This is my humble attempt at breaking down in detail the song Akala (by RADKIDZ).
This song is pretty popular nowadays (circa Feb 2024) because of its links to PPop via SB19’s Pablo and his brother Josue (collectively known as “RADKIDZ”). When I heard it a couple of times, I realized more and more how intricate the song is and how you need a few listens to grasp what the song truly means.
If PPop is new to you, I recommend you look up SB19 as they are making waves worldwide, putting the Philippines on the international music map. PPop is a subset of OPM (Original Pinoy Music) and the PPop sound I feel highlights our collectively great vocal prowess, which makes it our trademark. I hope that someday PPop starts a Pinoy Wave, just like what KPop did with their Hallyu Wave.
Akala by RADKIDZ
Lyrics were taken from Genius. Here is the song for reference:
First Verse
Paabot naman ng alak, pare, tara walwalan
Dami ko na ngang dapat
Na ginagawa na nararapat
Pero please, isa pang shot
Gusto ko pang malasing ng todo para makatakas sa reyalidad
‘Lam kong hindi ito ang sagot, nais lang maabot ang alapaap
Bakit ba ang dami-daming taong gustong kunin ang sarili
Tapos ‘kaw pa ‘tong mali?
‘Pag sinabi mo’ng lahat ng ‘yan ay makakaya
At lilipas din lahat, halika nga dito, pare
Buhay ay ganyan talaga, mahilig siya manghila pababa
Sakyan mo lang hanggang magsawa
D’yan mo rin naman makukuha
At matututunan kung paano abutin ang mga tala
To summarize, the first verse talks about someone trying to escape his reality, picking up alcohol and inviting his friend to drink with him. His level-headed friend tries to cheer him up.
One thing that really stood out to me here is “Bakit ba ang dami-daming taong gustong kunin ang sarili, tapos ikaw pa ang mali?” (Trans: “Why are there so many people that try to take themselves, but even then you are the one that’s wrong?”) The ones who attempt suicide are the ones who are demonized so much that their cries for help are left unanswered by loved ones until it’s too late.
The person here is in so much pain that he grabs the bottle and thinks of ending his life. He thinks that by drinking he can reach the skies, but his friend emphasizes that life may drag him down, but he should persevere at the bottom until he gets to know how to eventually reach the stars. The lows make the highs all the more worthwhile.
Pretty poignant advice for those going through the same thing and thinking of trying to drink and attempt suicide.
Pre-Chorus
Oh, pare, tingnan mo
Tuloy ang pag-ikot ng mundo (Yeah)
Kaya itagay mo
Bukas babangon rin naman tayo (Yeah)
Pero ‘di lang sa ngayon
In the pre-chorus the song speaks about the world spinning/revolving — actually, this is a double entendre, as it can mean the world spinning due to the alcohol, or the world revolving as in going through change.
And so the second part where “bukas babangon rin naman tayo” (Trans: “Tomorrow we will rise again anyway”) can mean waking up to a hangover, or it can also mean arising from the bottom.
Chorus
Alak, akala ko mawawala
Sa walwal ang lahat
Ng aking problema
Alak, akala ko mawawala
Sa walwal ang lahat
Ng aking problemaShat!
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problema
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problema
Even the chorus is pretty thought-provoking, as “alak akala” is actually an anagram. That line is also ripe with meaning as the words put “alcohol” and “I thought” together — emphasizing that we should reverse (like the anagram) our thinking that alcohol will solve our problems.
The word “Shat!” is again a double entendre, meaning “to drink a shot” as it is colloquially known in the Philippines, but also “shat!” (the past tense of “shit!”) which is what an exasperated person may say when he doesn’t want to utter that bad word.
Also, it’s such a nice flow when the “la” syllable from “mawawala” (Trans: “to lose”) and “lahat” (Trans: “all”) is put together — it makes the line so memorable (and you can’t help but sing along).
