Tuesday, July 02, 2013

The Philippine Popular Music Festival 2013 Experience Part 3


Unlike the first edition of the Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop) last year, I wasn’t that much involved in this year’s songwriting competition. I wasn’t part of the adjudicating process that narrowed down the 3,383 entries to the final 12 battling it out at the Philippine Popular Music Festival 2013 Finals Night happening on July 20, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Meralco Theater and simulcast over at TV5.

The Top 12 Announcement

But that didn’t mean that I wasn’t following closely what was happening with the competition. When the Top 12 was announced at Napa Restaurant & Bar, I was updated via facebook and twitter updates of who the finalists were although I was at another event. I was happy to find out that Thryo Alfaro & Yumi Lacsamana, Jungee Marcelo, Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura and Lara Maigue all of whom I know personally managed to crack into the Top 12. Days later, there was a bit of drama when Marion Aunor, one of the finalists, withdrew from the competition for personal reasons. With Aunor and her song, Do, Do, Do, out of the competition, the song that initially ended up in 13th place, Time Machine by Kennard Faraon, eventually made it into the finals. This meant that Thyro Alfaro and Kennard Faraon became the two returning finalists from last year’s edition.

The Interpreters Announcement

Some weeks later, the interpreters were announced at a press conference over at Ariato Penthouse. I had a notion that it won’t be like last year with some composers interpreting their own songs. And I guessed it right. With the exception of Joey Ayala in the song Papel, none of the other composers interpreted their entries. But as I listened to the PhilPop 2013 album released by Universal Records, I can hear some of composers doing some backup vocals in some of the tracks.

Some of the interpreters that were announced didn’t surprise me at all since they belong to Universal Records’ stable of artists like Christian Bautista, Yael Yuzon of Sponge Cola, Sam Concepcion, Kean Cipriano of Callalily, Gloc-9, Kimpoy Feliciano and Six Part Invention. But the inclusion of unexpected interpreters like Jose and Wally as well as Joey Ayala collaborating with Gloc-9 threw me off guard.

Here are the Top 12 songs for the Philippine Popular Music Festival 2013, their composers and interpreters along with some of my thoughts regarding the tracks.

Araw, Ulap, Langit
Music & Lyrics by Marlon Barnuevo
Interpreted by Christian Bautista

This ballad is a perfect fit for Christian. The soaring melody of the chorus brings forth images of the sun, sky and clouds just like what the title suggests. The song does not break new territory but it is still a solid one.

Askal
Music & Lyrics by Ganny Brown
Interpeted by Jose and Wally

This novelty song follows the vein of the classics by Yoyoy Villame. But there’s more than meets the eye, or the ear as I may say so, if one can hear the social commentary in the lyrics and not just focus on the howling that’s heard throughout the song.

Dati
Music & Lyrics by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana
Interpreted by Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos and Quest

This mid-tempo song probably has the most infectious hook among the top 12 finalists. The pop culture references in this song will appeal to the younger demographic but might alienate those who are older.

Kung ‘Di Man
Music & Lyrics by Johnoy Danao
Interpreted by Ney Dimaculangan

The arrangement of this song won me over. Nothing beats using live instruments and a very organic sound. I really want to hear this song in a live setting. It would be very foolish of Ney Dimaculangan not to include this song in his gigs after the competition.

Pansamantagal
Music & Lyrics by Jungee Marcelo
Interpreted by Sitti and Julianne Tarroja

Beneath the jazzy vibe, there’s a message that is served in the song. The song may sound cheerful and bright but it talks about getting frustrated and losing one’s patience by various things that one encounters in life. I am not sure if having this song as a duet between Sitti and Julianne Tarroja was the best way to go. I am a sucker for multiple vocal layers and overdubs so I wish that they went this route instead.

Papel
Music & Lyrics by Joey Ayala
Interpreted by Joey Ayala, Gloc-9 featuring Denise Barbacena and Silverfilter

I’ve mentioned earlier that the collaboration between Joey Ayala and Gloc-9 for this song was unexpected. But the biggest surprise for me was how Silverfilter arranged the song that mixed the ethnic with modern club beats that I think will make several jaws drop.

Sana Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako
Music & Lyrics by Myrus Apacible
Interpreted by Kimpoy Feliciano

Kimpoy’s inclusion as an interpreter not only surprised me but also made me wonder if he will be able to pull this off. Then I learned that he was slated to interpret this song which is a perfect fit for his personality. Now, I can’t think of anyone who would be very convincing with this song.

Sa’yo Na Lang Ako
Music & Lyrics by Lara Maigue
Interpreted by Karylle

This tender song in the album has Karylle giving a rendition that can melt the hearts of listeners. The song starts out softly and then builds into an emotional climax without resorting to the usual screaming, belting and overdone melisma that has plagued songs for female vocalists in here.

Segundo
Music & Lyrics by Paul Armesin
Interpreted by Yael Yuzon of Sponge Cola

Probably the most rock sounding track in the whole album, this song tells about the importance of time and that we have a limited amount of it in our hands. Yael feels that this song has the title in the bag and that the other 11 will be battling it out for second place.

Sometimes That Happens
Music & Lyrics by Nino Regalado and Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura
Interpreted by Ace Libre of Never the Strangers

The slow rock song in triple meter with a harmonious chorus is one of only two entries done in English. The song about a love lost harkens the style of music a couple of decades ago. Songwriter Adrienne “Adjeng” Sarmiento-Buenaventura and I belong to the same age range so I can imagine where she’s coming from music style wise.

Space
Music & Lyrics by Raffy Calicdan
Interpreted by Kean Cipriano of Callalily and Kleggy of Banda Ni Kleggy

Space is another novelty song with an all too familiar chord progression in my opinion. I am still not convinced that the studio recording worked by having Kean Cipriano and Kleggy sharing lead vocal duties.

Time Machine
Music & Lyrics by Kennard Faraon
Interpreted by Six Part Invention

This song by Kennard Faraon, initially ranking in 13th place, got bumped into the finals when Marion Aunor withdrew from the competition. I noticed that both entries done in English not only touched upon a love between two people that’s no longer there, but also done in a style reminiscent of 90’s slow rock/pop music.


While listening to the PhilPop 2013 album, I’ve started to gravitate toward a song that I want to win, although at the back of my mind, I also started to figure out which songs might win. But what do I know? I am not a judge in the actual competition and everybody has to wait until July 20, 2013, 7:00 PM either live at the Meralco Theater or while watching over at TV5 to see which song will bag the top prize, the P1,000,000 million cash prize and the Ramon Orlina glass trophy.

The Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop) is all part of the advocacy of the PhilPop Foundation Inc., chaired by business tycoon and philanthropist Manuel V. Pangilinan and the board of directors composed of business leaders Ricky Vargas, Doy Vea, Al Panlilio, Patrick Gregorio, Randy Estrellado and Butch Jimenez, and OPM vanguards Ogie Alcasid, Noel Cabangon. PhilPop is headed by the foundation’s executive director, maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

The PhilPop 2013 album, released by Universal Records is now out in record stores nationwide. Individual tracks can also be downloaded via MyMusicStore Philippines and iTunes.


PhilPop 2013

Tracks:
1. Araw, Ulap, Langit
2. Askal
3. Dati
4. Kung ‘Di Man
5. Pansamantagal
6. Papel
7. Sana Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako
8. Sa’yo Na Lang Ako
9. Segundo
10. Sometimes That Happens
11. Space
12. Time Machine

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