Through their latest music video, SB19 showcased what could be their most compelling expression of gratitude to their supporters.
Having ended 2021 as one of the biggest musical acts in the local recording scene, SB19 certainly has a lot to be thanked for, although that’s may also be the case for their fans who have nothing but gratitude for the pride and joy of the group’s music brought them in the past twelve months. The group carried out their sweet gesture of acknowledgment to those who made their 2021 fruitful, via the rousing warmth-filled anthem, ‘SLMT’ (which is a stylized form of the Tagalog expression ‘salamat’).
In a way, the track serves as an insightful look back to both challenging and exciting 2021, which remained taunted by the still prevailing pandemic until its very last second. SLMT carries an optimistic tone that this new year won’t be as gloomy as the previous one, but it’s not devoid of a bittersweet reminiscence about how exceptionally inspiring the year was to most people.
Now, in their year, SB19 looks back at their best moments in 2021 with incredible gratification in their heart, while also highlighting the year as a year of letdowns, having been marked by hurtful discouragement from social media distractors and competition with fellow groups. “Sabi nila ‘di ko raw kaya, ‘lang mapapala, wala raw pag-asa. Bukambibig ng madla’y puro panggagaya, pero salamat sa lahat ng naniwala” (They say, I can’t, that this won’t do me any good, and that I’m hopeless. They accuse us of copying, but thanks to all who believed our originality), says one of the track’s most powerful lines, which is practically a slap-in-the-face of their doubters. I mean, they got nominated at the Billboards Music Awards, and they dominated the tracking site’s new Twitter-driven chart, Hot Trending Songs, which saw them dethroning the global smash group, BTS, off the no.1 spot. If that isn’t what many call sweet revenge, then I don’t know what is.
John Paul Nase aka Pablo certainly understood the demands for this track to become completely reflective of what the group went through, since their debut. A humongous part of this gesture is largely directed towards their legion of extremely dedicated fans, called A’tin. Through the meaningful words of SLMT, SB19 takes time to ensure their fans that they are remembered in their continued upward surge, telling them ‘Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa mga naniwala sa ‘king abilidad. Sa paggapang ko na banayad, tatanawin ko kayo sa ‘king paglipad’ (I’m thankful to those who believed in my ability; and in my gentle crawl, I’ll remember you when I fly).
Brimming with ease and warmth is their holiday release of Ligaya SLMT, another carefree track. It doesn’t have aggressively danceable beats, but one can’t be blamed for spinning around to the song, either.
The music video sports a chill vibe and was filmed in El Nido, Palawan. Its light summer colors make the simple beach shots refreshing, but there is also about the energy of the five boys that imbues it with a more affectionate charm. It won’t surprise me if this earnest tribute becomes your next earworm anthem.
SLMT is part of SB19’s EP, Pagsibol, which can now be streamed on Spotify and other global music streaming platforms. Watch the official music video, below:
