"Buwan" (transl. "Moon") is a song written and sung by Filipino actor, singer and songwriter, Juan Karlos Labajo. Under the band name Juan Karlos, it was released on June 22, 2018, through MCA Music. The song became one of the most played OPM songs of 2018, winning Song of the Year at the 2019 Myx Music Awards,[1] 2019 Awit Award for People's Voice Favorite Song.[2] "Buwan" received huge popularity and started as a song challenge through social media platforms in the Philippines even overseas.[3]
| "Buwan" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover art for Buwan | ||||
| Single by Juan Karlos | ||||
| Released | June 22, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | Alternative, indie | |||
| Length | 5:43 | |||
| Label | MCA Music | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Juan Karlos Labajo | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Juan Karlos singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Buwan" on YouTube | ||||
Live performances
editLabajo premiered "Buwan" during his concert on May 19, 2019. He also performed the song on Mutia Ti Bauang 2019 (beauty pageant). Labajo also performed it during Rakrakan Festival 2019 and at GMMSF Awards Night and various malls in the Philippines. He also made a kundiman version (a genre of traditional Filipino love songs) of the song with his band.[4][5][6][7]
Music video
editThe music video depicts Labajo tying and blindfolding a woman (Maureen Wroblewitz) inside a dimly lit room as he navigates their tumultuous relationship. This scenario is eventually revealed to be an illusion, as Labajo finds himself trapped in a cycle with the woman, who appears as a ghost embracing him while he sits in a chair.[citation needed] Fans have interpreted this as symbolizing intense and serious love towards Wroblewitz, who was in a relationship with Labajo at the time. Additionally, fans noted the use of the word "Buwan" in the song and linked it to "Luna," suggesting that Labajo's aggressive behavior towards the woman in the video represents a lunatic or frenzied state.[8]
The official music video, released and posted on YouTube on September 24, 2018, has garnered over 174 million views as of April 2024; the music video reached 40 million in two months.[9] It is also the most liked and most viewed OPM music video in 2018 with 144 million views, surpassing Yeng Constantino's "Ikaw" which had over 105 million views.
Notable covers
edit- Regine Velasquez performed her version on ASAP stage.[10]
- Angeline Quinto uploaded her version on her Youtube Channel.[11]
- Bugoy Drilon performed buwan reggae version and uploaded on his Youtube Channel.[12]
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards ceremony | Category | Nominated version | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4th Wish Music Awards | Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year | "Buwan" | Won | [13] |
| 4th Golden Laurel Media Awards | Song of the Year | Won | [14] | ||
| 14th Myx Music Awards | Song of the Year | Won | [15] | ||
| 6th MOR Pinoy Music Awards | Song of the Year | Won | [16] | ||
| 32nd Awit Awards | Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist | Won | [17][18] | ||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Record of the year | Nominated | ||||
| Best Rock/Alternative Recording | Won | ||||
| People's Voice Favorite Song | Won | ||||
| People's Voice Favorite Record | Won | ||||
| 2020 | 11th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Song of the Year | Won | [19] | |
| 33rd Awit Awards | Best Folk Recording | "Buwan (Kundiman version)" | Nominated | [20][21] |
References
edit- ^ "JUAN KARLOS Debuts New Song At 32nd Awit Awards". myx.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, Awit Awards 2020". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ Labajo’s ‘Buwan’, VIDEO: Indonesian Students Belt Out JK; Online, Goes Viral (2019-06-05). "Indonesian Students Belt Out JK Labajo's 'Buwan', Goes Viral Online". Philippine News. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "ARTIST #87: JUAN KARLOS LABAJO | RAKRAKAN FESTIVAL 2019". Rakrakan Festival: Peace, Love & Music. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ Corporation, ABS-CBN. "ABS-CBN dominates the 50th Guillermo Mendoza Box Office Awards | ABS-CBN Corporate". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ PH, One Music. "LISTEN: juan karlos makes "Buwan" Kundiman version". One Music PH. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "JUAN KARLOS Releases Kundiman Version of "Buwan"". myx.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "WATCH: Juan Karlos Labajo puzzles fans with bizarre music video for 'Buwan'". ABS-CBN News. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2020-11-05. [dead link]
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "REGINE VELASQUEZ Gives New Flavor To "Buwan" By JUAN KARLOS On 'ASAP'!". myx.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "Check Out ANGELINE QUINTO's Soothing Take On "Buwan" By JUAN KARLOS". myx.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "Bugoy Drilon sings 'Buwan' (reggae cover)". Startattle. 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "4th Wish 107.5 Music Awards: Complete List of Winners". Wish 107.5. January 15, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "GOLDEN LAUREL LPU BATANGAS MEDIA AWARDS 2019 OFFICIAL TALLY OF VOTES". Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas. March 15, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Full List: Winners, MYX Music Awards 2019". Rappler. May 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "WINNERS: MOR Pinoy Music Awards 2019". ABS-CBN News. July 17, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Full List: Winners, Awit Awards 2019". Rappler. October 11, 2019. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Here are the winners of the 32nd Awit Awards". Bandwagon. October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "And the winners of the 11th Star Awards for Music 2020 are..." Philippine Entertainment Portal. January 24, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Bernardino, Stephanie (August 20, 2020). "Moira bags most Awit Awards 2020 nominations". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Awit Awards 2020: Full list of winners". ABS-CBN News. August 29, 2020. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.