Two horned, androgynous creatures flank Lance Raymundo, who looks up, surprised, as a halo hovers over him. The fat creatures pull him this way and that in a tug of war reminiscent of Satan tempting humans on Earth.
Lance rejects them and sings, “Crazy Fatanas (fat Satan, what else?), I know you’re calling on the phone/I’m never gonna answer, please leave me alone/Bahala kang umasa, bahala kang umasa/Sinabotahe mo ako/Sorry ikaw ang nabigo.”
The refrain of “Fatanas” echoed and re-echoed in the minds of the politically conscious viewers of the video on YouTube. They think they had an aha moment when they heard Lance say “sinabotahe,” and “calling on the phone”—two utterances closely associated to the scorching political climate nowadays.
Nothing amuses and flatters Lance more than hearing – and reading -- these.
“Fatanas is an old song I made in Oct. 28, 2009,” he explains. That’s two years before “electoral sabotage” was on anyone’s lips.
But as fate would have it, the song was released the same day when a Pasay court ordered the arrest of former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo for a case of “electoral sabotage,” hence, the political association.
But for Lance, it is Divine Hand at work.
Hand of destiny
“I realize it’s my destiny. I believe in God’s master plan,” Lance goes on.
The story would have been different had he released “Fatanas” right after composing the song two years ago. But many things kept it from taking off.
The video was shot two months ago. But the editor went to Korea so it wasn’t released until some weeks back.
Seems this is one delay did more good than harm.
Lance reports that the “Fatanas” music video had 5,000 views in less than two weeks on YouTube.
And since YouTube caters mostly to the young, Lance is happy the future generation is backing him up even if some of their elders don’t.
“In fact, the kids are the ones defending me from my critics,” states Lance.
And to those who insist keeping that political angle to his song and charge him of being a paid hack of the current government, Lance has this to say: “I won’t do that.”
Instead of bucking the tide of public opinion, Lance prefers to ride on it.
Neck brace
He appeared with a neck brace, or what he calls his “fashion accessory” when he guested recently at Jojo Alejar’s late night show on TV5.
Say what you want to say. Lance won’t let the naysaying bring him down.
The guy just wants to do his bit in helping fight social ills. Lance doesn’t want people to take him literally when he sings, “May babae diyan sa kanto, kasing taba niya si Dumbo, parang crazy kung pumorma asala niya daig pa ang bruha.”
Instead, he wants people think about the evils greed can bring.
“Ang mataba dito ay ang kaluluwa,” Lance points out. “That’s the outcome of greed.”
Fat Satan
Thus the fat Satan you see on the video.
As for “parang crazy kung pumorma,” Lance insists he is referring to the nouveau riche whose wealth stems from greed.
“Suddenly, naka-Louis Vuitton sila kahit wala sa lugar,” Lance observes. “They start acting weird.”
Others, however, find Lance’s liberal use of horns and a blazing fire just as weird. They have even label it satanic.
He admits doing it on purpose.
“If I have to come back (in the music scene, after an 11-year absence), I must do so with bang. I’m putting up images that look hellish to catch attention. It’s a calculated risk. Nagpabili ako ng horns sa set designer because the title of the video is Fatanas.”
Isn’t he afraid shocked parents will tell their children not to view the “Fatanas” video because they think it smacks of satanism?
“I’m not afraid of that,” replies Lance. “My parents told me not to listen to Prince. My aunts are telling their daughters not to listen to Lady Gaga. Prince went on to become a superstar and Lady Gaga is now the new Madonna.”
Just the start
The shock and awe is just Step 1 in a series of moves Lance is taking to rev up his career in the next few months.
“I have an entire collection of music I call the WOLF (Wonders of Living in Freedom) sound. I incorporated well-loved Pinoy music – be bop, Manila sound – combined with techno sound young people and their parents can embrace.”
Lance doesn’t know where this new adventure will take him. But one thing’s sure: he doesn’t want to play it safe.
The family-owned forwarding business behind him, Lance need not worry about earning big bucks by taking the tried-and-tested path. Read: revivals, pop songs, etc. The guy has a fallback position.
The price to pay
And if people crucify him for avant-garde musical beliefs, that’s okay.
“Crucifixion is part of the price of pouring out what’s in your heart,” he reasons out.
But then, other people may like it and praise what he’s doing, Lance points out.
That’s why he’s inviting detractors and to his shows: Dec. 9 at Mall of Asia, Dec. 10 at Rajah Soliman Park, Manila; Dec. 16 at Quezon City Circle and Dec. 17 at Republiq Super Club, Resorts World.
Maybe then, people can better decide if Lance is the messiah he wants to be, or the harmful influence parents would like to shield their children from.
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