Luntian

When I heard about Side A’s Green EP with all Tagalog/Filipino songs, I thought, well, why not write about said EP in Tagalog as well? Apparently, because it turns out I am not very good in expressing myself purely in Tagalog... that's why not.

I started writing an intro, and it turned into this whole other thing. I got sidetracked so bad, I had to hop on an airplane to get right back on track -- that is, I had a good chat with Ned (a genuine pleasure, always! And yes, I am perfectly aware of how privileged that sounds. And no, I do not and will not ever take that for granted.) and he said, they "don't really like resting on their laurels, and are always thinking of ways to keep the band and their music moving forward." And that's how, long story short, this all original all Filipino album/EP came into being.

Released exclusively on vinyl and sold (mostly) only at their live gigs, it is their unique way of showing appreciation and gratitude to their loyal supporters (and, I hope, of potentially meeting new ones) - because if you want a copy, you have to come meet them and see them perform live to get it. Can’t get any more personal and closer than that. 

But why the color green, I asked. Because green is the color of renewal and rebirth and growth, apt for releasing the EP when the last album released by Side A on vinyl was the Blue album. The last full album they released was Only 1 in 2009. So yeah, green is perfect. 💚

A little fun fact about the cover, and I learned this on a video that my sister recorded and sent to me during the EP launch event - each of the shapes we see on the cover represent each of the band members. The two rectangles in the background are Naldy and Ernie, ang mga haligi, standing tall and resilient through the years; Yubs the circle in the center to represent the face of the band, bravely meeting fate head-on; and Ned and Leevon the two squares on the side like wings or fins keeping the ship stable.

I think about all that thought and love (and maybe some sweat, blood, and tears) that they put into making this EP, and then I think, how the heck do I write something that will give all of that the credit it deserves? Ngunit, subalit paano? 😆

Ang ninanais ko lang naman ay mabigyan ng katugmang pagpapahalaga at akmang kapurihan na karapat-dapat ang EP na ito. Pero ikinalulungkot ko na sadyang kulang ang aking kaalaman at kakahayan para gawin ito ng tama, gusto ko man, na ganap sa ating sariling wika. Sa halip, hayaan ninyo akong ipahiwatig ang aking mga saloobin at mga iniisip ukol sa mga awit ng Green EP ng Side A sa pamamagitan ng mga bantas (punctuation marks), and in Taglish dahil yun lang po ang keri ko. 😅

Hanggang Kailan

(? o tandang pananong)

The strong bass and drums intro is as loud as the frustration that comes with the uncertainties of the early stages of a romantic relationship - the ligawan stage, if that's still a thing now.

"mahirap kalimutan, mahirap tanggapin, mahirap ang alipin sa damdamin"

That giddy hopeful feeling of being in love, of wanting to let go and let the feelings take over you, while just a teensy bit scared of being hurt. With all things new, comes the insecurity that this love might be unrequited after all.

"Di ko na maisip kung ano ang gagawin; pwede ba sabihin mo???"

Opo, ganyan kadaming question marks sa lyrics. And especially with all five of them singing, in perfect harmony if I might add, "hanggang kailan? hanggang saan?", dumadagundong ang mga tandang pananong sa awitin, loud and ironically very clear. 😁

Diwata

("" or panipi - ginagamit sa pagkulong ng mga salitang banyaga o ng mga feelings 😇)

I think that we all have that someone in our lives. The "dream". The one you’re happy to just put on a pedestal, the man/woman of your dreams, the best you never had. After all, if they're up there, they can only feed your fantasies and delusions; they cannot reach you and hurt you.

"Ang kanyang haplos at ang kanyang mga halik, dalangin ko, sana pagpikit ko'y bumalik."

Yet there's something sadly unconditional about this too. You adore them, but you don't really expect or want anything in return; you're perfectly happy to just be in the same realm, kahit ito'y sa panaginip lamang.

"Sya, sya ang aking liwanag sa dilim."

