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Side A is a
Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
pop band formed in 1985. They gained recognition in the Philippine music scene in the late 1980s through to the early 2000s. They are best known for their hit single "Forevermore." Side A achieved major commercial success during the 1990s. In 1993, the group's third album went triple platinum and in the mid-1990s, Side A garnered two
Awit Awards The Awit Awards are music awards in the Philippines given annually by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) to recognize the outstanding achievements in the music industry. The word "Awit" means "song" literally in Filipino. T ...
, the Philippines' equivalent of the Grammys.


History

Dubbed as the "Philippines' premiere band" and the local version of the band Toto, Side A was founded in 1985 by the brothers Rodel and Naldy Gonzalez,
Joey Benin Joey Benin or Joey B is a Filipino bassist, singer, producer and musical arranger. He is best known as a former member of the band Side A and as songwriter for the hit song "Forevermore". Music career In 1986, Benin joined Side A as bass play ...
, Kelly Badon, Mar Dizon and Pido Lalimarmo. The band released its eponymous debut album in 1989. The band was first managed by the Christian-oriented artist management company called Artistation Inc., owned by the late
Wyngard Tracy Wyngard Tracy (February 7, 1952 – November 16, 2010)Panaligan, Jojo P. (November 16, 2010)Talent manager Wyngard Tracy passes away ''The Manila Bulletin.'' Retrieved November 20, 2010. was a Filipino talent manager who had represented various a ...
. Side A's eponymous debut album included their first hit single "Eva Marie" which paved the way for their illustrious recording career. Classic Side A songs such as "Windows of Our Souls" and "'Di Pa Huli" can be found on the album. The uptempo "'Di Pa Huli" catapulted the band into the mainstream. Instead of being written as "Side B", the
B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
of their albums were written as "Side A too". Shortly after the success of their debut album, Rodel Gonzalez left for the band Second Wind. Pido Lalimarmo and Mar Dizon left in 1990 to form Artstart. Lalimarmo and Dizon remained with Artstart until 1994 when Lalimarmo united with Eva Marie Poon (sister of
Richard Poon Richard Poon (born December 8, 1973) is a Filipino singer-songwriter and TV personality in the Philippines of Chinese descent. He is a former member of the band U-Turn. Early life Poon was born on December 8, 1973, in Makati, Philippines. His ...
) to form Take One and Dizon joining Parliament Syndicate.


Second lineup

Side A's second album, ''The White Album'', also their debut release under Vicor Music, earned double and triple platinum status for its sales. One of the biggest hits included on the album is "Hold On", featuring new lead vocalist Joey Generoso and new drummer Ernie Severino completing and forming the band's long-running line-up. ''The Blue Album'', their second album under Vicor, also went double and triple platinum. The album features a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of
Labuyo ''Siling labuyo'' is a small chili pepper cultivar that developed in the Philippines after the Columbian Exchange. It belongs to the species ''Capsicum frutescens'' and is characterized by triangular fruits which grow pointing upwards. The fru ...
's "Tuloy Pa Rin Ako" which was recorded live at the Music Hall, one of the premiere lounges in Manila. The album cover sports exactly the same design as the ''White Album'' with the embossed Side A logo, only this time in blue. In 1995, the album ''By Your Side'' under Warner reached gold status. The band won two Awit Awards, namely Best Performance by a Group for "By Your Side" and Best Jazz Performance with vocals for "True Love Can Always Wait". It was also the only album they released internationally with two additional singles: "Forevermore" and a cover of the
Joey Albert Joey Albert (born March 19, 1960) is a Filipina pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist, and songwriter. An alumna of St. Theresa's College Manila and Assumption College San Lorenzo, she began her professional singing career in 1981. In 1982, she ...
song, "Tell Me". This album also commemorated Side A's 10 years in the music industry. Side A held a 10th anniversary concert at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay and a
live recording An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records coll ...
of the show was released titled ''Side A Live! The 10th Anniversary Concert'' which went triple platinum. This album contained cover versions of international and local OPM love songs. It includes the
Joey Benin Joey Benin or Joey B is a Filipino bassist, singer, producer and musical arranger. He is best known as a former member of the band Side A and as songwriter for the hit song "Forevermore". Music career In 1986, Benin joined Side A as bass play ...
-written
Janno Gibbs Janno Ronaldo Ilagan Gibbs (born September 16, 1969) is a singer-songwriter, actor, and comedian in the Philippines. He was a regular host of GMA Network television shows ''SOP Rules'', ''Nuts Entertainment'', ''Eat Bulaga!'', '' Kakasa Ka Ba ...
original "I Believe in Dreams", as well as a version of
James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...
's "
Your Smiling Face "Your Smiling Face" is a hit single by singer James Taylor. First available on the album '' JT'', and released as the album's sophomore single in September 1977, "Your Smiling Face" peaked at number 11 in '' Cash Box'' magazine and at 20 on the ' ...
" in which all of the band members could be heard singing solo parts. In 1997, the album ''Year 12'' was released and was certified gold. The album features a collaboration of international songwriters including
Sharon Cuneta Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...
. It commemorated their twelfth year as a band. In September 1998, Side A's offering for the Philippine Centennial Year, the album ''Ang Ating Awitin'' was released. Advance orders of the album guaranteed a gold album award for the group in its first week of release. It includes a groovier version of the
Hotdog A hot dog (uncommonly spelled hotdog) is a food consisting of a grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener (Vienna sausage) or a frank ...
song, "Manila". In 1999, the band released ''Remember December'', their first and only Christmas album, and in 2000 the album ''Will I Ever'' was released with its carrier single, "Will I Ever". The album proved to be a minor success. A compilation of all the band's greatest hits from 1985 to 2001 was released in the album ''The Platinum Collection''. It contains new versions of their old hits. In 2003, the band released the album "titanium" In 2005, Kelly Badon left the band to form The Kelly Badon Project with former members of Freeverse. Badon was replaced by former Take One guitarist Leevon Cailao (making him the youngest member of the band). His debut with the band features him singing Fra Lippo Lippi's "Later" on their 2005 ''Gig: All Hits Live'' (at Bagaberde) album. The live album had minimal success.
Joey Benin Joey Benin or Joey B is a Filipino bassist, singer, producer and musical arranger. He is best known as a former member of the band Side A and as songwriter for the hit song "Forevermore". Music career In 1986, Benin joined Side A as bass play ...
left Side A in 2007. He currently tends a fish farm and a developing natural organic farmland in Silay, Negros Occidental with his wife and kids. He was replaced by Ned Esguerra, former Freeverse member. Joey Generoso left Side A in 2015 to pursue a solo career under the name Joey G.


