Hale (band)
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Hale is a band from the Philippines, composed of Champ Lui Pio (vocals and guitars), Roll Martinez (vocals and guitars), Sheldon Gellada (bass), and Omnie Saroca (drums).
History
On July 2004, Hale was formed.also, Instead of going indie and performing in underground gigs, Hale focused on playing their originals. With only less than half a year playing as a band, Hale was signed on November by EMI Philippines. On the first quarter of 2005, Hale released their first single Broken Sonnet along with their self-titled debut album. It was not until their second single The Day You Said Goodnight that Hale stared to gain attention from music aficionados around the Philippines.
Soon, their debut album went from gold (20,000 copies sold), to platinum (40,000), to double platinum (80,000), which was surprising for a rookie band with Coldplay as their sole inspiration. With two hit singles under their belt, they released two more singles, Kahit Pa and Kung Wala Ka, which made it to the #1 spot in the charts of radio stations nationwide. By the end of 2005, Hale became known as one of the most popular bands in the Philippines.
They continue to perform. By the first quarter of 2006, Hale released their repackaged album, along with another single, Toll Gate. And due to their success, they were proclaimed "Favorite New Artist in a Video" at the 2005 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards and were nominated for the title of "Favorite Artist Philippines" at the 2006 MTV Asia Awards. The video for their single Kung Wala Ka also bagged the 2006 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards' title for "Favorite Pop Video." They were also nominated in various local music awards such as the MYX Music Awards and the Awit Awards.
The band has released their sophomore album entitled Twilight on September 30 of 2006, with a formal launching on October 7, which contains their first sophomore single, Waltz. This album went gold in less than a week. After Hale's second sophomore single Hide and Seek, they released their latest and third sophomore single, Shooting Star.
The Melodrama
Hale now hits off melodiously well with a hopelessly romantic Filipino audience. Their impact is felt everywhere you hear their song “Broken Sonnet” and “The Day You Said Goodnight”-- the songs that have sent young hearts pumping into overdrive.
July 2004, when this four-piece rock alternative outfit collected themselves at the core of one goal to reach out the listening crowd and make them understand the value of the band’s musical sincerity. And sincerity is where Hale excels.
Hale, the band that promises to highlight their musical versatility and excellent vocalism in alternative rock genre and yet emanates a very sad undertone that they describe as “melodrama.” (melodious drama)
All from the southern part of the metro (Las Piñas, Alabang and Parañaque), Hale is composed of Champ Lui-Pio’s (lead vocals and guitars) heart-on-sleeve vocals and the group’s songwriting exude feelings and melody, much to the delight of the melancholic youth in search of a like-minded voice. Roll Martinez (guitars and vocals) with his lyrical powers, believes that there’s so much to spell in words through songs where exudes a very ironic yet compelling poetic piece, “Broken Sonnet”—the band’s first single with EMI Music. In synch with Sheldon Gellada’s expertise on bass, he also contributed heartfelt and experience-based songs infectious to his personal musical influences that excel in his instrumental virtuosity to grandiose rock. And with then-sessionist Omnie Saroca on drums, an artist whose music used to steep in cool mainstream reggae now switched to melodic rock.
The band then meet at an epicenter—music. Two of the members, Rol and Sheldon, are Music majors at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). They eventually became friends with Champ, who also been exposed to music scene while he was young and being the son of a respected songwriter-producer. Lastly, Omnie, before has started jamming with other bands and that have helped him develop his talents in his chosen craft.
The band signed in November 2004 with EMI Philippines after being snubbed by other recording companies. But EMI took the chance of giving these young prowesses of sincere music begin their journey. At the first quarter of 2005, their tragic love song “Broken Sonnet” became the carrier single in EMI’s Full Volume, a collection of Pinoy rock music-- where the pioneers meet protégé…Hale graced the album with local rock titans like Bamboo, Sugarfree, Sandwich, Urbandub etc.
The mid-tempo ballad “The Day You Said Goodnight”, which served as their first single for their first and self-titled album, have massively dominated the local charts and wowed a crowd largely comprising college kids even before the release of their first album. Their self-titled album under EMI Music Philippines had already given an impressive record sales and radio airplay since its release in May 2005 and turned Platinum record in August and Double Platinum in November 2005. Second single followed with KAHIT PA and KUNG WALA KA came next.
Hale have conquered 2005 with songs that gladly scaled the heights of radio charts, music channel charts and stage performances across the nation as that first single THE DAY YOU SAID GOODNIGHT hold its lock at no.1 and endeared the band to both critics and listeners alike.
THE DAY YOU SAID… never went away the radio charts as it was hailed as “Song of the Year on 97.1 WLS-FM; OPM song of the Year on RX 93.1 & Magic 89.9 WTM. Collective effort on many levels, first and foremost by the artist themselves, HALE was also named OPM Band of the Year on RX 93.1 and Best New OPM Artist on TM 89.9.
Hale’s dynamics also involved the making of their self-titled album to HALE REPACKAGED released in February 2006. Hale Repackaged album boasts a brand new single called TOLL GATE is another straight-ahead song the band has ever created, as the band’s fourth single.
But nevertheless, from the band’s self-titled album brings their latest and fifth single BLUE SKY which is now hitting the charts in radios. BLUE SKY’s music video is another groundbreaking drama from the band and the video’s director, Marie Jamora. Triple Platinum award for their self-titled album was given to them in May 2006.
“Hale tries to be the not-your-typical “drama core” band,” says Omnie Saroca as they have created lyrical content of songs that are sincerely insightful, sad, angry, and earnest; producing music with heart and that explores the full range of human emotions. To name other songs that will surely redraw the borders of the band’s genre are: Runaway, Bent Down, Here Tonight, Take No, Wishing, Life Support, Underneath the Waves.
