Blake goes OPM

MANILA, Philippines - Recent guests on GMA 7’s Ryzza Mae Show were the London-based tenors called Blake. Their appearance was a hit what with their jamming with Aling Maliit of the song Pusong Bato. They were here to promote their album mainly composed of OPM music.

Blake is composed of Ollie Baines, Humphrey Berney and Stephen Bowman, all classically-trained. The group was formed in 2007, when Ollie organized a rehearsal with Bowman and school friend Dominic Tighe while they were attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

A self-titled album was released which won them recognition at the Classical Brit Awards for Album of the Year. Three albums later, the classical boy band, which was named after poet William Blake, has enamored millions of crossover music fans.

Blake is known for uplifting vocal arrangements and performances, and the group’s take on popular classical pieces is exceptional. However, Blake’s excursions into different musical styles have made the group popular.

Blake is loved for cover versions of Elvis Costello’s She; Simon Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water; inspirational songs like Hallelujah and Amazing Grace; as well as modern rock numbers like Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars and U2’s With Or Without You.

The tenors’ Manila experience and connection to Filipino fans take one step further with the release of their first Filipino album. It features popular Pinoy pop anthems such as Don’t Know What To Say (Don’t Know What To Do), Say That You Love Me, You Are My Song (featuring Rachelle Ann Go) and Tagalog songs Sa Isip Ko, Kailangan Kita (feat. Joanna Ampil) and the OPM classic Manila.

“We find Filipinos warm and kind,” says Ollie. “Most of all, they love music. It is an honor for us to be singing these songs and we are giving them the tribute they deserve.”

Incidentally, Blake enamored a large crowd of Filipinos in Britain when the trio first sang its rousing version of Manila. It was exhilarating to see a famed group such as Blake performing a well-known OPM anthem.