OPM: What the Pilipino Heart Sings

Original Pilipino Music or more commonly known OPM refers to original Philippine songs varying from the traditional to modern original music compositions. Over the years, OPM has been recognized not just in the whole country but is now slowly making its name internationally because of its wide, original music selection. Filipinos are deeply passionate when it comes to music, hence it is only right for Filipinos to be recognized world wide.

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• From mellow music to upbeat dance hits, bamboo canes to electronic guitars, Filipinos are known for their creative music composition, with various music genres. Ranging from pop to hip hop, ethnic and modern music, definitely Filipino music is something incomparable.
• Naming Freddie Aguilar, APO Hiking Society, Jose Mari Chan, and Juan Dela Cruz band- all OPM vanguards, you might go running towards your radio to listen to their music. Yet these people could never taste the glory of the limelight without those songs which started it out.
• Music in the Philippines started out from the influences of the Malays, Indonesians, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese and Hindus. Since then, music has become the sound of most Filipinos lives, playing a vital role in every community. One of the earliest forms of Filipino music is the ‘Harana’ as one way of courting to own a woman’s heart.
• Awit and Kurido or Corrido, a musical show of dances and songs replacing the ancient epics during the conversion of the early Filipinos to Christianity, reigns as one of foreign-influenced Filipino entertainments. Kundiman, with romantic and mellow tunes was another hit way back early OPM breaks which commonly interpreted in songs composed in expressing feelings and admiration for the special someone.
• Pop is derived from the word “popular” but in music pop it is considered to be a genre, commonly referred as “popular songs” that usually have the most airtime than other genres. Pop music is something that evolves and grasps the current hype of music, or music that is preferred by most listeners. Original Pilipino Music before originally referred only to Philippine pop songs, more particularly ballads. The year 1970 was the period when artists Claire dela Fuente, Didith Reyes, Rico Puno, Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, among many others made their names in Philippine pop music industry. Popular singers of today like Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Jose Mari Chan, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and among others, hit fame during the 1980’s and 1990’s with millions of fans worldwide. The late President Corazon Aquino, however, became the key for OPM to become more known when she enacted into law the Executive Order No. 255 which entails FM radio stations to play locally-produced songs on an hourly basis.
• Original Pilipino-pop music has also been associated with live bands. Groups such as the Neocolours, Side A, Introvoys, The Teeth, Yano, True Faith, Passage, and Freestyle popularized songs that clearly reflect the sentimental character of OPM pop. OPM’s influence was greatly proven when some of early OPM hits are still being played in the radio until today. Some of those biggest hits include Paraiso (Smokey Mountain), Gaya ng Dati (Gary Valenciano), Till my Heartaches End (Ella May Saison), Next in Line (Afterimage), Forever Blue (Cacai Velasquez), Line to Heaven (Introvoys), Ligaya (Eraserheads), Nanghihinayang (Jeremiah), Before I let you Go (Freestyle).
• Pinoy rock or Filipino rock, is another music genre. Juan Dela Cruz Band, naming Pinoy rock grandfathers Mike Hanapol, Wally Gonzales and Pepe Smith are recognized as Philippines’ first “rock & roll revolution”. The most notable achievement in the Philippine rock of the 1960s was the hit song “Killer Joe,” which thrust the group “Rocky Fellers” which reached number 16 on the American radio charts.
• 1980’s folk-rock was initiated in the Philippines which became the nation’s protest music with OPM rock all-time hit maker Freddie Aguilar’s “Bayan Ko” (My Country) which became an anthem during the 1986 EDSA Revolution. In the 90’s there was a birth of pop-rock groups, such as the Eraserheads, which became the first pop-rock band in the recording scene. Other bands were, Rivermaya, Teeth, Mojofly to name a few. Other sub-genres of rock are alternative rock, pop-rock, funk, reggae, heavy metal and ska.
• One of the bestselling OPM artists is the band Eraserheads who were the first ever band to achieve the Diamond certification for their album Cutterpillow. They were hailed as one of the country’s most successful, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of Original Pilipino Music or OPM. Eraserheads even earned the name “The Beatles of the Philippines”.
• Singers such as Jaya, Nina and Regine Velasquez also holds the best-selling record for their album Jaya, Nina Live!, and R2K. Soul Siren Nina, became the first female artist in October 2009 receiving a Diamond certification. In 2010, Sharon Cuneta’s Isn’t It Romantic? achieved a Diamond record, making her the second female artist to receive such award.
• Asia’s Song Bird, Regine Velasquez was also hailed as the best-selling artist of all time in the Philippines, with more than 7 million albums sold out in the country and more than 1,500,000 albums in other Asian countries.