Imelda Marcos and "Here Lies Love"

Guest Contribution by Bien-Elize Roque

Imelda Marcos

Closed eyes, beat drowning the dance floor, you're ready to get down, and the next song on rotation is a song about Imelda Marcos - time to toast?

In an epic disco narrative, founding member of the Talking Heads David Byrne & famous DJ and producer Fat Boy Slim have created a soundtrack to Imelda's tumultuously romantic rise to power. Here Lies Love is a collection of songs based on Imelda Marcos, the (in)famous former First Lady of the Philippines, who carried half the responsibility in the corruption of the Philippines, along with husband and former President Ferdinand Marcos, from 1965 until they were ousted from power in 1986.

Together they brought about the rise and fall of the Philippines at the forefront of world politics. The catalyst to the first ever People Power revolution, she is in all essence one of the most complex and interesting Pilipina's of Philippine history. 

Here Lies Love follows Imelda Marcos' life alongside Estrella Cumpus, her family's hired nanny. The actual music itself is all themed to be dance music, due to the fact that Imelda loved to socialize and immerse herself in that scene, even going as far as converting the top floor of her New York apartment into a disco while the vast majority of her countrymen wallowed in poverty. The lyrics are all based on actual quotes from Imelda, giving the listener a look into her personal process through pivotal moments in her life. David Byrne wanted to explore, "what drives a powerful person" and "if by osmosis, [the listener] could absorb an emotional story." Not only does he do this successfully, but in the process also gives voice to a time in history that has, and continues to have, rippling effects in the Philippines. 

Byrne also includes 6 music videos used in the live production of Here Lies Love, and watching these videos with actual vintage footage of Imelda is an overindulgence into good music, life changing story, and perfectly pitted lyrics. He also collaborates with amazing artists such as Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, Cyndi Lauper, and Santigold to fit each mood of the song with the perfect voice. This truly is monumental. 

To see this story told through artists who are not Pilipino, seems to be a musical validation for our history and people. For most Asian Americans, our history lessons have been written by our colonizers, and we rarely get but a footnote in our high school history books. In many Asian American circles, interest in our pre American collective history is not very high until people hit college and decide to go search for our past. As members and builders of today’s culture, we deserve more - and this is what Here Lies Love does. By packaging pop music and politics together, this story transcends the Pilipino or Asian American sphere into mainstream culture - a place Asian Americans still have yet to rightfully infiltrate. While I do acknowledge it would have been nice if a Pilipino had thought of this project, I do recognize that the fact that it is produced by a rock and roll hall of famer and a famous DJ, makes it more accessible and viable as purely good music.

Here Lies Love reveals a side of Imelda many people do not know, or maybe even not want to know. An Imelda who is obsessed with beauty – wanting and longing for better because she grew up poor. An Imelda who really had good intentions, but found power more satisfying. She is a work of art. Each song delivers a part of a persona that has intrigued generations and political leaders for years. It reminds us of her humble beginnings, and has us wondering why she abandoned them. It helps to understand her obsessions and the corruption that manifested from them. And it doesn't change the many horrible ramifications of the Marcos' regime, but it helps to understand somewhat the why, how, and what way we should go towards healing.

It is important that we acknowledge our past and history, whether the stories be hurtful, confusing, or uplifting. Because in this history lies what we need to grow from, strength that we have come from, and what we can ultimately become.

This collection of songs is part of the movement of our stories being told and passed around....your turn to share your stories!  

Editor's Note: Ferdinand Marcos, with his wife Imelda by his side, was elected into Presidency in the Philippines  in 1965, declared Martial Law on 1972 after his second term ended, and was in power until being ousted by the People Power Revolution in 1986. The Marcos administration was marred by massive authoritarian corruption, despotism, nepotism, political repression, and human rights violations. It was later alleged that the Marcoses had moved billions of dollars of embezzled public funds to the United States, Switzerland, and other countries, as well as into fictitious corporations during their 20 years in power. The Philippine government today is still paying interest in public debts incurred during Marcos' administration. Stay tuned for other posts on BakitWhy.com on this topic!