An ode to baduy music

One of my proudest Spotify playlists is called “radyo pag umuulan”. It gets its name from the songs I’d listen to on the radio as a kid - I was around 5 or 6 years old, and didn’t know how to change the station. So it was always set to what one would consider beerhouse classics, love ballads, or generally songs that felt really good to belt out on karaoke.

These songs would generally be described as baduy - in other words, tacky or old-fashioned. Understandable, since many of them are from the 80s and mainly listened to by taxi drivers plying their route to Antipolo. But these songs hold a special place in my heart.

Unsurprisingly, Air Supply takes up a good one-fifth of the playlist. Joining it are other Filipino classics such as Kitchie Nadal, Aegis, and Hale.

Air Supply is the quintessential baduy band. Everyone knows it, everyone belts it on karaoke. I firmly believe that karaoke is for singing old songs, not new ones. I refuse to sing anything modern on karaoke.

Karaoke is part of my family’s New Year’s Eve traditions. We all get together and sing our favorite songs; each member of my family has a signature one. My grandpa’s go-to is Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, my dad’s cousin goes with American Pie, my great aunt sings On Top of the World, and my great-grandma loved Dandansoy. Each one has a preferred genre, which reflects their personality as well as the generation they’re a part of.

I am still in the process of rediscovering baduy songs. They’re not new to me; every time I hear one it unearths a childhood memory of all those afternoons spent crouched in our living room listening to that old radio set. I wouldn’t say I have a signature song on the karaoke, but I always make sure the last song is a show-stopper - something like Smoke Gets in Your Eyes or Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Baduy songs will always mean so much to me. Hopefully you can find some joy in them too.