The 1980s Philippine pop culture wouldn’t be complete without the timeless soundtrack of the coming-of-age film Bagets. The film tells the story of five young boys facing the fear of growing up. It has been credited with launching several young stars into the mainstream, namely, Aga Muhlach, Herbert Bautista, William Martinez, and Eula Valdez.
For many of its Gen X audience, it was a moment to take a hard look at just how vibrant those years were and how important it felt to hold on to high school friend groups before being pulled in different directions. But aside from the teen drama, the technicolor backdrops, and the heartthrob moments, the official soundtrack carries all the weight. The film’s emotional tone is shaped as much by its music as by its narrative, much like how megastar Sharon Cuneta’s Bituin Walang Ningning shaped its era, or how disco music pioneer Giorgio Moroder’s fingerprints on Temptation Island brought flair to camp classics.
This soundtrack didn’t just carry Bagets. It defined a moment, turned teenage panic into something you could sing to, and gave pop culture one of its most honest soundtracks.
With The Philippine STAR and Viva Communications Inc. announcing that Bagets will be turned into a full-fledged musical set for the Newport Performing Arts Theater around the first quarter of 2026, the attention shifts back to the music that helped define an era. There are plenty of soundtracks from the 1980s, but Bagets stood out because it fully leaned into teen energy. While the film captured youthful chaos, the soundtrack gave it rhythm and teeth.
The recent announcement of the stage musical is the perfect excuse to revisit a collection of songs that helped shape what growing up sounded like for an entire generation.
Harner, ‘Why Don’t You Care’
“Why Don’t You Care” balances wackiness, camp, and stubborn determination that mirrors the boys as they push through their final days in high school. Harner’s fast, punchy rhythm and defiant lyrics set the tone right from the first riff. There’s a raw drive in the guitars and a no-holds-barred pace that refuses to slow down, making it one of the most fitting anthems in the entire list. It’s the kind of soundtrack that sounds like someone kicking open a school gate and not looking back.
Spirit, ‘High School High’
Spirit’s “High School High” bursts open with a drum machine that instantly sets the tone. The lyrics lean into a campy optimism that doesn’t feel forced, just honest in its enthusiasm. Every verse taps into the unapologetic awkwardness of being a teenager. There’s no polish, no cool veneer, the track is an honest dive into what it feels like to be all nerves and hormones. The song lifts the film’s pacing and reminds you why teen comedies like Bagets never needed to be subtle to hit hard.
Raymond Lauchengco, ‘So It’s You’
Raymond Lauchengco’s “So It’s You” slows things down but hits just as deep. Its orchestral arrangement swells with each verse, giving infatuation its full emotional due. There’s longing in the vocal delivery that adds weight to the film’s quieter moments. Lauchengco’s voice gives the song permission to take up space. The horn section that comes in halfway through adds just the right level of drama, never tipping into its comedic scenes.
Chona Cruz, ‘Telefone’
Chona Cruz’s version of “Telefone,” originally sung by Sheena Easton, punches through the film’s more playful scenes with synths that stick. It’s pop at its most melodic and hook-heavy, giving the film that needed burst of energy. Cruz’s vocals bring a bright tone that keeps the tempo sharp without losing that teenage urgency. It’s a reminder that the pop landscape of the ‘80s had more layers than it gets credit for.
Gary Valenciano, ‘Growing Up’
Gary Valenciano’s “Growing Up” is the glue that sticks the soundtrack together. Odette Quesada’s songwriting already had the emotional blueprint, but Gary V brought it to life with that signature mix of power and polish. “Growing Up” rewired how youth culture saw itself. The track’s synth-rock backbone paired with Valenciano’s vocals made it the unofficial anthem for kids standing on the edge of adulthood. Even now, it still feels like a graduation speech set to music.
