This one's pretty special to me. The Filipino indie group Ang Bandang Shirley ("The Band Shirley," named after a song by another Filipino band, the Eraserheads) is powered by some impressively creative musicians -- including my nephew Ean Aguila, who's the main writer for this song.
"Umaapaw" means "overflowing" in Tagalog, and the song is about the kind of unabashed love that fills you to bursting (remember that feeling?) and constantly threatens to spill over. I think that comes across even if you don't know the language: the guitars shimmer, the drums skitter like a nervous heartbeat, two voices join in a buoyant, yearning melody graced by subtle harmonies. Yet for a song about overpowering emotion, it isn't itself overpowering -- no showy instrumental breaks or vocal pyrotechnics. The band is confident but disciplined and restrained, riding an upswell of romantic feeling but also holding it in, which is a remarkable balance to strike.
It brings me back to the days of high school crushes, nursed unspoken or shyly (and bravely) expressed. The lyrics hint at a deeper commitment as well, dancing around it without naming it: a lover's promise to present something at their next meeting, with a memorized speech and a declaration of certainty. However you choose to interpret it, it's a wonderfully well-crafted song that wears its musical sophistication lightly, and its full and hopeful heart feels like a balm.
Lyrics and translation here (though, as is usually the case, the slightly awkward and literal translation doesn't do justice to the poetry of the original). BONUS: The film buffs among you might be interested in this article on the making of the video, in which one of the co-directors talks about the movies that influenced their creative decisions. Happy Wednesday.
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