Last January 19, folk-pop artist dwta and SB19’s justin released their collaborative single “Sampung Mga Daliri,” debuting at the 10th Wish Music Awards. Despite getting the hugot treatment, “Sampung Mga Daliri” was executed in the most melodramatic way possible.
When we listen to collaborations between a male and female singer, they’re not just sharing the spotlight; they’re working together to bring an idea to life. On the surface, it seems like dwta and justin are a match made in heaven. The two artists leaned on their individual strengths: dwta’s vulnerable vocal presence matched the tone of her acoustic guitar, while justin brought his signature baritone-style singing.
We’ve seen this call-response formula before in tracks like “Bakit Ka Ngayon Ka Lang” by Freestyle and Pops Fernandez, “Huling Sayaw” by Kamikazee, “Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw” by December Avenue and Moira Dela Torre, and “BMW” by Because and Leslie. justin and dwta’s tandem carries this same weight for a generation of fans who grew up chanting one of the most popular Filipino nursery rhymes ever.
“Sampung Mga Daliri” kicks off with dwta singing; her “vulnerable vocal presence” sounding like she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She opens with the familiar intro of the nursery rhyme, twisting the lyrics into a new narrative — one of star-crossed lovers ceaselessly yearning for love (“Sampung mga daliri / Kamay mo’y nasa’n na? / Pagdilat ko, wala ka na / Hawak na ng iba”). justin comes in as a supporting vocalist, building on dwta’s take with a soothing delivery that lacks the presence and emotion he’s known for.
The chemistry between justin and dwta wasn’t compelling enough to make for a memorable collaboration. While the pairing sounds promising on a press release, the finished product, and the back and forth between the two, felt born out of convenience, rather than a desire to put their own unique take on the popular nursery rhyme. In doing so, their attempt to reimagine a children’s song into a love story manages to fall completely flat.
“Sampung Mga Darili” is lopsided from start to finish — a project made for the sake of nostalgia without offering anything truly new. I’ll stick with the original tune by the kids at the family function instead.