Right this moment, the Annual Screamfest, that is, our barangay’s annual amateur singing contest is ongoing right next door. We’re on the 12th contestant, and right now my head is screaming murder, I just want to bang it on the nearest wall before my brain liquefies and starts oozing down my nostrils. 
I haven’t listened to local radio nor stuck it out watching local Sunday noontime music shows for the longest time and this is the reason why. I am sick and tired of all the screaming that passes for “awesome singing” in this country. 
Not a single one of these 12 contestants - now 13, the next one just went onstage - sung a low-key song that does not require (1) prolonging the end of each line unnecessarily, maybe to show that they can hold a note for 10 hours?; (2) doing runs on each line more than a roller coaster does; (3) doing a key switch an octave or two higher on the last repeat of the chorus; and (4) hitting a suuuuuper-high note in the end that only dogs, cats and mice in the vicinity can hear, and if the arrangement calls for it, they’ll hit not one, not two, but maybe three or more until the big vein in their throats burst and blood starts spurting everywhere.
Seriously, who the heck came up with these super-over-the-top, pang-contest re-arrangements of classic OPM ballads? I want to lock him in a room all by himself and make him listen to this crap that he came up with just to see how long he can take it before starts screaming for mercy. Some songs like the Joey Albert original Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin are best heard in their low-key originals because they’re supposed to crush our hearts, not our eardrums. Martin Nievera’s Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin is a challenging song as it is because of its wide range (that “bukas na walang hanggan” line is tough to sing if you don’t have a solid low register), but the new version is re-arranged in such a way that every single note is sung on the high register, as if the only gauge of a singer’s competence is if he could sing high notes. Na-ah. 
The gauge to a singer’s competence is if he could sing ON-KEY. This is something that 90% of our present generation of singers don’t have. Most of them just belt and do runs. Very, very few singers can actually sing in tune.
This is why I am now hooked with K-pop (and J-pop, for that matter). K-pop is so straightforward. The melody is so simple, and the singers stick with it when they sing. K-pop and J-pop may be baduy (cheesy) to some, but it’s this inherent baduy-ness in them that makes them work. You don’t even have to understand the lyrics to be able to hum along with them. Yes, most Korean and Japanese artists can be trumped by any Filipino singer when it comes to voice quality, but at least Koreans and Japanese singers know exactly what kind of artists they are. They have no delusions that they have to break the sound barrier just to be called a good singer. And most of all, at least they sing original compositions.
That’s another wonderful thing about K-pop and J-pop. They still haven’t run out of ideas for original songs. Unlike in this country where I don’t even remember the last time I heard a hit OPM song that’s not (a) a remake/revival; (b) an adaptation of a foreign hit song (and most of the time, they don’t even bother to change the version up to make it fresh to the ears); and (c) a novelty song which is a rehash of an already familiar melody or theme. I think - and I can’t believe I’m saying this - this is why the Manny Villar campaign jingle (“nakatulog ka na ba sa dagat ng basura…”) became a hit. It’s an original song, it’s very simple and very straightforward. It’s refreshing to the ears.
I think we should stop calling songs recorded by Filipino artists as OPM. OPM stands for Original Pilipino Music. There’s hardly anything ‘original’ in popular music in the Philippines these days.
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On to some good music…
I had wanted to blog about this a couple of days ago but I was sidetracked by my Full House - Pinoy version rant.
This is the YouTube version of We Are The World, and I am deeply impressed with this for two reasons. (1) All the singers who participated in this are really good; and (2) I cannot imagine the logistics involved in making this video possible. These singers literally come from all over the world and they probably just sent their parts in for the editors to stitch the audio and video together. The magic of technology in its most awesome form. 
===
Is it weird that the only time I started having goosebumps while watching the We Are The World 25 video was when the rap parts came in? 
I dunno, I think it’s because I am a child of the 80’s and the original We Are The World is one of the theme songs of my generation. I was more touched by the original than by this one. That is, until the rap parts started coming in.
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I like the original We are the World version. It just has more feel to it. The rap parts of this new version I guess is to make it more with the times. In the 80’s rap was still in it’s infancy.
