Meron Lang Betamax (Verse 4: Salamat Sa The Dawn)

This is the last lyric breakdown of the four-segment article. Read parts 1, 2, and 3 here.

“Salamat sa the Dawn. Ang tatay ko, si Jack Sikat
Disyembre ni Binky Lampano, nangarap ang Identity Crisis
Wag kalimutan ang Wuds namatay sa ingay ng Dead Ends
Never meant to be Betrayed sa XB, NU at Club DREDD”

– From the last part of Pinoy rock band Sandwich‘s 2008 chart-topping hit “Betamax”.

Remember when this song took the number 1 spot in MYX Hit Chart and NU107‘s Stairway To Seven?

“Salamat sa the Dawn…”

As the last verse of “Betamax” continues, we are thankful for The Dawn‘s 1989 signature hit “Salamat”.

“Ang tatay ko, si Jack Sikat…”

The final and hilarious line “Ang tatay mong kalbo…” can be heard on “Golden Boy” by Jack Sikat‘s band Ethnic Faces from the new wave compilation album “10 Of Another Kind” released in 1989.

“Disyembre ni Binky Lampano…”

Another track from the best selling compilation album “10 Of Another Kind” comes the 1989 song “Healing” by Binky Lampano‘s rock and roll band Dean’s December.

“Nangarap ang Identity Crisis…”

Pinoy new wave band Identity Crisis dreams in “Pangarap” from the 1990 album “Water Came Running”.

“Wag kalimutan ang Wuds…”

Seminal punk trio Wuds and their 1994 anthemic tune “At Nakalimutan Ang Diyos”.

“Namatay sa ingay ng Dead Ends…”

Dead Ends is a punk band that came out during the Philippine punk movement in the 80s. Their 1995 hardcore track “Ingay” is part of their fourth studio album “Mamatay Sa Ingay”.

“Never meant to be Betrayed…”

“Never Meant To Be This Way” [1986] by Betrayed is Pinoy punk in a nutshell.

“Sa XB,…”

WXB 102 (simply known as XB) is a radio station in the 80s that dared to be different. The new wave station closed in 1987 after then-president Cory Aquino took over the office. WXB 102 continued its legacy through internet radio in 1998. And in 2006, they conducted the “102 Most Requested Songs of WXB” as voted by 800 listeners around the world. The Dawn hailed the top spot with “Enveloped Ideas” [1987].

“NU…”

After Corazon Aquino got elected and WXB 102 signed off the air in 1987, a “new rock” radio station in Mega Manila took over where XB had left and this time focused on mainly rock music. NU 107 shaped the Filipino rock genre both mainstream and underground for 2 decades. The official NU 107 requiem anthem “Ang Huling El Bimbo” [1996] by Eraserheads (the former band of Sandwich’s frontman Raymund Marasigan) was the last song played before the final sign off in 2010.

“at Club DREDD…”

Club DREDD is a night club that was popular among the rakistas (rock music fans) back in the 90s that discovered some of the biggest names in the industry including Color It Red, The Youth, Eraserheads, The Dawn, and AfterImage. Here’s Color It Red‘s hit song “Paglisan” [1994]:

Padayon.

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Meron Lang Betamax (Verse 3: Baby Baby Rico J.)

This is a continuation of the previous article. Click here for verse 1. Here for verse 2.

“Baby baby Rico J., musikahan ni Ryan Ryan
Umiskul bukol kay Tito, Vic & Joey, sumayaw sa VST
Humataw kay Gary V., bumilad sa ballad ni Martin Nievera
Request sa DJ ni Sharon Cuneta, nangako sa’yo si Rey Valera”

– 3rd verse of alternative band Sandwich and their song “Betamax” [2008] which was gotten remixed by the guitarist Mong Alcaraz released last year from their club album “Space/Spase”.

“Baby baby Rico J….”

“Baby baby” comes from a lyric of Filipino soul music pioneer Rico J. Puno‘s 1977 Taglish song “Baby I’m For Real” from his seventh studio album “Rico Baby”.

“Musikahan ni Ryan Ryan…”

“Ryan Ryan Musikahan“ is a Philippine late-night musical show which ran from 1988 to 1995 in ABS-CBN hosted by Ryan Cayabyab. Cayabyab (or Mr. C) will always be synonymous with the word “musika“. His composition “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika” was performed by Hajji Alejandro in the First Metro Manila Popular Music Festival in 1978 where it won the grand prize.

“Umiskul bukol kay Tito, Vic & Joey…”

“Iskul Bukol” is a Philippine sitcom that aired in IBC-13 from 1978 to 1988. It stars Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon or collectively known as Tito, Vic & Joey (TVJ). The opening theme is inspired by Elvis Presley‘s 1957 chart-topper “All Shook Up”.

