but one of few exceptions. My UP days would not be complete if I don’t mention his songs which are staple for the UP community. His are simple but genuine, uncompromising but mellow. But this song is his most romantic one. Take this line. Ako’y hindi romantiko, sa iyo’y di ko matitiyak, na kapag ako’y kapiling mo, kailan ma’y di ka iiyak.
Bring me Down – Rivermaya
Same story for Firewoman. I’ve only got the chance to listen to this some 6 months back, when I inadvertently chose this while running my finger in my component’s remote control (although I was trying to listen to kisapmata). And it really knocked me off my feet. This song’s been waiting to be heard all my life, and thanks for that chance encounter, I was able to. Confession: I’ve never been a fan of Rivermaya before because I saw them as cono band, selling record brands than creating music. What more, with accusation of payola for their first single, ulan, I was really turned off. But Bamboo proved me wrong in later years (I like Bamboo, but unfortunately his CD is best listened by plumbing all his songs). Rico Blanco’s also proved his mantle as well.
Akap – Imago
I have just listened to Imago recently, and now I’m addicted to them. I first heard them when I and my wife watched Rockestra. That was a re-awakening for me. Gosh, all these bands were playing new tunes and the crowd was going to stupor and we – we didn’t know a damn what these bands were singing. Then came Imago. Aia was pretty, and she sang well. So I hunted for Imago’s album (as well as most of the performers in the Rockestra), and was it great. Two-thumbs up, as critics would (ac)claim. And Akap was a great song. This is another case of unrequited love, fully aware, wanting to beak from it, but cannot.
Gusto – Pan
The great Dong Abay strikes again. Gusto is arguably his best song from Pan’s repertoire of great songs from Parnaso ng Payaso. This explores contrast, dialectics. For me, the subliminal message was everybody has the right to choose, but the choice should not compromise another being to forcibly do what he does not want. But just to wax philosophy, if one is constrained by another to do what he wants, will that justify his being cruel? Just a thought.
Corporate Attire – Cambio
Another product of Rockestra. Before, I disgusted Cambio, and can’t believe the irreverence it was wrecking on E-heads hits. Nevermind that Buddy and Raymond (was Marcus also an original member? Cant remember anymore) were the brains of Cambio. But hearing female versions of E-heads classics was unbearable. But lo and behold! Cambio was fantastic after all. So I looked for their album (a pity all I have now was a pirated CD, have to buy the orig stuff later), and I discovered a mine. Corporate Attire was a satire for pen pushers like me, and a self-glorification for them, musicians. Although it may look vain in some instances, forget the lyrics and the melody’s good.
Someone else – Barbie’s Cradle
Sporadic guitar riffs echo cries. Barbie’s words haunt. And it’s really frustrating when someone wants to be with or go to somebody else.
Tatsulok – Buklod
Another remnant of UP days. Never a song can depict the corrupt hierarchy of Philippine society than this one. An anthem for political liberation.
posted by kitsch at 1:08 AM
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