OPM

This is the Philippines’ annual songwriting contest that started in 2012. It is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and composers. Judging by this Top 12, it’s evident that the professional writers seem to be at an advantage to qualify.

Anyway, my favorite would have to be Love on a Broken String written by Jude Gitamondoc and Therese Marie Villarante as it is the most current-sounding of all the entries, and the one with the most decent lyrics (seriously, listen [or not] to Qrush on You for product placement, or Hangout Lang for a booty call in song form and references to one of the most unproductive showbiz issues of the year). The only negative is the weak middle eight relative to the very strong chorus. (Jungee Marcelo’s Salbabida has the best middle eight.)

I also like Toto Sorioso’s Awit Mo’y Nandito Pa which sounds like a pleasant inspirational, hopeful hymn. I also love the syncopation in the chorus — if you listen closely there’s an extra beat that throws you off at first, but then falls back into place. I have to note though: I think I’ve heard this melody before, it’s super familiar.

My least favorite would have to be Hangout Lang penned by Allan Feliciano and Isaac Joseph Garcia. According to their biography on the website, they wrote the song in half an hour… and it shows. Production is dated, and the lyrics, no comment na lang.

Generally, there still isn’t much diversity to the songs in the final. This year is filled with a lot of R&B/urban artists (to list: Kyla [though she sings a power ballad here], Jay-R, Kris, Thor, Q-York), so is R&B up for a comeback in the Philippine music scene? Honestly, I don’t think so, but at least these artists are getting experience and exposure.

The grand finals night will be held on July 26, Saturday. Who do you think will win this year? What do you think about the entries?