Partaking in the global effort to offer relief through songs in the time of Covid-19, several OPM acts have debuted new tracks that enshrine the power of music — as a relatable source of entertainment, a vital vehicle of hopeful messages, and a unifying art form.
Despite the challenges of working even without professional recording equipment and collaborating remotely, these music makers have heeded the call of their craft. The result is a diverse set of fresh OPM pieces for us to indulge in, ponder upon, and draw inspiration from.
If you feel like drifting into unrest and succumbing to quarantine blues, let this selection of songs provide familiarity and give the comfort that you’re looking for.
I don’t know how
I don’t know when
But know love will find again
This too shall pass
Like anyone of us, Rico Blanco has also felt powerless with all the uncertainties brought forth by Covid-19. In his first solo single in four years, the master tunesmith battles the distress caused by living alone in these tough times, writes “from a place of discomfort and fear,” and unveils an apt anthem of hope called “This Too Shall Pass.”
Using the time-honored adage as the central theme of his new track, Blanco embraces raw emotions and wraps them in an elaborate global-sounding production to deliver a song that sheds light and inspires.
Though he admits his “efforts are little in light of a pandemic like this,” the artist describes his latest offering as something he can “contribute as a musician.”
Gera gera
Sino ba ang siyang tunay na kalaban?
Gusto ko lang talaga na malaman upang ang lahat ay maliwanagan
Gera gera
Sino ba ang siyang tunay na kalaban?
Gusto mo ba talaga na malaman
Hanging madumi? Yung mahanging gahaman?
In a surprise release, rap icon Gloc-9 and rock veteran Raymund Marasigan pair up and drop the provocative and eerily intoxicating “Gera Gera.”
Seemingly taken straight out of a dystopian movie, the piece navigates a society plagued by a pandemic that, while targeting people regardless of socio-economic standing, is still an issue that punctuates the polarizing situations experienced by different classes. The collaborative effort ultimately invites listeners into pondering: Underneath the thick of it all, who is the real enemy?
Pro tip: Check out the song’s homemade music video above to complete the immersive, pandemic feel.
So is it okay if I close my eyes?
Is it okay if I take my time?
Just for a little while
Just for a little while
Just for a little while
Communities under quarantine. Difficult or lack of access to essential needs. An unseen enemy putting lives at risk. For the past months, the pandemic has been nothing short of overwhelming — and with “It’s Okay,” Clara Benin tells us that it’s fine to “take time to process what’s happening.”
The indie darling, whose body of work majorly imparts self-empowerment, offers the song as a reminder to take care of our hearts, minds, and souls especially in a time like this. Wisely using her ever-mesmerizing vocals, her latest release acts as a lilting lullaby that offers reassurance as we strive to survive this surreal season of our lives.
Ayokong makalimutan
Ang sinag ng araw
Ang awit ng hangin sa’tin
Ang makasama ko ikaw
O, ang maging malaya
Kasama ka
Though only recorded inside a room using a laptop and a microphone built in earphones, Munimuni’s “Kasama Kita” still captures the band’s dreamy and poetic appeal.
In this song they penned while in quarantine, the makata-pop quintet paint vivid images of placid moments that are meant to be shared with a special someone. While changes are expected to take place in a post-Covid world, this contemplative ode makes us feel hopeful that that life will still be beautiful as long as we’re in the company of people we hold close to our hearts.
Hangga’t may nakikinig sa panalangin
‘Di mawawala ang pag-asa natin
Ikaw at ako, babangon tayo
Sama-sama, lahat ay susulong
Basta’t tayo’y magtutulong-tulong
Lilipas din, matatapos din ang dilim
In this period of isolation and social distancing, there is one thing we can do to help fight Covid-19: to unite in prayer.
Armed with the purpose of spreading this plea, The Juans unveil the big and moving ballad, “Manalangin.” A must-hear during these challenging times, the song is accompanied by a touching music video — a black-and-white montage of local artists and quarantine scenarios that ends with a cityscape shone upon by a symbolic sunrise — in a bid to deliver a “visual and aural message of hope and healing.”
D’yan ka lang, d’yan ka lang
H’wag kang lalayo, lalayo, lalayo
D’yan ka lang, d’yan ka lang
H’wag kang lalayo, lalayo, lalayo
Iisang puso’t isip, sa kani-kanyang silid
D’yan ka lang, d’yan ka lamang
Penned by veteran composer and Wishcovery Originals reactor Jungee Marcelo, “D’yan Ka Lang” is a folk-pop track that encourages “connection despite the separation.” According to him, the song is born out of a prayer to be instrumental in relaying the importance of staying put during the pandemic.
The infectious and bouncy tune is the debut project of KONEKOLAB, a community of young Filipino musicians from the mainstream and indie scenes. It features a total of 40 artists — with Autotelic’s Josh Villena, Leanne & Naara, and Ben&Ben’s Paolo Guico on lead vocals — who teamed up, albeit remotely and ingeniously, to come up with an output that showers us with the positivity that we need as we face adversity.
Together we are being called
To make a future world
The test we face is for us to prove
That we can heal as one
Originally created as the theme song of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the commissioned piece “We Win As One” is repurposed to serve as an anthem that uplifts and mends.
“We Heal As One” — one of the earliest music releases prompted by the pandemic — features music composed by National Artist for Music and KDR Icon of Musical Excellence awardee, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, lyrics written by the esteemed Floy Quintos, and arrangement done by Neocolours’ Jimmy Antiporda. Breathing life into the tune is a diverse ensemble of OPM A-listers including Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Sarah Geronimo, Inigo Pascual, Julie Ann San Jose, and KZ Tandingan, among others.
In these trying times, let us fill our hearts with love and songs that spark hope and togetherness. Let us always keep on wishing and praying.
Should you have any medical concerns, UNTV — a BMPI-operated TV network and Wish 107.5’s sister company — is offering free consultation via its 24/7 digital clinic hotlines: 0915-189-7007 (Globe), 0918-438-8988 (Smart), 0943-411-8001 (Sun), and +63918-438-8988 (Viber).
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