| Half Life Half Death | |
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 Half Life Half Death in 1995, Pet, Bimbo, Rain, Ramil, aLfie
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Philippines |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1988–2003 |
| Label(s) | Viva Records, Vicor Records |
Half Life Half Death, or "The Halves," was an obscure Filipino Alternative Rock / New Wave band that existed from 1988 to 2003. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music The music of the Philippines is a mixture of European American and indigenous sounds Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music.
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Formation
Half Life Half Death was originally formed in 1988 by five highschool students of Sta. Clara Parish School in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The City of Pasay ( Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Metropolitan Manila ( Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila, Kamaynilaan) or the National Capital Region (NCR ( Filipino: Pambansang The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP
Style
Half Life Half Death inevitably derived its musical style from its main influences, mostly British bands which became popular in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, during the members' highschool days, in the 1980s; bands that included The Cure, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Lotus Eaters, The Smiths, U2, Violent Femmes, and The Wild Swans. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The Cure are an English rock band that formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976 Depeche Mode (dəˌpɛʃˈmoʊd are an English Electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Post-punk group formed in Liverpool in 1978 Lotus Eaters and Lotos Eaters redirects here For other uses see The Lotus Eaters. The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982 The Violent Femmes, formed in Milwaukee Wisconsin, in 1980 are an American Alternative rock band noted for laying the groundwork for Folk punk. The Wild Swans were a Post-punk band from Liverpool, England, which formed in 1980 shortly after Paul Simpson (ex-keyboards left The
Many Filipino Alternative-music enthusiasts fondly remember Half Life Half Death for its quirky remake of "High School (Life)," a '70s Pop song written by the Filipino composer George Canseco for the Filipina actress/singer Sharon Cuneta. George Canseco ( April 23, 1934 &ndash November 19, 2004) was a leading Filipino Song composer Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan (born Sharon Gamboa Cuneta on January 6, 1966) is a popular Filipina Actress, TV host Half Life Half Death's version of the song was a concert favorite among the underground-music crowd of the late 1980s. It eventually achieved commercial popularity when the band recorded it for a compilation album released in 1995 by Vicor Records. The song enjoyed heavy airplay on various FM radio stations, further helping Half Life Half Death gain some more following and land a record deal with Viva Records.
Half Life Half Death attained commercial popularity among Filipino Alternative Rock enthusiasts when their independently recorded single "Alimango" became #1, in 1994, on the now-defunct FM radio station DWLA 105. 9, which promoted unsigned Filipino Rock bands. This achievement paved the way to the band's inclusion in four compilation albums: "Kapit-Tukô" for A Dozen Alternatives (1994, Viva Records), "Sa Paskong Darating" for Christmas on the Rocks (1994, Viva Records), "High School (Life)" for Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (1994, Vicor Records), and "Nosi Ba Lasi? (Lala's mix)" for the original soundtrack of the movie Okey si Ma'am (1995, Viva Records).
In 1995, Half Life Half Death finally recorded and released its debut album, Pymyth Prahn, under Viva Records. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Despite the commercial quality and the lush concept of the album, the band failed to achieve commercial status and soon disbanded; with the members concentrating on each of their actual professions. The album spawned a few cult favorites that included "Butterflies," "Brother's Pen," and "We Are the Saints"; but "High School (Life)" remained their most popular song.
Half Life Half Death reformed and resumed activity in 2000 especially at Mayric's, a long-running club which served as a breeding ground for many important Filipino Rock bands which include Alamid, Sugar Hiccup, and The Youth. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Pinoy Rock, or Filipino Rock, is the brand of Rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. The band also began arranging new materials for a possible second album; but the plans were shelved when its vocalist went to Canada in 2003. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. However, before finally wrapping up a 15-year obscure career, Half Life Half Death released an independently produced double-CD compilation of all recorded materials plus a few demos, entitled The Halven Trilogy, the third part of which the band intends to finish and release on their vocalist's return to the Philippines.
Fans of the band regard Half Life Half Death as "The Cure of the Philippines," chiefly because of their strong and honest reference to their New Wave roots and certainly for the uncompromising Curesque style of their vocalist, whose sense of fashion virtually never changed from day one through the band's demise in 2003. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s
Recent Updates
Late 2005 saw interesting musically related developments concerning Half Life Half Death key members Alfie Vera Mella, Rainald Paggao and Ramil Aznar, each of whom has embarked on a new musical project of his own.
haLf man haLf eLf
aLfie vera mella, now based in Canada, formed a performing band aptly named haLf man haLf eLf. In December 2006, mella in collaboration with fellow Winnipeg-based Filipino musician Abelardo "Ardie" Sarao" released an EP entitled The Woes of Emong Payaso (independent label: eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records). This carried the single "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao. " During live performances, haLf man haLf eLf is comprised usually by mella and a backup of friend musicians who included Roy Gutierrez (guitars), Jason Paredes (bass), Abet (bass), Cris Pangan (bass), Joshua Bernardo (drums), Ten-ten (drums), and Edward Daquinas (drums). A few of the group's significant performances included serving as one of the front acts for Philippine-based Rock bands doing a Canadian tour, like Siakol (in May 2006) and Mike Hanopol (in 2007).
