Dive into the world of Pinoy pop as we celebrate the most iconic and influential solo artists who have shaped OPM (Original Pilipino Music). From powerhouse vocals to groundbreaking performances, these artists have left an indelible mark on the Philippine music scene.
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00:00♪ But if you go and leave me ♪
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:06And today we're counting down our picks
00:08for the most legendary Pinoy pop and OPM musicians
00:12to ever grace us with their art.
00:14♪ A dahin hangan langit ay mani pago ♪
00:22Number 10, Jonah Viray.
00:24As the first singer to earn
00:26the coveted grand champion title on the show,
00:28Pinoy pop star, Jonah Lynn Viray,
00:31also known as Jonah, was destined for fame.
00:34♪ Di kita malimutan ♪
00:41She discovered her talent in singing
00:43from a very young age and honed it to perfection.
00:46♪ Pag-ibig mo ang hanap ng puso'ng ligaw ♪
00:53You might remember Jonah
00:55as a member of the girl group, La Diva,
00:57who sang Lupong Hinirang
01:00at the Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto Las Vegas match.
01:03With her powerful and commanding voice,
01:06Jonah has created an award-winning career.
01:09♪ I don't know what to do ♪
01:13♪ There is no easy way of letting go ♪
01:17However, perhaps her biggest achievement
01:19is the number of hearts she has helped heal
01:21with her love songs.
01:23♪ Help me get over you ♪
01:30Number nine, Eric Santos.
01:33If you're a fan of Pinoy dramas,
01:35chances are you've heard Eric Santos' voice
01:37in your favorite OSTs.
01:39♪ Alam kong ako yung lumayo ♪
01:46After all, he's not called the king of Pinoy
01:48teleseria theme songs for nothing.
01:51♪ May pag-a-stab atayong balawa ♪
01:56His journey started when he took home the trophy
01:59on the first season of the competition show,
02:01Star in a Million.
02:02Today, not only is he commercially uber-successful
02:06with chart-topping hits in his discography,
02:08but also critically acclaimed.
02:10♪ Tulang ako kung wala ka ♪
02:15He even counts a performance
02:17at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Asian Night
02:19in his accomplishments.
02:21Needless to say, he's a huge deal
02:23in the Pinoy music industry.
02:26♪ Wala ka ♪
02:32Number eight, Gary Valenciano.
02:35Known as the Michael Jackson of the Philippines,
02:37Gary Vee has carried the music industry
02:40on his back for decades.
02:41♪ Kailanman o saan walang pakialam ♪
02:45His mother was an opera songstress,
02:47so music is in his blood.
02:49He was involved in music from a very young age
02:51and performed in various settings
02:53before launching his career.
02:55♪ High so loud ♪
02:57♪ Rock on my popcorn ♪
02:59Over the years, Gary has gained immense popularity
03:02for his unique vocal style.
03:04He's also known for making
03:05his high-octane performances unforgettable,
03:08which earned him the moniker Mr. Pure Energy.
03:12♪ You ready to high-five tonight ♪
03:13Alongside his music career,
03:15Valenciano also maintains a prolific filmography
03:18as an actor, truly proving his versatility.
03:22♪ They don't know that I come running home when I fall down ♪
03:30Number seven, Moira De La Torre.
03:33Hers is the kind of voice you'd expect to hear
03:35at the pearly gates of heaven.
03:37♪ Di, di ko'y nakalam darating ♪
03:45With an ethereal, breathy quality,
03:48Moira De La Torre's vocals don't just soothe the heart,
03:51they touch the soul.
03:52♪ Tumingin kong san, sinubukan kong lungisan ♪
03:59Like a warm, cozy hug at the end of a long day,
04:02listeners can just melt into her music.
04:05The heartfelt lyrics add
04:06to the emotional depth of the same.
04:08♪ Di da kalam sa puso ko ♪
04:16Is it even surprising then
04:17that she's the first solo OPM artist
04:20to hit two billion streams on Spotify?
04:22The numbers speak for themselves,
04:24and we're sure she's well on her way
04:26to breaking even more records.
04:28♪ Lame kagadu ako'y babalik, babalik, babalik, babalik ♪
04:32♪ Parin sa'yo ♪
04:34Number six, Julianne San Jose.
04:37The heartfelt cafe actress
04:38is the very definition of an overachiever.
04:41♪ But when I see you it's hard to just walk past ya ♪
04:45♪ Yeah, you got close and my heart starts beating faster ♪
04:48She grew up doing pageants,
04:50taking music lessons, and appearing in TV shows.
