Filipino Bands Performing Hotels, Clubs, and Restaurants in Asia: Purveyors of Transnational Culture In a Global Arena

Abstract

Filipino musicians can be found performing in many cities throughout Asia. They form the largest and most widely dispersed population of traveling entertainers in Asia. Their performance venues include five-star hotels, cruise liners, international chain pubs and restaurants like the Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood, and tiny karaoke lounges in Japan where entertaining entails singing karaoke with guests. Many Filipino musicians aspire to perform abroad because of the higher salaries and status it confers upon them. International hotels, and upscale clubs and restaurants are the mainstay for a large proportion of Filipino entertainers. Their audience ranges from tourists and business travelers to expatriates working for multinational corporations, and the local middle and upper classes. They are in demand in these venues for their ability to perform mainstream western pop and rock in the most ‘authentic’ style, including the ‘oldies’ and the latest 2 hits on the British and the American music charts. By ‘authentic,’ I mean they are able to imitate the voice quality, singing style, and dance movements of well-known singers from Britain and the United States. Filipino musicians are also in demand in Asia because they can sing and speak in many different languages and can appeal to the local audiences in the different countries where they perform. This dissertation examines the reasons behind the demand of Filipino bands performing Anglo-American mainstream popular music in Asia. It looks at the ways globalization has facilitated working transnationally, and explores the culture Filipino musicians employ in order to adapt to changing work environments. This dissertation also reveals the ways in which transnationals influence the culture of those in their own homeland and in the countries in which they are employed. This study will show that Filipino bands provide a ‘global performance,’ involving the singing of Anglo-American mainstream popular music, Asian hit songs, and international hits in other languages such as Spanish and Italian, so that they can cater to the entertainments need of their diverse audiences throughout Asia. Their performances reflect the global imaginings of their audiences in Asia, while their experiences abroad shape the global imagination of Filipinos in their homeland.