Popular pop-rock band-of-the-moment Maneskin continues to break new ground. While Pinoy pop acts like Eric Ejercito, ALLMO$T, Zo Zo and Acapellago drop new ones.
Maneskin continues to pop up in all the right places and corners. This time they get a free ride at the ELVIS original motion picture soundtrack with a cover of the King of Rock & Roll’s 1968 song titled “If I Can Dream.”
Originally, the Walter Earl Brown written song is said to have similarities to Martin Luther’s “I Have A Dream” speech and is a tribute of sorts by Elvis to MLK who was said to have much respect for the civil rights icon. In fact, the original song was released two months after MLK’s assassination. Elvis’ original didn’t almost make it on record as it wasn’t deemed his style by Colonel Parker. It was only through Elvis’ insistence to have a shot at it that it got recorded and was eventually released. Whether this factoid gets included in the movie remains to be seen, though.
Maneskin’s version might not have the same surrounding gravitas to it, but they manage to give their version heart and some soul it deserves. As they should, as this song was Elvis Presley’s encore song on his iconic ’68 Comeback Special.
Eric Ejercito returns with an energetic new track titled “FOOL.” Ejercito did not spare any expense in delivering this body-moving dance track, and we say it should be included in all Pinoy pop playlist out there now. A stickler for details, the film director-actor-pop singer brings his A-game in this electro-tinged dance track about being made a fool of in the name of love.
Grinding mid-tempo Hip hop track “Spray” is the new solo track from ALLMO$T’s Crakky. This moody rap track finds the rapper on story-telling mode, and he gets assistance from fellow wordsmith A$tro (Michael Bryan Marcos).
Speaking of ALLMO$T, the rap act drops a new number titled "Party All Night.” Rappers Crakky and Russell and hook singers Jom and Clien is not holding back on said track. If ALLMO$T can have their way, they’d spend the whole night partying as they say so in their edgy-sounding verses and rhymes. And somehow, we’re sure that they’re rapping from experience.
Vocal group Acapellago returns with a dance-infected new music on “Chara-Chara.” On this positive-vibed tune, the all-vocal quintet is saying ‘count to five, breathe deeply, relax and just dance it off’ (or its equivalent in Tagalog) next time you find yourself in a stressful situation. Which is great advice when you feel like blowing up about some petty thing. As per their usual, all that you hear in this track are all vocally made.
The “How To Love Mr. Heartless” soundtrack features some of today’s most promising new acts. Starting with acoustic pop singer-songwriter Amiel Sol who contributes with his original titled “You Make It Right.” Ditto young singer and creative Marielle Belleza who covers Southborder’s “Rainbow.” Buzzing new act MRLD fan-fave track “An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You” also figures prominently on the film. Completing the set are music from The Juans with the excellent “Anghel” and shirtless, 6-packed singer Migo Valid got the spotlight with his song “Suong.”
Rap music act Zo Zo drops a head bobbing new bop titled “Okay Lang.” The Cainta, Rizal-based rapper, who had that hot collab with Skusta Clee & G Bunny (“Much Better”) is fast making a name for himself in the local music scene, not a hard task, not when he’s coming out with ear-tweaking sing-alongs like this one.