Reminiscing: The Eraserheads

The Eraserheads

“They try to tell us we’re to young….to young to really be in love..Bahay namin maliit lamang…..” I was in my first (and last) semester in UST when I first heard that song. I remember saying “Iba dating nito a.” I never had the stomach for filipino rock during that time. I was into sentimental songs. But never Rock. It was too noisy for me. Then these guys came along: Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro better known as “The Eraserheads”! The one of the most successful, critically-acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of Original Pinoy Music. I remember “Pare ko” with the controversial phrase “Tang-ina” in it’s lyrics. How the attempt of Philippine Association of the Record Industry to censor the song without success. These guys put pinoy rock on the globe when they won a Viewer’s Choice Award for Asia in 1997. The Eraserheads as thought me to live it up! If you have watched the James Bond flick “The World in Not Enough” the villain’s motto was “There’s no point in living; If you can’t feel alive.” I used that as my personal motto after I watched the film, because the Eheads taught me to lighten up a bit. Listening to the Eheads makes my day comfortable, it always seems to speed up the time. I remember using all my savings just to watch these guys live. I remember hanging out the parking lot of “Club Dread” so that I can hear them perform. The song “With a Smile” has become somewhat of an official theme song for my son and me, as I will always sing it to him everytime I lull him to sleep when he was a baby, and when I sing it to him today, he would stop what he’s doing and look at me. I know somehow in the back of his mind he knows that song. I remember lauging out loud the after hearing “Kailan”. Fans of the band were shocked when Ely Buendia quit the band in 2002. He was replaced by Kris Gorra-Dancel, but it was never the same again. up to now, fans has been waiting for a reunion concert. They almost got heir wish last February 28, 2007, during the book launching of “Tikman Ang Langit: An Anthology on the Eraserheads”. The original band members were there with the exception of Buendia, because he has a meeting with the surgeon and manufacturer of the stents in his heart.

One day the band will held a reunion. It may not be tomorrow, or next month or next year. But it will happen. The bands way to legendary not to.

With A Smile Lyrics

lift your head
baby don’t be scared
of the things that could go wrong
along the way
you’ll get by with a smile
u can’t win at everything but u can try
and baby u don’t have to worry
coz there ain’t no need to hurry
no one ever said that there’s no easy way
and when they’re closing all their doors
and they don’t want u anymore
this sounds funny but i’ll say it anyway
girl i’ll stay
through the bad times
even if i have to fetch u everyday
you’ll get by with a smile
u can never be too happy in this life
coz in a world where everybody hates
a happy ending story
it’s a wonder love can make the world go round
but don’t let it bring u down
and turn ur face into a frown
you’ll get along with a little prayer and a song
lift your head
baby don’t be scared
of the things that could go wrong along the way
you’ll get by with a smile
now it’s time to kiss away
those tears goodbye

Values and Morality: A Decline

I was driving home with my family last night when my wife tuned in to Magic 89.9. It’s was around 10pm and my son has already fallen asleep in my wife’s arms so it was safe to listen to Slick Rick, Toni toni and Sam YG they are the host of Magic 89.9’s late show “Boys Night out! I remember this caller last night a girl who just came home from “The land down Under” (That’s Australia to you!), who has a problem about her friend. She’s been in love with this friend of hers for a long, long time. She moved to Australia a few years back and stayed there awhile. When she returned she hooked up with this friend of hers and pretty much something “happened” to them. The problem is she doesn’t know if the guy loves her, and here’s the kicker She said and I quote “I’ll continue to do it with him, if it means seeing him.” OH my God! That girl just told that guy on air that she’s willing to do it with him, any time as long as the guy will continue to see her. Question: If you were the guy she’s talking about, and you happen to be listening to the same radio program at the same time she’s on air. What will you think about? It’s impossible not to recognized the girl’s voice, specially when she keeps giving clues about her identity like, she just came back from another country, they last did “it” last Saturday..etc, I bet if that guy is listening he’d be doing his own version of Tom Cruise’s “couch incident”. I feel bad for the girl, specially when she said that she’s not sure it the guy has feelings for her. I agree on the boys’ advice to her. Talk to guy, lay down your cards and ask him to take it slow. I say good advice. If I were giving the girl advice I would tell her to ask the guy point blank if he loves her. If he said “No”, Slap his face with the force to crack marble and stay away from him…ever! If he said “Yes”. Ask him to prove it. try not to engage in something erotic for about a month and try to get to know each other more and let faith run its course.

“Sigh” I’m not a holy rolly person, but sometimes hearing about this kind of problem from a woman, make me want to take the woman and slap some sense into her. Are young people that desperate to have sex these days, that they’re willing to give up their dignity to someone who are not sure if they even have feelings for each other? I’m sorry if I sound like a priest here, but sometimes it’s just too much. If it’s a “one night stand” I’ll understand, if it’s a fling…….maybe. But saying that you’ll continue to sleep with someone just so because it’s the only way for that person to give you his/her attention has got to be the most idiotic thing to say. Sex is not, and never will be the answer to a relationship’s success, not unless your married then, sex is a part of it, but married couples sex lives is part of the marriage, but women, nor men should be forced to do it. But in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship sex should never be a factor, It really shouldn’t. But at today’s time and age, premarital sex is a factor. It’s sad really, morals and values are being thrown out the window and most of the time it leads to broken hearts, unwanted pregnancies and sometimes……….suicidal tendencies. I hope the girl can talk to guy and try to straighten their relationship out. Otherwise it’s just better for her not to see him anymore.