Jeepney by Sponge Cola: A Poem Turned Into A Song | OG
The Story Behind the Song Jeepney by Sponge Cola
The iconic jeepney. That cheapest way to commute in the Philippines. An image this country will always be identified with. What's your most memorable jeepney experience? When was the last time you've commuted via dyipni?
On this episode, the guys share their own jeepney experiences before revealing how the song came to be. Find out who was the poet, the inspiration for the song, who created the melody, and the in-betweens. The band also has a message to other musicians and their fans.
So if you're ready to walk down memory lane again with one of the premiere OPM rock bands this country has seen, here's another backstory of a timeless OPM hit.
About Sponge Cola
Members: Yael Yuzon (lead vocals, guitars); Gosh Dilay (bass guitar, backing vocals); Erwin Armovit (lead guitar, backing vocals); Tedmark Cruz (drums, percussion, backing vocals
Filipino pop/rock band Sponge Cola has been consistent in powering, romancing, and inspiring their native Philippines with a stellar collection of original and certified hit songs culled from an impressive catalogue of award-winning and critically acclaimed full-length albums.
From what started out as a high school class project, the group has grown into one of the Philippines' premier bands, entertaining audiences both locally and internationally, and becoming staples in the country's entertainment industry.
Some of the band's hits include: Gemini, Di na Mababawi, Jeepney, Tuliro, Bitiw, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay, Puso, Makapiling Ka, Iyong-iyong-iyo, Coda, among many others.
2020 marked the band's homecoming to Sony Music Entertainment, releasing Lumipas ang Tag-Araw in July and Siguro Nga - inspired by the popular KDrama Start-Up - in December. And as 2021 drawing to a close, the band keeps their sound alive.
VIDEO CLIPS COURTESY OF:
AcousticHeaven - https://youtu.be/N2PzZ5bq4qk
Angging - https://youtu.be/OtFMakfmrwg
Sponge Cola - https://youtu.be/YE6bbpEY4nU
Xkool22x - https://youtu.be/dyQfuqTXYBU
OPMmusics - https://youtu.be/KgxvglVEylo
Atthewombdotcom - https://youtu.be/eMA7-wZpdj0
Filipino Vines Originals - https://youtu.be/ANtJcOF73jg
Storybook Films PH - https://youtu.be/_Cpt6YChA1w
JLE Music - https://youtu.be/6_Y0b3pfTh4
Ernest Magana - https://youtu.be/yN-Lq_JUlR8
Diego Tañafranca - https://youtu.be/Zd5XXtN4dLs
sponge_cola - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPClxsQn7TM/
Jonnell Arevalo - https://youtu.be/L1Htwb2Xe3Y
RandomThings - https://youtu.be/qOfOWsvHZzg
https://youtu.be/WTE5ejTWf4M
M.M Films - https://youtu.be/npQcxn7jpi4
Shakul ng Pilipinas - https://youtu.be/VghbLEpwH7M
Click here to subscribe to OG:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIj3xiW-RIO2cpr5LBvokRg/?sub_confirmation=1
About OG
Using the power of video to tell one good story at a time... ONLY GOOD... OG.
OG is Summit Media's video first brand. And like all Summit Media brands, OG is anchored on top-notch storytelling to delight, inspire, and connect with our audiences.
We are deliberate in creating content that spread positivity, inspiration, and good vibes. Expect only good here at OG. Subscribe and be part of the community!
The Story Behind the Song Jeepney by Sponge Cola
The iconic jeepney. That cheapest way to commute in the Philippines. An image this country will always be identified with. What's your most memorable jeepney experience? When was the last time you've commuted via dyipni?
On this episode, the guys share their own jeepney experiences before revealing how the song came to be. Find out who was the poet, the inspiration for the song, who created the melody, and the in-betweens. The band also has a message to other musicians and their fans.
So if you're ready to walk down memory lane again with one of the premiere OPM rock bands this country has seen, here's another backstory of a timeless OPM hit.
About Sponge Cola
Members: Yael Yuzon (lead vocals, guitars); Gosh Dilay (bass guitar, backing vocals); Erwin Armovit (lead guitar, backing vocals); Tedmark Cruz (drums, percussion, backing vocals
Filipino pop/rock band Sponge Cola has been consistent in powering, romancing, and inspiring their native Philippines with a stellar collection of original and certified hit songs culled from an impressive catalogue of award-winning and critically acclaimed full-length albums.
From what started out as a high school class project, the group has grown into one of the Philippines' premier bands, entertaining audiences both locally and internationally, and becoming staples in the country's entertainment industry.
Some of the band's hits include: Gemini, Di na Mababawi, Jeepney, Tuliro, Bitiw, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay, Puso, Makapiling Ka, Iyong-iyong-iyo, Coda, among many others.