“Sumayaw sa VST…”

Nope. It is not “Sumayaw Sumunod” [1978] of The Boyfriends but from another Manila sound group VST & Company and their classic disco single “Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko” [1978].

“Humataw kay Gary V….”

“Hataw Na” [1993] is branded perfectly to ‘Mr. Pure Energy’ himself Gary Valenciano.

“Bumilad sa ballad ni Martin Nievera…”

“Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” [1994] is one of the ‘Concert King’ Martin Nievera‘s greatest ballads.

“Request sa DJ ni Sharon Cuneta…”

The song “Mr. DJ” [1978] drove Sharon Cuneta‘s rise to stardom and soon labeled as ‘The Megastar’ of the Philippines.

“Nangako sa’yo si Rey Valera…”

Originally titled simply as “Pangako” in 1982, Rey Valera‘s popular hit song was covered by Vina Morales for a primetime soap opera series now titled “Pangako Sa’Yo” that aired in ABS-CBN from 2000 to 2002.

Ipagpatuloy…

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Meron Lang Betamax (Verse 2: Nagreklamo Si Chickoy Pura)

This is a follow-up to the previous article.

“Nagreklamo si Chickoy Pura sa balita ng ASIN
Ang anak ni ka Freddie kinontra ni Edru Abraham
Dumoo bidoo ang APO Hiking, mga kababayan ni Francis M
Beh, buti nga sa Hotdog. Nosi ba lasi Sampaguita”

– The second stanza of popular band Sandwich‘s throwback-inducing song “Betamax” [2008]. Music video directed by Nico Puertollano.

“Nagreklamo si Chickoy Pura…”

Chickoy Pura is the lead singer and guitar player for The Jerks. Despite having been formed in 1979, the Pinoy rock band only released their self-titled album in the late 90s with the single “Reklamo Ng Reklamo” [1997].

“Sa balita ng ASIN…”

The legacy of folk-rock band ASIN and their song “Balita” [1979] can be heard as the Tagalog chorus of The Black Eyed Peas‘ “The Apl Song“ [2003].

“Ang anak ni ka Freddie…”

Filipino folk singer Freddie Aguilar‘s 1978 song “Anak” generated a hundred covers and was released in over 50 countries and in 27 different foreign languages. A movie with the same title was released in 2000 with a plot inspired by the lyrics of the song.

“Kinontra ni Edru Abraham…”

This line from the song is a wordplay of the ethnic music and dance ensemble Edru Abraham At Ang KONTempoRAryong GAmelan PIlipino (Kontra-GaPi) formed in 1989. The gamelan has produced an album in 1997 “Gong At Ritmo, Lunggating Pilipino” with one of the tracks titled “Ang Pilipinas Sa Timog Silangang Asya”.

“Dumoo bidoo ang APO Hiking…”

Before Kamikazee‘s fun and wild take of “Doo Bidoo” in 2006, the APO Hiking Society originally recorded the OPM song in 1980.

“Mga kababayan ni Francis M…”

Pinoy hip-hop pioneer Francis Magalona (or known by the moniker Francis M) sings his advice for the people in the Philippines on “Mga Kababayan” [1990].

“Beh, buti nga sa Hotdog…”

“Beh, Buti Nga” [1981] by the disco band Hotdog is about getting even with a past crush who never knew you existed.

“Nosi ba lasi Sampaguita…”

Sampaguita‘s “Nosi Ba Lasi” [1989] is a street phrase “sino ba sila” which translates to “who are they“.

Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon…

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Meron Lang Betamax (Verse 1: Mula Sa Himig Ni Pepe Smith)

This is a spinoff to the previous article on Jingle Magazine and Betamax.

“Mula sa himig ni Pepe Smith, nag blues si Wally Gonzales
Lumaki sa layaw ni Mike Hanopol. Bumalik ang kuwago ni Bosyo
Kumusta mula sa Maria Cafra. Umistambay si Heber
Sa bahay ni Gary Granada nagbago ang lumad ni Joey Ayala”

– The first verse of Filipino rock band Sandwich‘s single “Betamax” [2008] from their fifth studio album “S Marks The Spot”.

The song is a tribute to the influences and the early days of Pinoy punk rock music. Let’s break down every line of the song and make a playlist out of it.

“Mula sa himig ni Pepe Smith…”

The first verse starts with a celebration of the melody of “Himig Natin” [1973] from the ‘King of Pinoy Rock and Roll’ Pepe Smith and his Juan Dela Cruz Band.

