Once upon a time, Rock `n Roll gave voice to the revolutionary youth movement of barrier-breaking, community building and social activism. In 2005, the revolution is revitalized in a new medium. The internet has expanded our world and at the same time made it much smaller by connecting each and everyone of us to one another.
Online games and their virtual worlds are the playgrounds of this inter verse. Ragnarok Online has broken down both physical and socio-economic boundaries, a brand new economy has emerged and even a new language has been created.
Ragnarok is so Rock `n Roll. In this same thinking, Level-Up has tapped local, well-known talents in its search to capture the exuberant spirit of the game. After sessions of melody-tuning, lyric-writing and constant head-banging, Level Up, the bands and the producers have come up with six (6) exceptional masterpieces:
1. Pag-Ibig Ko Sa `Yo by Moonstar88
2. Chiksikog by Kamikazee
3. A Different Kind by Kjwan
4. Rockin` It (The RoK Remix) by SVC
5. Phoenix by Typecast
6. MVP by 7 Shots feat. Pikaso
This album is the aural expression of Ragnarok's perpetually fun essence. Thanks to the bands for exploring our world and bringing back its essence into yours.
Last Tuesday, April 12, 2005, members of the press and guests were treated to the Rok On album launch party at the Blue Onion at Eastwood Citywalk, Libis.
“Rok On!” is a special collection of original music by the country’s most exciting bands. The album will have six songs written expressly to reflect the experiences not only of Ragnarok Online players, but the rest of the youth who enjoy online games.
“This is Level Up’s first real album, but from the start, we’ve always been supportive of the music industry. We started with music videos for Slapshock and Sugar Free, and a song last year by 7 Shots for our biggest episode. Music is the most natural fit into our gamers’ lifestyles,” says Sheila Paul, Level Up! Head of Marketing.
Featuring catchy tunes from bands such as Moonstar88 with their piece “Pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo” and Kamikazee with the witty “Chiksilog”, it will also contain the theme song for the upcoming Ragnarok Philippine Championships, “A Different Kind”, performed by the band Kjwan.
The CD will also feature Typecast, Sun Valley Crew and 7 Shots, offering a rich variety of sounds for different playing moods and different types of people.
“The songs and the bands included in this CD are meant to reflect the different and very unique aspects of the pRO community. It’s about situations that really exist, emotions like love, humor, competitiveness, friendship that are experienced when you’re part of Philippine Ragnarok Online,” said Sheila Paul.
The Moonstar88 song, “Pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo” was especially written by Level Up’s Joshua Luciano as the theme song for the epic love story behind the recent game episode, Amatsu and Kunlun: A Tale of Two Cities.
The song captures the love triangle between protagonist Ran, prince of Amatsu, his betrothed, princess Fei of Kunlun and the mysterious Assassin known only as Willow as the three of them go on an epic adventure to save the eastern lands from invasion.
While the fun song “Chicksilog” (a term used to describe a guy playing a female character in pRO) by Kamikazee tells the comic story of an ordinary pRO player and his misadventures with trying to meet the person behind a female character that he regularly sees online.
All in all, the Rok On album has something for everyone. From hip-hop music, to alternative, to rock, listeners will be treated to a little bit of everything, genre-wise.
The album comes with a Ragnarok Online game installer, a newbie guide and a lyric book of the songs.
Watch out for RoK On! The Album as it becomes available in your favorite music bars and record stores this coming April with a suggested retail price of P199.00.
LU! is also developing a microsite for Rok On which will be online in the days ahead. For updates, please check www.levelupgames.ph