2020 marked the band's homecoming to Sony Music Entertainment, releasing Lumipas ang Tag-Araw in July and Siguro Nga - inspired by the popular KDrama Start-Up - in December. And as 2021 drawing to a close, the band keeps their sound alive.
VIDEO CLIPS COURTESY OF:
AcousticHeaven - https://youtu.be/N2PzZ5bq4qk
Angging - https://youtu.be/OtFMakfmrwg
Sponge Cola - https://youtu.be/YE6bbpEY4nU
Xkool22x - https://youtu.be/dyQfuqTXYBU
OPMmusics - https://youtu.be/KgxvglVEylo
Atthewombdotcom - https://youtu.be/eMA7-wZpdj0
Filipino Vines Originals - https://youtu.be/ANtJcOF73jg
Storybook Films PH - https://youtu.be/_Cpt6YChA1w
JLE Music - https://youtu.be/6_Y0b3pfTh4
Ernest Magana - https://youtu.be/yN-Lq_JUlR8
Diego Tañafranca - https://youtu.be/Zd5XXtN4dLs
sponge_cola - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPClxsQn7TM/
Jonnell Arevalo - https://youtu.be/L1Htwb2Xe3Y
RandomThings - https://youtu.be/qOfOWsvHZzg
https://youtu.be/WTE5ejTWf4M
M.M Films - https://youtu.be/npQcxn7jpi4
Shakul ng Pilipinas - https://youtu.be/VghbLEpwH7M
Click here to subscribe to OG:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIj3xiW-RIO2cpr5LBvokRg/?sub_confirmation=1
About OG
Using the power of video to tell one good story at a time... ONLY GOOD... OG.
OG is Summit Media's video first brand. And like all Summit Media brands, OG is anchored on top-notch storytelling to delight, inspire, and connect with our audiences.
We are deliberate in creating content that spread positivity, inspiration, and good vibes. Expect only good here at OG. Subscribe and be part of the community!
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 ♪ I got off the jeepney ♪
00:05 To be quite honest,
00:06 the last time I rode a jeepney was probably in college.
00:11 It's a memorable story.
00:14 And also why I don't ride anymore is because I got hold up on the jeepney.
00:17 One time, I tried to get on the jeepney
00:21 because I slipped and fell.
00:25 I got my hand stuck and I got hurt.
00:29 When I was in high school, my jeepney was full.
00:32 So I was like, "It's okay, I'll just get on it."
00:34 "Let's get on it!"
00:36 Yeah!
00:37 I felt like, "Yeah, I'm the man!"
00:39 Then, it started raining.
00:42 I felt like, "Yeah! Even better!"
00:45 That's the feeling, right?
00:47 You're on the jeepney and it's raining.
00:49 I spent a lot of time on the jeepney growing up.
00:52 I was so confused when I was getting my pay and the message.
00:57 I was always not in the mood.
00:59 I used to be so eager to ride a jeepney.
01:01 I didn't get it. I just wanted to get my pass.
01:03 But my grandma always got me first.
01:05 It was one of the poems by our good friend, Datu.
01:22 I was the one who added the melody to the lyrics.
01:26 The lyrics were written by Datu, our classmate.
01:29 Armo's classmate in high school.
01:31 My classmate in grade 5.
01:33 "Jeepney" is a poem in the same way that I think
01:36 that all songs are poems if seen from certain perspectives.
01:40 None of these are personal experiences
01:42 except for riding the jeepney part.
01:44 What happened was, he won a poetry writing contest.
01:48 I think I was also the finalist in that group.
01:53 We were asked to perform because he won last year.
01:55 The winning poem last year was performed to him for poetry reading.
01:59 He said, since we already had a band,
02:00 and the year was almost over, that's why he was giving awards.
02:03 He said, "What if instead of reading the lyrics,
02:05 we just made a song?"
02:07 The inspiration was my trips or our trips as friends
02:13 from Katipunan to UP.
02:16 And then that was a fictitious setting.
02:22 I suppose that was one of the reasons why I enjoyed jeepney rides.
02:25 There's a line in the demo version,
02:28 "Ang amoy mo'y naroon pa rin."
02:30 "Anyo mo sa aking bulsan"
02:36 "Ang amoy mo'y naroon pa rin."
02:42 That's why we did "Ang kahapon ay naroon pa rin."
02:45 My brother actually suggested it.
02:46 Because "Ang amoy mo'y" is like, "Amoy mo'y."
02:52 We were just laughing at the sound of "Amoy mo'y."
02:54 If you think about it, it's like live writing.
02:56 Because we had five minutes to come up with a song
02:59 and then head upstairs.
03:00 It's like a two-minute walk uphill.
03:03 You're still panting.
