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
Closure
Sponge Cola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'You're probably mistaken'
Somehow I knew
It was way overdue
Deadened your screams with a pillow
Muffled your words
Like the mute shrills that you are
Pleasure could not compensate
Thoughts in my head
They come and go
But I don't know
I don't remember who you are
I don't remember who you are
I don't remember how we were
The song Closure by Sponge Cola is a song about a love that has gone stale. The opening lines are "So now you say 'You're probably mistaken' Somehow I knew It was way overdue". These lines suggest that the relationship has reached a point of no return and the partner is trying to deny that it has ended. The singer has known for some time that it was coming to an end and the partner's denial is only a confirmation of that.
In the next few lines, we hear about the singer's frustration with the relationship. They talk about how they have deadened their partner's screams with a pillow and muffled their words. The lines "Affection could not compensate Pleasure could not compensate" suggest that the relationship lacked passion and they were both just going through the motions. The final lines of the chorus are "I don't remember who you are I don't remember how we were". These lines suggest that the relationship has become so stale that the singer can't remember who their partner is or what they used to have.
The verses of the song are a mix of memories and regrets. The line "Thoughts in my head They come and go But I don't know" suggests that the singer is trying to remember what their relationship was like but can't. The song ends with the lines "I won't be the one To hold you back From being happy" suggesting that the singer has decided to move on and let their partner find happiness elsewhere.
Line by Line Meaning
So now you say, 'You're probably mistaken'
You are denying our relationship and telling me that I am wrong to think that we had something.
Somehow I knew, It was way overdue
Despite your denial, I already knew that our relationship was over a long time ago.
Deadened your screams with a pillow, Muffled your words
In an attempt to silence your pain and suffering, I suffocated you with a pillow and prevented you from speaking.
Like the mute shrills that you are
You were silenced and unable to express your emotions, just like a mute person trying to scream.
Affection could not compensate, Pleasure could not compensate
Despite my attempts to make things better through love and physical pleasure, it was not enough to solve our underlying problems.
Thoughts in my head, They come and go
I have conflicting thoughts and emotions about our relationship that appear and disappear without any clear resolution.
But I don't know, I don't remember who you are
I have lost any sense of who you are as a person and what our relationship truly meant.
I don't remember how we were
The memories of our past have faded, and I am unable to recall the specific details of our past relationship.
Contributed by Alice P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kloydwilliam crisostomo
March 30, 2020
Lee Peñaranda
2021 Bkit parang npalitan na c drumer man..prang d sya yun dati
Ruzifer 1 9 9 2
2017..
Edmar Corachea
Nope 2007
Karl Vincent Venenciano
2019