In the mid-’90s, amidst the clanging and screaming of the Philippine rock scene, the group Prettier Than Pink catapulted onto the charts, landing at No. 1 with the winsome jangle and golden harmonies of “Cool Ka Lang” (“Just Stay Cool”), their first single. Now, when the music world has finally rediscovered the appeal of toe-tapping hooks and actual singing, Prettier Than Pink has been revived after an extended hiatus, this time playing to an international crowd.
In true New Wave fashion, the group has a multiethnic line-up: Lead singer/guitarist Lei Bautista, guitarist Pamela Aquino, and bassist Melody del Mundo are from the Philippines, while drummer Ann Connolly is a native of Ireland.
The crisscrossing of Asian and European blood is exemplified in the music, which
combines the warm melodies of Filipino music with the artistic experimentation,
genre-bending, and post-punk cool of the U.K.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
