Dolphy & Panchito in the mail! #records #vinyl #vinylrecordslabel #filipinovinyl (Taken with instagram)
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PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE (Philippine Popular Music Revisited):
Juan De La Cruz “Himig Natin” (1973)
Juan De La Cruz Band ushered in the Pinoy Rock revolution of the late 60’s and 70’s. Their heavy psychedelic blues rock reinvigorated the local rock music scene during Martial Law and eventually help spawn Philippine Disco, Pinoy Folk, Punk and OPM (Original Pilipino Music). Like all iconic bands, they had line up changes, but eventually Pepe Smith, Mike Hanopol and Wally Gonzales would comprise the Juan De La Cruz we know today. With songs in Tagalog and speaking of the troubles of the country while being proudly nationalistic, Juan De La Cruz spoke clearly and raucously to a generation of Filipinos and influenced a nation of musicians.
Record collectors worldwide have sought the original vinyl pressings of UP IN ARMS, HIMIG NATIN and MASKARA. Ebay prices reaching in the $400-$500. Regardless of this interest, they are still not recognized internationally, nor do I feel they have been given even enough credit in the Philippines.
“Himig Natin” is the landmark title track of their 2nd record in 1973 and the first with the line up that would put Juan De La Cruz at the head of the pantheon of Pinoy Rock. A clarion call of unity and compassion, “Himig Natin” is a somber, dreamy piece that eventually reaches cathartic heights with its simple yet evocative lyrics and Gonzales’s stirring guitar solo. This song’s message gets more relevant as the Filipino diaspora disconnects us more, whether geographically, culturally, politically and economically.
Message aside, it’s a timeless, passionate, atmospheric piece that will conjure strong emotions from anyone who allows themselves to be taken by its beauty.
This is the anthem of Pinoy Rock and one of the greatest songs ever recorded in the Philippines.
Lyrics roughly translated in English:
I’m alone and no one with me. I can’t see any hope for us. Our melody and our song so that we can come together in the highest of hope.
I have a friend and they are having trouble. Are you all ready to help. You should sing our hymn so that we can all be together in the highest of hope.
THE MIXTAPE
- MASKARA - Juan De La Cruz Band
- HIMIG NATIN - Juan De La Cruz Band
- UP IN ARMS - Juan De La Cruz Band
- ANAKBAYAN - Anakbayan
- MASDAN MO AN KAPALIGIRAN - Asin
- FLORANTE - Florante
- ANAK - Freddie Aguilar
- “Tao” - Sampaguita
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PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE: Philippine Popular Music Revisited
Vilma Santos “Ooh, Lonesome Me” (1971)
*Will be attempting to post more music regularly and not over think it. Just Filipino music that makes me happy.
A dubbed out, psych, Phil Spector-esque version of the Don Gibson country classic by the 1960’s Philippine child star.
Vilma Santos starred in films since the age of 9 and eventually became a matinée idol in her teens. Although not blessed with the most accomplished singing voice, a recording career soon followed. 500,000 copies of her debut “16” in 1968 made sure more records would follow. Mostly singing covers of American songs and doing so with her thin heavily accented voice. Most of her music has long been cast aside as novelty, especially after she established her acclaimed acting career. The dismissal, however may be largely due to the unfair mockery of anyone who speaks English with a heavy Filipino accent. This seemingly common reality has been mined for comedic material for years in the Philippines.
True, most of her music is really just fluff, but most are fun fluff. Jaunty pop concoctions created with some talented musicians and producers of the era. Utilizing all sorts of genres ranging from Psychedelic Pop to Country & Western while using source materials by Burt Bacharach or Phil Spector. She also does a great Ska version of the classic “My Boy Lollipop” by way of Barbie Gaye through Millie Small that I will someday post here.
I chose “Ooh, Lonesome Me” first because I just find the barrage of jangly guitars and trippy echo layers along with Ate Vi’s unmistakable vocals to be completely charming and quirky. Good innocent fun.
THE MIXTAPE
- “Ooh, Lonesome Me” - Vilma Santos
- “My Boy Lollipop” - Vilma Santos
- 16 - Vilma Santos
- GUY & PIP - Nora Aunor
- DJ’S PET - Sharon Cuneta
- HIGH SCHOOL - Sharon Cuneta
BEAT SOUL FUNK: The Pinoy Groove Experience 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Originally posted on March 3, 2008 on UpsetterSound.com’s Los Relics Radio curated by good friend filmmaker, DJ, musician, urban scholar, neophyte skater and family man Lakandiwa de Leon. His call out to selector friends to make mixes to share for Los Relics allowed me to share my growing collection of Pinoy (Filipino) centric records. Not a lot of venues I can play VST or Eva Eugenio, but I can always play Bataan or Barabas though. Although I once played a Black Opinion (Philippine Funk-Disco band) track at a club but no one noticed or realized it was in tagalog, not even Apl de Ap, who walked in on the empty club as I started my set. Alas, “Bebot” is not in this mix.
So, one restless night at 2am I started pulling records of varying styles, origins, languages and eras but all had one thing in common, all were made by Filipinos (full blooded or not) whether solo or part of the band. Whether it was the Morales brothers as part of Spain’s psych-funk band Barabas or Afro-Filipino Joe Bataan from Spanish Harlem, beat music from the Rocky Fellers in the US or Jaime Salazar from Cebu, Philippine dream pop from Rey Valera or blissful 70’s pop from Apo Hiking Society and Cinderella, or from the Bay Area, soul wailer Sugar Pie DeSanto and ethno-funk heavies Dakila, all of them Pinoys and all make up this diasporic mixtape.
Two years after recording this rambling and rather technically flawed mix I have made it somewhat of a mission to help re-introduce Philippine popular music to an audience that would not normally seek them out as well as re-contextualize the music for people to appreciate and enjoy again or for the first time. A tad grandiose, but I will attempt to, at least.
One funky track at a time if I have to! ;-)
Anyways, hope you check it out and share it with friends.
THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MIXTAPE:
- BEAT SOUL FUNK: The Pinoy Groove Experience
- DISCOMANILA
- PINOY ROCK
- PINOY LOUNGE
- PINOY FOLK
- PINOY JAZZ
