New songs for broken hearts

Arthur Nery has a new single and it is sadder than ever. Titled Nasa’king Damdamin, it is about love that is dying.  Listening to his hopeless tones, I cannot help thinking that it took him three months to get to this broken-hearted situation. The heartthrob from Cagayan de Oro was so full of hope in his last release Ninanais from only three months ago. And now, here he comes with Nasa’king Damdamin, which must be one of the saddest songs I have ever heard. Are those feelings real or just for the song?

But you all know Arthur. He is a singer and songwriter who generates millions of streams in digital platforms for being broken-hearted and singing about pain while also being sexy.  Remember that he created that monster of an aching hit Pagsamo? There were also Higa, Take All the Love, Isa Lang and others? Arthur is truly at his best when he is feeling emotional and this jazzy piano driven track ranks among his best.

Matt Lozano’s Liham presents a man who struggles to move on from a toxic relationship.

Who would have thought that Big Bert Armstrong can also be sad and broken hearted. Well, it turns out that Matt Lozano, the Sparkle talent who plays Big Bert in the GMA-7 series Voltes V: Legacy is also a singer and songwriter. The fact is, he started his career by winning the talent contest Spogify on the TV show Eat Bulaga a few years ago. Now, I do not think his kiddie fans from the show would care about his music but lovelorn music lovers would and Matt has given bent to his emotions in his new single titled Liham.

Liham is about a man struggling to move on from a toxic relationship. Unlike Arthur who likes to wallow in pain, Matt says he has had enough of the agony in a letter. He sings, “Ayoko na, tama na/ gusto kong magsaya/ tama na ba/ nandiyan ka ba/ sa mundong walang pag-asa/ ayoko na/ ayoko na…” Matt, like Big Bert, looks hale and hearty but he certainly has the vocal chops to convey the desperation of a breaking heart.

By the way, Matt returns to being happy and upbeat when he sings the Voltes V closing song, the well-remembered Chichi wo Motomete. That will surely gladden his kiddie fans.

Kyle Raphael wants to keep his heart safe from being broken in Hanggang Tingin.

Baguio is not the only source of good sounds nowadays. I say this because the big hits Uhaw by Dilaw and Pasilyo by Sunkissed Lola have Baguio origins. But the Philippines is filled with musical people and the next big hit can come from anywhere. Maybe there will be one from Davao, which is where Viva South discovered singer and songwriter Kyle Raphael, who has recently released a new single Hanggang Tingin.

Unlike Arthur who is in pain or Matt who wants to get out, Kyle wants to keep his heart safe from being broken. Hanggang Tingin means I will look but I will not touch or eat. He says this because he sees friendship as more precious and would much rather keep things that way. So, he sings, “Yakap yakap kita sa panaginip na ‘to/ sa paraisong ako ang iyong gusto/ di bale na kung kaibigan lang talaga/ di mo kailangang maawa sa akin…” Safe but I say, also ouchy.

Marty Linan’s Always Been Just You is about a promise of love forever.

Marty Linan is a singer and songwriter, who is also a voice and guitar coach. She is also a veteran contesera, who has become a fixture of talent shows hereabouts. Think Singgaling, Singing Bee, Stars on 45 Vol. 2, Tawag ng Tanghalan and many others. She made her mark as a great cover singer of Air SuppIy songs through videos she uploaded on YouTube. Check out her Someone Who Believes in You.

Marty’s first single though is not an Air Supply song. Neither did she write it. Titled Always Been Just You, it is a composition by the multi-awarded Trina Belamide. Trina also wrote Now That I Have You, Shine, You’ve Made Me Stronger (By Breaking My Heart), Fast, so it is indeed a big privilege for Marty to record one of her originals.

Oh, by the way, as the title says Marty’s song is a promise of love forever. No broken hearts (yet) in this one.