Christmas tunes from The CompanY

At a time when new Pilipino songs for the Christmas celebration come few and far between, it is nice to know that The CompanY has released a Christmas single. Just a single as there is no new Christmas album yet for The CompanY. Sounding truly distinguished with the group’s trademark vocals, this is titled Love Is Love Is Love.

Now available on all streaming and downloading platforms, Love Is Love Is Love is a sparkling pop tune that reminds me a lot of The CompanY’s first recording, Everlasting Love. I like to think that it should be able to stand on its own merits outside of the Holiday season. Love, after all, should not be present only during Christmastime and CompanY singing, as proven by these past 33 years, certainly knows no season.

Love Is Love Is Love, which, by the way, is a composition by The CompanY founding member Moy Ortiz, brings the country’s premier vocal group full circle across the Christmases of the past 25 years. It was way back in 1993, when The CompanY released its first Christmas recording. The melody was also composed by Ortiz but with lyrics by his frequent collaborator Edith Gallardo. The song was Ilang Tulog Pa Ba? (Malapit Na).

Remember how that song goes? “Kanta nang kanta, ensayo nang ensayo, awiting Pamasko’y di pa rin kabisado, sige lang nang sige kahit wala sa tiyempo, malapit na kaming magkaroling sa inyo. Bilang nang bilang ng inipong pera, kabado man sa gastos ngunit tayo’y maligaya, bili pa nang bili ng kung ano-ano, alin nga bang regalo’ng ibibigay sa ‘yo? Ilang tulog pa ba? Malapit na! Malapit na! Ilang tulog pa ba ang Paskong masaya? Ilang tulog pa ba? Darating na.”

Filipinos, now fabled all over the world for their extra long Christmas celebration and daily suspenseful countdowns in anticipation of the big day, instantly fell for the song and turned it into one of our contemporary Christmas favorites. It also established The CompanY as one of the best Christmas interpreters.

 What etched this thought in stone was the arrival in 2006 of The Christmas Album by The CompanY. It was The CompanY at its best in the most affecting album ever and which is now one of my all-time favorites. There were no new originals but given the arrangements and the interpretation, every song included might as well have been expressly written for The CompanY.

Like the annual Christmas season, which takes its atmosphere from existing situation, appreciation of The Christmas Album by The CompanY really depends on the state of your emotions. Happiness brimming up to the housetops, try Deck! Deck! Deck! The Halls or a funky Christmas medley of Joy To The World, We Three Kings Of Orient Are, Angels We Have Heard On High and Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Noche Buena by Felipe de Leon and Levi Celerio.

If suffering a sentimental fit or nursing a heartache, find kindred emotions in Isang Taong Lumipas with music by Ryan Cayabyab and words by Jose Javier Reyes, It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve and the album’s quiet closer, a mash-up of The Party’s Over and Auld Lang Syne.

The other cuts included are I’ll Be Home For Christmas; Mama Cita, Donde Esta Santa Claus?; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; The (Not So) Little Drummer Boy; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire); Let There Be Peace On Earth.

Not to forget, The CompanY actually released two new singles for this Christmas season. Aside from Love Is Love Is Love, there is also You Just Know It’s Christmas. Also composed by Ortiz, this is the official Christmas song of Solaire, which intends to release five versions of the song. Heard The CompanY rendition which hit me as a strange surprise. It echoes of a very early time and is not the usual The CompanY sound.

One of these days maybe I will also get to listen to the other interpretations of You Just Know It’s Christmas by Martin Nievera, the jazz and Broadway versions, pop rock by the Up Dharma Down and an instrumental one by an orchestra. So if you intend to visit Solaire this Holiday time, I am sure you will be able to get your fill of this song.

The CompanY is made up of Ortiz, Sweet Plantado, Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista and OJ Mariano.