Second Verse
Unang tikim pa lang, ‘di ko na nagustuhan
Kailangan ko pa bang isama ‘yan
Sa bagay na dapat ko na matutunan?
Kulang na, kulang pa ang aking kaalaman
Puso’y nanlalaban
‘Di ko na nga alam sa’n pa pupuntahan
Siguro nga ito lang ang sagot
Yeah, juice, juice, jusko po
‘Di ko na malaman ang gusto niyo
Gusto ko lang subukan na maging ako
Ng walang panghuhusga sa mga mata niyo
‘Di inakala, mawawala ang bahala
Buti pa rito may tama
Pare, ibuhos mo, ‘yung juice lang
The first lines of this verse talk about the person not really liking the taste of alcohol and regretting it more and more. “Kulang na” and “kulang pa” is so nicely put together here. “Kulang” means “lacking” but the “na” and the “pa” have different interpretations.
“Kulang na” is declaring that something is missing and nothing can be added anymore. “Kulang pa” is the same thing, but with the nuance that something can still be added to it. With this in mind, “Kulang na, kulang pa ang aking kaalaman” can mean “my knowledge is lacking, but I can still learn”.
This makes the line more hopeful as the next one, “Puso’y nanlalaban” (Trans: “The heart is resisting”) means he is having a change of heart (pun intended) to not liking alcohol. He now wants juice.
But knowing the composers, “juice” here is another double entendre. It can mean the drink, but also “Diyos” (“God”). So he is resigning to either drinking juice instead or putting it all on the one above.
The next lines also fit whichever meaning you choose as the translation roughly means, “I don’t know what you want, I just want to be myself with no judgment from you. I did not expect to lose my inhibitions.” It can be a cry of frustration for people not to judge his choice of juice, or it can be a prayer to God, asking for guidance.
Then the last two lines — “Buti pa rito may tama” can either mean “good thing this hits the spot” (meaning the juice) or it can also mean “it feels right in here” (with God). And then “Pare, ibuhos mo, ‘yung juice lang” can mean “please pour the juice” or “pour it all out and choose God”. Let me say the wordplay is amazing.
Summarizing this, the person has now realized that alcohol is not the answer, and is more positive about things. He also realized that he should not be judged as he gained more confidence in his choice (either juice or God).
Second Pre-Chorus and Chorus
Oh, pare, tingnan mo
Tuloy ang pag-ikot ng mundo (Yeah)
Kaya itagay mo
Bukas babangon rin naman tayo (Yeah)
Darating ang panahonAlak, akala ko mawawala
Sa walwal ang lahat
Ng aking problema
Alak, akala ko mawawala
Sa walwal ang lahat
Ng aking problemaShat!
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problema
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problema
Due to the second verse where the person has now become more confident, the meaning of the pre-chorus and chorus becomes more positive in return. Even the “Shat!” makes you smile now, knowing that the protagonist has chosen juice.
Interlude
[Interlude]
Oh, ikaw na
Ako na, ako na
Ako naman, ako naman
Sakto na naman, oh, kitang-kita, oh
Ito sukatin natin
‘Eto naman puro pulutan hinahanap
Ganyan talaga ‘pag ano
Tara na, tara na, tara, tara
Haha, let’s go
The interlude is just the protagonist and his friend having fun while passing drinks (in the Philippines, drinking culture can entail sharing one glass, and then the drinking buddies take turns finishing a glass while biting on drinking food).
It’s funnier now thinking that they’re passing juice instead of alcohol though.
Refrain and Ending
Oh, ooh-woah, woah-woah
Oh, ooh-woah, woah, ooh-woahShat!
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problema
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Alak, akala (Alak, akala)
Ko mawawala– (Wala), –hat ng aking problemaOh, ooh-woah, woah-woah
Oh, ooh-woah, woah, ooh-woah
The last refrain and chorus cap off a great song. I must say this song made me think hard when I first heard it and it even pushed me to post a breakdown here. That’s how great songwriters the Nase brothers (RADKIDZ) are.