PinyaFilipino Music (OPM) - Songs That Touch the Heart
Discover OPM (Original Pilipino Music). Learn about popular artists, ballad culture, and must-know songs for karaoke.
What is OPM?
OPM (Original Pilipino Music) refers to original Filipino music.
From ballads to rock to pop, it's music that resonates with Filipino hearts.
Music Vocabulary
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Music | musika |
| Song | kanta / awit |
| Singer | mang-aawit |
| Band | banda |
| Guitar | gitara |
| To sing | kumanta |
| To listen | makinig |
| Track | awitin |
Characteristics of OPM
Ballad Culture
Filipinos love emotional ballads.
- Themes of love, heartbreak, unrequited love
- Singing with deep emotion
- Karaoke staples
English and Tagalog Mix
Many OPM songs feature:
- Tagalog lyrics
- English lyrics
- Or a mix of both (Taglish)
Famous OPM Artists
Legends
| Artist | Hit Song |
|---|---|
| Freddie Aguilar | Anak (Child) |
| Regine Velasquez | On the Wings of Love |
| Gary Valenciano | Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? |
| APO Hiking Society | Ewan, Panalangin |
Popular Bands
| Band | Hit Song |
|---|---|
| Eraserheads | Ang Huling El Bimbo |
| Parokya ni Edgar | Harana, Inuman Na |
| Rivermaya | 214, Kisapmata |
| Silent Sanctuary | Pasensya Ka Na |
Modern Artists
| Artist | Style |
|---|---|
| SB19 | P-POP (Filipino K-POP) |
| Ben&Ben | Folk pop |
| December Avenue | Rock ballad |
| Moira Dela Torre | Emotional ballads |
Karaoke Favorites
Songs always sung at Filipino videoke:
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| Anak | Freddie Aguilar |
| Narda | Kamikazee |
| 214 | Rivermaya |
| Ikaw | Yeng Constantino |
| Tadhana | Up Dharma Down |
| Kung 'Di Rin Lang Ikaw | December Avenue |
Music Phrases
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Kumanta ka na! | Sing already! |
| Anong kanta yan? | What song is that? |
| Favorite kong kanta yan! | That's my favorite song! |
| May videoke ba dito? | Is there karaoke here? |
| Request ko lang. | Let me request (a song). |
Sample Conversation
Talking about music:
A: Anong klaseng musika ang gusto mo? (What kind of music do you like?)
B: Mahilig ako sa OPM, lalo na yung mga love songs. (I like OPM, especially love songs.)
A: Sino favorite mong artist? (Who's your favorite artist?)
B: Ben&Ben! Ang ganda ng mga kanta nila. (Ben&Ben! Their songs are so beautiful.)
A: Oo nga! Tara, mag-videoke tayo! (Right! Let's go karaoke!)
History of Filipino Music
Spanish Era
- Kundiman - Traditional love songs
- Classical music influence
American Era
- Jazz and rock influences
- More English songs
Modern Era
- K-POP influence birthed P-POP
- SB19 gaining global recognition
- Active indie scene
Music Festivals
The Philippines has many music festivals:
- Wanderland - Indie festival
- Pulp Summer Slam - Rock festival
- PhilPop - Songwriting competition
Harana
The traditional serenade culture.
- Singing under someone's window
- Playing guitar
- Still exists as a romantic courtship gesture
Learn more about Filipino culture with the Pinya app!