Wishers’ Summer Playlist: Songs that Make You Want to Hit the Road

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We asked, you answered. We’ve rounded up songs that put you in the mood for a summer road trip.

Summer is a season for adventures. Despite the sweltering heat, it’s the season for escaping everyday life and making memories out in the great wide open. And by escape, we mean it both in its metaphoric and literal sense. With a generally vibrant mood in the air, it’s the perfect time to hit the road and head somewhere fun, exciting, or just plain dopamine-inducing.

Earlier this month, we asked you on social media about the songs that put you in the mood for a summer road trip. And without further ado, here’s a curation of some of the OPM tunes you shared with us.

“Summer Song,” Silent Sanctuary

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Gusto kong tumalon, tumalon sa saya

Dahil ikaw ang kapiling

Sa iyo, sa iyo, sa iyo, sa iyo lamang ang puso ko

Sumayaw, sumayaw, sumayaw tayo

Sa ilalim ng araw ng araw

A delectable riff, a hefty dose of reggae, and a melodic rap verse that’s charmingly goofy and unabashedly sentimental. “Summer Song” has all the ingredients for the ultimate OPM summer jam.

Released in 2007, this penultimate track from Silent Sanctuary’s career-defining “Fuchsiang Pag-ibig” album is bathed in the warm glow of romance. The upbeat melody pairs well with lyrics that capture the essence of young love. Blast this song on your speakers and bask in the carefree vibe of the season — we won’t mind (as we’d probably sing along, too!).

“Pantropiko,” BINI

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Bawat araw mas sumasaya

Magmula nang nakita ka

Nawawala ang pangangamba ‘pag ika’y kapiling na

Feels like summer when I’m with you

Parang islang pantropiko

Bright and bursting with feel-good vibes, BINI’s “Pantropiko” is a bop. Though it debuted in November last year — months ahead of the summer season — the tropical-themed song proved to be a sizzling success. In fact, it peaked at No. 2 on Spotify’s RADAR Philippines playlist and fared well on the Viral Philippines chart.

With its popularity buoyed by dance-challenge entries on social media, the song continues to dominate the digital space. If anything, “Pantropiko” has arrived just in time for summertime.

“Panahon,” HEY JUNE!

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Kailan ba mauulit

Ang panahon nating dal’wa?

Umiikot aking mundo sa’yo

Pa’no ba mauulit

Ang panahon nating dal’wa?

Umiikot aking mundo sa’yo

Reminiscing the good old days? Soundtrack such tender moments with HEY JUNE!’s “Panahon.”

Blessing its listeners with a touch of nostalgia, the rising indie band’s folksy musical treat is perfect for those who want to look back on cherished memories. More than just being wistful, it sparks inspiration to reflect on time’s passing and the fleeting nature of life. The song can also serve as an anthem for two lovers who went their separate ways and tried their best to move on.

HEY JUNE! was formed during the pandemic and is composed of Jim Mase, Earl Paglinawan, Coey Ballesteros, and Aci Fodra.

“Day and Night,” ALAMAT

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I think about you day and night

Oh, naghunahuna ko nimo

Girl you’re always on my mind

I think about you

Adlaw ug gabii, adlaw ug gabii

The boys of P-pop group Alamat are here to help you get through summer with their vibrant song, “Day and Night,” taken from their “IsaPuso” album.

Known for their pumped-up originals, Alamat delivers yet another powerful song to further enliven the season’s balmy days. This multilingual track resonates with anyone who wishes to be with their special someone every time. While the theme of longing is evident, it’s still peppered with kilig vibes and has uber-relatable lyrics to boot. So, if you’re terribly missing someone, this offering from the P-pop act is the tune to play.  

“Freedom,” SB19

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You are my freedom

Oh, damn, it feels so great

We gotta celebrate, oh, yeah, oh, yeah

You are my freedom

Brought out the best in me

Forever I’m in debt of you, of you

One summer in sunny California, the gents of SB19 roamed and danced around well-known locations in the state — from Painted Ladies to Santa Monica Pier — for a music video. Radiating nothing but happiness, Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin are seen embracing their “Freedom” in the accompanying visuals of their “PAGTATAG!” EP’s closing track. An ode to their beloved A’TIN, the video was unveiled during their ONE ZONE SB19 Half A Decade Celebration Fanmeet at the Araneta Coliseum in October 2023.

Celebrating the milestones of their journey so far as P-pop’s biggest stalwarts, SB19 is all set to return to the concert stage. The quintet will hold the back-to-back finale of their “PAGTATAG” world tour on May 18 and 19.

Looking to add more tracks from SB19 members to your summer playlist? Here are some honorable mentions: “Get Right” by Josh Cullen, “Surreal” by Justin, and “Pagdali” by PLAYERTWO featuring FELIP.

