Why cover songs are both a challenge and a reward
Making cover songs can get a bad rap because people tend to equate originality and the act of creation with artistic credibility. As such, rerecording an already popular song is sometimes dismissed as less creative or a lazy shortcut to stay relevant and make a quick buck.
Perhaps this is true of karaoke-style covers, where everything from the arrangement to the vocal inflections of the original is replicated note for note. Treating a cover as an interpretation, however, is another story altogether—and a worthwhile exercise at that.
Experimenting with an existing song’s genre or shifting its perspective without losing its essence takes creative judgment. And as the Filipino bands featured in the third volume of the compilation album “Hopia, Mani, Popcorn” would discover, making someone else’s song sound like their own is easier said than done.
Out of their comfort zone
Case in point: UDD (Up Dharma Down), who were tasked to cover South Border’s “Losin’ My Mind”—a 1990s R&B classic with a laid-back bassline and sensual, head-nodding beat. Most of the members grew up with the song, and its catchy groove led them to believe it would be simple to play.
And then they got nervous.
“It was out of our comfort zone, so we had help with the arrangement… Even our guitarist, Carlos (Tañada), had a hard time kasi ang dami raw chords. Sanay kami sa isa, dalawa lang,” drummer Ean Mayor tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “But we took that as a challenge, and ang ganda niyang exercise for us.”
True to UDD form, their version has a more indie electronic vibe. Nothing too drastic, but it does feature more prominent synths and a funkier bassline. Vocalist Bea Lorenzo, meanwhile, keeps her delivery cool and restrained.
“We can learn from learning other people’s songs,” Tañada says, adding that the merit of making covers is that it keeps them on their toes and prevents complacency. “If you just keep on doing your own stuff or what you’re used to, walang growth,” he adds.
A double-edged sword
The Juans echoes UDD’s sentiments, saying that reproducing songs allows musicians to dive into the world of the original writer—from the techniques they employed to why they wrote the song in the first place.
Their assignment? “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka” by Ogie Alcasid.
“It gave us some insight into how songs back then were composed,” says lead vocalist Carl Guevarra. He recalls performing with Alcasid on a noontime show in the past, where the OPM icon dissected The Juans’ songs and pointed out that younger artists today use different phrasing, chords, and word choices. “This time, it’s our turn to learn his songs.”
But nostalgia can be a double-edged sword: Staying too faithful to the original risks sounding stale; changing it too much risks alienating longtime fans. This is the balancing act The Juans had to navigate while working on “Pangarap,” a song that has been covered and used as a competition piece countless times.
“It’s a birit song, so when people cover it, nagiging pataasan ng boses or about vocal acrobatics. The challenge for us is how to make it sound like a song by a pop rock band,” Guevarra says. “And so we just focused on the story—about that special someone you’re dreaming of—and how to tell it if it were written in 2026.”
In the end, they came up with a gentler rendition that leans harder into the song’s “dreaming” aspect through floaty instrumentation and backing vocals. “We respected the song’s form but gave it a fresh take by committing to the feeling it gave us.”
Honoring those who paved the way
Aside from UDD and The Juans, the lineup for “Hopia, Mani, Popcorn 3”—an album series that aims to breathe new life into well-loved OPM classics—also includes Healy After Dark (“’Wag Na Init Ulo Baby” by Rivermaya), Magnus Haven (“Pangako” by Alcasid), Cuatro (“I Need You More Baby” by Caleb Santos), Soapdish (“Bakit Iniwan Na” by Freestyle), Mayonnaise (“Sa Isip Ko” by Rene and Dennis Garcia), and Midnight Talking (“Posible” by Rico Blanco).
Instead of diminishing the original, a strong cover shows that a great song can be sonically malleable and stand the test of time across different artists and generations. Through their versions, the bands hope to introduce these well-loved hits to listeners who have never encountered them—and, in turn, pay tribute to those who paved the way for them in the industry.
“This is a way for us to honor the songs and artists that came before us. It shows the power of music to live on beyond years and genres,” Lorenzo says. “You don’t need to overthink it. That’s the beauty of covers—they’re meant to be a celebration.”
