“Prototipo” is a song produced, written and recorded by Timothy for a friend’s short film: Direk Chic Mirano’s “Bon Voyage, Minnie”. 

A lover of the slow and sensual, Timothy employs various elements of soul ballads, rhythm and blues, as well as indie pop. Lyrically, the song talks of blind adoration and romantic optimism towards a fantastical love interest. 

Prototipo, or “prototype” is defined as a first, typical or preliminary model of something (usually a machine) from which other forms are developed or copied. This song describes a person who was a “first”, revered for their mysterious, nostalgic beauty. However, as the song progresses, the admirer begins to uncover the complex layers to this person, revealing a flawed individual. The admirer steps back to re-evaluate, promising to meet again as different people. 


Lyrics:
Ikaw, na hango sa mga bituin;
Bulalakaw—hulog ng langit; 
Araw na pumapawi sa aking lamig;
Tanaw ang ginhawang minimithi

Peligro, prototipo
Hindi husto; hindi kumpleto 
Sugat na malayo sa paghilom; 
Mailap na labing tikom

Bakit ‘di mo sabihin ang saloobin? 
Kapag umuulan, bumubuhos
‘Wag mo’ng pigilin
Bakit ‘di mo sabihin ang saloobin? 
Kapag umuulan, bumubuhos.

Ikaw, ikaw na nagtatago sa maskara;
Umaapaw sa maling akala 

Sugat na malayo sa paghilom;
Mailap na labing tikom 

Magkikita pa naman tayo ‘di ba? 
Burahin mo ang pinta sa’yong mukha;
Hindi ito akma
Huwag ka na munang magpangamba;
Luluwag din ang paghinga
Magkikita pa naman tayo ‘di ba? 
‘Di ba?

Prototipo (Acoustic Ver.)

DARK was a track I published last year, but with a highly orchestral feel. This one stays loyal to the lyrics and chords, but reinvented, and darker. 

Photo: one of Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms paintings; in contrast to the song’s nature, Blossoms symbolized awakening and hope for Gogh.

DARK

Basically just someone really stubborn reminiscing hard, musing how time is flowing water and you literally cannot go against it and go back into the past to change some things.

Picture: “Chrysanthemums” by Claude Monet;  oil on canvas 1882
Monet was a really avid gardener. Chrysanthemums have different meanings, but a white one means loyalty and honesty. This flower blooms around fall and despite the incoming winter it remains vibrant. I am not even sure how it’s connected to the song.

Lyrics:
I want to walk with you down a quiet road
lined with trees so tall we don’t have to 
worry about the heat. 

The ground is paved with leaves—brown and red, dry and wet—
my hand is cold but yours are as warm as the sunset. 

I want to capture this; your eyes look soft, the tips of your ears are pink.
I’ll take a photograph and keep it in my wallet. 

I wonder how you see me. You look at me like I made the sun, 
and I stare at you like you are the reason why. 

But time is flowing water; I treat mine like silver. 
You are the remaining embers at a bonfire. 
I wish I could reverse the flow, redo everything, make no mistakes. 
But time is runnning water and I was swept away. 

But that doesn’t mean I can’t dream. 
And I will sing this song until my lungs cannot bear to go on.
I have trouble waking in the morning, but I am stubborn. 
You know I am slow, but surely I can go on. 

‘Cause you know me like the back of your hand, 
like a favourite song you know by heart.
Lips are clockwork when you start to sing along. 

I am your tea in the evening, the laughter when you’re snoring
the number 3 in your speed dial, the shoulder you lean on when you’re tired. 

But time is flowing water; I treat you like an anchor. 
We are terrible dancers under pouring rain. 
I wish I could prevent the flow, just pause everything.
Make sure I remember this. Make sure I remember this. 
But time is runnning water and I was swept away. 

But that doesn’t mean I can’t dream. 
And I will sing this song until my lungs cannot bear to go on.
I have trouble waking in the morning, but I am stubborn. 
You know I am slow, but surely I can go on. 

But we’re the best actors; we act like we are strangers. 
How do we cross a line we don’t even know where to draw? 
How stupid can we get? Don’t we ever learn from the poets?
Or science and its repelling forces?
The more alike you are, the stronger you push away. 

Just like how my grandpa used to say; 
You don’t win in a never-ending game. 

‘Cause time is flowing water; what’s done is done is done. 
I broke your heart; you broke mine. 
We don’t look back or stay behind. 
We cannot be together—the world spins too fast for us to hold onto each other.
And time is running water, 
And this flood swept us away. We were swept away.  
That’s okay. 

I want to walk with you down a quiet road
lined with trees so tall we don’t to worry about saying anything.

Swept Away

I was commissioned to compose and produce a song for a short film "Springs" in the UST CFAD's Sineng Sine V. It won Best Original Score alongisde Best Sound Editing, with the team also winning Best Cinematography amongst 20+ participants!! Congrats Isa Salonga and thank you for working with me!! 💞

Pag-uusap is a simple verse-chorus-verse-bridge pattern, with acoustic guitar, strings and organ as a bass. Also one of my very rare Tagalog pieces!!

Pag-uusap

Prototipo, or “prototype” is defined as a first, typical or preliminary model of something (usually a machine) from which other forms are developed or copied. This song describes a person revered and adored for their complexity, flaws, and uniqueness. It encompasses both desperation and devotion towards  the “firsts”, the love for what/who started everything, even if it is painstakingly obvious that they are completely incomplete. And yet we choose to be blinded by our versions of them.

Prototipo

22, self-producing, composer, writer and musician. I also walk slow.

Timothy Dueñas

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