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.
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/spongecola
https://www.instagram.com/sponge_cola/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFiniMD_UVBOyUf4r2JQ0Wg
https://twitter.com/SpongeColaPH
All We Need
Sponge Cola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still I see where this is headed
And my mind is going
(should I risk it)
It's all been said and done before
Honestly, I'm out of patience
For anymore of your excuses
Kicking and screaming
Inside lies a feeling
One lonely voice
There's a backdrop of noise
Am I on my own
Tonight, I'll let you know
I light the fire for those of us who wept
For all the heartache that we felt
This is all we need
This is all I need
I sing along with each and everyone
Beneath the sorrow, lies someone
Who's reaching out for a hand
That's reaching too
A common tale if truth be told
Familiar as it seems
My story lies between
Silent and seamless
The sound of my weakness
Is drowned in the noise
Of a world with no voice
And I take it all
Tonight, the night will know
Ooh-ooh
Take flight when the nightlight's out of sight
Take flight, just go and take the night
Take flight as we share this drink tonight
Take flight, it's our fight, I fight tonight
Kicking and screaming
Inside lies a feeling
One lonely voice
There's a backdrop of noise
Are we on our own
Tonight, we'll let them know
(We share the sorrow)
I light the fire for those of us who wept
For all the heartache that we felt
This is all we need
This is all I need
I wrote this song for each and everyone
Beneath the sorrow, lies someone
Who's reaching out for a hand
That's reaching to you
The lyrics of Sponge Cola’s “All We Need” speak about being at the brink of an important decision. The first stanza describes the singer’s uncertainty and reluctance to take a risk; they have been avoiding a situation for a long time but have now come to realize where things are heading. The second stanza voices a sense of exhaustion and impatience towards the other party involved, and declares an intention to stop accepting their excuses.
The chorus turns more hopeful as the singer’s voice grows louder and they light a fire for all those who have experienced heartache or sorrow. The song becomes a unifying force for people who are trying to connect with others like them, or simply reach out for a hand. The song’s final lines acknowledge the singer’s futility and weakness, and how their story is one of many similar narratives. However, they persist in their search for connection despite the “backdrop of noise” that threatens to drown them out.
Line by Line Meaning
Been turning my blind eye for the longest time
I have been ignoring the situation for a while now.
Still I see where this is headed
I am aware of where the situation is going.
And my mind is going (should I risk it)
I am contemplating if I should take a risk despite what I see coming.
It's all been said and done before
The situation is not new and has happened before.
Honestly, I'm out of patience
I am fed up and have no more patience left for excuses.
Kicking and screaming
I am resisting and struggling against the situation.
Inside lies a feeling
Deep down, I am feeling...
One lonely voice
I feel like I am alone in expressing my thoughts and feelings.
There's a backdrop of noise
Amidst all the chaos and commotion...
Am I on my own
I am questioning if I am alone in this struggle.
Tonight, I'll let you know
I will express my feelings and thoughts tonight.
I light the fire for those of us who wept
I am creating a symbol of hope for those who have experienced pain and heartache.
For all the heartache that we felt
We have all experienced pain and heartache.
This is all we need
All we need is this symbol of hope to remind us to keep going.
I sing along with each and everyone
I am united with everyone, singing the same song.
Beneath the sorrow, lies someone
Behind each person's pain, there is someone...
Who's reaching out for a hand
Who is asking for help and support.
That's reaching too
There is someone else also offering help and support.
A common tale if truth be told
This situation is not unique and happens often.
Familiar as it seems
It is familiar because it has happened before.
My story lies between
My situation fits in this recurring story.
Silent and seamless
It seems like nothing is happening, but...
The sound of my weakness
I am vulnerable but...
Is drowned in the noise
I am not the only one who is vulnerable - there are many others.
Of a world with no voice
The world is silent about these struggles.
And I take it all
I accept and face all of this.
Tonight, the night will know
I will make my struggles known and heard tonight.
Take flight when the nightlight's out of sight
Face your struggles while there is less visibility of them.
Take flight, just go and take the night
Take advantage of the darkness to move forward.
Take flight as we share this drink tonight
Let us share this moment and find strength in each other.
Take flight, it's our fight, I fight tonight
This is our struggle, and I am willing to fight for it.
We share the sorrow
We all experience pain and heartache.
I wrote this song for each and everyone
This song is for all of us who have gone through this struggle.
Beneath the sorrow, lies someone
Behind each person's pain, there is someone...
Who's reaching out for a hand
Who is asking for help and support.
That's reaching to you
You are being asked to offer help and support.
This is all we need
All we need is each other's support to overcome this struggle.
This is all I need
Personally, all I need is the support of others to keep going.
Contributed by Gabriel O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.