Noel Cabangon’s songs of the road - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby A. Gil

The CD release comes from the Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., which I thought only produces and distributes inspirational albums. Well, it looks like they are now diversifying, although I must say that in a way Noel Cabangon’s Pasakalye is also inspirational. It is from an artist who has managed to preserve the integrity of his music by refusing to don the usual trappings of stardom. Truth to tell though, while very little is known about him, Cabangon has the kind of chops that can make him another Freddie Aguilar or Gary Granada. But despite this, he chooses to perform only in small joints like the ’70s Bistro and to write only about themes he feels strongly about.

Pasakalye is also inspirational in the sense that it is about surviving the kind of life fate has forced on many of us today. With 15 songs composed over a 10-year period, Cabangon comes up with dead-accurate descriptions of street life. He sings about the istambay sa kanto, engine fumes, jeepneys interweaving through traffic lanes of the city, sweaty laborers and harried jeepney drivers. It is only in the movies of Lino Brocka that the sight of these acquired a touching kind of beauty. But it is with them that Cabangon finds his muse and it is songs about them that he performs in the new album.

Kayod Kabayo, Kayod Barya/habol hininga, habol pera, he sings in the first cut. The song is something he performs with both the passion of the desperate and the self-deprecating humor of those who have accepted the fact that their existence consists of merely surviving to fulfill the demands of every mealtime. There is also a kind of joy in the way he does Usok, Usok. ...halos di makahinga sa kapal ng usok... parang hihikain sa dumi ng usok... usok na nakakalason. Forget the dangers of the pollution he sings about. Those who ply their trade on the streets have long given up on the thought of escaping that.

He pays homage to the jeepney driver. Ganyan ang buhay ng jeepney driver/ sa buong araw na pasada/ jingle lang ang pahinga... he sings in Jeepney Driver Blues. He also extols the virtues of the king of the street, the survivor, who proudly reigns on his bit of asphalt. Kung lumakad siya’y hari ng kalye/ pasalit-salit kung gumiri sa dyipni/puso niyang sintigas ng aspalto/laman ng kalye umaraw, bumagyo goes Hari ng Kalye. Of course, he doesn’t forget the idle denizens of the street corners with Dito sa Kanto. ...simple lang ang buhay ng tao/kuwentuhan, tsismisan/ang paboritong libangan/at kung ika’y mapapadaan/tiyak di maiiwasang/makipagkamustahan/at ang tagay ay tikman.

Other cuts in the album are love songs like Dahil Nariyan Ka, Simpleng Musikero and Dalampasigan ng Puso, an ode or friendship, Narito Ako, Kaibigan Mo, Dancing Angels, about drug addiction, Awit ni Cesar (9 ng Taon), about a construction laborer, plus Panawenen (Ilocano Reggae), Liku-likong Landas and One World of Peace. Cabangon sings with clear expressive tones. His style is a bluesy kind of folk spiced with rock, R&B and in one case, very infectious reggae and in Ilocano yet.

Cabangon plays the guitar, electric, acoustic or bass in several cuts. He has help from Bo Razon who plays percussion, Meong Pacana on bass, Niel Baruelo on drums, Jire Carreon on bass, Bobby Regalado on acoustic and electric guitars, plus Bob Aves, who comes in as producer, arranger and occasional performer in most of the tracks. The executive producer is RB Hizon, SJ.

Hits of the moment

Meanwhile, here are the hits of the moment among local listeners. And thanks to that recent sold-out concert at the Araneta Coliseum, the boy group Westlife is head of the pack with its revival of the Billy Joel classic from the ’70s, Uptown Girl. Next in line are the following: It’s True by another boy band, the Backstreet Boys; All for You from the controversial and very sexy new album by Janet Jackson; Survivor the song by Destiny’s Child which failed to hit number one in the US of A because Janet’s new single came along; Pagdating ng Panahon comeback recording by former child star Aiza Seguerra; Play by Jennifer Lopez; Do You Know by Madonna; Angel by Shaggy Feat. Rayvon; Mad Season by matchbox twenty; Nothing I Want More by Sharon Cuneta; and One Night by The Corrs, whom fans are hoping will finally make it to local shores for a concert this year.