| "Ang Huling El Bimbo" | ||||
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| Song by The Eraserheads from the album Cutterpillow | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 5:31 | |||
| Label | BMG Records (through their Musiko label) | |||
| Writer | Ely Buendia | |||
| Producer | Robin Rivera | |||
| Cutterpillow track listing | ||||
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Ang Huling El Bimbo (English: The Last El Bimbo) is a rock ballad by Pinoy rock group The Eraserheads from their 1995 album Cutterpillow as well as their international album Aloha Milkyway. Aside from the usual band instruments the group used, the song features a synthesizer along with a piano. The song, narrated in the first person, tells the story of a man's unrequited feelings for his childhood friend, whose life came to a tragic end.
The song won MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1997, making the Eraserheads the first Filipino artists to win the award. It was used by McDonald's in their commercial in 2009[1] as well as by radio station NU 107 as its last song on its final day of broadcast on November 7, 2010.[2]
There are two known versions of the song. The first one has the singer continuing to chant the chorus until the song fades. The second version replaces the monotonous chant with a guitar solo and an orchestra ensemble playing the chorus. The music video uses the second version.
Contents |
The song opens with the chorus melody playing twice before a short pause ushering the story arc recalled the narrator's childhood memory, introducing a certain girl whose love for dancing captured his interest. The first refrain discusses his budding feelings for the girl as he visits her after school where she would teach him the El Bimbo for the rest of the day. The song's melody at this point increases pace, complemented by the arrival of the chorus, suggesting that he developed an innocent love towards the girl with the unsullied way of holding each other's hands as part of the dance routine.
The second stanza focuses on his growing feelings for his childhood friend through their constant dancing. He openly describes her drop-dead hip-swaying moves and how his life seems brighter every time his arms are draped around her. The second refrain and chorus follows.
To transition from his past to his present situation, the narrator effectively uses a bridge delivered by a simple phrase ("La la la la") while playing an alternative chorus (lower) chords in the background.
As a grown-up, the narrator tells that he and his childhood friend parted ways without seeing each other for a very long time. However, hearsay spoke of the girl being unwed, having a child and earns a living as a dishwasher in the district of Ermita, Manila. And one unfateful night, she was accidentally ran over in a dark alley. The last refrain, also considered as the climax, implies how all his dreams suddenly crumbled upon hearing the news; that he'll be only able to dance with her in his dreams, and how his affection for the girl will forever be unrequited.
The chorus playing twice followed by the bridge phrase serves as the song's denouement; and the impressive guitar solos and almost-theatrical musical accompaniment provides the dramatic finale.
The music video, directed by Auraeus Solito, basically retells the lyrics of the song. There are some additions though:
Other credits include cinematography by Louie Quirino and production design by Karissa Villa.
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