"We were all supposed to dance the Huling El Bimbo with a fantastic fireworks display. It was going to be the perfect song to end a perfect concert. I know because my sister said so. She was one of the band's PAs (guess which one!) and was there during the production meetings. On Sunday morning, as we gathered for our family lunch, she told us what was supposed to go down during the Eheads concert. The first set went exactly as planned, except of course for Ely's collapse. To refresh your memory, these are the songs we heard:
1. Alapaap
2. Ligaya
3. Sembreak
4. Hey Jay
5. Harana
6. Fruitcake
7. Toyang
8. Kama Supra
9. Kailan
10. Wag Kang Matakot
11. Kaliwete
12. With A Smile
13. Shake Yer Head
14. Wag Mo Nang Itanong
15. Lightyears
During the second set, the band was to sing ten more songs, in this order:
1. Maskara
2. Poor Man's Grave
3. Torpedo
4. Trip to Jerusalem
5. Back To Me
6. walang Nagbago
7. Maling Akala
8. Tikman
9. Spoliarium
10.Magasin
When Magasin was to be played, the screen behind them would have montages of various news and magazine clippings of them. It would flash alternately with shots of the band and audience until the song reached the coda where Ely sings "...ay centerfold ka naaaa...woo hoo-hoo, haaa-haaa" part of the song. Then there would be fire works and a fountain of sparks, going on til the last note of the song. Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered and the band would make a "fake ending". The lights would then go out. My sister said the band would wait til the crowd chanted "more". "It would take two beers' worth of chanting "more" she said. Then in the darkness, a very dramatic keyboard solo would be heard, and it would be the opening chords of Para Sa Masa. The hydraulic stage would rise again and there they would be. After Para Sa Masa, they'd switch into Overdrive. With the crowd pumped within an inch of insanity they were to hit us with Pare Ko. And then we would slow down and reminisce with Minsan. Finally, they would perform Huling El Bimbo. Again, after the last refrain, at the coda (la la la laaa...) the grand fireworks display would go off, fountains of light surrounding the stage. The next la-la-la parts would see fireworks from behind the general admissions section, and as the song ended there would be a burst of confetti all over the audience. Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered for the final exit.
Those were the plans for the Ultraelectromagnetic night. It may not have happened as planned but at least we knew they were going to give us a show we would never forget!
We asked my sister if the band knew about all these plans and she said they did. In fact they were so excited about all the gimmicks and couldn't wait to party with the audience. "Nag-usap pa nga sila kung may mga kailangang saluhin na kanta just in case (di na kaya ni Ely)," she said. "And Ely said, hindi, Kakanta ako!"
I'm putting out an order to the Universe that we all get to watch the second set!"
After the incident, I kept watching different clips of the concert on YouTube and kept reading forums and blogs about the concert and Eraserheads until I stumbled upon the above-quoted blog by danglingtealeaves which gave me goosebumps. I never felt really okay since Ive read it until now and as I am writing this blog, I keep listening to Eraseheads songs. Their music takes me to ALAPAAP. When I heard “para sa masa”, I felt really lonely inside. I was chatting with the boyfriend and said: “bi, nalulungkot ako?”. He replied, “Why?”. I said, “Eheads”. He asked, “How’s Ely na ba?”. I said, “Ok na sya. But, hindi lang un eh. Basta lang. Yung fact na mahal sila ng tao. May emotional attachment talaga.” The boyfriend exclaimed, “Bakit naman masyado kang napektuhan nun?” and I said, “I don’t know.”
Sometimes, in our hearts, we know what we feel but there aren’t words to explain it. For a night, the Eraserheads brought me back to my high school days. It felt like it was only yesterday - when every one in the class went ga-ga over every album of E’heads. All of a sudden, I was 15 years old once again! Where the hell in the world was I when the band was all over the place to have concerts 10 years ago? Proly because when I was younger, when they were still in “one band”, listening to their songs over the radio, cassette tapes and audio cds was contentment already. Even if they’ve disbanded many years ago, their songs aren’t forgotten at all. Their songs sync with my younger days and memories. This reunion concert held on August 30, was a dream come true for all of the Eraserheads’ fans. I’m not a die-hard-type of a fan but when I tried to rummage around for my old rubbish, I found an old notebook I used in high school and saw many handwritten “eraserheads” letterings on the pages in the form of somewhat like graffiti. So, what do you call that?
After the sad incident during the reunion concert, one message was sent to the world, MAHAL NG TAO ANG ERASERHEADS. From watching the actual reactions of different individuals in the concert after the sister of Ely, Lani, broke the very sad news, I was awed to see that the crowd did not even had any violent reaction about having to cut the concert short. They understood. There was no bitterness. Instead, they learned to love Ely and the Eraserheads (as one band) more. The incident made the people realize how Ely and the rest of the band gave their best to give pleasure and satisfaction to their fans, despite Ely’s weak condition that night. Whoa! 15 songs sang straight wasn’t easy!!!
No other band has ever made an impact like this to Filipinos. I know, deep in our hearts, we are wising that Ely, Raimund, Buddy and Marcus will form as a Eraserheads again but until then, we will just keep on reminiscin’ our old days as we listen to their music that will never die. As the lines in one of their hit songs say:
"minsan ay hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari
kahit na anong gawin lahat ng bagay ay merong hangganan
dahil ngayon tayo ay nilimot ng kahapon
di na mapipilitang buhayin ang ating pinagsamahan
ngunit kung sakaling mapadaan
baka ikaw ay aking tawagan dahil minsan
tayo ay naging tunay na magkaibigan"
I know, to some, what I’m saying here is gibberish but I know too, that there are many people like me who totally understand exactly what I mean. ERASERHEADS will live in our hearts forever and their contribution to the Philippine Music Industry shall never be forgotten and as I end this article, I’m almost half-done burning all of their albums so I can keep them safe and give to my future kids 16 years from now, as they enter their 3rd year in high school and share to them what their “Mom” has been talking about.
Raimund said, “This (the concert) was just the first. The first set was good. The second set will be better and the third set will be awesome!” (or something like that). I’ve heard also that the organizers and producers are thinking about having a part 2 of the reunion concert. If it’s true, that’ll be great!!! I will not definitely miss the event! But of course, before anything else, before this rumored part 2 pushes through, let’s all pray for Ely’s health and full recovery.
Long Live ERASERHEADS!
“As long as we can remember the chords, we can still play the old songs.” - Buddy.  | haaay... tnx for posting.. at least na imagine ko ung plan nila sa concert =)
same w/ you, may hang over pa ko ng eheads... i kept listening to their song up to now.. and reading blogs like this haha...
may nabasa rin ako, after the concert ung 3 guys (marcus,raymond n buddy) w/ friends nag jam pa sa Saguijo... bitin na bitin din siguro hehehe...
i luv eheads no matter what.. =)
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 | hey, i was there also. i share the same sentiments. the attachment is so unbelievable. It makes you go back to your "old self" and "old times". hay. |
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