Expert: Bong Santos - 9/30/2006

Question
...but can't remember the song title and artist.

Thank goodness you're from the Philippines. You most likely know the song I'm going to quote lyrics from since it's a very popular song to play on radio stations that play 80's songs in Manila.

Here are the lyrics:

I'm afraid to fly
and I don't know why
I'm jealous of the people who
are not afraid to ...(can't remember that word)

It's just that I recall
Back when I was small
Someone promised that they'd catch me
and then they let me fall

I'm pretty sure the artist is female, but there is also a version sung by a male.

Answer
Dear Toni,

Sorry for the delay. You know about typhoon Milenyo, it downed electric lines for several days including internet connections.
Well, better late than never!

FALLIN' is a song from 1979. It was originally written for a 1979 musical called THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, written by NEIL SIMON with music by MARVIN HAMLISCH and CAROLE BAYER SAGER. The Broadway musical starred American stand-up comedian ROBERT KLEIN and actress LUCIE ARNAZ, daughter of actor DESI ARNAZ and comedienne LUCILLE BALL. It earned for KLEIN a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical Role. Understandably, ROBERT KLEIN is the one who sang the male version you heard.
The female version was done by, no not LUCIE ARNAZ, but by TERI DeSARIO, a recent Manila visitor. It is from her 1980 album MOONLIGHT MADNESS which also contained her most successful song, the #2 hit YES, I'M READY, a duet with KC of KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND. Her version is the more popular version in the Philippines. Just for fun, here's the lyrics of FALLIN'.

FALLIN' / TERI DeSARIO

I'm afraid to fly
And I don't know why
I'm jealous of the people who
Are not afraid to die.

It's just that I recall
Back when I was small
Someone promised that they'd catch me
And then they let me fall.

And now I'm fallin'
Fallin' fast again
Why do I always take a fall
When I fall in love.

You think by now I've learned
Play with fire you get burned
But fire can be, oh so, warm
That's why I return.

Turn and walk away
That's what I should do
My head says go and find the door
My heart says I'll find you.

And now I'm fallin', fallin’ fast again
Why do I always take a fall when I fall in love.

It always turns out the same
Loving someone, losing myself
Only got me to blame.

Help me im fallin', fallin'
Catch me if you can
Maybe this time I'll have it all
Maybe I’ll make it after all
Maybe this time I won’t fall
When I fall in love, ooh.

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines