Emerging Filipino boy band JBK and pop-rock band Fifth Dynamics released their much-anticipated debut albums more than a year after winning the grand champion trophies of Dreams Get Real: The Search For The Next OPM Star—an annual talent search mounted by popular gentleman’s brand, McJim Classic Leather.
JBK’s self-titled album and Fifth Dynamics’ Pogi Kame feature fresh tracks that cater to a broad base of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) listeners. The albums were produced by talent manager and public relations expert Chris Cahilig and arranged by internationally recognized arranger and composer Jonathan Ong of Sonic State Studio.
JBK’s Self-Titled Album
“We waited for over a year for the completion of our first album. But the time we spent in recording and polishing each track was all worth it,” enthuses Bryan del Rosario of JBK. His group mates Joshua Bulot and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio agree.
Del Rosario, who was a finalist in “Nasaan Ka Mr. Pastillas,” a dating search in ABS-CBN’s mid-day entertainment extravaganza, It’s Showtime, believes that his group’s first recording exemplifies the current sound of OPM.
JBK’s album has 10 tracks—five original songs and their M1s. It opens with the feel-good song “Para Kang” composed by Jojo Panaligan, followed by their social media and radio hits “Damang-Dama” composed by Ong and “Anong Meron Ka” by Urie Tesorio.
The recording likewise showcases Del Rosario’s melancholic original song “Letting You Go,” which promises to become a huge hit. The final track is “Sumayaw-Sayaw,” another composition of Ong.
“We are privileged to have worked with Sir Jonathan Ong in our first album. He did not only arrange our songs but he also allowed us to interpret two of his beautiful compositions,” says Bulot.
JBK is known for its music with style image. The vocal trio became popular on Facebook for its a cappella cover videos of OPM, Indonesian, Japanese, and Malaysian songs. Because they usually did their videos in a condominium’s fire exit—and constantly got into trouble with the security guards for it—JBK gained the moniker #FireExitBoys.
JBK was discovered after the group won the McJim Classic Leather’s Dreams Get Real Season 1 talent search. It has since launched a string of successful singles that include the radio hits “Anong Meron Ka” and the viral song “Damang-Dama,” which has so far gained over 1.2 million views on Facebook. “Damang-Dama” later on became the official single of Camella Homes.
“Pogi Kame” by Fifth Dynamics
Meanwhile, Fifth Dynamics’ independently released album Pogi Kame will definitely delight every OPM band lover.
“All the tracks in our album reflect what we are as a band—makulit and fun-loving. I am so sure magugustuhan ito ng bawat Pinoy lalo na yung mahihilig sa banda,” relates Mark Cordovales, vocalist of Fifth Dynamics.
Fifth Dynamics made a mark among radio listeners with their playful type of music and certified hits in “Anyare,” composed by Cordovales, Cahilig, and Angelo Katindig, and their carrier single “Pogi Kame,” composed by Nirro de Leon and Aldrin Pampolina.
Additional tracks in the album include Panaligan’s “Hala,” the catchy novelty song “Amor” by Eric Cabahug, and the group’s collaboration with Neo Domingo titled “Kaching-Kaching,” also by Ong.
Composed of Cordovales (vocals), Peter Leyva (lead guitar), Kelvin Bendijo (bass guitar), Wence Escabas (rhythm guitar), and Aldrin Condat (drums), the band’s debut album “Pogi Kame” is presented by Lumina Homes and McJim Classic Leather.
Totally cool, unpretentious, and relatable, Fifth Dynamics aspires to bring the fun back to Pinoy music in the tradition of Eraserheads, Kamikazee, and Parokya Ni Edgar.
“Ang lakas maka-LSS ng mga kanta namin sa album. Pinoy na Pinoy ang flavor kaya tiyak na uulit-ulitin mo,” adds Cordovales, a former The Voice of The Philippines finalist.
JBK and Pogi Kame are now available in various digital music stores including Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, and Amazon. It is scheduled for release atOdyssey and Astrovision/ Astroplus record bars this month.
#TeamCahilig talents are available for local and international shows. For bookings and inquiries, please contact chriscahilig2011@gmail.com or call 0927-4180808.
Celine Dion leads music world in mourning Paris
Los Angeles. Celine Dion on Sunday led the music industry in an emotional tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, as the American Music Awards heard appeals for a peaceful world.
The Canadian singer sang Edith Piaf’s classic “Hymne a l’Amour” (“Hymn to Love”) in French at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, which went ahead barely a week after the assault on a concert hall and other civilian targets across Paris.
In front of a screen flashing images of Paris that culminated with the Eiffel Tower in the French flag’s tricolor, Dion sang the song of lost love as some members of the audience were seen in tears.
The actor and musician Jared Leto, who recalled playing with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars earlier this year at the historic Bataclan Theater that saw the heaviest death toll in the November 13 attacks, introduced Dion.
Some 130 people died but “another seven billion will forever be scarred by this horrific and senseless tragedy,” Leto said.
“France matters, Russia matters, Syria matters, Mali matters, the Middle East matters, the United States matters — the entire world matters. And peace is possible,” he said to applause.
Leto also took aim at anti-foreigner sentiment that has emerged in the wake of the Paris attacks, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
“Many of us here are the sons and the daughters of immigrants,” he said, pointing out that late Apple innovator Steve Jobs was of Syrian heritage.
Music ‘positive’ amid tragedy
The tribute was a rare somber note in the made-for-television gala, although the electronic producer Skrillex also referred to world turmoil as he accepted an award for his work with pop celebrity Justin Bieber.
“There is so much negative stuff going on in the world, so it’s up to us to be positive,” Skrillex said of musicians’ role.
The rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also took to the stage to debut a new song, “Kevin,” a politically charged tale of drug addiction’s toll in modern America that featured the soul singer Leon Bridges.
The American Music Awards are designed as a glitzy extravaganza and, unlike the more prestigious Grammy Awards, which will take place in February; the winners are determined by voting from fans rather than the music industry.
For the second straight year, British boy band One Direction won Artist of the Year.
The prize comes just after the band released its latest album, Made in the A.M. The group says that it will be its last before a hiatus.
Pop superstar Taylor Swift won three awards, more than anyone else, including favorite album for her blockbuster 1989.
Surprise moments
Ariana Grande, the child star turned arena-packing pop singer, beat out Swift for favorite female pop or rock artist.
The 22-year-old, initially at a loss for words, thanked her gray-haired grandmother who had been sitting next to her in the audience. “I think I owe a lot of this to my nonna,” Grande, who is of Italian descent, said in reference to her grandmother.
“She told me, ‘Ariana, I went on the computer and voted, so I think you’ll win.’”
In a sign of the burgeoning US market for country music, the award for favorite new artist went to Nashville crooner Sam Hunt, who outpaced emerging stars in other genres including The Weeknd who won in the two R&B categories.
In one of the moments that drew the most attention on social media, young singer Charlie Puth passionately kissed Meghan Trainor after they sang together.
Puth and Trainor, who has become a star in part due to her struggles with body image, had teamed up for his song “Marvin Gaye,” which uses the name of the legendary “Let’s Get It On” R&B singer as a euphemism for sex. – AFP/Sara Puig with Shaun Tandon in New York