The first time I heard Up Dharma Down was around Ilumina days, they were famous for their official sound track - Tadhana. Tadhana was a fine work. Lyrics are good, tune and instrumental are both good, and even the construction I fancy.
But it was not that song that captured my heart totally and made me in rapture with this band. I was third year, heart bleeding, finally in my knowledge what is my role to a certain story when I heard Oo. Boy, was I dumbfounded. Album was published around 2006, how come now’s the only time I heard it?
I wasn’t going to spoil you the story yet, just a bit of introduction to that post. Closing of the academic year is approaching by the time my friends who applied for an entrance test to a certain university told me that in this certain event, Up Dharma Down would be their guest.
So without doubt, I gladly took the offer to come.
There’s this one problem though. The ticket is free only if you took the entrance exam, I did not. However, one of our classmate would not come and he gave it to a friend. My friend has doubts about coming and no, he did not gave it to me. I stole it from him. Hehe.
I’m a little devious mongrel. Of course you already forgave me for that, didn’t you? *shoutout to Jiggs*
It was a summer music fest, as seen from the ticket above, wherein it looked like Coachella but of course minus Vanessa Hudgens and a lot of pretty people in their wonderful gyspy outfits, or maybe Wanderland.
Not just too fancy, I guess.
A lot of bands played well that night but there’s one band that struck us, of course other than UDD and Maude, silly. I forgot the name of the band but their song Sigaw led us into deep thinking.
I was with the people whom I cherish very much, which — mind you — are quite few. These girls enjoy listening to UDD as much as I do.
During one of the “filler” stage of the event, the hosts came down and went near us, interrogated few of us that would become freshmen in June. Stayed away from them and took photos instead, guess I am not for exposure after all. Hehe.
Too bad, I only had one photo. But guys, this is MAUDE!!
Still not over with their joke:
"Again, kami po ang bandang Maude. Not The Maude." Only shreks would get this.
Maude has this awesome vocals, awesome set, and a quite good looking vocalist. Good thing that we had a picture with him though. (Ehe)
It was the first time to hear them, both live and in my life. (see what I did there)
The time they started this one particular song, I was instantly captivated. And I started to burst once I heard, "May sukli nga ba kung maghihintay? Mahiwaga ang dahilan kung bakit ‘di ka abot kamay."
And then I was totally blown away at the chorus,
"Ang pagmamahal nga ba’y naghihintay? Hindi ba’t tulad natin, tumatanda’t namamatay?"
And then I died by the time I heard this,
"Minsan lang, minsan pa, subukan ang tadhana. Kung h’wag na lang o tayo ba ang takda?"
Of course, I am just over reacting. I am not lying though when I told you that they’re damn good. This rant doesn’t even gives enough justice of how good are they.
The most awaited, UP DHARMA DOWN!!!
I remember when I told my friend one time, we were listening at Oo or I was singing it, and I told him that the moment I meet Up Dharma Down, I’d fucking ask them if I were with them the day they composed that song. You see, Oo basically sums up my love story.
Too bad I didn’t get the chance to ask them. Boy, was I too starstruck just by the mere sight of them setting up. Paul wasn’t there which is kind of sad.
Before they showed up, the hosts were asking a lot of fans different questions. I was answering the damn questions in my head, God knows how much I wanted to answer but I told Jiggs so he would answer in my stead. By the time though that he was about to say, “TURN IT WELL” he said instead which is a joke, “TWENTY TWELVE”.
Hence the title of this post.
When Ean started banging the drums for the intro of Sana which they first played, all hell broke loose. I was even singing that time I took their photo. Camera isn’t damn well cooperating so I’ve got no videos to take home.
I was also with Jiggs by that time. So when they played Oo, I sang it with all my heart. I repeat, I sang them with all my heart. ALL. MY. HEART. So he would know that I could relate and that it was fucking meant for him. No hard feelings though, I’m okay now.
Tadhana used to mean nothing to me. I mean yes, given that it’s a wonderful song and almost mainsteam but that night… I realized what people meant. So glad they even included, “Bakit hindi salubungin ang puso ko at kunin? Ang diwang malaya wag nawang mapayapa. Ikaw ang pagibig, pakinggan ang himig ko. Wag ka sanang lalayo, mundong ito’y lilito.”
They also played Indak, Taya, Parks, and Luna which is my current favorite. Quoting the song with my favorite lyrics: "Hindi na tatawag ng pansin, mawawala lang sa hangin."
The last one they played and was dabomb for an ending is Turn it Well. Armi was so kind because she motioned us to come near her (we weren’t allowed to come near the stage), we hesitated for a while but she mouthed something like: it’s okay.
And so with that, again for the nth time, all hell broke loose or rather the seven gates of it did.
Credits to Viana for this photo. Turn it well is such a reaaaalllly nice song. It was a mood setter whether you want to be bound sad or happy, it could lead you to the both. We started clapping and dancing to the tune of it. T’waz marvelaz.
With my girlies! We were euphoric, ecstatic, name all of the happy and uplifted spirits there are in an adjective, we were that.
With the vocalist of Maude!!!! That’s my trying to suppress kilig face there.
AND WITH SIR — HANDS DOWN — EAN MAYOR! Drumming with his soul. We didn’t have photos with the rest of the band especially Armi mi luv but it’s alright. Just seeing them and hearing them live are both heaven to me.
The night ended and we went to Jollibee to have a very late dinner. Have I told you that I was so happy that time? Aye. I did. So happy I was even singing Oo at Jepoy’s car while going home which I’ve never done in my entire life.
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
