P-pop facts for kids
P-pop (short for Pinoy pop), also known as Philippine pop or Filipino pop, is a cool type of music from the Philippines. It's part of the bigger OPM (Original Pilipino Music) style. P-pop started way back in the 1970s. For a long time, from the 1990s to the 2000s, many live bands played OPM pop songs.
Quick facts for kids  P-Pop |
|
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Pop • manila sound • Original Pilipino Music |
| Cultural origins |
|
| Typical instruments | Vocals • Drum pad • Drums • Electric bass • Keyboards • Piano • Sampler • Sequencer • Synthesizer • Occasional use of various other instruments |
| Other topics | |
Bands like Neocolours, Side A, Introvoys, and Freestyle helped make OPM pop famous. Their songs were often very emotional and heartfelt.
From 2010 to 2020, Philippine pop music started to change a lot. The music got better, there were more different styles, and people were willing to spend more money on it. This happened because the Philippines' economy was getting stronger. Filipinos also became more interested in their own culture. This was partly inspired by K-pop from Korea and J-pop from Japan. These music styles have cool Asian ballads, idol groups, and EDM music.
What Does "Pinoy Pop" Mean?
The name "Pinoy music" or "Pinoy pop" first appeared in the 1970s. Many of these songs were sung in Tagalog, the main language of the Philippines. It was a mix of rock, folk, and slow ballads.
In 1973, the Juan De la Cruz Band played "Ang Himig Natin" ("Our Music"). Many people think this was the first example of "Pinoy rock." The word "Pinoy" became very popular in the late 1970s. Filipinos felt more proud of their country then. A Filipino folk singer named Heber Bartolome had a hit song called "Tayo'y mga Pinoy" ("We are Pinoys"). Later, in the 1990s, rapper Francis Magalona sang "Mga Kababayan Ko" ("My Countrymen"). In the 2000s, the rock band Bamboo released "Noypi," which is "Pinoy" spelled backward.
Today, "Pinoy" is used to describe anything related to the Philippines or Filipinos. After Pinoy rock, Pinoy folk and Pinoy jazz also became popular.
The Story of P-pop Music
How P-pop Started (1960s–1970s)
P-pop includes many Filipino pop songs from the 1960s onwards. A lot of these were ballads, which are slow, emotional songs. Famous singers like Pilita Corrales and Nora Aunor sang these songs.
In the 1970s, songwriters Ryan Cayabyab and José Mari Chan became well-known. They wrote original English love songs and modern Tagalog songs. Pop groups like APO Hiking Society and Hotdog also became popular in this decade. They were part of the "Manila sound."
The Golden Age of Filipino Music
In the 1980s, disco groups like VST & Co. and pop stars like Gary V. helped make dance-pop music very popular.
Rock Bands and Ballads (Mid-1990s to Today)
In the early to mid-1990s, a pop-rock group called Eraserheads became huge. They changed the OPM music scene a lot. After their success, many other influential bands appeared. These included Yano, Parokya ni Edgar, and Rivermaya. Each of these bands mixed different pop and rock styles.
Filipino rock music is still strong today. Newer bands like Hale, Sponge Cola, and Kamikazee are popular. Some members from old bands have also formed new groups, like Pupil and Sandwich. A few band members, such as Kitchie Nadal, have also started successful solo careers.
Even though rock bands were very popular, acoustic groups also had a big presence. Bands like Side A, True Faith, and Freestyle sang songs that showed the emotional side of OPM pop. Popular acoustic singers like Nina and Aiza Seguerra also showed how diverse Filipino pop music is.
Solo singers who belt out songs, like Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, and Martin Nievera, were often seen on TV and heard on the radio.
New R&B and Fun Songs (2000s to Today)
In the early 2000s, artists like Kyla, Nina, and Jay R started singing modern R&B music. Hip-hop artists like Gloc-9 and Abra also became popular.
The P-pop Comeback (2010s)
Pinoy pop changed again after 2010. Rock bands and fun novelty songs from the 1990s and 2000s became less common. Newer songs had fewer rock or hip-hop influences.
In 2010, Charice, a YouTube star, made history. Her first album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart. She was one of the first Asian artists to have a song reach No. 1 on Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs chart.
Famous pop artists of the 2010s include Toni Gonzaga and Sarah Geronimo. Sarah Geronimo's songs "Tala" and "Kilometro" were even chosen as some of the best songs of the decade by CNN Philippines.
The Rise of P-pop Idol Groups (2020s)
Inspired by K-pop and J-pop, a new kind of P-pop began. The Philippines' first idol group, MNL48, debuted in 2018. They are a sister group to the famous Japanese group AKB48. This started a new era for P-pop.
After MNL48, the all-boy idol group SB19 also debuted in 2018. They were trained by a Korean entertainment company. This means they learned under the same system that made K-pop artists global stars. SB19 was the first Filipino group to appear on the Billboard Next Big Sound and Billboard Social 50 charts.
On November 20, 2019, SB19 made history again. They were the first Filipino artist to chart on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart, reaching No. 5. This chart tracks artists who are quickly gaining popularity. On December 3, 2019, their song "Go Up" stayed at No. 1 on Myx Daily Top Ten for 53 days. This broke the all-time record!
P-pop Around the World
In 2019, the P-pop idol group MNL48 performed at the AKB48 Group Asia Festival. This event was held in Bangkok, Thailand, and Shanghai, China. These performances helped MNL48 become known internationally. That same year, MNL48's Abby Trinidad performed "Koi Soru Fortune Cookie" on NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" in Japan. This was the third time a Filipino performer appeared on that show.
In 2020, Sarah Geronimo's song "Tala" entered the U.S. Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 12.
Also in 2020, the P-pop boy band SB19 became a regular on the Billboard Social 50 chart. They reached No. 15, likely because of their music video for "Alab." On August 15, 2020, SB19 reached their highest spot on the Billboard Social 50 list, ranking second only to BTS. A week later, they were in the top five of two charts. They also reached No. 5 on the Emerging Artist list, their highest ranking yet.
SB19's "Go Up" reached No. 2 on Billboard's LyricFind Global chart. Their song "Hanggang sa Huli" also appeared on Billboard's LyricFind U.S. chart. On November 28, 2020, the group achieved their first No. 1 on a Billboard chart! Their song "Alab (Burning)" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's LyricFind Global chart.
On September 1, 2020, MNL48 announced a new sub-unit called BABY BLUE. They released their single "Sweet Talking Sugar" with Tower Records Japan. They even planned a tour in Japan after the COVID-19 crisis.
P-pop Artists
Some Pinoy pop artists are super popular in the Philippines. Many also have fans in other countries. They influence music and even fashion! As of 2020, the top five best-selling artists in the Philippines were MNL48, SB19, Sarah Geronimo, KZ Tandingan, and IV of Spades. IV of Spades is the only pop band on that list.
