PhilPop finalists in one CD

I know it is only August but I can already say that the first Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop) was the best thing that happened to the local music industry in 2012. That is unless a Filipino song makes it to an international hit list or Taylor Swift chooses to record a composition by one of our songwriters, which at this time seems far-fetched.

At a time when music sales are at an all time low and labels have become reluctant to gamble on newcomers, PhilPop brought hope. With nearly 3,000 entries, it really got creative juices flowing. Of course, the lure of the million peso grand prize played a big role as incentive. Still, good or bad, there are now a lot of new songs out there just waiting to be heard.

Being heard. Now that is the hard part. Harder even than writing the song. And it is also the most important. A song is not a song unless somebody hears it. That is what needs to happen to the PhilPop finalists that have been compiled and released into the stores in one album. Here is a collection of diverse sounds, all new asking for a chance to be heard, hoping for future greatness. The fact that the artists in these CDs come from different labels is proof that the industry has banded together for this project, the better to reach out to the buyers.

Foremost among the songs included is Bawa’t Hakbang the million-peso winning composition by KarI Vincent Villuga. Inspired by the beautiful poem Footprints in the Sand, it was interpreted by Mark Bautista with the Akafellas. I hope that efforts are now being exerted to turn this song into a hit. 

There should be airplay, music video, live appearances by the artists, press interviews. etc. Maybe, since TV is an excellent medium for music promotions, the song can be used in a station ID or as a telenovela theme, or in the commercial of either Maynilad or Smart, or Meralco or PLDT or any one of the sponsors. Say no to any of these suggestions and Bawa’t Hakbang will just end up in oblivion.

The same goes for the other winners. First runner-up Tayo Tayo Lang, a pop rock ballad about the lonely, bittersweet life of a performing artist written by Toto Sorioso and performed by Ebe Dancel; second runner-up Kontrabida, a bouncy pop tune about being different composed by Soc Villanueva and performed by Sam Concepcion; And Brown, a novelty tune about the appeal of girls with brown hair composed by James Leyte and Jezreel de Oca and sung by Leyte and Brownman Revival which won the People’s Choice Award.

 Actually any of these songs or I should say any of the finalists, with the right backing now have the chance to become hits and future classics. Remember, the most successful song to emerge out of the old Metro Pop Music Festival was Anak. It did not win any prize in the first Metropop but it conquered hit charts all over the world.

As for you, you can help turn the PhilPop songs into hits by getting copies of the well-made album. Give these songs a chance. Their success can lead not only to a PhilPop 2 competition next year but also to better days for the local music industry.

Also included in the CD are 3:AM by Keiko Necesario performed by Marie Digby; Bigtime by Trina Belamide sung by Baihana; Dulo Ng Dila composed by Noah Zuñiga Cabalquinto and performed by Jay R and Deejay Poblete; Himig Ng Panahon composed by Timothy Anjello Alfaro and performed by Duncan Ramos, Luke Mejares, Loonie, Thyro and Yumi; Kesa by Edwin Marollano sung by Daniel Gorospe; Minsa’y Isang Bansa composed and performed by Gary Granada; Negastar by Michael Angelo Villegas and interpreted by Cathy Go; Piso by Kristofferson Melecio performed by Joey Ayala; Slowdancing written by John Kennard Eleazar Faraon and sung by Nyoy Volante; and Takusa by Byron Ricamara performed by Rocksteddy.