Filipino boy group 1st.One is back!
Last January 15, the P-pop group marked their return with “Shout Out,” a track that builds on electronic elements peppered with hip hop influences. The motivational new single is a powerful electro-rap cut that draws out the spirit of determination with strong vocal performances by members ACE, Max, Alpha, J, Joker, Jason, and Gift.
1st.One star in the track’s cinematic visual draws inspiration from the military, paying homage to Filipino soldiers who served as members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) during the Korean War.
Set in rugged settings, the Raymond Fabian-directed video depicts the chaos of warfare, featuring a montage of war footage in the track’s interlude.
AD LOADING...
Towards the end, a brief monologue is recited as an homage to the soldiers. “Abo ng kasaysayan sa hangin mag wagas / Bawat sandali ay i-atas / Sa puso mong pag pugay ang bigkas / Pagkat bawat segundo lahat ay utang,” (The ashes of history are pure / Every moment is instructive / In your heart to pay tribute / As every second is owed), part of it reads. It ends with a dedication that reads: “We salute the sacrifice, valor and heart of our Filipino soldiers. Battle of Yultong, 1951. Korean War 1950-1953.”
The Battle of Yultong was a battle of the Korean War that occurred from April 22 to 23, 1951. Filipino soldiers were deployed as the 10th Battalion Combat Team under the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. Yesterday, January 19, the Philippine Army acknowledged the tribute on their official Facebook page.
AD LOADING...
According to local music media MYX, group leader ACE cited the Filipino troops’ bravery during the war as inspiration for writing the lyrics: “I wrote the lyrics wanting to thank and pay a great tribute to our soldiers. I wrote the songs thinking of how our great soldiers would have felt in the heat of battle. They would have thought or how they would have felt not knowing if they would still get to see their loved ones after the war. I wanted to write the hopes and dreams of those soldiers who never got their voices, or I think we owe a great deal of gratitude to our soldiers from past and until now. Because without them, we might not be living the lives we have now.”
1st.One are managed by the Philippine branch of Seoul-based FirstOne Entertainment. The company hopes to raise awareness of this contribution. In the same MYX article, they stated, “Not everyone is aware, but for a brief historical background, in 1950, about 7,500 combat troops known as the Philippines expeditionary forces to Korea or PEFTOK (The4th most significant force under the United Nations command) were sent to defend South Korea from a communist invasion by North Korea.”
1st.One last released “OH” with member Gift last year. On January 1, they teased a short clip titled “’Legacy’ The History,” which was a prelude containing a short history of the Battle of Yuldong.
Watch “Shout Out” below:
