A big confession though: I am NOT a HUGE Eraserheads fan. I do not know all their discography. I sometimes falter with regards to the lyrics when singing their songs. I do not collect Eraserheads memorabilia. I have not attended a single Eraserheads concert or gig. I do not have all of their albums.

When the Eraserheads released their first album, Ultraelectromagneticpop, I was probably in second grade. By the time I knew who the Eraserheads are, I was already in fourth grade, which was the year when the third album, Cutterpillow, came up. I clearly remember that year because a girl classmate kept on blabbing about, gushing over, and crushing on this Ely Buendia guy, whom I knew nothing about.

And then there was this movie starring the so-called teen heartthrobs of the 90s, which, I guess, formally introduced me to the Eraserheads. The movie was "Pare Ko", which was based on the seminal hit of the Eraserheads.

A growing interest soon ensued. I was fed irregularly by TV appearances, radio plays, and song hits (or music jingles), thanks in large part of my place of residence, which is three hundred kilometers away from Manila. One time, the Eraserheads announced on national TV that they will be having a concert in our city, particularly in our university. The problems were (1) I was too young and going to a concert was unallowable in our home and (2) scrimping for my ticket fee was restricted by my measly allowance. I finally managed to see three-fourths of the Eraserheads, though, on separate occasions with their separate bands several years later.

By the time I left home for college and gained quasi-independence (and was already old to go and pay for concerts), the Eraserheads disbanded. It was in 2002. It was disappointing, naturally.

For a band that lasted for more than a decade, Eraserheads has given more than enough. During gatherings, jamming sessions, and karaoke singing, the songs of Eraserheads have always been a staple. But more than that, the music of Eraserheads collectively binds people through familiar themes like love, friendship, and dreams, making anyone refer to their songs as their own, as sound tracks of their lives.

"Ang Huling El Bimbo" reminds me of days in sixth grade when one of my teachers would get his guitar and start the class singing in unison. "Overdrive" brings back memories of long car rides, when I just wanted to take the wheel away from whoever the driver is and steer. "With a smile" was the perfect song during moments of depression. "Minsan" was the anthem of college students, who are already bound to the working life. So even if I am not a hardcore Eraserheads fan, I can count some of their songs as favorites.

And their band, undoubtedly, is an influential part of our popular culture. Every one who contributed an essay in Tikman ang Langit, An Anthology on the Eraserheads agrees so.

Labels: Music and Lyrics, Random Musings