Manila sound
Manila sound (Filipino: Tunog ng Maynila) is a music genre in the Philippines that began in the mid-1970s[1] in Metro Manila. The genre flourished and peaked in the mid to late-1970s during the Philippine martial law era and has influenced most of the modern genres in the country by being the forerunner to OPM.[2][3]
Manila sound
Mid-1970s, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Vocals
- acoustic guitar
- bass guitar
- drums
- piano
Characteristics[edit]
Manila sound is styled as catchy and melodic, with smooth, lightly orchestrated, accessible folk/soft rock, sometimes fused with funk, light jazz and disco. However, broadly speaking, it includes quite a number of genres (e.g. pop, vocal music, soft rock, folk pop, disco, soul, Latin jazz, funk etc.), and should therefore be best regarded as a period in Philippine popular music rather than as a single musical style. Manila sound typified the prevailing pop sound of the era, and drew its influences from the singer-songwriter genre of American music during the 1970s. A majority of Manila sound songs were composed in Tagalog or Taglish, although some were also written entirely in English. Sometimes, these songs included "juvenile lyrics", and less frequently, "swardspeak" (aka "gayspeak", i.e. homosexual slang) recast with novelty, comedic or satirical undertones.
Record labels[edit]
Villar Records (Mareco Broadcasting Network, Inc.), Alpha Records and Vicor Music Philippines (and its subsidiary imprints, Sunshine Records and Blackgold Records) were recording companies that pioneered Manila sound.
Cover versions[edit]
Over the years since Manila sound's decline, many performers have released cover versions of the more popular songs of this genre, indicating its continuing appeal to new generations of listeners. These artists and their covers include Barbie's Cradle ("Langit Na Naman"), Donna Cruz ("Boy"), Erik Santos ("Bitin sa Iyo"), Freestyle ("Bakit Ba Ganyan"), Gary Valenciano ("Manila"), Janno Gibbs ("Binibini", "Ipagpatawad"), Jolina Magdangal ("T.L. Ako sa Iyo"), Mark Bautista ("Beh Buti Nga" (featuring Anne Curtis)), Manilyn Reynes ("Mr. Disco", "Shake It Baby", "Nais Kong Malaman Mo" (with Keempee de Leon)), Prettier Than Pink ("Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy"), Piolo Pascual ("Ms. Universe"), Sarah Geronimo ("Pers Lab"), Sheryn Regis ("Bongga Ka Day"), Sitti Navarro ("Samba Song"), Tina Paner ("Sana"), Vina Morales ("Pers Lab"), and White Lies ("First Love Never Dies").
Resurgence[edit]
In 2005, the Filipino funk band Kala appeared in the music scene with its retro-sounding first single, "Jeepney", which became a major hit.[6] According to the Philippine Inquirer, the band revived and redefined the Manila sound genre through their funk-rock-hip music. Rene Garcia (co-founder of the band Hotdog) praised Kala by "carrying out the funky groove of the 1970s with the sounds of today". The multi-awarded band also took part in the tribute album, Hopia Mani Popcorn. Kala's funky cover version of VST and Co.'s "Rock Baby Rock" became a hit.
The resurgence, rediscovery, and remodeling of the Manila sound is a boost to the Philippine music industry.