Mark Carpio’s new single, Ako Na Lang Sana

Mark Carpio was one of the first Filipino artists to make it big in the then still new and I thought somewhat intractable streaming platform. It was constantly seeing his name in the new charts, most notably for the song Hiling, that told me that it was indeed possible to become a successful recording artist even without releasing physical CDs or doing the media rounds. All that one really needs is a voice and the songs to go with it.

Carpio has both. He is a singer and songwriter who has been around for quite a while but has not gotten the big breaks to become a star. But he instantly proved to be just the right artist for the new music outlets. In fact, he is now a certified Gold Record seller, thanks to the combined streams of his singles. Most notable among these is Hiling, which he also composed and was used in the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) show. The song has been streamed over 28 million times and is still selling. Also a big contributor is another original Kay Tagal, which came from the soundtrack of the AlDub movie Imagine You And Me.

For the sake of variety, Mark recently released a series of covers of Filipino pop classics, a sort of tribute to Filipino balladeers. These are Rey Valera’s Naaalala Ka; Ric Segreto’s Don’t Know What To Do (Don’t Know What To Say) and The Boyfriends’ Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal. These also proved to be big hits, a sign that Mark has now established a solid following. Watch out for the release of his next album that will include these remakes and others.

Before that happens though, take the time to listen and of course, also to stream Mark’s new original recording. Released only a month ago to all digital platforms, but already building up quite a following, this is Ako Na Lang Sana. It is his look on the pains and uncertainties brought about by unrequited love that is so right for his kind of sweet soul ballad singing style. Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, etc. etc.

And now the hits from a few of the digital music stores as of this writing. From iTunes Philippines Top 100, here are the Top 20 songs: In My Feelings by Drake; Thru These Tears by LANY; DDU-DU DDU-DU by Blackpink, Japanese version; Happy Now by Zedd and Elley Duhe; Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw by December Avenue feat. Moira; Bboom Bboom by MOMOLAND; Girls Like You by Maroon 5 and Cardi B; DDU-DU DDU-DU by Blackpink, Korean version; 1,2,3 by SeungRi; Mundo by IV of Spades.

God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande; BAAM by MOMOLAND; Tagpuan by Moira de la Torre; Dance The Night Away by TWICE; Kathang Isip by Ben & Ben; Isa Pang Araw by Sarah Geronimo from the soundtrack of Miss Granny; Perfect by Ed Sheeran; Dura by Daddy Yankee; You Are The Reason by Callum Scott; Mollado by SeungRi feat. B.I.

Here now are the hits from YouTube: Girls Like You by Maroon 5 and Cardi B; Bboom Bboom by MOMOLAND; Tagpuan by Moira de la Torre; Mundo by IV of Spades; DDU-DU DDU-DU by Blackpink; One Kiss by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa; Dura by Daddy Yankee; 2002 by Anne Marie; No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande; BAAM by MOMOLAND.

Poison by Darren Espanto; Nadarang by Shanti Dope; Hair Too Long by The Vamps; FAKE LOVE by BTS; Back To You by Selena Gomez from the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack; Perfect by Ed Sheeran; Di Na Muli by Janine Tenoso from the soundtrack of Sid and Aya; Sangria Wine by Pharrell Williams and Camila Cabello; Freaky Friday by Lil Dicky feat. Chris Brown; The Middle by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey.

Finally from Spotify’s Philippines Top 50 listing of most played tunes: In My Feelings by Drake; Girls Like You by Maroon 5 and Cardi B; Mundo by IV of Spades; 2002 by Anne Marie; Thru These Tears by LANY; Kathang Isip by Ben & Ben; Di Na Muli by Jenine Tenoso; Rise by Jonas Blue; DDU-DU DDU-DU by BLACKPINK; God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande.

Tagpuan by Moira de la Torre; Bboom Bboom by MOMOLAND; Back To You by Selena Gomez; Nadarang by Shanti Dope; Ocean by Martin Garrix and Khalid; 13 by LANY; BAAM by MOMOLAND; Freaky Friday by Lil Dicky and Chris Brown; Don’t Matter To Me by Drake feat. Michael Jackson; and No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande.