RE-PRESENTING THE FILIPINO VOICE

I've heard/read people saying Bullet's voice is unique. That might be true in the current popular music scene, but not so in Philippine culture per se. I hear this kind of voice from taho/balut/tinapay vendors, palengkeras, and jeepney barkers calling out to prospective customers. I've heard it in ethnomusicological field recordings of traditional musicians from all corners of the Philippines. And I’ve even heard it from folksy popular “novelty music” such as that from Yoyoy Villame and Max Surban. 

Felipe de Leon Jr. once explained to me that unlike some Western musics which aim to impress and dominate the world, Philippine music is more intimate. He said “The way we sing is an expression of our desire to connect to people. So our aesthetics of voice is not the power voice of the west. Operatic singing in the West developed out of the monarchy. It was an entertainment of the king, for the king. So the kind of voice is a projection of monarchic power. … … Kaya heavy kasi dito e, the monarchic voice is projection of power, and struggle, Darwinian struggle, struggle for survival. So you have to project your power so you can be the winner. … On the other hand, the Filipinos use a voice to communicate, to become one. Kaya ang vocal placement natin is frontal, to give a more intimate quality, to attract people, to become one."

Bullet’s voice may be impressive, and may have power. But that’s not the point. His voice draws from many sonic instances in our culture, musical and otherwise. It projects just enough to carry through our natural environment. It communicates in a way which arouses our curiosity, draws us close, and makes us want to be part of his world.  But in addition to this, Bullet re-presents (as opposed to represents) the sound of the Filipino voice in his own way. He has figured out a way to turn the everyday voices in our communities into music. And he has packaged it in such a way that it sounds vaguely familiar, but fresh and contemporary. This to me is what makes Bullet unique. Once you have heard him though, you might never listen to your suking taho vendor the same way again.