Labis, Laging Nagdaramdam (5.23.22)

This is the fourth entry for Cousin’s Kanta Corner. If you’re new to this space, I implore you to check out the first entry and read about halfway through for a background on this ongoing writing project.

Howdy kakabsat!

After a remarkable weekend spent out of town playing cowboy tunes with old friends, I write this week’s entry with a tongue burnt from overzealously ingesting pinikpikan soup, a mild hangover from a fizzy drink I swore I would refrain from consuming, a hoarse set of vocal cords, and a recharged musical spirit.

There have been few—if any—busier periods in my life outside of the past few weeks. And although weekends like these don’t supply much in the way of sleep, they do make up for it in the soul-replenishing experience of playing live with a fun and skilled group of folks. This was also my new bass’ first out-of-towner, and it performed splendidly through the swath of songs demanded, from square-dance country to hugot-OPM classics.

Even the post-set, post-midnight acoustic hangout with kindred souls from years ago (woo, Kikan alumni!) still contained such energy, laughs, and drinks, that half-jokes about actually playing this song next time came about:

This Week’s Song:
Paano by Gary Valenciano (1986)

Yes, children. We are going back for this.

What do I like about it?

Although the sax intro reminds me of 90’s-era sitcom transition screens featuring some character inexplicably able to afford the best apartment while working as a part-time cashier at a perpetually empty bookshop, it’s a 100% gorgeous way of establishing the track’s vibe. Plus, I always swoon at how the bass slides in with its groove right before the verse starts.

The chord structure throughout—a far cry from my typical teenage fare of loud power chords and squealing guitar god solos—maintains a sophistication genuinely fitting of its Rico-suave-esque sax intro. It took me years to fully appreciate arrangements like these, with their turtle-neck-while-sipping-fine-wine energy.

 

But perhaps my favorite parts, courtesy of my inner geek, are the sneaky 3/4 time sections in the song’s outro (3:37 onward.) 

Now, for folks unfamiliar with time signatures, allow me to briefly explain how to notice this without getting too much into the nitty-gritty. When counting, try and feel for the tune’s pulse and where each “phrase” begins; typically, these would be the beginnings of each lyrical or melodic line, usually accompanied by a kick or bass drum hit as well. That would be your 1.

Following this, listen for a snare hit or a strong pulse usually provided by the drums (also known as the downbeat) and assign this as your 2. Afterward, feel for when this pulse relaxes (imagine a heart resting between beats) and assign this as your 3. You should feel the downbeat return one more time right before a new “phrase” begins. This will be your 4.

Most western music is written in 4/4, so you’ll only need to count to 4. Later on, you can subdivide this even more. But that’s a terribly-worded lesson for another day. 

Now, try this when you listen to Paano’s outro, and you’ll find every bar 4th bar “lacking” that 4 count.

Isn’t that cool? Just me? Okay…

What mountain memories does it conjure?

As this song would’ve likely been heard live at coffee lounges along Palma or by RnB acoustic duos in outdoor cafes instead of in hazy, smoky music bars in town, it reminds me of times I would find myself in the former, slightly out-of-place, and mostly there because I was on a date with someone who wasn’t as interested in the “louder” stuff.

It took me a while to truly begin appreciating these tracks I once relegated to the “not-my-genre” corner of my brain. Mostly brought about by the fact that one can’t always play, or express how one feels, with loud stuff all the time, these tracks have since opened doors to a whole new world of music that has blown my mind with beautiful chord progressions, an assortment of pa-sundot hooks, and madamdaming hugot lyrics.

Who should you recommend it to?

This may be a nice track to recommend:

• Your die-hard, prog-metal friend who wants to get into other styles of music while still counting along to an odd meter.
• Your late-night duet partner who needs a half-ironic song suggestion for your next late-night duet.

Which lyrics deserve a second read-through?

“Ngunit, kahit nais ko mang pilitin,
hindi na kayang ibigin.
Paano ipadarama, sa iyo sinta,
na puso’y ari na ng iba?”

Damn. That’s some cold sh—tuff, Gary V. 

And so…

And so, the fourth Cousin’s Kanta Corner entry is complete.  Riding the high of this weekend’s events, I feel good about the coming one ahead. It’s not any less busy, but a good, fun night spent with amazing folks really does wonders for the soul.

Announcements and Matters of Cousin Interest:
– I am moving to a new place by this month’s end. Sorry, no MTV cribs episode just yet.
– I had my wisdom teeth extracted. All four. Why? Because apparently it’s a prerequisite to another dental procedure I have to voluntarily subject myself to. (See: ‘adulting’) And so, I have to endure a week of soft food mush and uncles joking about my loss of remaining wisdom.
– I also recently met some new brothers to play strange-timed instrumental tracks with, so cheers to more musical math.

It has been an eventful and exhausting May, both inside and outside of work. But it’s a good type of exhausting. And I am thankful.

Until the next one, kakabsat. Apir!