A new voice in the airlanes

There is a new voice in the airlanes these days. He is the guy who sings Panaginip and his name is Marvin Ong. Still looking very much like a young boy, nice and unaffected, he has the light appealing tones that Filipinos like to hear from their balladeers. He shows big promise as a recording artist and at a time when the local music industry can certainly use a big kick towards the right album direction, it always feels good to find talented newcomers like Marvin.

He released his first album, also titled Marvin Ong, a few weeks ago. The CD is a sentimental hodgepodge of ballads that many will enjoy. It has almost everything from old pop like Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley to a light OPM rocker like Harana by Parokya ni Edgar. Even the first single Panaginip, originally recorded by Manila Sound pioneer Hot Dog, comes from a different time.

It is Marvin’s effortless singing that brings everything together. Truth to tell, I really find it amazing that somebody so young can approach these diverse and mostly time-tested materials with so much feeling and confidence.

Also included are Hard To Say I’m Sorry by Chicago, Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart, Maybe by Burt Bacharach, I Need To Be In Love by the Carpenters, Let’s Hang On by Barry Manilow, Worst That Could Happen by the Brooklyn Bridge, and If by David Gates. There are two new songs. It Doesn’t Get Any Easier an original by the Hong Kong based Ronnie Fortich and Marvin’s debut as a songwriter, Captivated.

Although this is his first venture into recording, Marvin is no stranger to performing. It was at the age of nine, while studying at Xavier School that his singing talent was discovered. From then on he was a constant fixture in campus programs and concerts. These stints later included even performances abroad, when he was assigned to represent the country in various music festivals.

His big professional break came when he was cast as the orphan boy Tobias in the Repertory Philippines production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd. Marvin turned out to be a natural on stage. He was so good that he was awarded the Gawad Buhay trophy for Best Featured Male Actor in a musical by Philstage. His next stage outing was just as successful and earned him more raves. He played the lead role of Juan in the PETA musical Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diablo At Ang Limang Milyong Boto, which ran for several weeks.

Marvin had almost completed his Communication Arts studies at Ateneo University at that time and with that had already been given his parents blessings to go fulltime into singing. That was also when he decided to go to work on his album. The results are out and the CD is good. So it looks like Marvin will also conquer the world of recording just like what he did with the legitimate stage.

 Marvin has shot his video for Panaginip and hopefully, he will also join the artists in this list of the most popular music videos from MYX music channel.

MYX Countdown

The Pinoy MYX Countdown for the week is as follows: Kung Wala Na Nga by 6Cyclemind, Kean Cipriano of Calla Lily and Yeng Constantino; Magkabilang Mundo by Hale; Afraid For Love To Fade by Christian Bautista; Love Will Keep Us Together by Sarah Geronimo; Bata by BBS, Kean and Madeline; Neon Lights by Rico Blanco; Di Lang Ikaw by Juris; All Me by Toni Gonzaga; Sayang Sayang by Aljur Abrenica; Sama Sama by Letter Day Story.

Gabay by Calla Lily; Opposites Attract by Juris; Picture Picture by Tanya Markova; Gaan by Archipelago; Meron Ba by Kjwan; In Your Eyes by Rachelle Ann Go; Pers Lab by Charlie Green; Sige Sayaw by Pop Girls; Baliw by Kiss Jane; and Moving by Malay.

Just noticed. If we are to go by what the Pinoy MYX tabulation says, then we can say that Kean is the rock idol of the moment. Just think the soloist of Callalily is in three of the top-listed music videos of the week, Gabay with his band and Kung Wala Na Nga and Bata with other collaborators. Do you think a solo career is now in the works for Kean?