A new boy group to watch

Filipinos are quick to adopt music trends to their own needs. Attempts to cash in on the boy group craze have mostly been unsuccessful. Jeremiah, the most promising boy group, is now the Nanghihinayang one hit wonder. The Wiseguys had loads of musicality and sophistication but also fizzled out. The Hunks try mighty hard but hard biceps are no substitute for singing talent so you can expect them to take the route to oblivion soon. The others with names now difficult to recall never even got off the ground.

But botched attempts have never hindered anyone from trying something out and there is a new entry to the boy band sweepstakes. The group is made up of Owen, Cholo, Jeff, Fort and Aadam. Collectively, they call themselves 8 of March or 8-OM. I do not know the reason for the name. Must be because the members became 8-OM on March 8 the way the defunct trio FOJ became the First of June and not Fresh Orange Juice.

The guys of 8-OM came together by answering an audition call for boy band members from Talent Manila. Shades of the Backstreet Boys and the Monkees from the ’60s. Unlike groups like the Beatles who were friends and decided to form a band, a manager or promoter will get assorted boys from everywhere and then decide which ones will look well and sound best together.

The main criteria are good looks, the ability to sing and dance and lots of sex appeal. Then they choose a mix so that the group has somebody who can cater to a specific fan sector. So there is usually a hunk, a poet, a rebel, a boy next door and a clown. Of course, they must all look like heartthrobs.

After being accepted as a member, the boys are given a crash-course in everything required of a star – singing, dancing, speech, good grooming and even make-overs. Once deemed ready, 8-OM were asked to put what they had learned to good use. The boys did a regular stint at the Skybox Music Bar in Baguio. They have also gone through the shopping mall route and are now semi-regulars at German Moreno’s Master Showman on GMA-7 where they perform every other Saturday.

Cholo and Owen were commercial models. Jeff was a fellow at the Gantimpala Theater Foundation and Cholo also did theater work with Tanghalang Filipino. Fort had been with another band and did gigs at Padi’s Metropolis and the Bistro Roberto. Aadam, the youngest 8-OM, was formerly a dancer with the group DTM-XTREME. Of course, they all share a love for all types of music which must be why they serve up a variety of pop forms in their first album.

Produced by Ben Escasa who also composed most of the songs, the album is titled Believe and it has soul, a little rock, some hip hop and regular boy band stuff. The new tracks are Do You Believe, Muli, Bakit Nga Ba, Until She Came Along, I’m Dying to See You Again, Ikaw Lang, Understood, Text Me Na Lang, Bumpin’ Shakin’ and Hand in Hand. There are also old favorites like the Emotions’ The Best of My Love and John Lennon’s Imagine. The best of them all is the opener Do You Believe.

Will 8-OM fare better than the other Pinoy boy bands before them? The answer remains to be seen. But what is important is that these guys get all the possible support and that they work their butts off promoting their debut album. After all that, it can be safely said that only luck stands between them and stardom.

Catch 8-OM on their mall tour and find out if these guys have what it takes to make the first hit Pinoy boy group. They will perform at SM Bacoor on Sept. 13, Robinsons Los Baños on Sept. 15, SM North EDSA on Sept. 21, Robinsons Metro East on Sept. 22, SM Pampanga on Sept. 27, SM Southmall on Sept. 28, Robinsons Novaliches on Sept. 29, Robinsons Galleria on Oct. 4, SM Super Center Sucat on Oct. 5, SM Iloilo on Oct. 11, SM Cebu on Oct. 12, SM Davao on Oct. 13, Robinsons Manila on Oct. 16 and Robinsons Pampanga on Oct. 19.