Old-fashioned love songs

I met Denise O’Hara, the director and writer of the movie, “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko,” which she first titled “Forgetting Canseco.” You know, after one of the greatest Filipino composers, George Canseco. Maybe she felt that forgetting Canseco and his songs should be the rule at the end of a love affair.

I asked her “Why Canseco?” “Why not Willy Cruz or Ryan Cayabyab or Louie Ocampo?” She replied, “I fell in love. I fell in love with the songs of Canseco. I felt his passion in his songs and the intensity of feeling and I wanted to have them in a movie.”

So, despite that title, which comes from a song by the hot young band, Cup of Joe, O’Hara did get a few Canseco songs for use in the soundtrack of the romantic drama starring Aga Muhlach and Julia Barretto. Classics all, those were Kapantay ay Langit, Ngayon at Kailanman, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, Paano Bang Mangarap and Ikaw.

Kapantay ay Langit is very early Canseco. The song started out in English. Then Canseco turned it into Tagalog and it was later recorded by Pilita Corrales for her landmark album Philippine Love Songs in 1973. Ngayon at Kailanman launched Circus singer Basil Valdez to solo stardom in 1977 and has since then become a teleserye theme song favorite, at least four of them as of this writing. 

Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and Paano Bang Mangarap were also first recorded by Basil. Both were composed by Canseco for movies of the same title that starred Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon in 1982 and 1984. Ikaw by Sharon Cuneta was one of Canseco’s rare collabs. The melody is by Louie Ocampo while Canseco wrote the lyrics.  

O’Hara wanted the passion, the intensity of feeling found in Canseco’s compositions and she found them in those songs. Those are love songs to fall in love with. They are also love songs to be broken-hearted with. 

Truth to tell, there is song for every situation, every incident, every emotion you can think of and us Filipinos are among the most devoted users of music in relation to our personal experiences.

As a composer who provides theme music for his listeners, Canseco was the master of over-the-top feelings as in truly high as heaven, kapantay ay langit. But there are others who approach emotions in their own way. Maybe not as melodramatic but just as effective for personal soundtracks.

Jose Mari Chan, acknowledged master of the love song, can be casual about his encounters like Beautiful Girl, Can We Just Stop and Talk a While, among others. He also had something to say about past loves. “I remember the boy, but I don’t remember the feeling anymore,” he wrote in “I Remember the Boy,” a song for Joey Albert in 1995.

Cayabyab is often joyful, you can almost feel the smile in his lyrics, Araw Gabi, Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka, Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang; Cruz is almost spiritual, Mahawi Man ang Ulap, Sana’y Wala ng Wakas, Never, Ever Say Goodbye.

Ocampo though younger is the one who comes close to Canseco in intensity, So Many Questions, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Kahit Isang Saglit.  Vehnee Saturno is the one who goes to extremes like Sana Kahit Minsan, Forever’s Not Enough, Only Me and You.

The Filipino love song of today is more conversational in tone but definitely still expresses the same love forever after sentiments and are no less intense.

Tadhana by Up Dharma Down; Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay by Ben&Ben; Sa Kabilang Buhay by Bandang Lapis; Isa Lang by Arthur Nery; Alam Mo Ba Girl by Hev Abi; Ikaw Lang by Nobita; Give Me Your Forever by Zack Tabudlo and many others.

It is so easy to find your own song to match your feelings these days. And old or new, these can express the same passion and intensity. So take your pick, a threatening Canseco in Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo or a raging broken heart in ERE  by Juan Karlos.