Go big or go home. This has always been the tried-and-tested formula for winning a local singing competition. The higher the notes, the bigger the chances. But with Gen Z and Gen Alpha now taking the stage, the sound of victory is starting to change.
A look at the history of contest winners would show that almost all of them came from the belter or “biritera mold. But these days, aspiring singers no longer feel the need to rely on that style of singing to prove their mettle.
“Sila ang nag-break ng norm na kailangan bumibirit ka all the time. Kasi hindi naman doon nasusukat ang galing ng isang performer,” Julie Anne San Jose, host of the upcoming GMA 7 singing tilt “The Clash Teens,” tells Lifestyle Inquirer.
Because they grew up on social media and not on traditional variety shows, their influences lean more toward indie pop, contemporary R&B, and modern OPM rock. As such, their idea of what makes good singing is also different. More than pure technical skill or vocal calisthenics, younger singers care more about authenticity, vibe, and storytelling.
The composition of “The Clash Teens” panel more or less reflects that trend. While Christian Bautista remains as the veteran and authoritative figure, the inclusion of young star Jillian Ward and JL Toreliza of P-pop boy band BGYO suggests that the network is not just looking for a vocal powerhouse but also someone with a musical identity their target market will want to root for.
“If you notice, what’s important to the new generation is being a storyteller. Nakaka-touch ka ba ng puso? Nakaka-relate ba sila sa kuwento mo on stage? I think that’s where my being an actress comes in,” says Ward, who is also a competent singer and dancer despite being known primarily for her acting.
“What’s important to the new generation is being a storyteller. Nakaka-touch ka ba ng puso? Nakaka-relate ba sila sa kuwento mo on stage?” says Ward
This was the same trap Toreliza fell into when he joined the first season of “The Clash.” “Naging mali ko before is ang mindset na kailangang pang-contest ang kakantahin, so nawala ’yong authenticity,” he says. “So as a judge, gusto ko lang ilabas ’yong pagiging totoo ng mga contestants,” he adds.
Unlikely contest pieces
No longer beholden to contest warhorses meant to showcase power—torch songs, Broadway show tunes, and good ol’ diva ballads—contestants are now free to perform unlikely pieces that nonetheless reveal who they are as artists.
True enough, while you would still hear songs by Mariah Carey or Martin Nievera being belted out, the singing styles and song choices have become noticeably more diverse across the board.
Last season’s winner Jong Madaliday, for instance, bested the competition with the melancholic soul ballad “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi. Other past contestants, like Sean Karl and Chloe Redondo, performed “Leaves” by Ben&Ben and “Buwan” by Juan Karlos, respectively.
“The song choices now are more experimental,” Bautista says. “Kung ano ’yong feel nilang i-express, ’yon ang pipiliin nila.”
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“The song choices now are more experimental,” Bautista says. “Kung ano ’yong feel nilang i-express, ’yon ang pipiliin nila.”
San Jose, who shares hosting duties with Rayver Cruz, adds, “Mas malawak ngayon. There were times contestants performed a Justin Bieber song, and I was like, ‘Wow, puwede rin pala siyang contest piece.’ Iba na rin talaga ’yong mga kinalakihan nila at nag-inspire sa kanila.”
A different beast
This isn’t to say, however, that today’s crop of singers is any less vocally proficient. Just because they choose to rein themselves in doesn’t mean they can’t blow—they’re just more discerning about when to let loose. And that is what makes them “refreshing.”
“Of course, they can’t be totally chill—they still have to show they have fight. So they work with our musical directors to arrange their song choices in a way that remains authentic while still showing off their potential,” Bautista says.
Such changes may be helping singing contests keep a pulse on younger audiences. But with social media now the main arena, the bigger question may be what good joining a televised competition still does for teenagers when they can just upload TikTok or YouTube videos for a shot at fame?
Yes, social media offers instant visibility, but Toreliza argues that competitions still have their benefits—mainly, the experience of performing live onstage, which is an entirely different beast.
“Malaking tulong siya sa pag-build ng confidence. Sa social media, nasa camera ka lang, so you don’t know what it feels like to be on stage with people watching you,” he says. “My experience in singing contests has been a big help for me, and I believe it was a great first step.”
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It’s the journey, not the destination
While Toreliza highlights the confidence-building aspect of competitions, Bautista points to another advantage: the technical training a televised stage requires.
“Everything changes when the lights are on. And then there’s the camera,” he says, recalling how he initially struggled with simple on-camera details like tracking the red light. “Marami kang matututunan.”
Ward, on the other hand, believes part of the show’s role is helping young contestants deal with the pressures that come with performing and being under scrutiny from such a young age.
“I know the struggles of child stars and teenagers, especially the self-doubt. Doon mo mabibuild ’yung confidence nila,” she says. “Para akong ate nila ngayon.”
Still, as singing contests continue to evolve with the tastes of a new generation, one thing remains the same: “The journey is just as important as the victory.” As “The Clash” welcomes its new batch of hopefuls starting June 7, Bautista wants them to remember just that.
“We always aim to be better, to be one of the best, but there will be more defeats and mistakes along the way,” he says. “Just remember to get back up, always.”