In July 2007, mella, again in collaboration with Sarao, begins recording a new song, entitled "Fireflies. " The duo is still deciding on a new monicker, under which to release this new composition.
Mella as haLf man haLf eLf remains loyal to the style for which his erstwhile band Half Life Half Death was known--New Wave with a touch of the technical instrumentation of Classical music and Progressive Rock and the "fist-raised" attitude of old-school Punk Rock. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved Songs that haLf man haLf eLf had covered during gigs included "Just like Heaven" (The Cure), "I Melt with You" (Modern English), "The One I Love" (R. E. M. ), "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins), "More to Lose" (Seona Dancing), "High School (Life)" (Half Life Half Death), "Susi" (The Dawn), and "Nagpapapansin, Pansinin" (Urban Bandits).
The Rain
Based in the Philippines, Rainald Paggao collaborated with his brother, JB, and formed The Rain, releasing its first album, entitled Girl in Mind (2006, independent label). The two cover songs featured in the album, The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You" and Seona Dancing's "More to Lose," are an obvious reference to the duo's New Wave roots. The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977 Seona Dancing (ˈʃɔːnə "Shawna" was a 1980s British pop group best known for providing Ricky Gervais with his first taste of fame The Rain's music is reminiscent of classic '80s Alternative Rock / New Wave bands the likes of The Cutting Crew, The Railway Children, and Flesh for Lulu. The Railway Children is a children's book by Edith Nesbit, originally published in 1906 Flesh for Lulu is an Alternative rock / Gothic band formed in Brixton, London, UK, and was active between 1982 and 1992 Prior to involving himself on this project, Paggao also became the lead guitarist of Dream Kitchen as well as of Dead Pop Stars, a Filipino New Wave band which many Alternative-music enthusiasts regard as "the ultimate The Smiths tribute band of the Philippines. The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982 "
In October 2007, Paggao and his brother begin working on their second album, which might include renditions of Fra Lippo Lippi's "The Distance between Us" and The Lotus Eaters' "German Girl. "
Dream Kitchen (Mark II)
Also based in the Philippines, Ramil Aznar is now the front person (vocalist/guitarist) of Dream Kitchen's reincarnation, whose current members include Dream Kitchen originators Aldrin Cardona (guitars), Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drummer), and Vincent "Bong" Torres (bass), the first two of whom also became members of Half Life Half Death during its final days. Dream Kitchen's first commercial release, "16 Hours," can be found in the compilation album entitled 8 Track (2005). The band's music takes on the sound of Alternative Rock / Britpop bands such as Radiohead, This Perfect Day, and Weezer. Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Britpop is a subgenre of Alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Radiohead Weezer (ˈwizɚ is an American Alternative rock band from Los Angeles California formed in 1992 Dream Kitchen's professionally produced music video of "16 Hours" was nominated for the "Music Video of the Year" category in the 2006 MTV Philippines Music Awards. Dream Kitchen has recently finished recording a 10-song demo album and is currently scouting for a record label that would sign them.
In the late '90s, during Dream Kitchen's early days and Half Life Half Death's inactivity, mella served as Dream Kitchen's vocalist and occasional keyboardist. Significant songs covered by the band during this period included "Say Something" (James), "Blushing Girl, Nervous Smile" (The Wallflowers), "Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen), "Leave Me Alone" (New Order), "Waterfall" (Riverside), "True Fools Fall" (Died Pretty), "The Worst Year of My Life" (The Wild Swans), "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band-aid), "Falling" (Under Blue Skies), and "Sumigaw, Umawit Ka" (Identity Crisis). Original songs composed by Dream Kitchen at the time, but which did not see the light of being released commercially, included "Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," "My Chocolate Mousse," and "Buhay-Karnabal," which reincarnated as haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao. "
Before their eventual disbandment in 1999, Dream Kitchen with mella recorded five original songs at Purple Studios in Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. In 2004, this set of compositions was compiled by mella into an EP entitled half baked delicacies ("Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," and "Buhay-Karnabal").