“Moon,” Nik Makino (feat. Flow G)

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Sa’n ka punta? To the moon

Road trip, vroom, vroom

Skrr, skrr, zoom, zoom

Sa fake, no room

For the utterly driven, there’s no room for deadweight on their road to success. Conveying just that, Nik Makino and Flow G have joined forces to create what would be one of the most addicting hip-hop pieces to land on the OPM scene in recent years.

As described by a press release, “‘Moon’ hooks its listeners right away with a hypnotic string opening, molded into a trap beat.” Throughout the tune, the rappers exchange lines as they talk about their trip to fame, including the highs and lows that come with it.

Their Wishclusive performance of the track reached the 75 million views milestone on YouTube and received a Wishclusive Elite Circle Platinum award last year.

“Overdrive,” The Eraserheads

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Magda-drive ako buong taon

Magda-drive ako habang-buhay

Magda-drive ako hanggang buwan

Please, please lang turuan n’yo akong mag-drive

Ah, the anthem that made ‘90s kids want to learn to drive. It’s lighthearted, playful, and even downright silly. But what may initially seem like a wish list of destinations the narrator would want to visit — Baguio, Bicol, the beach, and the moon — actually is an OPM opus that celebrates the fervor that comes with being young.  

Lifted from the 1995 album “Cutterpilow,” “Overdrive” is the quintessential OPM song to play if you want to be in the mood for an epic road trip with your barkada. And romantic partner. And furry friends.

On a side note, Offshore Music, Ely Buendia’s music label, recently announced that “Cutterpillow” will be available as a 2LP vinyl. Soon, you can enjoy “Overdrive,” along with other hits from this record, in analog format.

“White Toyota,” SunKissed Lola

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I’ve been trying to reach you lately

I’ve been trying to find you

Have been running in my mind lately

Let’s just get out of here  

Suave rhythms, peachy beats, and basslines that swell well. The first few seconds of “White Toyota” are enough to keep you grooving even on a hot summer day. It’s as if the track was made to perfectly introduce who SunKissed Lola is — the band that has been rocking the scene since late 2021, thanks to infectious hits like “Pasilyo,” “Makalimutan Ka,” and the Wish award-winning “Paki Sabi.”

Penned by bassist Danj Quimson, the only English piece in their growing catalog (as of writing) evokes images of a nostalgic summer ride. Imagine hearing this as you cruise to the beach in your car, windows down and with the radiant sun streaming through. Take this cue from 03:27 and thank us later!

While it’s undoubtedly an LSS-worthy sonic escapade, the song shines best as a reminder that it’s okay to slow down, breathe, and savor the spontaneity that is best enjoyed during the warmest time of the year.

“Papatungo,” No Lore

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Papatungo nga ba saan?

Mga salitang sinulat ko

Ngunit hindi mo ramdam

Papatungo nga ba saan?

Mga larawan mong lumalangoy

Sa aking isipan

No Lore’s “Papatungo” is a sensory experience on multiple layers; it’s where art and poetry come to life through music. Soaked in bittersweet yet dancey melody, it offers good company when you’re enveloped in summertime sadness.

The song, lyrically lighthearted yet expressive, navigates the uncharted paths of one-sided love. According to No Lore, the track is an “interrogation of a fed-up hopeless romantic.” It lays bare the vulnerable side of the narrator who decides to admit that he “doesn’t know where things are headed anymore.”

The creative geniuses behind this four-minute bop are Tita Halaman (guitars and lead vocals) and Jerald Juatco (keys and vocals). Just like their other releases, such as “Paumanhin” and “A Leo,” the song is quirky and enigmatic. And yes, you can jive to it even if it resonates with themes of confusion and longing.

Want to groove even more? Check out the song’s city bop remix.

“Saan?,” Maki

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Kasi kahit saan magpunta

Hinahanap ko ang ‘yong mukha

At baka biglang magkita pa tayo

Sa Kyusi, Sa UP, sa kalsada ng BGC

Pagkalipas ng ilang taon

Makikita mong walang tinapon

Combining happy, heartwarming melodies with heartbreaking lyrics is a tried-and-tested formula for a catchy hit. At a time when a deluge of such songs has taken over the scene, authenticity and emotional resonance are key to making a musical piece stand out. Case in point: Maki’s “Saan?”

Released early last year, the viral song is all about yearning for what once was. It’s a bittersweet ode to lost love — and how something that had already slipped away still has a hold on one’s heart. With real-life places mentioned in the lyrics, “Saan?” has become even more endearing to Filipino listeners.

If going senti is your vibe, or you just want something musically upbeat to spice up your next road trip, add this song to your summer playlist.

READ NEXT: The Sounds of Summer: 10 OPM Wishclusives for an Epic Summer Road Trip