Half Life Half Death
Encyclopedia
Half Life Half Death, or "The Halves," was an obscure Filipino
alternative rock band that existed from 1988 to 2003.
, Metro Manila
, Philippines
.
and Postpunk
British bands which became popular in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, during the members' highschool days, in the 1980s; bands that included The Cure
, Depeche Mode
, Echo & the Bunnymen
, The Lotus Eaters, The Smiths
, and The Wild Swans
.
Many Filipino Alternative-music enthusiasts fondly remember Half Life Half Death for its quirky remake of "High School (Life)," a '70s Pop song written by the Filipino composer George Canseco
for the Filipina actress/singer Sharon Cuneta
. Half Life Half Death's version of the song was a concert favorite among the underground-music crowd of the late 1980s. It eventually achieved commercial popularity when the band recorded it for a compilation album released in 1995 by Vicor Records. The song enjoyed heavy airplay on various FM radio stations, further helping Half Life Half Death gain some more following and land a record deal with Viva Records.
Half Life Half Death attained commercial popularity among Filipino Alternative Rock enthusiasts when their independently recorded single "Alimango" became #1, in 1994, on the now-defunct FM radio station DWLA 105.9, which promoted unsigned Filipino Rock bands. This achievement paved the way to the band's inclusion in four compilation albums: "Kapit-Tukô" for A Dozen Alternatives (1994, Viva Records), "Sa Paskong Darating" for Christmas on the Rocks (1994, Viva Records), "High School (Life)" for Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (1994, Vicor Records), and "Nosi Ba Lasi? (Lala's mix)" for the original soundtrack of the movie Okey si Ma'am (1995, Viva Records).
In 1995, Half Life Half Death finally recorded and released its debut album, Pymyth Prahn, under Viva Records. Despite the commercial quality and the lush concept of the album, the band failed to achieve commercial status and soon disbanded; with the members concentrating on each of their actual professions. The album spawned a few cult favorites that included "Butterflies," "Brother's Pen," and "We Are the Saints"; but "High School (Life)" remained their most popular song.
Half Life Half Death reformed and resumed activity in 2000 especially at Mayric's, a long-running club which served as a breeding ground for many important Filipino Rock
bands which include Alamid, Sugar Hiccup, and The Youth. The band also began arranging new materials for a possible second album; but the plans were shelved when its vocalist went to Canada
in 2003. However, before finally wrapping up a 15-year obscure career, Half Life Half Death released an independently produced double-CD compilation of all recorded materials plus a few demos, entitled The Halven Trilogy, the third part of which the band intends to finish and release on their vocalist's return to the Philippines.
Fans of the band regard Half Life Half Death as "The Cure of the Philippines," chiefly because of their strong and honest reference to their New Wave
roots and certainly for the uncompromising Curesque style of their vocalist, whose sense of fashion virtually never changed from day one through the band's demise in 2003.
In July 2007, mella, again in collaboration with Sarao, begins recording a new song, entitled "Like Fireflies (You Are My Only Hope)." In October 2008, the duo along with musicians Joseph David (drummer), Nicco Gilbang (bassist), and Danny Omana (keyboardist) formed Half Endangered Species and performed as one of the front acts of the Filipino Nu Metal band Slapshock in the Winnipeg leg of their 2008 Canadian tour.
