Ang Huling El Bimbo
Encyclopedia
Ang Huling El Bimbo is a rock ballad
by Pinoy rock
group The Eraserheads
from their 1995 album Cutterpillow
as well as their international album Aloha Milkyway
. Aside from the usual band instruments the group used, the song features a synthesizer along with a piano. The song, narrated in the first person, tells the story of a man's unrequited feelings for his childhood friend, whose life came to a tragic end.
The song won MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards
in 1997, making the Eraserheads the first Filipino
artists to win the award. It was used by McDonald's
in their commercial in 2009 as well as by radio station NU 107
as its last song on its final day of broadcast on November 7, 2010.
There are two known versions of the song. The first one has the singer continuing to chant the chorus until the song fades. The second version replaces the monotonous chant with a guitar solo and an orchestra ensemble playing the chorus. The music video uses the second version.
melody playing twice before a short pause ushering the story arc
recalled the narrator's childhood memory, introducing a certain girl whose love for dancing captured his interest. The first refrain
discusses his budding feelings for the girl as he visits her after school where she would teach him the El Bimbo for the rest of the day. The song's melody at this point increases pace, complemented by the arrival of the chorus, suggesting that he developed an innocent love towards the girl with the unsullied way of holding each other's hands as part of the dance routine.
in the background.
, Manila
. And one unfateful night, she was accidentally ran over in a dark alley
. The last refrain, also considered as the climax
, implies how all his dreams suddenly crumbled upon hearing the news; that he'll be only able to dance with her in his dreams, and how his affection for the girl will forever be unrequited.
The chorus playing twice followed by the bridge phrase serves as the song's denouement; and the impressive guitar solos and almost-theatrical musical accompaniment provides the dramatic finale.
, basically retells the lyrics of the song. There are some additions though:
Other credits include cinematography by Louie Quirino and production design by Karissa Villa.
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
by Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
group The Eraserheads
The Eraserheads
Eraserheads, or E-Heads was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of OPM...
from their 1995 album Cutterpillow
Cutterpillow
Cutterpillow is the third studio album by Filipino alternative rock group The Eraserheads. It was released in the Philippines on December 8, 1995 by Sony BMG Music. The album became a highlight in Pinoy music as it introduced classic songs such as "Huwag Mo Nang Itanong", "Overdrive", and the...
as well as their international album Aloha Milkyway
Aloha Milkyway
Aloha Milkyway is a compilation album from the Filipino pop-rock band Eraserheads in 1998. It was released under Sony BMG Music Philippines Inc. and contains 14 tracks, five of which were new songs recorded for this album, and the rest were remastered versions of songs from their previously...
. Aside from the usual band instruments the group used, the song features a synthesizer along with a piano. The song, narrated in the first person, tells the story of a man's unrequited feelings for his childhood friend, whose life came to a tragic end.
The song won MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
in 1997, making the Eraserheads the first Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
artists to win the award. It was used by McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
in their commercial in 2009 as well as by radio station NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
as its last song on its final day of broadcast on November 7, 2010.
There are two known versions of the song. The first one has the singer continuing to chant the chorus until the song fades. The second version replaces the monotonous chant with a guitar solo and an orchestra ensemble playing the chorus. The music video uses the second version.
First stanza
The song opens with the chorusRefrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
melody playing twice before a short pause ushering the story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
recalled the narrator's childhood memory, introducing a certain girl whose love for dancing captured his interest. The first refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
discusses his budding feelings for the girl as he visits her after school where she would teach him the El Bimbo for the rest of the day. The song's melody at this point increases pace, complemented by the arrival of the chorus, suggesting that he developed an innocent love towards the girl with the unsullied way of holding each other's hands as part of the dance routine.
Second stanza
The second stanza focuses on his growing feelings for his childhood friend through their constant dancing. He openly describes her drop-dead hip-swaying moves and how his life seems brighter every time his arms are draped around her. The second refrain and chorus follows.Bridge
To transition from his past to his present situation, the narrator effectively uses a bridge delivered by a simple phrase ("La la la la") while playing an alternative chorus (lower) chordsChord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
in the background.
Third stanza
As a grown-up, the narrator tells that he and his childhood friend parted ways without seeing each other for a very long time. However, hearsay spoke of the girl being unwed, having a child and earns a living as a dishwasher in the district of ErmitaErmita
Ermita may refer to the following:*Ermita, Manila, a place in the Philippines.*Ermita: A Filipino Novel, a novel by F. Sionil José.*Ermita "Ermi" Rojo, the protagonist in F. Sionil José's novel Ermita: A Filipino Novel....
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. And one unfateful night, she was accidentally ran over in a dark alley
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
. The last refrain, also considered as the climax
Climax (figure of speech)
In rhetoric, a climax is a figure of speech in which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance. It is sometimes used with anadiplosis, which uses the repetition of a word or phrase in successive clauses.Examples:*"There are three things that will endure: faith,...
, implies how all his dreams suddenly crumbled upon hearing the news; that he'll be only able to dance with her in his dreams, and how his affection for the girl will forever be unrequited.
The chorus playing twice followed by the bridge phrase serves as the song's denouement; and the impressive guitar solos and almost-theatrical musical accompaniment provides the dramatic finale.
Music video
The music video, directed by Auraeus SolitoAuraeus Solito
Auraeus Solito is a filmmaker and indigenous peoples rights advocate who comes from a lineage of Shaman-Kings from the Palawan tribe but is one of the first to be born outside of his tribal land of South Palawan...
, basically retells the lyrics of the song. There are some additions though:
- After the four boys (who become the Eraserheads) and their childhood friend make a ruckus after their dance, the friend's mother comes in and takes her away.
- The Eraserheads dance with their childhood friend (played by theater artist Wena Basco), now wearing white. But she tells them that it is their last dance ("Eto na ang huling El Bimbo," English: "This is the last El Bimbo"). She then collapses in their arms.
- The Eraserheads bury their childhood friend in a spot filled with leaves. As they turn their backs, the woman rises like a zombie and styrosnow falls. Later, the burial spot is in flames.
- At the end of the video, the childhood friend continues to dance until the song ends. At the last note, however, she waves goodbye.
Other credits include cinematography by Louie Quirino and production design by Karissa Villa.
Covers
- Rico J. PunoRico J. PunoEnrico de Jesus Puno , better known as Rico J. Puno, is a popular Filipino pop singing artist and television host who is credited as a pioneer-promoter of original Filipino music. He started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in his rendition of the American song The Way We Were and other...
covered the song for the Eraserheads tribute album "Ultraelectromagnetic Jam!" in 2005.