Side A
| Side A (band) | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | Pop, pop jazz, R&B, OPM, rock |
| Years active | 1985-present |
| Labels |
Ivory Music Vicor Music Warner Music Philippines Viva Records MCA Music Philippines |
| Associated acts |
South Border Freeverse The Kelly Badon Project Artstart Anthem Take One Second Wind |
| Website | Side A Worldwide |
| Members |
Naldy Gonzalez Leevon Cailao Ernie Severino Ned Esguerra |
| Past members |
Kelly Badon Joey Benin Pido Lalimarmo Mar Dizon Rodel Gonzalez Joey Generoso |
Side A is a Filipino pop band formed in 1985 who gained recognition in the Filipino music scene in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, best known for their hit single "Forevermore".
Origins and early years
Dubbed as the Philippines' answer to Toto, Side A was founded in 1985 by brothers Rodel (now of Second Wind) and Naldy Gonzalez with Joey Benin, Kelly Badon, Mar Dizon and former Artstart member Pido Lalimarmo (Take One and South Border). They released their self-titled debut album in 1989. They are managed by a Christian-oriented artist management company called Artistation Inc., owned by the late Wyngard Tracy.
Members
Current Members
- Naldy Gonzalez - keyboard, vocals (1985-present)
- Ernie Severino - drums, vocals (1990-present)
- Leevon Cailao - lead guitar, vocals (2004-present)
- Ned Esuerra - bass guitar, vocals (2007-present)
Former Members
- Rodel Gonzalez - lead vocals, saxophone (1985-1990)
- Pido Lalimarmo - guitar, vocals (1985-1990)
- Mar Dizon - drums (1985-1990)
- Kelly Badon - lead guitar, vocals (1985-2005)
- Joey Benin - bass guitar, vocals (1985-2008)
- Joey Generoso - lead vocals, guitar (1990-2015)
Biography
In terms of commercial success, no other group in the Philippines was able to match Side A's track record in the '90s. In 1993, the group's third album went triple platinum and in the mid-1990s, Side A garnered two Awit Awards; the Philippines' equivalent of the Grammys.[1]
Self-titled album
Side A's self-titled debut album includes their first hit single "Eva Marie" which paved the way for their illustrious recording career. Classic Side A songs such as "Windows of Our Souls" and "Di Pa Huli" can be found on the album. The upbeat song "Di Pa Huli" catapulted the band into the mainstream and thus capturing a wider audience. This also started the very popular cassette tape trend in which the Side B of the tape says "Side A too".
Shortly after their success, Rodel Gonzalez left for Second Wind, Pido and Mar Dizon left in 1990 to form Artstart from which they would stay for a few years until 1994 when Lalimarmo united with Eva Marie Poon (sister of Richard Poon) to form Take One and Dizon later joined Parliament Syndicate when their drummer left for personal reasons.
The White Album
This much awaited debut under Vicor is the second album of the band which earned them a Double and Triple Platinum Award for its outstanding sales. One of the biggest hits included is "Hold On" featuring new lead vocalist Joey Generoso and new drummer Ernie Severino completing and forming the band's long-running line-up.
The Blue Album
This second album under Vicor awarded them a Double and Triple Platinum award. The album features a cover of Labuyo's "Tuloy Pa Rin Ako" which was recorded live at the Music Hall, one of the premiere lounges in Manila. The song captures the energy and excitement of Side A during their live performances. The band line-up has not been changed until the present.
The album cover sports exactly the same design as the White Album with the embossed Side A logo, only this time in blue.
By Your Side
This 1995 album under Warner proved to be the most awarded album so far. Aside from its Gold Record Award, Side A won 2 Awit Awards, namely Best Performance by a Group for "By Your Side" and Best Jazz Performance with vocals for "True Love Can Always Wait". It was also the only album they released internationally with 2 additional singles: "Forevermore" and a revival of the Joey Albert hit, "Tell Me". This album also commemorates Side A's 10 years in the music industry.
Side A Live! The 10th Anniversary Concert
Side A's 10th Anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum proved to be a memorable occasion and to top it off this live concert recording earned them a Triple Platinum Award. A soothing collection of foreign and Original Pilipino Music (OPM) love songs with a touch of Side A. It includes the Joey Benin-written Janno Gibbs original "I Believe in Dreams". The album also features the James Taylor classic "Your Smiling Face" in which all of the band members can be heard singing solo.
Year 12
A certified Gold record released in 1997, this long overdue studio album proved to be worth the wait for Side A fans. The album features a collaboration of international songwriters including Sharon Cuneta. It commemorates their 12th year as a band.
Ang Ating Awitin
Side A's offering for the Philippine Centennial Year, this album was released in September 1998. Advance orders of the album guaranteed a gold album award for the group in its 1st week of release. Side A also releases a groovier version of one of the The Hotdogs' hit songs, "Manila", the ode to the capital of the Philippines.
Remember December
Side A's first and only Christmas album in 1999.
Will I Ever
Released in 2000 with the carrier single "Will I Ever". The album proved to be a minor success.
The Platinum Collection
A collection of all their greatest and most known hits from 1985 to 2001. A certified best-seller containing new versions of their old hits.
Gig, All Hits Live and the new Side A
Kelly Badon left the band to form The Kelly Badon Project with former members of Freeverse and was replaced by former Take One guitarist Leevon Cailao (making him the youngest member of the band). His debut with the band features him singing Fra Lippo Lippi's "Later" on their Gig: All Hits Live (at Bagaberde) album. The new live album obtained minimal success.
Joey Benin also left Side A. He currently tends a fish farm and a developing natural organic farmland in Silay, Negros Occidental with his wife and kids.[2] He was replaced by Ned Esguerra, former Freeverse member.
