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:
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFiniMD_UVBOyUf4r2JQ0Wg
https://twitter.com/SpongeColaPH
Movie
Sponge Cola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mood sets in with lights
Let's wait for them to leave
I was never one for crowds
I look down on the floor
Everything's undone
Yet we've been so much more
REFRAIN 1
We long for escape
Let this mem'ry take shape
For the heroes we often see
I don't know if it's me
Or the movies we've seen
I don't remember
As well as I should
CHORUS
I stay so silent with your arms adjacent
And credits may soon roll away
Wooh
Ahh
You have my jacket on
Comfort in my warmth
I'm used to the cold
I'm used to the cold
REFRAIN 2
And I hope you'd agree
How this story should be
How I wish I could change the scenes
I'd write on the next page
An early coming of age
For me to tell you
As well as I could
CHORUS
I stay so silent with your arms adjacent
And credits may soon roll away
Could I stay so silent with your arms adjacent
The vagueness may soon come to light
Should I say so silent with your arms adjacent
As I play my part in my show
Forever shall I be the ill-fated type
Forever must I be the one you confide to
Forever must I be the pages you need
For you to write all your secrets that you hope I would keep
Forever must I drive you home late at night
After watching these films that seem to imitate life
Forever must I be the opinion you seek and
Forever will I be the friend that you would keep
(Forever will I, forever will I)
In Sponge Cola's song Movie, the singer describes a moment with a loved one in a movie theater. As the credits are about to roll, they reflect on the experience and the impact that movies have on their lives. The singer admits to feeling uncomfortable in crowds but finds solace in the warmth of their partner's arms. They long for an escape from the real world, just like the heroes they often see in movies. However, they realize that they don't remember the movies they've watched as well as they should.
The singer wishes they could change the story and believes they could write a better one. They want to have an early coming of age and share their secrets with their loved one. They are willing to be there for their friend and drive them home late at night after watching films that imitate life. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that they will forever be the ill-fated type but also the friend their loved one confides in.
Line by Line Meaning
The movie is done once more
The movie we just watched has come to an end
The mood sets in with lights
The ambiance changes as the movie theater lights dim
Let's wait for them to leave
Let's wait for the other moviegoers to exit the theater
I was never one for crowds
I've never enjoyed being around a lot of people
I look down on the floor
As I stand here, I notice my surroundings
Everything's undone
The situation seems incomplete and unresolved
Yet we've been so much more
Despite the unfinished feeling, our relationship has grown deeper
Than a full-length feature
Our bond goes beyond what can be contained in a movie
We long for escape
We both desire an escape from reality
Let this mem'ry take shape
Let's allow this moment to take solid form in our minds
For the heroes we often see
We long to be like the heroes in the movies we watch
I don't know if it's me
I'm not sure if I am the one with this desire for escape
Or the movies we've seen
Maybe it's the movies we've watched that are creating this desire
I don't remember
I can't recall everything about the movies we've watched
As well as I should
I haven't retained as much from the movies as I would like
I stay so silent with your arms adjacent
I am silent next to you, feeling comfort from our physical closeness
And credits may soon roll away
The movie credits are about to roll and our moment will soon end
You have my jacket on
You are wearing my jacket, receiving warmth and comfort from me
Comfort in my warmth
You find comfort in my embrace
I'm used to the cold
I'm accustomed to feeling alone and cold
And I hope you'd agree
I hope you share the same opinion as me
How this story should be
How our relationship should progress and evolve
How I wish I could change the scenes
I wish I could alter the events that have led to this moment
I'd write on the next page
I would take control of the narrative and change our story's direction
An early coming of age
A more mature understanding and development of our relationship
For me to tell you
For me to convey to you
As well as I could
As eloquently and effectively as possible
The vagueness may soon come to light
The ambiguity of our relationship may soon be resolved
Should I say so silent with your arms adjacent
Should I keep quiet while we're physically close
As I play my part in my show
As I continue to perform my role in our relationship
Forever shall I be the ill-fated type
I will always be doomed to suffer disappointment and misfortune
Forever must I be the one you confide to
You will always come to me with your confessions and secrets
Forever must I be the pages you need
I will continue to be the person who listens to all that you say
For you to write all your secrets that you hope I would keep
You trust me enough to share your deepest secrets with me
Forever must I drive you home late at night
I will always be there to take you home after our movie nights
After watching these films that seem to imitate life
After witnessing movies that mimic and reflect our own experiences
Forever must I be the opinion you seek and
You always value and consider my opinions
Forever will I be the friend that you would keep
I will remain your faithful friend
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@harlequinairish
nasasaktan ako..it's my song for him.. mahal ko xa pero friends kami..this song is also our song..tapos pag naririnig ko xa nadudurog lang un heart ko..i'm only in the friends zone.. masakit talaga..mahal na mahal ko pa naman xa.. bakit ganon? haiszz
@MeepoX4
ang hot ni BANGS GARCIA Dito
@arnoldnoki
2015 na.. biglang sumagi sa isip k itong song na ito..