20 bands remain.
20 of the most influential, most
popular, most phenomenal bands emerged from a decade of monumental awesomeness.
TUNOG KALYE
I can
explain the term tunog kalye via a group
of phrases.
And it
goes a little something like this:
College students
in need of money
College students
in need of honey
Surviving
heartbreak
Surviving
sembreak
And then you
graduate
Tadah
No money for your
bisyo
And that’s always
the issue
Your job sucks
Your life sucks
And then you die
Tadah
Face
it, OPM is kind of predictable. Band composers would lock their selves up in
some remote location to pen a bunch of words that will eventually collect
thought. Their creative juices will eventually get through to poverty,
nationalism, love, life, and college.
There
are two types of inspiration – one you get by dreaming... and one you get from
your memories.
Just
because all the great ideas are done and accounted for, that doesn’t mean bandmania
sucks. While there are bands that strive to claim millions of pesos, there are
a bunch of bands that use this as a tool to be awesome.
The
bands listed here etched their mark in Philippine
music. For some reason, they still had those topics and they gained
fan-demonion. Of course it was difficult but they wanted to succeed so badly
that their sacrifices paid off.
Those
crappy lines out there will never get me anywhere.
By the
way, get the rest of the ranks by clicking...
CRITERIA:
It’s
important to have a gauge on who’s in and who’s not on the list. Aside from the
fact that I have evidence to shield myself from stupid and baseless queries, it
can make my article extremely credible!
YEAR: This part is very important.
Very, very important! The particular band in the list must have released an
album from 1990 to 1999. I don’t
care if this was their debut or their swan song. I don’t care if this is an EP,
a full-pledged album, or a live album (although I will give a shit on
compilations and collaborations). While I could care on whether or not they
released this particular album for a major label, it is important that they at
least became recording artists during this span!
MAINSTREAM: When you say their names and
the person you’re talking to would say “Who
are they” or “I almost forgot about
them” then chances are, they won’t make the list. Bands need to sell
themselves. I don’t believe in the whole “I
am an artist and I won’t stoop to mainstream” act because if they were the
ones that succeeded, they wouldn’t think like this. If the band can ride a
jeepney without attracting any buzz, this means they have yet to be enjoyed or
they are nobodies.
MAN AND CHICK FRIENDLY: Men would definitely pick on
the bands who love to growl. Women won’t. Chicks would pick on the sappy
seducers. Men won’t. If there is a way
that man and chick could like the same kind of music, chances are they’ll rank
up top.
INFLUENCE: Are they relevant? Did they do
something awesome in OPMlandia? Kulay
brought funky, hiphop stuffs on their gigs while Put3ska brought ska. Tropical
Depression brought reggae while Francis
Magalona introduced rap-rock. Because of the Eraserheads, the tunog lata movement exploded but they have to
thank acts like Juan dela Cruz and The Jerks for opening the rock world
for their generation.
GETTING SYDRIFIED: Of course, my inputs matter.
Sure I had help from a lot of internet researches, interviews conducted in
Facebook, MP3 download sites where I would listen to a particular band’s song.
Fact is, I am a huge fan of the alternative rock genre. I wasn’t really a fan
of the underground stuff then and although I am a fan now, I still find some
acts amateurish.
I
hate:
Shouting expletives for the
sake of being cool.
Stupid lyrics.
Emo.
Songs with zero harmony.
Annoying vocalists.
Repetitive melodies inside one
album.
With
that said...
This
is my list.
If you
want to do yours, then do so.
That’s
my disclaimer.
11 to 20
20 JOEY AYALA AT ANG
BAGONG LUMAD
YEARS ACTIVE: 1980’s – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS):
JOEY AYALA
90’S HITS: KARANIWANG TAO,
NAKITA KITA, HARING IBON, HITHIT BUGA, PADAYON, MAGKABILAAN, MINDANAO, LUMAD SA
SYUDAD, MAGKAUGNAY (?)
