Meet The Filipino Singer Who Just Beat Taylor Swift’s Local Record On Spotify
Internet users in the Philippines are likely to have encountered the viral lyrics, “Oh diba, nakakap*tangina,” while perusing TikTok. They come from the song “ERE” by Juan Karlos from his new album Sad Songs and Bullsh*t Part 1.
Juan Karlos Labajo (born on February 5, 2001) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, and actor. He has been active in the industry ever since he joined The Voice Kids in 2014. He solidified his standing as an artist when he released the viral hit “Buwan” in 2018. Now, several years later, he’s reaching even greater heights with “ERE.”
With 1.39 million streams on its release day, “ERE” was the biggest release in the local Spotify chart history. It surpassed SunKissed Lola‘s “Pasilyo” (691,000), Dilaw‘s “Uhaw (Tayong Lahat)” (747,000), and Lola Amour‘s “Raining In Manila” (841,000).
Even more outstanding, it is the first OPM song to make it on the global Spotify charts, ranking at #177 on October 7.
“ERE” even had the honor of being the sole OPM (Original Pinoy Music) song to be streamed on Spotify over a million times on the first day of its release. Previously, only six songs on the local chart reached this milestone—and they all belonged to Taylor Swift: “Mine,” “Back to December,” “Anti-Hero,” “Lavender Haze,” “Sparks Fly,” and “Speak Now.”
At 1,300,000 streams, Juan Karlos beat Taylor Swift’s “Mine” (Taylor’s Version) as the most listened-to song in the Philippines in a single day.
It broke its daily streaming record multiple times since then. As of October 10, it was streamed 1.5 million times.
juan karlos (@karloslabajo__)'s "ERE" breaks its own record for the biggest single day streams for any song on Spotify PH chart history with 1.502 million streams. pic.twitter.com/l0QsBjAiem
— chart data PH 🇵🇭 (@chartdataPH) October 10, 2023
“ERE” first gained relevance in TikTok when Filipinos used it as the background song of videos related to the rainy season. The swear words “nakakap*tangina” were juxtaposed with scenes where people couldn’t help but feel frustrated such as being wet by flood waters on one’s daily commute.
@888zine tama ka nga
@bruno_luna042519 Papa mura kana lang e , este mapapa kanta kana lng ng 😂 P.I NI @juan karlos
@iamkeanromeo reuploading my story few days ago. The song says it all. Basang basa po ako jan. Di ko napansin yung motorista na galit pala haha😂 #fyp
They also used it for general situations that others would find relatable, like being given homework that isn’t related to one’s course…
@__dwynn__ Hindi naman related sa kukunin na course😭😭🥴 #pov #school #project #fyp
…or being asked out when on a budget.
@cjbarinaga Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi? 😭 #tipidtips #hagdanserye
Couples would also post sentimental videos dedicated to each other with the bridge’s lyrics, “Tatlong bilyon ikaw lang ang aking gusto” [“Three billion people and you’re the only one I want”] playing in the background.
@itsmezyyy_0
@redbedonia ❤️🩹
Sad Songs and Bullsh*t Part 1 was released on September 26, 2023.