In February 2009, mella and David form a new band with friends Aldo Caziani (guitars), Sherwin Ylagan (bass), and Benjo Mendoza (keyboards), calling themselves The Half Gifts. They immediately begin arranging songs for a planned three-song CD that they hope to release within the next few months. The planned EP, entitled A Melange of..., will contain "Vanilla Float," "Chocolate Mousse," and "Cotton Candy Carnival." Due to conflict in schedules and priorities of members, The Half Gifts dissolved in the middle of 2009. Mella reverts to using the name haLf man haLf eLf, as he is joined by mostly new members. The band was one of the front acts to the Winnipeg concert of the Filipino Alternative Rock band Pupil
. The reinvigorated haLf man haLf eLf begins to perform in venues outside the Filipino community such as Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano, Paragon Lounge & Restaurant, Ozzy's Bar at Osborne Village Motor Inn, Dylan O'Connor's Irish Pub on Portage Avenue, and Curtis Hotel Henderson Drafthouse on Henderson Highway and is planning to record songs for a possible album entitled Tales from a Half Forgotten Era. The band's current lineup are Robert "Jun" Villanueva Jr. (12-string acoustic guitar, percussion), Robert Nicanor Jr. (drumkit, percussion), Christine Mazur (violin), Tyler Holmes (keyboards), Johnny Holmes (bass), Jan Castillo (ukulele), and aLfie vera mella (vocals, keyboards, bellkit, percussion). haLf man haLf eLf brands its style of music as Classical New Wave.
Mella as haLf man haLf eLf remains loyal to the style for which his erstwhile band Half Life Half Death was known—New Wave with a touch of the technical instrumentation of Classical music
and Progressive rock
and the "fist-raised" attitude of old-school Punk Rock. Songs that haLf man haLf eLf had covered during gigs included "Just like Heaven" (The Cure), "I Melt with You" (Modern English), "The One I Love" (R.E.M.), "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins), "More to Lose" (Seona Dancing), "High School (Life)" (Half Life Half Death), "Susi" (The Dawn), and "Nagpapapansin, Pansinin" (Urban Bandits).
's "More to Lose," are a reference to the duo's New Wave roots. The Rain's music is reminiscent of classic '80s Alternative Rock / New Wave bands the likes of The Cutting Crew, The Railway Children
, and Flesh for Lulu
. Prior to involving himself on this project, Paggao also became the lead guitarist of Dream Kitchen, another Filipino Alternative Rock band. He is also currently the lead guitarist of Dead Popstars, a Filipino New Wave band which many Alternative-music enthusiasts regard as "the ultimate The Smiths
tribute band of the Philippines."
In October 2007, Paggao and his brother begin working on their second album, entitled The Emperor's New Songs. In the same year, mella and Paggao pursue a long-distance collaboration. Using the project name Half Moon Half Rain, the two was able to finish two songs: "My Brilliant Friend," a reworking of an old unreleased original song written by mella when he was still with Dream Kitchen; and a version of Seona Dancing's "More to Lose."
/ Britpop
bands such as Radiohead
, This Perfect Day, and Weezer
. Dream Kitchen's professionally produced music video of "16 Hours" was nominated for the "Music Video of the Year" category in the 2006 MTV Philippines Music Awards. Dream Kitchen has recently finished recording a 10-song demo album and is currently scouting for a record label that would sign them.
In the late '90s, during Dream Kitchen's early days and Half Life Half Death's inactivity, mella served as Dream Kitchen's vocalist and occasional keyboardist. Significant songs covered by the band during this period included "Say Something" (James), "Blushing Girl, Nervous Smile" (The Wallflowers), "Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen), "Leave Me Alone" (New Order), "Waterfall" (Riverside), "True Fools Fall" (Died Pretty), "The Worst Year of My Life" (The Wild Swans), "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band-aid), "Falling" (Under Blue Skies), and "Sumigaw, Umawit Ka" (Identity Crisis). Original songs composed by Dream Kitchen at the time, but which did not see the light of being released commercially, included "Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," "My Chocolate Mousse," and "Buhay-Karnabal," which reincarnated as haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."
Before their eventual disbandment in 1999, Dream Kitchen with mella recorded five original songs at Purple Studios in Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. In 2004, this set of compositions was compiled by mella into an EP entitled half baked delicacies ("Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," and "Buhay-Karnabal").
's "More to Lose," showcasing a long-distance collaboration of Paggao [who rendered the guitar tracks in the Philippines] and mella [who recorded the vocal and keyboard tracks in Canada]). Part Three of the trilogy, half buried treasures, is yet to be finished; this will feature previously unreleased studio recordings of Half Life Half Death, remixes of studio-recorded songs of Dream Kitchen, remixes of some songs from The Rain album, and alternate versions of haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."
