Ultimate Guide To Genres Of Music In South Africa And Singers
South Africa is a country with a history of struggle and resilience. It is also a country full of celebrations. And, there’s no better way
Some countries are small, and we often overlook them on the global map, but they punch above their weight when it comes to talent. Think of how South Korea has taken the world by storm with K-pop, or how Sweden quietly dominates global pop charts.
At this point, one could also ask: What country has the best music in the world? Well, this is for you to find out.
I’m interested in sharing another country’s music that punches way above its weight. Any guesses?
Well, it is the Philippines.
In the Philippines, music is part of daily life. Karaoke is like a national sport. You’ll hear karaoke in homes, street corners, or small-town fiestas. So, with music as part of daily life, it’s no wonder the country has produced world-class Filipino singers.
I spent two months in Davao back in 2015, and I absolutely fell in love with Filipino music. I discovered incredible Filipino artists and bands, which I still listen to today. And I’m super excited to share some of the most famous Filipino singers today!
Up Dharma Down (UDD) is a Filipino alternative indie rock/electronic band. The band is famous for introducing genre-defying sound by blending alternative rock, electronic, neo-soul, jazz, and Filipino lyrical poetry.
They have released three studio albums under the name Up Dharma Down: Fragmented, Bipolar, Capacities, and UDD, to a strong cult following. Their top songs like “Tadhana”, “Oo”, and “Indak” are like Filipino classics.
The band sings in Filipino and English, and they have used Filipino musical instruments with contemporary indie and electronic. Over the years, they’ve performed internationally in Singapore, Malaysia, the U.S., and the UK.
Time Magazine included them in “Asia’s Band to Watch.”, in their 2007 feature. Since 2019, the band has changed its name to just initials, UDD.
The Eraserheads are a pioneering Filipino alternative rock band created at the University of the Philippines. While The Beatles didn’t have a pleasant Philippines tour in 1966, people don’t shy away from calling the Eraserheads “The Beatles of the Philippines”—and rightly so.
It’s because the band reshaped the 1990s Original Filipino Music (OPM) scene by influencing countless Filipino music artists and became cultural icons.
Their debut album, Ultraelectromagneticpop, was a classic hit in 1993. They followed that up with 6 more studio albums. Pare Ko, Ang Huling El Bimbo, and With a Smile are some of the best Filipino songs that brought mainstream success.
Their global attention came after winning MTV Asia’s Viewer’s Choice Award at the 1997 MTV VMAs in New York, the first Filipino music band to do so. Although the band has been disbanded now, they have reunited multiple times for reunion concerts and a world tour in 2023.
Recently, a new documentary, Combo on the Run, has been released about the formation and formative years of Eraserheads.
APO Hiking Society is a legendary Filipino musical band that gave us the Original Pilipino Music (OPM). OPM is basically their signature soft rock sound, combined with the “Manila Sound” style. Although the band started as a 14-member group, the three members eventually became long-time members.
The group was massively popular in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like “Panalangin,” “Batang-Bata Ka Pa,” and “Ewan.” Their witty lyrics and feel-good melodies made them one of the most famous Filipino musicians.
APO Hiking Society was the first Filipino pop artists to perform at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Massey Hall. Their song “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” became an anthem of the 1986 People Power Revolution.
Ben&Ben is a Filipino folk-pop band by the twin brothers Miguel and Paolo Benjamin Guico. These twin brothers used to perform as The Benjamins. Later, they expanded the group to a full ensemble of nine members. Their signature sound blends indie, folk, and pop with a Filipino soul.
Ben&Ben quickly became mainstream with hits like Kathang Isip, Maybe the Night, and Leaves. They have released 3 albums so far, with the first two topping local charts and earning millions of streams. Ben&Ben regularly advocates for social causes, and they have a strong fanbase, “Liwanag.”
They’ve collaborated with various artists, including South Korean band Day6’s Young K and Moira Dela Torre. They even opened for an Ed Sheeran concert in 2024. Today, Ben&Ben are one of the most famous Filipino singers in the OPM scene.
Lea Salonga is a world-famous Filipino female singer and actress for her powerful voice and impeccable vocal control. She rose to international fame by playing Kim in Miss Saigon, for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award. It made her the first Asian woman to earn these prestigious honors.
She has also worked with Disney by providing voice-overs for two Disney princesses: Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan in Mulan. As one of the top Filipino female singers, she sings across genres such as Broadway, pop, OPM, and classical crossover. She has received two Grammy nominations, both in the Best Musical Theater Album category.
Over the years, she has performed at major venues like Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Albert Hall. She was also a judge on the Philippine version of The Voice. She is one of the top Filipino singers, who is widely respected in the West End and on Broadway.
Gloc-9 is one of the best Filipino rappers and songwriters, famous for writing socially relevant lyrics. He started in the rap group Death Threat before launching a solo career in the early 2000s. He plays Pinoy hip-hop (a Filipino version of hip-hop) and OPM.
So far, he has released 11 studio albums, with the latest release in 2024. And albums like Diploma, Matrikula, and Liham at Lihim are some of his top Filipino albums. He frequently collaborates with artists like Francis Magalona, Joey Ayala, Ebe Dancel, and Denise Barbacena.
