OPM artists will be playing your songs

MANILA, Philippines — Performing your favorite (romantic) songs is what Joey G., Jinky Vidal, Jay Durias, Ice Seguerra, Meds Marfil and Juris Fernandez promise to do in Playlist: The Best of OPM. The musical presentation is reminiscent of the reunion concerts rock bands and iconic singers have done in the recent past, but different from them since it offers a new playlist.         

“It’s just a gathering (of artists),” said singer-composer Jay, in an interview, of the show. “Yeah, you can call it (a) reunion (concert) kasi marami dito ang nagkasabay (when they entered the music scene). For me, it’s (my) first time (to do such a concert).”

The idea behind Playlist, shared Jay, came from the survey done by a music streaming platform. “They got this from Spotify. They did a survey on kung ano daw ang pinakikinggan ng maraming Pinoy ngayon (what songs most Pinoys listen to now). It seems to be yung mga luma pa (ring kanta) ang maraming counts, or views... They sent a report and fortunately, we were included on the list.” This means the hits of Side A (headlined by Joey G.), Freestyle, (Jinky) South Border (Jay), True Faith (Meds), Ice and Juris are still very much part of the listeners’ musical consciousness and experience. Thus, Playlist artists will go down memory lane with concertgoers on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum by playing songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“(It entered in the) ‘90s and it came back in 2000 with Rainbow, you know come and go,” said Jay about his band’s journey. Part of that was the ‘90s “analog days.” “We’re fortunate na naabutan namin yung panahon na yun, na nag-re-recording ka sa analog studio. Then came the digital era. We’re lucky... that many young people still listen to us.” When his band recently had a show at La Salle Alabang, Jay was surprised that Grade 6 and 7 students know their music. 

Jay added that ‘90s was the transition period from the ‘80s sounds (of Madonna, among famous artists, and new wave). It saw the emergence of Pinoy bands like Side A, Eraserheads, Freestyle and Rivermaya in the local scene. “South Border’s contribution is like the egoy side, the R&B side. Kahit papaano kami rin yung medyo nauna ng konti sa ‘90s na may R&B flavor in a Filipino way,” he said. “Based on my experience, when we were with Sony, we had this creative freedom, (it was like create) all you can.”

Before making it to the mainstream recording industry, Jay was (still is) a fan of Side A. 

“When I was in high school, Side A went to Davao. Gustong-gusto kong sumali sa banda nila. Akala ko ganun, ganun lang,” he said in another interview. “Nung high school, I felt pwede na ako (that I was ready). Iba kasi akong mag-isip... The first time I met them (Side A members), we became friends.”

For Playlist, Jay is not just a featured artist. He is also its musical director.

“In terms of arrangement, as a musical director, I will try my best to be as musical as possible na masarap pakinggan,” he said during the media call, “Kasi halo-halo yung mga kanta namin parang mash-up daw.” On this show, Jay is also working with fellow band mates, who, according to him, are “confident with themselves, they are respected in the music industry.” They are session musicians who collaborate with other artists. So they won’t hold it against Jay if the latter works on another concert without them. Most original members of South Border are now in the US.   

Come concert night, Jay and the rest are ready to reminisce on the music of the ‘80s and ‘90s and to introduce Janine Teñoso, a new name in the recording industry.    

“OPM is very alive now,” said he, who likes the music of Ben & Ben, Moira Dela Torre and Janine. “(She) has a song (Ang Awit Natin), sobrang ganda, magugustuhan nyo talaga... sobrang galing.” 

(Tickets to Playlist: The Best of OPM are available at TicketNet with tel. no. 911-5555 and at www.ticketnet.com.ph. For details, call Viva Live at 687-7236.)