Welcome to the final installment.
CLAP! CLAP!
This is my list.
If you want to do yours, then do so.
That’s my disclaimer.
And yeah. Almost forgot about this.
10 to 1
10 THE DAWN
YEARS ACTIVE: 1985 – 95; 2000 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: JET PANGAN, FRANCIS REYES, CARLOS BALCELLS, JB LEONOR
90S HITS: IISANG BANGKA TAYO, BABAENG MAHIWAGA, SALIMPUSA, TALAGA NAMAN, SALAMAT (Salamat was from their 1989 album)
With their slamming sound, they produced a bunch of wonderful songs that captured the hearts and minds of the Filipino audience. They were the first band I remembered. I think I was around eight then. They were also the first I saw in the news and it was due to tragedy and that was when they lost their axeman, Teddy Diaz. Instead of moping and mulling disbandment, the band used this as motivation to play inspired in front of audiences. Their songs are deep, patriotic, and inspirational but they aren’t just blabbing "down with the government" like other bands. Their songs have wonderful arrangements and lyrics. Every regular person can sing along with their hits. Talaga Naman is a great song. I used to treat Sali-Salita as a bonding song with my cousins whenever we take a joyride from Tanauan, Batangas to nearby Calamba, Laguna to check out their nightlife. Salamat and Iisang Bangka are anthems to encourage people to strive.
9 SIDE A BAND
YEARS ACTIVE: 1985 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: JOEY BENIN, NALDY GONZALES, JOEY GENEROSO, ERNIE SEVERINO, KELLY BADON
90S HITS: FOREVERMORE, TELL ME, LET THE PAIN REMAIN, ANG AKING AWITIN, WILL I EVER, SO MANY QUESTIONS, TULOY PA RIN AKO
Of course, they rank prominently in this list. If there are girls ardently checking out my site, I can sense that they will riot if they can’t see these guys on the list. All the girls go into a zombie-like trance whenever Joey Benin belts out a tune. It is goddamn scary especially when they sing along with him. Side A’s songs are heavily played especially during feel-good events. There was a time that Valentine’s Day can’t happen without a Side A concert. Even if they sing mostly revivals, their heartfelt rendition makes them fan favorites. Try going to a wedding reception and not hearing their songs being treated as background the minute the host instructs the guests to attack the buffet! Forevermore is their biggest song but in the course of their career, they scored a bunch of revivals that turned down into hits. Notables include Ang Aking Awitin, Tuloy Pa Rin Ako, and Tell Me, which was popularized then by Joey Albert. Side A also had a slew of originals (or they made famous of) like Let the Pain Remain, So Many Questions, and Will I Ever. If a boyfriend failed to get tickets to their concert, they must brace for hell on earth.
8 YANO
YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – 97; 2007 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: DONG ABAY, ERIC GANCIO, ONIE BADIANG
90S HITS: BANAL NA ASO, SANTONG KABAYO, TSINELAS, ESEM, SENTI, PAALAM SAMPAGUITA
You can’t reminisce about “Tunog Lata” music without these guys. While they can be patriotic just like the bands in their generation, they can also do tongue-in-cheek verses that anyone can relate to. Take Esem for instance. The song talks about going to SM just to get aircon. While it’s cool in some ways, it just sucks to go to a mall with nothing else to do because of financial shortage. Yes, I can relate... especially when I was in college. Anyway, their music can be armed for the poor. They can also talk about love, family, religious brouhaha, and ironies in general. Whenever Dong Abay tries to belt a tune, I assure you that it has substance. They are often batched up with The Youth because “their names start with ‘Y’” but believe me, their words are more worldly than that other band. Their song, Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo was one of the important singles of that era. If it wasn’t, then why did the Philharmonic Orchestra play during one of the concerts? Yano’s other titles are also critically-acclaimed like Senti and Askal. The band didn’t reach the year 2000 and Abay formed a band called Pan before eventually going solo. Eric Gancio, one of the band’s original members, revived the band in 2007 but only as a one-man act. Is there such a thing as a solo band?
