As far as I could remember, many parents and religious and community leaders have always associated Rock music with sex, drugs, and other vices. Some parents believe that their Rock-music-loving teenagers are treading a hedonistic and dangerous path. They also stubbornly insist that Rock artists through their lyrics are professing nothing but nonsense and pure evil.
I could only shake my head in sympathy—not to the children but to the parents—ha!—for their ignorance and prejudice. For one, not all members of Rock bands lead a life of booze and drugs and promiscuity. (And even if many do, music should be taken as it is, without the taint of the artists’ personal lives.) Most significantly, Rock music is not always about sex, drugs, and other excesses. If they will only look into the lyrics of many Rock songs, they will realize that these are actually a mine of social commentaries and literary and philosophical references.
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Also in the Philippines
Even Filipino Rock music has long graduated to a higher level of social consciousness; no longer confined to themes of love, rebellion, and having a good time.
For instance,
Promoting unity and calling to patronize one’s own music:
“Ang himig natin ang inyong awitin
Upang tayo’y magsama-sama sa langit ng pag-asa…”
—“Himig Natin” by Juan Dela Cruz Band (Himig Natin, 1973, Vicor Records)
Giving hope to those who have less:
“H’wag mong pigilan ang pagbuhos ng ulan
May panahon para maging hari
May panahon para madapa
Dahil ang buhay natin ay sadyang ganyan…”
—“Umaaraw, Umuulan” by Rivermaya (Tuloy ang Ligaya, 2001, BMG)
Reinforcing faith in God and in people you trust:
“Ano pa ang gusto mong magpapasaya sa ’yo?
Ito bang karangyaan sa pamumuhay—
Malaking bahay, magarang kotse, maraming pera
Mabait na asawa, may mga anak, magandang damit
Masarap na pagkain, sikát na sikát kasi may pangalan
Pero nakalimutan ang Diyos…”
—“At Nakalimutan ang Diyos” by WUDS (At Nakalimutan ang Diyos, 1993, Akasha)
“Humawak ka lamang sa aking kamay
Nang matuklasan ang ganda nitong buhay
Iingatan ka’t di pababayaan
Gabay mo ako sa iyong kapaligiran…”
—“Gabay” by Siakol (Kabilang Mundo, 2006, Alpha)
Sharing visions of hope and positivity:
“Simulan mo sa pangarap ang iyong minimithi
At ito’y iyong dalhin
Itanim mo sa puso mo; ito ay lálaki
Ikaw rin ang aani…”
—“Mangarap Ka” by After Image (Tag-ulan, Tag-araw, 1994, Dyna)
“Sa buhay na gulong, di ka laging nasa silong
Himukin ang lahat na sa ’taas ay tumuntong…”
—“May Pag-asa Pa” by Alamid (Alamid, 1994, Warner)
Calling for mutual progress and unity:
“Ating liliparin, may harang mang sibat
Ating tatawirin, daluyong ng dagat
Pagkat kasama mo ako, iisang bangka tayo
Anuman ang mithiin ay makakamtan natin…”
—“Iisang Bangka” by The Dawn (Abot Kamay, 1992, OctoArts)
“Kulay man nati’y magkaiba; mundo natin ay iisa
Maghawak-hawak ng kamay; isigaw nang sabay-sabay, ‘Kapayapaan…’”
—“Kapayaapan” by Tropical Depression (Kapayaapan, 1994, Viva)
“Imbes na tayo ay magtulungang dalawa
Bakit ba naghihilahan pababa?
H’wag kang mag-alala, sasapit din ang araw
Na ibibigay ko sa ’yo ang lahat-lahat…”
—“Alimango” by Half Life Half Death (Pymyth Prahn, 1995, Viva)
Final Note
Rock music has long become a part of pop culture, so it should be patronized, promoted, and respected. It’s been 40 years since the decade when religious and community leaders have started lambasting and discriminating Rock music. Do you still believe their ignorant and misleading claims? Haven’t these bigots realized by now that the problem really is their narrow minds and their limited understanding of music per se? These music discriminators belong to the modern counterparts of the witch-burners of old.
