A Philippine-based band proudly waving the banner of hometown Cebu, Urbandu… Read Full Bio ↴A Philippine-based band proudly waving the banner of hometown Cebu, Urbandub is growing to be a titan, a superpower of the Pinoy independent rock movement. Local or International, they're jet-set to stir up waves, raising the level for today's modern angst. Listen up and try their songs for size. Their craft could only get better.

ABOUT THE BAND:

Urbandub is Gabby Alipe (Vocalist / Guitarist), Lalay Lim (Bassist), John Mendoza (Drummer) and John Dinopol (Lead Guitarist). Urbandub's career thus far has given much inspiration and support to upcoming acts, most of which fall under the Lighter Records stable such as Faspitch, The Ambassadors, Still, Nuncyspungen (Cagayan) and Point Click Kill (Ilo Ilo). Each of them now aspire to take their own roads in music, paving their own way and modeling some of their steps after the success of Urbandub.

From the very first day that this band was formed (in the year 2000), they were destined to be something more than the ordinary. Forced to be independent due to the lack of support coming from major record companies, Urbandub released their debut album called BIRTH. Off of this album, the hit tracks “Come”, “Give” and “Would You Go” launched and took their world by storm. Unique, timely and yet experimental, it was something that entertainment scenes around the Philippines needed: a kick-start into the future of original music.

With the release of their sophomore effort, INFLUENCE (Lighter Records), Urbandub took on a new form, changing their sound with a new drummer (From Jed Honrado to Jerros Dolino). It was the sound in this album that clearly defined the steps that Urbandub would start to take. The track “Soul Searching” later won the award as Best Song of the Year in the NU107 Rock Awards 2003. Pushing the sound further, the collection bagged the Album Of The Year Award in the NU107 Rock Awards 2004.

Urbandub released their album EMBRACE in 2005, and with it, it proved that there is hope for struggling artists. With help from their community and the noise they created, they were able to grab the attention of EMI Music Philippines. Since then the band has kept Lighter Records as their management arm and guide. In line with their ideals, EMI allowed the members the creative freedom to record their album on their home soil of Cebu. They have also been able to maintain their independent principles while taking major steps into the scene that has awaited their new sound.

After more than 10,000 albums sold, thousands of miles traveled around the country and some dizzying highs and lows, an energized Urbandub returned with UNDER SOUTHERN LIGHTS in 2007. This latest album boasts 10 tracks of Urbandub’s new approach to their own brand—their brilliance shines throughout a melodious rock tune and diverse songwriting.

Alert the Armory
URBANDUB Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The struggle could be over now this time
The times have changed us
Our silence is deafening

Nothing can make this better
Our answers seldom come
There is death in words you say

Sound the alarm
What we have built is gone
Our battle's just begun
Mayday, mayday

Bring the tears from out of your eyes
Just leave it up to me
Hearts of stone to bring out the cold
It cuts the warmth

It could've been easier now
Our bitter words revealed

Nothing can make this better
Our answers seldom come
There is death in words you say
I'm so sick of you and love

Sound the alarm
What we have built is gone
Our battle's just begun
Mayday, mayday

Mayday, mayday...

Overall Meaning

The song opens with a hopeful acknowledgement that the struggle faced by the band or an individual in general could be coming to a close. However, the times have changed the people involved, and their silence has become deafening. The lyrics suggest that despite the hope of resolution, things are still not right, and it is challenging to find answers. The next stanza makes it apparent that nothing can make this situation any better, and the answers are not always available. Also, the words that are being spoken out loud are causing death or creating a sense of fear in the hearts of the people who hear them.

The chorus warns of impending danger and urges people to sound the alarm because what has been built is gone, and their battle has just begun. The emergency code, "Mayday" is repeated, adding more significance to what's at stake here. The next stanza highlights the significance of letting go of the past and accepting the present. The singer urges others to bring out their hearts of stone to withstand the cold atmosphere, and that cutting the warmth is the only way to survive. The final stanza speaks to the realization that it is too late for matters to be less challenging than they are. Bitter words have been spoken that cannot be taken back, and the answers are still hard to find. The theme of death is brought back in these final lines of the song with an admission that they are "so sick of you and love."

Line by Line Meaning

The struggle could be over now this time
The difficult situation we are in may finally come to an end now

The times have changed us
Our current situation is quite different from what it once was, and it has affected us

Our silence is deafening
Our lack of words or action is making things worse

Nothing can make this better
There is no solution that can improve our situation

Our answers seldom come
We rarely have a response or remedy for our troubles

There is death in words you say
The words spoken may have a negative or even fatal effect

Sound the alarm
It is time to act urgently

What we have built is gone
Everything we worked hard to build is now destroyed

Our battle's just begun
We have a long and tough fight ahead of us

Mayday, mayday
This is a distress signal and call for help

Bring the tears from out of your eyes
Stop crying and face the problem head-on