For Barbie’s Cradle, ‘One Night Only’ is more than just a reunion concert

Ahead of their reunion concert happening on Aug. 1 at the Music Museum in Greenhills, alt-rock band Barbie’s Cradle has dropped its first single since 2003. Titled Emergency, the indie pop track was penned by guitarist Kakoy Legaspi and produced by Barbie Almalbis along with the band.

Originally written in the mid-2000s, the song is a nod to Barbie’s Cradle’s signature late-‘90s to early-2000s sound.

“It’s a sarcastic take on existential crisis,” Kakoy said of the track released under Sony Music Entertainment. “It’s about trying to make sense of life’s absurdity by simply becoming more ‘zen’ about it — and about ourselves.”

“I came up with the idea of the lyrics when I found myself staring at a piece of paper on the wall that had ‘emergency numbers’ written on it. At first, it was very hard for me to sing and present the song to the band, but Barbie came up with the ingenious idea of cutting up the verses in a very fast, jarring way, like a duet but with no spaces in between. It made the song flow way better and gave it a unique twist,” he went on.

Barbie, Kakoy, Rommel dela Cruz, and Wendell Garcia shared that they plan to release more singles leading up to the release of an EP. The band’s previous albums include “Barbie’s Cradle,” “Music from the Buffet Table” and “Playing in the Fields.”

The “Barbie’s Cradle: One Night Only” concert would have marked a full reunion of the quartet if not for the absence of bassist Rommel, who recently announced that he would be unable to attend due to health issues.

In a statement, Rommel’s family shared, “Rommel has recently been experiencing a series of silent heart attacks due to complications from diabetes. He is currently under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). His doctors have recommended coronary artery bypass surgery, but his family is still weighing their options on the best course of treatment based on his condition and the medical advice they receive.”

The family also asked for prayers for the success of his procedure and his speedy recovery. “Rommel’s health remains our topmost priority, and we continue to stand with him and his family every step of the way.”

Those who wish to support Rommel and his family in different ways may reach out to his wife, Owie dela Cruz, via Viber at +63 915-2864494.

Barbie’s Cradle also said they will announce Rommel’s “temporary replacement in the coming days” and added that a “significant portion of the proceeds” from the concert will be “allocated to help cover his hospitalization and recovery expenses.”

At an earlier press conference, Rommel told The STAR that he would have been thrilled to share the stage with his bandmates. “Grabe ang energy ng mga tao ‘pag nasa stage. Yun talaga ang hinihintay ko. Iba ‘pag nasa stage na, may kuryente na ‘tong tatlo.”

For Barbie, the reunion concert represents a sense of freedom. “I feel like we all started out as musicians, you’re in your teens and you just explore being a musician. Wala ka namang plano sa kung ano ba talaga gagawin mo and hindi mo naman siya naiisip. It’s just that we love music, and we love spending time, playing instruments and making songs.”

“And then it becomes a thing, an official thing, right? And then of course, there are pressures na rin. Kasi now it has to be a real thing. But I feel that we are at the point in our lives where I’m grateful na as collaborating.”

The forthcoming concert feels like a return to a time when they simply enjoyed making music together without putting pressure on one another, added Barbie.

“We really just wanna make music together. So, there is such a freedom in that. And that’s how I feel when we make music together. You’re able to enjoy the purity of being musicians together without an agenda. No pressure. Kumbaga, this is just like a little pocket or the anxiety doesn’t have to be to encroach it. You can just enjoy this pocket of music,” she told this paper.

Kakoy echoed the same sentiment, saying, “Music is also an athletic pursuit as one grows old. You realized nakakapagod din. So, it’s really trying to get back to that music in your head.”

He mused, “I think we have to sort of get in the groove, even individually. It’s like being an athlete — you have to sort of get (back) in shape, but even as a group, we have to get ourselves in shape. But I think that’s what’s to be expected. The venue is great, the Music Museum, and I’m expecting a lot of electricity and we’re gonna work on that.”

“It’s always a pleasure, and it’s always an honor to play with these selfless musicians, whom I’ve played with throughout my musical journey. And I’m just really excited because we just want to have fun again together,” Wendell added.

Barbie’s Cradle was formed in the late ‘90s and released Tabing Ilog, the official soundtrack of the ABS-CBN afternoon drama series of the same title.