Parokya ni Edgar


Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino rock band formed in 1993, composed of Chito Miranda, Gab Chee Kee, Buwi Meneses, Darius Semaña, Dindin Moreno, and Vinci Montaner. The band is known for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs both foreign and local. The band is adept at playing in various musical genres.
Parokya ni Edgar has been referred to by local media outlets as "The National Band of the Philippines". As of 2005, the band has reportedly sold 600,000 albums in the Philippines for their first eight albums.

History

Formation and early years

Originally named Comic Relief, the band's initial members were a group of high school students composed of vocalists Chito Miranda, Jeric Estaco, and Vinci Montaner, along with guitarists Mikko Yap and Gab Chee Kee, all hailing from Ateneo de Manila University. They were regulars in after-school jam sessions, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This served as their break in the music industry and prompted them to add a drummer and bassist – Ateneo schoolmate Dindin Moreno and Miranda's childhood friend Buwi Meneses, respectively. Around the same time they changed the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar. After high school, Mikko and Jeric withdrew from the band to pursue other interests. Soon after, the remaining band members invited Darius Semaña, Meneses's former bandmate, to take the role of lead guitar.

Career

Name origin

The band name's origin had been a subject of debate among fans as the band members had never given full confirmation. It was not until 2013 that Chito Miranda officially addressed it through a post on their Facebook page. The title "Parokya Ni Edgar" came from a joke a classmate named Bambi Cuna made during one of their high school classes. Sources state that the class subject was Filipino. When the teacher asked Cuna where Jose Rizal's fictional hero, Crisostomo Ibarra was educated, it was said that Cuna made up a daft answer, "sa Parokya ni Edgar". Then-vocalist Jeric Estaco decided on impromptu to introduce the band as "Parokya ni Edgar" in their first live performance. From there, the band name just stuck.

Mainstream

The band's initial recordings, "Buloy", "Trip " and "Lutong Bahay ", gained radio airplay. Their first album, Khangkhungkherrnitz became a triple platinum hit in the Philippines, having sold 120,000 units. The next albums were equal successes - Buruguduystunstugudunstuy was awarded triple platinum, Jingle Balls Silent Night Holy Cow with gold, and Gulong Itlog Gulong with triple platinum. This included the single "Halaga", one of the most popular songs of the band. "Halaga" was such a hit in the country that it further boosted PNE's career, cementing their name in the OPM scene.
In 1999, 2 years after Eraserheads won as Best Southeast Asian Music Video Award Winner for "Ang Huling El Bimbo" in 1997, Parokya won as Best Southeast Asian Music Video Award Moon Man Winner for the music video "Harana" in the MTV Music Video Music Awards 1999 which was held in New York City.
After a four-year hiatus, they released their studio album Edgar Edgar Musikahan in 2002.

Millennium success: 2003-2009

All throughout 2015, the band toured selected cities in the United States; they headlined at the Landmark Loews Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey on March 21, 2015. That same year, the band began recording for their next album and contained the tracks "Sing" and "Lagi Mong Tatandaan", the former featuring Rico Blanco. Their 9th studio album and their 14th overall album is entitled Pogi Years Old. The cover album was revealed on September 2, 2016 through their Facebook page and expected to be released by 2016. Former member Vinci Montaner was said to appear on the album as a featured artist. On September 9, 2016, the band held a free surprise show at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila. The album was released on October 17, 2016 nationwide and on digital format. The band held an album launch at Eastwood Central Plaza on October 16, 2016, marking the return of Vinci Montaner, who would join permanently days later.
On November 22, 2017, Parokya was named as the newest celebrity music star inductee in the 2017 Eastwood City Walk of Fame in Eastwood City Mall Quezon City for their influence in Pinoy rock music. Parokya was the third related music group and first OPM rock band to be inducted to the Eastwood City Walk Of Fame.

Current: 2020-present

As of 2020, Parokya is still active with more gigs and is scheduled to release their new single together with the band Kamikazee.

Activism

Parokya joined PETA's Free Mali campaign in 2013. "Mali has been sentenced to a miserable life of solitary confinement with absolutely nothing to do day after day, year after year", says lead vocalist Chito Miranda. Scientists, politicians, religious leaders, and tens of thousands of other concerned people have joined PETA in calling for Mali to be freed. "We in Parokya ni Edgar do, too. Even if the elephant exhibit at the Manila Zoo were to be doubled or tripled in size, it would still not be adequate to house one elephant, never mind additional ones. While zoos around the world have spent upwards of 2 billion pesos on attempts at more appropriately sized elephant exhibits, more and more zoos have recognized that the needs of these complex and intelligent animals cannot be met in captivity".

Band members

;Current members
  • Chito Miranda – lead vocals
  • Gab Chee Kee – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Buwi Meneses – bass guitar, occasional backing vocals
  • Darius Semaña – lead guitar
  • Dindin Moreno – drums, percussion
  • Vinci Montaner – backing vocals, monologue, vocal ad-libs, occasional percussion
;Touring and session members
  • Paolo Bernaldo – bass guitar
  • Andrew Panaligan – acoustic guitar, backing vocals

    Discography

Albums

Studio albums

  • Khangkhungkherrnitz
  • Buruguduystunstugudunstuy
  • Gulong Itlog Gulong
  • Edgar, Edgar Musikahan
  • Bigotilyo
  • Halina Sa Parokya
  • Solid
  • Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers
  • Pogi Years Old
  • ''Borbolen''

    Christmas albums

  • ''Jingle Balls Silent Night Holy Cow''

    Compilation albums

  • Matira Matibay: PG-13
  • ''Bente''

    Live albums

  • Inuman Sessions Vol. 1
  • ''Inuman Sessions Vol. 2''

    DVDs

  • Inuman Sessions VOL.1 DVD
  • Matira Matibay: PG-13 DVD
  • Inuman Sessions VOL.2 DVD
  • ''Bente: Parokya Ni Edgar 20th Anniversary DVD''

    Collaborative album appearances

  • Akustic Natin
  • Akustic Natin Vol. 2
  • The Best of OPM Acoustic Hits
  • The Best of OPM Love Ballads
  • Pinoy Ako
  • OPM Superstars Christmas
  • Superbands
  • Kami nAPO muna
  • OPM Gold Christmas Album
  • The Biggest OPM Hits of The Year SUPER
  • Bandang Pinoy, Lasang Hotdog
  • Kami nAPO muna ulit
  • Pinoy Biggie Hits Rewind
  • Level Up: The Album
  • OPM Platinum Christmas
  • Another Biggest OPM Hits of The Year SUPER 2
  • Pinoy Biggie Hits Vol. 3
  • Astig...The Biggest Band Hits
  • Harana: OPM's Biggest Hits In Guitar
  • I-Star 15: The Best Of Alternative & Rock Songs
  • OPM All Star Christmas
  • A Perfectly Acoustic Experience
  • Awit Kapuso: Kay Sarap Maging Kapuso
  • ''Super Astig Hits''

    Singles

  • 1996: "Buloy"
  • 1996: "Lutong Bahay "
  • 1996: "Tatlong Araw"
  • 1996: "Maniwala Ka Sana"
  • 1997: "Silvertoes"
  • 1997: "Sayang"
  • 1997: "Harana"
  • 1997: "Sampip"
  • 1999: "Picha Pie"
  • 1999: "Halaga"
  • 1999: "Inuman Na"
  • 1999: "Oka Tokat"
  • 1999: "Wag Mo Na Sana"
  • 2002: "Swimming Beach"
  • 2002: "Sorry Na"
  • 2002: "This Guy's in Love with You Pare"
  • 2002: "Beh! Buti Nga!"
  • 2003: "Mr. Suave"
  • 2003: "The Yes Yes Show"
  • 2003: "Alumni Homecoming"
  • 2004: "Chikinini"
  • 2004: "Your Song "
  • 2005: "Kaleidoscope World"
  • 2005: "First Day Funk"
  • 2005: "Mang Jose"
  • 2005: "Bagsakan"
  • 2005: "Para Sa 'Yo"
  • 2005: "Papa Cologne"
  • 2005: "The Ordertaker"
  • 2005: "Gitara"
  • 2006: "Pumapatak ang Ulan"
  • 2007: "American Junk"
  • 2007: "Nescafe"
  • 2007: "Macho"
  • 2007: "Boys Do Falling Love"
  • 2007: "Lastikman "
  • 2008: "Akala"
  • 2008: "Reunion"
  • 2010: "I-Bulsarap!"
  • 2010: "Panday Kids"
  • 2010: "Pakiusap Lang "
  • 2012: "Pangarap Lang Kita"
  • 2013: "One Hit Combo"
  • 2013: "Ang Parokya"
  • 2014: "Salamat Po"
  • 2015: "Sing"
  • 2015: "Lagi Mong Tatandaan"
  • 2016: "Beautiful Girl"
  • 2017: "Wala Lang Yun"
  • 2018: "Friendzone Mo Mukha Mo"
  • 2020: "Pati Pato"
  • 2020: "Smile"
  • 2021: "It's Masarap"
  • 2021: "Borbolen"
  • 2022: "Rosas"
  • 2022: "Wag Ka Na"
  • 2022: "Until Now"

    Parodies and samples

Parokya ni Edgar is also known for parodying songs of famous singers and bands.
  • "Trip" - "Creep" by Radiohead
  • "Alimango" - "Animal" by Pearl Jam
  • "The Crush " - "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash
  • "Papa Cologne" - interpolates "Lança Perfume" by Rita Lee
  • "Picha Pie" - "I Will Survive" by Cake
  • "Chikinini" - "Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo" by Yano
  • "Nakaw ang Wallet Ko" - "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns N' Roses
  • "The Ordertaker" - a mashup of "Chop Suey!" and "Toxicity" by System of a Down
  • "Macho" - "Macho Man" by Village People
  • "Tange" - "The Popeye Theme"
  • "Celfone Wallet" / "Celfone Celfone Wallet" - from the "Seiko Wallet Jingle" by Bing Rodrigo
  • "Pedro, Basura Man" - "The Popeye Theme"
  • "Bagsakan" - interpolates "Pollux Diving" by Keltscross and the Contra theme song from Base I and II
  • "Mang Jose" - Interpolates the lyrics of the opening theme for Daimos and even referenced the mecha anime in its lyrics.
  • "Laging Mong Tatandaan" - interpolates "Pusong Bato" by Aimee Torres
  • "It's Masarap" - interpolates "Eat Bulaga"
  • "Wag Ka Na" - interpolates "Disney's Camp Rock 2"