MUSIC ALBUM ANALYSIS

Romantico by Kamikazee
Faye Cabildo (individual)

The band members first got together in 2000 as classmates who wanted to be in a band in
the UP College of Fine Arts. They were influenced by local bands such as Parokya ni Edgar,
Queso, and the Eraserheads. Known in the beginning as Kamikazee Cornflakes, their roots as a
comedy band were already in place, as there are stories that they would sign up for their early
gigs as a boy band, particularly during on-campus events (TOD Wiki, 2015). The album
Romantico has 14 tracks. 10 originals composed by Kamikazee, three acoustic songs and one
song that is revived with their own version. It is sang by the band’s vocalist, Jay Contreras.
Released under the Universal Records in year 2011. It also produce K-pop albums, Taylor
Swift’s Folklore, Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding (Universal Music Group, 2020). The
album’s main focus is about love. It is created with an idea of their past love experiences and the
stories of people around them. There are singles that are not included in the album like for it is
not fit to the theme of the album solely dedicated for romantics.
It is an alternative rock and a mix of pop, punk, metal and indie music. The album covers
a huge amount of listeners. It has no restrictions for any age or era, as long as people can imagine
and relate to the song. However, due to its genre it did take a toll for teenagers and young adults
up until now. First, Wo-Oh is a single that tells how toxic a relationship can be “Ibang klase din
ang lalakeng yan, pati tropa mong bading, pinagseselosan. Parang hari kung iyong pagsilbihan”
and how someone able to treat you better and wished you’d take them into consideration
“Nandito lang naman ako. Nagmamahal sayo ng totoo”
It went to the single T.N.T abbreviation for “type na type”. These lyrics “Parang kahoy
sayong paningin sobrang pwede mo kong sibakin” and “Parang alak nakakalasing bakit mo
pipigilin?” conveys sexual tension between two people and is more likely to have mutual desire
to each other. The melody perfectly portrays excitement as one can imagine. The rhythm is fast
pacing, not your typical slowed sexual songs.
On the other hand, The single Paano shows how an individual think of what ifs “Masama
ba na iyong malaman paano kung tayo pa lang dalawa” It shows how uncertain the future is,
and how we are bad at decision making.
Kislap is a single that talks about first love at first sight “Unang tingin palang, tinamaan
na ako” and how it has been since then he is still into her. How devoted he is to love that girl
even if things gets hard. It tells how it gave meaning to his life, looking back to when they met
each other “Kislap ng buhay ko. Liwanag ng aking mundo Sayo nagsimula lahat ng ito”
 In contrast, Tamis is where his especial someone already started giving him motives,
indicating that he stands a chance depicting a teenage life. This is where he is looking forward to
the future with her “Kung dati hanggang tingin, Ngayon ako'y busog sa iyong pansin. Sabay-
sabay nabubuo mga pangarap ko, para sa iyo”
It continued in the single Sana’y Laging Ganito. “Sana'y laging ganito. Sana'y di na
magbago, Ang pag-ibig natin sa isa't isa” It is all about how that person hope everything would
last long between them. Holding each other and loving each other genuinely, wishing that
moment would never end. Sobrang Lungkot, however, only lasted for 20 seconds. It Has this
“Sobrang Lungkot gusto nang” that gives you the mood of a rock music in agony and eventually
in “mamatay” the melody slowed down. Seems funny at first but it is actually conveys
depression.
The album’s infamous trilogy: Halik, Tagpuan and Huling Sayaw. These three songs
became a hit because of its story that is embedded on the lyrics. “Magaling lang ako sa umpisa
Umasa ka pa saakin, mga pangakong nauwi lang sa wala. Nasayang lang ang iyong
pagtitiyaga. Wala kang napala at puro lang ako salita. Kaya pala, Pag-gising ko wala ka na”
Halik is about a grown, tired love. One who fell out of love and yet to vanish in a glimpse. You
will hear mournful point of view who owns his mistakes to his partner that what caused her to
leave. This song is about regrets.
They said those who you met just recently will make you feel you’ve been with them for
years, simply because you connect compatibly. This happens in Tagpuan, the person who’ve had
enough felt love once more and is missing that person.“Magkikita tayo muli, parang batang
kinikilig di mapakali at nasasabik” Not letting the world between them and cherish their time
together in their “Tagpuan” or secret place. “Mundo'y ating iwanan kung maaari lang sana. Dito
na lang tayo sa ating tagpuan” It is all about secrecy and a blooming feelings. The band also
revives If You’re Not Here
Huling Sayaw is where the two lovers seize their time, spending it with affection and
commitment. “Hawakan mo aking kamay bago tayo maghiwalay” They didn’t know that sweet
moment like that has an end so this is where they bid their goodbyes with a dance. “Paalam sa
'ting huling sayaw. May dulo pala ang langit. Kaya't sabay tayong bibitaw sa ating huling
sayaw” It also seems like the crowd truly love the album having no critics about it.
As the Kamikazee says “A love song should be always singing in a slowed music”
instead they stick onto their genre and made the rhythm vivid. Though, it may not be accurate to
the lyrics but the band made it possible to pull off. They expressed it confidently and freely
especially in their lyrics because they love the process itself. Upon singing and playing, there
resides their emotions that contributes to the delivery of the songs they have been playing. It
reached people and helped shape the mood.
 The Trilogy became a hit because the listeners found out that the Band release a music
video conveying a virtual reality of what could have been behind the song. In the Music video
shows a mystery about a guy that keeps showing in unexpected times that caught the audience
curious and eventually shocked at the ending of the trilogy’s “Huling Sayaw”. Kyla, especially
contributed to the Huling Sayaw to balance and give off that smooth melody of the song. She
also represent the point of view of the girl with an approach of singing. It hits the listeners so
hard considering it is a love song made out of rock music. So the band made an acoustic version
of it to make it smoother and slowed that even made the trilogy covers a huge amount of
listeners. It has story to tell, portrays different emotions only from one love story which people
find it so relating and soon fell into Last Song Syndrome that even teens these days still jams to
these songs during their classes. I’d say it is a right decision that they chose the right singles,
most specifically the trilogy that left an impact to the listeners. Without the Trilogy the album
might not be a hit for it serves as the only image of the Romantico album.
There are times that I think the mood is painful and nostalgic. There are also times that I
think it comforts me when I have bad days. The tracks are well planned and care-free. The album
has been featured to several articles such as ABS-CBN and inquirer entertainment that seems to
brought them into success of reaching numerous listeners and fans.
 Reference
References
(2015, November 30). Retrieved from TOD Wiki: https://towerofdoom.net/kamikazee/

(2020, August 30). Retrieved from Universal Music Group: https://www.universalmusic.com/universal-

music-group-sets-record-with-nine-of-top-10-albums-on-billboard-200/