AT the Tinig ng Bayan: SONAgkaisa concert, Jugs Jugueta and the rest of Itchyworms performed their latest song, titled “The Silence.”
Before I go on about the song, I just want to commend Noel Ferrer for this successful event. It was memorable and significant especially during this time. The concert used art to convey important messages on various political and societal issues.
The Tinig ng Bayan: SONAgkaisa concert was streamed live over Radyo Katipunan 87.9 while President Duterte delivered his Sona. It featured fantastic performances from Frankie Pangilinan, Ebe Dancel, Martin Nievera, Moonstar 88, Noel and Gab Cabangon, Joanna Ampil, PETA and many more. It also featured a special performance of a Tagalog version of “Do You Hear the People Sing” featuring Angel Locsin, Iza Calzado and Enchong Dee, among others. The concert was for the benefit of Project: Paghilom, which aims to help families of drug war victims. Celebrities also gave heartfelt messages, among them Gerald Anderson, Julia Barretto, Maja Salvador, Cherry Pie Picache, Nikki Valdez, Cacai Bautista and many more. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan also delivered a special message stressing the importance of gathering as a sign of resistance against the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the prioritization of POGOs over Filipino jobs, and the illegal detention and killing of countless Filipinos. Those who missed this event can go to the Facebook page of Radyo Katipunan.
Back to the Itchyworms and their song “The Silence.” Previous interviews of the band say the song is inspired by their response to the ongoing social, mental and emotional crises that people around the globe are facing on account of the pandemic. It’s pretty obvious in their lyrics, written by Jugs Jugueta and Jazz Nicolas, using straightforward four-line verses that unfold like a sort of stream of consciousness. The first time I heard it during the ECQ, I really felt the anguish and loneliness brought about by being cooped inside the house, knowing there’s a threat outside and you are just helpless.
But the lyrics offer a glimmer of hope. While most of the lyrics are harrowing, talking about a creature lurking or how one cannot go out, or a certain danger that can eat up your heart, the last two verses tell us to:
Don’t let it get to you, don’t be left behind
No matter what you think, it’s all in your mind
But the major strength of “The Silence” lies in its music. It’s a far departure from the earlier works of the band, showing an aural presence that is mature and very effective in conveying the idea of the song. My friend, Pia Magalona, said the song reminded her of the legendary rock band Queen. Another friend of mine said it’s like a Radiohead song. I replied to them that it reminded me of, dare I say it, The Beatles and George Harrison.
The foundation of the song are the guitars. While it may only play a major part in the chorus and the end parts, you know that all the instrumentations are picking bits and pieces of the wild and ominous guitar riffs in the chorus. The synth drums effectively keep the backbeat together and don’t draw attention to itself but adds to the ominous feeling of the song. Next to the guitar, the synthesizer effects play the most critical parts of the song, giving you an eerie feeling and make for an ingenious dramatic contrast between the loudness of the guitar chorus and the verses.
When I first heard the song almost three months ago, I made a mental note to make this a subject of one of my columns. But I couldn’t seem to find the right timing to do so. Seeing them perform it at the Tinig ng Bayan event was the perfect trigger since the event encouraged social activism, to speak up on the oppressions and the abuses. Indeed, their one line in the chorus perfectly sums up the feeling of one who has bottled up rage against what has been happening: The silence is killing me.