Tag: OPM

Mossimo Music Summit 2015

Posted on by Gabby Paras

Fashion brand Mossimo is always looking for fresh new talented people in singing, dancing, and modelling. This is why the brand has created an annual event that will showcase these new talents and give them the chance to be in the spotlight — the Mossimo Music Summit. The summit is coming to a close, after months of auditions and performances. The competition is now down to the final four musical acts: solo singers Kristel Herrera, Mark Francis Reyes, Zsaris Mendioro, and trio OTM, with Jenz on percussion, Kaye on guitar, and Matthew on violin, with all three contributing on vocals.

Mossimo Music Summit 2015 Finalists
Mossimo Music Summit 2015 Finalists (Photo: Manila Bulletin)

Show your support to the finalists by sharing and liking their Facebook posts. You might get the chance to win cash and GCs:

Share this post to your friends using the hashtag ‪#‎mossimomusicsummit‬ for your chance to win P5,000 in cash and P5,000 in gift certificates. Cut-off is at 12noon on August 21, 2015.

Also check out the official Mossimo Music Summit Youtube channel to view all the performance clips from the finalists AND the semi-finalists. Your favorite semi-finalist might also win fan favorite:

The semi-finalist with the most number of YouTube views by 12noon of August 21, 2015 will be declared as the winner of the special award. Winner of each special award will receive P5,000 in cash and P5,000 in gift certificates.

Here are the semi-final performances from the four finalists, with the Facebook post for each to share and like:

Continue reading “Mossimo Music Summit 2015”

#ClassA Aicelle Santos’ First Major Concert

Posted on by Gabby Paras
Class A for Aicelle
Class A for Aicelle

February 25, 2015 — While everyone was worrying about how they would get to work on time, I was excited to end the day and go straight to Aicelle Santos‘ first major concert at the PETA Theatre. I was skeptical at first if I would make it on time but, through God’s grace, everything just went unexpectedly smooth. I found a friend that carpooled me from Megamall to Cubao. Passing through the Ortigas station, we could see that the queue was a hot mess. Whew! Really dodged a bullet there.  My friends and I have followed Aicelle’s career since she was a runner-up in the 2nd season of GMA7‘s Pinoy Pop Superstar (PPS).  She became a regular in the now defunct show SOP, eventually being grouped with Jonalyn Viray (PPS Grand Champion Season 1) and Maricris Garcia (PPS Grand Champion Season 3) as the sorely missed girl group La Diva. After the group disbanded, each diva pursued their careers as solo artists. In 2013,  Aicelle bagged the title role in Katy! the Musical and, later that year, made a deeper mark in the theater world as Aileen, the biritera of Barangay Venizia, in Rak of Aegis.

Finally, it has happened to me.

Continue reading “#ClassA Aicelle Santos’ First Major Concert”

#ListenTo 8 Quintessential Birit Songs

Posted on by Gabby Paras

Since we’re all sad from what went down at this year’s (or last year’s) Miss Universe pageant, the best remedy for our sadness is singing. Karaoke, in particular. If you’re in need of karaoke songs for maximum cathartic effect, here are 8 quintessential birit songs for you to sing:

8. Basang Basa sa Ulan (Aegis)

Drenched in the Rain, translated. This is everyone’s favorite karaoke song. The challenge is to sing the song in the same octave as it was originally sung. Birit moment: The key change

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6SMDQoUtk]

7. Through the Fire (Chaka Khan)

Chaka Khan! This song is far from chaka, because this is a birit classic. Birit moment: “Through the test of tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyj1uLacxtg]

6. Listen (Beyoncé)

A favorite in singing competitions, singers auditioning sing this song to flaunt their range. This is the quintessential diva song in her catalog. Birit moment: “I’ve tried and tried to say what’s on my mind, YOU should have known oh”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYEDhWuP_w]

5. Through the Rain (Mariah Carey)

Classic music video. This was during Mariah’s Charmbracelet era. Birit moment: This is one of Mariah’s softer songs, but the song soars to birit levels by the last line of the bridge, then key change.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRNdmkH8zrI]

4. When You Believe (Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey)

Diva showdown! This is from the animated film, The Prince of Egypt. Birit moment: The glorious bridge (“…says hope is very neaaaar”) and final chorus

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaXY4IdZ40]

3. Dadalhin (Regine Velasquez-Alcasid)

Will Bring, translated, as in The wind will just bring my dream away. The primera biritera of the Philippines, Asia’s songbird. Sad lyrics + epic melody = karaoke classic. Birit moment: “Ang lahat ng ito’y pinangako moooooo-oh-oh-oh-ohhh”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEE4N3Zg4RI]

2. And I am Telling You I’m Not Going (Jennifer Hudson version)

Another one from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, for which Jennifer Hudson won her Grammy. Her performance in the movie was her breakthrough moment into stardom. Birit moment: “Tear down the mountains, yeah scream and shout…” to the end

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiSRSgqE4E]

This song was originally sung by Jennifer Holliday, who also gave us this iconic moment from American Idol. Slay!

1. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)

Arguably, the mother of all birit songs. Birit moment: “And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU]

(You may listen and sing along to all of the aforementioned songs in this Youtube playlist.)

What are your go-to karaoke birit songs? Share them in the comments below.

#ListenTo The Ransom Collective

Posted on by Gabby Paras
With The Ransom Collective
Amiciness with The Ransom Collective at Indayog

The Ransom Collective is a six-piece indie folk band composed of Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar, and owner of an awesome name), Lily Gonzales (keys), Muriel Gonzales (violin), Leah Halili (bass),  Jermaine Choa Peck (vocals and percussion), and Redd Claudio (drums). I got to see them live in St. Paul College Pasig’s concert event Indayog: An OPM Music Festival during their school fair. That was the first time I heard of them, and I immediately fell in love with their sound. I loved it so much that I even bought their self-titled EP, which of course I got the band to sign. Their music reminds me of a lot of bands (and I confess to not listening to a lot), so I’m just going to drop their names here: Stars, The Lumineers, a folkier Bombay Bicycle Club (it makes sense in my head, okay). Other blogs have also made the Mumford & Sons connection, but I contest that it’s only because they’re both in the indie folk sphere that accounts for the similar sound.

The Ransom Collective EP Signed
My own copy of the band’s EP. Also available digitally on iTunes

The best track on the EP is Run. It starts with just the keyboard and guitar, then 30 seconds in, the drums kick in, then a short violin solo, and it just soars from that moment. Perfect to blast in your car and sing along to on a road trip. Although, I’ve got to say, The Ransom Collective is a much better experience to behold live. Their recorded stuff doesn’t do their sound justice. I heartily recommend watching them in concert and in gigs.

Follow the band on social media:

Buy their self-titled EP on iTunes, or stream it here:

Filipina quartet sings ‘Let It Go’ on Korean singing competition

Posted on by Gabby Paras

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvcPkq_EfdI

Philippine talent is on the spotlight once again as the beautiful harmony of four Filipina sisters captivate hearts all over the world. MICA (a name made up of the first letters of their names) auditioned on the 6th and current season of popular Korean reality-singing competition show, Superstar K.

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