03:05 You're knocking on people's doors. You're getting a little nervous.
03:07 I remember the nights
03:14 I saw under the light of the moon
03:19 It's so moonday, but it really hits the spot.
03:24 It's so nostalgic.
03:27 That's where the so-called "sea of lights" usually happens.
03:31 The house lights that are turned off.
03:34 Even though we've seen those sea of lights a few times,
03:38 we still get really emotional.
03:41 Well, when we do the "sea of lights,"
03:43 it's a different feeling.
03:44 Because I know it's not really the song,
03:46 it's more of a lighting spectacle.
03:48 It doesn't have to be a big venue.
03:49 But when you do it and you're so far away,
03:52 when we do it in relatively smaller towns in Canada,
03:57 there are some Filipinos who can't go home in a while.
03:59 For them to do that,
04:00 and then in unison, you're just kind of lost in a sea of lights.
04:03 We'll be together
04:09 in the warmth of the sea of lights
04:16 Fun fact.
04:18 We usually perform "Jeepney"
04:20 usually either last or second to the last song.
04:24 We usually play "Jeepney."
04:26 You think of it as muscle memory.
04:28 It's automatic.
04:29 Even if you don't think of the parts anymore.
04:31 But there were times when the intro happened.
04:36 Then, Yael looked at me.
04:39 She asked me to practice the first line.
04:41 I was like, "How do you do the first line?"
04:43 She forgot how to do the first line.
04:48 How do you do the tone?
04:50 It's like, "Bumaba, bumaba ko."
04:53 Not the tone.
04:54 How do you do the "liko?"
04:57 Then I tried.
04:59 "You should know that."
05:00 Even I got caught.
05:02 Even I didn't remember.
05:05 "Okay, just extend it."
05:06 Eventually, Yael got caught.
05:08 It was surprising that even though we often play the drums,
05:12 we sometimes blank on how to start "Jeepney."
05:16 Fun fact.
05:17 I hope you didn't notice that.
05:20 ♪ Luma yu na, ha ha ha ha ♪
05:24 We heard that Yael made an English version of "Jeepney."
05:30 That gig was Yael's acoustic set.
05:34 The three of us were at his house.
05:37 We heard that.
05:38 "I heard on the news that you made an English version."
05:43 It was on the spot.
05:44 We were surprised and at the same time happy.
05:48 "You did it on the spot?"
05:51 "Of course, we never made an English version."
05:55 "You're really good. You're quick to think."
05:59 "You're not just slow, you're quick to think and translate."
06:04 After that incident, we requested other gigs from the organizers.
06:10 "Can we have an English version?"
06:13 Sometimes, we were given an English version.
06:17 Even the chorus.
06:18 I don't know if this makes sense or whatever.
06:21 Celebrating your own language is a very high-end thing.
06:24 I put the lyrics of "Jeepney" in front of me because I know I'll laugh.
06:27 It's hard not to laugh at your own joke when you know people are laughing.
06:31 That's the hardest thing. I'm a theater director, so I get it.
06:34 When I sing...
06:35 ♪ I disembarked from a jeepney ♪
06:41 ♪ Where the two of us were once side by side ♪
06:46 People would laugh and I'd know that they were like, "Oh, man. Here we go."
06:52 I enjoyed disembarking from the jeepney.
06:54 When I see how many people are affected or at least connected to that song,
06:59 it's very humbling.
07:01 We're lucky to be on this stage.
07:06 The space, especially.
07:08 When I see the lights that look like stars in the night sky,
07:13 I feel overwhelmed every time.
07:17 But the tidbits, depending on the version you listen to,
07:20 Datu is always there. I always think about Datu.
07:25 When we came up with that, we were around 17 to 18 years old.
07:30 Now, I'm 37. Gosh, it's been 20 years.
07:34 We didn't know that it would eventually become our anthem as a band.
07:38 To the musicians out there, play original music, share your stories, not just sounds.
07:44 We'll keep on doing what we love to do.
07:47 We'll keep on doing good songs for you.
07:50 Thank you for the love since day one.
07:55 I think I was just thinking about the things we're doing.
08:00 And then, we were brought around the world.
08:02 Thank you so much.
08:03 We won't be here for long if not because of you.
08:06 We're all about nostalgia.
08:08 We're all about celebrating the past and looking towards a bright future.
08:12 I think if we have a mission, vision, that's what it is.
08:16 And Jeepney kind of embodies that.
08:19 That's it.
08:19 That's the story of the song.
08:21 [Music]
08:33 Hi, I am Armal.
08:34 This is Gosh.
08:35 And this is Ted.
08:35 Hey guys, this is Yael of SpongeCola.
08:37 Like and subscribe to OG's YouTube channel.
08:40 you