(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1995)
The Halven Trilogy Part One: half forgotten songs (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
The Halven Trilogy Part Two: half remembered dreams (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
The Halven Trilogy Part Three: half buried treasures (eLf ideas, 2007)
The Woes of Emong Payaso by haLf man haLf eLf (eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records, 2007)
Songs for Moonlit Nights by The Rain (2007)
A Dozen Alternatives (a compilation)
(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
Christmas on the Rocks (a compilation)
(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (a compilation)
(Vicor Records, 1995)
Okey si Ma'am (Original Movie Soundtrack)
(Viva Records, 1995)
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 ....
alternative rock band that existed from 1988 to 2003.
Formation
Half Life Half Death was originally formed in 1988 by five High school students of Sta. Clara Parish School in Pasay CityPasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Style
Half Life Half Death inevitably derived its musical style from its main influences, mostly New WaveNew Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and Postpunk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
British bands which became popular in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, during the members' highschool days, in the 1980s; bands that included The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
, The Lotus Eaters, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, and The Wild Swans
The Wild Swans (band)
The Wild Swans are a post-punk band from Liverpool, England, which originally formed in 1980 shortly after Paul Simpson left The Teardrop Explodes and teamed up with Jeremy Kelly , Ged Quinn , James Weston and Justin Stavely...
.
Many Filipino Alternative-music enthusiasts fondly remember Half Life Half Death for its quirky remake of "High School (Life)," a '70s Pop song written by the Filipino composer George Canseco
George Canseco
George Masangkay Canseco was a Filipino song composer.Canseco studied liberal arts at University of the East...
for the Filipina actress/singer Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
. Half Life Half Death's version of the song was a concert favorite among the underground-music crowd of the late 1980s. It eventually achieved commercial popularity when the band recorded it for a compilation album released in 1995 by Vicor Records. The song enjoyed heavy airplay on various FM radio stations, further helping Half Life Half Death gain some more following and land a record deal with Viva Records.
Half Life Half Death attained commercial popularity among Filipino Alternative Rock enthusiasts when their independently recorded single "Alimango" became #1, in 1994, on the now-defunct FM radio station DWLA 105.9, which promoted unsigned Filipino Rock bands. This achievement paved the way to the band's inclusion in four compilation albums: "Kapit-Tukô" for A Dozen Alternatives (1994, Viva Records), "Sa Paskong Darating" for Christmas on the Rocks (1994, Viva Records), "High School (Life)" for Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (1994, Vicor Records), and "Nosi Ba Lasi? (Lala's mix)" for the original soundtrack of the movie Okey si Ma'am (1995, Viva Records).
In 1995, Half Life Half Death finally recorded and released its debut album, Pymyth Prahn, under Viva Records. Despite the commercial quality and the lush concept of the album, the band failed to achieve commercial status and soon disbanded; with the members concentrating on each of their actual professions. The album spawned a few cult favorites that included "Butterflies," "Brother's Pen," and "We Are the Saints"; but "High School (Life)" remained their most popular song.
Half Life Half Death reformed and resumed activity in 2000 especially at Mayric's, a long-running club which served as a breeding ground for many important Filipino 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,...
bands which include Alamid, Sugar Hiccup, and The Youth. The band also began arranging new materials for a possible second album; but the plans were shelved when its vocalist went to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 2003. However, before finally wrapping up a 15-year obscure career, Half Life Half Death released an independently produced double-CD compilation of all recorded materials plus a few demos, entitled The Halven Trilogy, the third part of which the band intends to finish and release on their vocalist's return to the Philippines.
Fans of the band regard Half Life Half Death as "The Cure of the Philippines," chiefly because of their strong and honest reference to their New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
roots and certainly for the uncompromising Curesque style of their vocalist, whose sense of fashion virtually never changed from day one through the band's demise in 2003.
