Sex appeal and pop smarts catapulted Prettier Than Pink to the top of the charts in the
Philippines in 1995, their popularuty skyrocketing after an omnipresent single, "Cool Ka
Lang" ("Just Stay Cool" in English), wooed radio listeners with its sprightly guitar jangle;
witty, upbeat lyrics; and sugar-sweet vocals. Written and composed by leader and founding
member Lei Bautista (vocals, guitar), "Cool Ka Lang" became one of the Philippines'
biggest '90s hits. The song captured the first-person narratives of everyday life in the
Philippines that the country's alternative acts became recognized for, but placed in a
radio-friendly context. Consequently, unlike many of the Filipino guitar groups in the early
'90s, Prettier Than Pink was able to appeal to mainstream tastes even though the band had
roots in New Wave and '60s rock.
Prettier Than Pink's slickly produced self-titled first record became the object of a
major-label bidding war won by Viva Records, which released it in 1995 under its Neo
Records imprint. Within five months the LP went gold. Prettier Than Pink gigged
constantly, perforning '60s and '70s covers and New Wave classics alongside original
material. Although critically dismissed, the members of Prettier Than Pink were viewed as
positive role models, inspiring young girls to take up instruments and honestly express their
feelings.
After the second album, 1997's more adventurous Unpink, the band underwent another
roster shift. However, the new lineup released no new material, as Bautista relocated to the
U.S. shortly thereafter. In 2004, Bautista recorded a Christian alternative album with
session musicians as Airlia, hitting number one on Flashback Alternatives in New Jersey with
"Guiding Light." She also re-formed Prettier Than Pink as a New Wave act in America that
year with guitarist Pamela Aquino of the Pin-Up Girls, Melody del Mundo (bass) of Sugar
Hiccup, and Irish drummer Ann Connolly. A year later, they released their U.S. debut on
Chop Suey on Sutton Records.
Chop Suey continued Prettier Than Pink's musical evolution, liberating Bautista from the
corporate requirements that once forced her to compromise artistic breakthroughs for
commercial appeal. Unleashing her varied influences - '60s psychedelic rock, '70s funk, and
'80s New Wave - Bautista was finally able to record the wildly creative LP that she always
imagined. Serviced to college and to more than 60 radio stations in the U.S. witin a month's
time. It even received airplay on Rodney on the ROQ on alternative icon KROQ in Los
Angeles.
Philippines in 1995, their popularuty skyrocketing after an omnipresent single, "Cool Ka
Lang" ("Just Stay Cool" in English), wooed radio listeners with its sprightly guitar jangle;
witty, upbeat lyrics; and sugar-sweet vocals. Written and composed by leader and founding
member Lei Bautista (vocals, guitar), "Cool Ka Lang" became one of the Philippines'
biggest '90s hits. The song captured the first-person narratives of everyday life in the
Philippines that the country's alternative acts became recognized for, but placed in a
radio-friendly context. Consequently, unlike many of the Filipino guitar groups in the early
'90s, Prettier Than Pink was able to appeal to mainstream tastes even though the band had
roots in New Wave and '60s rock.
Prettier Than Pink's slickly produced self-titled first record became the object of a
major-label bidding war won by Viva Records, which released it in 1995 under its Neo
Records imprint. Within five months the LP went gold. Prettier Than Pink gigged
constantly, perforning '60s and '70s covers and New Wave classics alongside original
material. Although critically dismissed, the members of Prettier Than Pink were viewed as
positive role models, inspiring young girls to take up instruments and honestly express their
feelings.
After the second album, 1997's more adventurous Unpink, the band underwent another
roster shift. However, the new lineup released no new material, as Bautista relocated to the
U.S. shortly thereafter. In 2004, Bautista recorded a Christian alternative album with
session musicians as Airlia, hitting number one on Flashback Alternatives in New Jersey with
"Guiding Light." She also re-formed Prettier Than Pink as a New Wave act in America that
year with guitarist Pamela Aquino of the Pin-Up Girls, Melody del Mundo (bass) of Sugar
Hiccup, and Irish drummer Ann Connolly. A year later, they released their U.S. debut on
Chop Suey on Sutton Records.
Chop Suey continued Prettier Than Pink's musical evolution, liberating Bautista from the
corporate requirements that once forced her to compromise artistic breakthroughs for
commercial appeal. Unleashing her varied influences - '60s psychedelic rock, '70s funk, and
'80s New Wave - Bautista was finally able to record the wildly creative LP that she always
imagined. Serviced to college and to more than 60 radio stations in the U.S. witin a month's
time. It even received airplay on Rodney on the ROQ on alternative icon KROQ in Los
Angeles.
