A new take on Sugarfree hits

It is always heartwarming to find the hits of a local rock band arranged for an orchestra and performed on a concert stage. I believe that the first time this happened was with The Beatles and from then on every pop songwriter or performer has dreamed of earning a similar honor. It became a sort of coming of age event, a public gesture of acceptance into the august ranks.

And it is even more elating if it happens to one of the newer groups. Like it would not be a surprise for us to find the music of the Juan de la Cruz Band or the Apo Hiking Society getting the full treatment. But if it is something like Sugarfree then it should really be cause for rejoicing. This is because it can only mean that Sugarfree has indeed reached the big time.

This is exactly what happened on Sept. 29 last year to Sugarfree when it celebrated its ninth anniversary with a grand concert at the Music Museum with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Given how it turned out, the concert was something well-deserved. The band is among the most consistent hitmakers around and has already amassed a good number of hits that can fill up a 90-minute concert. And that is just what they did. And with an orchestra to boot.

Sugarfree is composed of Ebe Dancel on guitars and lead vocals; Kaka Quisumbing, drums; and Jai Taguibao, bass and vocals. It is known for hits like Hari ng Sablay, Prom, Tulog Na, Makita Kang Muli, Wag Ka Nang Umiyak and others. Mostly composed by Dancel, the songs are deceptively simple in theme and structure and imbued with a self-deprecating sense of humor. Then because these are usually about situations ordinary people find themselves in, Sugarfree found a public ever ready for its hits.

It is for them that Sugarfree recorded that important concert live. All its hits made it to Sugarfree Live! the live recorded album, and it is really quite a thrill to hear new arrangements of those songs now performed by the Manila Symphony Orchestra. It is a well-made production with Treb Contreras as director, Chino David as arranger and conductor and Angee Rozul as engineer. The two-disc set is certainly something the band can crow about.

Like it or not, hits, not performing excellence are what makes pop artists popular. Sugarfree does well with the music but the hits done live for the first time are even better. And this album shows that the band has a lot. Of course, the outcome is rather sleek with some of the raw edges of the originals polished by maturity or I can say by these guys having in mind the importance of what they have achieved. But barring that everything works well and the album should find a lot of admirers.

Aside from those already mentioned, the CD also includes an Overture by the orchestra plus Kwentuhan, Kwarto, Telepono, Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin, Still Fighting It, Mariposa, Huling Gabi, Unang Araw, Kailan Ka Ba? Ikaw Pala, Burnout, the Apo Hiking Society’s classic Batang-bata Ka Pa and Dear Kuya.

Here now is last week’s Pinoy MYX countdown of the Top 20 videos of the week. It includes perennial hitmakers Sugarfree. Leap of Fate by Hale; The Fight is Over by Urbandub; Saludo by 6cyclemind; The Search is Over by Rachelle Ann Go; The One Who Won My Heart by Christian Bautista; Million Miles Away by Nikki Gil; Now by M.Y.M.P.; A Very Special Love by Sarah Geronimo; I’m Missing You by Bea Alonso;

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Nina; Ako’y Babalik by Callalily; Kundiman by Silent Sanctuary; Penge Naman Ako Niyan by Itchyworms; Akala by Parokya ni Edgar; Disconnection Notice by Pupil; Pugad by Sugarfree; Iisa Pa Lamang by Gabby Concepcion; For the First Time by KC Concepcion; Eternally by Mark Bautista; and Handa by Miguel Escueta.

Incidentally, Sugarfree’s latest single release Pugad was composed by the band for Dencio’s, a popular eatery. The album Sugarfree Live! comes with a Pugad Dencio’s audio visual CD which contains Pugad and behind the scenes footage of the video shoot for the song and the launch.