Michael V
Michael V first discovered the band UDD (formerly known as Up Dharma Down) 12 years ago—curiously enough, he said, through the comedian Rex Navarrete.
He checked out the group’s first album, “Fragmented,” and immediately fell in love with the song “Oo,” because it “sounded fresh,” he recalled. Since then, Michael V has been toying with the idea of making a parody of it.
“I saw the band’s lead vocalist, Armi Millare, perform at a mall and thought to myself, ‘Parang kamukha ko s’ya ah!” the GMA 7 star jested in a recent interview. “These things have been playing in my head for such a long time… Some would spoof newer songs, but I wanted to do something timeless.”
Finally, he found the right inspiration and opportunity to push through with the long-overdue project. On March 1, “Bubble Gang” aired the parody music video “Uh-Oh,” which has since gone viral: It has so far amassed over 6.1 million views on GMA Network’s official Facebook page and 1.5 million views on YouTube.
The concept of the video—which opens with the line “Kung walang kalan”—revolves around a group of chefs who couldn’t serve the customers’ orders at a restaurant because, well … they don’t have a stove.
The inspiration for the parody, Michael V said, struck him “out of the blue. “It was random… I was just singing, one time, then stumbled upon the line ‘Kung walang kalan.’ The ideas started flowing after. The song’s last line—‘Kung walang kalan, huwag nang mag-restaurant—meanwhile, sparked the concept of the video,” he related.
“That’s when I envisioned that the setting would be a restaurant; that the customers would be stuck there waiting for their food, because none of the chefs could cook,” he added. “The idea was so ridiculous, but I thought it would work. And it did.”
The parody reaffirmed Michael V’s comedic genius, with viewers online lauding the song’s clever wordplay, rhyme, and even the comedian’s singing.
“I used to do direct translations of English songs to Tagalog and vice versa. Back then, it was funny for the sheer senselessness of it,” he said. “But I have moved away from that. Now, I incorporate more elements and make sure my reimagining sounds just like the original—from the lyrics to the singing. I also try to recreate the music video’s vibe.
This isn’t the first time he parodied a UDD song. In 2016, he turned “Tadhana” into “Tadyakan.” “I’m simply a fan of the band,” he said.
Has he gotten in touch with Armi since “Uh-Oh” blew up? “Armi and I have been talking,” said Michael V, who hinted at a potential collaboration. “I can’t say anything yet. It (our talks) may lead to something … or nothing!”