It seems like yearning just found its new muse. Mariah Deborah is earning her stripes as a modern-day voice for certified lover girls and perpetual daydreamers, and she’s ready as ever to bring her boundless storytelling into the vast landscape of Filipino music.
Photo: Mariah Deborah/Instagram
Over the past few years, Mariah has been persevering to find her footing as a sapphic singer-songwriter, sharing snippets of her work that put her introspective lyricism front and center. But now, in the blink of an eye, she has the whole country asking, “Sabi sa sarili ko, wala lang ‘to. Pero ba’t sa’yo na’ng aking Sabado?”, and it’s all been uphill from there.
Witnessing the meteoric rise of Mariah’s breakout hit “Na Para Bang” in real time has been pure magic—a telltale sign that queer voices have always played a vital role in helping Original Pilipino Music (OPM) thrive. At first, the captivating love song might remind you of a serenade straight out of your favorite rom-com, with verses and hooks that read like a note from your secret admirer. But give it time, and it’ll speak to you on a much deeper level, unveiling lovestruck fantasies and bursts of adoration you didn’t even know existed.
The same thrills are evident in Mariah’s growing discography. The further you explore her body of work, the more inspired you’ll be to fall in love with life again.
If you’ve been harboring intense feelings for a special someone or a distant dream that refuses to simmer down, but can’t quite put them into words yet, let Mariah’s soulful melodies take the lead. Or better yet, take them to her upcoming live shows and experience her artistic prowess in the flesh. Either way, these emerging hits of hers are here to catch you when you fall.
“Na Para Bang”
“Baka nga wala namang mali kung mag-iba man ang aking tingin, nagpapakiramdaman, sana’y mapanindigan.”
This chart-topping single is an ode to earnest love confessions that make ambiguity and avoidance pale in comparison. “Na Para Bang” can represent various chapters of our own romantic connections and those of our favorite fictional ships. But these unique sentiments come together to remind us that once the right person waltzes into our lives, even our precious weekends and rest days will be worth the sacrifice to be in their midst. If this yearning anthem has our favorite celebrities and Pinoy pop (P-pop) idols in their feelings, then who are we to fight the urge to embrace our inner hopeless romantics, too?
“Bahagya”
“Alam kong malayo pa, pero malayo na. Nang sinabi kong ‘gusto kita,’ kinilig ka ba nang bahagya?”
What happens when the restraint of religious guilt meets the radiance of a budding sapphic relationship? You get “Bahagya,” a go-to track for those who long to love each other out loud even when stubborn doubts interfere. If you’ve ever found yourself caught between your heart’s wants and your mind’s needs, this song is right up your alley. It’s enticing, engaging, and irresistibly charming with a magnetic melody that makes it impossible to forget.
“Hibang”
“Pipiliing maniwala sa hindi totoo, para lang makasayaw ko ang iyong anino.”
Mariah explores the intricacies of the Filipino language in “Hibang,” a heavy-hitting track that grapples with jealousy, obsession, and the mortifying ordeal of clinging to a love that the rest of the world forbids. If our intrusive thoughts had a theme song, it would be this one, which goes to show how imagery and symbolism will always be trump cards in Mariah’s creative process.
“Tila Talo”
“Sabi ng iba’y ‘huwag magpadala,’ ngunit kapag nagtatama na ‘ting mga mata, nawawala angas ko sa mga titig mo.”
I Wanna Eat Your Intestines, Mariah’s 2023 debut album, contains many hidden gems that deserve all the hype they can get. One of which is “Tila Talo,” an opener that proves why love is a worthwhile gamble. Times change, and so do the people we cherish and outgrow. But one thing remains certain—relationships will never feel like a game around genuine souls who are in it for the long haul. With partners like that, how can we possibly lose?
“Hawlang Ginto”
“At sabay tayong tatakbo palayo sa mga anino ng mga tao, magbibingi-bingihan na lang, sulitin ang pagtakas sa hawlang ginto.”
Nothing compares to the momentary escapades we spend with our other halves when life stretches us too thin. “Hawlang Ginto” tells us that, though short-lived, we’ll always hold these priceless memories close to our hearts as a reason to get up every morning.
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What are your favorite songs by Mariah Deborah? Sound off and share your picks with us in the comments below!
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