Rich harvest of OPM gems

GIL, QUIZON AND PANGILINAN. Skill-appropriate albums.

What’s so special about the recording season’s most anticipated OPM singles? While some tunes bank on novelty over originality or merit, we’re happy to note that a good number of them reflect the innate musicality and ingenuity of Filipino singers and musicians—and provide a breath of fresh air to a covers-saturated market:

GMA 7’s consistently “trending,” gay-themed teleserye, “My Husband’s Lover,” is giving Jonalyn Viray’s latest single, “Help Me Get Over” (from her self-titled, five-track EP), a big boost.

Composer Manuel “Tata” Betita writes the radio-ready cut in the mold of classic Pinoy ballads (with arranger Edward Mitra giving it a perfectly calibrated swell)—with lyrics that Vincent and Lally Soriano and Eric del Mundo can instantly relate to! Mitra’s “Sa Piling Mo” is another winner.

Zia Quizon has a lot of musical tricks up her sleeve in “A Little Bit of Lovin’,” her sophomore collection: After channeling Maroon 5 and Jamiroquai in Jungee Marcelo’s “Pasakalye,” she collaborates with Gloc 9 in Aristotle Pollisco’s rap-and-sing tune, “Katulad ng Iba.”

Then, she sings her self-penned numbers (“Under & Over,” “On The Run”), and covers Asin’s “Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran.” But, the album’s top track is Marcelo’s catchy “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?,” the theme song of the perky Kim Chiu-Xian Lim starrer that captures the whimsical flourish of Wings’ “Silly Love Songs.”

Zia’s brother, Epy Quizon, springs a pleasant surprise in Geneva Cruz’s 10-track compilation, “To Manila”—as a songwriter via the bobbing pop-rock number, “Go.”

Rich vibrato

The album reflects headliner Geneva’s knack for edgy self-reinvention, as she demonstrates in the reggae-tinged, self-penned tune (with Toklits Mateo), “Peace,” and Raymund Marasigan’s country ditty, “Iwanan Mo Na Siya.” She needs to use her rich vibrato judiciously, however.

If you prefer her softer tones, Geneva will win you over with her Lisa Stansfield-style rendition of Jimmy Muna’s “Life,” which she performs with Jay Durias.

Another treat: She sings two new versions of Jimmy Antiporda, Yoly Ong and Marilyn Villapando’s “Anak ng Pasig” with guest singers, former Smokey Mountain colleague Jeffrey Hidalgo, Gloc 9, Rachel Alejandro, Jessa Zaragoza, Bayang Barrios, Kris Lawrence, Durias, Marasigan, et al.

Michael Pangilinan isn’t just another “pretty” face, and you only have to listen to his renditions of Vehnee Saturno’s hitbound “Bakit Ba Ikaw?” and Vic Sotto’s “Kung Sakali,” the first two cuts of his self-titled debut album—as well as his soaring covers of Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father” and Butch Monserrat’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” (with Prima Diva Billy)—to know that the 17-year-old balladeer has the sturdy vocal chops and R&B-style technical skills to go with his boy-next-door charm!

Enrique Gil owes much of the appeal of his sleek dance album, “King of the Gil,” to the swanky mixes of Bojam, Kidwolf and Thyro—who give the hits of VST & Co. (“Magsayawan,” “Rock Baby Rock”) and Hagibis (“Katawan,” “Legs”) a techno hustle and update.

The album’s hip-hop and dance swagger is a snug fit for the heartthrob—especially in Julius James de Belen and Timothy Alfaro’s “Oha (Kaya Mo Ba ‘To?)” and the Autotune-sleek “Rockin’ Them Jeans,” featuring the sweltering vocals of Tippy Dos Santos.