OPM covers from Sarah, Nyoy & Kimpoy

MANILA, Philippines - The current year is about to end as record labels releasing new albums must be thinking of cashing in on the gift-giving season. Material-wise, it is better to be safe than sorry so choosing covers over originals is obviously a sound decision given the public’s impatience for tunes never heard especially at this busy time frame.

Here are three new CDs, all coming from solo singers with tremendous charisma and each boasting an interesting story behind its creation.

Sarah Geronimo embraces folk-rock. With her solid fan base that often cites her as a modern-day Nora Aunor, Sarah finally records her version of that one song best associated to the Superstar’s success — Handog. 

The Florante classic opens her 12-track album called (and conceptualized) Pure OPM Classics. On this one, listeners can hear her bravely touching the folk-rock genre and providing her own voice to melodies like Tao (Sampaguita) and Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran (Asin). In fact, the last number Anak (Freddie Aguilar) is arranged in a ground-shaking, out-of-the-box style bound to surprise her die-hard fans. 

“This is Sarah’s first concept album and the idea is for her to lend those beautiful sounding pipes to some of the most memorable songs of the OPM canon,” said a representative from Viva Records, which released the album. 

The label meant to harp the album’s title being pure classic. Thus, every piece recalls even by title alone. There are cover albums that brag themselves as all-hits, yet listeners find themselves listening to obscure pieces luckily branded as classic because they were originally sung by topnotch interpreters. 

This one does not belong to them, with song choices that include karaoke ballads Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin (Joey Albert) and Malayo Pa Ang Umaga (Rey Valera), the OPM-defining Metropop winner Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika and the jukebox-formula song Panalangin (APO Hiking Society). 

Nyoy Volante’s songwriting excels in revivals album. Nyoy’s latest release Tuloy Pa Rin is in a way off a concept the fact that it is all-Tagalog love songs aimed as his shout-out to the arguably beleaguered OPM. However, the idea of having an all-covers list gave way after he came up with two original songs that fit the category and are potential hits themselves. Why let go of the good opportunity? Besides, there are too many revivals in the air that it’s a pity for a talented songwriter to not be given space on his own album. 

Pikit and Miss Kita are new compositions from the premier acoustic act which he cleverly placed among his take of familiar Tagalog hits such as Ipagpatawad Mo (VST & Co.), Sa Isip Ko (Agot Isidro), Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin (Lani Misalucha) and Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko. Both songs are sandwiched by two covers that open and close the package — one containing a CD 2 of minus-one versions. 

“Pikit,” according to Nyoy, “reminds true lovers na pwede sila mag-away pero walang iwanan.” 

Asked if he has a peg song while working on it, he replied, “Ito wala. Mas gusto ko ‘yung walang sinusundan.” 

Nyoy, who now has two albums with MCA Music, has scored a number of hits in an eight-album career (the biggest yet being Someday which Nina originally popularized) and noted that he is “happy with the state of my songwriting.” He revealed that his routine often allows melodies and lyrics to come out simultaneously as guided by certain concepts he decides to work on. 

Here’s the debut album for online sensation Kimpoy Feliciano. The online community produced another mainstream recording artist out of the blue as Universal Records found the charm of New Zealand-based Pinoy Kimpoy irresistible that it gathered the 19-year-old’s favorite love songs for his self-titled debut album. Last Thursday afternoon, the young man who flew back to Manila to promote his record and see what happens next, met the media and expressed his bewilderment at the unexpected blessings he’s getting. 

“Mas excited pa ako to meet people face-to-face ngayong nandito ako. I am humbled and overwhelmed with the trust and support given to me by Universal Records,” he stated with a smile that displays his boy-next-door appeal. 

Dubbed as Online Heartthrob, Kimpoy has now achieved two million YouTube views, six-digit followers on Facebook and Tumblr, and about half a million on Twitter — numbers that reflect his fast-growing fame that began with his simple desire to connect with friends after his family decided to move to New Zealand. He recently launched his album comprising of good-enough versions of Shamrock’s Alipin, Louie Heredia’s Una At Huling Mamahalin and Chad Borja’s Ikaw Lang, which is the carrier track. A separate DVD features music videos of the six-song list, mostly directed by young filmmaker Jake Soriano. 

Orion Entertainment, which manages Kimpoy, said of their talent, “There’s something with this guy, with the way he relates to his followers. He makes it a point to nurture his relationship with them.” 

Counted as one of the most influential Pinoys on Twitter, Kimpoy remains grounded and hopes that his popularity can stand as inspiration. “You don’t have to be gwapo to make it, kung kaya ko, kaya nyo din,” he closed out. 

Meanwhile, Bruno Mars releases what in his ear is a “musically-varied” sophomore album. The much-awaited follow-up to his 2010 debut is called Unorthodox Jukebox, to be released by Warner Music Philippines on Tuesday, Dec. 11. 

The Billionaire singer has refused to “pick a lane” (a phrase referring to music insiders asking him to establish his identity genre-wise) and replied with an album that is anything but formulaic.

The first single, Locked Out of Heaven, was released last October and received positive reviews, with Pop Dust critic Andrew Unterberger calling it “one of the best songs of 2012.” 

“This is me going into the studio recording and writing whatever I want. This album represents my freedom,” Mars said in an interview. 

The voice behind the hit songs Just The Way You Are and Grenade worked with notable producers in compiling the tracks for his new album available in CD format and via iTunes. They include Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Diplo and The Smeezingtons, as well as Benny Blanco and Paul Epworth. 

Mars is said to have brought the producers beyond their comfort zones. On recording one called When I Was Your Man, he stated, “It’s the most honest, real thing I’ve ever sang.”

Interestingly, Locked Out of Heaven is described as having strong influences of New Wave and Michael Jackson’s Beat It. Other potential hits include Your Love, Gorilla and Moonshine.