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Kbye

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"Kbye"
Official single cover
Single by Alamat
Language
ReleasedFebruary 15, 2021
StudioViva Recording Studios
Genre
Length3:34
LabelViva
Composer(s)
Producer(s)Civ Fontanilla
Alamat singles chronology
"Kbye"
(2021) 		"Sandigan"
(2021)
Music video
"Kbye" on YouTube

"Kbye" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by the Filipino boy band Alamat. It was their debut single, released on February 15, 2021 by Viva Records. The song blends hip-hop, R&B, and pop. It also incorporates traditional Philippine instruments like the kulintang and audio samples like the sounds produced by bamboo poles tapping on the floor in a tinikling performance. The members of Alamat wrote and composed "Kbye" during a spontaneous jam session. The group's creative director, Jason Paul Laxamana, is also credited for the lyrics. Civ Fontanilla produced the song.

The lyrics are from the perspective a person who was ghosted by their significant other. "Kbye" and its music video received mostly favorable reviews from music critics. Hans Carbonilla of The Philippine Daily Inquirer described the song as "groundbreaking". Three weeks after its release, "Kbye" entered Billboard's Next Big Sound chart, peaking at number two. Various publications reported that this made Alamat the fastest Filipino act to enter the global chart.

Background and release

[edit]

In May 2020, Viva Records and its subsidiary label, Ninuno Media, held auditions for a multilingual P-pop boy group. According to the group's creative director Jason Paul Laxamana, he and his team sought members who were not just talented, but also proficient in different Philippine languages.[1] The group became known as Alamat (transl. Legend). In November, the group's nine members and their code names were revealed to the public.[2]

They released covers of various songs, including a multilingual version of "Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig" (transl. Is There No Love Anymore) by Jaya in January 2021.[2] In February, Alamat debuted with the song "Kbye". Its music video premiered on YouTube on February 14, while the song itself was released on all digital streaming platforms on February 15.[1]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

"Kbye" is three minutes and thirty-four seconds long.[3] Musically, it blends hip-hop,[4][5] R&B,[6] and pop. It incorporates traditional Philippine instruments, such as the kulintang and bandurria,[4] and audio samples like the sounds produced by the tapping of bamboo poles on the floor in a tinikling performance.[7] According to Alamat member Mo, the members of the group composed the song during a spontaneous jam session, writing the lyrics after creating a melody and flow for the song.[8] Jason Paul Laxamana is credited for the lyrics as well.[3] Civ Fontanilla produced the song, while Iean Iñigo arranged it. Joel Mendoza recorded "Kbye" at Viva Recording Studios; he also mixed and mastered the song.[9] Jazz Carilla of Parcinq, a Filipino magazine, noted that the song's "very upbeat" melody contrasts with its lyrics.[10]

"Kbye"
A 19-second sample of "Kbye", where the multilingual chorus can be heard.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Lyrically, "Kbye" is from the perspective of a person who was ghosted by their significant other. Throughout the song, the narrator expresses different emotions about the failed relationship, from disappointment to nostalgia.[10] A few critics have also identified a resentful tone in the lyrics.[11][12] The song features a total of seven Philippine languages: Bicolano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Tagalog, and Waray.[1] In an interview with The Philippine Daily Inquirer, then-member Valfer said of the multilingual lyrics, "Not everyone understands Korean, but we still appreciate their music and they were still able to promote their culture. So even though we sing in different languages, I believe that the beauty of culture will still shine through."[11]

Reception

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"Kbye" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Writing for the The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Hans Carbonilla described the song as "groundbreaking". He lauded "Kbye" for showing that "tradition can thrive alongside modernity".[13] Vice News' Lia Savillo considered the lyrics of "Kbye" to be "utterly relatable" and noted that the song "seamlessly" integrated Filipino culture into its hip-hop sound.[4] Likewise, Republic Asia's Joshua Gerona praised "Kbye" for capturing "the universality of heartbreak and of being ghosted", as well as blending traditional Philippine music with hip-hop.[5] Parcinq's Jazz Canilla wrote that the song's use of seven Philippine languages stops it from being a typical song about love problems.[10]

