THIS YEAR'S SONG FOR CHRISTMAS:  'SASAKYAN  KITA  SA  LAHAT  NG  GUSTO  MO"'

MANILA, December 6, 2004 (STAR) SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil - It happens every year among the fun-loving Filipinos. They will take a hit tune and make it their party song for the year. I do not think anybody, aside from the music producers, of course, ever officially comes out with the choice. You will just find out which one it is by hearing it played over and over in the malls, tiangges, nearly every Christmas party you go to or wherever there is a Christmas-related activity.

As is usual year after year, this particular song is chosen because it has a very strong recall factor and the most infectious beat. I am sure you recall Angelina or The Ketchup Song from some years back. Preferably, it is also simple, nothing complicated. In truth, it is more akin to a nursery rhyme than to the ballads we hear. Parents like to watch their children dance so it would be even better if kids also like the song, can sing the lyrics and do the moves as seen on TV. Nothing sells better than what children like because parents will move heaven and earth to please them, more so during Christmas. Good examples I am sure you remember are last year’s Spagheti by the Sexbomb Girls and Otso-Otso by Bayani Agbayani.

This year the song of choice for the Christmas Season is no other but Sasakyan Kita.

Sasakyan kita/sa lahat ng gusto mo/sasakyan kita/sa lahat ng gusto mo/ sasakyan kita, basta sasakyan mo rin ako/gusto mo ng kiss/bibigyan kita/gusto mo ng hug/sige magsawa ka/gusto mo ng socks/bibilhan kita/gusto mo ng juice/titimpla kita/kung gustong mag-relax/ma-massage kita/gusto mo nang hard/ didiin ko pa/ gusto mong mag-swimming/sige sumisid ka/ gusto mong mag-drive/sasakyan kita." Then, the song repeats, "Sasakyan kita sa lahat ng gusto mo..."

Composed and produced by Lito Camo who also did Spagheti and Bulaklak by the Hotbabes and Sandara’s In or Out, Sasakyan Kita means to just ride along with whatever happens. That is pretty much how life is for most of us these days. Come hell or high water, we are just riding along. Sasakyan Kita is the first big hit by K and the Boxers. I know it used to be Gladys and the Boxers but for some reason or another Gladys is now out of the group and Kay had been promoted to lead girl singer. And lucky for Kay, she comes on her own as a singer at a very good time. The group has at last won recognition as hit music artists after years in the stand-up comedy circuit.

K and the Boxers were recently honored with a Gold Record Award signifying sales of over 15,000 copies of Sasakyan Kita. If the number of mobile phones in the country with Sasakyan Kita as its caller ringback song were included in the tally, I am sure it will easily surpass the Gold quota. How about Platinum or more?

If you do not have it on your phone, I am very sure you hear it lots of times when you make your calls. Mobile ringtones and caller ringback tunes changed or renewed every month have become a most lucrative market for recorded music, and songs with a great hook like Sasakyan Kita are in great demand.

Sasakyan Kita is also the centerpiece of the album Sasakyan Kita Christmas Medley. Again, as is usual during Christmastime ever since the disco medley albums became a big seller, the song is incorporated into a dance medley of traditional carols. So Sasakyan Kita here is the main melody interspersed with the likes of Jingle Bell Rock, Give Love on Christmas Day, Feliz Navidad, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Winter Wonderland, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other old favorites.

The album also includes Christmas medleys using other popular novelty tunes. These are the cute Kikay by the Hotbabes which comes with Frosty the Snowman, Let It Snow, Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus, Little Christmas Tree, The Twelve Days of Christmas plus others and Bulaklak, another big hit by the Hotbabes with O Come All Ye Faithful, Little Drummer Boy, You’re All I Want for Christmas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Do You Hear What I Hear, I’ll Be Home for Christmas and many more.