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Take Cues from Ben&Ben and SB19 Releasing Socially-Charged Records In Behalf of the Youth

admin January 18, 2022

One album has been trending non-stop since since its release—with numerous hashtags and topics keeping the conversation as passionate and enthusiastic as ever. This is for Ben&Ben’s highly-anticipated second full album, “Pebble House, Vol 1: Kuwaderno”, with 13 new tracks, six of which are collaborative projects featuring some of OPM’s most iconic acts right now.

In true Ben&Ben fashion, the record is full of sentimental love songs that hit us right in the feels, of course for its melody and its poignant lyricism. But more than that, one thing that the group has done exceptionally well since their debut is releasing tracks that speak to us on a deeper level of identity and crisis, putting our innermost frustrations and anxieties in song. This record is no different, even going above and beyond.

On “Magpahinga”, the nine-piece band sings about our collective exhaustion at this time of seemingly never-ending pandemic, and the suffocating need to keep on going. The song, as the title suggests, reminds us all to rest for a while, and to strengthen our resolve in fighting back another day. “Lunod”, featuring Zild and juan karlos, takes on a stronger beat to represent the drowning feeling of mental health, with its almost chant-like chorus acting as a rallying call to rise above the tides.

Another standout track features KZ Tandingan on “Sabel”, a song on women empowerment that sends a message to all young girls and women that they are not mere possessions to be silenced and discarded by the patriarchy. Minimal instruments were used in this particular track, putting more focus to Tandingan’s hypnotizing vocals and especially important statement.

But, perhaps the biggest and most powerful track to come out of the album is Ben&Ben’s release with P-Pop royalty, SB19. Titled “Kapangyarihan”, the song is all about power abuse. Particularly, the way people in power have forgotten their responsibilities and have wholly used their power for their own interests. A snippet of the track was first released by Paolo and Miguel Benjamin of Ben&Ben on their social media platforms in December of 2020, as a response to the brutal killing of Sonya and Frank Gregorio by a policeman in Tarlac, Philippines. The post was accompanied with the plea to #StopTheKillings.

Now in its full glory in the album, the song takes on a clearly angrier tone. Perhaps fueled by everything else that has happened to Filipinos in the hands of those in power since the snippet was first written and released last year. The track now features an incredibly powerful rap by SB19 that goes straight into spitting bars directed to powerful people who have continued to step on human dignity, and acted against their duties to those who gave them power in the first place.

“Kapangyarihan” is one of the tracks that stood out the most from the record, with listeners commending Ben&Ben and SB19’s bravery to release such a hard-hitting message in today’s politically tumultuous climate.

To no surprise, this collaboration is as powerful as it is and has grown to be, with two equally impactful acts behind it. SB19 as a group has their own fair share of powerful and meaningful tracks in EP “Pagsibol”, which was released in July of this year. Standout tracks include “Bazinga” and “Mana” on haters and trolls, “MAPA” to show appreciation for our parents, and the iconic nationalist anthem “WHAT?” The group has, on several occasions, used their music and ever-growing platform to influence their massive fanbase to be more brave, daring, and loud in calling for change.

Ben&Ben and SB19 have really been some of the biggest voices in reflecting the youth’s experiences and sentiments in today’s mainstream OPM scene. With their chart-topping bops, constantly-trending performances, and million-follower platforms, everything they release for our eyes and ears to feast on are sure to be the topic of conversation for days on end.

In recognizing this, they’ve completely taken ownership of their influence by spreading awareness on things that truly matter in our current socio-political reality: justice, human dignity, mental health, respect, empowerment, and the classic, perpetually relevant, ups and downs of youthful romance.

Watch the official lyric video for “Kapangyarihan” below:

This story was first published in www.rankthemag.ph on September 1, 2021

The post Take Cues from Ben&Ben and SB19 Releasing Socially-Charged Records In Behalf of the Youth appeared first on Rank Magazine.



Take Cues from Ben&Ben and SB19 Releasing Socially-Charged Records In Behalf of the Youth
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