04:53Now, Julianne San Jose is only in her 30s,
04:57but has accomplished more in her career
04:59than most can dream of.
05:01♪ It's like a time of year when it appears I'm washin' over ♪
05:05For instance, she sold one of the highest number one records
05:08in the last decade in her home country.
05:10In another historic highlight,
05:12she won the diamond record for her self-titled album
05:15and was the youngest of all of its recipients ever.
05:18♪ I just want you here with me ♪
05:24Thanks to her unstilted hard work,
05:26San Jose has established herself
05:28as a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world.
05:31♪ Te to'o kamama lagi ♪
05:35Number five, Morissette Amon.
05:38Name a cooler title than Asia's Phoenix.
05:41We'll wait.
05:42♪ Fightin' every day doesn't feel like livin' ♪
05:47Morissette Amon, the owner of The Sober Cat,
05:51has long impressed fans with her music.
05:53Her experience on competition shows like Star Factor
05:56and The Voice of the Philippines
05:58helped her build a solid fandom
05:59which continues to propel her to new levels of success.
06:03♪ So let's shine like the sun, rise like a phoenix ♪
06:09Critics have lauded her for her unbeatable range
06:12and she's particularly famous for her whistle register
06:15which is comparable to the likes of Mariah Carey
06:18and Ariana Grande.
06:19♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
06:25Oh, and if you were wondering,
06:26yes, she is named after Alanis Morissette,
06:29so her rock star father, Amey Amon,
06:32probably always knew she was going to be OPM's It Girl.
06:36As a bonus, her first name, Joanne, was taken from the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
06:424. Martin Nievera
06:50If we had to list this OPM star's achievements, we'd be here all day.
06:54Suffice to say, he is one of the most influential artists in the history of
07:05Pinoy music. When it comes to genres, he does it all. Pop, rock, gospel, show tunes, ballads,
07:16dance music, you name it. This variety is one of the reasons why his concerts are always sold out.
07:23The media does love to call him Concert King, so we'd expect nothing less.
07:28With the glory that is now attached to his name, we bet it's a full-circle moment for him. When
07:39he was young, he dreamed of performing like his father, Society of Seven member Bert Nievera.
07:45Now, millions of kids look up to him.
07:473. Sara Geronimo
07:57All hail the pop star princess!
08:04Sara Geronimo, who was named Woman of the Year by Billboard Philippines in 2024,
08:09has the Midas touch. Be it as an actress or a musician,
08:13her name will be written in the history of Pinoy entertainment in golden letters.
08:21Throughout her extensive career, her musicality has constantly evolved,
08:25allowing her to set new trends along the way.
08:32At the same time, she has been an incredible inspiration to aspiring singers,
08:37with many new artists, such as Morissette, citing her as a role model.
08:41Fans love her for her artistry, of course, but also for the warm,
08:46humble, and genuine human being she is.
08:522. Regine Velasquez
09:02Few can belt like Asia's songbird does. Regine Velasquez, who is a genre herself,
09:08led a life of strict discipline to reach the pinnacle of success she enjoys today.
09:19Neither of her parents were professional singers,
09:22but music was an intrinsic part of her childhood. Once she took to singing,
09:26her father put her through rigorous vocal training that no ordinary six-year-old could endure easily.
09:39She would be immersed in the sea until only her head was above water,
09:43and master her melismas that way. We bet that many others followed suit after learning about
09:48this technique in hopes of matching her excellence. In fact, Sara Geronimo did it,
09:53too, but in a drum of water. Still, Regine Velasquez is inimitable and a rare musical treasure.
10:09Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:13Philip. This SB19 member has a strong artistic identity as a soloist.
10:22Zac Tabudlo. He goes straight for the feels.
10:31MaiMai Entrada. She's defining a new generation of P-pop.
10:38Denise Julia. Her music resonates with a global audience.
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11:06Lea Salonga. There would be no P-pop without this icon.
11:14Lea Salonga is the most globally renowned and celebrated Filipino singer of all time.
11:20Her musical theater prowess has taken her all the way across the world,
11:24from New York's Broadway to London's West End.
11:32She has a Tony Award to her name and a couple of Grammy nods, too.
11:35Besides, the Miss Saigon star is not just an OPM legend, but also a Disney legend for voicing the
11:42musical numbers of the original Jasmine and Mulan. Not to mention, in 2022,
11:47she was dubbed a lifelong role model for children of color by Time.
11:56Clearly, her impact extends beyond music. Ultimately,
12:00she's the pride and joy of the Philippines.
12:03Which new P-pop soloist do you think will make it onto a list like this in the future?
12:15Let us know in the comments.
12:21Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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