MANILA, Philippines?Why is it that when people here talk about Air Supply, the reactions we get are extremes ? it?s either something like, ?Excuse me, how baduy? or ?I love the songs, very meaningful??

The last time Air Supply performed in Manila in the early 1980s, it merited a positive review from the usually acerbic writers of Jingle magazine.

In his article, writer Tony Maghirang, who was then deep into heavy metal and punk music, was pleasantly surprised to discover that Air Supply rocked ? at least in concert.

Even so, many will understandably thumb their noses down and insist that Air Supply be regarded for what it really is ? a pop group with a bent for excessively melodramatic songs. The effect on some folks can be so bad that, for instance, Sunday Inquirer Magazine?s resident music chronicler, Eric Caruncho, listed 10 Air Supply songs on the top of his ?Worst Songs Ever: The Playlist from Hell.?

But of course there are others who will beg to disagree, like the incurable romantics and those who, at some point in their lives, were classified lovelorn. We asked around why they like Air Supply and here?s one reply, from a broadcast media professional who?s also taking up a master?s degree at UP Diliman: ?Its songs are meaningful? ?I?m All Out of Love? served as my faithful companion during a bad breakup.? Another comment, from a taxi driver: ?Masarap kantahin sa karaoke.? Well, maybe only for those who can hit the high notes, because many Air Supply songs are notorious for being so high-pitched.

In fact they?re so difficult to sing that Russell Hitchcock, the lead vocalist himself, was struggling with some of the notes during a concert in Ontario in August 2004 ? the DVD of which was sent to us by the promoter of the current Air Supply series of shows which starts tonight (Subic Bay Convention Center) and continues on June 13 (Cebu Waterfront Hotel), June 14 (Araneta Coliseum), June 15 (CYO Gym, Davao City) and June 17 (Iloilo City Sports Center).

Trite, overbearing

The DVD gave us a sample of what to expect at an Air Supply concert. Well, the lyrics can sometimes be overbearing (?You?re my fantasy, you?re my reality??), trite (?In my life where everything was wrong/Something finally went right??), if not downright corny (?Remember the words from my heart/Will always be true...?).

Everybody knows that the euphoria of an ideal romantic relationship ? which is the character of most Air Supply songs ? is but a fleeting moment in the real world. What probably accounts for much of the group?s appeal is that this promise of bliss is always within easy reach ? at least through its songs. Listening to them does not drive the heartbroken to further despair; on the contrary the experience may be redemptive and helps the desperate find something positive in their dreary lives.

The songs of Air Supply are no different from those of Barry Manilow, David Pomeranz and the rest of what we hear on mellow-pop radio stations, the stuff that, in a weird manner, makes boring afternoons bearable.

Except that Hitchcock?s voice can at times be disconcerting. It?s not clear to us why ? maybe because it?s so high-pitched, which makes it disturbingly effeminate. On the other hand, Freddie Mercury?s vocals are like that, too, and we didn?t mind ? even if the whole world was aware of his sexuality.

The good news is, Air Supply is a duo and its other half, guitarist/second vocalist Graham Russell, provides the rough edge especially in its concerts.

It should be remembered that Hitchcock and Russell met as cast members in an Australian production of the rock opera ?Jesus Christ Superstar.? We think Russell, as Air Supply?s chief songwriter, has a lot of theater influence which explains why his compositions are laden with much sentimentality and drama. But he also plays good lead guitar and jumps around like Pete Townshend onstage.

The cynics who will find themselves at the Air Supply gigs here should watch out for three songs, in case they?re performed: ?Shadow of the Sun,? ?Miracles? and ?I?ll Find You,? which all divert from the usual syrupy love ballads. They?re proof that not everything that came after ?Lost in Love? ? arguably its best-written song, a bit folk-rock like Poco ? sounded alike.

But let?s see if it can fill up the Big Dome.