It was only when two of its four members were about to retire from the field of amateur music, however, that the APO, then known as the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, finally had a city-wide audience. One of them was scheduled to leave for Turkey as an exchange student. The other had a position waiting for him in his father's advertising firm.
Why a talented young man of 21 would want to go to Turkey, every young man in the early seventies would probably understand. But what the APO could not understand was their fourth member's decision to leave the irresponsibility of being unemployed to join the ranks of the corporate world.
The trip to Turkey did not materialize and the APO, now a tentative trio, pushed on steadily towards fame and fortune.
Looking back, the APO members Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo, and Jim Paredes do not regret never having been regular wage earners. Their farewell concert, which had SRO audiences for two stormy nights, not unexpectedly became a hit record the following year.
In the three decades since that "farewell" concert, the APO has made 22 record albums; hosted several television shows including their own noontime Sunday show "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila"; and launched hugely successful major solo concerts and countless provincial, dinner, and corporate shows. They have performed in over 50 cities in the United States, in Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Japan to bring Original Pilipino Music to Filipinos the world over.
In October of 1987, during their annual US tour, the APO became the first Filipino pop artists to perform at the Main Hall of New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall. They also performed at the equally prestigious Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada's music capital. Both concerts, as well as the other shows held during that particular concert tour, were sold out. The APO were also the first Filipino artists to perform in a public concert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1987, they were one of the first Filipino artists to be recorded on compact disc. And in 1994, they were awarded the first Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by Awit Awards - the Filipino equivalent of the Grammy. They have also been conferred the Tanglaw Ng Lahi Award, the highest accolade given by Jesuits in the field of culture and arts.
The APO also earned international recognition for Jim Paredes' anthem on the bloodless Philippine revolution in 1986. "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" was recorded by 15 Filipino artists in April 1986. A few months later, the English version "A New and Better Way" was launched in Australia. In February 1987, the first anniversary of the Philippines' People Power revolution, the song was released in London, England. The lyrics of the song are embedded on a wall of Our Lady of Edsa Shrine, the center of the revolution.
Doo Bidoo
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Basta't dumarating ang kanta
Awiting maaari rin kung may kasama
Tambol mo ay butas na lata
Sabayan ang sipol ang bawat pasada
Huminga nang malalim at sabay ang buga
Kapag buo na't handa na ang lahat
Heto na heto na heto na ha
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Mahirap gumawa ng kantang makata
Makulay na tugtugin at pananalita
At kapuna-puna na parang dambuhala
Mga boses na nagpapababa
At meron din namang nagpapaboses bata
Matataas ang tono'y tinig ay mahaba
Binubulong sa hangin ang bawat salita
Kapag naririnig mo ay nakakatuwa
Heto na heto na heto na ha
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Hindi naman kailangang boses mo'y maganda oh
Basta't may konting tonong madaling makanta
Kung medyo sintunado ay hayaan mo na
Ang nais lang ng tao ay ang konting saya
Ihanda ang tropa at tambol na lata
Kaskasin mo nang mabuti ang dalang gitara
Kapag buo na't handa na ang lahat
Huminga ka nang malalim at narito na
Heto na heto na heto na ha
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Bidoo bidoo bi bidoo bidoo
Bidoo bidoo bi bidoo bidoo
Bidoo bidoo bi bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
The song "Doo Bidoo" by Apo Hiking Society is a cheerful and upbeat song that encourages people to have fun and sing along. The first verse talks about how music can bring people together, whether they are alone with their guitar or with friends playing the tambol na butas na lata (a makeshift percussion instrument made from a tin can with holes in it). The song then encourages everyone to play their part, with the whistle leading the way and the feet keeping the beat.
The second verse talks about how anyone can sing, whether they have a good voice or not, as long as they are having fun and spreading joy. The song celebrates the diversity of voices, from gruff baritones to high-pitched sopranos, and encourages everyone to join in and create a joyful noise. The chorus repeats "Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo" over and over again, creating a catchy and fun melody that is easy to sing along to.
Overall, "Doo Bidoo" is a song that celebrates the power of music to bring people together and create joy, regardless of one's musical ability.
Line by Line Meaning
Kapag nag-iisa't kasama ang gitara
When you are alone with your guitar
Basta't dumarating ang kanta
As long as the song comes
Awiting maaari rin kung may kasama
Singing is also possible with company
Tambol mo ay butas na lata
Your drum is just a tin can with holes in it
Sabayan ang sipol ang bawat pasada
Keep up with the whistle, with each step
Huminga nang malalim at sabay ang buga
Take a deep breath and blow at the same time
Kapag buo na't handa na ang lahat
When everything is complete and ready
Sabay-sabay ang pasok sa bagsak ng paa
The feet hit the ground at the same time
Heto na heto na heto na ha
Here it is, here it is, here it is, ha
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Mahirap gumawa ng kantang makata
It's hard to create a poetical song
Makulay na tugtugin at pananalita
Colorful melodies and words
At kapuna-puna na parang dambuhala
And remarkable like an elephant
Mga boses na nagpapababa
Voices that bring down the mood
At meron din namang nagpapaboses bata
But there are also child-like voices
Matataas ang tono'y tinig ay mahaba
Their tone is high and their voice is long
Binubulong sa hangin ang bawat salita
Every word is whispered in the wind
Kapag naririnig mo ay nakakatuwa
When you hear it, it's amusing
Hindi naman kailangang boses mo'y maganda oh
Your voice doesn't have to be beautiful
Basta't may konting tonong madaling makanta
As long as you have a little tune that's easy to sing
Kung medyo sintunado ay hayaan mo na
If you're a bit off-key, just let it go
Ang nais lang ng tao ay ang konting saya
What people want is just a little bit of happiness
Ihanda ang tropa at tambol na lata
Get your group ready and bring your tin drum
Kaskasin mo nang mabuti ang dalang gitara
Strum your guitar well
Kapag buo na't handa na ang lahat
When everything is complete and ready
Huminga ka nang malalim at narito na
Take a deep breath and here it is
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo
Bidoo bidoo bi bidoo bidoo
Bidoo bidoo bi bidoo bidoo
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Doo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo bidoo ah
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.