Pinoy Ako is Song of the Year

Until we get Soundscan, in this part of the world, we will always have no sure way of knowing which songs truly sold the most copies at a given time. Soundscan automatically tallies every album or single sold and is already in use in most countries. The device is what they rely on in matters of which should get the Gold or Platinum award. Given the situation and with record companies still seemingly reluctant to reveal sales figures, all that we can do is hazard a guess as to which are indeed the hits.

So based on airplay, audience impact and the rare sales charts, I think I can come out and bravely say that Pinoy Ako is the song of the year. I know that the song sounds a lot like The Cure’s Chandelier but a lot of other songs also sound like something else. But until we get an official claim, let us leave the matter to the conscience of the writer. He is after all, the only one accountable. Besides, if he really did copy the song, you have to give him credit for his good taste.

Pinoy Ako works wonderfully. As the theme from the voyeuristic TV show Pinoy Big Brother, the infectious ditty did not only get everybody dancing to the beat, it also brought out pride in being a Pilipino. Then there was the South East Asian Games. There were other songs that were officially the themes for the event. But although unofficial, Pinoy Ako was there to egg the Filipino athletes to victory.

And what a victory it was for the Philippines, a lovely silver lining in these difficult times. Now if we can only apply the same determination and pride in all of our undertakings, I am very sure we will be able to survive anything. Pinoy kasi tayo. "Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo, ipakita sa mundo kung ano ang kaya mo…." Nice.

I also choose Orange and Lemons as the band of the year. This is not only because the group recorded Pinoy Ako but also because of how it has grown in creativity these past few years. Check out the songwriting and the arrangements in the newer cuts included in the repackaged edition of its hit album Strike Whilst the Iron is Hot like that take on the well-loved standard Blue Moon, which is the theme from the local movie of the same title. It took a lot of daring for them to do that and they pulled it off. They also turning out to be the most successful among the newer bands, what with being picked to do the shampoo commercial Abot Kamay, which is also in the new album.

Orange and Lemons is made up of Clem Castro on electric guitar and vocals, McCoy Fundales on acoustic guitar and vocals, JM Del Mundo on bass guitar and Ace Del Mundo on drums. Clem and McCoy are the main songwriters. They all come from Bulacan and say that they are here to provide the right sort of musical nourishment to today’s listeners. They still have to tell though who among them is the Orange and who are the Lemons.

Orange and Lemons was part of the massive rock explosion that happened in 2005. All of a sudden it was cool to be in a band again and every kid who could beat the drums or strum the guitar joined a group or went off on their own like lone girl rocker Kitchie Nadal, Same Ground. Hence the year saw the rise of Hale, The Day You Said Goodnight; Cueshe, Stay; Sponge Cola, KLSP; Brownman Revival, Maling Akala; Sugarfree, Hari ng Sablay; Mayonnaise, Jopay; and others while older rock acts, Bamboo, Hallelujah, and Rivermaya, You’ll be Safe Here also kept the rock fire burning brightly.

It was also a year for nostalgia. This was what made M.Y.M.P.’s Especially for You and Nina’s Love Moves in Mysterious Ways huge successes in recordings and the concert scenes. It was also what packed the local performances of foreign pop idols of yore like The Beach Boys, Peter and Gordon, The Cascades, The Stylistics, The Temptations and others. That is also the reason why more of these "revival" guys are arriving for shows this 2006.

Given the fact that the quality of the recent winners of the talent contests leaves much to be desired, it was up to the first batch of champions to keep their flag alive. So fans of Sarah Geronimo, I Want to Know What Love Is; Rachelle Ann Go, Here I Am Again; Christian Bautista, Hands to Heaven; Erik Santos, I’ll Never Go; Mark Bautista, I Need You and Sheryn Regis, Maybe, need not worry. The champions not only stayed afloat amidst the band onslaught, they continued to make hits and will be around to make more this New Year.