31st Awit Awards nominees revealed
The 2018 Awit Awards nominations have been released and I am happy to say that this is proof that the Philippine music industry is alive and well. Our music business has learned to embrace change. Think of the disappearance of the CD and the move to streaming and downloads. And what about the forced switch from an album market to one of singles only. Best of all the acceptance of the diversity of sounds and styles is truly remarkable.
A great thing to do to get a good grasp of these tunes is to listen to this year’s nominees. Pop music these days can be any genre and can come from anywhere and the Pinoys are doing their own takes on these. So when the list of nominees includes a legendary diva like Regine VelasquezAlcasid alongside a very young alternative band named IV Of Spades, then I can truly say that the future is very bright for Pinoy music.
Regine’s three-CD release 30th anniversary album titled R3.0 is nominated for Album of the Year and is up against Jona by Jona; Soul Supremacy by KZ Tandingan, REQ, Michael Pangilinan and TJ Monterde; Rotonda by Gloc9; and Palm Dreams by James Reid. Regine herself is also nominated for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist for R3.0’s carrier single Hugot. Also nominated are Sampu by Jona; Titibo-Tibo by Moira dela Torre; Labo by KZ; and 241 by Janine Tenoso.
Now on its 31st year, the Awit Awards is a project of the Philippine Association of Record Industry recognizing laudable work in the field of music recording. Here are the rest of 2018 nominees. Performance by a Male Artist: Kabilang Dako by Jay-R;
Dying Inside To Hold You by Darren Espanto; Idjay by Davey Langit; Nakakalokal by Ogie Alcasid; Cool Down by James Reed. Collaboration: Til The End Of Time by Jona feat. BoybandPH; Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by Kaye Cal feat. Maya & Michael Pangilinan; Rotonda by Gloc9 and Joey Ayala; Bituin by Shehyee and Keiko Necesario; Unang Hakbang by Quest feat. Keiko. Performance by a Group Artists: Gisingin Mo Na Lang Ako (Kung Tayo Na) by Eevee; Cool Lang (On & Off) by True Faith; Peroplano by Acapellago; Hey Barbara by IV Of Spades; Maybe The Night by Ben&Ben. Performance by a New Female Artist: The Greatest Love Of All by Jona Soquite; Walang Tayo by Ana Ramsey; Finally Found It by Claudia Barretto; Ang Bagal Mo Chong by Aubrey Caraan; Walk Alone by SaBu. Performance by a New Male Artist: Gaga by Nar Cabico; Refrain by Ian Veneracion; Maybe It’s Time by RJ dela Fuente; Invincible by Joseph Santos; Tanging Ikaw by Jem Cubil. Performance by a New Group Artists: Till The Speakers Blow by Sub Projekt; Super Hero by Partners In Rhymes; Tanghaling Tapat by Unit406; Paano Na by After5; One Plus One by Nitro.
Song of the Year: Mahika by Titus John Monterde; Labo by Jungee Marcelo; Titibo-Tibo by Libertine Amistoso; Sampu by Raizo Chabeldin and Biv de Vera; TRPKNNMN by Aristotle Pollisco; Unang Hakbang by Jose Villanueva III.
Record of the Year: Mahika by TJ Monterde; Labo by KZ Tandingan; Titibo-Tibo by Moira dela Torre; Kapit by Christian Bautista; Hey Barbara by IV Of Spades.
Ballad: Kung Alam Mo Lang by Zsaris; Daraan Lamang by Cooky Chua; Ikaw Ang Tanging Pag-ibig Ko by Ogie Alcasid; Naririnig Mo Ba by Morissette; Sandaang Habambuhay by Yassi Pressman. Pop: Demonyo by Juan Karlos Labajo; Nakakalokal by Ogie