Music that reminds me of the Philippines
Over the last few weeks I have been talking online to several people who have visited the Philippines and are now back in their own country for whatever reason and during our talks we all had in our minds records and songs that we will always associate with the Philippines, that have personal memories or just seem to catch the spirit and fun of the country.
It is rather like telling people the first record you ever bought and watching their faces into trying to understand why, because they do not share the moment in time where thet song became associated with something or somebody.
This got me thinking about records that I will al;ways associate with the Philippines.
If you leave me now/Chicago
Lost in space/Lighthouse Family
Pinoy Ako/Orange and Lemons THEME FROM PINOY BIG BROTHER
My humps/Black eyed peas
Father and son/Cat Stevens
You make me feel brand new /Stylistics
Close to you/Carpenters
Life on Mars/David Bowie
Now if I had to produce an album that made me want to make the memories of the Philippines flood back those tracks would be included because of the significance of them.
I have decided to make a CD setup for myself next year of about 100 tracks.
Can anyone suggest what to put in and why?
Hi John, if I would produce such a CD, I would put in 50 Pinoy Classic Tracks… Let’s meet next time and listen to them… .
Hi John, well I can make some suggestions to you, over the last few years there are many songs that remind me of all my special times in the Philippines.
I cant really explain them all, it would be too long winded, but mostly, it will be because I have heard these tracks either played or performed live over the last few years in the Philippines and the songs remind me and take me back to those times and places. Here we go:
Love Moves in Mysterious Ways (of course!!!) Location: EVERYWHERE
Dont Cry Out Loud – (not Elkie Brooks but Samantha (dont know last name)
Location: EVERYWHERE
Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton Location: Manila Bay, my very first night in the Philippines
Beep – Location: Davao city
Push the Button – Sugababes Location: Davao city
No Air – Jordin Sparks Location: Davao city 2 months ago !!!
Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis Location: Davao city 2 months ago!!
God is a Girl – cant remember the artist Location: sorry that one was Vietnam
I Swear – Aswad? Location: Davao city
What do I have to do to make you love me? Elton John and Blue
Filipino – Black Eyed Peas – Location: Exodus village Fiesta, Davao 2006
Gasalina – Daddy Yankee Location: Exodus village Fiesta, Davao 2006
Honesty – Billy Joel
Dont You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me ??????? Location: Davao city
(possibly called “Dont Ya”)
oh my goodness, the list goes on and on and on.
There are many more, but each time I hear those songs, it takes me back.
Hey John
Good one this and my contribution…..this is a little obscure but in HK, when was it, about 1997 / 98, there was the inevitable, “Lemon Tree” which i always disliked but had the Filipinas twirling about and i grew to associate with the philippines, been here a year yet and not found any of those trees yet, fortunately not the song either…hi to Steve…good luck there buddy in the land of the what is it…well bloody freezing will do
Does lemon tree make your list john?
Hi John,
Here is my suggestions for Pinoy all-time favorites specially for the baby boomer generation like us:
Manila – Hotdogs
Anak – Freddie Aguilar
Mamang Sorbetero – Celeste Legaspi
Saranggola ni Pepe – Celeste Legaspi
Cotabato – Asin
Oh my John, what a topic!
))
My contributions from my first trip to Pinoyland are:
Rita Coolidge – We’re all alone
Air Supply – I can wait forever
Air Supply – Two less lonely people in the world
Janet Basco – You made me live again
Bohol/Alona Beach, 2002/2003.
Steve
I think we will ask you to make this compilation Cd and to be honest some of those I never heard of.
Rick
I will consider LEMON TREE when you send me an MP3 to make sure its wholesome lol.
Gerry
Wow I will have to go and look some of these up…are they dance tunes if so I will need to get a hip replacement.
And another how about JEALOUS GUY/JOHN LENNON very apt
So John and all the rest….let me get this…those songs you associate it to the Phil because you heard them in the Phil or you always hear them in the Phil or you were by the sea..etc..I don’t get it. Pls belabor on this.
Makes me ask the same thing of myself. What are the songs I associate to Chicago? Is it like the first one in your list “If you leave me now?” by Chicago. I’ve heard that song in the Phil since I was in gradeschool so I associate it more in my “bakasyon” sa provincia.
What’s your criteria for making that list? I’d like to make mine here that’s why I ask. Help.
BTW, I luv music too.
John, why do you add “Jealous Guy” by Lennon?
The songs that remind me of the Philippines of the past are “Always Somewhere” by the Scorpions and :”Love Hurts” by I think Nazareth these songs were played in just about every bar in Olongapo back in the 70’s and 80’s when I first discovered the PI. More recently I believe that Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” is playing everywhere.
