Play it again, Neocolours

MANILA, Philippines — Music lovers know how the songs Tuloy Pa Rin, Cold Summer Nights and Kasalanan Ko Ba have defined an era, and continue to defy time and space. Originally sung by late ‘80s band Neocolours, these songs have crossed over to a new generation whose parents have fallen in love with the melody and lyrics.

Tuloy Pa Rin, an ode to undying hope, has been played and replayed for a popular fast-food chain’s TV commercial. Noel Cabangon, Nyoy Volante, 5th Gen and ABNKKBSNPLAko have recorded their versions of the song.

Nina and Elmo Magalona sang covers of the wistful Cold Summer Nights.

So the band, with vocalist-composer Ito Rapadas, keyboardist-composer Jimmy Antiporda and keyboardist Marvin Querido teamed up anew to mount their reunion concert, Tuloy Pa Rin ang Banda, on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Music Museum.

The music hasn’t changed, but the artists have.

Ito is managing director for Universal Records. Jimmy heads the production company Jam Creations. Marvin is musical director for the likes of Martin Nievera, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Billy Crawford and Daniel Padilla .

Jimmy believes daughter Athena is a better musician than he is. The Warner Music artist, explains her proud dad, beat him and his other gifted children in getting the nod of a company looking for a new jingle to represent it.

Young blood is something Jimmy, Ito and Marvin can’t get enough of. Far from feeling threatened, the trio openly admire young bands Ben&Ben and IV of Spades.

Ito praises JK Labajo’s (of the hit song Buwan) emotion-laden  style and the passion IV of Spades brings to its songs.

Elated best describes his opinion about today’s Filipino musicians.

“These are exciting times!” he gushes. Young musicians, he adds, are dead serious about their craft and work hard to improve their music.

Jimmy thinks today’s music makers are luckier than those decades back because they have music camps to hone their craft in. Jimmy himself shares his experiences with budding talents who attend workshops. This way, the young learn from the mistakes of their elders.

The goal, he explains, goes beyond local shores. The aim is to be competitive all over the world. So Jimmy gives young songwriters and performers tips, not just about their work, but about the right attitude to take.

Jimmy composed (with daughter Athena) the song Kapit Lang for Idol Philippines finalist Lance Busa. He doesn’t mind if his five musically-inclined children dismiss his songs as “too old.”

But he cautions them against closing their doors on old favorites. So he loves it when his children listen to oldies but goodies like VST & Company’s Rock, Baby, Rock.

Neocolours itself will be performing with young blood, like Nicole Asensio of General Luna band at the reunion concert. The band’s friends, The Dawn’s Jett Pangan and Miss Saigon’s Jamie Rivera are also guesting in the show.

So expect the old to blend with the new in a show of music then and now.

Ito, Jimmy and Marvin didn’t see it coming. Jimmy was ready to say goodbye to his bandmates after his first baby was born.

“My priorities became different,” he admits.  But he also confesses missing the band so much he’d avoid looking at musicians’ groups.

Yet, some things are meant to be. Marvin recently played keyboards and reunited with his Neocolours bandmates on stage. And the reunion concert came to be.

The universe has conspired to make the reunion concert possible.  The universe has also conspired to help Jimmy, Ito and other composers to continue earning from their songs.

The FILSCAP (The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.) makes sure songwriters get royalties each time someone plays or interprets his song live or on social media. 

“I’m grateful to artists who cover my songs,” smiles Jimmy. “They have allowed me to pay my children’s tuition fees.”

They have also allowed the hits of the past to meet the present. Today, some parents bond with their children over music on  YouTube or Spotify. If this happens more often, the Internet generation may finally start talking to their parents even more.

Music will again bridge the gap between old and new. And old hurts and pains could vanish as the melodies stir the hearts of millennials and baby boomers alike.