His
music doesn’t talk about college crushes and hell... long hairs. Joey Ayala’s music has substance. His
songs dispel violence and poverty. He wants peace... even if that wouldn’t
happen... in anyone’s lifetime (but seriously, it wouldn’t hurt if it could). His
songs also advocate the conservation of our natural resources. I assume he
doesn’t talk to trees... that often. Using a bunch of ultra, ultra old school
musical instruments, dating back when after the Aetas, the Indones and the
Malays checked out our archipelago, Joey Ayala is one of the well-known folk
singers of that decade. The only thing that is working against him is that his
music has basically no FM outlet (the internet solved this for him though). I
could be a fan of this whole ethnic style if heard it more back then but not
even NU would play it because it is a niche genre. He worked on an advocacy
campaign for then-Department of Health
secretary Juan Flavier (LET’S DOH IT)
where he was singing a song while demeaning the feelings of Yosi Kadiri. It looked great. By the
way, I’m going to thank Jorge Cosgayon
for supplying me details.
19 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
YEARS ACTIVE: 1984 – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS):
PAPA DOM, BONG EUDELA, ANABEL BOSCH
90’S HITS: BILOG NA NAMAN ANG
BUWAN, KAPAYAPAAN, BAGYO-BAGYO
Who
can ever forget the big guy wearing that colourful hat and shirt? Fact is, Papa Dom is the poster child of Pinoy reggae in the Philippines.
Tropical Depression’s unique brand of music made them sought after artists for
every summer spectacle held by TV stations and event supervisors during that
decade. Yes, people use Kapayapaan
for summer specials then and when the event is at night, well... enter Bilog na Naman ang Buwan. However, they
also used their popularity for good use as they promote natural resources
conservation and in advocating peace in the country. Papa Dom is the ultimate
beach buddy. If you want to go to a hap’nin place where people are prolicking
in the sand enjoying the nice things in life... Google Earth him!
18 AFTER IMAGE
YEARS ACTIVE: 1990 – 2001; 2008
– PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: WENCY CORNEJO,
BOBIT USON, NINO MESINA, CHUCK ISIDRO, ROGIE CALLEJO, ARNOLD CABALZA
90’S HITS: NEXT IN LINE,
MANGARAP KA, BAI, HABANG MAY BUHAY, TAG-ULAN
Wency Cornejo is an awesome vocalist. Not
only does his voice belt awesomeness, his band was responsible for creating the
anthem for a generation. Next in Line
was one of the biggest tunes that the era produced. That song actually molded
the band’s perception. I was a kid back then and I remembered a bunch of months
seeing them and singing the same old song on TV in a pretty consistent manner. They
had a lot of other songs that were in some point became popular tunes (some of
them became movie soundtracks). A lot of their works were re-worked for
balladeers and divas and that’s nice because they only pick well-written and
properly-arranged songs. They disbanded in 2001 with Wency embarking on a solo
career. They did reunite in 2008.
17 GRIN DEPARTMENT
YEARS ACTIVE: 1995 – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: ANDREW B, BOH
PASCASIO, PEDRO PLAZON
90’S HITS: MISS U, BUY ONE TAKE
TWO (SPECIAL OFFER), TABLAHAN, SYOTA NG BAYAN, MAY SAYAD, TABO
If
you’re looking for good, clean fun, maybe you should look for something else.
This band made a living from double-meaning songs and seriously kinky verses. This
was basically the music you enjoyed that your parents don’t know because they
will KILL you. Their 2-part debut album, Hahehihohu,
indeed made double platinum because everyone wanted to know about their songs. I
mean how can you not forget about that epic phrase “May libre kang may libre kan... toothbrush”? I once heard Miss U on Sharon Cuneta’s show so this means that not all of their songs are
banned for public showing. Their songs can be described as the new age version
of Haring Solomon. I remember when I
bought the album’s cassette that was worth 60 pesos then (or was it 90Php). It
had that sticker “explicit lyrics” on it. If you put a sticker prohibiting it
to minors, of course high school students will line up and buy it!
