Ang Huling El Bimbo

1995 song by Eraserheads

"Ang Huling El Bimbo"
Song by Eraserheads
from the album Cutterpillow
Released	December 8, 1995
Recorded	1995
Genre	Pinoy rock alternative rock
Length	7:30 (full version) 5:30 (radio version)
Label	Musiko Records BMG Records (Pilipinas), Inc.
Songwriter(s)	Ely Buendia
Producer(s)	Robin Rivera

Audio sample
"Ang Huling El Bimbo" file help
Music video
"Ang Huling El Bimbo" on YouTube

"Ang Huling El Bimbo" (English: "The Last El Bimbo") is a song by the Philippine alternative rock band Eraserheads from their third album Cutterpillow (1995).

Composition

The song is described as a bittersweet "mini-epic" inspired by the Beatles, referencing the actress Paraluman and the tango standard "El Bimbo".^[1]^[2] "I had a huge crush on this girl who was older; she was the one who taught me the dance, and I think that was the first time I was really in love with a girl. Then I never saw her again,” writer Ely Buendia said about the song in a podcast interview.^[3]

The song became the basis for the 2018 musical of the same name.^[4] Its title was also used for the band's reunion tour in 2022.

Music video

The music video was directed by Auraeus Solito and shot at his residence. It premiered on GMA Supershow on February 25, 1996.^[5] The video won the band MTV Asia's Viewer's Choice Award at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, making them the first Philippine artist to receive such a distinction.^[6]^[7]

Covers

Rico J. Puno covered the song for the first Eraserheads tribute album Ultraelectromagneticjam!: The Music of the Eraserheads, released in 2005.
The CompanY covered the song in 2008.
Kamikazee recorded an unreleased version of the song in 2009.^[8]
Jay Durias covered the song for the second Eraserheads tribute album, The Reunion: An Eraserheads Tribute Album, released in 2012.
Janine Berdin performed the song for the Tawag ng Tanghalan singing competition as part of the Philippine noontime show It's Showtime in 2018.^[9]
Sungha Jung covered the song in 2019.^[10]
Ace Banzuelo covered the song in 2022 to commemorate Eraserheads's Huling El Bimbo reunion concert.^[11]
Morissette and Filipino-American music producer Troy Laureta covered the song for Laureta's 2023 album Dalamhati: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective, Vol. 3.^[12]

In other media

Buendia sang the song as a guest artist for FilharmoniKA album as conducted by Gerard Salonga, Kumpas: An Orchestral Celebration of Pinoy Music.^[13]
When local radio station NU 107 signed off for the last time on 8 November 2010, "Ang Huling El Bimbo" played as its final song.^[14]

References

^ "Cutterpillow Review by David Gonzales". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ Azul, Goldwyn Morales. "Cutterpillow Review (January 1996)". Schizo Archives. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ Oviedo, Kristina Isabel. "Who is Paraluman that made the iconic Eraserheads song hauntingly beautiful?". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ Sorilla IV, Franz. "The joyride of Filipino musical 'Ang Huling El Bimbo'". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "Eraserheads video on GMA Supershow". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. February 25, 1996. p. 32B. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
^ "Eraserheads: First Pinoy act to win MTV award (September 1997)". Schizo Archives. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ Gatdula, Leah Salterio. "Eraserheads stargaze at Radio City Music Hall (Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 11, 1997)". Schizo Archives. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "Kamikazee - Ang Huling El Bimbo". August 16, 2011. Dodong Mindanao. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "TNT2 Q4 Semifinals Day 3: Janine Berdin sings Eraserheads' Ang Huling El Bimbo". ABS CBN Entertainment. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ Malasig, Jeline. "'To the next level': South Korean guitarist's amazing Eraserheads cover". Interaksyon. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ Soo, J. X. (4 January 2023). "Hear Ace Banzuelo, Alex Bruce and more cover classic Eraserheads songs". NME. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ "Troy Laureta releases third OPM album 'Dalamhati'". ABS CBN News. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ Gil, Baby A. (3 April 2009). "A new take on OPM hits". Philstar.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ "107 Candles for NU107: The Last Goodbye". November 7, 2010. Stompworks Studios. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2014.