"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.
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.
"Siguro yung 'Dilaw' is a song na I will always remember. I will always tell myself I will always listen to it even if I'm older, even if I have kids, you know, kasi it's sort of a love letter for myself na reassuring everything. Kasi ako ay, I grew up experiencing so many things, not only sa music industry but in general. Like, I experienced so many things na hindi maganda, like for a kid experience, and through that, nadamage ako, like personally, and nadamage mindset ko. You know the way I see myself, the way I talk sa salamin. But this song, when I ask myself, do I really deserve yung ganitong ka-harsh na mundo? Kasi ever since I was a kid, I've always been so soft; I've been so loving sa mga tao, and then all I get back is, you know, rejections and disappointments. [...] But now, whenever I sing that song, and I sing 'Dilaw' so many times, and they listen to 'Dilaw' many times, I hear 'Dilaw' so many times, and I'm so glad now I get to hear it every day. Sometimes mga artist iniisip nila parang 'Ay, songs ko na kasama, na lagi ko yang pinapakinggan,' but 'Dilaw' is something I will never get tired of listening to. Kasi I know whenever I listen to it, kinakanta ko siya para sa sarili ko and for all the people na, you know, naka-experience ng same experience as me. I want them to realize din na this song is parang pwedeng niyo siyang gamitin like a song for yourself, you know, and a song for your loved ones as well, your Dilaws. Actually, may favorite akong line sa song na ito; I think yung sa second verse: 'Di akalain mararamdaman o uli ang yakap ng panahon habang kumakalabit ng sinag ng raw sa lilim ng ulap.' Parang hindi ako yung type ng sobrang sunny talaga. Like, whenever I’m alone, I'm sunny, like bright yung personality ko when it comes to the people I love, like my friends, my family. But whenever I'm alone, kasi hindi ako kind sa sarili ko. But now, I get to learn, kasi whenever I hear my song, I get to learn, you know, hindi man sayo mabigay ang mundo yung pagmamahal na gusto mong mabigay sayo, bigay mo sa sarili mo. Like, ikaw lang yung makakapagbigay sa sarili mo ng ganong kind of love, which is yung yellow love, and na hindi mo kayang—hindi makakapag-mahal ng tao ng ganon if hindi mo mahal ang sarili mo ng ganon."
—Maki discusses the meaning behind his chart-topping song 'Dilaw' in a podcast on Billboard Philippines Volume titled 'Maki Emotionally Reveals the Deep Meaning Behind His Song 'Dilaw.'[1]
On 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,[2] with the former gaining over 19 million streams and the latter gaining over 2 million streams on Spotify.[3] 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.[2]
"Dilaw" is three minutes and twelve seconds long.[4] Set in the key of A, with a tempo of 126 beats per minute,[5] the song was produced by Nhiko Sabiniano and composed by Maki (credited under his real name Ralph William Datoon) and Nhiko Sabiniano.[4] 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".[6][7] 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".[8]
Maki first teased "Dilaw" on April 27, 2024, by changing his Facebook profile picture to a solid yellow image.[9] A Facebook user speculated that Maki would release a new single titled "Dilaw", noting that he had performed it in Concepcion, Tarlac.[9] Maki then posted several teasers, which include snippets of the song and its music video, on his social media accounts.[10][11][12]
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.[2][13] 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.[14] On August 2, Maki performed "Dilaw" live on the Wish 107.5 Bus.[15]
Co-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.[8] 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.[16] 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".[16][17]
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.[6]
Writing 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.[18]
Following its release on May 24, 2024, "Dilaw" debuted at number four on Billboard's Philippines Songs chart.[19] The song maintained a place in the top five for three weeks[19] 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.[20][21] The song later debuted at number one on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 for the weeks of July 6 and July 13, 2024,[22] becoming the first song to top the relaunched chart.[23][24] It also topped the first two inaugural issues of Billboard Philippines' Top Philippine Songs chart for the same period.[22]
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.[22][2] 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.[22][24]
In August 2024, the song surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify.[25]
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