Here they come, the song finalists of the Philippine Popular Music Festival (Philpop) 2013, all polished, recorded and ready for release together in the commemorative album produced and distributed by Universal Records. During the one-month period after the announcement of the titles of the 12 finalists, the raw recorded demos entered into the contest were distributed to carefully selected producers, arrangers and interpreters.
They then took these compositions to the studio for the recording sessions. These were next enhanced, pared down or subjected to whatever the producers believe will bring out the true beauty and commercial appeal of the songs. And then these were mixed, mastered and then finally set down in the album.
Then on the finals’ night on July 20, those very same interpreters in the CD will perform the songs live in the grand show. This will be held at the Meralco Theater, and it is from which a songwriter or songwriters will go home richer by a million bucks and a Ramon Orlina trophy.
And here they are, the best from among 3,383 submitted entries which came from the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Germany, China, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Thailand, Macau and the Philippines.
I already have favorites, the ones I believe to be better than the others. I hope these will be the winners. But truth to tell, all of these songs are already winners. Philpop affords them the chance to be recorded by top-rate talents and to be heard on the radio, television and on the social media. And thanks to Sony, who will provide the directors, its top-of-the-line full frame camera, the Sony NEX VG900, they will also get music videos to boot.
Segundo by Paul Armesin, to be sung by Sponge Cola frontman Yael Yuzon; Araw, Ulap, Langit by Marlon Barnuevo, performed by balladeer Christian Bautista; Pansamantagal by Jungee Marcelo now a duet by Sitti Navarro and Jullianne Tarroja; Kung ‘di Man by YouTube star Johnoy Danao sung by Ney Dimaculangan of the band 6cyclemind; Space by Raffy Calicdan, performed by Banda ni Kleggy and Kean Cipriano of Callalily; Askal by Ganny Brown, sung by Jose and Wally, the comedy duo of the TV variety show Eat, Bulaga!.
Sana Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako by Myrus Apacible, sung by Internet discovery Kimpoy Feliciano; Sometimes That Happens by Adrienne Sarmiento Buenaventura and Nino Regalado interpreted by Ace Libre of the band Never the Strangers; Dati by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana sung by Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos featuring Quest; Sa ‘Yo Na Lang Ako by Opera Belle Lara Maigue performed by Karylle; Papel by Joey Ayala, interpreted by Ayala and Gloc-9 featuring Denise Barbacena; and Time Machine by Kennard Faraon performed by Six Part Invention.
Time Machine replaced Do, Do, Do by Ateneo Management graduate Marion Aunor, the niece of Nora Aunor, who for personal reasons bowed out of the competition.
The Philpop 2013 album is due for release soon. Let us all hope it becomes a big seller, that it gives the new singers and composers a good headstart, that the familiar names among them get a big career boost and that it will encourage Philpop to do another contest in 2014. Most of all, let us hope we get some hits out of this batch. Heaven knows we can use several of those right now. I honestly do not know what will happen to the local music industry if all that we have keeping it alive, is pretty boy Daniel Padilla.
You can help take the Philpop finalists on the road to the hit charts by joining in the search for the Smart People’s Choice Award. This is where Smart, Talk ’N Text and Sun Cellular subscribers can vote for their choices. While the voting results will be reflective of the songs’ potentials, these have no weight on the judges’ decision come finals night but the winner of this special award will get P100,000 in cash and a trophy also designed by National Artist Ramon Orlina.
You can get a copy of the CD or you can listen to the songs on www.philpop.com.ph; Philpop’s YouTube, Facebook and other social media pages and partner sites. And then make your favorite entry win by sending your votes. To do this, you can simply text P1 for Araw, Ulap, Langit; P2 Askal; P3 Dati; P4 Kung ‘Di Man; P5 Pansamantagal; P6 Papel; P7 Sana Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako; P8 Sa Yo Na Lang Ako; P9 Segundo; P10 Sometimes That Happens; P11 Space; and P12 Time Machine.