Understanding Unique Salonga’s PANGALAN
It’s the musician’s strange, but noteworthy analysis of himself, his fame, and his influence.
In August 2018, Just 3 months after leaving IV of Spades, Unique released his debut album “Grandma”, from the soothing sounds of “Sino” and “Midnight Sky”, to the chilling limbo that is “OZONE (Itulak ang Pinto)”, to the raw outing that is “Cha-Ching!”
It was an introduction to his capabilities as a solo musician, his debut became the basis to what is expected for Unique’s career ahead of him. Only for those same expectations to be shattered with his next album, “Pangalan.”
Unique took center stage once more in his sophomore record, with producing, writing, arranging, and being the lyrical matter.
Yes, this album is all about Unique himself. And to those who wonder what goes through in his mind, Pangalan might just be the answer.
The album starts uneasy, In “Korporasyon”, the Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) influence gave off an atmosphere of a fully automatic society.
Everybody is born already exposed to corporations and large industries in one way or another, and it can do either 2 things to a person, to ruin them, or to build them completely, for Unique, it was the latter. The industry had made him famous and had them take note of his uniqueness.
And after a sample of an audience applauding, “Dambuhala” is unleashed.
Now Unique is more aware of his fame and power, many want to listen to what he says, many want to interview him, and his ego is boosted even more after he went solo.
“Dambuhala” or “Giant” refers to Unique himself, elevating himself to this huge, god-like figure, where people tremble in his presence:
Lahat ay umaatras
Pagyanig ay lalo pang lumalakas
At wala nang makaliligtas
Sa mga yabag, kayo’y magwawakas
Perhaps that self-righteous image is more cemented here:
Abot man ang aking kamay
Kailanma’y hindi tayo nagkapantay
And even when you hate him or not, you cannot take his own name from himself:
Kahit na walang humpay
Pang patumbahin ay ‘di mamamatay
But with all the strength that Dambuhala shows, there is still a soft hum throughout the song, somewhat reminding him of what he was before. Right after the climactic splash of effects and guitars, Unique’s other, more soft side, Bukod-Tangi quickly jumps in:
Unique thrives off of musical irony, where the words of the song are different or opposite from what the instrumentals, an example would be Foster The People’s Pumped Up Kicks; a chill, fun catchy song that’s about the desires of a school shooter.
This “Musical Irony” is present in Unique’s previous album, “Sino” had us feel wholeness despite Unique being lost in love, “I’ll break your little heart” sounds sweet and childish despite the strange and not-exactly-radio-friendly lyrics.
In “Bukod-Tangi”, especially the video, Unique has us feel connected and whole despite it being about loneliness. He feels that contentment within indifference is nothing if no one else feels the same as him:
Kahit may paghiyaw sa ‘king pangalan at
Kahit naririnig ang palakpakan ay
Ramdam ko ang pag-iisa
But when he conforms or tries to fit in with everyone else, he’s losing his identity, a never-ending dilemma:
Oh, ang pagkakakilanlan
Unti-unting naglalaho
Muli pa ba akong mabubuo?
For many, standing out and being original is a goal and desirable trait, Unique challenges us here by giving the idea that uniqueness also comes with loneliness…
This is when Unique’s anxious spirit takes over as the album’s narrator. Fears of infamy and death would later engulf him in “Lamang Lupa”
Oh, lamang lupa, sa’n mo ba ‘ko dadal’hin?
Katotohanan ay ayoko munang harapin
Gusto ko lang namang makalimutan ang
Dala-dalang problema kahit pansamantala
Now that Unique is well known, one simple misstep can easily tarnish his reputation, every day he feels like he is playing with death, accompanied by the uneasy, strange, intriguing energy of the song. Lamang Lupa ends unsettingly.
The oh-so strange ending of Lamang Lupa is followed by the even stranger “Delubyo”. Delubyo is not one of those songs where you can dance to, or even follow too. No, it itself is an interesting experience, located right in Pangalan’s dead center.
It is said that before someone’s death, the brain plays a 7-minute dream recalling the person’s memories before their untimely demise.
Delubyo can be interpreted as anything really, it can be the peak of Unique’s anxieties, it can be the dream scene before Unique’s supposed death in Lamang Lupa, but the things for sure are the noises, you can hear songs from the radio, crowded area noise, a kids birthday party (like the ones from Jollibee), a kid who’s crying because his mom is angry at him (I think?) and in the end, a backward message repeatedly whispering “Saklolo.”
Unique eventually returns with “Mga Katulad Mo”, this time a clearer and more confident Unique, Mga Katulad Mo has him handle those who hate him in a pretty clever way. Singing back to the listener what they say to him:
Ikaw ay talunan, kawawang nilalang
‘Di para sa ‘yo ang katanyagan
Mga katulad mo’y kulang sa pansin
Mga katulad mo’y walang mararatingNaririnig mo ba, nadarama mo ba?
Binabalik ko lang lahat ng sinabi mo
Within the synths and Unique’s songwriting, you can tell that he is angry, especially in the way he recites the hateful words. But this hate wouldn’t last long, In “Pahinga”, we hear a more mature version of Unique, not only he accepts those who hate him:
At nalaman ko na
‘Di mo maiiba
Ang kanilang pagtingin
Kahit ano mang gawin
He also accepts that not everyone will appreciate him:
‘Di tayo para sa lahat
‘Di tayo para sa lahat
‘Di tayo para sa lahat
Within listening to Pangalan, we’ve witnessed Unique’s huge character, to his softer sides, fears, and frustrations, to a personal form of acceptance to the people around him. But he closes the album with uncertainty, instead of maturity. In “Huwag Ka Sanang Magagalit” he talks directly to the listener, almost apologizing for bringing the listener to his viewpoint.
He contradicts the words from “Mga Katulad Mo”, as if he’s saying that it was too exaggerated:
Hindi naman sa ‘di pinapansin
Maayos mong pagsuyo sa akin
He shows here that despite his uniqueness, he is still human, also living with doubts and fears:
Lagi lang tal’gang nababalisa
Lagi lang tal’ga akong nahihiya
Tuwing magsisimula na sa pagsasalita
And despite the self-righteousness that he showed in tracks like “Dambuhala”, he feels almost dependent on the listener for his satisfaction, as he waves his farewell:
Nagmamadali sa ‘king pag-uwi
Hanggang sa muli, paalam
Nagmamadali sa ‘king pag-uwi
Hanggang sa muli, paalam
He may be worried that the album is too short and unsatisfactory to the listener, given Pangalan only has 8 tracks, he hopes that we’re alright with what he shows, to many, it’s alright. It’s only natural to be discontent with what we have or what we’ve done, and sometimes, our basis of contentment relies on others, Pangalan showed Unique expressing his fears and frustrations, and in the process, seeing him grow and rely less on others for his contentment, Will he still be insecure of his uniqueness? Yes. Will he still receive hate? Yes. Will he still be anxious about his work? Yes, but not to the same extent that will pull him down from trying anyway.
You could see it in his interview with Scout Magazine:
Hi, Unique. How has life been treating you so far?
Nakakapagod siya pero worth it.
