From OPM classics and P-pop favorites to marketing campaign tributes and broadly translated hits, these Filipino songs are proof of simply how lovely the language of music is—particularly our personal
With Filipinos, films and dramas usually are not the one cases we’ll hear theme songs and soundtracks. Actual life—sure, even historical past—has been backed by many iconic anthems, each solemn and heart-pounding. The attractive factor about music is that the songs which have marked our cultural and social actions transcend the period they had been written or popularized.
We might sometimes nonetheless hear many of those songs at this time, transporting us again to those historic instances. Let’s take a fast sound journey down reminiscence lane with 10 songs which have outlined the quite a few eras in Philippine social and popular culture historical past.
“Magkaisa,” “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,” and “Bayan Ko”
These three songs have collectively grow to be iconic for his or her affiliation with the EDSA Folks Energy Revolution of 1986. The songs name for unity and peace, and finally communicate of affection of nation. These songs proceed to be performed at protests and arranged gatherings the place residents clamor and combat for his or her rights—exactly the identical message behind Folks Energy many years in the past.
“Magkaisa” was composed by Tito Sotto and was carried out by Virna Lisa. Because the title suggests, the tune calls on Filipinos to look previous our variations and unite for a typical trigger.
“Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” in the meantime was a tune by Jim Paredes of the Apo Mountaineering Society, and was carried out by a “supergroup” of 15 OPM artists. It spoke of the legacy of the motion: a peaceable route in direction of freedom and alter. “Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan / ay kayang makamit nang walang dahas / basta’t magkaisa tayong lahat,” the lyrics say.
One other fashionable tune of the time is “Bayan Ko,” a kundiman, that was initially written in Spanish by revolutionary basic Jose Alejandrino. It was meant to be a part of Severino Reyes’ zarzuela “Walang Sugat.” The tune we all know at this time is the Tagalog model translated by Jose Corazon de Jesus.
Although written in protest in opposition to the American occupation of the Philippines, the tune has since grow to be a protest tune at numerous factors of our historical past, most particularly throughout the Marcos dictatorship.
“Pare Ko” by the Eraserheads
A extra lighthearted ballad in comparison with the primary three entries, “Pare Ko” is a part of the rock band Eraserheads’ debut album “Ultraelectromagneticpop” in 1993. The tune revolves round a younger man asking his barkada for recommendation after being led on and dumped by a lady he likes. Relatable fare, however a part of what made the tune fashionable was additionally its inclusion of specific lyrics (“‘Di ba? T*ng ina, nagmukha akong tanga”), which was not frequent in songs on the time.
The Eraserheads’ success with the album led different bands to rise to prominence as nicely, ushering in a brand new period for Pinoy rock.
Two years later, the Eraserheads would launch the album “Cutterpillow,” which additionally had the long-lasting “Ang Huling El Bimbo.” The album is the third bestselling OPM album within the Philippines of all time, second solely to Jose Mari Chan who claimed the highest two spots.
READ: OPM because the soundtrack of PH theater: A glance into the pattern of jukebox musicals
“Gento by SB19 and “Pantropiko” by Bini
The rise of P-pop has been gradual and regular within the years main as much as 2023, however with P-pop kings SB19 and the nation’s lady group Bini releasing their now-viral hits “Gento” and “Pantropiko” respectively, our personal model of idol teams are breaking into the worldwide music scene.
“Gento” is a pop and hip-hop monitor identified greatest for its wordplay, speaking about empowerment and success by way of gold mining metaphors. The tune additionally turned viral globally by way of the TikTok dance problem, the place numerous worldwide artists additionally joined in. The tune additionally marked SB19’s debut on the favored Japanese YouTube channel The First Take, turning into the primary Filipino group to ever visitor on the present.
Bini’s “Pantropiko” additionally reached viral standing, due to its summery vibe, energetic choreography, and crowd pleasing visuals. The tune launched the lady group to worldwide acclaim, and adopted by their subsequent profitable singles, have additionally landed them spots on worldwide applications.
READ: The making of Bini’s ‘Pantropiko’
“Manila” by Hotdog
“Manila” is simply one of many many songs that outline the musical interval (or style) referred to as Manila Sound. Widespread across the mid-Nineteen Seventies, Manila Sound was marked by a fusion of sentimental rock, folks pop, disco, funk, jazz, and soul.
Though the style wasn’t essentially named after this tune, Hotdog’s “Manila” is undeniably one in all its greatest examples. The tune is from the perspective of a Filipino who has simply come again dwelling from working overseas, evaluating the sights and sounds of the US and Australia to the irreplaceable grit and persona of vibrant Manila.
With traces like “Manila, Manila, I hold coming again to Manila,” and “Hinahanap-hanap kita, Manila,” the tune has transcended the ’70s and has cemented itself as an anthem for each balikbayan.
“Inform the World of His Love” by Jamie Rivera
The tune was launched in 1995 and was composed by Trina Belamide. It was chosen by the Vatican among the many prime entries from a songwriting contest because the theme tune of the World Youth Day Philippines, which additionally coincided with the second go to of Pope John Paul II. This was important as a result of it was the primary time for an Asian nation to host the worldwide occasion.
“Inform the World of His Love” has since been a big tune for the Filipino Catholic neighborhood, getting used for a lot of main spiritual occasions since. It has additionally been used throughout the arrival of Pope Francis within the nation, the place the Pope additionally joined Filipinos in singing alongside.
“Anak” by Freddie Aguilar and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” by Hajji Alejandro, written by Ryan Cayabyab
Talking of competitions and world-firsts, the 1978 Metro Manila Widespread Music Pageant (Metropop) noticed the creation of many iconic songs in OPM, two of that are “Anak” and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.”
Nationwide Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab composed “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” to showcase the qualities of Filipino music that make it price listening to. The tune, interpreted by Hajji Alejandro, gained first place within the competitors.
It was Cayabyab’s first time writing a pop tune, at the moment having labored extra on the association, musical route, and accompaniment aspect of music. Alejandro and Cayabyab additionally competed on the Worldwide Seoul Music Pageant in Korea with this tune. They bagged the grand prize, making it the primary Filipino tune to ever win the very best prize in a global tune competitors.
Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” was additionally an entry on the 1978 Metropop. This deeply private and remorseful tune made it to the finals, and ultimately turned a global hit. The tune has since been translated into 51 languages.
Each “Anak” and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” had been additionally among the many songs that ushered within the new technology of OPM post-Manila Sound of the ’70s.
“Rosas” by Nica del Rosario, that includes Gab Pangilinan
The 2022 elections may have been essentially the most emotionally unstable one but, and as any artist might perceive, excessive feelings additionally imply wealthy inspiration for artwork. The election marketing campaign of then-presidential candidate Leni Robredo, which she additionally described as a individuals’s marketing campaign, spurred numerous songs and jingles alike. Some jingles have even surprisingly topped music charts.
Amongst these is “Rosas,” a heartrending marketing campaign tune composed by Nica del Rosario (additionally identified for composing Sarah Geronimo’s “Tala” and Bini’s “Karera”), which, whereas not a jingle, turned the emotional soundtrack of the interval.
In interviews, del Rosario stated the tune was created out of the surge of feelings she had in regards to the upcoming elections. The tune was written from an imagined perspective of Robredo, with lyrics containing sentiments she wish to say to Filipinos.
The tune topped native iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify charts within the days resulting in and after the elections.
