James Reid. Image: Instagram/@james
With “Randomantic” gaining a newfound appreciation in social media and among music fans, James Reid said he is happy that many listeners are tuning in to the track.
“Randomantic” was included in Reid’s EP (or extended play) “Reid Alert” released in February 2015. The track centers around the persona willing to do all kinds of romantic gestures to show his love, with the lyrics saying, “Haharanahin kita sa’n man tayo magpunta / ‘Yung tipong kahit wala lang / O kaya may on the spot dinner date and this time I won’t be late / Lahat ay dahil wala lang / I just wanna do simple random things to say, ‘I love you.’”
The track gained a newfound appreciation among the public, with netizens using it as the background music for fan edits involving their celebrity crushes like Seventeen’s Wonwoo and Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
@hoshiimoshi he is so randomantic coded #wonwoo #seventeen #fyp ♬ Randomantic – James Reid
@_ac.xcvbn smart athletic men >>> #ejobiena #polevault #parisolympics2024 #philippines #fyp #foryou @EJ Obiena ♬ Randomantic – James Reid
It also made it to the ninth rank of the Billboard Philippines’ Top Philippine Songs charts dated Sept. 9.
When asked about “Randomantic’s” renewed success, Reid said he’s glad that many listeners are developing a newfound appreciation for the song.
“I love that song! It’s my favorite song on the album ‘Reid Alert,’ and I’m loving it right now. It’s great to see that it’s coming back [in popularity] and to see so many people posting about it,” he told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the Preview Ball nude carpet. He was also accompanied by his girlfriend, Issa Pressman.
Pressman also chimed in, saying, she and Reid would also see netizens using it as the background track for fan edits. “People would post it and use it on their fan edits,” she said.
On ‘Sandal’
Reid also spoke about his new single “Sandal” which was written with Luke April, a member of the Davao-based hip-hop and R&B group, PlayerTwo.
“It feels good because that song is very special to me. Maybe one of the most unique songs I’ve personally written because it was done in Tagalog. I had a lot of help from Luke April from PlayerTwo who’s such an incredible artist,” he said.
The singer-songwriter also shared that it’s meant to be a dedication to Pressman, who makes him “feel free.”
“I wrote it for Issa, I just wanted the song to be something that can warm you on a cold day. It’s very comforting, and it sort of lets [her] know that [she can lean on me,” he said. “She’s always [a source of comfort for me].”
Reid and Pressman went public with their romance in March 2023 after they were seen together at Harry Styles’ concert in Bulacan. They made their first public appearance months later, with the singer-actor saying they’re “very happy together.”
“There’s no better way to say it. I’m very in love. I’m very happy. The best part about [the event is] that I’m here with Issa,” Reid said of Issa in September 2023.