Lola Amour releases the band’s newest ‘sawi’ song with their single entitled, ‘Raining in Manila.’
Indie-Rock band, Lola Amour continues to break hearts with their newly released melancholic single entitled ‘Raining in Manila.’ The 7-piece ensemble combined a mix of string, brass, and percussion fluidly in creating their ballad of yearning during this rainy season.
In this edition of the Listening Party, we check out ‘Raining in Manila’, examining both its lyrics and the music in its totality. With Lola Amour’s success on their songs Fallen, Pwede Ba, and Maybe Maybe, the musical group continues to tug on people’s heartstrings with the set of their tunes. The continuous stream of questions in their lyrics, along with the accompanying beats from their instruments truly show their exemplary and complementary form as a band with their musical storytelling.
Lyrically. ‘Raining in Manila’ takes the point of view of someone on their lonesome, yearning for someone from their past. The feeling of longing is evident, most especially the anguish that comes with accepting how someone you want to come back, won’t ever.
It’s been raining in Manila, hindi ka ba nilalamig?
It’s been raining in Manila, hindi ka ba nilalamig?
But, if it’s raining in Manila, hindi kita maririnig
So, I’ll be waiting in Manila kahit ’di ka na babalik
There is an obvious overlying tone of wanting someone near all throughout the song, but most especially in the next verse. The story continues from yearning to bargaining wherein the narrator is trying to consider all corners, desiring to have their beloved closer to them. The last line “Sana naman tumigil na ang ulan” just shows how hopelessly they truly want to be with that one person.
May kulang ba sa inyo na naiwan dito?
Aanhin ang ulan sa paradiso?
Sakali madulas ay dati malapit ka
Ngayon walang kahati ng init ’pag maulan
Sana naman tumigil na ang ulan
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Musically. The song purposefully carried out the feeling of pining. The energy, though starting slow as the band eases their listeners to the song, runs up high even though they describe a not-so-happy setting.
Maulan ba sa inyo ‘pag bumubuhos dito?
Paumanhin at mukhang hindi ko
Masasabayan ang ‘yong yapak
Sa pagngiti at pag-iyak
Sa paglipad at pagbagsak ng araw-araw
Sa pagpikit na lang kita
Matititigan sa mata
Sa panaginip na magpapaligaw
The indie-rock group also highlighted the fact that the tone for their song was greatly inspired by Japanese City Pop, which is an interest of two of their members namely Raffy Perez and David Yuhico, the latter being the band’s composer for the song.
Additionally, the instrumental prowess of Lola Amour as a band is ever-present. Even with the downhearted feeling the song protruded, the combination of instruments and vocal performance applied blended well together in making a very upbeat yet heart-rending song.
Lola Amour continues to redefine what it means to be a musician. The unorthodox practices of their instruments that accompany the lyrics they choose to chronicle are what constantly sets them apart from other OPM bands and artists.
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Lyrics courtesy of Genius
