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Few Filipino albums capture the disorienting intensity of heartache as compellingly as Songs to Slash Your Wrist By (MunkeyMusic), composer/lyricist/musical director/actor/playwright Vincent de Jesus’s terrific, if underheralded, collection of 11 songs written over a 24-year period that were sung by some of the most talented vocalists in the Philippine music industry today.
Launched in September 2013, the independently produced Songs to Slash Your Wrist By is one of those albums that’s best listened to with headphones and a nice bottle of red wine, as the insanely prolific de Jesus recommends, and not while trying to take your own life, despite what the title says. (To be sure, de Jesus—whose works in theater, television and film have earned him numerous trophies from various award-giving bodies—has explicitly warned not to take the title literally.)
It’s a testament to de Jesus’s formidable musical skills and reputation that he has attracted truly fine singers to interpret his songs, and they do so with an unshakable commitment that makes these tunes so effective to listen to.
This is apparent in the strong opening track, the heartrending “Tahimik Lang,” sung by The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 contestant Daryl Ong. Observe how well Ong expresses exhaustion and heartbreak in these lyrics: “Paos na ang damdaming naisantabi / Kahit magmakaawa, walang makakapansin / Patuloy lang sa pag-ikot ng mundong kay ingay / Habang narito ako / Tahimik lang / Ang pusong bagong libing / Ay tahimik lang.”
Another solid track is “As Long As,” sung by The Dawn frontman and actor Jett Pangan. It’s a wonderful treat when a song and singer are perfectly matched, and that’s exactly the case here: Pangan’s voice, which can be both forceful and soothing, provides just the right emotion these words require: “Outside there’s so much sadness / It’s raining tears / The fields have drowned in sorrow / The sun has lost its smile. / As long as you have me / And as long as I have you, / That’s all that matters now / Nothing else matters now.”
Other standouts in the album are:
* “The Man of Steel,” sung by the very lovely Kalila Aguilos. It has stirring, soul-crushing lyrics such as these: “The Man of Steel is cold / The Man of Steel let go of his hold / The Man of Steel stole my heart / And he flew up, up, up and away…from me.” Ouch.
* “Duwag,” sung by Noel Cabangon. His piercing interpretation virtually ensures that listeners would not be left untouched by the song: “Iba ang sambit mo sa iyong ginagawa / Nangangalay ka kapag ako’y umaakbay / Kahit magkatabi at ika’y inaawitan, hindi mo na ako naririnig. / Kung wala na nga, / Eh, di wala na. / Bakit di mo masabi? / Dahil ang puso mong duwag, / Hanggang ngayon, duwag pa rin.”
* “Ako Lang ang Nagmahal,” sung by both de Jesus and Aiza Seguerra in different versions. If the other songs in the album somehow fail to plunge you into despair or make you feel that you are being bled dry, then this song just might do that for you: “Ngunit tamis ng pag-ibig ay pinatabang ng panahon / Hindi lahat ng kwento’y masayang nagwawakas / At bago ko namalayan, di mo na ako kailangan / At ako’y muli ngayong nag-iisa.”
As people start going gaga or googly-eyed over all things related to Valentine’s Day, which is fast approaching, it’s rather nice to be occasionally reminded by an album like Songs to Slash Your Wrist By that love, like certain chocolates, can be both sweet and bitter. Such bitterness is often the stuff great songs are made of, and the album is full of them. As Songs to Slash Your Wrist By proves, some relationships may not endure, but one emerges from them a much better, stronger and wiser person. ALVIN I. DACANAY
Songs to Slash Your Wrist By can now be purchased on iTunes, Spotify and CD Baby. For more information about the album, visit www.facebook.com/pages/Songs-to-Slash-Your-Wrist-By.