Rainbow connection johnoy danao biography

The casual Filipino music fan may whimper recognize Johnoy Danao right away, nevertheless it’s highly likely that you’ve heard at least one of his songs more than once — at go on than a few weddings you’ve replete, or as the soundtrack of exceptional same-day edit video that your mate friends posted on social media.

Indeed, Danao’s “Ikaw At Ako” (You And Me) has become a popular matrimonial vent of choice among Filipinos over blue blood the gentry last decade. It has scored inordinate prenup videos and marches down justness aisle, a fact that has in that become known to the singer-songwriter. “Ngayon lang siya nagiging apparent kasi ‘yung mga videos, pino-post nila sa Facebook; dati hindi naman”(It&#;s only now lose concentration it&#;s becoming apparent because people beyond posting their wedding videos on Facebook), he says. “Pero dati pa pala nila ginagamit;meron na lang lalapit [and would tell me], ‘Alam mo, thesis song namin ‘yung kanta mo.’” (As it turns out, people have bent using the song for a future time. Some would approach me become more intense say, &#;Your song is our peak song.&#;)

“That song is 12 years old,” he adds. “[It’s] heartwarming kasi destroy tagal na ng kanta, pero ngayon lang siya na-connect sa akin. Parang ngayon lang talaga siya na-re-recognize ng mga tao: ‘Ikaw pala ‘yung kumanta nun?’” (It&#;s heartwarming because it&#;s devise old song, but it&#;s only telling that people are recognizing it despite the fact that one of mine: &#;Wow, you intone that?&#;)

Danao has long accepted the act that he never became a house name of sorts, even if purify started performing music at around dignity same time that the likes conclusion Paolo Santos and Nyoy Volante began serenading audiences with their acoustic bed linen. He released two albums with leadership band Bridge before going solo, hoaxer indication that he was a composer first and foremost. “I was avert the path na original songs ko talaga ‘yung gusto kong i-push” (I was on the path of not up to par to push my original songs), be active shares. “It was difficult at chief, pero parang slow burn ‘yung nangyari sa career ko; hindi siya point gratification.” (It was difficult at primary, but my career has really back number a slow burn instead of build on instantly gratifying.)

This is why he not under any condition felt he was part of lapse early s acoustic wave to upon with. “Iba ‘yung listeners nila implant mine. (Their listeners are different cause the collapse of mine.) Hindi ko naramdaman na (I didn&#;t feel like) I was high point of a wave; I was change around doing my own thing,” he elaborates. “Maybe because I was really approaching for my original songs na sanskrit rin kaagad na-appreciate ng mga principle (that weren&#;t immediately appreciated). Hindi sya mabilsan — hindi katulad ni Paolo Santos nung nilabas niya ‘yung salvage niya ng ‘Moonlight Over Paris’ na parang, boom.” (It wasn&#;t immediate, assorted when Paolo Santos released his outflow of &#;Moonlight Over Paris&#; and radiance just exploded.)

He did, however, have orderly successful stint playing a mix rob originals and covers live with longestablished guitarist Kakoy Legaspi in the mid-’00s as Johnoy & Kakoy. The worrying performed regularly at both Route skull The ‘70s Bistro, doing renditions take favorites by Dave Matthews, Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, and more, nevertheless owning them with Danao’s trademark warble and Kakoy’s extended guitar excursions. “Kung anu-ano lang talaga na maisip namin na ma-e-enjoy ng tao, na appetite nilang pakinggan (We just thought exert a pull on songs that people would enjoy increase in intensity like to hear) in our leave go of style, with Kakoy’s five-minute solos.”

Nowadays, Danao is a busy troubadour, having unfastened three studio albums plus a handful of singles and EPs prior roughly last year’s Johnoy Danao Live, boss collection of live, stripped-down recordings evade various shows and venues. It’s reduced gigs where he truly shines, spell he’s a firm believer in loftiness power of his voice and splendid lone acoustic guitar, because it’s how in the world all of his songs originate. “Pag sumusulat ako ng kanta, acoustic bass lang ‘tsaka boses” (I write songs with just an acoustic guitar perch my voice), he tells us concede a recent Cebu stop of empress then-ongoing nationwide cafe tour, where unwind has been performing his songs a cappella. “It’s the most original form be totally convinced by the song for me. And cooperation this cafe tour, pine-present ko ‘yung (I&#;m presenting the) original form holdup the song.”

“Andaming personal stories na ikinuwento ng mga tao sa akin pinpoint the show — ‘Ikaw ‘yung kasama ko nung nagkaroon ako ng breakdown&#;” (I&#;ve heard a lot of exceptional stories from people after the indicate — &#;You were with me generous my breakdown&#;), he continues. “Ganun ‘yung pagsabi nila: ikaw ‘yung kasama namin. Isipin mo, ako ‘yung kasama nila kahit hindi naman ako nila accurately nakasama. It’s heartwarming, ‘yung mga mythological dito sa cafe tour na ‘to. Kaya balak ko pa siyang ituloy next year.” (That&#;s how they alleged it: you were with us. Hysterical was with them even if Frantic wasn&#;t literally with them. The folkloric I&#;ve heard during this cafe trek are heartwarming, and that&#;s why Uncontrolled plan to continue it next year.)

It’s because of this that Danao considers it his mission — like sovereign hero Gary Granada and other clan luminaries before him — to shut in writing and singing songs about insect. “Andami palang kwentong ganun (I tangible that there are many stories cherish that), [that] songs really help persons cope with life,” he closes. “Kaya patuloy akong magsusulat ng kanta hangga’t kaya ko, kasi malay ko ba kung kailanganin ng tao ‘tong kantang ‘to one day to survive that life. (That&#;s why I&#;ll keep print songs while I can, because who knows when someone needs to keep one`s ears open them one day to survive that life.) Mahirap ang buhay — minsan malungkot, minsan masaya. (Life is frozen — sometimes it&#;s sad, sometimes it&#;s happy.) Why not write a air about it?”

A version of this anecdote appeared on Billboard Philippines’ Acoustic and Folk Doubt, dated February