OPM boy band 1:43 releases second album

SENSATIONAL boy band 1:43 (pronounced as “one forty-three”) affirm their status as the ultimate OPM pop heartthrobs with the release of their much-anticipated sophomore album titled “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” under MCA Music this September.

The album’s romantic carrier single “Sa Isang Sulyap” was released early this year as part of the Mang Inasal Mang Aawit Music Advocacy Program. It swept through the airwaves and became a phenomenal radio hit with listeners, especially among teens.

The song dominated most of the radio charts all over the Philippines and earned the No. 1 spot in the Philippine Radio Music Chart OPM Top 20 for a few weeks and was likewise included in the OPM MYX Countdown.

There are now close to 6,000 videos posted on YouTube using “Sa Isang Sulyap”—all in all, these videos have been viewed more than 23 million times. It is also one of the most downloaded songs today by mobile phone users.

It’s just right then, for 1:43 to name their sophomore album after the song that endeared them to more fans than ever. Their album “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” includes all-original tracks written by the sentimental prince of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) Myrus and arranged by Jonathan Ong of SonicState Studio. It is a follow-up to their highly successful debut record “Time for Love” which was released in April 2011.

From the looks of it, 1:43 has an even bigger hit in their new album as its carrier single continues to peak in popularity: “Sa Isang Sulyap” went on to become the official soundtrack of “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4”. It has been played in popular TV shows like “ASAP 2012,” “Party Pilipinas,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “The Buzz,” “Walang Tulugan,” “KrisTV,” “Mars,” “Luv U,” “Happy Together,” “Angelito: Ang Batang Ama,” and many more.

1:43 is composed of four talented, charming, and stylish lads namely, Anjo Resurreccion, a University of Santo Tomas Psychology graduate and a MYX VJ Search finalist; Gold Aquino, a Business Administration graduate from the Centro Escolar University (CEU); Kent Malunda, a Political Science student from Silliman University in Dumaguete City; and Yuki Sakamoto, a Hotel and Restaurant Management student from CEU-Makati and the main vocalist of the group. Malunda recently replaced pioneer member Kim Nicolas, who left 1:43 to pursue a career in photography.

Aside from the monster hit “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” and its acoustic version, the album features three newly recorded songs composed by Myrus that are definitive of the OPM pop sound today. The mid-tempo songs “Halika Na,” which also has an acoustic version, is about strong bonds of friendship while “Umaga, Tanghali, Gabi” talks about a lingering kind of love.

Meanwhile, the album’s final track “Hiling” is a classic OPM ballad about loving someone unreachable. It is the first time for the boy band, known for its feel-good brand of music, has ever recorded a sad song.

“Our sophomore album is undoubtedly a product of our hard work and dedication in promoting OPM among the Filipino youth. With the musical direction of Myrus, we were able to record beautiful original songs,” relates the group’s spokesperson Anjo.

“Our avid fans, and even critics, will definitely notice how we all have matured as artists in our new recordings. We are highly inspired because we know that millions of people out there are listening to us now,” he adds.

1:43’s lead vocalist Yuki, on the other hand, is grateful for the support they have been getting from their fans.

“It’s still hard to believe that our song has touched our fans—to the point that it became their favorite love song. Sabi pa nila sa akin, parang yung ‘Sa Isang Sulyap’ na ang love song ng kabataan ngayon. Ibang klase ang feeling. It’s so nice when a huge crowd sings with us in our concerts and mall shows,” says Yuki.

Now one of the busiest OPM acts, 1:43 received two nominations for their first album “Time for Love” in the prestigious Awit Awards for Best New Group for the song "Pag-ibig Na Kaya?" (also known sa “PiNK”) and Best Christmas Song for "Merry Christmas Na."

To date, 1:43’s Fanpage in Facebook has garnered over 52,000 “Likes” and their YouTube videos are being widely circulated.

The album “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” by 1:43 is presented by McJIM Leather and is supported by F’g Freshgear and the Mendez Medical Group. More information and updates about 1:43 are available in their official Facebook fan page or you may call Chris Cahilig Talent Services at 6647213 or 6872692.