Do Guys Care Enough Now? - Gentlemen Don't

It's a clear fact that all songwriters are great poets. They write about what they value in their lives. Bob Dylan, who I think deserves to be named a poet, wrote a song to denounce a criminal and reveal his misdeeds. Through his song "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll", Dylan tries to convey a clear message: It's not right for white male to consider black female inferior. By publishing this song, Bob Dylan make ignorant or indifferent people aware of the issue of the dominance over and violence on the minorities, so there would be no more victims.



Telling messages to the listners still goes with recent songs. Gabe Bondoc is one of these songwriters, or poets, who tell the messages. Gabe is an indie singer, guitarist, songwriter, and a producer whom I first got to know as a YouTube singer. He has been performing since 2003 at various events at colleges and festivals in his home state, California. This guy, a purely Filipino descent, started becoming famous through YouTube, MySpace, Blog TV and the word of mouth. After he had released two EPs titled "Gentlemen" and "Hi, my name is Gabe" and a full album titled the "Summertime LP," he has came to a nationwide fame.



This song that I'm playing over and over again these few weeks- "Gentlemen Don't" by Gabe Bondoc - is, in a way, similar to Bob Dylan's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." No, this song is nothing about racial issue or feminism issue. It's a love song about "things gentlemen don't do," Gabe says. To expand on what he says in the video, I say he is telling guys who don't know how to treat relationships about what they should do as gentlemen. Girls are neither victims nor minorities here in this song anymore, but Gabe Bondoc is conveying a message to all guys - to be sensitive and caring - so girls don't get hurt.

You run your fingers across my lips
No I’ve never felt like this before, no, no
I know I’m young but I know love
And I’d know I know an angel if I saw one

But I know very well
Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell
And I promise I won’t tell the world
If you say you want to be my girl
In your words

I’m just a simple man, simple plans,
Good work, take care of my fam,
I’m sure you understand
Because you’re heaven sent, independent,
Do you think you need me?
I think I need you girl, baby can’t you see?

But I know very well
Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell
And I promise I won’t tell the world
If you say you want to be my girl
In your words

Cards on the table
Willing and able
Stable, capable
Of holding you down
I’m just sayin

But I know very well
Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell
And I promise I won’t tell the world
If you say you want to be my girl
In your words
I’m not complaining
Your love is worth waiting for

But I know very well
Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell
And I promise I won’t tell the world
If you say you want to be my girl