'Middle-aged' but still juvenile at heart

MANILA, Philippines - The Parokya ni Edgar members may consider themselves “middle-aged” but they never let go of their juvenile, playful attitude. That’s why local music enthusiasts can’t help but love the band.

Proof is the band’s newly-released album titled Parokya ni Edgar Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers. As if they were never matured as individuals and musicians, Chito Miranda, Vinci Montaner, Buwi Meneses, Dindin Moreno, Darius Semana and Gab Cheekee dress themselves up as the ‘90s iconic Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles for the cover of the album under Universal Records.

Asked about the album, Chito says, “We miss the old school sounding bands of the ‘90s. That’s why our cover is Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

“We want to bring back our listeners to that time (when) stories were about friends, drinking spree (inuman) and love. We want to go back to the roots — to the basics… like what songs we listened to in that era. That’s what we tried to do in coming up with this album.”

As songwriter, Chito likes the raw music of the ‘90s like how Ely Buendia (of Eraserheads), Rico Blanco (of Rivermaya), Siakol and The Youth wrote songs. The bands’ musicality then didn’t dwell on the technicalities but on basic songwriting. Chito has become “enveloped in love as in a net” as a fictionist puts it.

Asked why it took the Pambansang Banda ng Pilipinas two to three years to follow up Solid, the band jokingly replies, “We’re just lazy.”

“It’s hard to write songs,” adds Chito. “We’ve been busy with gigs and performing. It sometimes gets in the way. We had to ask for 10 days off just to write songs for the album.”

Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers carries Original Song, Ganito O!, Reunion (Panahon ng Kasiyahan), Orange, Pangarap Lang Kita featuring Happee Sy, OK Katol, Paki-usap Lang (Lasingin Nyo Ako) and Francis Vincent Montaner. You will surely enjoy Red Pants, Yakult, Walong Baso, One Hit Combo feat. Gloc 9, Tuloy Po Kayo, Lolo Bye, OK Lang Ako and Pangarap Lang Kita feat. Francis Vincent Montaner.

As for writing songs, Parokya ni Edgar members write their songs individually, do the demo, present the ideas to everyone and ask for suggestions to improve every ditty to be included in the album. “There’s no dictatorship,” stresses Chito. It’s just one of the reasons why the bandmates never thought of breaking away from the group and putting up a new one. Everyone is important in the band. Although it recorded a cover song titled Boys Do Fall in Love, Parokya ni Edgar finds happiness and pride in singing original songs. That adds to the musical charm the band has been enjoying all these years.

“We grew up together as kids,” shares Chito. “We’ve been friends since 1981. We get along with each other. We’ve been through all the challenges that friends and a band could hurdle. When there’s no gig, we stay away from each other. We spend time with our families. We enjoy the trips together.”

Thus, it’s a “successful marriage” as Chito puts it.