Who is the ‘businessman’ in Gloc-9’s new single?
Gloc-9 isn’t releasing a new album this year, but he has a special treat, in fact an early Christmas gift for all his fans. He will be putting out “Biyahe ng Pangarap,” a concert documentary of his struggles from no name rapper to one of the best musicians of his generation.
The DVD will feature mostly songs from his last three albums highlighted by live performances with the likes of Rico Blanco, Cookie Chua, one of his earliest collaborators, Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar, and Ryan Cayabyab who’s been very supportive of Gloc’s pop-rap crossover.
To mark the release of his concert DVD, Gloc recently released the carrier video “Businessman” of the DVD. It is the only original song on the disc and he collaborated with Direk J. Pacena on the video.
Two layers to the song
In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Philippines, Glog-9 reveals that “Businessman “ is inspired in some levels by current events.
“Tungkol ang kanta, on the one hand, sa love story between a poor boy and a rich girl na sobrang yaman nung babae, pero hindi naman malinaw kung saan nanggagaling ang pera nila,” he said.
“So yung isa pang layer nung kanta yung pagkakaroon ng tatay na businessman nung babaeng mayaman. Ang question lang tungkol sa yaman, ano nga bang business ang nakakapagpayaman sa atin ng ganun-ganon na lang?”
A recurring theme
He said the wealth he envisioned in the song is near unimaginable, to the point where “parang mawawalan na (and pera) ng halaga dahil sa sobrang rangya na ng buhay nila,” he added.
“D’un po siguro ibinibigay ko na sa tagapakinig yung opportunity na isipin kung ano bang trabaho ng mayamang businessman sa kanta.”
The questioning angle in “Businessman” is reminiscent of the understated disparities between rich and poor that are at the heart of Gloc’ s previous songs: “Magda,” “Walang Natira” and “Lando,” one of his earliest hits.
Parokya Ni Edgar member in hiatus
The song “Businessman” features Vinci Montaner of Parokya Ni Edgar and Gloc-9 dancing to the beat. Vinci has taken a breather from band life but got on board for Gloc’s new song.
He is very happy his friends in the industry came out to the video shoot to show their support. But he has special mention to his wife and kids and his parents who expressed whole-hearted support to his quest for recognition that initially was a wild shot in the dark.
“Napakahalaga po sa’kin nung presence ng buo kong pamilya sa concert shoot ng ‘Biyahe Ng Pangarap’ dahil sila po talaga yung nakakita ng aking struggle mula umpisa,” he said.
Exceeding the dream
He is especially thankful to his parents, who raised him the way they did, which allowed him to fulfill his dreams.
Exceed them, in fact.
After all, he admitted, “Ang hiniling ko lang naman po nung umpisa ay ang makapag-record ng isang casette ng mga kanta ko.”
Now, in addition to albums, videos, downloads, awards galore and collabs with some of the biggest name in the music scene (he is also sharing the stage with Rico Blanco and Yeng Constantino in ICON: The Concert on Nov. 21 at the Araneta Coliseum)—Gloc-9 has his own “Biyahe ng Pangarap.”
It’s his own testament to the power of dreams.
The exclusive screening, for one night only, of “Biyahe ng Pangarap” will happen on Nov. 9, Sunday, 7 pm at Robinson’s Galleria Cinema 1 in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong.
Advanced copies of the DVD will be available for the first time during the special screening.
For more videos of Gloc-9, visit the Universal Records channel on YouTube.
