Last May 23, Filipinos gained global attention once again when Mariah Carey praised teen duo Aldrich and James for their rendition of the Songbird Supreme’s song “Hero”. Carey, who participated in Glamour magazine’s You Sang My Song YouTube series, was shown fans who covered her song.

 

This was not the first time the two were noticed by prominent personalities. In 2013, Ellen DeGeneres invited them to her show when their cover of Luther Vandross’ “Dance with My Father Again” went viral and gained 8 million views. The comedian and talk show host even tweeted that she learned that some of the best singers hailed from the Philippines.

 

Now, Aldrich and James are neither the first nor last of Filipino talents that caught the attention of the world. Filipinos, whether based in another country or not, continuously impress the world with their flair for singing. In fact, Filipinos have been a consistent fixture in talent shows all over.

 

With this in mind, it truly makes one wonder why Filipinos are so good at it, so we have come up with possible reasons why.

 

Music is a part of life

Events are never complete without karaoke. Whether it’s a reunion, an outing, a birthday party, or a holiday, expect that in the Philippines a karaoke machine is ready to play your song of choice. It doesn’t matter if the person isn’t as great as Whitney Houston, backing down from singing is not the Filipino way!

 

Singing contests are held left and right

Apart from singing contests in schools, companies, cities, barangays, etc., there are also several held in T.V. networks. Filipinos have been exposed to music from an early age. It’s safe to say that singing has made a mark in their culture that celebrations aren’t complete without it.

 

Happiness is expressed through singing

The Philippines may be a third world country, but it is ranked as the third happiest in the world. With this in mind,

it’s safe to assume the reason Filipinos love to sing is to express their happiness. In fact, more studies are proving that singing can be associated with it. Even when faced with numerous problems, they remain resilient and positive - often singing through their greatest woes. It is something that even other nations admire.

 

Talents are encouraged

Filipinos continue to support their fellow talented Filipinos. In fact, there are several malls where you can try out even the Philippines’ latest karaoke machine, such as The Platinum Karaoke and showcase your voice. Several were even discovered and went viral because of it.

If you research about it, music has been deeply ingrained in the culture of the Filipinos.

 

It is truly fascinating that until today, indigenous groups continue to practice inherited music like songs for work, rituals, celebration, mourning, courting, and the like. Singing is truly one of the marks we've left as a people within the world and it is something to be proud of.