What's disappointing about OPM?

Since the great E-Heads age, a memorable quartet that created songs worth listening to, and many other inspiring singers who inspired the hearts of many, our Philippine music industry bore a magnificent image and wonderful colors. OPM even competes with the greats of foreign music, and a good, bright future is in store for our own melodic masterpieces. However, in my perspective, our local music that we strived to preserve seems to be crumbling as time passes for some reason.

In due course, OPM seems to be getting worse than ever. While this claim might seem too harsh, to the point of insulting to some, anyone with the right eyes and ears can realize that our music just doesn't seem as awesome as those great ones gone by. What supposed to be further improvement just turned out to be some kind of overrated joke.

Now, as we ask ourselves, why did this happen, anyway? What happened to what must have been a magnificent music industry? Well, let this blod entry serve as a guide as you ponder about this disappointing turning point.

1. Songs/Singers being overrated. This gravely irritating fact is one of the prominent factors that circulate our music nowadays. This usually roots from those inadequately satisfying contests aired on TV, and some kids of famous singers trying to squeeze and follow their parents' path. While I consider that some singers in today's business are pretty good and deserve more publicity, some of them are not, and I mean not fit for the job. as I watch ASAP on Sundays, I just moan in disappointment as likes of John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and KC Concepcion sing (wherein most of the time they just lip-synch) when their voice are just not meant for singing. I can still remember KC Concepcion's song, (I didn't bother to remember the title) and it was just bland and boring.

Actually, the administration can provide more activities for these people on that variety show that are meant for them. Yes, they're decent at acting, but please don't squeeze in where you don't belong. But for some reason, those crazy fans who'd die just seeing their spit buy this singing fad, even if it's hideous, for the sake of being "in."

Another spot-on is this Charice Pempengco. She started showing on TV in Little Big Star years ago, and ended up in third place. Now, he's the current queen of OPM that steals the hearts of Oprah, Celine Dion, and most of the Filipinos. While I don't deny that her voice is good, her singing style is quite tiresome, with the screaming and all. It's even pretty common, so I don't understand why all those people are going crazy over her. For those people who'll rant me about being jealous, I'm not, because I'm not even a singer. I just want to tell you that stop going bananas over a teen singer. She's not a god. These factors make my hope for OPM rising. well, swerving.

2. Lack of Proper Originality. This is another good reason that I refuse to listen to much OPMs anymore. When MCR is quite a fad some years ago, I noticed that a band suddenly sprouted during MCR's peak of fame. Let's hide this in the name "Chicosci." When I listened to this particular band, I realized that OPM needs mending.

If they didn't directly imitate MCR, then they seemed to just get along with the other maintream bands so they can get a piece of fame. Their songs are lame and had hardly any meaning at all, and they're just so bland, I'd rather sleep the noise away. If you observe more carefully, bands and singers here and there sprout from mother music genre, and often ends as a failure. Like Karylle and Gabby Valenciano, following their parents, they use practically the same style their mom and dad use, and it ends with them being overshadowed. Seriously, if you're going to do something, do it with originality and improvisation, and you might stand a chance of getting better.

3. Lack of Sponsorship. Another sad truth about OPM. Many aspiring singers who are worth noticing, unfortunately, get ignored by the competition administrators, thanks to the falling economy of our country, leaving those undeserving showbiz figures to get the came. Several amateur artists lack funds to sustain their career, but unfortunately, many of the talent associations can't afford too much for too many people, and that's just sad. I can see examples of those guys everywhere, who wants, needs, and deserves to be found.

Sometimes, I just want to go up and advise the talent scouts and managers to avert their fixed gaze from those showbiz figures, and try to look and pay some attention at the other side of the veil, at the lowly people, aside from just what they see on TV. I'm certain they'll see more of Filipino talent than the grand dressing room.

4. Those appalling remakes. Another good reason that I'm starting to hate our current mainstream music. I'm starting to loathe the populace's taste for music, especially that Miss Ganda's remakes. Now, there's nothing wrong about remakes. You just relive the song and put some tweaks and improvisations into it, making it better. Look at Kris Allen remaking Kanye West's Heartless. However, to this one, it's more of like messing up gravely with the song itself.

That infamous "Payong," for some unknown reasons, caught the hearts of many and even reached out school. This just dampens my spirits. Judging by how Philippines have become, the people completely lost its taste for music. To prevent this plague from spreading any further, let me give a piece of advice: When you remake a song, please make sure that yours is better. Even you can identify if your song's not good enough, so please, do us a favor and give a breath of life to our dying OPM.

Now, to clarify things, I don't condemn anyone or anything that is mentioned in my article. I'm just pointing out that some, or in some cases, all factors are just so wrong and needs considerable improvement for the better. If we all just realize that our music is slowly losing its glow and meaning, then certainly poor OPM will be saved.

Note: If this article has some similarities with other of the same genre, this is completely unintentional.