A different light dawned upon the revolution of music during the last decade of the 20th century. As the society became less conservative, music became more aggressive. People, including the youth, could be found merry-making in almost every street corner. With this kind of attitude, Filipino music started to evolve into a less-metered, laid-back fashion, breaking the rules of standard music.
Francis “Kiko” Magalona was one of the most renowned rappers of the Philippines. As his title says, “Master Rapper,” he became an influential icon within the genre. He was also one of the proponents of Tagalog-English rap, while rapping politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes. His songs marked the birth of makabayan or nationalistic rap in Filipino hip hop.
Although many people are saying that the birth of Andrew E’s music killed the true OPM rap, no one could ever deny that his songs somehow made its own mark.
Para sa Masa
Who would ever say they did not know Alapaap, Toyang, Magasin, Huling El Bimbo, and Ligaya? Those are just a finger count of Eraserhead’s hits.
The Eraserheads (E-Heads) became a prominent Pinoy rock band of the 90s. its members include the ever famous Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. They worked both in the underground and mainstream scenes of the Philippine music industry.
What’s good with this band is that they did not only write songs of love the way poets did, but added more impression, they way a typical Pinoy share courtly love. Like the Beatles, their songs are not exact poetry in the sense that they did not follow the standard number of lines and did not even use candy-coated words to revamp their music; instead, they made use of mockery and satire.
Not only were they exceptional in making songs of love, the Eraserheads also marked the OPM streams with their hard-hitting songs about serious problems of Pinoy. Poverty, corruption and injustice.
Poorman’s Grave
I know a man who had nothing
He was a poor man all his life
He lived in a shack by the roadside
With starving kids and a loving wife
He went to church every Sunday
He prays from morning until night, he said
Good Lord, why have you forsaken me
When everything I did I thought was right
Refrain:
Now my Life is coming to an end
There’s only one thing I’m wishing for
All my days I have never sinned
So I hope you wont ignore
What I’m asking for
Chorus I:
Oh honey when I die
Dress me up in a coat and tie
Give my feet a pair of shoes
That I haven’t wore in a long time
Put me in a golden box
Not a cross on a pile of rocks
Bury me where the grass is green
And the gates are shining
Chorus II:
Oh honey when I die
Give me a bed of roses
Where I could lie
I’m gonna use up all the money that I saved
‘Coz I don't wanna lie in a poor man’s grave
I know a man who had nothing
He dreamed of satin sheets all his life
He lived and worked like a dog
Licking every boot he sees just to survive
He comes home drunk every night
Wakes up the kids and talks to his wife, he said
Honey you have been so good to me
I only wish we had a better life
Refrain:
And now my life’s coming to an end
There’s only one thing I’m wishing for
All my days I have lived in shame
So I hope you won’t ignore
Just what I’m asking for
Chorus I:
Oh honey when I die
Dress me up in a coat and tie
Give my feet a pair of shoes
That I haven’t wore in a long time
Put me in a golden box
Not a cross on a pile of rocks
Bury me where the grass is green
And the gates are shining
Chorus II:
Oh honey when I die
Give me a bed of roses
Where I could lie
I’m gonna use up all the money that I saved
‘Coz I don’t wanna lie in a poor man’s
Oh honey when I die
Give me a bed of roses
Where I could lie
I’m gonna use up all the money that I saved
‘Coz I don’t wanna lie in a poor man’s grave
Poorman’s grave shows the perfect irony of life. It is an eye-opener, a call for everyone that there are a lot of people who suffer deeply that in their last refuge, the only thing they are wishing for is a decent death, that in their last stay in the soils of earth, they would remember that the claws of poverty is not at them forever.
(this is a recycled blog, originally from our Art Appreciation project last semester: Writerscollide)
