7 SB19 ballads that prove they have the Filipino throat chakra activated

SB19 is best known for their songs "GENTO" and "MAPA," a viral TikTok dance and an anthem dedicated to parents. But did you know that the P-Pop Kings are also vocal powerhouses?

Pablo, Stell, Ken, Josh, and Justin have that Filipino singing talent in their blood, and they all have unique voices that blend well together.

Stell can belt high notes like Regine Velasquez and whistle like Ariana Grande, while Ken is the opposite with his deep voice providing a solid bass for the group.

Pablo has an addicting husky style, Josh's voice has a nasal quality to it, and Justin has sweet vocals that all add flavor to SB19's sound.

If you need more proof that SB19 has that Filipino throat chakra activated, here are seven ballads in their discography that showcase their singing abilities.

1. Liham

"Liham" is a love letter in the form of a song. Almost six and a half minutes long, SB19 pulls all the vocal stops to hold onto to their listeners – Ken's falsetto, Stell's runs, and eargasmic harmonies from the whole group.

"Liham" was released in 2023 as one of the tracks in SB19's "Pagtatag!" EP. They also sang it in "The Voice Generations," one of their best live performances of the song.

2. Tilaluha

Before SB19 rose to prominence with "Go Up," their debut single was actually a ballad called "Tilaluha." The title is a portmanteau of the words "tila" (to stop raining) and "luha" (tears), suggesting the yearning for the end of sadness.

The melody and lyrics have a nostalgic vibe similar to OPM songs of old. It's a breakup song with the painful line: "Kung wala nang pag-asa turuan mo naman akong limutin ka."

"Tilaluha" was also released as part of SB19's debut album, "Get In the Zone," released in 2020.

3. Hanggang sa Huli

Another ballad in SB19's discography is "Hanggang sa Huli," an expression of eternal love to The One That Got Away. It contains the mapanakit line, "At kung nasabi ko ang lahat noon ay may magbabago ba?"

The boys' harmonies and Stell's high notes are so on point, and prepare to get weak on your knees when they sing "Mahal kita" one by one near the end of the song.

Like "Tilaluha," "Hanggang sa Huli" is also one of the tracks in "Get In the Zone."

4. Ilaw

SB19 doesn't just sing about love in their ballads – they use the emotional range that can be expressed by the genre to get vulnerable.

In "Ilaw," they sing about the blinding capabilities of light – how the spotlight of fame can make the public forget that they are also human beings with their own struggles behind their smiles.

It's a relatable song for everyone who is tired of putting on a mask in front of others to make it seem like they are fine. Justin's line "Puwede bang ipagpaliban muna ng isang linggo? Puwede muna bang hinto?" is a punch in the gut and Pablo's iconic high note in the climax pierces through the heart.

5. Nyebe

From its title, "Nyebe" is a song that uses the coldness of snow to express the numbness people feel when confronted by the passage of time.

It captures the sacrifice of missing special moments with your loved ones, whether you are an OFW working far away from family or long-distance lovers enduring time away from each other.

SB19 released "Nyebe" as a single in 2022. It was also the official theme song of 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture "Green Bones."

6. Time

SB19 made everybody cry with their song "Time," one of the tracks in their "Simula at Wakas" EP. The boys showcased their leveled up vocals in the full English song about living life fully during our limited time here on Earth.

In the track, the group also made use of silence and the ticking of a clock as creative touches to support their message. The best part of the song is arguably the bridge, with the beautiful line, "'Cause if I'm leaving anyway, I'm spending every day scattering stars in the night sky, hoping it'll lead the way for better days."

"Time" also has a heart-wrenching music video featuring a mother and daughter living apart and trying to stay in touch through video-calls before tragedy strikes.

7. Wakas

"Wakas" is a song that got SB19 fans overthinking about the future of the group. In the lengthy ballad, the P-pop kings confront the fact that everything eventually comes to an end. That was how they closed their Ikalawang Yugto, and the group is now ready to take on the challenge of introducing themselves to the wider world.

The song has full Tagalog lyrics, but the emotions it communicates resonated with fans of different backgrounds. "Wakas" landed at no. 9 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales Chart, proving that music is a universal language. —JCB, GMA Integrated News