As for OPM, it has been so long since they really composed original music. It seems that the IN thing to do is remake old songs. It’s more like rehash of old songs and sometimes their versions are difficult to listen to. Danny Javier said something about his reason why he has not had the inspiration to compose new songs. And must admit some of the prolific composers have either gone abroad , moved on with their lives or are in heaven now. Piracy is part of the problem, and I think royalties for composition is also at issue. It’s sad really, we can sing well it just seems original compositions are a dying breed these days. Gone are the days when there were contests for original compositions like Metropop ( I am dating myself here……)
But agree with you on Kpop and Jpop. It’s amazing really, they can come out with singles/albums almost every week. And in the case of idols, they presell /sell these out mostly. The songs maybe be cheessy at times on a good run you gets some gems. But it’s fun to sing along to the songs even if at times you don’t have an idea what they are saying.
Saw that youtube video on Rizza’s FB post and I like it. I have forgotten how good this song was until I listen to them singing it again. They did a great job.
I love Kpop and Jpop!
What makes the original We Are The World good is that all the parts suited the style of the singers. Every time I hear it, I am always amazed by The Boss’ part and and how they got Cyndi Lauper’s part so right for her. hahaha Celine Dion didn’t do justice on that at all. And then you take a look at their roster, compare it to the roster of the latest version and you will immediately see the huge, huge difference. They were already huge names at that time. Pink, BEP, Celine and Barbara…not enough.
By the way, I love that kid who sang Lionel’s part at the beginning. IDOL material. He should audition when he’s old enough.
I’ll vote for him. hehehe
Isn’t that kid Justin Bieber?
Justine Bieber was the one in the original 25th. I’m talking about the kid in the YouTube version. hehehe
Aah. When you said ‘kid’ my brain automatically said, “Justin Bieber”. hehe
Edit: Oops, he can’t join American Idol. He’s from Australia. You can vote for him if he joins Australian Idol, though.
http://www.youtube.com/troyesivan18
Ack, I knew he’s familiar. He’s the kid Logan in the Wolverine movie.
kpop and jpop rocks. tpop and hkpop ia okay too but the new generation, very mediocre.
we are the world is definitely an all time classic!
@Pau - sipag mo talaga mag-research
Rizza: not really.
The YouTube vid has clickable links every time a singer pops in. All you have to do is to click on the singer’s face and you will be redirected to his YT channel. All the data are in their profiles. 
I did that because I had wanted to check which ones amongst the YT singers are Filipinos or of Filipino descent.
sipag pa rin yun. I knew about those links, I saw then, and yet I didn’t bother to click ‘em. Sooo tamad.
I can understand where your sentiments are coming from. Parehas tayo Ms. Pau, since I got addicted in Kpop nag stop na akong makinig ng ibang genre. nakakaumay na yung mga walang katapusang biritan. lahat na lang sila eh gustong maging birit babies. ala nang matinong kanta kapag kinanta na nila laging me kulot sa dulo. missed the time when Pinoys are cheesy interms of lyrics of the songs.
Still on the topic of voices(which is something that Richard Gutierrez reminds me of
)..Aww, videos such as these give me goosebumps 
I’m alright with the We are the World 25 although I can’t control myself from doing this 
during Miley Cyrus’ part..
About OPM/Love songs..yeah I noticed that too AgentP(about the revivals/rehash thing)..That’s why even today, I’m still just listening to the types of Ikaw lang ang Mamahalin, Kahit isang saglit, Sana Maulit Muli or some Gary V originals..I can’t really find some good, “pangmatagalan” Pinoy ballads these days. Its either a ballad turned into pop, revivals that really don’t deliver..
Speaking of Kahit Isang Saglit, does anyone here know where I could get the Verni Varga original? This version trumps any other version of that song even if it did not become a hit in the 80’s.
I think the last truly good OPM song that I’ve heard is Kailangan Kita, even if the ‘wedding version’ was sung by Piolo.
Ay oo Kailangan Kita is very
even if sung by Piolo, cge na nga lang.. 
And oh, how could I forget Jose Mari Chan’s I have Fallen in Love with the same woman three times(not Christian Bautista’s but Jose Mari Chan’s version).. About Kahit Isang Saglit By Verni Varga, I heard it on youtube (then again, youtube has everything.lol) I’m not sure about the audio CD. But I prefer Martin Nievera’s rendition. Makes me 
Your post just reminds me why songs by the APO, Rey Valera etc. have become classics. Sila lang ang tutuong OPM. We could have been popular throughout Asia if we stuck to doing what we do best. But unfortunately, until now, people don’t see that there’s something wrong with Regine still singing the same way she did when she was just starting out and wannabes are still copying her like she’s the best one out there. Heck, even Charice, if you listen to her new songs, has moved on from that walang kawawaang birit style already, but of course we can credit that to her training. Seriously, I think Regine is the one who keeps perpetuating this myth that high notes=good voice.