Parokya ni Edgar as juvenile rockers

This is something I have noticed over the passing of the years. Bands come. They get promoted, make some hits and do gigs. Bands go. Thanks to changing trends or the inability of the group to sustain its stature with hit materials. But there are some, who are destined to stay around forever and it is the public who decides who these will be. That is why the Eraserheads became pop icons and why Rivermaya songs get covered in MOR mode by Regine Velasquez today. That is also why despite a struggling music industry, Parokya ni Edgar is still around and back with a new album.

Parokya ni Edgar is made up of Chito Miranda on lead vocals; Vinci Rosales Montaner on back up vocals and other assorted things; Buwi Meneses on bass guitar; Darious Semana on lead guitars; Gab Chee-Kee on rhythm guitars and vocals; and Din Din Moreno on drums. These boys have been together for nearly 20 years and have been responsible for some of the strangest, the quirkiest, and the funniest hits we have ever known. I think of what they do as something like stream of consciousness songwriting. They put in whatever word comes into their heads and because they are by nature funny, the songs turn out funny.

Some of these are Macho; American Junk; Beh! Buti Nga; Pumapatak Ang Ulan; Halina Sa Parokya; The Ordertaker based on Chop Suey and Toxicity by System of a Down; Papa Cologne; Mang Jose; First Day Funk, a commercial jingle; Chikinini; The Yes Yes Show; Mr. Suave; Swimming Beach; Inuman Na; Picha Pie based on Donna Summer’s I Will Survive; Harana; Lutong Bahay; Silvertoes; Please Don’t Touch My Birdie; Trip; and Buloy.

Parokya’s latest CD is Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers. It is middle-aged because they are nearing that. It is juvenile because they still enjoying thinking like kids. Get a load of that cover where they channel their childhood idols, the Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles. And they are novelty pop rockers because Parokya is a rock band whose music is not restricted by anything. Their music lives in a free for all atmosphere, impossible to categorize and hence, posted as novelty like Yoyoy Villame’s.

 The album comes three years after the PNE’s last release, Solid and to a vastly different time. Fans have changed. They want to know more about Chito’s dates with Angel Locsin than the music. Band’s have also diversified. They now appear in sitcoms. That must be why Buwi was in Survivor. That must also be why Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers marks a return to the basics, a reaction to changes as in adapt to the times with what you do best.

The music is simple again. Lolo Bye is a light lullabye. OK Lang Ako is a love song in an acoustic setting. The funny Walong Baso about drinking eight glasses of water a day is pure Parokya Ni Edgar nonsense. These guys still have what it takes and how nice to know they are doing it by just being true to themselves.

Also included in the CD are Original Song; Ganito O!; Reunion (Panahon Ng Kasiyahan); Orange; Pangarap Lang Kita featuring Happee Sy; Ok Katol!; Paki-Usap Lang (Lasingin Nyo Ako); Francis Vincent Montaner; Red Pants; Yakult; One Hit Combo featuring Gloc9; Tuloy Po Kayo; and Pangarap Lang Kita featuring Francis Vincent Montaner.

Meanwhile the video of Parokya’s first single release Pakiusap Lang, is also doing quite well. It is now ranked No. 2 in the Pinoy MYX Countdown for the week at the MYX music channel. Perched on the No. 1 slot is Lakad by Sandwich. The rest of the Top 20 Pinoy videos are: Jeepney Love Story by Yeng Constantino; I Remember The Girl by Christian Bautista; Kung Wala Ka by Nikki Gil; Disney by Tanya Markova; Ang Aking Awitin by Sarah Geronimo and Sam Milby; Can’t Get Enough by Young JV; Did It Ever by Gary Valenciano; Back To Love by Quest.

Yakap by Ogie Alcasid; I Believe by Jed Madela; Alay by Kamikazee; Magkaibang Mundo by Hale; Waiter by Eevee; Landi by Hansom; I Love You Girl by XLR8; Pangako by Cueshé; Kaya Mo by Protein Shake with Ney and Kean; and Time Machine by Nyoy Volante.