"Dilaw" (lit. 'Yellow' in Tagalog) is a song written by Filipino singer Maki. It was released as a digital single on May 24, 2024, through Tarsier Records, and was produced by Nhiko Sabiniano. "Dilaw" is an indie alternative track that explores the themes of unconditional love. The song peaked at number one on Billboard's now defunct Philippines Songs chart, topping the chart in its final issue. The single later debuted atop the newly relaunched Billboard Philippines Hot 100, becoming the first song to rank number one on the chart.
| "Dilaw" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Maki | ||||
| Language | Tagalog | |||
| English title | Yellow | |||
| Released | May 24, 2024 | |||
| Genre |
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| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Tarsier Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Nhiko Sabiniano | |||
| Maki singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
"Dilaw" | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Dilaw" on YouTube | ||||
On Spotify, "Dilaw" set the record for the platform's highest single-day streams by an OPM song and contributed to Maki's success as the male OPM artist with the most monthly listeners.
Background
editOn September 22, 2023, Maki released the extended play (EP) Tanong (Question), which featured five new tracks: "Sigurado?" (Sure?), "Saan?" (Where?), "Siguro...?" (Probably?), "Kailan?" (When?), and "Bakit?" (Why?). "Saan?" and "Bakit?" became viral hits,[1] with the former gaining over 19 million streams and the latter gaining over 2 million streams on Spotify.[2] After the success of the EP and the single "Saan?", Maki continued his momentum with the tracks "HBD" and "Sikulo" (Cycle) before releasing "Dilaw" as a standalone single on May 24, 2024.[1]
Composition
edit"Dilaw" is three minutes and twelve seconds long.[3] Set in the key of A, with a tempo of 126 beats per minute,[4] the song was produced by Nhiko Sabiniano and composed by Maki (credited under his real name Ralph William Datoon) and Nhiko Sabiniano.[3] It has been described to be an indie alternative track that explores themes of unconditional love, likening hope and happiness to the color yellow "as it captures the experience of finding love after overcoming a painful past".[5][6] Revealed to be inspired by a conversation that Maki shared with his former lover, who had opined that "the love [Maki] gave was not a calm love", the song has also been noted to imagine love as "a calm, joyful, and warm emotion, like the color yellow".[7]
Promotion and release
editMaki first teased "Dilaw" on April 27, 2024, by changing his Facebook profile picture to a solid yellow image.[8] A Facebook user speculated that Maki would release a new single titled "Dilaw", noting that he had performed it in Concepcion, Tarlac.[8] Maki then posted several teasers, which include snippets of the song and its music video, on his social media accounts.[9][10][11]
On May 11, Maki and Tarsier Records officially announced that "Dilaw" would be released on May 24, 2024. The song, along with its accompanying music video, was released on the scheduled date.[1][12] To commemorate the single's release, Maki held the song's eponymous mini music festival, Dilaw Fest, at McKinley Whiskey Park on May 25. The event featured performances by Maki, alongside guest performers Nameless Kids, Ysanygo, Jikamarie, Angela Ken, Janine Teñoso, and Jolianne.[13] On August 2, Maki performed "Dilaw" live on the Wish 107.5 Bus.[14]
Music video
editCo-directed by Jaydee Alberto and Maki, the music video has been noted to highlight art as a medium for storytelling as it depicts the romantic relationship between two young artists.[7] The video features Maki and Maloi, a member of the P-pop group Bini, as high school students who meet and bond over their shared love of art and adventure.[15] As the video progresses, Maki's character gradually brings color—both literally and figuratively—into the life of Maloi's character, visually depicting the blossoming romance between them with a reference to the song's intention of "symboliz[ing] the happiness and positivity someone brings into your life".[15][16]
After its release on May 24, 2024, the music video became the top trending video on YouTube Philippines, garnering over two million views within the first two weeks of its premiere.[5]
Critical reception
editWriting for Billboard Philippines, Gabriel Saulog praised "Dilaw" for its "emotional resonance and heartfelt lyrics", highlighting the song's ability to capture the essence of youthful longing and vulnerability.[17]
Commercial performance
