How SB19 Changed the World’s Perspective of P-Pop, According to Fans

How SB19 Changed the World’s Perspective of P-Pop, According to Fans

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What makes SB19 a force to be reckoned with in the subject of P-Pop? Well, for starters, they propelled a new era of it

Your experience with music is surely a part of your brain’s core memory. Were you a child who heard songs on the radio that changed your life? Maybe you’re the teenager who, because of a track, picked up an instrument or started writing songs? Perhaps you are the fan who scrimped and saved on your allowance to watch your idols live. Fast forward to today, there still must be a song or an artist that underscores the impact of music in your life? If you say SB19, then we’re not surprised. 

RELATED: SB19 Performs Ryan Cayabyab’s O Bayan Ko at the 14th MEGA Ball

In 2019, a dance practice video for the quintet’s track “Go Up” made people talk. Today, Pablo, Stell, Josh, Justin, and Felip are not just mere subjects of P-Pop conversations. They are the reason why people are talking about this genre of OPM today with outright freedom, fun, and definitely pride. 

From what started as a cookie cutter K-Pop-patterned group, SB19 found themselves with their own sound, style, and story. As artists whose hands get dirty in recording, creative production, and passion projects, they have used their voices to amplify their fellow Filipino creatives to do the same. Apart from these idols, their fans especially feel and resonate with Pablo, Stell, Josh, Justin, and Felip. MEGA reached out to A’TIN on X (previously Twitter) for their thoughts on SB19’s impact on P-Pop, and here’s what they have to say.

Leaving Some Self-reflection

All clothing pieces by BODE from UNIVERS, TRAFFIC shoes

The truth is, fangirling doesn’t have to be all serious. After all, we first started out with the good vibes. But with SB19’s fans, their sonic appreciation comes with an internal dialogue, too. And we love that! If songs and artists make us reflect on the bigger picture of life, then that means they’re leaving an impact one way or another. 

Playing Hope into the Tracks

All clothing pieces by NERIC BELTRAN, TRAFFIC shoes

When a formula works for the audience, best believe that we will see an influx of releases revolving around certain tropes and concepts. Case in point? Romantic love and all its forms on television, film, and music. While we have releases that also tackle different subject matters, market value is reassured with something that’s proven and tested. SB19’s range of concepts, which also touch on love but also of the road to following one’s dreams—the good and the bad that come with it—resonates deeply with their fans who dare to dream especially during these trying times. And the boys do it in different beats, flow, and moves!

Setting a Standard of Artistry

On Stell and Justin: All clothing pieces by FENDI, TRAFFIC shoes. On Pablo, Felip, and Josh: JOEY SAMSON collection, TRAFFIC shoes

Rising at a time when Korean idols have set a standard in the entertainment industry, SB19 is one to be at par with them—not for competition, but an affirmation that Filipinos can thrive in the realm of pop in the country and abroad. SB19 delivers not only a performance showcasing their vocal skills; they make sure that their choreographies are coordinated, and facial expressions on point. Taking their individual and collective impact to the next level, the P-Pop Kings also take an interest in their sartorial storytelling. Leaving this legacy, they also make room for more P-Pop groups and artists to follow suit.

Opening More Room for Genres

On Josh and Pablo: KENZO jackets and shirts, MARTIN UY pants, TRAFFIC shoes. On Felip, Justin, and Stell: KENZO jackets, shirts, and pants, TRAFFIC shoes

From kundiman to rock and hiphop, the genres ruling OPM evolve from time to time. The beauty of P-Pop is it is an opportunity to blend and exhibit multiple sounds in one. In the case of SB19, they’ve redefined today’s Filipino music with a reigning pop sound in different flavors. In their EP Pagtatag!, You can have a punchy astig beat with rap verses and birit refrains with “Gento.” Meanwhile, “I Want You” follows suit with a sultry melody and an equally moving live performance. 

Sharing the Filipino Pride

MEGA June 2024 Cover featuring SB19 wearing clothing pieces by THOM BROWNE at UNIVERS and TRAFFIC shoes

The best artists know the rule to becoming a cut above the rest—follow the rules till you’re in the game, then break them. SB19 has done this at the beginning with their ballad “Tilaluha”, a track on heartbreak. “Go Up” features the summer feel, its remix mimicking K-Pop tunes with layers of beats. Since then, they’ve come so far with playing around with words and sound—mixing languages and genres together. Case in point? “Bazinga.” For a country that thrives on being a melting pot of cultures, SB19 surely highlights our identity, history, and culture in each track they release and performance they stage. 

Read more about how the P-Pop band is taking the world by storm and making their country proud in MEGA’s June 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter,Press Reader and Zinio.

Photographed by DOC MARLON. Cover Story by DONNA PATRICIA MANIO. Creative direction by PATRICK TY. Art Direction BRIE VENTURA. Beauty Direction MARA GO. Production JONES PALTENG. Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES- ISIDRO. Styled by TON LAO. Additional styling by #TEAMRAINXEM RAIN DAGALA AND EM MILLAN. Makeup by MAC IGARTA. Hair by MARK FAMILARA. Production design by PROD AXIA X CAMS MENDOZA.  Photography Assistants JOEL RAMOS. Assistant Makeup Artist ALFREDO MENDOZA. Assistant Hairstylist MIGGY CARBONILLA. Styling Assistants MEL CALMANTE, SOS LOPEZ, BERNA ARENAS, CHESKA DUMATOL, KENT. CARL ALBERTO, MIGS LEGUERRA, RIO CAMANTIGUE, ELLAINE VILLAPANDO, and DENNISE OBILLO. Editorial Assistant JONNIE NGO. Shot on Location ONE HECTARE STUDIOS. Special thanks to IRMAY LEDESMA, LEAH GONZALES, JOVE ALORO, MACKIE VANGUARDIA. Fashion BODE from UNIVERS. FENDI. JOEY SAMSON. KENZO. MARTIN UY. NERIC BELTRAN. THOM BROWNE from UNIVERS. TRAFFIC

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