If you haven’t seen it yet, you better check it out
The much-awaited band version of SB19's hit "MAPA" with Ben&Ben premiered early this week and fans are going gaga over it. Who can blame them? This collaboration is one great OPM.
First released in May 2021, "MAPA" is a song that SB19 dedicates to their parents. According to the P-pop boy band, the creation of the single started prior to the pandemic, during the time when they were touring the country.
"Ginawa naming extra special kasi bibihira lang naman po namin mapasalamatan 'yung mga parents namin (We made the song extra special because we seldomly say thank you to our parents)," SB19's Pablo says in an interview with the National Commission of Culture and the Arts' (NCCA) "Padyon." "Iyang kanta na pong iyan ay talagang inaalay naman sa aming mga magulang o tumataying mga magulang namin (We are really dedicating this song to our parents and to those who have been like parents to us)."
This latest version of the song taps Poch Baretto, Patricia Lasateb, and Ben&Ben for the arrangement. Jumping from the motion graphic arts of the first music video, SB19 and Ben&Ben shot the music video of the band version of "MAPA" at the newly refurbished Manila Metropolitan Theater.
"Yung SB19 ay isa sa mga grupong hinahangaan namin ng sobra, pero hindi lang yun dahil halimaw silang sumayaw, pulido silang umawit, at mahusay silang sumulat, kung hindi dahil napakabuti nilang mga tao. (SB19 is one of the musical acts that we really look up to, not just because of their killer dance moves, their smooth singing, and how good they write, but because of how kind they are," Ben&Ben says.
"Tapos nung shoot ng 'MAPA' sa Metropolitan Theater, parang magtotropa na kami. Saglit lang kami magkakasama, pero parang ang tagal nang magkakakilala. Parang may chemistry ba. Ganun siguro pag soulmate," the band jokes. "Pero seryoso, kahit magkaiba kami ng tunog, personality, at porma, iba 'yung samahan na hatid ng musika. (When shooting 'MAPA' at the Metropolitan Theater, it feels like we're all friends. We were only together for a short amount of time, but it feels like we've known each other for a long time. Like there is chemistry. Maybe that's how it's like when you're soulmates. But seriously, even though we have different sound, personality, and style, nothing compares to the bond bought by music)."
Watch the band version of "MAPA" below.