2020–present

In September 2020, the original lineup - the Gonzalez brothers, Joey Benin, Kelly Badon, Mar Dizon and Pido Lalimarmo - released a re-recording of "'Di Pa Huli" via
Patreon Patreon (, ) is a membership platform that provides business tools for content creators to run a subscription service. It helps creators and artists earn a monthly income by providing rewards and perks to their subscribers. Patreon charges a co ...
. The single is part of the original lineup's reunion project ''Side A Redux: First Album'', consisting of new versions of songs from their eponymous 1989 debut album as well as new material. The original lineup staged an online benefit concert titled "Calesa: Side A Redux" on January 30, 2021. In January 2021, the current lineup released a new single "Until You".


Members


Current members

* Naldy Gonzalez - keyboard (1985–present) * Ernie Severino - drums (1990–present) * Leevon Cailao - lead guitar (2005–present) * Ned Esguerra - bass guitar (2008–present) * Yubs Esperat - lead vocals, guitar (2008–present)


Former members

* Rodel Gonzalez - lead vocals, saxophone (1985-1990, 2020 reunion) * Pido Lalimarmo - guitar, vocals (1985-1990, 2020 reunion) * Mar Dizon - drums (1985-1990, 2020 reunion) * Benjamin "Bagets" Mendez (1988-1992) * Kelly Badon - lead guitar, vocals (1985-2005, 2020 reunion) *
Joey Benin Joey Benin or Joey B is a Filipino bassist, singer, producer and musical arranger. He is best known as a former member of the band Side A and as songwriter for the hit song "Forevermore". Music career In 1986, Benin joined Side A as bass play ...
- bass guitar, vocals (1985-2008, 2020 reunion) * Joey Generoso - lead vocals, guitar (1990-2015; brother of TV director Pinggoy Generoso)


Discography


Studio albums


Compilation albums


Live albums


Christmas album


Singles and EPs

*1994: "So Many Questions" - won the 1994 Awit Award for Best Ballad Recording and Best Performance by a Group *1995: ''Forevermore'' - first EP which sold more than 90,000 copies; it contains the single "Forevermore" which won them the 1996 Awit Award for Best Performance by a Group for the third consecutive year and Song of the Year. It also included "Tell Me". "Forevermore" was also covered by
Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( ; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipina singer, actress, and record producer. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and belting ...
in 2004 for the GMA drama series "Forever in My Heart", American singer
David Archuleta David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American pop singer. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition, leading to other television singing appearances. When he was twelve years old, he becam ...
from his album of the same title in 2012, and covered by Juris Fernandez-Lim in 2015 for the ABS-CBN teleserye of the same title. *1996: "Until Then" - written by
Gary Valenciano Edgardo Jose Santiago Valenciano (, born August 6, 1964), also known as Gary V., is a Filipino singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, actor, music producer and television host. Valenciano has released 39 albums, and won the Awit Award for "Bes ...
and popularized by a Lux Super Rich shampoo commercial; a year later in 1997 it was covered later by Gary Valenciano for his greatest hits album. It was also covered by
Jed Madela John Edward Tiña Tajanlangit (born July 14, 1977), professionally known as Jed Madela, is a Filipino singer, recording artist, songwriter, TV host, entertainer, and occasional actor. He was the first Filipino to win the World Championships o ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Side A 1985 establishments in the Philippines Filipino contemporary R&B musical groups Filipino pop music groups Filipino rock music groups MCA Music Inc. (Philippines) artists Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups from Metro Manila Vicor Music artists Viva Records (Philippines) artists Warner Music Group artists