Mr. B goes Tararadyin Pot Pot

There is a new album by Bayani Agbayani in the stores these days. As I am sure a lot of you out there already know, Bayani is a popular comedian who scored big as a recording artist when he coined the tune Otso-Otso and the dance step that goes with it. There was indeed a time, only a few years ago when the entire country was dancing the Otso-Otso. Those who were too shy to stick out their butts and wiggle at least knew what Otso Otso was. The success of the song launched Bayani’s singing career big time and even spawned a Christmas Otso Otso tune.

Bayani’s latest is titled Mr. B and it has the usual perky songs that kids can easily move to with words that can be funny, trite or just plain nonsensical. Bayani does not have Joey de Leon’s clever wit. De Leon is the TV host who dominates the novelty music market with his Itaktak Mo type of songs. But Mr. B has such a pleasant countenance. He appeals to listeners because he seems to sing any kind of song with a smile. One cannot help but think that he is listening to a nice guy. So why not give him your time and listen to what he has to say.

What we can listen to in the CD Mr. B by Bayani Agbayani are the carrier single Tararadyin Pot Pot, which obviously aspires to be the next Otso-Otso, plus Igiling Giling Ikembot Kembot, Minadyik Mo ang Puso Ko, Ipukpok Mo, Kahulugan ng Nunal, Iba Na ang Pogi, Tiyayabum, a remix of Tararadyin Pot Pot and bonus music minus ones of some of the cuts for Mr. B fans who like to sing. Now there are two more cuts, Mag-Exercise Tayo and Philippine Geography.

You are right if you think that those titles sound familiar because those are covers of two of the biggest hits by Yoyoy Villame. As far as I know, singing cover versions is a no-no for novelty singers. Most of them write their own songs and the hits are so identified with the original artists, it seems useless for anybody to come up with another version. Can you imagine somebody else singing and making like Mr. B with Otso Otso? I refuse to even think about it, let alone tamper with one of Yoyoy’s classics. But Bayani dared and the results are not bad at all. The only problem though is that he has mighty big shoes to fill with those songs. Yoyoy, who passed away a few months ago, had a unique way of looking at things and writing about them.

What actually bothers me about Bayani singing the Yoyoy songs was that it signifies the producer’s inability to find more new materials for the artist to record. Can it be true that along with the dwindling music sales we are also losing songwriters? They either choose to work at other things to survive or are too disillusioned now to be witty and clever. Another thing I wonder about is, is this another example of how reliant the market has become on cover versions of the oldies? Most of the new albums released this year, that did good business, were made up of cover versions of old songs, local or foreign. Again, this state of things boils down to lack of new, good songs that might become classics someday.

The bands try to come up with their own originals but these are mostly substandard and will not stand the test of time. Besides I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of bands who have made improvements in the way they write and perform. Most are stagnating. As for producers, they know that it takes money, time and effort to search for new songs and this is additional expense they cannot afford.

Music sales was at an all-time low this year. Piracy remains a problem and consumers have come up with their own style of buying music but saving on costs. Buy one CD and then pass it around your friends so they can make their own copies. Makes you shudder to imagine if there is a future for the music industry.

Meanwhile, the sounds may be changing but MYX continues to bat for Filipino bands. Here is the Pinoy MYX Countdown for the week. Magsasaya by 6Cyclemind; Love Will Lead You Back by Kyla; Ikaw by Sarah Geronimo; Sanctuary by Callalily; Walang Misteryo by Imago; Somewhere Down the Road by Nina; So Perfect by M.Y.M.P.; Director’s Cut by Kamikazee; So Far Away by Bamboo; Sala by Pupil;

Gotta Go My Own Way by Nikki Gil; Movie by Sponge Cola; Back into You by Amber Davis; A Little Too Perfect by Sam Milby; Pasaway by Cambio; Di Kasi by Moonstar88; Isipin by Miguel Escueta; The Moon Represents My Heart by Kim Chiu; Ikaw Lang at Ako by Janno Gibbs; and Ikaw Pa Rin by Aicelle Santos.