Gino sings OPM in English

While there is something truly uniquely beautiful about Tagalog songs, it is also a fact that Filipinos can also write memorable compositions in English. This is why the term OPM, which in trade lingo stands for Original Pilipino Music in any language or dialect as long as the song was written by a Filipino. And such is the theme of the new album by ’80s pop idol Gino Padilla.

Gino is best known for hits like the toothpaste jingle, Closer You And I plus Gusto Kita, I Believe In You, Let the Love Begin, The Power Of Your Love and We’ve Got The Power the theme from the movie Ninja Kids, with Randy Santiago and Juan Miguel Salvador.

Gino made a big splash as the singing and dancing partner of the legendary Tina Turner in the Pepsi commercial In The Mood For Moving. He has lately been active on the road as part of the Men Of The 80’s, a performing group with Randy Santiago, Raymond Lauchengco and Louie Heredia.

It was his expressive style and dedication to his career that prompted Viva Records to entrust him with the concept that became the CD Let Me Be The One. It is made up of some of the biggest selling OPM tunes in English. It is a formidable line-up of pop tunes that show how the Pinoy songwriter can be just as proficient when composing in English.

As any artist will tell you this is no easy task. The first versions of the songs were such big hits. In fact these are so well remembered that those which came next only pale in comparison. But Gino, who incidentally grew up in the US of A, is right at home with every cut. He rose up to the challenge of the job and made every song his own.

I am sure that after listening to his versions, fans would find themselves not merely comparing his recordings to the originals, but admiring of his clear singing tones and appreciative of what he has accomplished.

Leading the pack is the title track Let Me Be The One which is a composition by acoustic heartthrob Jimmy Bondoc. Then there is the first single release is Why Can’t It Be, which was written and recorded by ’90s pop idol Rannie Raymundo.

The others are But If You Leave Me, composed and first performed by A.M.B. Junior; Don’t Say Goodbye written by Louie Ocampo and a big hit by Pops Fernandez; Even If, a song by Cecile Azarcon popularized by Jam Morales; I Still Believe In Loving You by Jimmy Borja, Lorie Barth and Ralf Stemman sang by Sarah Geronimo; I’ve Fallen For You by Jet Montelibano for Jamie Rivera; If by Nelson Del Castillo;

Line To Heaven by Paco Arrespacochaga for The Introvoys; A Million Miles Away by Robert More Jr. recorded by Joey Albert; Now That I Have You by Trina Belamide for The CompanY; Perfect by Medwin Marfil for True Faith; So Slow by Totop Suzara for Freestyle; and To Love Again by Odette Quesada for Sharon Cuneta.

Thanks to the band domination of the hit charts and the arrival of singing champions, Gino as a recording artist, was lost in the shuffle during these past few years. He has now been rediscovered as an artist we can be truly proud of.

Here now are the first hit songs of the new year. This is not presented here in any particular order nor based on any authorized survey. The sources are various hit charts and what I hear on the radio.

Bad Romance by Lady Gaga; One Less Lonely Girl by Justin Biber; Kalesa by Hale; 21 Guns by Green Day; Fireflies by Owl City; Tell Me Your Name by Christian Bautista; Nananaginip by Callalily; Blue Tomorrow by Super Junior M; Kasalanan by 6Cyclemind; Putik by Sandwich.

Brick By Boring Brick by upcoming visitors Paramore; Angels Brought Me Here by La Diva; Automatic by Tokio Hotel; Cry by Kelly Clarkson; Carino Brutal by Slapshock; Two Is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls with Taylor Swift; Lost In Space by Roselle Nava; Gravity by Urbandub; Fifteen by Taylor Swift and Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus.