One of my former editors works in Marketing for Resorts World Manila and he said in a chat we have for past editors that they were releasing this huge project and that we would love it. It was going to bring back a lot of memories.
So minutes after they released it, he shows with pride the marketing video they conceptualized for the show.
Unfortunate for us, it is first released on Facebook. It is really cool looking and is a great video to see what it is all about.
https://www.facebook.com/rwmanila/videos/10157890589556980/
Entitled Ang Huling El Bimbo" (The Last El Bimbo) It is a Rock musical featuring the songs of Eraserheads. An iconic band in the 90's that defined a generation of alternative rock OPM (Original Pinoy Music). It is directed by Dexter Santos and written by Dingdong Novenario
El Bimbo was a disco song with a tango flavor created by the French group of Bimbo Jet in the late 70's.
Anyway back to the Eraserheads. I grew up listening to their music and was one of the reasons why I learned to play the guitar. Their discography over a span of 13 years, of 7 studio albums, 4 extended plays, and 4 awesome compilations were the songs that played in my head through different stages in my life.
Their debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop! was an instant hit and made them a household name as the youth was able to resonate with the messages of their songs.
The group experienced several changes of style from rock to an almost trippy vibe showing off their versatility and different musical influences.
The Eraserheads was composed of the following members:
- Ely Buendia – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Buddy Zabala – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Marcus Adoro – lead guitar
- Raimund Marasigan – drums & percussion, backing vocals
Cutterpillar was my favorite album and several songs were truly memorable and I wanted to share some of the songs that I really love.
It is sad that my audience is mostly foreigners so they will not be able to fully appreciate the songs as most are sung in our language but you can appreciate the guitar riffs and performance.
Pare Ko (My Friend)
Credits to TRIBONGPINOY
O pare ko..meron akong problema..
Wag mong sabihing na naman..
In love ako sa isang kolehiyala..
Hindi ko maintindihan..
No Eraserheads list would be complete without this song. Like most of the songs of the Eheads it involves story telling and here, in particular, it is a conversation between two friends talking about being in love with a college girl who was not ready to return his feelings. The imagery almost feels like it is done over several bottles of beer and is a very familiar scene when you got turned down by a woman.
Incidentally, this was the single that propelled them to mainstream success and even became a movie of the same name.
Ligaya (Joy)
Credits to Eraserheads Vevo
Ilang isaw pa ba ang kakain, o giliw ko?
Ilang tanzan pa ba ang iipunin, o giliw ko?
gagawin ko ang lahat pati ang thesis mo
wag mo lang ipagkait ang hinahanap ko
A song telling the story of a guy willing to do anything to get the oh so sweet yes from a girl he is wooing. The most iconic line here is "gagawin ko ang lahat pati ang thesis mo" (I'll even do your thesis) A familiar line that you used as you promised the moon to get the girl.
With A Smile
Credits to Eraserheads Vevo
Lift your head, baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
You can't win at everything but you can try.
I appreciated this song during those dark times I had in dealing with my depression. I remember going to my room and just playing songs from them as I try to drown out the noise of the world.
Alapaap (Clouds)
Credits to Eraserheads Vevo
Masdan mo ang aking mata
'Di mo ba nakikita
Ako ngayo'y lumilipad at nasa langit na
Gusto mo bang sumama?
I love the bass part on this song. Then that build up to an explosion of frantic energy. This song was marred by controversy as a busybody senator, Tito Sotto, also known as "Plagiarism King" called an inquiry on the band as he felt that the song was encouraging drug abuse among the young.
This was not the last time that this person would go after the Eraserheads.
Sembreak (Semestral Break)
Credits to Eraserheads Vevo
Dear kim kamustang bakasyon mo
ako heto pa rin nababato
bad trip talaga itong Meralco
bakit brownout pa rin dito
walang silbi sa bahay
kundi bumabad sa telepono
o kaya'y kasama ng barkada
nakatambay sa may kanto
You know how as students you look forward to summer and the end of classes and how the novelty wears off as you don't have money and when this song came out the power crisis in the Philippines was in full swing as people experienced 12-hour power outages.
This song expressed that sentiment of boredom and lack of things to aside from writing a letter to someone.
Credits to Mac & Rav
There's a place in the world where the sun don't shine
I've been wanting to take you there
There's a hole in your head and you feel just fine
There's only so much that you can bear
This is seriously underrated and was not well received by fans due to its heavy tone and lack of the Pop element. This was part of the songs in their 5th album called Stick Happy. As for me, it was unapologetic, raw and the use of distortion perfectly suited my moods at times.
Poor Man's Grave
Credits to TRIBONGPINOY
I know a man who had nothing
He was a poor man all his life
He lived in a shack by the roadside
With starving kids and a loving wife
The intro on this song any Eraserhead fan worth his salt can do. Am-F-G Am-F-G# and one of the most instantly recognizable chords.
It is a story of man requesting his wife to make sure that he doesn't want to lie on a poor man's grave.