“Nag blues si Wally Gonzales…”

Wally Gonzales (the quiet Juan Dela Cruz band member) and his instrumental classic “Wally’s Blues” [1978].

“Lumaki sa layaw ni Mike Hanopol…”

We shout the chorus “laki sa layaw, laki sa layaw, jeproks” when we were kids. It is from another member of Juan Dela Cruz Band Mike Hanopol‘s trademark and favorite song “Laki Sa Layaw” [1977].

“Bumalik ang kuwago ni Bosyo…”

From a pioneering Pinoy rock band to another pioneering Pinoy rock band Anak Bayan (a band formed by Edmond Fortuno a.k.a. “Bosyo”) and their progressive song “Pagbabalik Ng Kuwago” [1978].

“Kumusta mula sa Maria Cafra…”

Rock band from Olongapo City Maria Cafra says how are we in “Kumusta Mga Kaibigan” [1978].

“Umistambay si Heber…”

“Istambay” [1979] from Filipino folk rock Banyuhay Ni Heber Bartolome.

“Sa bahay ni Gary Granada…”

Gary Granada‘s “Bahay” [1988] tackles the life of impoverished taga-ilog Filipinos.

“Nagbago ang lumad ni Joey Ayala…”

Some of the lines of the “Betamax” are puns of band names. One of which is “nagbago ang lumad ni Joey Ayala“ that refers to the folk band Joey Ayala At Ang Bagong Lumad (lumad means ‘native’). Here’s one of Ayala‘s popular single “Karaniwang Tao” [1990]:

Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon…

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Sa Jingle Magazine Nalaman Ang Lyrics (At Natutong Mag Gitara)

“Wala pa nung MYX, wala pa nung MTV
Wala pa nung internet, wala pa nung iPod o MP3
Wala pa nung cable, wala pa nung cellphone
Wala pa ring CD o DVD
Meron lang Betamax

Sa Jingle Magazine natutong mag gitara
Sinifra ang mga kanta sa cassette at plaka”

– As what the nostalgic chorus of the Filipino alternative rock band Sandwich sings in their 2008 hit single “Betamax”.

I was born in the 90s. MTV aired as a cable TV channel was the first music experience I can recall back when I was 5 years old.

CDs were already popular but we still buy music albums in cassette tape format (which cost Php 100) since we are in a budget and a hundred peso value was expensive back then. CDs were around Php 400.

We weren’t connected to the internet when we had our first personal desktop computer set up in our home but we did install Winamp, a media player that supports the MP3 file type.

Owning a cellphone was considered a luxury that time and the Nokia 3210 was the sleekest phone to own. That was a predecessor of the iconic legend Nokia 3310.

MYX (another music channel in the Philippines) and iPod (a portable media player device) were both launched at the start of the 2000s. DVDs gained popularity as another disc storage format in the noughties.

Vinyl (a phonograph record) and Betamax (a videocassette record format) were used way before I was born. So as the “Jingle Chordbook Magazine”, which was introduced in the early 1970s.

Written and directed by Chuck Escasa, the documentary film “Jingle Lang Ang Pahina” released in 2012 explores the independent music publication Jingle Chordbook Magazine on how it survived through Martial Law in the 1980s and how it inspired the Filipino youth to think and engage in social issues in addition to the lyrics and guitar chords of the top 40 hits and reviewing album releases. The narrative is told in different voices by the writers, artists, sales/marketing people, musicians, and fans.

The documentary was open to the public for free viewing last July 22 to 23 in honor of Gilbert Guillermo, the founder of Jingle Magazine, who passed away last July 21st, 2020. Watch the trailer:

Boysen Beats hosted a watch party of the film in their Facebook page.

The name “Jingle Magazine” only strike a chord with me when I watched the documentary. When a music chord book-magazine was first introduced to me by an uncle, we call it “Song Hits” and now I know why: It’s one of those brand names (a music magazine that was circulated in the 1940s along with Billboard Magazine) that became a generic word for a type of product (like Xerox, Google, Photoshop, etc.). I still call a similar type of magazine “song hits” up to this date.

I did collect song hits once in a while. I remembered when I was 6 my first song hits magazine was bought, I couldn’t stop scanning and skimming through the top 40 hits on every page. I don’t even know how to read properly yet nor understand what those lyrics mean and how guitar chords work. I just enjoyed collecting and curating song titles so I would take note what records I should buy or which artists I should look forward to. (Back story: I grew up watching MTV and collect cassette tapes than watch cartoons and toys.)

Over the years, song hits are probably one of the most magazine collections I own. (Learning to play the guitar is one of my frustrations. haha.) I still keep my surviving copies of The Top 40 Hits and Most Wanted Hits and an almost complete collection of MYX Magazine.

