It became one of the most viewed videos online, but it never got any play on MTV or VH1 or BET.”Īnd three years later, history appears to be repeating itself. And what people don't know is that the following week when the Black Eyed Peas were guests on TRL, they showed ten seconds of the video.” In the end however, Ginelsa admits, “the video never got any American airplay except for independent channels and online. “Vanessa Minnillo gave us props in front of MTV, so for three or four seconds, we were on national TV. In America, Ginelsa's independent campaign to get the video on TRL earned “The APL song” a few precious seconds on MTV, but that was pretty much it. The label only released the video in Asia, where the Peas were touring. Dante Basco and Joy Bisco, whom Ginelsa met while producing the Filipino American flick The Debut, acted in the video alongside Chad Hugo (The Neptunes).Īlthough “The APL song” was funded and distributed by the label unlike “Bebot,” it still got very little mainstream exposure. ”The APL song” ( Elephunk, 2003) is Apl.de.Ap's Filipino love ballad and its video focuses on the plight of an elderly Filipino War veteran. So what happens when the video, though mainstream in motif, has completely non-English lyrics, and a predominantly Asian cast? Is America ready?Īmerica wasn't ready when Ginelsa and the Peas released “The APL song” video in 2003. American MTV audiences might be used to seeing the occasional Latin music video, but those videos tend to be predominantly in English a la Ricky Martin's “Livin' la Vida Loca” or Enrique Iglesia's “Bailamos.” While American MTV usually welcomes projects from the Grammy winning Peas, with TRL premieres and guest appearances -think the massive airplay (and sometimes overplay) for hits like “My Humps” and “Don't Phunk with my Heart”-, they haven't given a single shout out to either of the “Bebot” videos. In fact, although the Black Eyed Peas website boasts of a MTV news exclusive about “Bebot,” watching the actual news clip reveals that the presentation was specifically an MTV CHI exclusive – even if American VJ Sway delivered the news. Since then, the videos have only been requested by MTV Canada and MTV CHI, according to Ginelsa. Ginelsa, with the blessing of the Peas, released “Generation One and Two” on August 4th on YouTube-an internet haven for homegrown and indie videos. Unfortunately, both videos are currently confined to Internet play, at least in the United States. Independently funded, both videos mark “Bebot” director Ginelsa and rapper Apl's attempt to push Filipino culture and music out from under the rug and into the mainstream. Like “Generation Two,” “Generation One” also brings in some familiar Filipino artists such as Next Phaze, the Speaks, as well as DJs E-man and Icy Ice.
“In a sense, nothing has really changed, everyone's still trying to, after their 9-5 gigs, put on their best clothes and meet ladies,” remarks Ginelsa. Inside the club, well-dressed Filipino men in snazzy suits swing dance with a diverse crowd of beautiful women in cocktail dresses and pearls while other men gamble at a rowdy taxi dance hall next door. The video follows Apl.de.Ap, an asparagus farmer, as he leaves the toil of the fields for a night of diversion at the Filipino Rizal Social Club. “Generation Two's” counterpart, “Bebot: Generation One” pays homage to parties in 1930s Little Manila. “I wanted to portray APL not just as your big superstar, but as your big brother,” said “Bebot” director Patricio Ginelsa. The only problem is that Apl's mom forces him to take along his little sister, American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias. Dre and Snoop Dogg's “Ain't Nuthin but a G Thing,” “Bebot: Generation Two” begins with Apl.de.Ap being picked up by his Peas bandmates for a night of tasty barbeques and hot house parties. The video is the Black Eyed Peas' latest project, “Bebot: Generation Two.” And it's one of two videos for Philippine born rapper Apl.de.Ap's Tagalog dance track “Bebot”, off the 2005 multi-platinum album Monkey Business. That is, until the video's main posse rolls up in Jeepney (a colorful bus popular in the Philippines) instead of Benz and the only graffiti that flashes the screen is “I love the Philippines.” And well, there's just a whole lot of Filipino faces in the crowd and OMG, they're not speaking English, are they? Suddenly, you realize you're not in Kansas anymore and this isn't your average greased up girls and bling bling rap video. Normally, it's a fool-proof formula for earning heavy rotation on MTV. DJs scratchin.' And an emcee rappin' about hot chicks to some fine hip hop ‘til you don't stop beats.
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