Rico Blanco Bids Farewell To A Dear Friend In New Single “Paalam” – Listen
It is the Filipino rock icon’s first release of 2025, serving as the follow-up to his brand new rendition of the Rivermaya classic “Kisapmata,” which came out on July 19, 2024.
Rico Blanco: courtesy of Sony Music Philippines and NYOU Consultancy
Rico Blanco: courtesy of Sony Music Philippines and NYOU Consultancy
Rico Blanco is back with a brand new single, entitled “Paalam.” The Filipino rock icon released the new song on August 1, 2025 (Friday), announcing the track a day ahead on July 31.
Described as “equal parts love song and meditation on loss,” “Paalam” is an emotive ballad that notably features kundiman arrangements and orchestral elements, with wistful but hopeful lyrics detailing the point-of-view of someone bidding farewell and well wishes to a dear friend until they meet again. “Production-wise, I always knew how I wanted the song to sound,” shares Blanco in a press statement. “I wanted it to have a timeless arrangement, or some would say a bit traditional.”
“Out of all the songs I’ve released, Paalam is the song that took me the longest to finish,” reveals Blanco, noting how the track “has been a work in progress for many, many years.” The new single was originally inspired by the departure of a former bandmate of Blanco’s back in the 90’s and has since evolved over the years, especially after the recent passing of his brother a few months ago. “All these years, I kept waiting for the right singer to come along,” admits Blanco who hesitated to record the song himself, as he believed that “another voice might better serve its purpose.”
“Paalam” is Blanco’s first release of 2025, serving as the follow-up to his brand new rendition of the Rivermaya classic “Kisapmata,” which came out on July 19, 2024.
In other news, Rico Blanco is set to go on a Canada tour later this year, dubbed ‘Korics.” It will see shows in four locations across the country: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Toronto. Find out more about the tour here.
Meanwhile, three of Rico Blanco’s songs are currently charting on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100, as of the week of August 2, 2025. The first of these is “Your Universe” at No. 16, alongside “Balisong – Transformed” at No. 60 and “You’ll Be Safe Here” at No. 64. Notably, “Your Universe” also holds a position on the Billboard Philippines Top Philippine Songs chart, achieving the No. 7 spot this week.
Listen to Rico Blanco’s “Paalam” below: