Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Musical Interlude: ANAK

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I'm sure most of us have heard this song "Anak" (meaning "Child"). The original was written and first performed by Filipino musician Freddie Aguilar. I have always loved its haunting melody, even though I never fully understood the Tagalog lyrics, which are supposed to reflect Filipino values.


So here's the original  for your enjoyment ...






Next the same song in English, also by Freddie A. Maybe some of you will like it better. I must say I still prefer the original.




If you were to Google it, you'd find that this song has also been translated into Malay, Japanese and dozens of other languages.


"Anak" became a finalist at a Manila song festival in 1977. It went on to become very popular in the Philippines and eventually abroad. The song has sold 30 million copies. Billboard magazine reported that the song was the number two world hit of the 1980s. I believe it is still unsurpassed as the all-time highest-selling record of Philippine music.
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16 comments:

  1. Awesome song. A classic!

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  2. Great song. Shows that Asians can top the global charts!

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  3. Some songs just seem to last forever...The Wedding (Julie Rogers), Auld Lange Syn (at first I thought it was "Oh Lang Pang Sai") and now Anak...

    "Anak" is so beautiful that you don't even need to understand Tagalog to appreciate it.

    It was the theme song during one our Parish's Family Retreats. Parents & Children were openly shedding tears when they were asked to reflect deeply on the lyrics and relate that to their relationship.

    Hauntingly beautiful....God made Freddy Aguilar for a special purpose.

    WSJ - Really strange or just coincidental....I happened to post this song on my FB page two days ago...and now you ! I thought someone once said.."Wise men think alike..." What say you ?

    Cheers to everyone and your "anak-anak" too !

    Cheers.

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  4. My goodness, this song is following me everywhere ... I'm at a hotel lounge this evening with a colleague and the singer just started singing "Anak" ! Weird !

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  5. Wise men think alike OR Fools seldom differ? :) :)
    Of course it's Wise men in this instance. Afterall you are Birds of the same feather. No?

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  6. Haven't heard of wise birds. Angry Birds yes. Blue Birds yes. Wise Birds ???

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  7. Josephian of the 60s ..you cant call me Uncle yet!November 17, 2010 at 10:51 AM

    A Blast from the Past ! Brings back memories of the times. Thanks James.

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  8. "Ching Tian Pu Hui Chia".........chin tang na li...wong chong na li.....

    Who sang that song ha?

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  9. Hi

    Anak in Filipino means child just the same as BM. The song was sang in honour of the International Year of Children.

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  10. Teresa Teng maybe, Sabun King ???

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  11. I think it was Ms Yau Soo Yung. She was really famous then and also sang " The Jilted" ----- Foo Sin the learn, foo sin the learn!!!

    Ha ha

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  12. Nah....can't be Teresa Teng la, she's too sentimental to sing that song la. Think CLK is right.

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  13. Remember ANITA SARAWAK ? That's the Way ... Ahuh Ahuh ...

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  14. I read life story of tis Freddy Aguilar ... he had a rather errant youth, sort of prodigal son who lost his way for a while, gambling and so forth, before he wrote ANAK and went home to seek forgiveness from his parents. Very touching leh

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  15. Great song. I remember it performed at many family day and related occasions. Good lyrics.

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