 |
| (Image Source: Starmometer/ABS-CBN Music International) |
Despite countless obstacles and several setbacks due to the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing quest for discovering great music remains undaunting and unstoppable. And although 2020 is nearly wrapping up and a new year is approaching, the rich and rising Original Filipino Music (OPM) continues to flourish amidst the negative effects brought about by the pandemic.
Here are some of the chart-topping tunes that have fueled inspiration and captivated the hearts of Filipinos all throughout the year and will literally take home to bring in the New Year.
1. "Paubaya" by Moira Dela Torre
This heart-wretching single may have been dropped last October but it has already amassed 14.1 million streams on Spotify and over 40.5 million combined views on YouTube and Facebook. It has also sparked courage among listeners to share their sad but inspiring love stories on social media.
2. "Make It With You" by Ben&Ben
Spotify Philippines' most streamed artist of 2020 never fails to capture the hearts of Filipinos as its version of the hit Bread song undoubtedly ruled 2020, garnering an impressive 52.9 million streams to date on Spotify making it the music streaming service's second most streamed local song and third most streamed song in the country for 2020.
3. "Balang Araw" by Iñigo Pascual
Being optimistic has been tough this year, but Iñigo's hope-filled track about believing in love's perfect timing captivated listeners. "Balang Araw's" heartwarming lyrics combined with its encouraging melody was enough to charm over 200,000 combined viewers and listeners on YouTube.
4. "Sana Tayo Na" by Darren Espanto and Jayda
The collaboration of two of the country's most talented young artists may have caught their fans by surprise, but the success of their lovely track was predictable. At present, it has more than 634,000 streams and counting on Spotify while its music video, where Darren and Jayda shot respectively in Canada and in the Philippines, garnered more than 1.1 million views on YouTube.
5. "Sabihin Mo Na Lang Kasi" by Zephanie
Idol Philippines' first grand winner certainly owned 2020 given that aside from fulfilling her dream of being one of Himig's interpreters, her music releases have also been embraced and loved by listeners and "Sabihin Mo Na Lang Kasi" is no exception. The melodramatic acoustic track that highlights Zephanie's soft vocals now has more than 461,000 streams on Spotify and over 629,000 combined views on YouTube.
6. "Chevy Cruze" by Miguel Odron
Released early this year, another Idol PH alumni scored a hit with his debut single under ABS-CBN Music International titled "Chevy Cruze" and it is none other than Miguel Odron. Fans across the globe clearly resonated with his soft-penned song born from a very personal experience, which has earned over 850,000 streams as of this writing and has been streamed most in the Philippines, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Canada, Australia and Japan.
7. "Hindi Na Nga" by Sam Mangubat featuring KIKX
This empowering anthem from songwriter-producer KIKX's "After Dark 'The Final Hour'" EP is one that surely spoke to many who were struggling to let go of a lover whom they once had, which is why it's a no brainer that it has gained more than 820,000 streams on Spotify and over 100,000 combined views on YouTube.
8. "HEAL" by various Southeast Asian female artists
Perhaps one of the most profound projects initiated by ABS-CBN Music in 2020, "HEAL" not only brought inspiration but also aided Filipinos through ABS-CBN Foundation's "Pantawid Ng Pag-Ibig" during these trying and challenging times as the song united young Filipino female artists Jayda, Jona, Kyla, KZ Tandingan, Lesha, Moira Dela Torre and Xela with Rinni Wulandari and Yura Yunita of Indonesia, Malaysia's DOLLA and Shalma Eliana, Singapore's Haneri and Haven, and Valentina Ploy of Thailand. The song has racked up over 430,000 streams on Spotify since it was released last September and recorded more than 80,000 combined views on YouTube.
9. "RISE" by Eric Bellinger, Iñigo Pascual, Sam Concepcion, Moophs, Zee Avi and Vince Nantes
Tarsier Records' own groundbreaking collaboration birthed the teamup of Asian and American artists for a cross-cultural track that aims to encourage people to band together in overcoming many of life's adversities. An animated music video of the song honoring 2020's biggest and greatest heroes has also been released and the single has so far earned over 430,000 streams on Spotify.
