Dionela: A new name on the hit list

It looks like the Blooms were caught sleeping on the job. They probably took a nap, thinking that BINI was already so solidly entrenched at No. 1 and needed no help staying there.

Very, very wrong, girls and guys, too, just in case you also bloom. See what happened. You closed your eyes and relaxed for a while, and when you opened them, boo! There was Dionela at No. 1 on Spotify’s Top 50 most streamed tabulation. BINI had been kicked out and landed at No. 4.

Now, now, who is Dionela? This is not the athlete named Angelique Dionela. I think she plays soccer or volleyball. This is a guy named Tim. He comes from Guiguinto, a town in Bulacan and has been doing assorted gigs around town these past few years.

He had a minor hit a year ago titled Bahag Hari, which he also composed. Dionela thought midyear 2024 was a good time to return. And so, he did. This time around his song is Sining and he has the country’s favorite pop/R&B artist Jay R in tow.

Jay R is best known for his debut release Bakit Pa Ba? Composed by Vehnee Saturno, the R&B flavored ballad was one of the biggest hits of 2003. It was followed by Ngayo’y Narito, also by Saturno and other tunes over the years, most of them with that sweet R&B touch that Jay R earned the tag of Prince of R&B in the Philippines.

Dionela sings with this appealing combination of plaintive harana chops and sleek R&B vibe. So, when he wanted the company of another R&B artist for Sining, he decided to ask the most R&B singer of them all, Jay R and the combination worked beautifully. Sining is now No. 1. Dionela has a big hit. And not to forget, it is also nice to find Jay R back in the charts again.

By the way, those who keep tabs with the hit lists must have noticed the new name with the song Museo. She is Eliza Maturan and she comes from far-off Surigao. Wonder if she is related to that famous balladeer from the ‘50s named Diomedes Maturan.

Anyway, like most singers today, she started out singing covers while doing gigs. Then she went into writing songs and singing her compositions on her mobile phone. One of them titled Museo, went viral in a big way and Eliza got her first hit.

And back to the Blooms. No need to feel that bad now that BINI has been booted out of No. 1. They can always come back. One song is all it takes. Besides, your favorite girl group still reigns in the charts with five songs among the Top 25 listing.

And now, here are the most streamed 25 titles out of Spotify’s Top 50. Sining by Dionela ft. Jay R; Dilaw by Maki; Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish; Salamin, Salamin by BINI; Pantropiko by BINI; Palagi by TJ Monterde; Please, Please, Please by Sabrina Carpenter; Cherry on Top by BINI; Karera by BINI; Walang Alam by Hev Abi; Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter; Babaero by gins&melodies with Hev Abi; This Na Malambing by Ryannah and Nateman.

Museo by Eliza Maturan; Lagi by BINI; Wag Na by Realest Cram with CK and YG; Burgis by Flow G and Hev Abi; Take All The Love by Arthur Neri; Tingin by Cup of Joe and Janine Tenoso; Saan by Maki; Tadhana by Up Dharma Down; Who by Jimin; ILY by Young Blood Neet with Bugoy Na Koykoy; Good Luck Babe! by Chappell Roan; and MILLION DOLLAR BABY by Tommy Richman.