Waiting for the Bus
Credits to TRIBONGPINOY
I've standing here waiting for the bus
On a Saturday laundry on my back
Ultraviolet rays like I'm posing for a shot
In a magazine what the hell does it mean?
You know that feeling that you don't have control over your life and that you hurtling towards a future that you can't change no matter how you want to go through the less traveled path but it just pulls you in.
As a young kid, my path was already being planned what school I was going, what course to take and how long it was going to take me. So I felt like hurtling through space.
Shake Yer Head
Credits to TRIBONGPINOY
I was born, upside down
I felt my grandma put my feet
On the ground
They put a spoon, in my mouth
And everyone was shocked to
Hear me shout
Well I knew I couldn't take all
The dog food that they make
I'd just as soon as put myself
On a stake and burn
One of my favorite songs of empowerment when things are being hard and there is just too much drama and powerplay in place.
I have lived my life shaking my head to individuals who bully and terrorize people into doing what they want. Know when to fight the battles that are worth fighting for. If it is not just walking away. No need for drama.
Para sa Masa (For the masses)
Credits to Mac & Rav
Ito ay para sa mga masa
sa lahat ng nawalan ng pag-asa
sa lahat ng ng aming nakasama
sa lahat ng hirap at pagdurusa
The piano chords in this song are so beautiful and the message of remembrance of past experiences and the joy that the band shared with its fans. This was a response to the growing criticism the band was getting in changing their sound too much.
Maskara (Mask)
Credits to Bearicus22
Kung may problema ka
Magsuot ng maskara
Takpan mo ang iyong mata
Buong mundo'y mag-iiba
Tuwing ako'y nangangamba
Ay nagwawala
Naglalaro, nagpapangap
Na ako'y ganap
Na tao, isang super hero
Di nasasaktan
When I heard this song I thought it tailor fitted me as a person who wore a mask to show that he was not hurting. For the longest time, I was not acknowledging my depression and this song showed me that I was not alone.
Overdrive
Credits to Mac & Rav
magda-drive ako hanggang Baguio
magda-drive ako hanggang Bicol
magda-drive ako hanggang Batangas
tapos magswi-swimming d'on sa beach
You know how there is always a road trip song that each generation had. Well, this was that song in the 90's for Filipinos. It was fun, had humor and was pretty catchy.
Pop this in a CD player while driving out of town and you are sure to get your buddies singing if not outright belting it out.
Minsan
Credits to Mac & Rav
Minsan sa may kalayaan tayo'y nagkatagpuan
may mga sariling gimik at kaya-kanyang hangad sa buhay
sa ilalim ng iisang bubong
mga sekretong ibinubulong
kahit na anong mangyari
kahit na saan ka man patungo
A bittersweet song of friendship lost. It feels as almost like a conversation between friends who were inseparable at one point but had now grown far apart.
I thought of all the friends that I have gained and lost throughout the years and envy people who have friends from their childhood up to now.
Torpedo
Credits to Mac & Rav
Pasensya na
Kung ako ay
Di nagsasalita
Hindi ko kayang sabihin
Ang aking nadarama
All men went to these stage of being a Torpe (unable to say their feelings to a woman) Even I had that instance in my life. Tongue-tied and unable to express one's feelings.
Spoliarium
Credits to Mac & Rav
Dumilim ang paligid
may tumawag sa pangalan ko
labing isang palapag
tinanong kung okey lang ako
sabay abot ng baso
may naghihintay
at bakit ba 'pag nagsawa na ako
biglang ayoko na
at ngayon
Easily one of their most controversial songs. It revolves around the subject of date rape. Conspiracy theorist says this song was in response to the rape and subsequent "suicide" of a starlet known as Pepsi Paloma who was raped by Vic Sotto (Enteng), Joey De Leon and Richie D Horsey. but was settled out of court.
There are whispers that "Plagiarism king" Senator Tito Sotto threatened her to be quiet. When this song was released it was another round of Eheads vs the senator.
Ang Huling El Bimbo (The last El Bimbo)
Credits to Eraserheads Vevo
Kamukha mo si Paraluman
Nung tayo ay bata pa
At ang galing galing mong sumayaw
Mapa boogie man o cha cha
Ngunit ang paborito
Ay ang pagsayaw mo ng El Bimbo
Nakakaindak, nakakaaliw
Nakakatindig balahibo
Pagkaggaling sa eskwela
Ay dideretso na sa inyo
At buong maghapon ay tinuturuan mo ako
We can't end it without this one. It is a bittersweet story of a first love and missed opportunity and romanticizing that first love.
Who hasn't thought of their first love with rose colored glasses or to the person that got away. A lot of people resonates with this song.
So there you have it some of the songs of the Eraserheads that touched my life. I did not put all the songs as it would make one very long post.
These are also not the songs that will appear in the musical but would be awesome if they would. I'll just have to wait for the dress rehearsal to hear what songs will be integrated into the play.
Music has the power to connect and make us remember certain memories of our life. So what are the songs of your life?
No copyright infringement intended. All songs, videos and, lyrics are owned by the Eraserheads.
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