Filipino culture - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 451

OPM has become diluted, and now encompasses the young stars of the twenty-first
century, most of whom have modelled themselves on Celine Dion and Michael Bublé,
not the revolutionary Manila singers of the Marcos years. This new generation includes
Kyla , Erik Santos , Sarah Geronimo and Christian Bautista .

The mainstream: Filipino pop, rock and alternative music
Any consideration of mainstream popular rock music in the Philippines won't get off
the ground without reference to the irreverent Eraserheads . After more than a decade
at the top they disbanded in 2003 but remain the most popular Filipino band ever.
Many current popular groups have been inspired by their infectious blend of irony and
irresistibly melodic pop, including Rivermaya , still producing platinum-selling albums
at a rate of knots, and Parokya ni Edgar , one of the few bands that have come close to
equalling the Eraserheads; their 1996 debut album, Khangkhungkherrnitz , features a
tribute to the nation's favourite food: instant noodles. Today Filipino pop, rock and
alternative music is flourishing, with bands such as 6cyclemind , Kamikazee , Chicosci,
Sponge Cola and Sandwich .
But despite the proliferation of progressive acts, the popular Philippine music scene
has become dominated in recent years by comely solo performers singing plaintive
ballads in the style of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey. In the hierarchy of
balladeers, Regine Velasquez and Martin Nievera are at the top. Regine Velasquez 's
story is the quintessential Tagalog movie script: a beautiful girl from the sticks - she
grew up in Leyte in the 1970s - wins a singing contest in 1989 (with a performance of
“ You'll Never Walk Alone ” in Hong Kong) and heads off to Manila. Her repertoire is
typical of the Filipina diva canon, comprising misty-eyed love songs such as “ Could It
Be? ” “ What You Are to Me ” and “ Long For Him ”. Velasquez follows in the tradition of
Sharon Cuneta, Pops Fernandez and Kuh Ledesma, who at one time or another have
all been dubbed the country's “concert queen” by the media. Martin Nievera puts his
success - he's been recording since 1982 - down to the fact that Filipinos love a good
drama. His songs are indeed melodramatic, his album Forever, Forever being an open
book about his high-profile marital breakup with singer-actress Pops Fernandez.

Filipino hip-hop
Filipino hip-hop or Pinoy rap emerged in the 1980s, with tracks by Dyords Javier and
Vincent Dafalong . The genre hit the mainstream with Francis Magalona 's debut album,
Yo ! in 1990, which included the nationalistic hit “ Mga Kababayan ” (“My Countrymen”),
a call to political arms that bore the hallmarks of Freddie Aguilar. In 1994, Death Threat
released the first Filipino gangsta rap album Gusto Kong Bumaet (“I Want to be Good”).
Since 2004 the Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards has been held annually in Metro Manila
and the genre remains incredibly popular throughout the country; current stars include
Gloc-9 (former member of Death Threat), Abra and Pikaso . The most successful
Filipino-American rapper is the Black Eyed Peas' apl.de.ap , who was born in Angeles City
in 1974 and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14.
DISCOGRAPHY
FOLK
Freddie Aguilar Collection (1985). A mixture of studio
and live recordings featuring most of the folk hero's
greatest songs, including “ Trabaho ” and a cover version of
Joey Ayala's “ Mindanao ”. “ Pinoy ” is a dark, but melodic
exposition of the average Filipino's lot, while the lyrical
“ Magdalena ” was based on conversations Aguilar had with
Manila prostitutes, all of whom desperately wanted to
escape the life. There's no “ Anak ”, but there are plenty of
other Freddie Aguilar collections that feature it.

TRIBAL POP
Cynthia Alexander Insomnia and Other Lullabyes (1996).
Introspective but affecting collection of progressive/tribal
ballads from Joey Ayala's talented little sister. The navel-
gazing becomes wearisome at times, but there are also
some memorable moments, including “ No Umbrella ”, a
pleading love song with sonorous strings and plaintive
fretless bass.
Barbie's Cradle Music from the Buffet Table (1999). Their
semi-acoustic sound dominated by the frail but evocative