MUSIC, LYRICS, GESTURES...

Filipinos are so smart when it comes to music. You have to expect boos any time you miss to hit the correct or high notes. No matter how good your voice quality is, no matter how perfectly you present yourself on stage, no matter how high your star power is, you must sing it outright. Or else, you're going to mess yourself out in the open.

I couldn't sing what Jovit Baldivino or Josh Groban does, but certainly I'm a music buff. That is because I'm a Filipino.

Today, in this country with music-loving people, various foreign artists in k-pop, hiphop, pop, and RNB music genres, do well in local music charts. No wonder, this trend has to rise more as Taylor Swift, Justine Bieber, Lady Gaga, Cody Simpson, 2NE1, Super Juniors, among others, continue to popularize songs, though their music and lyrics just make a little sense. I'm sorry for saying it outright.

Apart from that, following these pieces of music is becoming easier considering that the number of internet-savvy in this Southeast Asian country is getting bigger. Expect a kindergarten pupil having a Facebook account by simply choosing to become older than his age in his profile, so as to conform this popular social networking site's online protocols. And, it's another story to count on. Looking back...

Becoming familiar with such popular songs today is going to be easy, as I've said, with just a click of fingertips on the internet.

Some even dubbed popular songs using their very own dialects. For instance, one has to listen to Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars' Billionaire sung in Cebuano. Seriously, it's insanely funny, man! Others sing pops uniquely themselves off  a videocam and directly upload it via Youtube, a video streaming site. And, it's going to be a hit, as it turns out, for tekkies and music buffs alike. Most likely, if you inject humor on it. Apparently, this becomes a circus for comments, likes, among others.

I just don't understand why some Filipinos excel in doing extraordinary out from such ordinary stuffs. Perhaps, it's because of what those extraordinary outputs have to offer in store--novelty; humor with sense, some don't have, though.

One more thing, Filipinos are fond of making fun out from major, major events in the country just like what happened to the Manila hostage drama which turned out to be humorous off internet despite its serious impact to the country in one way or another. Action photos, plus a popular music and 'charan!'... it's a new thing to laugh at about. It's a trend. And, we couldn't simply resist it. That is, it's what this generation of young Filipinos have to contribute in these pieces of music history puzzle.

Everyone has the freedom of choice. To be funny before the computer monitor is a choice, so as artists to follow. However, with this freedom are the corresponding responsibilities. Thus, we must not abuse this privilege coming up with interests or decisions at the expense of our very own Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

Some OPM are getting their way down despite their musicality and lyrical ingenuity. Many promising local composers and songwriters end up losing their way home--what they call, music. One reason is the shift of today's audience's interests. K-pop songs are just that inviting for many teenagers--the biggest share in the audience breakdown.

People in the local music industry couldn't chase, at least, expected results. In the country where the audience are so choosy, making so much in music is really a bit hard. Some musicians end up embracing the idea that the only thing to go on is to keep pace to the latest trend at the expense of quality.

Now, it's really important to think twice.

We, Filipinos, are so smart to find mistakes and to make hits, in the music scene. But, we fail to see things through our naked eyes that the price of being tagged as music buffs is to flourish another country's music industry at the expense of our very own OPM.

Photo Credits: http://www.google.com.ph/