The Music Scene

Tatsulok

Heard Bamboo's rendition of "Tatsulok" on my way to Mega last Saturday(it was Love Radio playing the song). Originally written and performed by Noel Cabangon (Buklod), "Tatsulok" is considered a song of the left. In fact, I was first introduced to the song by friends from the left. It's among the most requested songs of Noel whenever he has gigs with Leftist audience.

Of course, there are already reactions coming from people in the Left (from different leftist bloggers). It is expected that there will be varying comments from them. Some think that Bamboo has given justice to his rendition while others think his rendition is bad (See Bangketa Republique's Post).

At first I was expecting more negative reactions as there might be people from the left who find the song "too sacred left" to be mainstreamed. The good thing, most bloggers from the left, left sympathizers, left-leaning (at least those I've read so far) very much welcome Bamboo's rendition (See Like a Rolling Store, Kwadernong Bilog, Prostituted Liberation). These bloggers believe that the time is very apt to communicate the message of the song to everyone.

Bamboo's rendition of Tatsulok wouldn't be as overused (overrated?) as "Kanlungan". It is quite unlikely that a consumer product will use Tatsulok as a music score for a commercial (I can't think of a commercial theme for a consumer product where the song may fit).

For lyrics and song preview, visit Bamboo's Website.

Bossa Fever

Don't you just find it irritating? Now, there are a lot of local Bossa Nova singers out with their own albums. It's fine to listen to different renditions of Bossa Nova songs of Jobim, Gilberto, and Mendes. But bossa version of other songs (pop songs and even reggae) is just annoying!

Giving bossa sound to songs of other genre doesn't give justice both to the original and to the bossa as genre. Bossa N' Marley is a concrete example.

Nothing New to Offer

It's quite sad to see our good singers coming up with new albums that are purely revival. Lea Salonga's out with a new album but as usual, its loaded with revivals. I'm not sure if there's any original track in the album but the carrier single is a revival. Meanwhile, Sharon Cuneta is coming up with the second volume of her Simply Romantic Album which is again purely revival.

I guess, we still have to thank Ogie Alcasid for composing original songs for Regine (even if the songs sound similar). Another person we have to be grateful for creating original songs is Gary Valenciano. While Gary is also into revivals ( a lot actually), he is still into releasing originals.

It may appear that the only secure venture for our singers is to come up with revivals. It's probably because it's less hassle and faster to come up with album where tracks are purely revival. Though it's quite tedious to do new arrangements to old songs, composing new songs is pretty much harder.

Revivals are fine. But it is another thing to have different artists having their own renditions of just one song. It is also another thing to produce an album that is purely revival. If they have nothing new to offer in an album, a concert/live show might be a better avenue for showcasing their versions of these songs.