2025: A great year for OPM, reminiscent of the Golden Era

For now, let us set aside the existentialist musings of Cup of Joe in the phenomenal Multo and turn our attention to the other sounds by which 2025 will be remembered.

First, an observation: it was a great year for Original Pilipino Music (OPM). The music business sadly still lacked government support. It was all sariling sikap for the artists and businessmen in the local recording industry. Still, local sounds flourished in a manner reminiscent of the ‘70s era, a time still referred to as the Golden Age of Filipino music.

Aside from Multo entering the global charts, local recordings dominated the hit lists at a high 80 percent of the upper bracket. In fact, the foreign ones that made it to the top rungs were what I call the “unavoidables.” Those are mainly recordings by big-name artists with a huge following hereabouts, old favorites on a return trip or from trendy sources.

Some of these are Taylor Swift and the songs from her album “Life of a Showgirl;” the soundtrack of the animated feature “K-Pop Demon Hunters;” the excellent duets made by Bruno Mars, Die with a Smile with Lady Gaga and APT with K-Pop star Rose, plus Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar, BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Billie Eilish, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved by The Script and Pretty Little Baby by Connie Francis.

Those are all OK, but the tracks to rejoice about and which I hope will be followed by more of the same, were those by Filipino artists. Here are some of them.

The stalwarts, I mean the artists who have been part of the hit lists these past years. Arthur Nery with Isa Lang; Maki with Dilaw and Kahel Na Langit; Up Dharma Down and Tadhana; TJ Monterde and KZ Kandingan with Palagi, their first outing as husband and wife; December Avenue with Saksi ang Langit and Bulong; BINI with Blink Twice; Skusta Clee and Kalimutan Ka; the 20-year-old Tensionado by Soapdish; and Rob Deniel on a cover kick with Ogie Alcasid’s Narito Ako.

By the way, Cup of Joe also had Tingin, featuring Janine Tenoso, Sandali, Misteryoso and the “Silakbo” album.

Then the new hitmakers: Bulacan’s pride Dionela with Sining, featuring JayR and Marilag; Earl Agustin from Cagayan de Oro with Tibok and Dalangin; Amiel Sol, the mathematician from the University of the Philippines and Sa Bawa’t Sandali; hip-hop star HELLMERRY and My Day; and Le John, the singer-songwriter from Tacloban with Naiilang.

And the surprises: Raymond Lauchengco parlayed his success as one of the original boys of “Bagets” to become a major concert draw at the age of 60. With “Bagets” staging a comeback as a musical at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Jan. 23, you can bet that Raymond singing Farewell and So It’s You, his hits from the original soundtrack, will be in greater demand.

Well, this one is not really a surprise. Pinoys have made no secret of the fact that their favorite Christmas song is Christmas in Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan (JMC). But amazingly so, the 35-year-old tune became even bigger this year. I believe that just like bibingka, puto-bumbong and dawn Masses, Christmas in Our Hearts will.

For one, no more peeping from behind doors for JMC because of the belief that September is too early to be thinking of Christmas. A live concert where he performed Christmas in Our Hearts on Sept. 1 officially ushered in the Yuletide season.

This was followed by more shows over the next four months, including a tour of the U.S. of A. and Canada, where teary-eyed Pinoys got to indulge their Christmas memories from home with Christmas in Our Hearts as their theme song.

And what can you say about Jose Mari, who started his music career in 1969? He is now, not only a singer, songwriter and hitmaker, he is also a major product endorser. Thanks to Christmas in Our Hearts.