Discography[3]
Studio albums
| Album | Tracks | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side A | Di Pa Huli Eva Marie Love Will Find A Way Love That Was Still A Mystery Windows Of Our Souls Can't You Love Me Anymore Heart For Another Love Love's Bound In Time Forever Stay |
1989 | Ivory Music, Inc |
| White Album | Hold On I Will Always Stay Only You There Will Never Be Another Lahat May Pag-Asa Time To Let Go I'll Be There Chances Are Samahan Mo Ako |
1991 | Vicor Music |
| Blue Album | Tuloy Pa Rin Ako Love is Here To Stay Sana Naman I'll Be Seeing You Again Pangako Love Isn't Hard To Find Only You The Prelude Don't Stop Believing |
1993 | Vicor Music |
| By Your Side | Set You Free True Love Can Always Wait You and I So Many Questions By Your Side Open Your Eyes Forevermore Tell Me |
1995 | Warner Music |
| Side A 12 | The Girl Is So Right For Me Endlessly Just Wanna Make You Happy Always There Don't Get Me Started Wala Nang Iba Forever Starts Today Can't Keep This Feeling In All This Time (feat. Sharon Cuneta) Breakaway |
1997 | Warner Music |
| Ang Ating Awitin | Ang Aking Awitin Let The Pain Remain Iduyan Mo Pinay Habang May Buhay Manila Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan Anak Forevermore (feat. ELKE and MIRA SAISON of Toy Symphony) |
1998 | Warner Music |
| Will I Ever... | Will I Ever If Only Still The One 'Till Falling In Love With Marilyn I Accept I Still Cry Clara's Eyes One Wish I Wanna Love You |
2000 | Warner Music |
| Titanium | Dream On Love is Another Fragile Break My Heart Again Don't Let The World Win Nais Ko With You When I C U 2NYT Make Believe I Surrender |
2003 | PolyEast Records |
| Only One | Only One Kung Wala Ka Na Just Wanna Be With You That’s Okay Tila Fallin' Something’s Missing Can’t You See Where Do I Go? Save Me Die Just A Little |
2009 | MCA Music, Inc. |
Compilation albums
| Album | Tracks | Year | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side A 2000 : The Gold Collection | 2000 | ||
| The Platinum Collection | Forevermore So Many Questions Tell Me Ang Aking Awitin Will I Ever The Girl's So Right For Me If Only By Your Side Think It Over Let The Pain Remain Endlessly Anak Set You Free Umagang Kay Ganda Clara's Eyes All This Time Foolish Heart (live version) |
2001 | Warner Music |
| Side A Acoustic Love Songs | 2002 | Warner Music | |
| Side A: Vicor Music 40th Anniversary Collection | 2003 | Vicor Music | |
| Anthology | Di Pa Huli Eva Marie Window Of Our Souls Hold On I Will Always Stay Only You Time To Let Go Chances Are Tuloy Pa Rin Ako Sana Naman Pangako Don't Stop Believing Set You Free You And I So Many Questions By Your Side Forevermore Tell Me By Your Side (Live) I Believe In Dreams (Live) No Other Love (Live) Foolish Heart (Live) Forevermore (Live) The Girl Is So Right For Me Endlessly Ang Aking Awitin Let The Pain Remain Manila Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan Anak Will I Ever If Only Clara's Eyes All This Time (feat. Sharon Cuneta) Think It Over (feat. Zsa Zsa Padilla) Tell Me (Acoustic Version) Ang Aking Awiting (Acoustic Version) Got To Believe In Magic |
2004 | Warner Music |
| Side A Back2Back Freestyle | 2004 | Viva Records | |
| 18 Greatest Hits | 2009 | Viva Records | |
| Side A 25: A Silver Anniversary Collector's Edition | 2011 | Warner Music |
Live albums
| Album | Tracks | Year | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side A Live! 10th Anniversary Concert | By Your Side I Believe in Dreams No Other Love Sabi-Sabi Medley: I'll Alway Stay In Love This Way; Don't Know What To Say, Don't Know What To Do; You; Tell Me Set You Free Foolish Heart Hurt Your Smiling Face Forever More |
1996 | Warner Music |
| Side A Gig (All Hits Live) | All I Need Heart of Mine Later Whenever I Call You Friend Wild World Heart To Heart Stormy Rosanna Rainbows End Sailing Our Love I Don't Want To Miss A Thing Queen Medley (We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody) You To Me Are Everything Stars Faithfully (encore!) |
2005 | Viva Records |
Christmas album
| Album | Tracks | Year | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remember December | Remember December This Christmas My Christmas Wish Christmas Time Again I'll Be Home For Christmas Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas Miss Kita Kung Christmas Pasko Na Sinta Ko Give Love on Christmas Day Thank You for Christmas Day |
1999 | Warner Music |
EPs and singles
- So Many Questions (1996) - Awarded the 1994 Awit Award for Best Ballad Recording and Best Performance By A Group
- Forevermore (1996) - The First EP to sell more than 90,000 copies! The single "Forever More" won them the 1996 Awit Award for Best Performance by a Group for the third consecutive year and the Song of the Year. It also included a remake of "Tell Me" originally performed by Joey Albert. The song Forevermore was also covered by American Pop singer David Archuleta from his same title of the song album in 2012.
- Until Then (1996) - This single was written by Gary V and popularized by a Lux Super Rich shampoo commercial.
References
- ↑ Artist Biography by Michael Sutton. "Side A | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
- ↑ "Side A through the years, forevermore! | Entertainment, News, The Philippine Star". philstar.com. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
- ↑ "Side A Worldwide - Discography". Sidea.tripod.com. Retrieved 2014-06-10.