16 THE TEETH
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: GLENN
JACINTO, PEDZ NARVAJA, JEROME VELASCO, MIKE DIZON, DOK SERGIO (Dok replaced
Pedz when the latter moved to the US)
90’S HITS: LAKLAK, PRINSESA,
STOKWA, GALIT SA MUNDO, SHOOTING STAR
Ever
remember that Bubble Gang segment
called Music English Version (MEV)?
Bitoy and his crew spoofed Prinsesa
and the chorus was like “Come in and
take me into your castle... let us walk into the garden of your castle... I may
not have sex organs, I promise I will forever be at your service... Oh my
prin-hin-cehehehess!” That was cool! Their debut album had two awesome
songs that became anthems to the dreamers and the drunkards. Laklak and Prinsesa catapulted the band to the point that it seems that it
would rival the popularity of the Heads. Laklak to be singled out ruled the
LA105 hit charts for 12 weeks. Their next album was also acclaimed by rock
enthusiasts. There is no question though that they are key player in Bandmania
even after Glenn Jacinto suffered
and recovered from a lung ailment. Mike
Dizon co-founded Sandwich and Pedicab while Dok Sergio is currently a part-time frontman for the Ely Buendia-led Pupil. Jacinto appears sporadically during the band’s live
events.
15 SIAKOL
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994 – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: NOEL PALOMO,
WOWIE FLORES, MINIONG CERVANTES, JAMES RODRIGUEZ
90’S HITS: LAKAS TAMA, PEKSMAN,
BAKIT BA, BIYAHENG IMPYERNO, BALEWALA, AYOS LANG, KANTO, ASO
They
are one of the more prominent members of the Tunog Lata Movement. They have produced eight albums since their
arrival on the band scene and it seems they are out to do more. Among these
albums, they are identified best with their debut, Tayo Na Sa Paraiso. This album contains the emotional Bakit Ba, the pleading Peksman, and perhaps the best song they
have ever produced, Lakas Tama. The
song in some ways resembles Laklak...
although the words are deeper and more poetic. Lakas Tama starts off with an
awesome intro and it gradually peaks into the stanzas and all of a sudden they
whoop it up in the chorus! They are currently experiencing rebirth. Unlike
other 90’s bands trying to score a second chance, Siakol is backed up by a
major recording company.
14 INTROVOYS
YEARS ACTIVE: 1986 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: JONATHAN
BUENCAMINO, PACO ARESPACOCHAGA, JJ BUENCAMINO, PAKU HERRERA
90’S HITS: LINE TO HEAVEN, WILL
I EVER SURVIVE, DI NA AKO AASA PA, KAILANMAN, HOWEVER WHICH WAY
Before
pogi rock became Cueshe, 6cyclemind, Hale, and Sponge Cola... it was the Introvoys. Why is this good? I have no
idea. Anyway, with their totoy looks and their good boy barkada music, they
gradually made their way to popularity. Jonathan
Buencamino was the voice behind the music while Paco Arespacochaga gave them off stage PR with his publicized
romance with Geneva Cruz. When the
then-couple had a kid, they named it after their most popular hit, Line to Heaven (they just named their
kid Heaven for those keeping tabs). Line to Heaven was their most successful
single at their peak. They had a lot of pogi songs talking about heartbreak but
at least they are tolerable. Fact is... Jonathan Buencamino can pass as that
guy who’s always romantically screwed. Anyway, the Introvoys are alive and
kicking in the United States where
they mix it up with known bands like Lokomotiv
and the now bluesy Prettier than Pink.