The Halven Story
Vocalist aLfie vera mella released a 4-CD epic package in December 2006, in conjunction with the culmination of his debut album as haLf man haLf eLf. The package included a newly enhanced and redesigned The Halven Trilogy music of Half Life Half Death (commercially released songs and previously unreleased studio recordings) and a redesigned Girl in Mind of The Rain (retitled as Songs for Moonlit Nights, which included a version of Seona Dancing's "More to Lose," showcasing a long-distance collaboration of Paggao [who rendered the guitar tracks in the Philippines] and Mella [who recorded the vocal and keyboard tracks in Canada]). Seona Dancing (ˈʃɔːnə "Shawna" was a 1980s British pop group best known for providing Ricky Gervais with his first taste of fame Part Three of the trilogy, half buried treasures, is yet to be finished; this will feature previously unreleased studio recordings of Half Life Half Death, remixes of studio-recorded songs of Dream Kitchen, remixes of some songs from The Rain album, and alternate versions of haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao. "
The Halves
Original members
- aLfie vera mella (vocals, sound effects), 1988–2003
- Rainald "Rain" C. Paggao (lead guitars, keyboards), 1988–2003
- Joel Padilla Reyes (bass), 1988–1990
- Nestor Edmund "Doods" G. Villafuerte (keyboards), 1988–1990, 2000
- Jonathan "Jon" Villaraza Mejino (drums), 1988–1991
- Caroline "Carol" O. Pobre (female vocals), 1988–1990
Ensuing members
- Ruperto "Pet" Pura de Jesus (guitars, backing vocals), 1989–2000
- Ramil Cruz Aznar (bass), 1990–2003
- Lamberto "Ambet" Taylo (violins, keyboards), 1990–1991, 2000
- Rozylyn Limtuaco Torres (female vocals), 1990–1992
- Robert "Bimbo" Ballesteros (drums), 1991–2001
- Juan "Johnny" Miranda (drums), 1991–1992
- Aldrin Cardona (guitars), 2002–2003
- Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drums), 2002–2003
- Rodel Gremar Bernil (guitars), 2002
Discography
Pymyth Prahn, (Viva Records / Neo Label, 1995)
- A Feast in Pastel Castle
- Alimango
- Butterflies
- Kapalarang K'wago
- If All Sleep Tonight
- Brother's Pen (with Summer's Rain)
- Radio Madness
- Sarimanok
- We Are the Saints
- Nosi Ba Lasi (Lala's mix)
- Aligue
- Unfated Love
- Engkanto
- Cariñosa
- Kapit-Tukô
The Halven Trilogy Part One: half forgotten songs (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
- Tsanel Tsek
- Alimango
- Kapit-Tukô
- Kapalarang Kuwago
- Sarimanok
- Nosi Ba Lasi [Lala's mix]
- Aligue (taba ng alimango)
- High School (Life)
- Engkanto
- Cariñosa
- Sa Paskong Darating
- Halina sa Peryà
The Halven Trilogy Part Two: half remembered dreams (eLf ideas, 2003/2007)
- Channel Check
- A Feast in Pastel Castle
- If All Sleep Tonight
- We Are the Saints
- Butterflies
- Brother's Pen
- Summer's Rain
- Radio Madness
- Unfated Love
- A Night like This [live]
- Butterflies [live]
- Brother's Pen [eLven mix]
The Halven Trilogy Part Three: half buried treasures (eLf ideas, 2007)
- tracklisting, still in the making
The Woes of Emong Payaso by haLf man haLf eLf (eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records, 2007)
- Mahiwagang sapatos ni Emong Payaso
- Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao
- Walang tigil ang palabas sa entablado
- Sa likod ng bawat tagumpay ay kalbaryo
Songs for Moonlit Nights by The Rain (2007)
- Ben's Magic
- Girl in Mind
- Singing My Pain Away
- The Ghost in You [originally by The Psychedelic Furs]
- I, Sisyphus
- Pourin' Rain
- Cold Rooms
- Perfect Moment
- Shouldn't Spoil the Day
- More to Lose [originally by Seona Dancing]
- Games
A Dozen Alternatives (a compilation) (Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
- Kapit-Tuko
Christmas on the Rocks (a compilation) (Viva Records / Neo Label, 1994)
- Sa Paskong Darating
Mga Himig Natin Volume 2 (a compilation) (Vicor Records, 1995)
- High School (Life)
Okey si Ma'am (Original Movie Soundtrack) (Viva Records, 1995)
- Nosi Ba Lasi? (Lala's mix)
External links
- Halflife.20m.com is the official Web site of Half Life Half Death.
- eLf ideas is the official Web site of the band's vocalist.
- Listen to Half Life Half Death songs
- Watch the video of "16 Hours" by Dream Kitchen
- Listen to a rough mix of "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao by haLf man haLf eLf"
- Listen to The Rain's versions of "More to Lose" and "The Ghost in You"
- Listen to snippets of new songs by The Rain: "Sooner than Last Time," "Girl Afraid," and "Radio"
- Watch videos of live performances by haLf man haLf eLf
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