From Sugarfree to Ebe.
I admit, the first time I heard that Sugarfree will be disbanding, I almost cried. I was on the jeepney terminal back then, about to go home, when my housemate Lara texted me that Ebe said on a tweet that he will be leaving Sugarfree by March.
Back then, I was morose. It was the high time of me being a Sugarfree fanboy. I just started appreciating (and actually buying) all their albums. I just learned all the songs by heart, then there goes a tweet saying Sugarfree will be no more.
The idea of Ebe going solo bothered me a bit. First, Ebe is not the type you’d market because of looks. Let’s face it, the guy has intense talent. But with looks, well, it is more than safe to say that his talent compensates for it. He’s not ugly, but you know what I mean. LOL. Alright, where was I? Okay, when Ebe announced his planned solo career, I told myself I’d support him, but then I wasn’t so sure.
Fast forward to March 2011. I literally sat in front of my laptop for almost four hours to watch the live stream of Sugarfree’s farewell concert. It was fucking epic. I cried during their last few songs, especially in Unang Araw. Try singing a song about farewell on your farewell concert. Isn’t that fucking saddening? :(
Fast forward again to August 2011. Ebe launched his album. I wasn’t that enthusiastic about his single Muli (just like when Sugarfree released Hay Buhay). After a few plays, I got the song, I appreciated it and boom. It took me a month to get a copy of the album. Blame Baguio for not having new products arriving on time.
I fell in love with the album. All songs were of very good quality. But I’d like to commend the second disc (basically a CD of all songs, stripped-down versions). It’s not the typical alternate take. It’s not just the acoustic guitar plus vocals. It involved mandolin, ukelele, saxophone, cello among many others.
It was different from Sugarfree. People who say it’s the same old thing don’t know the difference. Ebe’s style is there. It’s very prevalent in the entire album. But the way the instruments were played, it was a lot different. It was… Ebe.
Now I feel the difference between Ebe and Sugarfree. But there is one thing I must admit: I miss Sugarfree. Ebe may be flying high in his solo career, but I would miss the trio that shaped my music.
I miss Jal’s backup vocals and tuneful bass lines. I miss Mitch’s appropriately heavy beats and Kaka’s groovy patterns. I miss them. I really do. But oh well, times have changed.
My support for Ebe will always be there. So will be my support for Jal, Mitch, and Kaka in their endeavors. I just hope that maybe some miracle exists that they reunite again, and Sugarfree will be a band again.