Recent Updates
Late 2005 saw interesting musically related developments concerning Half Life Half Death key members Alfie Vera Mella, Rainald Paggao and Ramil Aznar, each of whom has embarked on a new musical project of his own.haLf man haLf eLf / Half Endangered Species / The Half Gifts
aLfie vera mella, now based in Canada, formed a performing band aptly named haLf man haLf eLf. In December 2006, mella in collaboration with fellow Winnipeg-based Filipino musician Abelardo "Ardie" Sarao" released an EP entitled The Woes of Emong Payaso (independent label: eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records). This carried the single "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao." During live performances, haLf man haLf eLf is comprised usually by mella and a backup of friend musicians who included Roy Gutierrez (guitars), Jason Paredes (bass), Roberto "Abet" Carino (bass), Cris Pangan (bass), Joshua Bernardo (drums), Paul "Ten-ten" Labao (drums), Edward Daquina (drums), and Jimmy Tan (lead guitars). A few of the group's significant performances included serving as one of the front acts for Philippine-based Rock bands doing a Canadian tour, like Siakol (in May 2006) and Mike Hanopol (in 2007).In July 2007, mella, again in collaboration with Sarao, begins recording a new song, entitled "Like Fireflies (You Are My Only Hope)." In October 2008, the duo along with musicians Joseph David (drummer), Nicco Gilbang (bassist), and Danny Omana (keyboardist) formed Half Endangered Species and performed as one of the front acts of the Filipino Nu Metal band Slapshock in the Winnipeg leg of their 2008 Canadian tour.
In February 2009, mella and David form a new band with friends Aldo Caziani (guitars), Sherwin Ylagan (bass), and Benjo Mendoza (keyboards), calling themselves The Half Gifts. They immediately begin arranging songs for a planned three-song CD that they hope to release within the next few months. The planned EP, entitled A Melange of..., will contain "Vanilla Float," "Chocolate Mousse," and "Cotton Candy Carnival." Due to conflict in schedules and priorities of members, The Half Gifts dissolved in the middle of 2009. Mella reverts to using the name haLf man haLf eLf, as he is joined by mostly new members. The band was one of the front acts to the Winnipeg concert of the Filipino Alternative Rock band Pupil
Pupil (band)
Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...
. The reinvigorated haLf man haLf eLf begins to perform in venues outside the Filipino community such as Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano, Paragon Lounge & Restaurant, Ozzy's Bar at Osborne Village Motor Inn, Dylan O'Connor's Irish Pub on Portage Avenue, and Curtis Hotel Henderson Drafthouse on Henderson Highway and is planning to record songs for a possible album entitled Tales from a Half Forgotten Era. The band's current lineup are Robert "Jun" Villanueva Jr. (12-string acoustic guitar, percussion), Robert Nicanor Jr. (drumkit, percussion), Christine Mazur (violin), Tyler Holmes (keyboards), Johnny Holmes (bass), Jan Castillo (ukulele), and aLfie vera mella (vocals, keyboards, bellkit, percussion). haLf man haLf eLf brands its style of music as Classical New Wave.
Mella as haLf man haLf eLf remains loyal to the style for which his erstwhile band Half Life Half Death was known—New Wave with a touch of the technical instrumentation of Classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and the "fist-raised" attitude of old-school Punk Rock. Songs that haLf man haLf eLf had covered during gigs included "Just like Heaven" (The Cure), "I Melt with You" (Modern English), "The One I Love" (R.E.M.), "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins), "More to Lose" (Seona Dancing), "High School (Life)" (Half Life Half Death), "Susi" (The Dawn), and "Nagpapapansin, Pansinin" (Urban Bandits).
The Rain / Half Moon Half Rain
Based in the Philippines, Rainald Paggao collaborated with his brother, JB, and formed The Rain, releasing its first album, entitled Girl in Mind (2006, independent label). The two cover songs featured in the album, The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You" and Seona DancingSeona Dancing
Seona Dancing was a 1980s British New Wave group, best known for providing comedian Ricky Gervais with his first experiences as a public performer.- History :...
