Filipino alt-rock band Sponge Cola continues to explore the complexities of heartbreak with the release of “Kelly (Sagittarius),” an emotionally charged pop-rock track that offers a different perspective on the aftermath of a painful breakup.
Serving as the fiery counterpart to last month’s melancholic “Kelly (Scorpio),” the new single completes a compelling two-part series, delving deep into the subjective nature of truth and emotion.
The dual tracks—“Kelly (Scorpio)” and “Kelly (Sagittarius)”—form a unique digital bundle that captures two distinct emotional responses to the same heartache. While “Scorpio” conveys a sense of defeat and resignation, “Sagittarius” presents a more hostile and confrontational take to a traumatic experience.
The band’s vocalist and guitarist Yael Yuzon explains, “If you look at it from just one person’s perspective, delivery plays a huge part in a message, even when you use the same words. While the Scorpio version sounds a bit more defeated, Sagittarius sounds more hostile. If you look at it as a response to the other, like a conversation, you can see how truth can sometimes be subjective. It’s a ‘he said, she said thing’ kind of thing, and even with the same words, the truth is still unfathomably vague. There’s a tendency to believe only one narrative, then totally shut the other out. But there’s always two sides to every story, sometimes even more. People are quick to take sides and judge.”
“Kelly (Sagittarius)” navigates a wide spectrum of emotions in the aftermath of a breakup—surrender, yearning, regret, anger, and frustration—perfectly capturing the intensity of heartache. The song was inspired by a vivid dream Yuzon couldn’t shake off, eventually leading him to write the track in its entirety.
He notes that the bridge, which features the line “Ang siyang pumirma, ang siyang sumumpa…” (roughly translated as “The one who signed, the one who swore…”), represents a rare moment of clarity within the otherwise dream-like atmosphere of the song.
“I wrote that line as the most concrete part of the song, making it more grounded and lucid compared to the rest of the track,” says Yuzon. “I mean, come on, it talks about paperwork.”
Lead guitarist Armo Armovit reflects on the creative process behind the song, emphasizing the band’s commitment to emotional authenticity in their music. “We’re always experimenting with different elements, but we never lose sight of what works best in communicating the song’s core message,” Armovit admits. “Sometimes we let go of expectations and let the music take us where it wants to go—even if it leads us down two separate paths.”
“Kelly (Sagittarius)” showcases Sponge Cola’s signature sound—a potent blend of alt-rock guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, creating an impactful listening experience that resonates with fans old and new.
