Queen and Katy Perry will have to be put on hold. Manny Pacquiao is walking into the ring on the night of the mega-fight against undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a song that Pacquiao has previously recorded for an unreleased album.
For the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout announced for May 2, (May 3, Sunday, PH time), Pacquiao is making sure he pulls out every stop to secure a convincing win over the undefeated counter-puncher.
Online reports show the eight-division world champion pinoy pugilist tracking his own entrance song on the day of the fight. This fight, about six years in the making, is projected by boxing experts to be the biggest and most lucrative fight in the sport?s history. So it figures that if Manny wants to win in style or at least lose with consolation, he must also showcase his singing career in a spectacle that has been dubbed the ?Superbowl of boxing.?
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His entrance song, according to online reports, is a slow rock ballad entitled Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino. This was a track done in collaboration with songwriter Lito Camo (Camo has written various radio hits like Boom Tarat Tarat, Otso Otso, Spaghetti Song).
Why is this song such a big deal?
How memorable would the Rocky franchise be without Eye of the Tiger, right? Would Rocky Balboa?s victories have been as sweet if the film that starred Sylvester Stallone had been without the track? (Stallone originally wanted Queen?s Another One Bites The Dust to be in the film. Imagine that?).
I also remember Mighty Ducks 2, the first film that had me patriotic about another country besides my own. I remember Team USA?s hockey team skating and competing against Team Germany. Then after (spoiler alert?just in case you haven?t seen this one yet) Team USA won the gold?which was a pretty obvious scenario for a feel-good film, they all gathered around a bonfire singing the ultimate champion?s ballad: We Are The Champions.
Music and sports play well off each other. When WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestlers enter the ring, they have to play their trademark entrance song to hype themselves and the crowd up. Circa mid-?90s, when you hear glass shattering on the PA system all over the arena, you can bet someone?s going to get beat by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Even in wars documented in the Bible, musicians would be in the front line playing music to rally the troops.
It?s about trademark. It?s about identity. Inspired music ushers warriors into the fiercest of battles. Manny just wants to enjoy every bit of a confident win. Plus, instead of immersing himself in melodies of self-praise and vanity, he chooses to go out with a theme of honoring his country.
Manny?s song is done. And Floyd can continue to walk into the ring with his hiphop tracks / Money Team Anthem, complete with Justin Bieber by his side. But unfortunately after all is said and done, it?s not about the song before the fight. It?s about who?s going to be singing by the end of it, when his hands are raised up high when he is proclaimed the victor.
My heart says root for Manny Pacquiao. My mind says bet your money on Floyd Mayweather Jr. But since I?m not really big on betting, I?m left with no choice but to go all in for the ?Pambansang Kamao? (The National Fist).
