OUR SALUTE TO A FILIPINO ARTIST: FRANCISMOver the past few decades in the history of Philippine Music, there have been so many good musicians, so many great singers and great bands. But there were actually a rare number of them who were as true to Pinoy sensibilities, true to Pinoy spirit, and with the power and the influence that can reach out to as many listeners as it can, an artist like Francis Magalona.
Last March 6, 2009 FrancisM's mortal existence died. But his spirit lives on. Stronger than ever. A spirit that we salute to.
Other musicians can rap about anything. What sets FrancisM apart from other rappers and other musicians is that FrancisM chooses to sing about nationalism, social issues, and relevant issues. HIS ART MATTERS. HIS ART HAS VALUE. FrancisM is one artist that should be considered as one of the TRUE FILIPINO ARTISTS.
There are very few local musicians still have that very concrete sense of relevance. Many musicians out there just like to sing about themselves, their pathetic love stories, and their own pathetic little lives. NOT FrancisM. FrancisM sings about lots of things that matter. He sees his music in a broader focus. The kind of music that reaches out to people of many many circumstances in life.
In his musical appearances, He's always garbed in something both hip AND nationalistic. He has made fashion designs that promote nationalism. He has made the 3 Stars & Sun and the Red & Blue look that resembles the Phulippine flag look cool, stylish, hip & fashionable. His art influenced the nation to see the banners of Philippine identity as something to be proud once again.
Actually, I am really not a big fan of FrancisM, but I can never deny and can clearly see that this is an artist that deserves our salute.
I know I am not the right person to talk about Rap and Hip-hop. But I hope and I pray that Filipino Hip-Hop musicians and rappers out there, instead of idolizing gangsters and vain rappers, instead of worshipping the ugly side of Hip-Hop, instead of all that.... These people SHOULD TAKE EXAMPLE FROM THIS ONE TRUE HIP HOP GOD. The Master Rapper. The Pinoy Hip-hop Pioneer. The Man from Manila. The Freeman. THE FILIPINO MUSICIAN AND ARTIST. Si KIKO. Francis M. FRANCIS MAGALONA.
[sneeze magazine]
this article will be included on the upcoming SNEEZE Magazine to be officially released on March 13, 2009
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