Gloc-9 has won multiple awards, including Awit Awards and MYX Music Awards. He remains one of the most famous Filipino music artists in Filipino rap.
Rivermaya is one of the classic Filipino alternative rock bands, behind the rise of the 1990s alternative rock movement in the Philippines. The band has seen multiple line-up changes, but fans know them for their classic line-up of Rico Blanco, Bamboo Mañalac, Mark Escueta, and Nathan Azarcon.
However, some prominent members like Rico Blanco and Bamboo Mañalac left the band to focus on their solo careers. Rico Blanco stayed with the band till 2007, but Bamboo left quite early in 1998 to form his own band, Bamboo.
As for their music, the band used to blend rock, pop, and traditional Filipino musical instruments, which made them quite famous. They have sold millions of albums and remain one of the best-selling Filipino music artists in the country.
In 2024, Rivermaya’s classic lineup reunited for a major concert. They performed songs mainly from Trip and Atomic Bomb, followed by a North American tour, and are on a 2025 world tour. Although Perf de Castro wasn’t included, it’s still a welcome return for Filipino music fans.
Joey Ayala is one of the top Filipino singers for blending traditional Filipino music with contemporary sounds. He is also a master of indigenous Filipino music instruments such as the kulintang, kubing, and hegalong. This genre-bending style has made him a leading figure in Filipino folk music.
His music is often about Filipino culture, social issues, and environmental themes for cultural and environmental preservation. He leads the ensemble band, Bagong Lumad, whose sound is a mixture of folk rock with traditional Filipino instruments.
Throughout his career, he has released 14 albums, with the first album coming out in 1988 at a makeshift studio in Davao City. Interestingly, he has won multiple awards, especially for his social and environmental work.
SB19 is a Filipino boy band with five members. The group initially trained under the South Korean company ShowBT before becoming self-managed. Now, they are the pioneers of P-Pop, a subgenre of Original Pilipino Music, which blends K-pop with Filipino music.
The group’s name, SB19, reflects their Korean roots and Filipino identity. The number 19 is basically the difference between the country calling codes of South Korea (+82) and the Philippines (+63).
SB19’s rise to fame began in 2019, when their dance rehearsal video for “Go Up” went viral. Their strategic use of social media and crisp music has made them the first Southeast Asian band to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award. At home, fans and critics call them the “Kings of P-Pop”.
In 2021, SB19 was nominated for Top Social Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. They also received several accolades, including Teen Vogue’s Favorite Boy Bands of All Time. Just like people call BLACKPINK fans as Blinks, SB19’s fanbase is known as “A’TIN,”.
Sarah Geronimo is one of the best Filipino female singers, actresses, and television personalities. In fact, she is known as the “Popstar Royalty” of the Philippines. She rose to fame in 2003 after winning the Star for a Night singing competition. After that, she launched her debut album and became a household name.
Throughout her career, she has released many hit singles such as “Forever’s Not Enough,” “Kilometro,” “Tala,” and “Ikot-Ikot,”. But it is the Tala song that became a Philippine pop anthem. Apart from music, she’s also a successful actress, starring in several box-office romantic comedies like The Unforgettable, The Breakup Playlist, among many others.
She has won several awards, including Awit Awards, MYX Music Awards, and Aliw Awards. However, it’s the winning of the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Southeast Asian Act, which brought her success.
Regine Velasquez is one of the best Filipino singers and actresses. She began her career with her first single, “Love Me Again,” in 1986. But it was her victory in the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong that made her a household name.
She has released 14 albums so far since releasing her first album in 1987. “Dadalhin,” “Narito,” and “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” are some of her best Filipino songs. She also acts in films and has given some hits like “Paano Kita Iibigin” and “Diva.”
She has been into singing for almost 3 decades now, and in that time, she has won multiple awards, including several Awit Awards.
Moira Dela Torre is one of the most famous Filipino female singers. She got famous after participating in The Voice of the Philippines in 2013. Although she didn’t win, her performances helped her launch a successful music career. Moira’s debut album, Malaya, achieved 8× Platinum status in the Philippines.
Her music has gentle melodies, and she complements that with introspective lyrics that resonate with the young generation. Paubaya is one of her best Filipino songs with over 100 million views on YouTube. If you want to know what other channels are amassing views, check out YouTube music channels.
Beyond her recordings, Moira has contributed to Filipino music as a judge on Idol Philippines.
At this point, can we ask a question: what country has the best music in the world? Well, you should find out if the Philippines cuts. Even if it doesn’t, one thing is quite sure that it punches above its weight.
And, it’s pretty evident from our discussion that Filipino singers don’t shy away from experimenting across genres. In fact, one should credit them for introducing new genres now and then.
This also holds true for the best Filipino movies. If you know of any Filipino music artists that we should discuss, please share!
South Africa is a country with a history of struggle and resilience. It is also a country full of celebrations. And, there’s no better way
What country has the best music in the world? It’s a question with many answers. However, if you ask, which country’s music is the best
What country has the best music in the world? Well, it’s a tricky question to answer. Suppose, if you are from Kenya, Turkey, or Malaysia,
