Bisdak, by Birth and Beat

January 28, 2009 - 7:49 am 1 Comment

I march to my own beat, especially where music is concerned. I can’t sing Gwen Stefani’s latest (whatever it is) but I do know the lyrics to Max Surban’s and Yoyoy Villame’s songs. I have my grandfather to thank for this. Every day, rain or shine, and at precisely 7:00 a.m, he’d have Bisdak music blaring from speakers.

In the old days, I loved the songs because I found them funny. Today, I listen to them because they bring back tons of memories.

There’s something about Bisaya and I won’t say “Bisaya, the dialect” because the hub would call me on it. He insists Bisaya is a language because from a socio-anthropological perspective, it has a syntax that’s different from all other languages (geek tip: sinebuano is a language; Binol-anon, Surigaonon, and Ilonggo are dialects). I say whatever. Whether it’s language or dialect, I’d feel the same way about Bisaya songs. They’re songs that break down time and space; and wherever I may be at any given point in time, they never fail to bring me home.

Max Surban’s Budbud ug Bibingka

Yoyoy Villame’s Butsekik

One Response to “Bisdak, by Birth and Beat”

  1. Donna Says:

    Call me dork but I grew up listening to max’s and yoyong’s songs too. That’s what i look forward to hearing every Sunday. Get this, before I left for Dubai I filled my USB with their songs! Vincent gets a good laugh everytime I sing that song that goes like ” In March 15, 1521, when Philippines was discovered by Magellan…”. He also makes me sing Butsekik over and over again…Gosh I just worship them.