Filipinos can’t take constructive criticism well. Case in point is Freddie Aguilar’s controversial statement. Freddie Aguilar was interviewed and he made some criticism of Filipino musicians that are gaining global fame. His remark that angered many: “
“E, pinatototohanan lang ang sinabi ni Mariah Carey na tayong mga Filipino ay mga unggoy. Kasi, wala tayong sarili, gaya-gaya lang tayo. Nasa Amerika ka na, binigyan ka na ng pagkakataon na kumanta sa Oprah, bakit kumanta ka pa ng kanta ni Celine Dion? Sinabi ni Mariah na mga unggoy ang Filipino, gaya-gaya lang kayo, e, di napatunayan nga, totoo nga.
“Kasi, di ba, what monkeys see, monkeys do. Dapat ang kinanta niya, bakit hindi ‘Dahil Sa Iyo’ o kaya ay kahit ano, basta kantang Filipino? O kaya Visayan, Ilocano… lalo siyang sisikat sa buong mundo nun,” pahayag ni Freddie.” Source
In partial translation: “(Arnel and Charice) are proving what Mariah Carey said about Filipinos being monkeys. It’s because we don’t have our own (songs), we just copy….. Why are you singing the songs of Celine Dion in the US. You’re just proving Mariah’s point of us being copycats….. Why aren’t they singing Filipino songs……“
Due to that, many Filipinos became angry. It’s unfortunate that those Filipinos can’t appreciate substance over style. The musicians that Freddie criticized, Arnel Pineda and Charice Pempengco, are only getting popular because they mimic others. Arnel Pineda only became the lead singer of Journey because his singing abilities is a clone of original lead singer Steve Perry. He wouldn’t have landed the gig if he couldn’t mimic Steve Perry’s style. Arnel was not hired for his original artistic talent. Charice Pempengco is a singer only getting attention because she can mimic Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Toni Braxton really well. Charice has no song of her own despite having two albums under her belt. She is simply known as that Asian girl who can cover Celine and Whitney in a tremendous fashion.
It’s too bad that Filipinos can’t value that views of Freddie Aguilar. They fail to notice that instead of being a copycat, Freddie Aguilar is one artist that others copied. Freddie’s song “Anak” sold more than 10 million copies. The song was also released in 56 countries while being translated into 26 different languages outside of the Philippines. Unfortunately, Filipinos can’t appreciate a real artist from someone who is just a copycat.
It’s not like the Philippines is bursting with world class musicians to export. While the country has many workers to ship to the Middle East and Hong Kong to work as maids, there are hardly any Filipino musician around that others musicians will copy or be inspired by. Those Filipinos are ready to throw Freddie under the bus. For what and why? Just due to some pansin of the Kanos (American attention)? Are Filipinos so starved of attention that they would disregard artistic integrity just for global attention? Don’t they realize that singing the material already popularized by others is not flattering at all?
Wake up Filipinos and learn about constructive criticism.
Very well written and great points!!
want a a part of your dreams!
correct ka jan sir kala ko ako lang nakakaintindi kay ka freddie marami kc saten pinoys ang di open minded at masyadong makitid ang kaisipan
they just need to write song in english
balat sibuyas kasi pinoy. i hope in the future we can have the balls to accept criticism better.
Zombie
That would a glorious day when it happens!
“Unfortunately, Filipinos can’t appreciate a real artist from someone who is just a copycat.”
True, man, even the Pinoys here in the US are such tools. You couldn’t ever expect to learn about a genuinely talented artist from any of them because they just -follow- whatever everyone else misconstrues as cool.
Guess where I learned about this unique, creative Filipino band (Moscow Olympics – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5RZOf4QhkY)?… From a Singaporean, not a Filipino.
Mia
Aside from the Fil-Ams who’ve made some contribution to the DJ scene, they do seem to follow trends instead of creating them.
Thanks for mentioning Moscow Olympics. The link isn’t working so here’s one of their songs:
Great opinion piece. I remember this from last year when almost everyone sided with Charice and Arnel without even stopping to consider what Freddie said. I think this is the main problem with Pinoys: they tend to be knee-jerk reactionaries.
Mia, thanks for the info on Moscow Olympics. First time hearing of them and I dig their sound already.
hah! mabuhay ka ulit kapatid. at si ka freddie.
they just need to write english song, whatever the jenre they like,
THEY NEED TO WRITE THEIR OWN SONGS, THAT’S EASY IF THEY ARE COLLABORATING, MAKING NEW CONCEPTS AND IDEA ABOUT WHAT SONG IS ALL ABOUT, THEY DON’T NEED TO SING PINOY SONGS TO ELLEN OR OPRAH, COPY CELINE OR MARIAH. THEY CAN WRITE ENGLISH SONGS
That is so true. I love this blog. Thank you for making the effort to make more of us realize the truth.
moscow olympics ! YES! shoegaze bliss
Filipino singers do not like to use Filipino songwriters. They’s rather sing American songs. In other countries, if you sing songs not yours, you are called either kid amateurs or impersonators. In the Philippines, you are a sensation. Arnel and Charice are Philippine sensations. Jeers are welcome.