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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