Popular band Sandwich was the cover for the August-September 2008 issue of MYX Magazine when they celebrated their 10th anniversary. Their album “S Marks The Spot”, which feature the songs “Procrastinator”, “Manila”, and their chart-topping hit “Betamax”, was the feature album of the lyrics and chords section.

Looking back when I was a grade-schooler, I’ve always wanted to work for a music magazine (similar to Jingle Magazine) or a record store (that sells CDs, DVDs, vinyl, and Betamax) or a record company (that release records over the internet) or a radio station (that can be accessed in cellphones) or a cable music channel (like MYX or MTV) or a successor to MP3s and iPods (like Spotify or TikTok or the music consumption of the future).

Anyways, while you’re still here reading a non-review (which is supposed to be film review) article, might as well follow Spinnin’ Rabbit on the following socials: Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Crownnote, and WordPress.

Padayon!
-jrabbi

Now Playing: The New Normal

Working from home is the new office or school setup. Times like these we learn to adapt the new normal during the pandemic:

Upon leaving the house, your clothing will not be complete without wearing a face mask. Bring alcohol or sanitizer with you as this will be your Glock* against coronavirus.

*Will not and will never encourage violence. Just using the word to link a DaBaby song.
(And will link a song on every health tip in this article. hehe)

Social distancing is observed keeping space at least 2 meters between you and the people beside or around you. When sitting on a public bench while waiting for your money transfer transaction to finish, just scoot when someone like Fonzy tells you “iswagi bi” to make space for him.

Swaggy B is a wordplay of the Cebuano phrase that would ask a person to move aside.

When you reach back home, don’t forget to disinfect your belongings, shower, and proper hygiene before touching someone else in the household. Stop acting stupid and take this health crisis seriously.

This article does not intend to be Stallion–savage. lol
Best to stay informed and updated with the news on the health crisis.

Here’s some ‘Stranger Things theme’-kind-of-vibe song from The Weeknd for the stranger things that’s been happening lately.

Stay safe. Don’t go outside if it’s not that necessary.
Make a “Blinding Lights Challenge” on TikTok (and some other dance videos) or something.

Follow Spinnin’ Rabbit on Spotify and listen to the playlist below that will keep up #TheNewNormal from day to night to morning featuring the hits of The Weeknd, Doja Cat, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, and Fonzy.

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Art: Rab

2020 Picks (So Far)

Move all night with the picks of the year as 2020’s not slowing down. Here are some songs that move my year 2020 so far. Spoilers ahead: Lots of songs gained popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok.

Top 3 Songs of June 2020:
1. “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” – Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo
A catchy siren beat from a New Zealand music producer has a popular culture dance on TikTok.

2. “Confidence” – Ocean Alley
Listened to Australian radio station Triple J’s Hottest 100 Of The Decade 2010s and this reggae rock jam gave me LSS the most.

3. “Savage Remix” – Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé
Both the original version and this Queen B-featuring remix are popular in TikTok.

Follow Spinnin’ Rabbit in Crownnote to view the full list of top picks for June 2020.

Top 3 Songs of the Year 2020 so far:
1. “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I
Can’t get enough of this massive Australian global hit.

2. “Say So” – Doja Cat
Gotta say this is the best TikTok song that went viral this year.

3. “ROXANNE” – Arizona Zervas
It’s the addicting hook that won’t get this song out of our heads.

Intermission: Keep up #TheNewNormal from day to night to morning featuring The Weeknd‘s smash hit “Blinding Lights” plus other top 40 songs of DaBaby, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Fonzy, and more. Follow Spinnin’ Rabbit on Spotify and listen to The New Normal playlist.

Top 3 Throwback Songs:
1. “Astronomia” – Vicetone & Tony Igy [2014]
This may not be a throwback track to most of us. But how ironic is it that despite the pandemic we are facing right now, a coffin dance became the funniest best meme that came out this year?

2. “Pare Ko” – Eraserheads [1993]
Has anyone seen “Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical” when it’s full pre-recorded performance was shown on YouTube for 2 days last May 2020? That was a world-class Filipino theatre! The hit musical was so great it made me researched, read articles, and watched documentaries on the Filipino mainstream rock disruptors the Eraserheads.

3. “Cariño Brutal” – Slapshock [2009 – MYX Live! Performance is not available in Spotify]
Slapshock was the first (and hopefully won’t be the last this year – dammit COVID-19!) Filipino rock act I’ve seen this decade when they performed at a Dickies event in SM Cebu last January.

Follow my Spotify account and check out the rest of 2020 picks compiled into the playlist below:

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Art: Rab
Picks: JRabbi