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
Regal
Sponge Cola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are perfect as you are
Your eyes are the brightest
As you dance in the slowest
That motion can become.
To be near you
And underneath the radiant smiles
Of perkiness that leave me
Defenseless as I stare
Refrain:
I might need a little more courage
I'm just waiting
For the universe to show me
How to steal you from the sky
Chorus:
You can be the most regal
And towering in this room
I'll still be the luckiest guy
Here with you
And you could come
Through a room
With your delicate grace
Take these hands and guide
This embrace
Oh...
Ii.
You are luminescent always
Your heels are the highest
As you brighten this night is
Like a spectacle of light.
(Repeat Refrain and Chorus)
Oh...
Bridge:
There's a fine line
Between pauses and delays
In everything we say
I'll take it everyday, I know I can.
And if the night sky
Should hide the light I see
I'll make my way beyond the dark
I'll be fine.
(Repeat Chorus 2x)
And if in case
The most abstract
Of color fades away
I'll still be thankful for you each day.
Oh, oh.
I'll still be thankful for you each day.
Oh, oh.
I'll be fine.
The song Regal by Sponge Cola is a love song that talks about the admiration and affection of the singer towards his partner. The song starts with a description of how perfect the singer's partner is, highlighting her beauty through her eyes and her graceful movements. The lyrical beauty of the song is reinforced with vivid imagery, as the singer describes his partner as the most regal and towering in a room, but he would still consider himself the luckiest man to be with her. The repetition of the lines “I'll still be thankful for you each day” and “I'll be fine” creates a sense of contentment and satisfaction in the relationship.
The chorus repeats several times and has a catchy melody that works as a hook to the song. The lyrics of the bridge emphasize the importance of every moment in their relationship, even the pauses and delays. The singer expresses his willingness to make his way beyond the darkness and beyond uncertain times. The song evolves from a mix of admiration and affection to a sense of security and safety. The mood of the song is calm and peaceful, with a hint of melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
You are perfect as you are
You are perfect just the way you are
Your eyes are the brightest
Your eyes are the brightest and most beautiful
As you dance in the slowest
As you dance slowly and gracefully
That motion can become.
Your slow motion is mesmerizing
To be near you
I long to be near you
I resign
I give up everything just to be near you
And underneath the radiant smiles
Beneath your beautiful smile
Of perkiness that leave me
Your cheerful personality that leaves me
Defenseless as I stare
Completely defenseless as I stare at you
I might need a little more courage
I might need a little push to approach you
I'm just waiting
I'm just waiting for the right moment
For the universe to show me
For fate to lend me a hand
How to steal you from the sky
To find a way to make you mine
You can be the most regal
You can be the most majestic and elegant
And towering in this room
And stand out in this room full of people
I'll still be the luckiest guy
I'll still feel lucky to be with you
Here with you
To be in your presence
And you could come
And when you enter
Through a room
Through this room
With your delicate grace
With your delicate and graceful movements
Take these hands and guide
Take my hands and lead me
This embrace
In this warm embrace
You are luminescent always
You are always glowing and radiant
Your heels are the highest
Your heels are the highest and most fashionable
As you brighten this night is
As you light up this night
Like a spectacle of light.
Like a magnificent display of light
There's a fine line
There's a fine balance
Between pauses and delays
Between taking a break and losing the moment
In everything we say
In everything we communicate
I'll take it everyday, I know I can.
I'll take it every day, I know I can handle it
And if the night sky
And if the dark night
Should hide the light I see
Should hide the light that guides me
I'll make my way beyond the dark
I'll find my way through the darkness
I'll be fine.
I'll be alright
And if in case
And if by chance
The most abstract
The most vague and elusive
Of color fades away
Of the colors around us fade away
I'll still be thankful for you each day.
I'll still be grateful for having you in my life every day
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-eh8iw2rr2z
2024 anyone? This song is nostalgic!
@volts2twelve239
Me now
@XyChae
2020 and still so underrated. :'( But still, I love this song.
@dandylion4037
true
@pachuchaylee
Eto yung kinanta ko nung nililigawan ko palang yung GF ko nung 2012 and ngayon asawa ko na. Still admire yung pagkakasulat ng kanta na to. Eto yung totoong musika!
@tinventanilla5925
2019 ❤
@MarkAnthonyFeting
here.
@hugejinx08
year 2011, when I was in my 4th grade, my ate used to turn on our television at the very dawn of the day just to listen songs from Myx. This is one of the songs I used to hear along with "20/20 by Pupil" and "I'm already King by Christian Bautista". They were very calming and chilling to the point that I used to like it. Well, in fact I really liked it. I can't help but to play it again and again and reminisce the good times way back there. Very nostalgic and underrated <3
@debbiepagdato6740
2022 and still listening to this song. Everytime I listen to this song it gives me nostalgic feeling. One of my fav💕
@saitama6345
A very remarkable classic