7 TRUE FAITH
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS): MEDWIN MARFIL, FRANCIS GUEVARRA, FERDIE MARQUEZ, CARYL CAMPOS, EAZER PASTOR, JUN DIZON, BIMBO YANCE,
90S HITS: PERFECT, HUWAG NA LANG KAYA, MUNTIK NANG MAABOT ANG LANGIT, SA PUSO KO, ALAALA, BALIW, KUNDI RIN LANG IKAW, AWIT PARA SA KANYA
They mixed ballads with alternative rock and often delve into catchy danceable tunes. True Faith is somewhere along the lines of showband artists and alternative rockers. They started their careers roaming around the metro and scoring gigs by covering a bunch of new wave songs. They were discovered and taken in by a major level and moments later, Perfect would play in the airwaves and launch them to new heights. While Perfect set its sights on bigger things, I wasn’t a fan of the song. For me, it was their haunting ballads that made me a fan of their work. Huwag na Lang Kaya, Awit Para Sa Kanya, and Muntik Nang Maabot ang Langit are their contributions to my being. Like the Eraserheads and Rivermaya, they did score a bunch of commercials and endorsements. I believe they starred in an Octo Arts movie when the outfit had a stable of talents and was still active in making movies. Muntik nang Maabot ang Langit was also the theme of Jennifer Mendoza’s launching movie. She was a teen star then and I think that movie turned out to be a bad decision. Anyway, time was kind to them as they were able to adapt to the ever-changing music scene and withstand decline. Oh, scratch that – Medwin is the only member that mattered in True Faith. Since the band’s inception in 1992, Medwin Marfil remains to be the band’s only original member. Aside from Medwin, it is hard to remember the other band members.
6 RAZORBACK
YEARS ACTIVE: 1990 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: KEVIN ROY, DAVID AGUIRRE, LOUIE TALAN, MIGUEL ORTIGAS, TIRSO RIPOLL, BRIAN VELASCO* (*replaced Ortigas when he left the band in ’96)
90S HITS: GIYANG, TABI NG BULKAN, PEPE THE HEPE, PAYASO, IKOT NG MUNDO, VOODOO WHO DO, MY BANYO SONG, MUNTING PARAISO, AS SPICY AS IT GETS
Known as the more locally-inclined brother of Wolfgang, hordes of fans waste away to their beat. In the events that feature the band, flocks of men bob their heads and body slam their selves to the closest object near them (hopefully it’s a living thing and not an expensive object). The best is tried and tested and the best evidence of their awesomeness was when they got handpicked by Metallica and Rage Against the Machine to open for their concerts. Hebigat Sounds Volume One was one smashing debut album but it was Beggar’s Moon that brought them to superstar status back then. With their funky feel and their blues rock attributes, fans throw their selves to them as if they are at their disposal. Unlike other bands then with the tunog lata feel, their sound seems accomplished enough to feel as if the band is foreign. Most of their successful singles are written in Tagalog though. Despite getting limited airplay in the ’90s (with NU107 and LA105 as their turfs) Razorback was “dug” by rock lovers everywhere. If you want to jump insanely, then listen to Payaso. If you want a medium to unwind, check out Pepe the Hepe.
5 FRANCIS M
YEARS ACTIVE IN MUSIC: 1989 – 2009
GROUP AFFLIAITION/S: FRANCIS MAGALONA, THE EVIL STEPSISTERS, HARDWARE SYNDROME
90S HITS: KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD, BAHAY YUGYUGAN, BOW-WOW-WOW, GIRL BE MINE, KABATAAN PARA SA KINABUKASAN, MAHIWAGANG KAMOTE, THREE STARS AND THE SUN, WHOLE LOTTA LOVIN
Yo... yes, yes, yo! FrancisM still lives even if this genius is now residing in heaven. The son of 50’s idols Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, after years of doing youth-oriented flicks, the former Bagets and Ninja Kids star branched out to rapping. He began to sport a funky hairdo that has peace signs carved at the sides of his head and dyed shirts where every given chance he would do a running man. Mga Kababayan Ko was his breakout hit but my favorite Francism rap is Cold Summer Nights. Dubbed as Master Rapper and the King of Philippine Rap because of his earlier compositions (and a slew of Royal Tru-Orange TVCs), he was also the person behind the Pinoy Rap-core genre. It was in 1993 when he experimented with combing rap and rock with the help of his band called Hardware Syndrome. He had a ton of great tunes through the years where his vocal chops were backed up by super-charged beats, either via instruments or via electronic presets. Bar none Kaleidoscope World is his best song ever. I remember tuning in to Campus Radio during John Hendrix’s time slot because this was the song he used as his goodbye song and he used it for months! Aside from Kaleidoscope, his songs are impressive in terms of quality and quantity. He had a bunch of collaborations with different kinds of rockers most notably The Eraserheads guys, Joey Ayala, Heber Bartolome, Mike Hanopol, Kamikazee, and Parokya ni Edgar. His songs are timeless and can be appreciated by this generation as well as the succeeding ones.
