What genre is this is what falling in love feels like?

THE SOUND

The intro starts with beautiful strings of violins. With birds being heard in the background while violins are being played, it gives a euphoric dream state. Large crashes from the MIDI keyboard begin to start this euphoric dream and the sudden rush of falling in love. Mixed in with the sudden change in tempo and piano keys in staccato, this emphasizes the complete joy one feels when meeting someone almost to a skip down a sidewalk type of feeling. The vocal layering adds to the grandeur feeling of infatuation and the possibility that someone could change your entire life. Again, the continued use of violin mixed with a sampling of birds and the whistle sounds in the outro provides dexterity and depth into the song. Given this, on the Intersect Magazine Scale of 1-10 for sound, "this is what falling in love feels like" receives a 8.4/10.

THE LYRICS

As with most romantics, JVKE highlights really how someone does feel during the beginning stages of falling in love. From an overjoyed view on life to the cheesy, goofiness a significant other gives, we can relate to how he feels.

Feel like sun on my skin/So this is love, I know it is/ I know it sounds super cliché/ But you make me feel some type of way/ This is falling, falling in love

From the chorus, we can see the overjoyed view on life as we see his meticulous usage of hyperboles and painting a feeling to the listener of that summer glow. Recognizing something is "cliché" is typical of relationships in the beginning stages as we are stumbling on words to describe and actions on how we feel to someone new. Despite the short length of the songs, the lyrics are noticeably meaningful and real without too much "fluff". The downfall of this song, however, is how short the song is and the lost potential JVKE could have done by truly creating something bigger than himself. Given these aspects, on the Intersect Magazine Scale of 1-10 for lyrics, "this is what falling in love feels like" gets a 7/10.

THE ART BEHIND THE SOUND

JVKE's ability to use samples and strings has pushed him to be one of the ones to watch. The way of focusing on sounds to articulate true feelings such as the one this song showcases will help push him to begin thinking more creatively and venture into incorporating even more interesting elements within his pop discography. His creativity is just the beginning as we see how his music video personifies nature to move and continue this dreamlike feeling within for someone. With his music video from roots growing into the air to rose bushes blooming a dime a dozen, this euphoric feeling is visualized and we are here for this experience. On the Intersect Magazine scale of 1-10 for the art behind the sound, "this is what falling in love feels like" receives a 7.6/10.

Overall, "this is what falling in love feels like" gives us a hopeful, joyous pop song. With the incorporated use of other elements such as strings and samples, the future is looking bright for JVKE. On the Intersect Rating Scale of 1-10, "this is what falling in love feels like" overall receives a 7.5/10

Two years ago, Star Cinema was in a different place. The ABS-CBN film studio responsible for love team pairings like KathNiel, LizQuen, and JaDine, most of which were box office hits, had been divorced from theater screenings due to the pandemic. 

Lost were the communal experiences that were usually second nature to romantic films, the screaming and serenading, the long lines of fan clubs with banners held up high, and the outpouring of laughter and tears as the big screen started rolling. 

Love teams have become lionized, larger-than-life, and with it comes the responsibility of crafting a story that feels attuned to the ever-changing environment of its viewers. After all, what’s the point if we are unable to see ourselves in our idols, relate to their hardships, and feel sympathy for their tragedies?

Fortunately, An Inconvenient Love restores faith in the love team genre. It recognizes that falling in love in the Philippines is comparable to turning on “hard mode” in a video game. But what’s unique is that it never succumbs to defeatism, opting to use DonBelle, and the love they represent, as a beacon of hope amidst deteriorating social and economic conditions.

Like K-pop groups, love teams usually have their storied histories. Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano officially made their onscreen debuts in 2020’s James and Pat and Dave. In Mariano’s brief role, she offered a handkerchief to a heartbroken Pangilinan in front of a beach fire while bathed by the starry night sky. 

This chance encounter would eventually be followed up by the hit digital series He’s Into Her, a high school romcom with the pair now claiming lead roles. Naturally, their success meant a movie starring the two was inevitable, which led to Love is Color Blind’s release on KTX.ph in December of 2021. The digital platform says that the film held the distinction of being the “Biggest Digital Premiere” at the time, an impressive feat considering its fully-online release.