's "More to Lose," are a reference to the duo's New Wave roots. The Rain's music is reminiscent of classic '80s Alternative Rock / New Wave bands the likes of The Cutting Crew, The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children is a children's book by Edith Nesbit, originally serialised in The London Magazine during 1905 and first published in book form in 1906...
, and Flesh for Lulu
Flesh for Lulu
Flesh for Lulu was an Alternative rock/Gothic band formed in Brixton, London, UK, and was active between 1982 and 1992. Their music was a mix of the New York Dolls and Rolling Stones with gothic rock's gloomy atmosphere and aesthetics.-History:...
. Prior to involving himself on this project, Paggao also became the lead guitarist of Dream Kitchen, another Filipino Alternative Rock band. He is also currently the lead guitarist of Dead Popstars, a Filipino New Wave band which many Alternative-music enthusiasts regard as "the ultimate The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
tribute band of the Philippines."
In October 2007, Paggao and his brother begin working on their second album, entitled The Emperor's New Songs. In the same year, mella and Paggao pursue a long-distance collaboration. Using the project name Half Moon Half Rain, the two was able to finish two songs: "My Brilliant Friend," a reworking of an old unreleased original song written by mella when he was still with Dream Kitchen; and a version of Seona Dancing's "More to Lose."
Dream Kitchen (Mark II)
Also based in the Philippines, Ramil Aznar is now the front person (vocalist/guitarist) of Dream Kitchen's reincarnation, whose current members include Dream Kitchen originators Aldrin Cardona (guitars), Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drummer), and Vincent "Bong" Torres (bass), the first two of whom also became members of Half Life Half Death during its final days. Dream Kitchen's first commercial release, "16 Hours," can be found in the compilation album entitled 8 Track (2005). The band's music takes on the sound of Alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/ Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
bands such as Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, This Perfect Day, and Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. Dream Kitchen's professionally produced music video of "16 Hours" was nominated for the "Music Video of the Year" category in the 2006 MTV Philippines Music Awards. Dream Kitchen has recently finished recording a 10-song demo album and is currently scouting for a record label that would sign them.
In the late '90s, during Dream Kitchen's early days and Half Life Half Death's inactivity, mella served as Dream Kitchen's vocalist and occasional keyboardist. Significant songs covered by the band during this period included "Say Something" (James), "Blushing Girl, Nervous Smile" (The Wallflowers), "Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen), "Leave Me Alone" (New Order), "Waterfall" (Riverside), "True Fools Fall" (Died Pretty), "The Worst Year of My Life" (The Wild Swans), "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band-aid), "Falling" (Under Blue Skies), and "Sumigaw, Umawit Ka" (Identity Crisis). Original songs composed by Dream Kitchen at the time, but which did not see the light of being released commercially, included "Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," "My Chocolate Mousse," and "Buhay-Karnabal," which reincarnated as haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."
Before their eventual disbandment in 1999, Dream Kitchen with mella recorded five original songs at Purple Studios in Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. In 2004, this set of compositions was compiled by mella into an EP entitled half baked delicacies ("Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," and "Buhay-Karnabal").
The Halven Story
Vocalist aLfie vera mella released a 4-CD epic package in December 2006, in conjunction with the culmination of his debut album as haLf man haLf eLf. The package included a newly enhanced and redesigned The Halven Trilogy music of Half Life Half Death (commercially released songs and previously unreleased studio recordings) and a redesigned Girl in Mind of The Rain (retitled as Songs for Moonlit Nights, which included a version of Seona DancingSeona Dancing
Seona Dancing was a 1980s British New Wave group, best known for providing comedian Ricky Gervais with his first experiences as a public performer.- History :...
's "More to Lose," showcasing a long-distance collaboration of Paggao [who rendered the guitar tracks in the Philippines] and mella [who recorded the vocal and keyboard tracks in Canada]). Part Three of the trilogy, half buried treasures, is yet to be finished; this will feature previously unreleased studio recordings of Half Life Half Death, remixes of studio-recorded songs of Dream Kitchen, remixes of some songs from The Rain album, and alternate versions of haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."