Sa kadiliman ng buhay, minsan ang kailangan mo lang naman ay ang makaramdam ng kakaunting pag-asa. Hope springs eternal. Walang masama at libre nga naman ang mangarap, ika nga. 🤗

Sayang Lang

(! o tandang padamdam - ginagamit para tapusin ang pangungusap na nagsasaad ng matindi or masidhing damdamin)

I swear, they pick the most heartbreaking songs and give them to Leevon to sing. While Yubs's voice is meant to be applauded and to leave us all in awe, Leevon's is meant to stomp on our hearts and shatter them into tiny little pieces.

"Paulit-ulit ang dalangin, pumapatak ang luha sa dilim."

With all the emotions bleeding out of his voice, how can this line not break you? Heartbreak is indeed universal. You are one with all the hearts that have been and will be broken in the whole wide world. You shed the same tears and repeat the same prayers. You wallow in the same pool of regrets.

"Sayang lang kung iiwanan mo."

And yet, is that a tiny glimmer of hope? Is it a plea or simply a reproach? Whatever it is, there's still some fire left in you. Laban lang, hindi pang habambuhay ang pagdurusa. 💪

Habambuhay

(; o tutuldok-kuwit)

As if to apologize for all the hurt in the previous song, they give us easy listening, bossa nova/jazzy feels, chilling on a Sunday morning, rainbows and butterflies, a healthy dose of serotonin, a magical balm to mend and soothe our broken hearts. This is the habambuhay most of us dream of and pray for, but only the fortunate few actually get.

"Noon pa man, alam ko na, nung una tayong magkita, ikaw ang iibigin ko't, walang iba."

While the other songs in the EP are riddled with feelings of doubt and despair, this song blasts you with brilliant unwavering unapologetic conviction of love and happiness from beginning to end that stuns you and even the most jaded into believing in forever again.

"Ikaw lang, sinta... habambuhay."

Like a tutuldok-kuwit, it's a complete statement with a promise of so much more. It's a shiny present and a vow for a bright future. Sana all. 😜

Kahit Manlang Sandali

(, o kuwit - ginagamit para panghiwalay ng mga magkakasunod na salita o ideya, at maaring gamitin pagkatapos ng bating pangwakas ng liham)

This one is not just a sad song; it is a life and love story. It is a little optimism, a little color in a gray world. It is for someone who has loved but has not totally lost, not just yet. It is for those hoping to be given a second chance.

"Mapatunayan na ang puso ko'y sayo hanggang huli" because ultimately, "hindi kasalanan ang mangarap ang nasasaktan".

"Kahapon lamang sumpa nating dalawa pag-ibig na walang hanggan. Bakit nagbago?"

Because, well, life can be a bitch sometimes. Not all forevers end up truly for ever. Historically, happy endings are a rarity. That's what makes them so special.

"Bago ka tuluyang mawala sa piling ko, pakinggan mong hinihiling nitong puso. Kahit man lang sandali."

It's a tale as old as time. It's a story of a once seemingly unending bonfire of a love, that fizzled out into a dying ember, that someone hasn't lost all hope of kindling back into a steady, if not a once more blinding, flame.

At tulad ng isang kuwit, ang awit na ito ay ang bating pangwakas nitong napakagandang liham ng pagmamahal na EP ng Side A.

Mga kababayan, sadyang napakasarap sa pandinig ng mga salita ng ating wika, lalong lalo na kung ang mga ito'y nasa loob ng mga awitin. I've always thought Tagalog songs are especially beautiful; and I am very happy and so soooooooo proud of Side A for the vision and the making of this album/EP.

All of the songs were mostly written by Ned (who, by the way, once said he found it hard to write Tagalog songs. [I have proof of this!] Ang galing lang mang-echos! 😆🫡); but clearly, everyone in the band (plus others) had a hand in it. Produced by Leevon (Lee Von) and Ned, vocal arrangements by Naldy, additional lyrics by Yubs and Leevon, and all songs arranged by Side A. This EP is a love letter, disguised as a musical masterpiece. How lucky am I to have read it! 💝

At kagaya ng isang tutuldok-tuldok (ellipsis), "magdarasal, maghihintay na lang" as we wait with bated breath for the next one. 😉