The band: "Barbies Cradle"

FRIENDS AND BAND MATES IN ONE, COOL!

CAME JULY 1ST OF '99 WHEN BARBIE'S CRADLE WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS NOT A NEW BAND AND OF COURSE NOT A STRANGER TO US, JUST A NEW NAME. TWO OF THEM CAME FROM THE DEFUNCT BAND HUNGRY YOUNG POETS AND THE OTHER GUY WAS BELIEVED TO BE GOD'S GREATEST GIFT FROM HEAVEN. THIS TRIO COMPOSED OF BARBIE ALMALBIS (LEAD GUITARS/VOCALS/HARMONICA), FRANKLIN BENITEZ (DRUMS/BACK-UP VOCALS) AND ROMMEL DELA CRUZ (BASS/BACK-UP VOCALS) HAS BEEN PLAYING AROUND TOWN FROM QUITE SOME TIME. STARTING FROM HUNGRY YOUNG POETS AND NOW DIVERGING INTO BARBIE'S CRADLE IS WARNER MUSIC PHILIPPINE'S NEWEST ACT. THEY SAY THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A HURTFUL SITUATION AMONG THE CAMARADERIE OF THEM NOR CHILDISH ACTS, AND HENCE, THEY JIVE VERY WELL. WITH NO DOUBTS AND SECOND THOUGHTS AT ALL, THE BAND IS REALLY GOOD AT IT'S OWN CRAFT--THAT OF PRODUCING GOOD MUSIC. RECENTLY RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM LAST AUGUST 1999 AND LAUNCHED IT AT THE SAME MONTH. THEY'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR ALMOST A YEAR BUT WERE OFFICIALLY BARBIE'S CRADLE FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW AND WITHIN THAT PERIOD, SURELY THEY'VE GONE FAR ENOUGH.

MUSIC IS THEIR LIVES, THEIR PILLAR AND THEIR HOME. A DAY FOR EACH OF THEM WON'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT BARBIE STRUMMING HER GUITARS, FRANKLIN DOING THE DRUM ROLL OR ROMMEL PLAYING WITH HIS BASS GUITAR. SOME MAY THINK THAT THIS IS JUST AN ORDINARY BAND THAT DOES COVER VERSIONS THAT ARE EAR IRRITATING BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY WRONG. THEIR MUSIC RANGES WITH THE LIKES OF JONI MITCHELL, PAULA COLE, JEWEL, THE DOORS, AND A LOT OF GOOD BANDS AND SOLO ARTISTS. IF ONLY JONI MITCHELL WAS ALIVE, SHE'LL BE GRATEFUL ENOUGH TO JAM WITH THIS BAND. THEY ARE NOT ORDINARY, BUT SIMPLY EXTRA-ORDINARY.

THEY HAVE A UNIQUE STYLE OF MUSIC THAT IS CAPTIVATING THE ATTENTION OF MANY LISTENERS, INCLUDING THE ALREADY ESTABLISHED FAN BASE OF THE FORMER BAND HUNGRY YOUNG POETS. WITH THEIR PREVIOUS SUCCESS, YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT THERE MUST BE A LOT OF DEMAND FOR BARBIE'S CRADLE TO TRANSCEND THEIR EARLIER DEEDS.

THE BAND IS A STICKER FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC. THOUGH THEY DO COVER SONGS DURING THEIR GIGS/SHOWS JUST TO INTENSIFY THE REPERTOIRE, THEY'D MUCH SOONER GO ORIGINALS. WHICH IS ALSO NOT TO PUT DOWN BANDS THAT DO COVER VERSIONS - IT IS, AFTER ALL, A MATTER OF PERSONAL TASTE - BUT AS FAR AS BARBIE'S CRADLE IS CONCERNED, ORIGINALS IS THE WAY TO GO.

BARBIE'S CRADLE IS FAST BECOMING A FAVORITE AMONG THE TEENAGERS AND YUPPIES AND THE BAND JUST KEEPS ON IMPROVING THEIR STYLE AND MUSIC. AFTER ALL, THEY REALLY ARE A MUST SEE BAND. THEY ARE FRIENDS OFF STAGE AND BAND MATES ON STAGE. WITH OR WITHOUT GIGS, THEY'D STILL PLAY UNTIL THEY ARE OLD AND GRAY.