Features of Filipino Novelty Songs

A novelty song defies the usual musical genres like alternative, rock and roll and pop, to name a few typical categories. Novelty songs are characterized by their humorous content and they often parody current events, trends or pop culture. They also have a catchy, simple melody which contributes greatly to the fame of the song and the composer. There are some critics who disagree with categorizing novelty songs as real music but this hasn't detracted the fame and contagiousness of these types of songs. For the past few years, the contagiousness of novelty songs has swept the Philippines. Many studio networks like ABS-CBN and GMA have recognized the popularity and commercial appeal of novelty songs and it is rare now to go a day without being bombarded with a novelty song in the television, the radio or even the newspapers. But unlike the usual Western novelty songs which are bland and often fade into obscurity in spite of tremendous momentary fame, Filipino novelty songs are so unique because of our famous and distinctive Pinoy humor that is incorporated into these songs. There are three features in the formula of Filipino novelty songs. The first feature is the heavy use of double meanings and entendres. The second is a reference to a number or a food which is used in relation to the first feature. Lastly, the Filipino novelty song, like any other in the world, has to have a catchy melody. The first feature is the use of double meanings and although it is not exactly unique to Filipino novelty songs, it is probably most used here. The double meanings are usually of a sexual nature and they slyly hint and poke fun at sex although, being a hidden meaning or an undertone of the song, it is never said bluntly or directly. It isn't just the lyrics of the songs that imply its hidden sexual meaning though. Everything, from the dance steps and costumes imply sex. Consider also that the dance groups that perform these songs like the Sexbomb dancers and the Viva Hot Babes base their popularity on sexuality. Perhaps the reason behind the popularity of these hidden sexual connotations is because Filipinos are a very conservative race and although we are becomingly increasingly more liberated and open about sex, most of us still find it a little taboo or embarrassing to mention it so openly. The second feature I've observed of Filipino novelty songs nowadays is that they usually refer to a particular food or number. We have songs like Jumbo Hotdog, Halukay Ube, Pito-Pito, Spageti Song and Ocho-Ocho. I really don't know what they've found so interesting about hotdogs or about the number 88, but I think the reason behind their use could be well associated with the first feature. They can easily be attached with sexual connotations, therefore providing the song with double meaning. With that, I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, I hear a song entitled Sisenta y Nuwebe (69) or Isaw. The last feature, as I pointed out earlier, is the catchiness of the melody. Of course, being a novelty song, the music needs to be simple enough to stick to the memories of the listeners. The song usually has one short melody repeated over and over again so it is easy enough to memorize. This is probably one reason why critics and music-lovers argue that novelty songs are real music. They point out that the use of a few simple beats and rhythms cannot possibly qualify as quality music. The melodies of our novelty songs all tend to sound similar so even with the premiere of a song on the radio, we immediately know how to sing along to it. One reason novelty songs are so popular is because anyone, from the youngest of children to the oldest of grandparents, can sing along to it together. Another distinctive Filipino feature we use in our novelty songs is the use of our childhood playground rhymes. A good example of this is in the song Ocho-Ocho, where the lyrics "one plus one…" are incorporated into a very simple beat turning it into a highly humorous song. The differences between Filipino novelty songs and other novelty songs from other countries are quite distinctive. Our novelty songs are always infused with our own particular brand of humor which in itself, already sets our songs apart from other novelty songs. Our songs practically have their own pop culture in itself, from the dance groups who popularize the songs to the lyrics and the special dances. Filipino novelty songs are also popular because of the way bits of our traditions, like the use of playground rhymes, are interwoven in the lyrics. The effect of these songs on the masses also differentiate it from other songs; the popularity and commercial value of the songs have outlasted any other novelty song. No one quite does it like the Filipinos.