Hotdog (band)

The Hotdog Band is a Filipino band credited with overhauling and changing the musical landscape of the Philippines in a stunning, exciting and unexpected manner.

The brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia created the legendary Hotdog band, which spawned what is now known worldwide as ‘the Manila Sound’.

Crafting hit after hit after hit, Hotdog has etched an indelible mark in Philippine music history with generation/age-neutral chart toppers like Manila, Annie Batungbakal, Bongga Ka Day, Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko, Pers Lab, Langit na Naman, and Behhh, Buti Nga, among others.

But beyond just dominating the music charts for decades, Hotdog’s music is instrumental in bringing the quality of local pop music up to par with international standards.

Baby Gil, Philippine Star’s influential entertainment columnist, recently observed: Hotdog killed colonial mentality in pop music with its phenomenal original compositions. Suddenly it was cool to talk Taglish and listen to a Pinoy band. But a decade before that, the current Filipino songs were God Knows by Pablo Vergara and Sapagka't Kami ay Tao Lamang by Tony Maiquez that teen-aged buyers would never be caught dead with.

The songs of Hotdog (written and produced by Dennis and Rene) heralded the beginning of Original Pilipino Music or OPM, which saw – for the first time –local songs dominating the Philippine music scene, and in the process, establishing the identity of mainstream Filipino music. Since then, the songs of the Hotdog have been used in numerous movies, television and radio commercials, videoke products, cellphone ringtones, etc.

The original band members under Baby Del Rosario, manager were: Ben De Jesus (of Wildbugs, Glenmores and Mind's Interpretation bands) and Ella Del Rosario as lead vocals, Rene Garcia on vocal/lead guitarist, Ramon "Mon" Torralbaas as 2nd lead guitarist, Tito Del Rosario on rhythm, Dennis Garcia on bass, Lorrie Ilustre on keyboards with Jess Garcia and Roy Rivera as drummers. The band actually had two drummers performing at the same time then. Later members were Ella del Rosario (vocals), Rene Enriques, Jacqui Magno (vocals), Andy Caberte (keyboards).

In a nation of over eighty million musically-inclined souls, Hotdog songs are probably the most recognized and revered tunes.

Hotdog also paved the way for the spectacular solo musical careers of its female singers like Ella del Rosario, Zsazsa Padilla and Maso Diez.

Songs

Hotdog is now iconized as the popular band that revolutionized the Filipino music industry.

SONGS:

"Annie Batungbakal" - about a disco queen from "Frisco" (San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City) and her addiction to partying

"Beh, Buti Nga" - getting even with a past crush who never knew you existed

"Bitin Sa'yo" - about a lover who never felt loved 'in public'

"Bongga Ka 'Day" - a trubute to a 'fashionista'

"Can't Forget You" - English love song with Zsa-Zsa Padilla

"Dying to Tell You" - About not being able to express one's feelings

"Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko" - a serenade to all Filipina women, beauty titleholder or not

"Ikaw Pa Rin" - after so many loves, only one love matters"Kasi Naman" - even after all the fights, you're still in love

"Langit Nanaman" - tells that it's like heaven when you see, smell or be with someone you love

"Manila" - an ode to the Philippines' capital

"O, Lumapit Ka" - a seductive tune

"Pers Lab" - loving from a distance

Sources

* [http://www.himig.net Hotdog songs and lyrics ] Cultural Heritage - The global pinoy, Pinoy Musicians - [http://www.globalpinoy.com]