Original members
- aLfie vera mella (vocals, sound effects), 1988–2003
- Rainald "Rain" C. Paggao (lead guitars, keyboards), 1988–2003
- Joel Padilla Reyes (bass), 1988–1990
- Nestor Edmund "Doods" G. Villafuerte (keyboards), 1988–1990, 2000
- Jonathan "Jon" Villaraza Mejino (drums), 1988–1991
- Caroline "Carol" O. Pobre (female vocals), 1988–1990
Ensuing members
- Ruperto "Pet" Pura de Jesus (guitars, backing vocals), 1989–2000
- Ramil Cruz Aznar (bass), 1990–2003
- Lamberto "Ambet" Taylo (violins, keyboards), 1990–1991, 2000
- Rozylyn Limjoco Torres (female vocals), 1990–1992
- Robert "Bimbo" Ballesteros (drums), 1991–2001
- Juan "Johnny" Miranda (drums), 1991–1992
- Aldrin Cardona (guitars), 2002–2003
- Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drums), 2002–2003
- Rodel Gremar Bernil (guitars), 2002
Discography
Pymyth Prahn,(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1995)
- A Feast in Pastel Castle
- Alimango
- Butterflies
- Kapalarang K'wago
- If All Sleep Tonight
- Brother's Pen (with Summer's Rain)
- Radio Madness
- Sarimanok
- We Are the Saints
- Nosi Ba Lasi (Lala's mix)
- Aligue
- Unfated Love
- Engkanto
- Cariñosa
- Kapit-Tukô
The Halven Trilogy Part One: half forgotten songs (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
- Tsanel Tsek
- Alimango
- Kapit-Tukô
- Kapalarang Kuwago
- Sarimanok
- Nosi Ba Lasi [Lala's mix]
- Aligue (taba ng alimango)
- High School (Life)
- Engkanto
- Cariñosa
- Sa Paskong Darating
- Halina sa Peryà
The Halven Trilogy Part Two: half remembered dreams (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
- Channel Check
- A Feast in Pastel Castle
- If All Sleep Tonight
- We Are the Saints
- Butterflies
- Brother's Pen
- Summer's Rain
- Radio Madness
- Unfated Love
- A Night like This [live]
- Butterflies [live]
- Brother's Pen [eLven mix]
The Halven Trilogy Part Three: half buried treasures (eLf ideas, 2007)
- tracklisting, still in the making
The Woes of Emong Payaso by haLf man haLf eLf (eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records, 2007)
- Mahiwagang sapatos ni Emong Payaso
- Parang karnabal—ganyan ang buhay ng tao
- Walang tigil ang palabas sa entablado
- Sa likod ng bawat tagumpay ay kalbaryo
Songs for Moonlit Nights by The Rain (2007)
- Ben's Magic
- Girl in Mind
- Singing My Pain Away
- The Ghost in You [originally by The Psychedelic Furs]
- I, Sisyphus
- Pourin' Rain
- Cold Rooms
- Perfect Moment
- Shouldn't Spoil the Day
- More to Lose [originally by Seona Dancing]
- Games
A Dozen Alternatives (a compilation)
(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
- Kapit-Tuko
Christmas on the Rocks (a compilation)
(Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
- Sa Paskong Darating
Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (a compilation)
(Vicor Records, 1995)
- High School (Life)
Okey si Ma'am (Original Movie Soundtrack)
(Viva Records, 1995)
- Nosi Ba Lasi? (Lala's mix)
External links
- Halflife.20m.com is the official Web site of Half Life Half Death.
- eLf ideas is the official Web site of the band's vocalist.
- Listen to Half Life Half Death songs
- Watch the video of "16 Hours" by Dream Kitchen
- Listen to a rough mix of "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao by haLf man haLf eLf"
- Listen to The Rain's versions of "More to Lose" and "The Ghost in You"
- Listen to snippets of new songs by The Rain: "Sooner than Last Time," "Girl Afraid," and "Radio"
- Watch videos of live performances by haLf man haLf eLf