19 years later, how the Bloomfields’ “Ale” conquered TikTok and the Billboard charts

Thanks to TikTok, The Bloomfields’ 2007 cover of “Ale” is suddenly everywhere—and Gen Z is dancing along.

Nearly two decades after its release, The Bloomfields’ rendition of “Ale” has found renewed life—this time through TikTok, where the song resurfaced on For You pages and introduced the band to a younger generation of listeners.

Originally popularized in 1989 by OPM singer Richard Reynoso, “Ale” was later reinterpreted by The Bloomfields in 2007. While the band never stopped making music, the recent viral attention marked a significant moment in their career, bringing them back into the mainstream spotlight.

‘Ale’ sparked a dance trend

“At the time, we felt the renewed interest in ‘Ale’ was tied to that same sentiment,” said bassist and vocalist Louie Poco during a recent media gathering that was also attended by Rocky Callado (drums), Lakan Hila (vocals), and Nathan Abella (rhythm guitar).

 “It reminded people of 2007 and a simpler era. By December, the song began appearing more consistently on TikTok, being used as background music for travel videos, outfit checks, and everyday lifestyle content. It felt organic and unforced—just people naturally connecting with the song’s feel-good vibe.”

The spark: From Cubao Expo to the charts

The turning point came in mid-December, when a Cubao Expo fit-check video uploaded by TikTok creator Eliza Belle sparked a dance trend that quickly gained momentum, amassing over four million views to date. During the press conference, Belle was invited to the front of the room and presented with flowers by the band—a gesture of gratitude for her role in bringing “Ale” back into public attention. Belle shared that she felt “happy and thankful” to have been part of the song’s resurgence and the band’s return to the radar.

Why it works in 2026

Vocalist and drummer Rocky Collado described the resurgence as both unexpected and surreal. “My theory is this sound just vibes better with this generation than before. Mas swak siya,” he said, adding that the song’s comeback felt like a “slow burn”—a quiet build that eventually caught fire.

Looking ahead, The Bloomfields revealed that their next album with Polyeast Records, which has been in development for four years, is something they hope to release as soon as possible. Collado shared that while the band remains open to collaborations with artists from both the younger generation and their own, they intend to stay true to their sound. “We don’t really plan on catering to everyone. We just want to make music that feels right to us,” he said.

What’s next for The Bloomfields?

Collado also disclosed that Reynoso has expressed openness to a possible collaboration following the renewed attention on “Ale.” Poco added that they are likewise open to working with other artists, mentioning Ogie Alcasid as a possible collaborator. 

The press conference concluded with live performances of “Wala Nang Iba,” “Balikan,” their rendition of Randy Santiago’s “Babaero,” and their viral hit “Ale.”

 

 

We don’t really plan on catering to everyone. We just want to make music that feels right to us.

Rocky Collado

 

 

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