Nomadforever
Rita Colidge one of the best female singers ever good choice and Air Supply were here in Davao performing only about three months ago!!
Janet Basco is a new one to me.
Roy
No science to this my friend its really a” whatever you want article”, as I was inspired by a CD made for me for my birthday that when I listened to the music I realised just how much made me conjure up the memories and the spirit of the Philippines( regardless of the title).
To be honest Roy coming to this country and listening to everyone sing has reawakened my ear to music.
So give us a top 5!!
Migs
Can you whistle to Jealous Guy?
Dan
Love hurts was Nazerath and also done by JIM CAPLADI both will do.
The only Scorpions one I recall was a ballad with lots of whistling!!!
Love songs are so powerful here and you can pass any street corner or shop and hear singing,,,its beautiful.
If only I had a voice!!
Ok, John..I get it. Those songs come to you not fr your audio player but fr street corner and shop..you hear those songs being played. Didn’t you find it weird that people there would blare their radio to full volume? Has the KTV bug bite you already?
Yes you do know all the ones I listen John, you maybe just dont know the titles. We heard them a lot together.
Also another one to be added is Goodbye by Air Supply, that one reminds me of Philippines and Vietnam
Hi Dan
Beautiful Girls is still playing everywhere? I heard it everywhere last January and this is now December.
John – Janet Basco is a Pinoy singer, if I’m not wrong.
Songs that remind me of the Philippines
From my first visit She’s a little bit dangerous
From other visits
Spaghetti
Pamela
Otso Otso
Fast Food Song
Beautiful Girls
My Humps
Hi John,
How about the “Papaya” song from the GKB noontime show. It was pretty big for a long time. Even my 3 year old son knew the moves. But fads in the Philippines come and go. Maybe they’ve moved on to something else already. Ha Ha Ha!
Now how am I going to get that song out of my head all day! Thanks, John!
Hi John.
Fields of gold by Sting…my first sight of hectares of rice field in Carmen reflecting the sun.
Welcome to the jungle by guns n roses…my first impression of Manila traffic.
Sweet dreams by Eurythmics(Annie Lennox) lying on the beach in Boracay.
Hey Dan
Do you recall the “Raven Band” with the Mowhawk haircuts that played in the
100% Rock club in the 80’s. Now that should spark some memories.
Ohhh how could I forget??
Through the Fire – Chaka Khan
Almost Over You – Sheena Easton
Both as you remember were being sung everywhere when we first came to Davao
Hello John, I don’t know if you heard the song MANILA by Hotdogs , a Filipino artist back in the late seventies or early eighties.
It speaks so much about the Filipino culture and the daily life in Manila.
good luck to your compilation. I wish that LIP could integrate music into it.
Hi John, I am still ready to let you listen my pinoy classics. My favourite is MINDANAO…
Roy
Karoke is great to watch and sing to if I am in the audience..
Ray
What an apt title
Martin
That is such a fun record and although I not understand a word of it I love to sing a long
David
When you lay on that beach and listen to Eurhymics , remeber its not a dream it is paradise.
Joy
Music on the site would be great …not sure what Bob would say about the copyright fines though lol
Klaus
Cannot lie to you my exposure to classical music is limited, therefore your collection my be lost on me unless its got wine supplements
Hi john, I talked about PINOY classics from the 60s and 70s… Anyway, the wine is ready…
Hi John,
some songs I have heard there (and no where else).
Aiza Seguerra – How did you know
Carol Banawa – Heaven Knows
David Pomeranz – Born for you
Actually there are a lot of others too long to list and there is this one song I hear at the Gold City Disco in Tagum City, I don’t know the name of it, but It is unique to the Philippines I think. It might be a local mix.
Also the new song by Journey – after all these years. It has more to do with the vocalist though since he is Pinoy. I like the music in the Philippines much better than here in the USA , I think it appeals more to my age group. Not the gangsta rap playing here that everyone seems to love.
Richard
Having been to Tagum many times you surprise me that it has a disco.
I will have to get out my white John Travolta suit and come on up.
If it does not break copyright we should sing some of the songs on PODCAST that will ensure a high audience lol
Hey John It is near Jollibee on the national highway. A real jumping place. I used to have one of those suits. haha
Richard
Have a great Christmas and I will see if my suit still fits!!
Come on guys!!!
Skyline Pigeon
“Turn me loose from your hands
let me flyyyyyy to distant lands….yadda yadda
FLY AWAY SKYLINE PIGEON FLY
TO THE DREAMS YOU LEFT SO VERY FAR BEHIND