editFollowing its release on May 24, 2024, "Dilaw" debuted at number four on Billboard's Philippines Songs chart.[18] The song maintained a place in the top five for three weeks[18] before peaking at number one for two consecutive weeks on the charts dated June 22 and June 29, 2024, which served as the Philippines Songs' final issues.[19][20] The song later debuted at number one on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 for the weeks of July 6 and July 13, 2024,[21] becoming the first song to top the relaunched chart.[22][23] It also topped the first two inaugural issues of Billboard Philippines' Top Philippine Songs chart for the same period.[21]
On Spotify, "Dilaw" set the record for the highest single-day streams achieved by an OPM song on the platform and became the third OPM song in history to enter the Spotify Global Chart, ranking at number 200 with 1.1 million streams.[21][1] This contributed to Maki's achievement of becoming the male OPM artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, at more than 6.5 million users.[21][23]
In August 2024, the song surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify.[24]
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Philippines (Billboard)[19] | 1 |
| Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[25] | 1 |
| Philippines (Top Philippine Songs)[26] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Saulog, Gabriel (June 11, 2024). "Maki Makes His Global Spotify Chart Debut With "Dilaw"". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "'Saan' singer Maki releases debut EP 'Tanong'". ABS-CBN NEWS. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Dilaw - Song by Maki on Apple Music". Apple Music (PH). May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Tempo for Dilaw - Maki". SongBPM. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Maki's new single "Dilaw" tops Spotify PH Top 50". ABS-CBN CORPORATE. June 7, 2024. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Agcaoili, Nicole (May 26, 2024). "Maki shares meaning behind latest single 'Dilaw'". ABS-CBN NEWS. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Bautista, Rafael (June 21, 2024). "How Maki Turned "Dilaw" into an Unexpected Self-Love Anthem of the Year". Nylon Manila. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Maki (April 27, 2024). 💛. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via Facebook.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ NEW SONG????? kilig era na ba 💛💫🛵 #Maki #DIlaw #Newsong #Opm. April 28, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via Facebook.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Maki (April 29, 2024). sabi mo ehhh 🫵🏽💛. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via Facebook.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Maki. Delikado na ba ang lahat #Dilaw 💛🛵. TikTok.
- ^ Tarsier Records (May 20, 2024). “Dilaw” - Maki (Official Music Video). YouTube.
- ^ Saulog, Gabriel (May 21, 2024). "Maki To Launch New Single At 'Dilaw Fest'". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ "Maki performs 'Dilaw' live on Wish 107.5 Bus". Wish 107.5. August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Go, Mayks (May 24, 2024). "Maki Drops Music Video For New Single, "Dilaw: Starring BINI's Maloi". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Bonoan, Christian (June 4, 2024). "Maki and BINI's Maloi Star In New Music Video". Myx Global. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Saulog, Gabriel (May 21, 2024). "Maki To Launch Sing At 'Dilaw Fest'". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Saulog, Gabriel (June 19, 2024). "Maki's "Dilaw" Tops Billboard's Philippines Songs Chart". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "Philippines Songs - June 22, 2024". Billboard. June 18, 2024. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ "Philippines Songs - June 29, 2024". Billboard. June 18, 2024. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "MAKI BREAKS RECORDS WITH 'DILAW'". Daily Tribune. July 20, 2024. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "BINI, Maki, Sabrina Carpenter lead first week of Billboard PH's 'Hot 100'". GMA NEWS ONLINE. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "Maki, gumawa ng kasaysayan sa "Dilaw"; hiniang bilang male OPM artist na may pinakamaraming monthly listeners sa Spotify". ABS-CBN CORPORATE (in Tagalog). July 11, 2024. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Antonio, Josiah (August 21, 2024). "Maki reaches new milestone with 100M streams of 'Dilaw' on Spotify". ABS-CBN NEWS. Archived from the original on August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Top Philippine Hot 100 Ranking - Week of July 27 2024". Billboard Philippines. July 27, 2024. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Top Philippine Songs Ranking - Week of July 27, 2024". Billboard Philippines. July 27, 2024. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.