4 PAROKYA NI EDGAR
YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT
GROUP ROSTER: CHITO MIRANDA, VINCI MONTANER, BUHAWI MENESES, DARIUS SEMANA, GAB CHEE KEE, DINDIN MORENO
90S HITS: BULOY, TRIP, MANIWALA KA SANA, LUTONG BAHAY, SILVERTOES, HARANA, PANGARAP, PICHA PIE, INUMAN NA, HALAGA
Their first single was a smash hit. People loved it because while it is trying to be funny, it was also a very truthful way to give tribute to a fallen comrade. “Buloy” was one of the best debut singles ever and despite the accusations that Parokya ni Edgar was exploiting the death of their friend to gain fame, it did bring superstardom to the group (the accusations were later dropped). Parokya Ni Edgar continues to attack the charts strongly and unlike other bands that have their members coming and going, their roster remains intact. PNE’s entries to the decade came from their three bitching albums filled with intensity and comedy. They debuted with a very powerful (albeit gibberish) album name and followed it with an equally powerful (that still has a gibberish name) sequel. The guys patrolled the stage wearing their mommy’s duster and they sang tunes that were designed to make people headbang. PNE is Yoyoy Villame multiplied and with a growl – and that is not a bad thing. Yoyoy was a class act during his prime and it seems some of his swaggers were inherited by the band. Their songs are easy to understand and can be extremely catchy for all types of people in all kinds of social classes. They have the cangs with zero sense and yet they can do heartfelt numbers to the delight of many. They also had a knack for parodying songs and making them their own. I could have ranked them higher... but I think the album that catapulted them to legendary status happened in 2003 (Bigotilyo). All time, I think Parokya ni Edgar is at either number one or number two. It only depends on whether I rank PNE and The Eraserheads if we're going to prioritize longevity.
3 WOLFGANG
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 – 2002; 2007 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: BASTI ARTADI, MANUEL LEGARDA, MON LEGASPI, WOLF REMORA
90S HITS: ARISE, HALIK NI HUDAS, DARKNESS FELL, TULISAN, MATA NG DIYOS, ANINO, NATUTULOG KONG MUNDO, ROADWORTHY MAN, CENTER OF THE SUN
Chicks often wonder why their boyfriends are headbanging with their walkmans on. First up –No, they are not listening to Boys II Men or Luther Vandross. From the wild, underground band scene spawned this hard rock choir known to many as Wolfgang. While their songs can only be heard on NU107 and LA105, they are considered one of the pillars of Pinoy rock. Basti Artadi is one of the best vocalists produced by the country... ever. Wolfgang's songs stand out because of his wicked growls. Unlike popular bands of his generation, they got to release an album in Japan and the United States. While the Eraserheads are sorting out a path and happily stringing a bunch of various sound-alikes, Wolfgang also made a path of awesomeness whose spawns consists of underground heavy metal acts. The band was at its peak in terms of popularity with the release of its sophomore album Semenelin. The album had approximately sold 80,000 units which means it has reached double platinum. All of a sudden, rocker chicks were pounding their tables to the beat of their songs. They were also a frequent winner at the NU Rock Awards. Over the decade, Basti won Vocalist of the Year thrice, Wolf won Drummer of the Year honors twice, Mon won the Top Bassist tag once, they are a 3-time Listener’s Choice winner, a two-time Artist of the Year winner, and their album Serve in Silence won Album of the Year honors in 1999. They disbanded in 2002 but they reunited in 2007.
