8/14/2019 Lackluster 2008

1/2

ENTERTAINMENT

Pinoy music's lackluster 2008

SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil Updated December 31, 2008 12:00 AM

This is a difficult piece to write. This must be how those executives in

those big US firms feel as they take stock of what has happened during

the past 12 months. Times are bad and it is also showing in the recording

industry.

This is not for want of trying. Despite the hard times, the local labels are

out there batting with all their might for Filipino music. But the hard

times, piracy, downloading and lack of new exciting stars resulted in whatmust be the worst year ever in the past decade.

There were hits. Bamboo kept the rock flame alive and he had Kailan. Also

okay were CallalilysAkoy Babalik, Hales Leaf of Faith, 6Cycleminds

Saludo, Betamaxby Sandwich and Parokya ni EdgarsAkala. But that was

the problem. They were just okay. We had no Narda by Kamikazee or

Pinoy Ako by Orange & Lemons, Spaghetiby Sex Bomb or even a

Pagdating ng Panahon by Aiza Seguerra, songs from the past that really

took the country by storm.

So if you want a song of the year, the one by which you will remember

2008, all that I have to offer is Payong, the Tagalog adaptation of

Rihannas Umbrella by a new artist called Ms. Ganda.

The success of the song made me recall what people in the business refer to as the Dark Ages of Filipino Music when all

that the singers recorded were cover versions that wereplakang-plaka or almost like the originals or Tagalog

adaptations of foreign hits. But Payong was cute. It made money. We can certainly use that.

There were a few bright spots that positively affected films, television and concerts and I can think of two singers who

had a hit with a new original Filipino composition. These were Piolo Pascual with, the theme from the TV series Lobo,

Ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap, which has the makings of a future standard and KC Concepcion with the bluesy Imposible.

KC, bless her, was one of the years brilliant newcomers with a good debut album and a blockbuster movie. Smart and

beautiful, the years Nickelodeons gamely slimed wanna-be, she also has her heart in the right place and finds time in

her busy schedule to be the ambassador against hunger of the United Nations in these parts. She also had a big hit, a

cover of the oldie For the First Time, which was used as the theme for her first film.

Also a glowing presence was Sarah Geronimo. She sold out the Araneta Coliseum in a solo concert, had a blockbuster

flick and some hits. These were the oldieA Very Special Love, which was the theme from her film and Ill Be There, a

landmark duet with Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough. Her song Ikaw, an original by Medwin Marfil of True Faith was

named Song of the Year at the Awit Awards. But that was for 2007.

Also on the oldies trail were Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha, Ogie Alcasid, Lea Salonga, Rachelle Ann Go, Jay-R and

even Gabby Concepcion. Nikki Gil did well with Joey AlbertsA Million Miles Awayand bless her too, because she has

made propagating reading her advocacy and that is just great. These artists did not come up with songs that other

artists in the future would be able to revive but they did sell a lot of albums.

music's lackluster 2008 | The Philippine Star >> News >> Entertai... http://philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId

12/31/2008

8/14/2019 Lackluster 2008

2/2

Musical theater was alive and well. In some cases, brilliantAtang, pricey, Cinderella, moving, Cory, so-so West Side

Storyand enjoyable Hairspray. In the case of the latter, I say that you can always count on director Bobby Garcia to

come up with a well-mounted, entertaining show that will not insult the audience.

The concert scene was booming with exciting visitors like Maroon 5, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Al Jarreau, George Benson,

Paul Potts, Petula Clark, Neil Sedaka, Swing Out Sister, Avril Lavigne, etc. 50 Cent was a no show but the usual

suspects, Air Supply, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, etc, did drop by.

And the locals also did very well, from also usual suspects Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano to the buy one take

three Divas for Divas of Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez and Regine Velasquez, to the Golden Divas of

Pilita Corrales, and the two Carmens, Patea and Soriano to Randy Santiago, Raymond Lauchengco, Gino Padilla and

Louie Heredia as the Men of the 80s to last nights Legends of OPM, Rico Puno, Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuiga, Claire, Eva

Eugenio and Joey Albert.

2008 was also the year we once more thrilled and danced to the music of ABBA, saw for ourselves that Arnel Pineda

does deserve to be Journeys new vocalist, and saw how the Eraserheads reunion proved that those guys are no APOs

yet.

We prayed and will continue to do so for the recovery of Francis Magalona. We mourned the passing of Didith Reyes, a

star who burned so brightly for so brief a time. And we now wait with bated breath for what wonderful things will

happen next to Charice in her adventures in American entertainment.

View previous articles of this column.

music's lackluster 2008 | The Philippine Star >> News >> Entertai... http://philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId

12/31/2008