It's Midnight and ALAMAT Is Setting the New Standard

As soon as we saw the announcement for the Midnight Version of ‘Sa Panaginip Na Lang,’ we wondered how it could possibly be different. After all, we already loved the original version and couldn’t stop replaying the acoustic version’s performance video. Could they change it up enough to keep it interesting? Pre-save was our only option.

Needless to say, when midnight came, we just had to listen. What we heard was the most perfect music to usher in the early hours of the morning.

ALAMAT's teaser images for the original SPNL release. Film Photography by Redge Tolentino

The New Midnight Vibe

Can we describe a song as quiet and introspective? This is exactly where it brought us.

A delicate piano melody replaces the acoustic guitar from the original and sets the mood for the new version. It’s the first hint that what we’re hearing is not just a remix. Can we describe a song as quiet and introspective? This is exactly where it brought us. It rocked our world... quietly. The violin and the piano combine to accompany the boys’ harmonies, and it all serves to amplify both the mood and the vocals of this perfectly heart-breaking ballad. There’s little of the drama that makes up the original version. Instead, we’re left with drifting thoughts, silent musings, and a sense of calm that makes the stress disappear. We tip our hat to the orchestrator, Juan Carlo Magsalin, who brought a new flavor to Sean Cedro’s beautiful work.

Vocals to the Next Level

The way [R-Ji] seamlessly glides in, out, and around Mo’s and Tomas’ voices is something that bears repeating in another performance

We said it once already; the midnight version of ‘Sa Panaginip Na Lang’ is no ordinary remix, and the proof is in the new vocals. The tweaks that make the new vocal arrangement bumped it up to the next level. Mo showed his vocal control with the high notes he unleashed, with that extended belt being a particularly pleasant surprise. Tomas played off Mo’s vocals with his strong and playful tones and added so much interest to the sound.

R-Ji is, of course, the only person who can set the tone and direct us to how the song is supposed to flow. The way he seamlessly glides in, out, and around Mo’s and Tomas’ voices is something that bears repeating in another performance. Alas’ charisma blazes through and stuns us in this lovesick song. Indeed, ALAMAT’s lead rapper has quite the voice to him! Can we have more, please?

Two Unexpected Standouts (And We’re Not Even Biased)

Jao and Taneo's teaser images for the original SPNL release. Film Photography by Redge Tolentino

For us, the real surprise was Taneo and Jao. We’ve made no secret of falling in love with Taneo’s low notes in the acoustic version. The melody in the Midnight Version only serves to highlight it. Then there’s Jao; who would have thought the main dancer would shine in a ballad? True, we are no strangers to his voice. We heard him in the acoustic version and loved his performance in the original music video. Still, this new arrangement allows an unexpected focus on a plaintive, solid voice. We’ll say it again: we want to hear more of these two.

More Versions Please?

The midnight version adds a thesaurus’ worth of descriptors to our praises of this ballad.

So, what is it about ‘Sa Panaginip Na Lang’ that tugs at our heartstrings? These boys manage to bring every shred of emotion into their voices, which has the effect we’re pretty sure they wanted. The midnight version adds a thesaurus’ worth of descriptors to our praises of this ballad. It’s quiet, reflective, simple, delicate, and (let’s not forget) heart-breaking. We want to hear this song every day, both in the Original and Midnight versions. Heck, if they made the acoustic version available on Spotify or Apple Music, we’d add that to our audio stream list, too. Whatever ALAMAT is up to now, we are listening and ready.