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At the turn of 2022 and the subsequent loosening of restrictions, Star Cinema turned its eyes to its most tried and true formula for its cinema comeback. They’d be giving the keys to the next generation love team in DonBelle, as well as tapping independent director Petersen Vargas to steer the way in a momentous 30th anniversary for the studio.

The result? A gorgeous-looking film that places the intimacy between two lovers in contrast to the ruthless contradictions of the outside world. Ayef (Mariano) dreams of becoming a renowned animator outside of the country, while Manny (Pangilinan) dreams of unburdening himself from the shadow of his capitalist father. Their situations aren’t treated as mere foils to a blossoming romance; they are actions motivated by living in a hellish country like the Philippines.

Once it starts, you’d likely wonder if you entered the right theater. There’s an immediacy to the film, throwing you right into rallies, transportation hiccups, and the after-effects of worker retrenchments. The two writers, Daisy Cayanan and Joaquin Enrico Santos, make sure to establish the inklings of a restless situation to punctuate the forthcoming romance that will sweep the audience away.

And when Donny and Belle do meet, it’s as colorful and enchanting as you’d imagine. Sparks fly when Donny affectionately looks at Belle, seamlessly selling the lie that it’s the first time they’ve ever met onscreen. Sometimes, those sparks manifest themselves in actual physical bursts, breaking neon lights and discharging palpable chemistry triggered by a simple touch of hands. 

The use of animation (rendered adorably by 4nclru) is also meaningful for its close association with Ayef’s escapist fantasies. The film draws references from 500 Days of Summer and the vast romance collection of director Wong Kar-Wai to simulate what a teenager’s idea of love would look like, and of course, it’s filled with make pretends and slo-mo worthy moments (plus, a nice Fallen Angels reference in a motorcycle ride).

The supporting cast also mounts hefty performances, most notably from Epy Quizon and Matet de Leon as Ayef’s parents. Parental issues in love team films aren’t new, but they feel more pronounced here because of their link to Ayef and Manny’s dreams and the tangible economic crisis. Admittedly, I had felt the weight of the film’s money woes even before I saw it because I had to pay an eye-watering ₱341 for a ticket. Not that it entirely affected my experience, but it certainly helped me identify with the need to sacrifice ambitions in this bizarre state of inflation.

The heart of the film is Belle Mariano’s performance as Ayef. The Goin’ Bulilit alumna thrives in heavy moments that require subtle emotional pivots. In a tense scene with her co-lead, Mariano’s eyes fixate on Pangilinan’s even as the other parts of her face act against her. She allows herself to pause as her mouth quivers and her face trembles before ultimately letting go of a dagger that pierces deep into Manny’s heart. Her ability to say more with less is on full display. 

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On the other hand, Pangilinan shows his acting chops in scenes involving his absent mother (Teresa Loyzaga) and his abusive father (Tirso Cruz III). He brings an unbridled tenderness to his role, especially when paired with Dobs (JC Alcantara), his neurodivergent step-brother. Though Manny’s character comes off as a little too perfect up until the end, Pangilinan more than delivers in striking moments of self-doubt and vulnerability.

An Inconvenient Love has a lot of things going on in the background, and sometimes, they’re particularly urgent issues like worker’s rights, gaslighting boyfriends, mental health, and overseas migration. But the film, just like its protagonists, focuses on romance because it’s the fantasy that has been most effective in quelling their gloomy climate.

The mistake of Ayef and Manny wasn’t that they forced an inconvenient love, but that they made love contractual. Because in a country so hell-bent on contractualizing labor, politics, and relationships, it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine a love unstained by inconvenience.

However, because this is a Star Cinema film, Vargas ingeniously finds a way to have the lovers come to a compromise and to forward the notion that love can overcome obstacles and transform people. 

All of this crescendos in Donny and Belle’s final encounter, which has all the makings of a cheesy yet iconic rom-com moment that would make even Stray Kids fans swoon: “One-four-three, I love you.” – Rappler.com

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