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HomeNational NewsSong, fame, and the inevitability of death

Song, fame, and the inevitability of death

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“Lahat tayo’y mamamatay
Gusto mo bang makisabay
Saan mo nais humimlay
‘Pag nawalan ka ng malay”

Death. Entropy. Decay.

It’s a natural state of things. All matter decay and rot and fester, and we all become worm fodder when we die. Still, the inevitability of death did not prepare music fans when they learned that well-loved singer-songwriter, Danny Javier passed away last 31 October 2022.

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Danny was one-third of the singing group iconic The Apo Hiking Society, who gave us such hits as Kabilugan ng Bwan, Pumapatak na naman Mag Ulan, and Blue Jeans.

Danny is considered by many as the glue in the group, the artistic force that made Apo the way it had been which is arguably the biggest, if not the biggest OPM singing group in the Philippines. (Speaking of OPM, or Original Pilipino Music, Danny was also credited for coining that term to describe original Filipino songs sang and composed by Pinoy artists).

"Javier in 2010" by Ronnie1079 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
“Javier in 2010” by Ronnie1079 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Danny’s voice had that iconic baritone often associated with syrupy ballads. His voice was thick, sensual, the kind associated with lazy rainy afternoons and coffee mugs and warm blankets. He could sing about sexual dalliances and make it sound really romantic.

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His latest song gets the Danny Javier treatment. It was the song he performed and was released shortly before his death.

The song was “Lahat Tayo.”

“Lahat tayo’y mamamatay
Gusto mo bang makisabay
Saan mo nais humimlay
‘Pag nawalan ka ng malay”

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It was sung with Danny Javier’s iconic baritone, but the macabre theme was offset by the lively, almost playful tune. It’s almost as if the man was merely singing about his misadventures in college, or about his love for his craft.

The song it appears was a portent for things to come because a short time later, Danny Javier passed away, as he succumbed to complications of a lingering illness.

Such is the indomitable spirit of the iconic singer, the man, the legend, Danny Javier.

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Hannah A. Papasin
Hannah A. Papasinhttp://facebook.com/hannah.mariveles
Writer. Critic. Professor. She started writing since primary school and now has two published textbooks on communication. A film buff, she's a Communication, Media Literacy and Journalism Professor of the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, and has a Master's Degree in English.
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