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This Band, no longer into "hugot" songs?

By Gabby Reyes Libarios
Published October 28, 2022 1:04 PM PHT

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This Band, the all-Pinoy band behind such massive hugot hits as "Kung Ayaw Mo Na," “Hindi Na Nga,” and “'Di Na Babalik," is back with a catchy tune with a more romantic, hopeful theme.

This Band is back with new music, but fans, who have long associated the group with catchy hugot songs may be in for a surprise.

The five-year-old This Band has always been known for its "hugot hits." How can anyone not know about "Kahit Ayaw Mo Na," the viral theme song of the heartbroken, the hangers-on, and the hopeless romantics who like being led on?

For their new music this time around, the band members--composed of lead singer Andrea Manzano, songwriter and guitarist Euwie Von Loria, bassist Miccael Galvan, drummer John Macaranas, lead guitarist Reymart Gubat, and keyboardist Melvin Carson--drew inspiration from real-life experience to bring to life "Higit Sa Sapat."

Unlike their previous hits, "Higit Sa Sapat" is unabashedly a love song, which is a clear departure from their trademark heartbreak themes. In fact it's so different that they peg it as a wedding song.

Andrea, the only female member of the group, describes the kind of scenario in which this song may be a good fit: “imagining that you are walking down the aisle, you're feeling the love, and finally facing 'The One.'”

She added, "Nong narinig ko siya, it sounded like a wedding song talaga. So, lahat ng words na naiisip ko, binato ko, para mabuo ang kanta."

Yes, it is THAT kind of a love song.

But "Higit Sa Sapat" was not written to appeal to a new segment of listeners. It's a work that allowed the band members to be vulnerable and give their listeners a peek into their personal lives.

Bassist Miccael Galvan described what the song meant to the band, "'Di ba naranasan natin pare-pareho na parang may kulang sa atin? Alam mo 'yun, pagkagising mo, magtatrabaho, pero parang may kulang sa atin na hindi natin mahanap sa sarili natin, pero andon sa partner natin? Ngayon, parang siya 'yung missing piece ng puzzle. May plano kayo for the future, magkasama kayo tumanda, tapos pinupush ka niya to be the better version. Hindi ka niya binabago, pero ina-unlock niya yung full potential mo."

Andrea, who is happy with her current relationship and looking to get married in three years, could not agree more. "Siya 'yung higit sa sapat ko e. Kapag ramdam mo na hindi ka nasasaktan, na tinutulungan ka niya sa lahat ng bagay, siya na 'yun."

Melvin, who dreams of seeing their songs being used in musicals one day, gave a more romantic take about their new song, "Siguro masasabi mo na higit sa sapat itong certain person na ito kapag in your lowest point nandun siya. Kasi maraming pagkakataon na kapag walang-wala ka, inaalisan ka ng tao, nawawala 'yung tiwala sa'yo, iniiwan ka.

"Masasabi mo na higit sa sapat siya kapag in your lowest point, 'yung worst na ikaw tinanggap ka niya nang buong buo. Tapos eventually, nagtagumpay ka, andon pa rin siya."

To this day, even after they have churned out massive hits, members of This Band are admittedly still adjusting to the public attention.

How do they handle the good and bad comments that they get on social media?

John Macaranas answered, "Usually, hindi naman kami nagbabasa ng comments. Hinahayaan na lang namin. Dati nagbabasa kami, siyempre nasasaktan din kami. So ginagawa na lang namin, di na lang namin pinapansin. Kung meron man kami makita o ano, gagawin na lang namin [fuel] yun para mag-improve."

The only comments that matter to him are the ones that come from his bandmates.

He added, "Worst comments talaga, galing sa kabanda mo. Tapos 'yung magaganda, siyempre manggagaling rin sa kanila."

But the best comments that they have received? That they have been an inspiration to many aspiring musicians and that they have gave comfort to homesick OFWs.

Carson recalled, "One of the best compliments naman na natanggap namin yung mga nagpapasalamat, 'Dahil sa inyo, may bagong henerasyon ng artists and musicians na nabubuo.' Sobrang nakakaiyak 'yun kasi isa sila sa mga na-inspire namin."

Euwie chimed in, "May mga nagmemessage sa personal accounts at sa page namin na OFWs na nagpapasalamat dahil parang feels like home tuwing pinapatugtog nila yung songs namin. Nakakakilig."

Listen to "Higit Sa Sapat" here: