THE CLASS OF OPM. From left: Buboy Garrovillo, and Jim Paredes, of the APO Hiking Society; Dulce, Marco Sison, and Rey Valera
The APO Hiking Society composed of Jim Paredes, Buboy Garrovillo (minus the late Danny Javier), Rey Valera, Marco Sison, and Dulce ruled the local music scene in the 70s and 80s with their hit songs, albums, and awards - but who among the young original Pilipino music (OPM) artists will continue to grow?
During a media conference for their upcoming show "The Class Act of OPM" held at Gerry's Grill Restaurant in Quezon City recently, OPM legends revealed some of the new artists who are ready to rise to their level and shared their thoughts about what it takes to be successful in the local music scene.
"Actually seryosohin ninyo yung career ninyo para tumagal kayo. Yung iba kasing artist nagpapa-pogi lang. Yung iba one-hit wonder artist. And then yung popularity nila pumupunta lang sa ulo nila at napunta sila sa ibang karera," said Buboy of APO.
(Actually, take your career seriously so you can last. Others are just like artists who are just showing off. Others are one-hit-wonder artists. And then their popularity just goes to their heads and they end up in other careers.)
Buboy added: "Pero pag talagang artist ka na gusto mong kumanta at gusto mong gumawa ng kanta, pag gusto mong magperform sa entablado, kapag serious ka roon, I think magtatagal ka. I think sa mga younger ones, makikita na ninyo kung sino yung mga artist na ganun. Yun ang mga tatagal."
(But if you're really an artist who wants to sing and make a song, if you want to perform on stage, if you're serious about it, I think you'll last a long time. I think among the younger ones, you'll see who the artists are like that. Those are the ones that last.)
Jim Paredes commented: "Yung may devotion at may dedication sa craft, I think that's very important. Tama si Buboy, social media can make you so flashy and attractive. But you know may life span yun eh. But you have to do something like reinvent yourself. I'm betting on Moira. Si Morrissette. Sino pa ba? I actually don't listen to new music."
(Those who have devotion and dedication to the craft, I think that's very important. Buboy is right, social media can make you so flashy and attractive. But you know it has a lifespan. But you have to do something like reinvent yourself. I 'm betting on Moira. Morrissette. Who else? I actually don't listen to new music.)
"I think Christian Bautista. At saka in your lifetime, hindi ka lang singer sa entablado. You join theater. Sasali ka rin sa mga play. Talagang palalawaking mo rin ang career mo," Buboy also said.
(I think Christian Bautista. Besides also, in your lifetime, you are not only a singer on stage. You should join the theater. You will also participate in plays. You must also expand your career.)
Jim cited the dangers of the preset crop of artists. "Ang pinaka-danger talaga ngayon sa mga new artist ay madali kang makilala at madali ka rin makalimutan. Kasi the competition is so stiff. In our time, slow but sure ang pagsikat ng mga artist. But the new kids, after their first hit, challenge na yun."
(The most dangerous thing with new artists today is that you are easily recognized and easily forgotten. Because the competition is so stiff. In our time, the rise of artists is slow but sure. But the new kids, after their first hit, that's a challenge.)
Rey Valera said: "Puwede kang sumikat...umikot ka lang ng isang beses ilagay mo sa TikTok. Pero pagkatapos nun, ano'ng gagawim mo uli? Ano ang kasunod? Unless i-develop mo ang sarili mo at gagawa ka ng iba. Gagawa ka ng kanta. Gagawa ka nag paraan to up the ante."
(You can become famous...just go around once and put it on TikTok. But after that, what will you do again? What's next? Unless you develop yourself and do something else. You write a song. You will make a way to up the ante.)
"Let's face it! Ang new artists ngayon hindi lang singer at songwriter. Content provider din sila. Ganun ang challenge nila ngayon. Yung content namin matagal na naming nagawa kaya hanggang ngayon ginagamit pa nila," added Jim.
(Let's face it! Today's new artists are not just singers and songwriters. They are also content providers. That's their challenge now. We've been making our content for a long time, so they're still using it.)
Marco encouraged young artists to be consistent about their work.
"Madali na mahirap ngayon. Madali because of social media. As an artist mahirap maging consistent. Sa Pilipinas uso ang love songs. But you can't go wrong with love songs. Yung mga bata sa ngayon, naririnig nila yung kanta mo, and when they grow old, na appreciate nila yung kanta mo. May kasama rin na swerte," said the "Make Believe" singer.
(It's both easy and hard these days. It's easy because of social media. As an artist, it's hard to be consistent. In the Philippines, love songs are the trend. But you can't go wrong with love songs. The kids nowadays, when they hear your song, and when they grow old, they appreciate your song. There is also luck involved.)
Asia's Timeless Diva Dulce, the only rose among the thorns in the upcoming show, said that she's honored to be part of the show.
"Ang saya talaga kasi fan nila ako. Ayoko talagang may masayang na moment na hindi mo sila pinakikinggan. Sikat yung mga songs nila and then marinig mo lang silang kumakanta ng life, sa akin iba ang value nun. Kaya excited sa show na ito," she said.
(It's really fun because I'm their fan. I don't want to miss a moment listening to them. Their songs are famous and then you just hear them perform live, to me that's a different value. So I'm excited about this show.)
Dulce added: "I don't have that many hit songs, but I got active in the movies and teleserye. Pero outside showbiz, I do outreach programs in the provinces. And these things naman don't come out in social media. Nagagalingan ako kay Bituin Escalante. Magaling at maganda ang boses. Nakikita ko sa kanya ang isang artist na walang compromise." (I like Bituin Escalante. She's good and she has a beautiful voice. I see her as an artist without compromise.)
Produced by Echo Jham Entertainment Production in cooperation with Soroptimist, The Class of OPM is a one-of-a-kind concert featuring classic hits and the greatest music of these OPM greats that span generations of music playlists, which will be held at The Theater at Solaire on May 3.
Adding excitement to this OPM star-studded evening are special guests Andrea Gutierrez, Elisha, and VR Caballero.
The Class of OPM is a fund-raising event of the Soroptimist International of the Americas Philippines Region for the poor.
Priced at P3,000 for SVIP; P2,000 (Patron), and P1,000 (Balcony). Tickets are available at Solare Box Office at http://www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 0932-404-9551 for ticket reservations.
