Alapaap
"Alapaap" is a song by the Philippine alternative rock band Eraserheads from their second album Circus.
Music and lyrics
Along with other Philippine rock songs at the time such as "Iskolar ng Bayan" by Yano and "Laklak" by Teeth, "Alapaap" became a subject of controversy due to its suggestive lyrics, which Senator Tito Sotto saw as promoting drug use. Sotto, who was a member of the Citizens' Drug Watch, called for the song to be banned from radio in August 1995. The band responded with a letter to the senator stating that it was a misinterpretation and that the song was their "ode to freedom", not drug abuse. "That is freedom of expression," stated writer Ely Buendia. "Gusto ko lang kumawala sa problema sa mundo, gusto ko lang lumaya." They also personally met with the senator, vowing to join the Junior DrugWatch for an anti-drug campaign.In a 2012 Esquire article, Buendia confirmed that the song did allude to drug use but at the same time maintained that it can also be interpreted otherwise. He also acknowledged its similarity to the Pale Fountains song "Reach".
The opening melody of the song was later sampled by Francis M. for his song "Whole Lotta Lovin'" from the 1998 album The Oddventures of Mr. Cool.
Covers
- 6cyclemind covered the song twice: with then-vocalist Ney Dimaculangan for the first Eraserheads tribute album Ultraelectromagneticjam!: The Music of the Eraserheads, released in 2005; and with vocalist Tutti Caringal and Eunice Jorge of Gracenote on guest vocals for the second Eraserheads tribute album The Reunion: An Eraserheads Tribute Album, released in 2012.
- Yeng Constantino & Harana covered the song for the 2017 film Dear Other Self.
- Leanne and Naara covered the song in 2019 as part of the third Eraserheads tribute album Pop Machine the Album.
- Dilaw covered the song for the 2023 film Firefly.