13 NEOCOLOURS
YEARS ACTIVE: 1988 – 1999
90’S GROUP ROSTER: ITO RAPADAS,
JIMMY ANTIPORDA, JOSEL JIMENEZ, MARVIN QUERIDO, JACK RUFO, NINO REGALADO
90’S HITS: TULOY PA RIN,
KASALANAN KO BA, HOLD ON, SAY YOU’LL NEVER GO
Neocolours is a highly-respected band who
could have had a Side A-like
following had they continued. Ito
Rapadas rivals solo artists then in terms of belting out melodies. They
gatecrashed the current Pinoy pop scene dominated by Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera and to some extent Jaime Garchitorena, Gino Padilla, and
Richard Reynoso. Actually they actually helped the Pinoy band scene because
they proved bands can play meaningful sets. While Making It was a 1989 album, this album scored a lot of listeners
and it helped usher in the band explosion of the 90’s. While their band was
short-lived, they did score acclaim in the late 90’s by re-recording their old
hits. Neocolours re-worked their hits and made Emerge: The Best of Neocolours in 1999. Aside from re-mastering
their songs, they made new material as well. Their songs are so good that they
have been covered repeatedly by various artists through the years.
12 ALAMID
YEARS ACTIVE: 1987 – PRESENT
90’S GROUP ROSTER: GARY
IGNACIO, DEXTER FACELO, THALLIE FACELO, GAIL IGNACIO, PAKU HERRERA, ROEL
MANGYAO
90’S HITS: YOUR LOVE, CHINA
EYES, SAMA-SAMA, HESUS, BATIBOT, ATING BAYANI
They
got their name from some critter seen in the mountains. They were almost named Salamin ni Bruce Lee. I would have
liked that. But maybe people wouldn’t take them seriously. Instead, Alamid is often regarded as one of the best
and also one of the classiest acts of the 90’s rock era. They were also
responsible for churning great songs with impressive lyrics. Sama-Sama is a great song among others
but Your Love is their claim to fame.
There was an online article where a recording exec thought that Your Love was a
song from a foreign band. Actually, Your Love was the first NU Rock Awards Song of the Year winner.
Their cover of Batibot was used as
theme by the actual show before their hiatus. The intro of China Eyes was used by the ultra-popular 90’s sitcom Palibhasa Lalake as transition music.
According to their Wiki page,
guitarist Dexter Facelo is the only
remaining original member of Alamid.
11 THE YOUTH
YEARS ACTIVE: 1989 – 1997; 2004
– PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: DODONG CRUZ, ERAP
CARRASCO, ROBERT JAVIER
90’S HITS: MULTONG BAKLA,
TAKBO, KAPAG NAGUNAW ANG MUNDO, SUPERNOVA SCUM, BASURA, TAO PO, BA-BA-BA-BAYANI,
ATING BAYANI
With
his long black locks and big, round eyes, Dodong
Cruz looks like a demented hippie. However, he had also a distinct voice
that made people sway to their beat. The
Youth was a popular band back then. From their minds spawned a bunch of
easy-to-sing tunes that can be understood by everyone – especially the masses.
The band developed a cult following because of their high-energy performances.
Their songs combined punk, rock, and humor with distinct musicality. The band
disbanded in the late 90’s with Dodong Cruz embarking on a solo career and with
Robert Javier producing some of the Parokya ni Edgar albums. They reformed
in 2004 but this has yet to gain commercial success. One memorable account I
had with this band was when I was young and alone in my house and listening to
the radio. My sister and her friend played a prank on me where they’ll throw
rocks on my house’s windows from the front side and back. I was calling out for
the perpetrator and of course they were not talking and all of a sudden Dodong
Cruz screamed the chorus of TAKBO and I went to my room hiding underneath the
blankets. I was a wuzz back then.
NOTES:
Each
and everyone in this list deserve their spots. Sure, I had a hard time taking
out The Youth and Neocolours from the Top 10 but fact is, there are a lot of
great acts in the 90’s.
And
hopefully you’ll stick for the finale.
For
comments and suggestions (TOO LATE), contact me now!
Game
over.
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