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Bassilyo, the guy behind the phenom 'Lord, Patawad,' on how to write a hit song

The guy with more than 12 million YouTube views. (Photo by ARLO from Bassilyo's Facebook)

Bassilyo, the guy behind the hit “Lord Patawad” (12.4 million views on YouTube) has kids and adults singing along to its lilting, skanking rhythm. His recently released album entitled “Klasik” begs the question: what does it take to create songs that cross over to a broad demography? What are the key elements to a future “classic”?

1. You gotta have lived.
“Kailangan malawak ang experience mo sa buhay,” Bassilyo tells Yahoo.

2. You gotta have swag.
“Kailangan may swag o angas na tinatawag. Pero di naman puro angas. Kelangan may balance para maka-connect ka sa mga tao,” he explains.

3. You gotta pick the right words.
“Tula muna ang rap bago lagyan ng melody. Yung rap mo, ang dami mong masasabi. Yung rhyme antimano andyan na. Piliin mo na lang mga makabuluhang salita.”

4. You gotta throw in a little satire.
On his new album, Bassilyo has a song called “Walang Kwentang Kanta,” which, despite its throwaway title, spins satirical snipes at the contradictions in how people conduct their ordinary lives.

 

“Like, inom ka nang inom ng gluta, nakabilad ka naman sa araw maghapon,” he explains. “Tapos, mag-eexercise ka sa umaga, kakain ka naman nang marami sa gabi. Me diploma ka nga, wala namang trabaho.”

The track can be extended into an urban rhyme similar to “May Pulis Sa Ilalim Ng Tulay.”

5. You gotta earn your stripes.
It’s the kind of quick-witted riposte that earned Bassilyo the gold medal in various rap battles. In 2012, he joined FlipTop where his three remarkable performances have all gone viral, generating over 10 million views on YouTube and counting.

6. You gotta know your roots.
Bassilyo considers his act to be a mix of Andrew E. and Francis M, icons of the first generation of local rap artists.

7. You gotta differentiate yourself.


He thinks his main edge over other rappers is his ability to throw comic lines with a meaty hook that keeps the competition reeling from the get-go.

8. You gotta be ‘masa.’
“Di importante sa akin kung bakya man ang nakikinig sa akin. Kung sila naman ang nakararami, e di mas marami ako nababahaginan ng aking mga karanasan,” he says.

9. You gotta have a message.
“Kung mag-focus ako para ang maka-relate lang ay mga rapper o hip hop, sobrang liit nun. Kaya nga ako kumakanta para makapaghatid ng mensahe. Bakit ko naman titipirin ang maabot ng kanta ko? Ilatag ko na lang sa lahat na nakararami! “

10. You gotta put yourself in the song.
To this end, his current hit, “Lord, Patawad,” isn’t just another fad. He puts himself in character of a sinner seeking forgiveness. “Pag nag-peperform ako natural lang. Kung ano lang maisip ko na akma, yun ang sasabihin ko. Pero yung ‘Lord, Patawad,’ kinakanta ko kahit di bagay sa sitwasyon. Kahit sa rally, kinakanta ko yun. Paborito ko kasing kanta!” Just like millions of his fans.

 

 

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