I like Sam Milby

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

WHY POP ROCK AIN’T WHAT YOU THINK, PART 2Sam’s Kind of Rock

If there’s something you must know, it’s that Sam Milby can sing. While inside the Pinoy Big Brother house during season one, he was discovered playing the guitar and writing a love song, and yes, being an all-around pretty boy. Once outside, he played a rock star role in the movie Close to You, as the third side of a love triangle; soon enough, in the variety shows, he was being made to sing and play his guitar live (albeit with some discomfort). It of course wouldn’t take long for Sam’s good-looks-turned-rugged to become a rockstar image, and soon enough we were welcoming this idea into our lives: the “rockoustic” heartthrob.

The layers of definition here can only mean a wider audience. Because on the one hand you’ve got the notion of music played on acoustic guitar, as Sam had done upon his discovery; on the other you have the idea of rock as a genre, differentiating Sam from every other acoustic singer in these shores who does nothing but revivals. Not that he won’t subsist on revivals for the most part, but Sam was distinct because other than being an interweaving of rock and acoustic, he was also sold as a heartthrob.

This combination I realize might be difficult to beat really, regardless of better rock stars, bigger pop rock, or more creative acoustic singers. This is because Sam’s good looks is already default, and the more he uses the notion(s) of popular rock, the more he redefines it to suit how he looks. Which is really just pretty boy touched with some ruggedness, and tadah!, pop rock redefined with good looks, an American twang, and some sincere need to please.
Sam Milby must know he’s got us all—girls and gays alike—in the palm of his hand. Rakenrol notwithstanding.

READ MORE FROM PULSE PH.POSTS:

http://www.pulse.ph/posts/sam-milby-yeng-constantino/