FolkCloud.com is nifty little site which allows the user to find traditional music from around the world by clicking on the country. Check it out:
And that’s how I found this bouncy folk rocker. “Bahay Kubo” is a beloved Tagalog song usually taught to children in the Philippines. It’s a little like the American children’s tune, “Old McDonald’s Farm,” in that it teaches pre-schoolers about growing food away from the city.
While “Old McDonald’s Farm” runs through all the barnyard animals, expanding the young singer’s vocabulary, “Bahay Kubo” mentions vegetables which could be found in a well-stocked garden. A bahay kubo is a humble cabin in the country and this one is surrounded by eggplant, tomatoes, long beans and a multitude of other nutritious comestibles all listed by name.
Usually children will sing this song slowly, but Sylvia La Torre has chosen a swingin’ and rockin’ arrangement for this song which would be at home in an Elvis movie circa Girls, Girls, Girls or Clambake. This is from her album Katuwaan which means “excitement” in English. The album is a great one. You can hear it all here.
Enjoy!
