Well, one way to gauge if an artist has a huge fan base is the number of readers who check on their concert reviews. Of course, there are many other factors affecting how many read my concert reviews but since all these articles were written in the same conditions, it's fair to judge them. However, you will notice that none of the newly-written concert reviews have figured in the Top 10 - as yet. I guess Google trawling really takes time.
The heavens were weeping as well, when Sugarfree held their last concert, as band tonight, at the Eastwood City Plaza. Unfortunately, I only learned about the band late last year, but according to the show tonight, they have been together since 1999 and have released about six albums, two of them, live albums. I only have one of their albums, and that's the latest one, which had the hit Hangover.
Well, I arrived there around 8PM, but the show didn't start till 9PM. The place was packed so it did help when it rained since the weather was cooler. I felt dizzy actually inside, and a bit tired.
Quark Henares introduced the band and he told us that he did several of their videos too.
You'd have to be a hardcore fan to really enjoy the show. Since I wasn't, I was only familiar with Hay Buhay and Hangover, which was a pity since the audience there last night really knew the lyrics of their more famous hits! It was practically a sing-along night for the hardcore fans!
This is definitely one of my favorite love songs this year, one song I would sing to Alberto, if I can! The video stars Alessandra de Rossi and it's pretty interesting. This is also one of those songs that grew on me - not exactly love at first listen. But the more I heard it, the more I was singing along to it! Eventually, it does land very high on my year-end list. I love the arrangement, the lyrics and the sing-along nature of the song.
Ever since I opened my music world view and included OPM music into it, I have been made ten times richer by it since now I know how talented Filipino musicians are! One of those bands which exemplify this observation is Sugarfree, whom I discovered through their song 'Hangover' - whose video features Alessandra de Rossi, one of local tinseltown's most talented actresses. This Sugarfree album though has many other good songs which could be released as singles if the band chooses to gain more fans. I was hooked when I heard Hangover - I loved its lyrics - and I love how the band builds up the song to its singalong chorus!
If I were the band's marketing officer, these are the five other songs I would consider releasing as singles or downloads -
1. Walang Paalam - this would be a rather slow follow up to Hangover since it's an acoustic ballad, but I want people to know that the band does not need fireworks to show their talent. The lyrics are very sad and hopeful and the song is beautifully sung! Its strange though that it's the last song in the CD but in a way, it's a powerful way to close an album that is full of richness in lyrical content.
2. Where Do We Go - another ballad but not acoustic - reminds me of one of those 80s bands who come up with really good love songs asking questions about love and where the relationship is going.
If you want to play the song, the chords are in this link - http://www.yourchords.com/216499/Sugarfree/Where-Do-We-Go-Chords/
3. Wala - I like this song because it makes references to several 80s and 90s Filipino icons like Gabby and Shawie, Romnick and Sheryl, and Lotlot and Monching, popular love teams during my youth. I like its upbeat tempo and as usual, it's really the lyrics that pushes the song forward.
4. Form Factor - this song is a bit fast-paced but still, it has those sad break-up lyrics which is replete in this album.
5. Mamang Driver - a bouncy song directed at Manila's notorious jeepney drivers!
When I was in college, I'd usually buy one album a week - and I could afford that since I was a working student. The habit got cut a few year's back when I learned how to download, but now, I've gotten back the habit, since I do want the physical copy, as opposed to just a download. My Ipod has only little space so I still need the CD and anyhow, the DVD players now can play CDs so it's kind of an all-in-one thing.
This week, I shopped at Astrovision in Shangri-la Mall. I browsed around for about an hour and I decided on Sugarfree (my OPM CD for this week) - on the strength of their Hangover song; Taylor Swift's Speak Now, because I love her Speak Now song so much, and I chanced upon a discounted DVD of the Oscar nominated movie - 'An Education', which I got for only 187.50 pesos or US$4.27!!
I will give the reviews of these albums this week as I will listen to them intently this week.
