Music is undoubtedly one of man's greatest contribution because it is not bounded by color, race, or culture. It transcends through the soul of the one who hears it. The Philippines in comparison to world music also has its own blend of musical tradition. Mostly, Philippine music used to be directly influenced by western type of music ranging from the Beatles down to Abba and the contemporary adult artists like the Eagles, Tom Jones, and Engelbert Humperdink. When the 70s came, Pinoy music has evolved and traced its own musicality, instrumentation, and artistry. During this time, artists like Asin, Mike Hanopol, Claire Dela Fuente, and the likes from different Pinoy music genre came ground as one of the few music artists that enabled a Filipino-identity already showcased in music. In the 80s, came Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Imelda Papin and many others who threaded the Philippine music with a genre called OPM (acronym for 'orginal Pilipino music'). During the 90s, there emerged the rock scene where Pinoy rock flourished. It was also the time where Pinoy-based all girl and all boy group sprouted which all reflected the western boy band and girl band that was popular during the decade. As for Pinoy rock music, there also came a Pinoy identity in musicality and artistry. An example of this is "Ang Tipo Kong Lalaki" by DJ Alvaro.
This song of DJ Alvaro was one of the most popular hits during the 90s because it not only dissected the heart and mind of the modern Filipina in terms of her preference to look for in a man but it also showcased who music can be used to discuss such preference which gives us an impression that the modernity of the Filipinas has also evolved into how such preference can be discussed openly unlike in the Maria Clara days when the Filipina almost does not have a chance to openly talk about what kind of man she would like to date in the first place. It was not taboo though but such situation in the early Philippine society disables a woman to openly speak about her preference of the man she want to be in a relationship with.
The song starts with a strum of the guitar and directly starts with the following line:
"Kahit hindi gwapo
Kahit na 'di matalino
Basta't siya ay may puso
Siya pa rin ay gugustuhin ko . . ."
The beauty of the melody is that it starts with a slow pace and less noise environment to start the song. The use of the Cuban Bongo hand drum puts character to the beat of the song. It seems the song is using two sets of acoustic guitar and the bongo hand drum to complete the whole melody. Adding to that is the simplicity of the enunciation of the words by DJ Alvaro. She sang it without having to shout the words of the song. Perhaps the simplicity of the song is pointed at the fact that the persona in the song is a simple Filipina that want's a little spice from the normal man she may want to love. The instrumentation and the pacing of the words jive to the simplicity of the acoustic jam which, again, emphasizes the simple Filipina character of the persona of the song.
So that you will be able to understand the instrumentality and melody of the song, you may view the video below as posted in Youtube:
Kahit hindi gwapo
Kahit na 'di matalino
Basta't siya ay may puso
Siya pa rin ay gugustuhin ko
Masunurin sa magulang
Basta't siya ay magalang
At mapagkakatiwalaan
Kahit na 'di matalino
Basta't siya ay may puso
Siya pa rin ay gugustuhin ko
Kahit na ba balde-balde
Basta't hindi lassenggo
Umiinom pero 'di lassenggo
Kahit na 'di matalino
Basta't siya ay may puso
Siya pa rin ay gugustuhin ko
Basta ba nasa katwiran ito
Manapak man ng gago
Basta't hindi ba basagulero
Kahit na 'di matalino
Basta't siya ay may puso
Siya pa rin ay gugustuhin ko
Dahil baka ako ay mabato
Ang tipo kong lalake
Ang tipo kong lalake
Ang tipo kong lalake medyo bastos
Maginoo pero medyo bastos
Maginoo pero medyo bastos
Maginoo pero medyo bastos
As seen in the lyrics above, the simplicity of the song reverberates around how it starts as a simple melody with less noise by the use of simple instruments like the acoustic guitar and the bongo hand drum coupled with the simple diction and enunciation of the words of the song by DJ Alvaro. But as the music slowly progresses, the instrumentation progresses as well to a middle level noise as seen in how the guitars and bongo beating becoming more intense compared to how the song started. As a means to imprint the finality of the song, DJ Alvaro simply stamps out by saying "Ang tipo kong lalake ... medyo bastos, maginoo pero medyo bastos!"
(Right to the music, lyrics and melody are of Viva Records Corporation and 8 Music Rights Societies. No copyright infringement intended on the part of the article writer.)
