The Gameboys the Series’ Official Soundtrack (OST) [Review]

For years, I have been a silent fan of Original Soundtracks from movies and more recently, the sweeping and heart-tugging theme songs that BL Series from across Asia have been producing like they’re nothing more than arranged poetry – lush, poetic and sung like scores meant to induce the viewer’s emotions to soar.

by BLHaven – Edited by TheFNGee

The Song I Never Knew I Needed To Hear

For me, it was enough to read the subtitles as the melodies filled my ears, watching as the actors waddle in slow motion through scenes that remind one of the daydreams and unfulfilled wishes of love. It was enough that I somehow knew what the song represented. As much as I appreciated translated covers of the original songs, they were not really at par with the original – the language that dialogue of the actors was saying somehow did not equate with the translated songs. But they were good.

In time, my playlist grew with songs for which I barely knew the meaning. What I did know was that, at one point in my life, they meant something. So, I continued to play them and replay them, shuffle them, and kept on playing until I realized that they reminded me of scenes rather than feelings.

That was before Gameboys came. Arguably the Philippines’ first venture into the Boys Love genre as it was meant to be, not some quasi-BL slash gay series that was created for the representation of the LGBTQ+ community, but rather the Boys Love genre that entices squeals from the fangirls, a skipped heartbeat from a gay man as he is reminded of what his youth could have been if society had been more welcoming in years past; in a sense, a Boys Love series that is fluff and flirting and make-believe with our own brand of hirit (banter).

Episode 1, at 10 minutes, was a tease; but, it brought us to the world of Gav and Cai, two young men who may just be starting to realize that all in life is not merely games. Because of the pandemic situation, challenges in the shooting for the next episode gave us a respite this week. However, IdeaFirst Company, the production outfit that is bringing us this gift, just dropped a bomb right into our Friday night.

The first Original Filipino Soundtrack for a BL series went live 8:00 PM, March 29th, 2020. With lyrics and music by Emerzon Texon, the theme song, sung by Nasser Amparna, a Filipino singer and Social Media Influencer who has done covers of a lot of BL theme songs as well as theme songs for locally dubbed Thai Lakorn, hits all the right cords.

I never knew I needed to hear this song until the melody has swept my innards and made me cry uncontrollably for 2 hours, playing the song over and over again. This is music that I will only remember glimpses of scenes, but this is one that I will remember the feeling because while they say that music is the language of the soul – this song literally is a piece of music I understand.

There are several BL series currently in production in the Philippines. But Isang Laro, as a theme song, will have a special place in my heart. And I ask, for years, we Filipinos admire and are fascinated by the Thai culture and music through their series – I guess, it’s about time that we now face and stand up to our own music.

Isang Laro

Anong dapat kong gawin
Sa aking damdamin
Ako’y nakuha sa tingin
Sa isang ihip ng hangin
Akala ko’y isang laro
Pero di ko naitago
Isang tingin ko lang sa ‘yo
Tumibok bigla ang puso

Sa’n ba dadalhin
Ng ngiti natin
Ang pagtingin
Sa yo’t sa akin
Hanggang sa’n lalayo
ang ating mga puso
Para sa pag-ibig na mula
sa isang laro

Anong dapat kong gawin
Upang ika’y mapasa’kin
Alam kong gusto mo rin
Kahit di ka umamin

Akala ko’y isang laro
Pero hindi ko naitago
Isang tingin ko lang sa ‘yo
Tumibok bigla ang puso

Sa’n ba dadalhin
Ng ngiti natin
Ang pagtingin
Sa yo’t sa akin
Hanggang sa’n lalayo
ang ating mga puso

Para sa pag-ibig na mula
sa isang laro
Para sa pag-ibig na mula
sa isang laro

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]