“I'm of the belief that ‘what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger’. Hale would mean ‘sound in mind and body’. To be such a strong person would require you to be subjected to all these trials and letdowns that help shape your character. This is a musical journey through the various pitfalls we've come across,” as Sheldon Gellada adds. Champ originally captured the term “Hale” in the dictionary. “It’s old English which means ‘sound in body,” he reveals.
Their musical influences include a diverse eclectic group of musicians ranging from Sean Malone, Gordian Knot, 311, Dirk Lance, Jaco Pastorius, Dream Theater, Victor Wooten, Aston Barret, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Kurt Cobain, Muse, Dave Grohl, Soundgarden, James Iha, Damien Rice, Switchfoot, Nina Gordon, Shades Apart, Feeder, Travis, Nine Days, Chris Carraba and The Corrs.
From those humble beginnings came to these young acts, they have also become product endorsers of the most renowned and commercially acclaimed companies in the country.
With this youth-driven and fickle-minded industry, it’s not easy to run the gamut of clever music. But with Hale, they have just discovered the simple beauty of an infectious melody and a few honest words. And sincerity is where Hale excels.
Discography
Albums
- Take no
- Broken Sonnet
- Blue Sky
- The Day you said Goodnight
- Wishing
- Here Tonight
- Kahit pa
- Life Support
- Underneath the waves
- Runaway
- Bent Down
- Kung Wala ka
- Tollgate†
- The Day you Said Goodnight (Acoustic Version)†
- Broken Sonnet (Music Video)†
- The Day you said Goodnight (Music Video)†
- Kahit pa (Music Video)†
- Kung Wala ka (Music Video)†
Twilight (2006 - 07)
- Last Song
- Fire in the sky
- Empty tears, empty heart
- The Ballad of
- Waltz
- Hide and Seek
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Liham
- Shooting Star
- 7, 8
- Elegy
- Dahil sa 'yo sa himig ng aking gitara
- Starting over
- Brother
Singles
| Year | Title | MYX Hit Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Broken Sonnet | #7 |
| 2005 | The Day You Said Goodnight | #1 (8weeks) |
| 2005 | Kahit Pa | #1 (8weeks) |
| 2005 | Kung Wala Ka | #1 (4weeks) |
| 2006 | Tollgate | #2 |
| 2006 | Blue Sky | #4 |
| 2006 | Waltz | #1 (3weeks) |
| 2007 | Hide and Seek | #4 |
| 2007 | Shooting Star | #1 (2weeks) |
"Broken Sonnet" is the debut single of Hale and only peaked at number seven on the MYX Hit Chart. The second single of Hale, "The Day You Said Goodnight" became the most successful song of Hale until this day, topping the chart for an impressive eight weeks. The success of the song puts it as the most successful single of 2005 in the Philippines. Their third single which is "Kahit Pa", tops the chart for eight weeks also, tying it with their second single and became the seventh successful songs of 2005, beating the debut of Cueshe's debut single "Stay". "Kung Wala Ka", their fourth and last single from the album Hale also tops the chart with a non-consecutive four weeks and the seventeenth successful single of 2005. "Toll Gate", the first single from the album Hale (Special Edition), only peaked at nunmber two and the last single of the repackaged album, "Blue Sky" tops only at number four. The band returned to number one with their first single from Twilight which is "Waltz" tops the chart for a three weeks. "Hide and Seek", the next single only reached number four. Their current single, "Shooting Star" is currently charting and reached already the top spot after the two massive songs: "Magbalik" and "Tuliro" drops on number five and number six on the day issued May 13, 2007.After days of those two Bands, it gets switched by others, then Hale, together with 6 Cyclemind's "Upside Down" and My Chemical Romance's "I Don't Love You" regains with Sponge Cola and Callalily, for now, Hale and 6 Cyclemind are now switching places everyday and also gets their crown.
Influences
Their musical influences include a diverse group of musicians ranging from Coldplay, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Kurt Cobain for Champ; Muse, Dave Grohl, Soundgarden, James Iha for Omnie; Sean Malone, P-Nut, Dirk Lance, Jaco Pastorius, John Myung, Bud Gough, Victor Wooten, Buddy Zabala, Aston Barret, and Stefan Lessard for Sheldon; Damien Rice, Switchfoot, Nina Gordon, Vertical Horizon, Shades Apart, Feeder, Travis, Nine Days, Chris Carraba, and The Corrs for Roll.
Awards
- MYX Celebrity VJ for the month of August
- MTV PILIPINAS Rising Star for the month of September
- Hale's Debut Album Triple Platinum Awardee
- MTV PILIPINAS Best New Artist for 2005
- 19th Awit Awards Best Ballad (TDYSG) and Smart People's Choice Award Best Group of the Year for 2006
- SOP PASIKLABAND Best Pop Rock Band for 2006
- MTVVMA PILIPINAS Favorite Pop Video for 2006
- MTV PILIPINAS Artist of the Month for October 2006
Nominations
- MTV ASIA AWARDS 2006
- FAVOURITE ARTIST PHILIPPINES
- MYX MUSIC AWARDS 2006
- MYX MUSIC AWARDS 2007- WALTZ (favorite rock video)
PLEASE VOTE HALE AT 2nd Myx Music Awards AND MAKE IT A DAILY HABIT
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MMA 14 - FAVORITE ARTIST MMA 19 - FAVORITE ROCK VIDEO: Waltz MMA 49 - FAVORITE GROUP