What Real Christmas Means to Me

Since we've decided to return last year, one of the plans that we put into motion was to write a Christmas song. It is something that we have never done before, and it was one of the goals for 2022. In the Philippines, as early as September, Christmas tunes already abound the airwaves. And it is none other than the premier Filipino Christmas Carol balladeer Jose Mari Chan, who usually dominates radio stations' playlists with his song "Christmas in our Hearts." It is really a staple here in the Philippines for more than 30 years and counting. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Filipinos can memorize his song better than other traditional Christmas Carols. That's how big he is. Meanwhile, while the plans to revive Thoughts And Notions didn't come into fruition yet last year, the other half of Thoughts And Notions' songwriting duo, Wilbert Tan, was busy starting his own solo musical project under the pseudonym, Wile Lile. Not really a gifted vocalist, his musical excursions were mostly in the instrumental nature. And after one fine boring day, he decided to compose an intense Rock Metal version of "Christmas in our Hearts" just for the fun of it. We would later call it "The Nightmare before Christmas in our Hearts" in tribute of that animated movie headlined by the creepy Jack Skellington. Nightmare because we might have just ruined the most well-loved Christmas song in our country, by making use of Jose Mari Chan's vocals on a Rock Metal arrangement of his well-loved Christmas song. But it was just for the sheer fun of it. You can hear the sample of that project in the video I attached below:      

So, while it was nothing serious but just the mere pleasure of flexing Wile Lile's creative juices, I on the other hand was seriously thinking about writing a Christmas song lyric that would probably fit in the post covid world. And to find inspiration for it, I looked around and asked people I know what Christmas means to them. One of the most common answers was, Jose Mari Chan. This had turned to become a vicious joke in the local social media platforms in the past years or so. Some of those I asked would answer that Christmas would remind them about accomplishments/victories that they achieved for the year. Looking forward to the Christmas Bonus for a job well done. I asked some kids what Christmas means to them, and the common answer was the gifts/presents that they are looking forward to receiving. Or the Christmas parties that they will be attending. Or about that old guy in red, Santa Claus, if he would be visiting on Christmas Eve to drop some presents to those who were nice. And yet some would say, it's about the boy in the manger. Born on Christmas Eve, Jesus Christ, our savior. So, I put these all into thought and used it as an inspiration for me to come up with my first Christmas themed lyrics. Of course, the original intention was to write a song that would also sound something similar to traditional Christmas songs like the one Jose Mari Chan is singing. After I finished writing the lyrics, I sent them to Wilbert, for him to compose his music making magic to our Christmas song.

Tirada on the overall band music

And to be honest, I never really thought that the song would sound like what it is right now. I was mind blown, and aghast that our song has turned into a non-traditional Jose Mari Chan like Christmas song. But Wilbert's continuing creative juice to come up with an edgier sounding Christmas song has taken the reins during his creative process. And since Thoughts And Notions basically for the year operated as a songwriting duo that features various Cagayan de Oro based artists to interpret their songs, Wilbert suggested to me that we'll let his Glam/Alternative Rock Band Tirada interpret the song instead. At first, I really wasn't sold on the idea. I still wanted a more solemn and traditional Christmas Carol like song. But Wilbert told me he wanted to be different and non-traditional. There's no way that we are going to be remembered for a Christmas song that will always pale in comparison to a monolithic 30 plus year old song by Jose Mari Chan. So, I finally gave in. I mean sometimes our musical tastes differs, but I've always let Wilbert do his musical stuffs when it comes to our partnership with Thoughts And Notions. Good thing that both of us have this habit of being non-traditional when it comes to our songs and are looking to innovate whenever we can. So, the first order of things was really to make this a collaborative process with some of the most active musicians in Cagayan de Oro's local music scene. And what a cast of musicians we've assembled. 

AJ Alburo on Bass

Apart from the usual suspects (Wilbert and Me for Thoughts And Notions), we have Wilbert's band Tirada record the instrumental parts of the song. For added bass kicks, we got AJ Alburo, a bass guitar prodigy, jam in with the band. Then we got Elvis Rock Cabillar, of the 13th Philippines Music and Press Corps Star Awards Rock Artist of the year nominee Bloodflowers, to do the vocal chores. And then finally, Wilbert will turn into his Wile Lile persona to do some instrumental solo towards the end of the song that would rekindle us back to his solo instrumental outputs with his legendary Progressive Rock band Oblivion. And the final product he turned in? A beautifully written and recorded Frankenstein of a Christmas Song! No joke, my mind was blown away with the final product. I never envisioned my Christmas lyrics to turn into this ensemble cast of musicians with deep and various Rock influences to deliver one of the most unique Christmas songs that I have ever heard. In fact, I don't remember any Christmas song as intense as this.

Elvis Rock Cabillar on Vocals

But the final question will always be, do I think the song would be relevant to our times? Or make a mark to those who would be able to listen to it? That I don't know. But with all the countless Christmas songs and carols out there that glorifies the commercial power of the Christmas Season, I just wanted to contribute to helping people refocus on what Real Christmas truly means. And it has always been about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He should be celebrated like how we celebrate the rock stars that we look up to. I believe we should be loud and boisterous and even proud to have him in our life. There is always a time for solemnity and calm. But wouldn't it also be great to be in a festive mood to celebrate Jesus? He who made our life extraordinary by living among us and then eventually sacrificing his life to save us from our sins. Because after the Christmas Season ends, and we'd be facing another New Year. The question remains, have we been a better Christian to our fellowmen for the year that was? 

Wile Lile on that sick lead guitar solo towards the end

But before the New Year comes, we hope you celebrate with us by Pre-Saving our song. And if you like it enough, help us make the song reach as many listeners as we can. Let's be loud and proud that Christmas is and will always be about Jesus!

Pre-Save Link:

https://bfan.link/what-real-christmas-means-to-me  

UPDATE!

What Real Christmas Means to Me just made it to the Official Spotify Editorial Playlist "New Music Friday"