The sound of the Tres Marias

Thank heavens the album Tres Marias is still in the music outlets.  Given the continually diminishing area allotted to music products in the stores, artists should consider themselves lucky if their releases remain prominently displayed for several months. Tres Marias came out late last year so I was afraid that it has already gotten buried under the music efforts of young TV stars by now. I am glad it is still at Astroplus and Odyssey because it is a landmark production that should one day be considered a classic.

Tres Marias brings together three of the country’s best female singers — Cooky Chua, Lolita Carbon and Bayang Barrios. They are the goddesses of folk rock and alternative music in the Philippines. They are the names and the sounds against which newcomers to the genre have been measured these past three decades or so. And come to think of it, I can only name one or two who have in a way, come close to them in terms of talent and audience appeal. And those only came close. Truth to tell, I have a feeling it will take a lot more years before we come across another Lolit or Bayang or Cooky.

Cooky will always be known as the girl who turned down Miss Saigon. She would much rather sing with a band in small joints out here than on a stage somewhere else. I do not know if she regrets her decision. What I know is that we have had and I am sure will still produce more Miss Saigons in the future. But there is only one Color It Red and Cooky helped to make that with the album Hand Painted Sky and songs like Paglisan and Na Naman. 

Lolita’s name is forever enshrined in the annals of Filipino music as the vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the iconic folk rock group Asin. Both a commercial and critical success, the music of Asin still resounds all over the country when people want to sing of peace or to call attention to injustice or to the afflicted environment. Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran, Himig Ng Pag-ibig, Balita, Pagbabalik, Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata, Orasyon, Mahiwagang Tao, Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan and many others. Lolita was the girl singer in all those songs.

As for Bayang, who is a proud lumad of the Manobo tribe, she started out as the pretty sight and sound of Joey Ayala’s Bagong Lumad band. Years later, her creativity remains at its peak and she continues to turn out albums filled with her original works cleverly spiced with social commentary and her use of native rhythms and instruments. Among these are Bagong Umaga, Gising Na Kaibigan, Alon, Bayang Makulay, Lalalala-Laryang (Himig Ni Inay), Habang Narito Pa and Malayo Man Malapit Din.

And now they are all together as Tres Marias. The album is a well-chosen collection with innovative arrangements that are sweet, amusing and filled with soul. Each track is outstanding. Lolita, ever the guttural rock chick, brings a new dimension to Dina Bonnevie’s Bakit Ba Ganyan. Bayang, sedate and wistful, does Rey Valera’s Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo. And Cooky is so sexy and flirty in her cover of Paul Enriquez’s Ayoko Na Sa ‘Yo also composed by Valera.

They get together in Wika, a gibe at English-speaking Filipino children by Mike Villegas and Ricky Gonzales; the humorous take on falling out of love, Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin by Gary Granada; and Sana, a big hit for Kristina Paner composed by Florante. Just one beef. The album has only six cuts. I want more. Voices like theirs should be heard as often as possible and in as many songs.

From book to screen and now the Panget fever has also invaded MYX.  On top of this week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown of the Top 20 videos in the music channel is No Erase, a song performed by lead stars James Reid and Nadine Lustre and composed by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana for the soundtrack of the blockbuster film Diary ng Panget. The 10-cut CD has a duet of Rocketeer by the hot new love team plus Paligoy-Ligoy by Nadine; Natataranta by James; a duet of Di Ko Alam by the also exciting new faces from Panget, Yassi Pressman and Andrei Paras; Dyosa by Yumi; Labing Isang Numero by Thyro and other songs.

 Here is the rest of the latest Pinoy MYX Countdown:  Singapore Sling by Sponge Cola; Takipsilim by Gloc-9 featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid; Do The Moves by Sarah Geronimo, apl.de.ap, Enrique Gil and Elmo Magalona; Kislap by Kamikazee; Hindi Ka Nag-iisa by Q-York feat. Yeng Constantino; Dahan-Dahan by Maja Salvador; Pag May Time by Xian Lim; Kailanman by Dennis Trillo; Kiss You by Karylle; Runaway by Myk Perez; Promise Ain’t Enough by Richard Yap; Anting-Anting by Sponge Cola feat. Gloc-9 and Denise Barbacena; Tayo by Sarah Geronimo; Bawal Sa Gamot by Banda ni Kleggy; Sana 2x by Angeline Quinto; Good by Sunday by 6Cyclemind; Hover by Urbandub; Pelikula by Bob; and Free by Kidwolf and BV.