Noel Palomo has one of the most recognizable voices of the
90s as far as OPM is concerned. A double whammy, as he is also a prolific
songwriter. In only a span of 20 years or so, Noel had already written 150
songs and counting, scores of which are still in the woodwork, some being
recorded and the others for distribution, and will be available soon on digital
platforms. That’s how productive this gentleman is!
On the
other hand, as lead vocalist for Siakol,
Noel and the band have already conquered audiences all over the world where
Filipinos congregated. Who could ever forget Lakas Tama when it first hit the airwaves in the 90s? Its punk-rock
stylings in tandem with Noel’s down-to-earth usage of street lingo, the same
lingo he’s accustomed to growing up, were more than enough to elicit favorable responses
from sizable audiences all over Metro Manila and the provinces, albeit turning
the song into an anthem of sorts. The masses really related to it big-time.
Understandably
so, Noel’s musical creations are so frothy with familiarity that they hit close
to home the hardest. This group unquestionably hit a nerve. Noel’s unmistakable
street-smart charisma cast its powerful charm on unsuspecting fans and
‘would-be’ believers listening to his music and filling up each and every gig his
band dished out. But like any band in existence, Noel’s ex-band is no
exception. It has its own shelf life, and thus, ultimately, members must depart.
REPAKOL:
A new
Phase in the Noel Palomo story
REPAKOL- (phil.):
an extended colloquial form of ‘pare’
denoting a best friend(s), a close associate, a close pal, or just about anyone
its user would identify as someone close or dear; part of a spiel Noel Palomo blurts
out in every gig to refer to his fans and audiences; Noel Palomo’s newest band!
Currently, Noel has a new band roster that he affectionately calls Repakol. Apparently, the name search never veered far from home but
came from a very proximate source: Noel’s term of endearment to all his
friends, fans, and everyman. A term he also uses for his spiels in all his
gigs.
It’s now
Noel Palomo featuring Repakol for you from now on going forward!
The band, known as Repakol, consists of Raz Itum (on loan from Frio), who is the bassist and a kindred spirit to Noel; Alvin Palomo, the lead guitarist and brother of Noel; Wilbert Jimenez on rhythm guitar; and Zack Alcasid on drums. With the success of Noel’s previous band, Repakol will be treading familiar territory. The
same path Noel’s ex-band took. Noel, on the other hand, has no doubts.
Repakol’s members are exceptionally gifted musicians themselves. They’re what
you might call veterans in their own right. Their presence can either replicate
the sound of Noel’s previous band or veer from it entirely. Noel is not
discounting the fact that it will take all the difference to consciously make a
new sound depending on the talents and/or input of his new band, Repakol. He is
the creator for the most part, after all. Going way back, Noel was always
mindful of his band’s creative inputs so long as his input was never put into
major scrutiny itself. This principle is what brought Noel and his previous band together. Ideas will always be welcome as long as they are within the
parameters of what the band wants.
Noel also agrees that the Repakol sound may incorporate one or two additional layers as it evolves. Moreover, with Noel’s uncanny knack for creating
songs that channel the masses’ appreciation for what is ear-friendly and
appealing, Repakol is in excellent hands early on going forward. It is this same
fact that will challenge the rest of Repakol’s members to step up as well. As
mentioned earlier, Raz Itum himself is quite the composer. Eventually, Itum and Palomo could potentially become Repakol's primary source of hits. Moreover, the interaction might also produce musical gems never heard before
from a Noel Palomo-penned ditty. Exciting possibilities to watch out for.
For now at
least, it won’t be impossible to assume that the press will have a field day
spinning how Noel’s ex-band split down to its most exquisite, juicy, and gory
details. Noel, for his part, prefers to put ‘the past’ behind him. For those
not in the know, Noel Palomo’s one of those very guarded lead dudes in the Philippine
music industry today, painfully tight-lipped and reserved in some, if not all,
of his interviews. He is not arrogant; rather, he maintains a nonchalantly cordial demeanor given the circumstances. It might just be his
personality or even an immediate manifestation or reaction based on lessons he
learned from past experiences that made him what he is right now. Whatever it may be, his fans have come to love that aspect of him. Take it or leave
it. However, it's important to note that Noel Palomo is an extremely positive individual. In all his songs, he skillfully transforms any negative experience into a lesson and a positive aspect of life. For a fact, Noel just refuses to let negativity affect or
control him. It’s just not in his lexicon to do so.
THE
CHANNEL:
The Noel Palomo Magic Revealed!
His mystique includes the musicality and down-to-earth lingo he uses in all his songs. Noel was even coy when asked about the percentage of songs he made about himself and his direct personal experiences in life. Evidently, the reason his songs resonate with the general public is his ability to transform everyday experiences, often tinged with sadness and unfortunate events, into positive musical masterpieces. And with his gift of gab deeply encapsulated within his knack for songwriting, his songs are guaranteed crowd-draws. He is eternally grateful for this, and as Noel himself intimates, the individuals who were inspirations for these songs were too. It is truly awe-inspiring that Noel’s interpretation of their otherwise sob stories has given more meaning to the lives of these individuals. It appears that these individuals have been feeding Noel tales of woe and misfortune for the longest time now, even on or off gig engagements. Of course, Noel receives these experiences in a variety of ways, but the outcome consistently reflects positivity.
Like any other band member, Noel also experienced periods of lulls and plateaus in his career. Noel doesn't struggle with this, as inspiration and genius can emerge at any given moment, circumstance, or event. If in the past he carried a pen and paper with him wherever he went, Noel now brings along a recorder or a combination of both when inspiration strikes. He never overlooks an idea.
Believe it or not, his album Tropa in 2011 with his previous band was even borne
out of a lull in gig engagements. During this period, Noel reconnected with old
friends or, as he fondly refers to them, his ‘tropa.’ The lyrics to Tropa made it
more apparent.
“‘Di na
tayo pabata, edad mo ‘di nahahalata sa mga trip unti-unti na tayong nagsasawa.
Pero kahit ganoon, barkadang matatag hanggang sa ngayon. Minsan man magkita,
tiyak may kuwela. ‘Yan ang aking tropa…”
Following this line of reasoning, Noel is practically telling us that he
has a never-ending stream of stories
to tell, lessons to impart, nuggets of positive truths to inspire his
forlorn sources of inspirations, and tons
and tons more music gems he can create and give his fans going forward.
Short of saying that the Noel
Palomo's mystique will endure as long as ideas remain fluid and the fun
and the drive to do it remain.
And it will endure!
Right now, Noel is presently riding on the energy and excitement of Repakol,
creating good music as
a new band. Moreover, the band is presently doing gigs all over the
Philippines.
Rakrakan na, mga repakol!
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