When I was still teaching English and Computer Aided Instruction (CAI), I used song lyrics to help my students easily understand figures of speech, and to inspire them to write poems and short stories. My favorites were Last Chance by Allure; How Come, How Long by Stevie Wonder & Babyface; I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys; and Gone Too Soon, another song by Babyface. For me, these songs tell stories—they’re emotional and raw. Listening to these songs feels like an intimate conversation. I’m remembering all these because this is exactly how I felt while listening to the songs of Arthur Nery’s third album, Fictions You Produce.
Arthur’s first two albums, Letters Never Sent and II: The second, were filled with songs of love and longing and showcased his smooth vocals. I listen to both albums when I want to cool down and relax—they’re therapeutic. Fictions You Produce is just as relaxing, but the songs also take you an intimate emotional journey. The first track, “Desperado”, is an R&B ballad that talks of the desperation that one feels when the person he loves cannot be his. “Kahit sa guni-guni, Luging-lugi pa rin sa ‘yo” — this is my favorite line from the song.
“Cloud9” is like a love letter from a guy who’s willing to change–to leave his comfort zone–just to prove that his intentions are pure and his feelings are real. My favorite line? This: “If I tell you my flaws, would you keep it a secret?”
The third song is like a seductive serenade, a complete display of emotions. “Plorera” is a confession—telling your loved one that you are under their spell; that no matter what happens, “Susuko ako lagi sa ‘yo, Ako’y kusang nagpabiktima, Ikaw ay bahagi na ng pahinga ko, Suko ako lagi sa ‘yo.”
“Far Away”, track number 4, is one of my favorites in this album. It’s a slow jam that showcases Arthur’s insane vocals. To me, it has the same effect as one of my favorites in his second album, “Segundo Siguro”. I think the song is about false hopes—while you’re hanging on and hoping that the feeling is mutual, once you’re there, he/she ignores you. “You beg for me to come back when I’m far away, To ignore me for the rest of the day.”
The fifth track is another favorite—number two in my list. “Tama mo ay serbesa’t vino, Palayaw mo ay Mi Amor, Alay ko ang aking apelyido, Gumising lang sa tabi mo…Pag ikaw ang kapuyatan, Tama mo ay serbesa’t vino.” I was swaying while listening to this song. It’s a beautiful love song for the person whose presence alone can make you a little tipsy and giddy with happiness. I like its smooth, gentle, and relaxing groove. It evokes all kinds of positive emotions—so you’re hopeful that this love story has a happy ending.
”What Did I Do” is my favorite song in Fictions You Produce, not only because it exploits his vocal prowess, but also because it has everything I want in a song. The lyrics, the guitar, the arrangement, and the emotions–the best way to deliver the story. Every line is an intimate conversation. Every question is a confession—“Why do you love me?” Or “I can’t believe you love me!”. If you listen closely, you’ll actually hear the emotional strain in Arthur’s vocals. It’s haunting in a beautiful, positive way. My favorite lines: “I know my demise is if I make you cry….What did I do, To make you love me, too? I ain’t brand new, I got bad reviews…”
”Double Timed” is a collaboration with Zeke Abella, a content creator/singer. It’s also in my list of favorites because: 1) I love acoustic guitars, 2) I love the arrangement, and 3) I love the melody and the emotions that their voices create. I like the part where they take turns in telling the story. It’s like friends telling each other, “Yeah, man, I can’t believe this happened to me!” The song is about being double timed, and my favorite line is: “And I got what he lacks, and he lacks what I got, and you like it.”
The last song in the album is a collaboration with Adie. “Paralisado” was actually released before the album came out, so people are already quite familiar with it. It is a story about what it feels like to love someone who’s difficult to understand. It’s also about a love that’s slowly fading away. “Madaling mahalin, hirap intindihin. ‘Di ka rin nagpapaangkin…Oh, paralisado pagdating sa ‘yo. Sino ako? Sino sa ‘yo?”
Fictions You Produce combines Arthur’s vocal artistry with his unique brand of storytelling. His stories have the usual themes, but they’re told in a more dramatic, poetic, almost theatrical way. And this is why each song feels so intimate–like it’s talking to you, making you feel every emotion–longing, pain, confusion, happiness, love, and even tipsiness. The stories in Fictions You Produce are definitely real, not fiction. They’re stories we all can relate with, no matter where we are in life right now.
Stream the album on Spotify or YouTube to understand what I mean. I’m sure you’ll love the experience. Enjoy!