“Palibot libot” is a stirring synth-pop song by the Filipino alt-rock artist Rico Blanco

The quiet but sophisticated music comes from a place of sincerity instead of just following the latest trends.

Rico Blanco’s new single “Palibot libot,” which came out today via Sony Music Entertainment, is about the uncertainty that can grow between friends and lovers. The Filipino artist who has won a lot of awards says that the song was inspired by one of the characters in a show that he recently filmed in La Union.

The story of the song is “precariously anchored on someone’s steadfast devotion,” but it’s only one-sided. The song doesn’t hide the truth about love: It doesn’t always go together. It’s not easy, but that’s what makes it so great.

“Palibot libot” was supposed to be recorded with a simple acoustic guitar arrangement, but it went in a more synth-pop direction with a soaring chorus and a few ambient touches instead.
Even though Blanco has written and produced songs with prominent synth elements before, like when he was the keyboardist for Rivermaya in the ’90s and when he experimented with electronic music on his critically acclaimed solo album Galactik Fiestamatik, his new track feels like a monumental effort that isn’t just trying to follow trends.

As expected, the result is defiantly but uniquely Rico Blanco: a sophisticated pop song that paints an impressionistic picture of calm and self-assurance. The musician put on a successful solo show at the Araneta Coliseum on September 11, 2022, which led to the release of “Palibot libot.” At the Big Dome show, the alt-rock pioneer played some of the most famous songs from his discography, which spans decades. The crowd loved it. During the concert, Blanco also played “Palibot libot” for the first time live and announced that it would be released at midnight on September 12, 2022, as a surprise.

“Palibot libot” by Rico Blanco is now available on all digital music platforms around the world, thanks to Sony Music Entertainment