A PRO-ENVIRONMENT SONG
by Antonio C. Antonio
August 9, 2014
“A cause, be it political, social or environmental, could
only succeed when critical mass is achieved.
Music, as a medium to create mass awareness, is a good conduit in
increasing the level of awareness even for advocacies such as the environment.
There might be a few of us singing songs of concern about the environment today
but it’s a fair and decent start. Believe that more will be singing with us
tomorrow.” (Antonio, 2013)
So I set out to compose a pro-environment song sometime last
year. But how; what do I do? Several questions lingered in my mind: (1)
Language; English or Pilipino?; (2) What melody and genre?; (3) Scope and
context of the song; (4) What instrumentation; ethnic or modern?; (5) Artist;
male or female?; and other technical matters that are involved in putting a
song together. As I was sieving and
sifting the clutter in my head, I decided to:
a) Use
the Pilipino language since the target listeners are Filipinos;
b) Use
Bossanova as the basic genre with a touch of Rumba although the commonly accepted
genre for environment advocacy songs is Folk, Ballad and March. I thought that it will introduce a totally
different sound to what everyone is used to hearing;
c) Highlight
global warming in relation to deforestation which are concerns most everyone is
familiar with;
d) Use
modern instruments as gathering indigenous or ethnic instruments will be a
logistical problem; and,
e) Get
a young-sounding female to do the vocals.
After putting together the melody, beat, lyrics and chord
progression, I requested Ms. Ella Cruz (who used to sing for the band
Hyperbeats) to breathe life to the song.
Please click on this link to view a jamming session video with
Ella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnul8N-gmI
The final studio recording had minor revisions and additional
instrumentation was included (such as: Bass Guitar, Djembe and chimes) in an
effort to replicate a full-band sound.
This time, I made another arrangement to allow my daughter, Anneka Marie
A. Antonio, to do the vocals for the sound studio version. Please click on this link to listen to the
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78mbTsMEJxQ
The title of the song is “Masdan Ang Bukas Ko”… a song of
appeal from the next generation to the present generation to practice
sustainable use of natural resources particularly forest products. The song was included in the album “Kids to
Forest” sponsored and produced by Yakap
Kalikasan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc.
Composing and recording songs is far from being an easy task… it is a
very tedious and patience-testing undertaking.
And I’m proud to have completed a pro-environment song.
Just my little thoughts…
(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and
Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com)
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