The saying “you only realize the value of something when it’s
gone,” was in my mind when I wasn’t able to find a copy of Apo Hiking Society’s
final studio album (The Apo: Jim, Buboy and Danny), released in 2009. Apo Hiking Society retired as a group in
2010.
Well it was not something that I have had and had lost; but the feeling is the same because that CD was in and out of my mind ever since it was announced during Apo’s concert in Araneta Coliseum in 2008 . Countless times I had gazed at that CD when I’m in my favorite music store in Cubao but did not have enough motivation to purchase it. Tsk.Tsk. I have not been listening intently to OPM classics these past years but…
Well it was not something that I have had and had lost; but the feeling is the same because that CD was in and out of my mind ever since it was announced during Apo’s concert in Araneta Coliseum in 2008 . Countless times I had gazed at that CD when I’m in my favorite music store in Cubao but did not have enough motivation to purchase it. Tsk.Tsk. I have not been listening intently to OPM classics these past years but…
Lately,
I don’t exactly remember what triggered
it , I have been listening to a lot of
OPMs and enjoying them again immensely. This is the reason why that final APO album entered my mind... but it’s no longer available or is now out of
print, when I wanted it. Whew! I hate that feeling. Unexpectedly, I came across a CD that bares a familiar name on the cover.
Jim Paredes’ Laro to the
rescue…
I’ve
read this is actually his second solo album. The first entitled, Ako Lang, was released in 1996. He stated that for this release he wanted to do an album of pure joy and fun, oblivious of what type of music people listen to nowadays. No wonder the title of cd is Laro. If I will judge this CD with enjoyability and fun as the criteria, this will definitely get a perfect score as I have absolutely enjoyed
listening to this in its entirety. It
even gets better with repeated listens.
The style is diverse. From the surprising opening 'mild' rap to bossa, lounge music, funk and pop. The themes are varied. He exhorts us to patronize OPM music in "OPM Rap." "Butong Pakwan," a delightful song is about how important this dried seed is in our Filipino culture during infanticipation. There are serious topics presented in playful and lighthearted manner like, "Feeling Guilty," about a possible mutual marital indiscretion. In "Sinungaling," he laments that the world seems to be populated by liars. He sings about being used in "May Araw Ka Rin."
Although, I think the best tracks are the love songs which are all very radio friendly such as “Ang ganda mo,” “Lumisan na siya," “Sumpa” and “Palagi-lagi,"’ my favorites are "Live Your Own Life" and track no.7. The former, for personal reasons I find the positive message to be encouraging and soothing. "Live your own life, hold on to your own truth, decide your own faith, make your own mark, all you got to do is start. Everything you'll ever need is inside of you." The latter, during my initial listening, made me put down the newspaper I was reading in surprise when I heard the chorus. Did I hear it right? ”Libog Lang Yan?” Yes, it’s “Libog lang yan." Checking the print on the inlay and the back cover, the first word of the title is not clear enough to read( hahaha). This simple and straightforward song is hilarious and very memorable.
The style is diverse. From the surprising opening 'mild' rap to bossa, lounge music, funk and pop. The themes are varied. He exhorts us to patronize OPM music in "OPM Rap." "Butong Pakwan," a delightful song is about how important this dried seed is in our Filipino culture during infanticipation. There are serious topics presented in playful and lighthearted manner like, "Feeling Guilty," about a possible mutual marital indiscretion. In "Sinungaling," he laments that the world seems to be populated by liars. He sings about being used in "May Araw Ka Rin."
Although, I think the best tracks are the love songs which are all very radio friendly such as “Ang ganda mo,” “Lumisan na siya," “Sumpa” and “Palagi-lagi,"’ my favorites are "Live Your Own Life" and track no.7. The former, for personal reasons I find the positive message to be encouraging and soothing. "Live your own life, hold on to your own truth, decide your own faith, make your own mark, all you got to do is start. Everything you'll ever need is inside of you." The latter, during my initial listening, made me put down the newspaper I was reading in surprise when I heard the chorus. Did I hear it right? ”Libog Lang Yan?” Yes, it’s “Libog lang yan." Checking the print on the inlay and the back cover, the first word of the title is not clear enough to read( hahaha). This simple and straightforward song is hilarious and very memorable.
Tracks:
OPM RAP
BUTONG PAKWAN
ANG GANDA MO
MAY ARAW KA RIN
SINUNGALING
FEELING GUILTY
LIBOG LANG YAN
LUMISAN NA SYA
IN MY HEART
BASIC LOVE
SUMPA
LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE
MANAGRAP AT MANAGINIP
PALAGI-LAGI
December 15, 2012
Addendum: 4 tracks from Laro were actually taken from his 1996 album Ako Lang" "Libog Lang Yan,"" Lumisan Na Sya," "Basic Love" and "Live Your Own Life". "In My Heart", is a new version of an Apo Hiking Society song which appeared in their 1986 album, Direksyon.
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