A Pro-Environment Song

A PRO-ENVIRONMENT SONG

by Antonio C. Antonio

August 9, 2014

“A cause, be it political, social or environmental, could only succeed when critical mass is achieved.  Music, as a medium to create mass awareness, is a good conduit in increasing the level of awareness even for advocacies such as the environment. There might be a few of us singing songs of concern about the environment today but it’s a fair and decent start. Believe that more will be singing with us tomorrow.” (Antonio, 2013)

So I set out to compose a pro-environment song sometime last year.  But how; what do I do?  Several questions lingered in my mind: (1) Language; English or Pilipino?; (2) What melody and genre?; (3) Scope and context of the song; (4) What instrumentation; ethnic or modern?; (5) Artist; male or female?; and other technical matters that are involved in putting a song together.  As I was sieving and sifting the clutter in my head, I decided to:

a)     Use the Pilipino language since the target listeners are Filipinos;

b)    Use Bossanova as the basic genre with a touch of Rumba although the commonly accepted genre for environment advocacy songs is Folk, Ballad and March.  I thought that it will introduce a totally different sound to what everyone is used to hearing;

c)     Highlight global warming in relation to deforestation which are concerns most everyone is familiar with;

d)    Use modern instruments as gathering indigenous or ethnic instruments will be a logistical problem; and,

e)     Get a young-sounding female to do the vocals.

After putting together the melody, beat, lyrics and chord progression, I requested Ms. Ella Cruz (who used to sing for the band Hyperbeats) to breathe life to the song.  Please click on this link to view a jamming session video with Ella:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnul8N-gmI

The final studio recording had minor revisions and additional instrumentation was included (such as: Bass Guitar, Djembe and chimes) in an effort to replicate a full-band sound.  This time, I made another arrangement to allow my daughter, Anneka Marie A. Antonio, to do the vocals for the sound studio version.  Please click on this link to listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78mbTsMEJxQ

The title of the song is “Masdan Ang Bukas Ko”… a song of appeal from the next generation to the present generation to practice sustainable use of natural resources particularly forest products.  The song was included in the album “Kids to Forest” sponsored and produced  by Yakap Kalikasan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc.  Composing and recording songs is far from being an easy task… it is a very tedious and patience-testing undertaking.  And I’m proud to have completed a pro-environment song.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com)