The Five Best Songs of Sugarfree

I love music and "Top __" lists, so here's another one of their love children.

I was a solid fan of OPM years ago, but since 2007/2008, the quality of local music has been on a steep decline (at least in my opinion). Aside from a handful of songs, including Sponge Cola's "Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay", any song by Ourselves the Elves, and in my opinion the best OPM song in recent memory, Gloc 9's "Sirena", there aren't many songs to remember. Nowadays, when I watch Myx, a favorite channel of mine back then, all I see are pop songs from the US and Korea. Whenever there are OPM-specific shows, most of the music are downright terrible (Special mention: Julian Trono's Wiki Me) while the rest are relatively average. Kim Chiu, Enchong Dee, and Daniel Padilla? No thank you.

That's why when I listen to music, I always find myself listening to songs from the 90's to the early 2000's. If anyone asked me what's my favorite local band, the answer is a no brainer for me: Sugarfree.

Ebe Dancel's songwriting is legendary, and the lyrics to his songs are as honest and straightforward as it could get. As my love for OPM grew when I was a kid, Sugarfree was one of the first bands I listened to. I guess you can say they were instant favorites of mine. Of course, it helps that Ebe Dancel graduated from my high school, UPRHS (I just had to point that out). 

So, enough with the introduction. Here are my top five favorite songs by Sugarfree:

5. Burnout - Sa Wakas

"Kung iisipin mo, di naman dati ganito. Kay bilis kasi ng buhay, pati tayo natangay."

This one just barely beat another favorite of mine, "Kwarto", and it did because of one simple reason: the melody.

4. Kandila - Dramachine

"Sorry di kita hinabol. Sorry kung tayo'y malabo. Maya maya lang ay may ilaw na, pero sana malaman mo. Magkailaw man, madilim pa rin...kung wala na...kung wala ka."

One word to describe this song: heartbreaking. This one always gets me.

3. Tulog Na - Dramachine

"Tulog na. Hayaan na muna natin sila. Mamaya, hindi ka na nila kaya pang saktan."

Who doesn't love this song, really? It's a classic example of the time when OPM was so good.

2. Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin - Tala-Arawan

"Kung hindi ka na babalik, araw araw na akong gigimik. Kung malayo ka na ay malaya na ako."

I remember when I watched the Myx Daily Top Ten everyday just so I can watch the music video of this song. It's a fantastic hymn for the heartbroken Filipino who's too cool to shed tears.

1. Cuida - Dramachine (Repackaged)

"Kung hawak ko lang ang panahon, wala nang kahapon at bukas, meron lang ngayon. Nais kong maging saysay ng aking buhay ay bigyan ang iyo ng kulay."

Sugarfree didn't release this as a single, and it's a shame 'cause it's truly their best song. It's also one of the sweetest and most honest OPM love songs ever. Don't believe me? Give it a try.