2 RIVERMAYA
YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT
90S GROUP ROSTER: BAMBOO MANALAC, RICO BLANCO, MARK ESCUETA, NATHAN AZARCON
90S HITS: ULAN, 214, BRING ME DOWN, AWIT NG KABATAAN, ELESI, HINAHANAP-HANAP KITA, HIMALA, KISAPMATA, PANAHON NA NAMAN, NERBYOSO
At that time they were the arch-enemy of the Eraserheads. If the Heads were Shawn Michaels, Rivermaya was Bret Hart. Amongst band mania, Rivermaya was there to take the fans of the Heads whenever possible. There was a time that whenever the Heads make an album... Rivermaya will challenge it. Three of Rivermaya’s albums were hailed in the all-time best-selling albums list. Their self-titled debut album, Rivermaya, ranked fifteen and sold 217,000 units. Their third album Atomic Bomb, ranked sixteenth with 215,600 units, and their sophomore album Trip, scored 213,700 units. They edged out, even the Eraserheads, as the only act in the list to score three hits that are all studio albums (The Heads also scored three but The Eraserheads Anthology is a greatest hits album unlike their other albums that made the list like Cutterpillow and Circus). Standing out from the rest of the band scene is Bamboo’s vocal awesomeness. Bamboo stood out because his voice has range and basically... he was not just there because he wants to play in a band but can’t play any instruments. One thing they also majored in is the fact that their songs were well-penned and ever-so-evolving. This is where Rico Blanco’s brilliance kicks in. Sometimes they’ll stick with the safe alternative sound but sometimes they will ditch the sound to do Manila Sound, ballad, blues, and even pop. This is why their songs are frequently revived. Even with the departure of Bamboo, they still managed to survive with Rico at the helm. I think that was the phase where they were sounding a lot like foreign bands. The band is still active to this day despite all the hardships, Rico Blanco’s departure, roster changes, and lawsuits.
1 THE ERASERHEADS
YEARS ACTIVE: 1989 – PRESENT (concerts here and there - mostly outside the Philippines)
GROUP ROSTER: ELY BUENDIA, RAIMUND MARASIGAN, BUDDY ZABALA, MARCUS ADORO
90S HITS: ANG HULING EL BIMBO, PARE KO, MAGASIN, WITH A SMILE, TORPEDO, LIGAYA, OVERDRIVE, TIKMAN, KAILAN, SEMBREAK, HUWAG MO NANG ITANONG, SPOLARIUM, FRUITCAKE, SHIRLEY, AND MANY, MANY MORE!
If you are expecting some other band then you must be insane. Perhaps the greatest Pinoy rock band ever, a particular Pinoy human being (at least he was aged under 30 during the band’s peak) must die if he is oblivious to any of their songs! Even kids not born in their era know their songs. Hell, my mom hums the intro of Magasin ever so often and she has a senior citizen ID! They started their career as “the” rebels. Senate inquiries shadowed them and parents would think they are bad influences. My respect for Tito Sotto then was almost tarnished when he questioned the “drug addict” nature of Alapaap (my respect for Val Sotto’s older brother has increased since). When my parents first heard the chorus of Pare Ko, they wanted to destroy my tape! When it was all said and done though, The Eraserheads will finish their careers as the epitome of band awesomeness. They managed to overthrow the balladeers, the divas, the pop stars, the rappers, and the boy bands and send them to the backseat in favor of the band acts. Their first three albums were big commercially while the rest of their albums unleashed their artistic prowess. Ultramagneticpop, Circus, and Cutterpillow made the Heads the first and only NU Rock Awards Album of the Year winner for three consecutive years. If you take out the insanely successful Jose Mari Chan (his two albums, Christmas In Our Hearts and Constant Change, have a combined 1.6 million units sold), then you’ll probably see the Eraserheads as the only act to reach diamond certification status with Cutterpillow earning 325,000 units sold. In 1997, Huling El Bimbo, won MTV Asia’s Viewers Choice Award. They made this an epic feat for all Filipinos when Ely blurted the now-famous “Mabuhay ang Noypi”. When they broke up in 2002, it was like Michael Jordan retiring and a spawn of Jordan play-a-likes coming in to take the throne. No self-respecting person living in the Philippines would pass up a chance to join these guys to play their songs onstage.
So this ends the list. I’m glad you enjoyed it because I had a hard time writing and researching for it. I mean most of the bands on the list... I knew only because of fan interviews and my downloading of their albums! I mean for every number, I was checking whether or not the band had an album in the 90s.
I may or may not do an “I’m sorry” list for the bands that I can consider worthy but failed to enter the list because either 1) I only knew them AFTER I finished the list; 2) People were egging me to include them, and 3) I have forgotten how happy I was hearing their songs.
Again for those who enjoyed the list, thanks.
For violent reactions, well you can just write it here and if they are note-worthy reactions, I could answer them.
Until then...
GAME OVER!