Sometimes, these songs included "juvenile lyrics", and less frequently, "swardspeak" (aka "gayspeak", i.e. homosexual slang) recast with novelty, comedic or satirical undertones.
Manila sound's unprecedented and meteoric appeal provided viability to a Philippine recording industry that until then had relied on cover versions and imitation of foreign hits to entice consumers.
In the genre's later years, lyrics skewed towards camp humor and parody eventually caused Manila sound to devolve into an explicitly theatrical, if not juvenile, sub-genre, as exemplified by Hagibis (a mimicry of the Village People) and the Boyfriends, until it diminished in the late 1970s under a wave of dance-oriented hits from American films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Footloose.
Two of OPM's early and highly successful releases were the songs "Anak" by folk rock singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar, along with "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" by pianist/composer/conductor Ryan Cayabyab.
The made melodic pop songs in a blend of homegrown Tagalog speak, combined with Ella del Rosario's exclusive upper crust Spanish-American upbringing and cool slang language were a radio mega-hit.
Influenced largely by del Rosario's regal societal class and beauty, gated palatial upbringing, her Spanish-American roots, her uniquely tonal and sweetly charming international accent, combined with her private school upbringing, a magnetic charm, affluent mannerisms and English-speaking mannerisms, suddenly it was cool to talk Taglish and listen to a Pinoy pop band.
But a decade before that, the current Filipino songs were 'God Knows' by Pablo Vergara and 'Sapagka't Kami ay Tao Lamang' by Tony Marquez that teen-aged music buyers would never be caught dead listening to.
Also for the first time, local songs began to dominate the Philippine airwaves, club and disco music scenes, five-star hotel lobbies and lounges, food and retail malls, and even Philippine Airlines cabins arriving home from international flights (then monopolized by American pop and rock songs) and establish the style and identity of mainstream Filipino music.
Fans couldn't get enough of baby-faced beauty Ella Del Rosario, who quickly rose to mega stardom and was considered a beloved icon, especially pointed out as a national treasure by then First Lady Imelda Marcos.
Fans flocked to personally attend del Rosario's TV shows, ticket sales increased with her movies and many named their female children after her.
VST and Company: Initially starting with the Sotto Brothers, the group scored a number of disco hits such as "Disco Fever", "Awitin Mo Isasayaw Ko", "Kiss Kiss", "Step No Step Yes", "Swing", "Tayo'y Magsayawan", and "Rock Baby Rock" along with romantic ballads like "Ikaw ang Aking Mahal" and "Ipagpatawad Mo".
Two other singles, "Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko" (another Rey Valera composition) and "High School Life" also received considerable airplay.
Rico J. Puno: Soul balladeer acclaimed for a number of hit songs, including "Lupa", "Damdamin", "May Bukas Pa", "Kapalaran", "Macho Gwapito", "Sorry Na Puede Ba", and "Diyos ang Pag-ibig", among many others.
Other artists/bands that contributed to Manila sound include ABC Express ("Magandang Binibini (I Love You)"), Asin ("Itanong Mo sa Mga Bata"), Azul ("O Pag-ibig"), Blue Jeans ("Paniwalaan"), Bong Peñera and the Batucada ("Samba Song"), Celeste Legaspi ("Saranggola ni Pepe", "Mamang Sorbetero", "Tuliro", "Gaano Kita Kamahal"), Dan Henry ("Twenty Minutes Before Take-off"), Imelda Papin ("Isang Linggong Pag-ibig"), Jose Mari Chan ("Good Old-fashioned Romance", "Here & Now", "Can We Just Stop and Talk a While?
"), Juan Dela Cruz Band ("Ang Himig Natin", "Rock & Roll sa Ulan", "Mamasyal sa Pilipinas", "Maskara", "Pinoy Blues", "Beep Beep", "We Love You", "Rak En Rol sa Mundo", "Balong Malalim", "Naglalakbay", "Last Song"), Ella del Rosario ("Mr. Disco", "Lagi Na Lamang", "Shake It Baby", "Pabulong"), Fred Panopio ("Ang Kawawang Cowboy", "Turistang Bilmoko", "Pitong Gatang"), Junior ("Yakap", "Excuse Me", "But If You Leave Me", "It's Only Love"), Labuyo ("Tuloy Pa Rin"), Mike Hanopol ("Laki sa Layaw - Jeproks", "Kayabangan", "Mr. Kenkoy", "Buhay Musikero"), Pat Castillo ("Aso't Pusa"), Rainmakers ("Binibini", "OK sa Akin", "You and Me", "Miss Maganda"), Singsing ("Usapan", "Oh Babe"), Tito Mina ("Ikaw Pa Rin", "Honey", "Got to Let You Know", "Both in Love"), Wadab ("Pag Tumatagal Lalong Tumitibay", "Iniibig Kita", Tsismis Ka", "Ang Jeepney"), and novelty artist Yoyoy Villame ("Magellan", "Butse Kik", "Chili Cha Cha", "Da Da Da", "Granada"), among many others.
Over the years since Manila sound's decline, many performers have released cover versions of the more popular songs of this genre, indicating its continuing appeal to new generations of listeners.
These artists and their covers include Barbie's Cradle ("Langit Na Naman"), Donna Cruz ("Boy"), Erik Santos ("Bitin sa Iyo"), Freestyle ("Bakit Ba Ganyan"), Gary Valenciano ("Manila"), Janno Gibbs ("Binibini", "Ipagpatawad"), Jolina Magdangal ("T.L.
Ako sa Iyo"), Mark Bautista ("Beh Buti Nga" (featuring Anne Curtis)), Manilyn Reynes ("Mr. Disco", "Shake It Baby", "Nais Kong Malaman Mo" (with Keempee de Leon)), Prettier Than Pink ("Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy"), Piolo Pascual ("Ms. Universe"), Sarah Geronimo ("Pers Lab"), Sheryn Regis ("Bongga Ka Day"), Sitti Navarro ("Samba Song"), Tina Paner ("Sana"), Vina Morales ("Pers Lab"), and White Lies ("First Love Never Dies").