OPM Songs to Help You Power Through the Second Half of 2023

OPM Songs to Help You Power Through the Second Half of 2023

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Music is a happy pill to the jaded, a balm to the bruised, and fuel to the uninspired. And as we welcome the second half of 2023 (Yup, we’re already halfway through the year!), we can always rely on this art form to help us power through the remaining months and beyond.

In the country, in particular, the past six months saw the release of OPM songs with rousingly beautiful messages and themes. These are tracks across various genres that we can find refuge in or take inspiration from.

In this special feature, we’ve hand-picked 10 songs we recommend that you listen to.

“Gento,” SB19

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Coming from an EP that marks the P-pop giants’ new journey as “self-managed” artists, “Gento” is certainly one good song to listen to if you want to feel upbeat and empowered. In this “PAGTATAG!” track, SB19 celebrates the power of “transformational change” and how little increments can lead to monumental growth.

A fitting feat for a song that conveys such a motivating message, “Gento” also earned the group a No. 8 spot on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. This makes them “likely the first Filipino band” to achieve the said milestone.

Currently, the group is embarking on a world tour, which began with a sold-out, two-night concert at the Araneta Coliseum on June 24 and 25.

“I Want to Be Here,” Kiana V feat. Curtismith and DJ Nix Damn P

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There are times when we can be overcome with emotions. Kiana V, Curtismith, and DJ Nix Damn P’s collaborative project, “I Want to Be Here,” is a reminder that it’s okay to feel things.

Kiana V co-wrote the track with singer-songwriter Nieman, and their goal is to “capture the feeling of really trying to understand what you’re going through, sitting with those emotions, and letting them go.”

The raw and real lyricism of the song (“Is it okay that I feel this/Is it okay that I’m not fine/Searching for ways to relieve this/Tryna feel safe in my own mind”) is complemented by energetic beats, courtesy of DJ Nix Damn P. In a sense, it’s the artist’s way of imploring listeners to go with the flow and be their authentic selves without worries.

This song is in collaboration with the healthcare app KonsultaMD and aims to raise awareness for mental health in the Philippines.

“Puyat,” kiyo feat. YVING PE$O

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In this piece, rappers kiyo and YVING PE$O reflect on purpose, perseverance, and the ever-exacting pursuit of success. There’s a brooding atmosphere throughout the track, which combines bedroom pop and hip-hop elements. And it sets the mood right for verses and hooks that find the narrator getting lost in everyday life — while yearning for solace and seeking to attain a renewed sense of direction.

“Puyat” is a Filipino word for the tired feeling one gets after staying up all night or the act of staying awake throughout the evening. “Puyat,” the song, is for people who relentlessly work hard despite having to overcome inner battles and coming to terms with their own vulnerabilities.

“Sikat ng Araw,” Munimuni

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According to the makata-pop outfit, “‘Sikat ng Araw’ is a song born out of being trapped in a time of uncertainty while honestly yearning to be with someone.”

Featuring drummer Josh Tumaliuan on vocals, the song radiates optimism both sonically and lyrically. Introed by their signature soothing flute notes, the track moves forward with foot-tapping, rhythmic drum and guitar lines. The cheery melody pairs beautifully well with lines like “Sikat ng araw/Sabik na masilayan ka/Sikat ng araw/Sabik na makapiling ka.”

If you want to greet the second half of 2023 on a hopeful note, this is one moving OPM piece to play.

“Bloom,” Paolo Sandejas

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The titular track of Paolo Sandejas’ latest outing vividly paints a portrait of change and moving on. “Bloom,” thick with nature-inspired metaphorical lines, is about making peace with the wounds of the past and having the courage to tread the path of healing.

“It sounded so bright and hopeful so I wanted to match that with lyrics rooted in the same theme. I also wanted to console people who may be stuck looking back on what once was and encourage them to look forward… and bloom,” Sandejas shared about the song.

The Wish Music Award-winning act held a tour back in May in promotion of “Bloom,” the EP.  

“Healing,” Sarah Geronimo

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Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli celebrated her 20th anniversary with a Big Dome concert that she co-directed herself. And even after two decades in the business, the country’s Popstar Royalty continues to captivate Filipinos’ hearts with her versatility and gift of storytelling through music. One of her newest releases is a pensive ballad penned by multi-talented KZ Tandingan.

The song follows an emotionally embattled narrator who wears many scars. While a certain delicateness takes center stage, there’s a lesson of resilience that can be learned from the track. This resilience is fueled not just by the narrator’s sheer will but also by the love that she receives from her significant other.  

“Entablado,” Noah Alejandre

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Noah Alejandre’s “Entablado” is an ode to ordinary people who bear huge burdens. In a Wish 107.5 interview, the Leyte-hailing indie-pop musician mused that it’s “meant to be a comfort song for anyone who’s feeling down [and] carrying the weight of the world.”

Written from the perspective of a trusted supporter, “Entablado” offers words of solace without sounding too trite. “‘Di man tayo ang nasa gitna ng entablado/Pero ang mahalaga’y hindi ka pa sumuko,” he croons in one of the most poignant parts of the track.

An artist to watch out for, Alejandre is one of the up-and-coming Filipino acts that have been gaining attention with relatable, earnestly penned songs. Apart from “Entablado,” he’s known for “Nahuhulog Na Sa’yo” and “Di Man Tinadhana.”

“Parang Magic,” TONEEJAY

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In “Parang Magic,” singer-songwriter TONEEJAY encapsulates the “childlike joy” that love and one’s mere existence brings.

While the past months may have been eventful — further speeding up our perception of how time passes by — songs like this can give us that needed space to breathe. The simple lyrics of the song glide over a bright melody that combines elements of folk and rock, offering an aural experience that will inspire listeners to slow down and appreciate the magic that lies in life’s little things.

“small town,” Clara Benin

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Count on indie powerhouse Clara Benin to create musical pieces that acknowledge both the fragile and unyielding nature of people. In her recently released track, “small town,” the OPM act, together with fellow musician Gabba Santiago, frames a post-breakup narrative and creates what is essentially a coming-of-age tale that entails mustering up the strength to “rediscover yourself again.”

Easy on the ear and encouraging to the heart, the song draws inspiration from Benin’s experience of living in the province and plays on the idea of struggling to move on “because everything around you reminds you of your ex.” Despite presenting such a bittersweet reality, this introspective song delves deep into the importance of leaving the past and unlearning the familiar in hopes of having a fresh start.

“lipad,” syd hartha

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There’s something uplifting about syd hartha’s singing. The talented act’s well-enunciated vocals are capable of bringing a sense of clarity and resolve. And when you couple it with her empowering lyrics and melodies, you get a growing body of work that collectively serves as a potent catalyst for soldiering on.

In the closing track of her debut “gabay” EP, syd hartha projects an assured voice — literally and figuratively speaking — to amplify an ever-relevant message: to let go of what holds you back, remain true to your identity, take flight, and pursue what your heart desires.

“lipad” is a song that she wrote during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Creating music, for her, has been a way to sit through and process her emotions better.

‘I knew I was sick of treating and talking negatively to myself and started to decide I wanted to create a new life for myself. I realized that I had to zoom out of my little box of self-loathing and see things through from a different perspective,” she candidly shared in a press release.

READ NEXT: On Healing and Self-Rediscovery: syd hartha Releases Debut EP, ‘gabay’

Written by Emmy Borromeo

Editing and design by Pauline Bolaños and Kathleen Manalo

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