Freestyle gets the Close-Up tune

There is a new Close-Up jingle in the air and it comes from Freestyle. The song is I Wanna Get Close and it is another composition by the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter Toptop Suzara. Given that a Close-Up jingle always turns out to be a big hit, you can bet your last buck that Freestyle has another big seller on the loose in the airwaves.

Freestyle is certainly the most successful band to emerge during the past 10 years. It came at a time when Pinoy Rock was once again at its highest but Freestyle had a surefire formula that music lovers found hard to release. The group’s combination of pretty pop melodies, lush harmonies, a dash of rap and soul and sweet romantic lyrics sent it off to the top right on its very first try. The single was Before I Let You Go.

Freestyle was discovered by Viva Records in Davao where the group was performing at the Apo View Hotel. The group was formed by band leader/guitarist Totop Suzara and vocalist Jinky Vidal while they were still students at the Ateneo de Davao. They were later joined by Carlo Tapia on bass, Nikki Cabardo on keyboards, Gerald Banzon on drums and Tat Suzara on guitars and drums programming. Unlike other new bands doing the hotels and clubs with their versions of current hits, Freestyle had a repertoire of mostly original compositions which even then got a lot of radio airplay in Davao and Cebu.

It did not take long for Viva to relocate the whole band to Metro Manila, get the first Freestyle album mixed, mastered and released and to guide the band on its way to stardom. Less than a year later, Freestyle was a big success. Before I Let You Go was followed by other hits like So Slow, Goodluv, I’m Gonna Love You, Treat You So Right, Not That Easy and Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.

Everybody is now on the lookout for which song will emerge as the big seller in the new Freestyle album. I Wanna Get Close is the likely candidate but there are other cuts with hits potentials in the collection. Gary Valenciano’s hit Paano is Freestyle’s new effort at tackling previously recorded material. These guys made a huge hit out of Ogie Alcasid’s Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang and might do the same to Paano. All That I Want has great recall. And there are also Mr. What I Wanna Be, You’ve Taken Over Me, Lying to Myself, To Love Me, I Like the Way, Nakilala and It’s Got to be Love.

Lakas ng Tunog

The winning songs and performances in the Red Horse Beer Muziklaban 2001 have been compiled in an extraordinary album from Alpha Records titled Lakas ng Tunog. Muziklaban was conceived in 1999 to provide a venue for amateur bands and aspiring songwriters to perform their stuff. It has since become a yearly event and now draws contestants from all over the country. The 2001 edition was staged in 30 localities and the outstanding winners and finalists found themselves with more gigs than they ever imagined, the chance to perform with big name acts and their first recorded songs in the market.

Treat yourselves to these new sounds and get a preview of who will be the big rock bands of tomorrow with the Lakas ng Tunog album. 3rdegree and Hiraya seem like the most promising. Of course, if the album makes good and if Muziklaban continues to prosper, then there will always be a place where new groups can show what they can do and can hope to be discovered. And that can only result in a most exciting Pinoy music scene.

Included in Lakas ng Tunog are Tick by Blu Green, Luzon third place winner; Daloy ng Ulan by San Dimas, Visayas second place winner; 7DH by Dreadlocks, Luzon participant; Why by Pink Mustang, Mindanao second place winner; Fall by Scarecrow, Mindanao third place winner; Hiraya byHiraya, Luzon participant; Kita Kita Kahapon by Comets Tale, Luzon second place winner; Anytime Soon by Rubber Soul, Luzon Participant; Dating Pag-ibig by 3rdegree, first place winner; Still the One by 7th Element; Be Mine also by 3rdegree; Red Horse Muziklaban Best Jingle by Comets Tale; and Lakas ng Loob the Red Horse Beer Jingle.