Cup of Joe makes the global chart
I wonder how the boys of Cup of Joe felt when they woke up one morning and found out that their pop rock song, Multo, has entered Spotify’s Global Chart. There might have been a whoop or two, some leaps or maybe a relaxed acceptance that they have indeed made it to the big time. Congratulations, Cup of Joe.
Multo is now the highest-ranking Filipino track ever on Spotify Global at No. 28. This is an historic event. Cup of Joe also entered the Spotify Global Top Artists at No. 182. Multo’s videos are nearing 20 million views in various versions on YouTube. The track is also No. 1 in Apple and No. 2 in Billboard Philippines’ Hot 100 list.
Getting into the global hit list is no joke. It means an average of over 16 million streams a day or some 2.55 million daily streams. Think of that number of people listening repeatedly to Multo day and night. It also means being on the same level as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, JENNIE, Luther and other internationally renowned artists.
Cup of Joe is made up of lead vocalists Gian Bernardino and Rafa Ridao, with Gab Fernandez on lead guitar, CJ Fernandez on rhythm guitar and keyboardist Xen Gareza. Rafa is the songwriter of Multo.
I am sure that they thought of something like this happening in their future when they started out as high school boys who just wanted to make music six years ago in Baguio. Dreams come for free, so why not. But I am sure they also thought it impossible until it suddenly happened last Friday, April 4.
That is not all, the success of Multo has also generated questions, conversations, even disagreements about what indeed is your “multo.” Everybody has one or two or a lot of multos. That is multos, as in ghosts.
The song says it feels like this: “Humingang malalim/ pumikit na muna/at baka sakaling namamalikmata lang/ Ba’t nababahala? Di ba’t ako’y mag-isa? Kala ko’y payapa/ boses mo’y tumatawag pa.”
This multo can be a feeling, a memory, a traumatic event, an omission, anything from the past you thought you had forgotten until something triggers the visitation. It is what comes a-haunting, disturbing one’s quiet place. Maybe it is something you promised to do but didn’t or that person you ghosted who has now returned as a multo.
And Pinoys love to be scared. They maybe cowering in fear but are also indulgent about the feeling. “... Hindi na makalaya/ dinadalaw mo ko bawa’t gabi/ wala nang nakikita/ haplos mo’y ramdam pa rin sa dilim/ hindi na nananaginip/ hindi na ma makagising/ pasindi na ng ilaw/ minumulto na ko ng damdamin ko….”
Now, wouldn’t you love to find out what multo became the inspiration for the song Multo and what can be haunting the boys of Cup of Joe? But whatever multos they have should only be good vibes nowadays.
After entertaining their faithful Joewahs in the packed two-night stint at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Feb. 8 and 9, Cup of Joe followed up with shows in Cebu and Davao. Next on their schedule is the USLS Coliseum in Bacolod on Friday, June 13. And then they will be off to the US of A and Canada.
Meanwhile, to better enjoy Multo, it might be good to listen to the album Silakbo in its entirety. The song line-up includes Bagyo, Wine, Kanelang Mata, Bubog, Siping, Pahina, ‘Di Maaari, Hinga and the title cut. These tackle the various stages of grief and each track expounds on those emotions that led to the arrival of the multo.
Enjoy your multos, everyone.
