Artist: Planet Love InkTracks :
Album name: Delirium 301 (Time Tunel 006)
Livin in Pain
How did Francis Magalona inspired or influenced YOU?
Back when I was in the Elementary Level, I remembered myself singing Francis Magalona's songs whenever my folks would ask me to sing in a gathering or a party. Proudly I would sing Mga Kababayan Ko and Cold Summer Nights. Everyone would be amazed on how I rap Kiko's songs and in return I would earn from it. My Titos and Titas would give me an amount of money that would help me buy G.I.Joe action figures.
As time pass by I learned a lot about his songs. I memorized his song Mga Praning which would make everyone dance and I memorized most of his songs in the album Man From Manila. Yes, I was able to sing the whole album. I remembered his song Bad Blood which would make me think what the song was all about. I was young at that time and I don't know what the song means. Ayoko Sa Dilim was also one of my favorite. It was heavy and from there I realized that I like hardcore.
The Mouth, that's what they called him. He is not afraid to tell what he noticed with the system and how bad it goes for everyone. He opened my eyes to alot of things and most probably he opened alot of minds in our generation. His songs are either political or has something to do with what's happening with the society at that time. Considering he was addicted to drugs before, it never made him feel ashamed that he was one of those who survived the challenges of how hard it is to recover from that kind of addiction. He was able to fight it. He survived and he stood up to tell everyone what he expereinced during that time. Umpisanhan na itigil ang salot ng bayan, titigil ka lang ba kapag ika'y pinaglamayan. Dinaanan ko na ang buhay ng patay. Impyerno hatid nito kapag panay ang paggamit ng Shabu. Dumalangin na wag maging isa sa mga praning.
During my High School years I was able to meet him at his first concert here in Lucena. It was also my first time to be in a band, also my first time to play in a concert as a front act. After playing, he approached at the back stage, he asked me, San mo nakuha yang boses mo? Ilang taon ka na? Kasi ba naman underground tinugtog namin and I was thirteen. I wasn't able to answer him. I just smiled because I don't know what to say. I was surprised and stunned because my idol was talking to me. That was my first encounter of the man I always dreamed of becoming when I grow up. The second time that I saw him in person was when I went to Glorietta at one time. I was desperately looking for the Happy Battle album. I got a tape though but I want a CD. When I was unsuccesful of the search. I decided to go back to Lucena. But before I reached the exit I looked back and there he was. Standing at my back with his Fubu apparel. I was contemplating of what to ask. Until I wasn't able to ask him anything. Because I was scared that I might say something wrong or stupid that might scare him away. I regret it. He smiled at me and walked away.
The Freeman album was one of his phenomenal album. Together with the Hardware Syndrome and the Evil Step Sisters they dominated the charts with the songs Kabataan Para sa Kinabukasan, Baw-waw-waw, Kaleidoscope World, and Mahiwagang Kamote. But I personally liked Pen & Ink, Pektus, Jologs, Blood on the Mud, Rasputin Lives, and Puso ng Siga. His lyrics was all about what he sees, what he hears, and what he noticed. It's seldom for a rap artist to compose something wherein he's going to use his five senses. Most of the artists nowadays write something about love, hurt, and how tacky they are just for the sake that they will earn money. Francis was an artist, not an entertainer. I believed in that aspect. Wherein he wrote songs in order for people to open their senses not to make his song as a ring back tune or an mp3 ring tone. Let's say that he did hit the mainstream but he never 'lived' there like... I don't want to drop names.
The Happy Battle album came I was amazed on how he was able to collide with his friends in the music industry like Eli Buendia and Planet Garapata (composed of Raimund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala). In this album Girl Be Mine was able to hit the charts. But again I'm not into mainstream so I would recommend people to listen to Tingga sa Wankata, Baliktad ang Mundo (powerful song, I love it!), Lab Song, Rainy Days (an acoustic song he surprisingly did after Nilamon ng Sistema), Sapot (with Planet Garapata) and Wag Kang Tumawa. This is an exquisite album that inspired me alot.
Yesterday someone texted me that he died. I was in a bus at that time and it made me really sad to hear the news. I was hoping that he would survive the battle against cancer, make it all a Happy Battle. Well I guess it's not that happy at all.
I would like to thank him for sharing his knowledge to those who believes in him. Just like what I said awhile ago, he is an artist, a father, a husband, and most probably a great man.
I salute The Mouth. Now you are a Freeman. May you rest in peace.
