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Multo (song)
2024 single by Cup of Joe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Multo" (lit. 'Ghost') is a song by Filipino band Cup of Joe from its debut studio album, Silakbo (2025). Written by co-lead vocalist Raphaell Ridao and his brother Redentor during the COVID-19 pandemic, the synth-pop and pop-rock ballad explores themes of grief, emotional haunting, and self-reflection. Produced by Shadiel Chan, it signifies a more introspective turn in the band's musical direction. It was released on September 14, 2024, under Viva Records.
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The song received favorable reviews from critics, many of whom described it as a significant evolution of Cup of Joe's sound. Commercially, "Multo" marked a milestone as the first entry by a Filipino artist on the Billboard Global 200, where it peaked at number 80. In the Philippines, it topped three national charts, including the Billboard Philippines Hot 100, where it held the number one spot for ten consecutive weeks, making it the longest song topping in the chart's history. Elsewhere, the song also broke into the top 10 in the UAE and the top 20 in the Netherlands.
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Background and release
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On February 9 and 10, 2024, Cup of Joe held its first solo concert, Cup of Joe: Seatbelts on!, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.[1] The band also released its single "Lahat ng Bukas" (2024) on February 9, featuring Keanna Mag.[2] In August 2024, Cup of Joe released the music video for their single "Misteryoso" (2024), starring Jhoanna Robles and directed by Justin de Dios.[3] To mark its sixth anniversary, the band unveiled Dos: The Sixth Joenniversary Special, a four‑part live project on September 6.[4]
On September 14, Cup of Joe surprised its fans with the release of "Multo" under Viva Records, after announcing it just three hours before the release.[5][6] In March 2025, the music video for the track was released, featuring actors Miles Ocampo and Elijah Canlas.[7] "Multo" served as the first single of the band's first album, Silakbo (lit. 'Outburst'), which was released in January 2025.[8]
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Composition and lyrics
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"Multo" is three minutes and fifty-seven seconds long.[9] It was written by Cup of Joe's co-lead vocalist Raphaell Ridao and his older brother Redentor during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Ridao, the two were confined to a room and found it difficult to process their emotions after they both experienced losing someone, eventually turning to songwriting as a means of coping. Produced by Shadiel Chan,[9] the song served as an emotional release for both of them, expressing feelings of longing and sadness that had been difficult to confront.[8][10]
Musically, "Multo" is a synth-pop and pop rock[11] ballad, described as melancholic by Elijah Pareño of Rolling Stone Philippines.[12] It address themes of moving forward in life while being persistently affected by the memory of a past relationship, highlighting the process of accepting grief and confronting emotional pain.[8] The lyrics "Pasindi na ng ilaw" (lit. 'Turn on the lights') and "Minumulto na 'ko ng damdamin ko" (lit. 'I'm being haunted by my feelings') have been interpreted as a metaphor for the group's artistic evolution, reflecting a shift from a more playful image to a more introspective exploration of their musical identity.[12]
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Reception
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"Multo" received favorable reviews from music critics, with most of them regarding the song as an evolution for Cup of Joe's sound. Billboard Philippines' Gabriel Saulog wrote that the song "hits you straight in the feels", adding that "sonically, the track itself is a bit more ambitious and experimental for the band, with a hook that lingers deep upon its first full listen".[13] Likewise, the Philippine magazine Metroscene observed that the song offered a "more refined" version of the band's signature sound. They named it as a standout track on Silakbo, explaining, "The maturity of the sound really stands out, and it's almost like the band's growing alongside their music."[14] Elijah Pareño of Rolling Stone Philippines also wrote that "Multo" established Cup of Joe as serious musicians and storytellers.[12] Nylon Manila's Nica Glorioso called the track "a beautiful song that does its job of making people feel what the band intended them to feel", further describing it as "stirring", "evocative", and "haunting yet cathartic".[15]
Commercially, "Multo" debuted at number 181 on the Billboard Global 200 chart in April 2025, becoming the first song by a Filipino act to enter the chart, and later reached number 80.[16][17] Meanwhile, the track entered at number 74 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, where it marked the highest debut for a Filipino song as well as the first one to enter the top 100 of that chart, later peaking at number 33.[16][18] In the Philippines, it topped the Philippines Hot 100 chart for ten consecutive weeks, making it the longest number one song in the chart's history.[19] "Multo" also helped Cup of Joe become the first Filipino artist to reach more than 8.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.[10] The song had an impact on Filipino pop culture as well, with Nylon Manila and ABS-CBN News reporting that "Multo" had become a nearly inescapable viral trend online.[15][20]
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Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from Apple Music.[9]
- Cup of Joe – vocals, arranger
- Raphaell Ridao – songwriter, arranger
- Redentor Immanuel Ridao – songwriter, arranger
- Shadiel Chan – arranger, producer
Charts
References
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