[Editor’s Introduction]
Hello fellow Filipiniana fans,
Today, I’m sharing something from the HF archive. Just a day after launching our social channels, I posted about Betamax by Sandwich. I’ve always loved that song — first because it’s a bop, but later on I appreciated it even more because it’s essentially a love letter to Philippine music. I think any OPM fan should have this song on their list of greatest Filipino songs for that reason.
Halina!
-Roi
[🎶 Music] Betamax by Sandwich, a love letter to Philippine music
Betamax doesn’t get enough credit. No, I’m not talking about the Sony video cassette recording format that rivaled VHS – although that was also influential. I’m talking about the popular song by Sandwich!
I’m sure you’ve heard of it. You probably even sing along during the chorus, like many others. Still, I think the song is pretty underrated.
More than its catchy tune, Betamax is a love letter to Philippine music. It pays homage to the influential artists that helped shape OPM. Sandwich itself is an influential band, but it stands on the shoulders of giants. From Pepe Smith to Dead Ends, the song references and honors those giants!
At the same time, the song acknowledges that OPM is a living, evolving thing. “Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon.”
Just as Sandwich emerged, influenced by the icons before them, so will other next wave artists rise and move Philippine music forward. “Padayon!”
See our related posts on our socials (Instagram, TikTok).
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PS: We compiled the songs referenced in Sandwich’s Betamax in a YouTube playlist. You can gain access to the playlist by inviting at least 3 friends to subscribe to our newsletter. Click here for the instructions or simply click “Refer a friend” below.