Yeng Constantino dreams of Asian success for OPM
Can the next worldwide breakout song come from the Philippines?
Yeng Constantino thinks so.
“That’s one of my greatest dreams, for OPM to cross over in Asia,” she told members of the press during the launch of her latest album “Metamorphosis.”
“Kahit hindi sa generation ko mangyari yun, kahit sa next generation ng OPM artists. Yun yung pangarap ko for them,” Yeng added.
The statement came after the Kapamilya artist was asked about Korean boy band Exo’s cover of her song “Hawak Kamay” during their January 2013 concert in Manila.
“Happy ako na kinanta yung song. Sabi ko nga, ang dami-daming OPM songs na ang gaganda, lalo na ngayon, pero napili nila yung song ko,” Yeng shared.
Some quarters believe K-pop’s popularity may be one of the reasons why OPM is languishing in its homeland. But Yeng believes local artists should take inspiration from K-Pop rather than put it down.
“Hindi ako naniniwala na problema ang K-Pop sa bansa natin, e. It just so happens na excellent sila. And inaadmire ko rin sila.”
“May mga nakikita akong videos sa YouTube na grabe yung sayaw nila,” Yeng added, citing 2Ne1’s Dara (or Sandara Park) as an example of how a Philippine-based artist can become more marketable worldwide.
“Kung kaya niya (Sandara), kaya rin natin.”
The singer added, “Kaya natin yun, naniniwala ako, na kung yung di natin naiintindihang kanta kinakanta natin dito sa atin, kantahin din nila yung mga di nila naiintindihan.”
The prospect of crossing over to other Asian markets, Yeng said, should drive local artists to strive for excellence.
“It’s a challenge for us OPM artists to produce music na excellent din. Nakaka-challenge yun e. It’s not something na gagawin mo lang, pero yung gusto mo pang lumevel up.”
‘Music is beautiful’
Yeng continuously challenges herself by creating original music. “Metamorphosis” is an all-original 10-track album, with songs she wrote herself. Its carrier single “B.A.B.A.Y.” is doing well at the charts.
She describes her music in the album as signature Yeng but with new elements—an attempt to veer away from the punk rock influence usually associated with her songs.
“Music is music, kahit ano pang genre yan. Siguro iba-iba lang ang taste ng mga tao,” Yeng explained.
“But music is beautiful, iba-iba lang talaga ang inspiration.” With Karen Valeza.