Adie and his leading ladies

Singer and songwriter Adie, the kid who lost out in the Callalily Collab Songwriting Competition just over a year ago, won something bigger and better. I do not know who won that contest but it is Adie who is now steadily climbing up to stardom. He has even added modeling to his resume.

I do think that Adie is extraordinarily blessed what with his hit singles coming one after another. The smooth ride is due to his innate songwriting talent, a soulful singing style and as I recently noticed, a growing list of pretty leading ladies in his videos.

Of course, that does not include Adie’s debut single Luha. That one was different. The slow R&B jam has a dramatic plot. It is about a couple tiring of their relationship. Aeriel Garcia and Patrick Sugui played the roles and newbie Adie adequately did his singing bit. Besides, the male part was not the kind that Adie was ready to portray.

It was the same thing with his cover of Rico Blanco’s You’ll be Safe Here. That one was used in the soundtrack of 366 and featured scenes from the Vivamax movie. The rest of his other songs though make excellent use of pretty young starlets.

I think the leading lady tradition started with Adie’s second release, the big selling Paraluman. The Internet sensation Ivana Alawi played the title part and Adie the leading man was born. The two of them looked great together as shy and bashful kids who might or might not end up as lovers. It was brilliant casting on the part of the director, who was actress Bela Padilla.

Paraluman generated a lot of millions of views and streams in the various digital platforms. After that, who’s to stop Adie from playing opposite other leading ladies.

So for his subsequent singles, there were Sawa Na with Angelina Cruz, who was Adie’s inspiration for his Paraluman; Dungaw with Rhen Escano as a blind lover; and Andrea Brillantes portraying the girl to come home to in the song Tahanan. All of those videos were romantic short films that put forth the message of Adie’s love songs across.

Adie’s latest big seller Mahika takes the lover boy image further with Janine Berdin as his singing and songwriting collaborator. Screenshots from Adie's music videos on OC Records YouTube channel.

Adie’s latest big seller Mahika took the lover boy image further. This time around, he does not only have a leading lady in the video. He has instead Tawag ng Tanghalan champion Janine Berdin as his singing and songwriting collaborator. It is no wonder then that Mahika has been the biggest-selling local tune in the country for several weeks now. It is second only to Left and Right by Charlie Puth and Jung Kook of BTS.

And there is still more of a female presence in Adie’s latest efforts. He is the featured artist of the fourth episode of Coke Studio Season 6. The series has this Fan Fusion Challenge, where stars get to work with aspiring singer-songwriters. Well, it looks like Adie got the pick of the lot in the pretty 16-year-old Christine Taguibao. The song they composed and now perform together is a little gem titled Tinatangi.

Last but not least is Adie’s new single Kabado. Expect this one to also soar up the chart. Not only is Adie at his most confident here, he also has Sharlene San Pedro as his lady love in the video about the perfect date. It is another good one and certainly makes me wonder what his next song will be and who will be the girl to go with it.

Here now are the Top 25 titles in the latest tally of Billboard’s Hits of the World Philippine Songs: Left and Right by Charlie Puth and Jung Kook of BTS; Mahika by Adie and Janine Berdin; Angel Baby by Troye Sivan; The Shade by Rex Orange County; Muli by Ace Banzuelo; Glimpse of Us by Joji; Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez; Bad Decisions by Benny Blanco ft. BTS and Snoop Dogg; Isa Lang by Arthur Nery;

Kumpas (theme from 2 Good 2 be True) by Moira dela Torre; Kagome by Lo Ki; Paraluman by Adie; Ikaw Lang by Nobita; Pagsamo by Arthur Nery; August by Taylor Swift; As It Was by Harry Styles; Moon by Nik Makino ft. Flow G; Sun and Moon by Anees; NVMD by Denise Julia; POP! by NAYEON; All Too Well, the Taylor Version by Taylor Swift; Pano by Zack Tabudlo; Tahanan, again by Adie; Seafret by Atlantis; and Habang Buhay, also by Zack Tabudlo.

Andrea Brillantes portrays the girl to come home to in Adie’s song Tahanan.