Can’t have enough of the APO

Again it can be said that the first one was so good and also quite a seller as well. So what is to stop another group of rock artists from coming up with another Kami nAPO Muna Tribute to the ‘70s boy group, the Apo Hiking Society? Nothing. And here we are again now with Kami nAPO Muna Ulit.

The clever concept started when a tribute album to the Eraserheads by various new acts was released over two years ago. The idea is not really new. It is just another collection of oldies, the way Westlife did songs by the Rat Pack or Human Nature sang the hits of Motown. But the participating artists put so much of themselves into the old songs that the results turned out to be truly delightful.

In the case of the Apo tribute, the recordings were not only delightful, they also turned out to be phenomenal sellers that spawned other products. First, the Kami nAPO Muna album was released. Then that one was followed by a double CD release, which featured the same album but together with the videos of every cut.

Then somebody noticed that the success of the album has also aroused renewed interest in the Apo Hiking Society. So that same CD was released again but together with the original, digitally remastered recordings by the Apos, Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo. And it didn’t stop there. Recently released was the Kami nAPO Muna Ulit Tribute to Apo Hiking Society.

As the word ulit clearly indicates, this is a sequel or volume two or whatever you want to call the second set of tributes. Like the first one, it is a collection of old songs by the Apo performed by local bands. Some cuts in Ulit are not as popular as those found in the first. But that is not really a problem because buyers are more interested in the new interpretations. And just like before though, enthusiasm among the artists is at an all time high and they all made a huge effort to come up with varied and interesting versions of their favorite Apo hits.

These are American Junk by Kamikazee vs. Parokya ni Edgar; Salawikain by McCoy of Orange & Lemons featuring The Spaceflower Show; Princesa by Itchyworms; Saan Na Nga Ba’ng Barkada by Sponge Cola; Tuyo Na’ng Damdamin by Silent Sanctuary; Wala Nang Hahanapin Pa by True Faith; Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba by Hilera; Love is for Singing by The Bloomfields.

Syotang Pa-Class by Radioactive Sago Project featuring Raimund Marasigan; Kaibigan by Up Dharma Down; Show Me a Smile by Imago; Isang Dangkal by Paramita; Heto Na by Concrete Sam; Tuloy ang Ikot ng Mundo by Dicta License; Hanggang May Pag-ibig by Chillitees; Just a Smile Away by Shamrock; Suntok Sa Buwan by Scrambled Eggs; and Lumang Tugtugin by the Apo All-Star, which I guess means, a band made up of everybody who performed in all the other cuts.

I do not know if an edition featuring the new CD with the music videos was released but there is already special limited edition that features the originals by the Apo available. I will not be surprised if one of these days, we will come across another edition made up of both tribute albums, then another one with just the original Apo recordings as a sort of greatest hits collection, then another one with four discs comprised of two tributes and the Apo originals, then just the videos and another and another, etc.

What is happening makes everyone a believer in the saying that old songs never die. You just have to get them out of hiding and find new artists to sing them.

Just in case you are a late comer to the Apo’s second wind at the hit charts, here are the contents of the first Kami nApo Muna, Pumapatak ang Ulan by Parokya ni Edgar; Yakap Sa Dilim by Orange & Lemons; Doo Bidoo by Kamikazee; Awit ng Barkada by Itchyworms; Nakapagtataka by Sponge Cola; Ewan by Imago; Batang-bata Ka Pa by Sugarfree; Kumot at Unan by Boldstar; When I Met You by Barbie Almalbis; Bakit ang Babae by Sandwich; Kabilugan ng Buwan by Drip; Di Na Natuto by Sound; Anna by Top Suzara; Blue Jeans by Rocksteddy; Panalangin by Moonstar 88; Paano by Shamrock; Pag-ibig by Kitchie Nadal; and Bawa’t Bata by The Dawn.