The boy band Upgrade started their journey to fame by performing for a limited audience on GMA-7’s “WalangTulugan” (limited lang talaga kasi madaling araw na ang show!).
The group composed of Casey, Mark, Ivan, Raymond, Rhem, Armond and Miggy has since grown in popularity with the release of their Trumpets Dance Challenge video (maka-sayawngarin!).
Mark said, “Nag-search poakong songs taposnakitako trending ’yung Trumpets. Sabi ko sa kanila, gawinnamin. Ako nag-choreograph. Katuwaan lang, tapos inupload namin. Ayun.”
The group has been uploading videos of different performances for three years now, but it was their Trumpets Dance Challenge video that caught on (turuanninyongaakomga bro!).
“Siyempre ’di naman namin ine-expect namag ba-viral ’yung video. Hobby lang naman namin kasi ’yun. ’Yung sa ibang video namin minsan nakaka 40,000 views kami. Pero eto, sobra-sobra talaga, nag one million hanggang nag 8 million na,” Ivan said.
They are grateful to their mentor, the late German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, who never doubted they will eventually be recognized for their talent and dedication (iba talagaang powers ni Kuya Germs!).
“Siya po talaga ang nagbuo sa grupo namin. Lagi niyang pinaaalala yung displina. ’Yung ’wag male-late sa mga commitments at maging patient sa paghihintay ng tamang project. At saka sabi niya, mag-enjoy lang posa kung anong meron kami,” Ivan said.
Mark added, “Naalala ko sinasabi samin palagi ni Kuya Germs, kailangan mayaman kami sa kaibigan. Sa showbiz ’yun daw ang mas mahalaga. Parang si Kuya Germs, marami at mayaman sa kaibigan.”
With their instant popularity, they now get interesting offers from netizens (gusto korinng offers!).
Armond revealed, “Minsan may nag-offer saakinng something. Parang indecent proposal. Inintertain ko kausapin, pero humindi ako in a nice way” (kung ako mga bro, hihindian ninyo ba ako?!).
Upgrade will release another video which they hope will again reach millions of viewers (pwede ba sumama diyan mga bro?!).
“Gusto po namin mas makilala bilang boy band. ’Yung tipong kapag sinabi boy band, upgrade ’yun,” Armond said (basta ’pagsinabing MR.FU… malamang… ako yun! Push!).
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/going-places/#qvstILTACc0lmsD0.99
by Mr. Fu