Ely Buendia has left the Eraserheads. If you must know, he wrote most of the songs popularized by the most successful rock group of the previous decade. Such departures among members of music groups though, are considered inevitable so the fact that Buendia has indeed left to be on his own is really no big deal. Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls. Even the Jackson Five parted ways and they are not only friends. They are brothers! The big deal and the one that people are talking about these days is what will happen to the E-heads now that there are only three members: Raymund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro and Buddy Zabala. These three guys have several choices: a) Be a trio. Breaking in a new member is always difficult so if the remaining E-heads will just divide the tasks of the fourth member among themselves, it will be easier for all concerned. Of course, foremost among those tasks is to write songs that will sell and which will give the band its right direction just as Buendia did during those early days. b) Get a new member. Like I said this is not easy but that does not mean it cannot be done. And remember, there is always the chance that they will be able to get somebody more talented and better looking than Buendia who can bring new life into the group. c) Disband. They have had 12 wonderful years. They have matured into "older statesmen" of Pinoy Rock and parlayed their popularity into writing, arranging and producing other acts. So why not leave while the going is still good and bask on those glories?
Let us all wait and see what choice Raymund, Marcus and Buddy will make. And while waiting, why not listen anew at the young, joyful and oh-so-original look at life that comes from the music of the Eraserheads? The recently-released compilation is titled The Singles and it is composed of 14 of the group’s biggest hits, songs which I believe will never fail to evoke memories of the ’90s for everyone who grew up during that period.
Included are Pare Ko, Ligaya, Toyang, Harana, Overdrive, Alapaap, Ang Huling El Bimbo, With a Smile, Kailan, Magasin, Torpedo, Minsan, Huwag Mo Nang Itanong and Fruitcake. A bonus is Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka, a composition by Ryan Cayabyab and one of those rare times when the Eraserheads covered a classic pop tune by another composer.
And while we are on the subject of ’90s music, allow me to inform you that also recently released in the market were specially prized collections of hits by bands Color It Red, Yano, Rivermaya and rapper Francis M. Get copies of the entire batch and take another trip down the old roads with tunes like Paglisan, Pagguhit ng Bilog, Hand Painted Sky, Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo, Tsinelas, Iskolar ng Bayan, Hinahanap-hanap Kita, Ulan, Elesi, Himala, Kisapmata, 214, Watawat, Suckin on Hellium/Kaleidoscope World, Kabataan Para sa Kinabukasan, Pintados, and many others.
Meanwhile, here are the songs by which we will remember this part of the 21st century. Leading the pack of Filipino hits is Kyla. True to her pop princess tag she is doing very well with her latest solo recording I Feel 4 U and also a duet version of Jose Mari Chan’s Can We Just Stop and Talk a While with Gary Valenciano. The top 10 tunes of the moment are I Feel 4 U by Kyla; S2PID LUV by Salbakuta; Can We Just Stop and Talk a While by Gary Valenciano and Kyla; Akala Mo by Aiza Seguerra; Swimming Beach by Parokya ni Edgar; Bakit by Aegis; Hanggang Ngayon by Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid; Huwag Ka Na Sanang Babalik by Roselle Nava; Ikaw Sana by Ogie Alcasid; and Labs Kita by the April Boys.
As for the foreign releases, these are the top 10 favorites as of this writing: I’m Not a Girl Not Yet a Woman by Britney Spears; Brown Eyes by Destiny’s Child; Always on Time by Ja Rule; World of Our Own by Westlife; Wrong Impressions by Natalie Imbruglia; All You Wanted by Michelle Branch; Get the Party Started by Pink; Wherever You Will Go by The Calling; Ain’t It Funny by Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule; and If You Come Back by Blue.