Nica Glorioso of Nylon Manila wrote that the song offered a preview of Alamat's "endless" possibilities as a group, despite its bitter lyrics.[12] Writing for the Filipino magazine Grid, Billy Caluag questioned "Kbye"'s authenticity. He said, "As I listened to 'Kbye' over and over again, I couldn't help but wonder if P-pop was truly ours: while these nine Filipinos were clothed in our fragmented culture and sang in their culturally personal ways, their direction is guided by the K-pop industry." Although his girlfriend, Sam, argued that Alamat was both a product of K-pop's influence and something that Filipinos could call their own, Caluag stated that concerns of cultural appropriation and "capitalist exploitation" continued to perturb him.[14] The Manila Bulletin's Punch Liwanag criticized the song's seriousness, remarking that the more cheerful tone of Alamat's 2022 song "ABKD" suited the group more. Nonetheless, he recognized "Kbye" as an "excellent R&B-imbued excursion".[6]

As of February 18, 2021, the music video entered YouTube's top trending list at number 23.[15] Within three weeks of its release, "Kbye" debuted on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart, peaking at number two. Multiple publications, including Philstar, Rappler, and Nylon Manila, reported that this made Alamat the fastest Filipino act to enter the global chart.[16][17][18]

Music video

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The music video for "Kbye" starts with the members sitting and leaning on a jeepney.[4] They later dance while wearing clothes inspired by each of their respective cultures.[11][7] Their choreography incorporates moves from traditional Philippine dances like the maglalatik, which involves dancers tapping on coconut shells attached to their bodies.[7] The video contains various other references to Filipino culture. In some scenes, they dance in front of a neon sign written in baybayin (pre-Hispanic Philippine script). Fiesta (Philippine festival) bunting, salakot (cone-shaped hat), colorful capiz shell windows, and samalamig (sweet beverage containing jelly) can also be seen in the video. Philstar's Kathleen A. Llemit noted that the members' hair was dyed in bright colors, which she considered interesting.[7]

The Philippine Daily Inquirer's Allan Policarpio described the video as "high-octane".[11] Writing for the newspaper's US Bureau, Hans Carbonilla praised the video for giving its traditional cultural elements "a fresh and contemporary twist".[13] Llemit commended Alamat for "basically screaming[...] that they are proudly Filipino" through the video.[7] Lea Salonga, an actress and singer, called the video "fabulous" on Twitter.[15]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from a video description published by Viva Records' official YouTube channel.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Requintana, Robert (February 14, 2021). "ALAMAT: When modern pop music merges with PH cultural heritage". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Llemit, Kathleen A. (February 1, 2021). "LIST: New P-Pop groups to 'stan' for". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "kbye - Song by Alamat". February 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Savillo, Lia (March 2, 2021). "Alamat on taking their multilingual Filipino pop music to the global stage". Vice News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Gerona, Joshua (October 26, 2023). "Championing Philippine culture: a guide to Alamat discography". Republic Asia. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Liwanag, Punch (February 21, 2022). "AUDIO JUNKIE: ALAMAT and other pop tales from ALLMO$T, Eugene Layug and Ethan Loukas". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e Llemit, Kathleen A. (February 16, 2021). "Alamat's 'kbye' music video screams 'Pinoy Pride' with rich Filipino imagery". Archived from the original on December 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (March 8, 2021). "Alamat on taking their multilingual Filipino pop music to the global stage". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Behind The Beat: 'kbye' by Alamat". Viva Records. February 14, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ a b c Carilla, Jazz (April 24, 2021). "Ghosting in Different Languages". Parcinq. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d Policarpio, Allan (March 4, 2021). "New Filipino boy band Alamat brings regional languages to the mainstream". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Glorioso, Nica (April 22, 2024). "Eager To Become A Magiliw? Begin Your Journey With ALAMAT With These 9 Songs". Nylon Manila. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Carbonilla, Hans (September 27, 2023). "All the essential Alamat songs that show their multilingual identity". The Philippine Daily Inquirer (US Bureau). Archived from the original on February 24, 2025.
  14. ^ Caluag, Billy. "My Girlfriend Keeps Talking About P-Pop". Grid. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025.
  15. ^ a b S. Madarang, Catalina Ricci (February 18, 2021). "'Fabulous': Lea Salonga all praise for P-pop group Alamat's performance in 'kbye' music video". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025.
  16. ^ Llemit, Kathleen A. (March 3, 2021). "Alamat is second P-pop group to make it on Billboard chart". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021.
  17. ^ Abad, Ysa (January 23, 2022). "P-pop power: A guide to rising P-pop groups". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Bautista, Rafael (January 6, 2022). "7 Times P-pop Groups Made History In 2021". Nylon Manila. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025.
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