Sponge Cola is comprised of Yael (vocals), Armo (guitar), Gosh(bass), and Chris (drums). Formed when its members were still in high school, the band quickly established itself and began playing gigs regularly at venues all over Metro Manila. In September of 2003, they celebrated their first independent release with the 5-track EP containing the songs, “Lunes”, “A Tear”, “Saturn”, “Cigarette”, and “Jeepney.” “Lunes” and “Jeepney”, both written in Filipino, were released as singles and proved to be a hit with local audiences. Extensive radio airplay was instrumental in broadening the band’s fan base across the nation.
In the last quarter of 2004, Sponge Cola signed a record distribution deal with Sony Music Philippines for the release of their full-length album, entitled “Palabas” about the band members’ theater backgrounds. The album showcases a definitive voice in unadulterated rock, reminiscent of the 90s alternative but laced with enough sing-along pop sensibility to appeal to a wider audience. It displays a seamless blend of the band members’ varied influences while showcasing a refreshingly unique sound. The 14 original tracks contain traces of each band member’s musical preference: Gosh grew up on classical Filipino balladeers from the likes of Basil Valdes and Martin Nievera; Armo lends to the rock edge, citing bands like Tool, Deftones, and A Perfect Circle as influences; Chris admits to being influenced by acts like the Beatles, Foo Fighters and Gin Blossoms; and Yael listens to everything from pop to 80s power ballads up to the new metal phenomenon of the late 90s.
Following the release of their album, Sponge Cola found even greater success, as evidenced by several noteworthy accomplishments. They won the “Rising Sun Award” at the NU107 Rock Awards for successfully crossing over from the radio station’s core audience to the wider pop audience. MTV dubbed the band their “Rising Star” for December 2004, and the first single off the album, “KLSP”, was well-received by both radio and television audiences. The video for the single, which was released in early 2005, hit 1 on multiple MYX charts and stayed on the charts for several weeks. In late February, “Palabas” became the first rock album ever released through a full distribution deal to hit gold in the Philippines.
After the success of “KLSP,” the band decided to take a much-needed break to concentrate on their studies, as they were about to go into their senior year at Ateneo de Manila University. However, they continued to be a visible presence on the gig circuit, playing venues in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces, such as Naga, Iloilo, and Palawan.
With the release of their second single, Sponge Cola continued to rise in the music industry. “Gemini” was released simultaneously on radio stations and hit the 1 spot on 99.5 RT in just a day, a first for the station. A few days later, the song reached the top spot on 97.1 LSFM as well.
Sponge Cola found another hit single in “Una.” Released in early November, the song was well received by the band’s fans and enjoyed extensive airplay on major radio stations. The video for the song, directed by Wincy Ong, reached number 1 on the MYX charts. Another recent triumph for the band was lead singer Yael’s award for Best Male Rock Icon at the 2005 NU107 Rock Awards. In addition to this, Sponge Cola’s rendition of the Eraserheads classic, “Pare Ko,” is featured on the tribute album celebrating one of OPM’s most influential acts. To cap off their successful year, Sponge Cola also had the honor of holding the No.1 spot on 99.5RT’s year-end countdown. Another radio station, RX93.1, chose Sponge Cola as their Indie Artist of the Year, proving that the band’s accomplishments in 2005 did not go unrecognized.
As musicians who are not only working but were also pursuing their college degrees for some time, the members of Sponge Cola have inadvertently become role models for their younger fans. They have broken out of the mold of a traditional rock band by advocating clean living, hard work, and diligence. Bassist Gosh was an academic scholar, and, along with the other members, graduated with flying colors in March of 2006.
Just a few months after their graduation, they started recording songs for their sophomore album. After months of additional songwriting and recording, “Transit,” was ready to be released. By the first week of September 2006, the album was out in all the major record bars nationwide.
Transit proved to be a fitting title for the band’s second album because not only did it capture the feel of the songs, but it also encapsulated the members' growth as individuals and musicians. With the young band members finally graduating from college and releasing their pivotal second album, the band suddenly had to adjust to a fairly new predicament. Transit captures the period of adjustment that the band members went through as it is in fact "the next step," a statement that implies transition, not stagnation.
