THE New Minstrels doesn’t cease to amuse us with their singing.
In life and death, pandemic and health time, martial rule and freedom, hell and high water, The New Minstrels is here to enchant us with their music.
Since its creation in the seventies, The New Minstrels has given us memorable songs however adaptations such as “Balut,” “Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak,” “Buhat,” “Bastat Mahal Kita,” “Smile” etc. and their original hit “Ikaw, Ako, Tayo’y Magkakapatid”performed by Louie Reyes and the late Eugene Villaluz.
It has produced as well quite a number of artists who have shared their musical legacies through individual recordings, aside from Louie and Eugene, Joey Albert, Chad Borja, Rene Puno, Ding Mercado, Ray-An Fuentes, Joseph Olfindo etc.
The New Minstrels never plans to quit the local Tin Pan Alley no matter in any circumstance.
Still, at the height of the pandemic, the troupe has managed to reinterpret “Hahabol-Habol,” iconic musical piece of the Kundiman variety in an upbeat tempo.
“Hahabol-Habol,” lyrics composed by Clod Delfino and set to music by Ruben Vega, was popularized by Filipino balladeer Bobby Gonzales in the 1960s.
According to Joseph, it was a unanimous choice as a comeback vehicle among the current generation of members and the advisory of the veterans.
Historically, though, Bobby’s novelty song was a signature cut in the maiden record album of the group in the 1970s produced by Vicor Music Corporation.
How did the production secure the copyright of the song this time?
“Louie Villar of Villar Records is a friend of one of our producers, Jess Garcia, who was drummer of the New Minstrels Gen 1,” recalled Olfindo.
“Jess secured the mechanical license from Villar in Los Angeles, California through Jessica Casas, a member of The New Minstrels Gen 2,” added Joseph.
“Hahabol-Habol” was launched early today, January 7, 2022 at Spotify.