Bossa Nova

I love Bossa Nova. As early as the 70's I already enjoyed listening to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendez. I liked the style so much that I got a CD of Bossa Nova's finest moment, Getz/Gilberto, which won the Grammy Album of the Year in 1964. Of course, it wasn't in CD form then. I also have a compilation of the hits of Sergio Mendez and the Brazil '66, '77, and '86 (I don't know why he didn't use "'88"). And I'm glad that they are re-issuing their album "Vintage '74", which contained "The Waters of March". But I don't think Tadao Hayashi's version of "Wave" can be considered Bossa Nova.

It seems Bossa Nova is getting its second wind. 105.1 Crossover plays a lot of it, even airing a segment called "Understanding Bossa Nova" by Eileen Sison of Guanara. And there are albums that adapted music for that style, like those by Burt Bacharach and the Carpenters.

Of course, we, Filipinos, would not be left behind. I've seen songs by the Hotdog, Cinderella, and VST & Co. made into Bossa Nova. The last one intrigues me. Does this mean I can now dance the salsa with the song "Rock Baby Rock"?

Filipinos are known to be copycats. We had the Elvis Presley of the Philippines, the Perry Como of the Philippines, and, (so unfair to Gary V,) the Michael Jackson of the Philippines. I still remember the Pinoy Beatles singing "Mahal ka n'ya! N'yah! N'yah!". English songs were translated to Pilipino, giving us such memorable lines from Rico J. ("Namamasyal pa sa Luneta / Ng walang pera.") and Hajji Alejandro ("Panakip-butas na lamang / Ako....!"). VST & Co and the Boyfriends aped the falsetto voice of Barry Gibbs. Hagibis became the country's Village People.

During the 60's, Filipino songs were considered too baduy. They were either the old Kundimans or novelty songs ("Dito sa Pitong Gatang...."). So, we only listen to Engilsh songs, like Nora Aunor's "Blue Hawaii", Victor Wood's "I Went To Your Wedding", and Eddie Peregrina's "I Do Love You".

In the 70's came the Hotdog band, giving birth to the Manila Sound. Now, Pinoys can be proud of their own original music (thus the acronym OPM). We sing along to the song, "Pers Lab" ("Tuwing kita'y nakikita / ako'y natutunaw..."). Meanwhle, APO had "Show Me A Smile" and "Bakit Ang Babae Sa Tagal Ng Pagsasama Tila Mas Mahirap Maintindihan", which I totally agree. There were many very good singers, like Pabs Dadivas, Pol Enriquez, and Tillie Moreno. (The joke then was that Tillie Moreno was wise enough not to marry Rico J. Puno.)

It was also in the 70's when the MetroManila Pop Music Festival started, the first being won by Ryan Cayabyab, with his song "Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika", interpreted by Hajji.

In that festival we first heard Freddie Aguilar and his song "Anak", which became so popular that we never heard the end of it. It was translated to different languages, even the language of Tito, Vic, and Joey. With the success of Freddie came other folk singers, like Asin, Heber Bartolome, Florante and Coritha. They now call this kind of music "Akustik".

Then there were the "Jukebox" queens, Imelda Papin ("Kung liligaya ka / Sa piling ng iba"), Eva Eugenio ("O tukso, layuan mo ako!"), Didith Reyes ("Bakit ako mahihiya / Kung sa iyo'y liligaya?"), and Claire dela Fuente("Sayang / Ngayon lang tayo nagkatagpo"), whose songs were very popular in beer gardens. I suspect that the men there were drinking to forget their heartaches. But because of the songs, they were reminded of their heartaches, so they drink some more. ("Alam mo, pare, niloko ako ng asawa ko." "Pare, ako rin." "Waiter! Isang round ng beer pa nga d'yan!") That was a good strategy by the owners.

In the 80's, I remember watching "My Sharona" on TV, and, I believe, that is the very first MTV shown. Meanwhile, songs by Gary V. and Martin Nievera were being heard on the radio. And with our right hand raised, tracing circles in the air, our left hand on our ear, we danced to the theme song of "Bagets".

Perhaps, I am really getting old. What started as a rant ended up a walk down memory lane. And I could go on and on.

My tastes may have changed. When, before, I hated the songs by Rey Valera, I now enjoy singing along with Robin Padilla ("Sana'y 'di pa riiiiiin / Nagbabago! / Ahahah, ahahah, ahahah, ahahah, ahahah, la laaaaaaaaaa").

Perhaps, ten years from now, I'll also like Blake Lewis.