Musically, the band has also matured over the years. With the two-year gap between their albums, there was a big leap in terms of musical direction, but at the same time, they maintained the essence that took them to the dance—soaring vocals underscored by intense guitars and relentless rhythmic pounding. The added dimension of well-placed ambient layers of guitar and riff-based songwriting created a more diverse album. There was a different approach for each song, strengthening the identity of each track.
“Bitiw,” their carrier single from Transit, has claimed the top spot of various radio stations all across the country. It was their fifth consecutive music video to skyrocket to the 1 position in the MYX hit chart and stayed there for a prolonged time, due to the acceptance of the Filipino people of their brand of music.
Other highlights in the album include the six-minute epic “The Wandering” which pays tribute to the well-known TV series Lost; “Movie,” the band's current single which immortalizes the feeling of people in the “friends zone”; “Do You Know The Feeling,” an 80s inspired stadium rock song; “Nocturne,” a poignant piece that tackles insomnia and remembering of a past love.
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFiniMD_UVBOyUf4r2JQ0Wg
https://twitter.com/SpongeColaPH
All The Time
Sponge Cola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are eyes that meet
Will there ever be a chance
Deadlines after lifetimes over
Minutes wouldn't matter when you're
Down all the time
Down all the time
Beneath the city lights
I wonder will I ever get the chance
Stop signs enter green lights over
Minutes wouldn't matter when you're
Down all the time
Down all the time
The tragedy it seems
Is pushing up a dream
It's easy to believe
That it's worthwhile to achieve
If you take a chance
If you take a chance
Would you take a chance
If you take a chance
If you
interpret these lyrics, you might find a theme of missed opportunities and longing for something more. The lines "Between the lines we speak, are eyes that meet" could suggest a sense of unspoken desire between two people. They wonder if an opportunity to act on that desire will ever present itself, but the "deadlines after lifetimes over" suggest that time is fleeting and they may never have the chance.
The chorus emphasizes the feeling of being "down all the time," which could symbolize feeling stuck or unhappy in life. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer wondering if they will ever have the chance to break free from the monotony of their life. The "tragedy" that is "pushing up a dream" could refer to the difficulties and barriers that prevent us from achieving our goals, but the singer continues to hold onto the idea that it's worth it to take a chance, even if it's not guaranteed.
Overall, the lyrics of "All the Time" paint a picture of people longing for something more in life, but feeling trapped by circumstances and time. The repeated references to taking a chance suggest that the singer believes in the power of risk-taking and following one's dreams, despite the challenges that may come with that.
Line by Line Meaning
Between the lines we speak
Even though we talk about one thing, our eyes reveal something else that is left unsaid
Are eyes that meet
Our eyes make contact and communicate a message without words
Will there ever be a chance
There's a desire for an opportunity to take action on these unspoken emotions
Deadlines after lifetimes over
Even if the chance arrives, time constraints might make it difficult to act on it effectively
Minutes wouldn't matter when you're down all the time
The weight of constant depression makes the passing of time seem insignificant
Beneath the city lights
Amidst the glamour and excitement of the city, self-doubt and uncertainty persists
I wonder will I ever get the chance
The desire for opportunity remains, but fear of failure and uncertainty creates hesitation
Stop signs enter green lights over
Obstacles continue to arise even when everything seems to be going smoothly
Minutes wouldn't matter when you're down all the time
The burden of constant negative emotions make the passage of time feel insignificant
The tragedy it seems
The situation is sad and unfortunate
Is pushing up a dream
Despite the unfortunate situation, there is still hope and motivation to pursue a dream
It's easy to believe
The hope for success and achievement is enough to make it seem like it's easily attainable
That it's worthwhile to achieve
The effort and struggle it takes to achieve one's dreams is worth it in the end
If you take a chance
Success is only possible if one is willing to take a risk
Would you take a chance
The question is posed to the listener, asking if they would take the necessary risk to achieve their goals
If you take a chance
Success requires the willingness to break out of one's comfort zone and take a risk
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.