# Dam (song)

"Dam" (stylized in all uppercase) is a song recorded by the Filipino boy band SB19 for their third extended play (EP), Simula at Wakas (2025). Pablo, the band's leader, wrote the song and co-produced it with Joshua Daniel Nase and Simon Servida. It is primarily a hip-hop track with lyrics that discuss upholding integrity, alluding to the band's drive for purpose and ambition despite the challenges and sacrifices that must be made. The song was released by Sony Music Philippines on February 28, 2025, as the EP's lead single.
The single saw commercial success, debuting at number one on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales—becoming the first song by a Filipino artist to top the chart—and entering the top five in the Philippines. Elsewhere, "Dam" entered the top 10 in the United Arab Emirates and the top 20 in Saudi Arabia. The accompanying music video, directed by Alanshiii, depicted the group as mythical creatures set in a dark, medieval, fantasy world, attempting to save the tree of life. It received praise for its visuals and production quality and became the second most-viewed music video by a Filipino artist in 24 hours, with four million views. SB19 performed the song on television on All-Out Sundays and It's Showtime.

## Background and release

The Filipino boy band SB19 released their first extended play (EP), Pagsibol, in 2021, exploring genres such as pop rock, hip-hop, and EDM, departing from the dance-pop production from their debut studio album, Get in the Zone (2020). Pablo, the band's leader, revealed in an interview with Zach Sang that Pagsibol and their future releases are part of a trilogy, the others being titled Pagtatag! and Simula at Wakas. In 2023, the group released their second EP, Pagtatag!, the trilogy's second installment. The EP includes the single, "Gento" (2023), which scored their first entry to two record charts, including in the Philippines, where the single peaked at number eight. The following year, SB19 members focused on each of their solo careers, during which they all later confirmed during the premiere night for Pagtatag!: The Documentary (2024) that they are currently working with Simula at Wakas.
On January 31, 2025, SB19 published a trailer for their third EP, Simula at Wakas, via their social media accounts and announced in it that the EP would be released on April 25. The trailer also indicated that the Simula at Wakas would be preceded by single, which was untitled at the time. The group released teaser photos in the days leading up to the single's release. They revealed the title of the EP's lead single, "Dam", on February 17. Sony Music Philippines released "Dam" on February 28.

## Composition and lyrics

"Dam" is 3 minutes and 29 seconds long, while its extended version is 25 seconds longer. Pablo, the band's leader, wrote the song and collaborated with his brother Joshua Daniel Nase and record producer Simon Servida for the production. Nase and Servida had previously worked together with the band for their first two EPs, Pagsibol (2021) and Pagtatag! (2023). Heo Chan-goo of Knob Sound Korea mixed and mastered the song, with Lee Oh-won providing assistance. The song's title, "Dam", is a wordplay on the Tagalog word "pakiramdam", which translates to "feeling" in English. Musically, "Dam" is characterized as primarily an anthemic hip-hop track, with a combination of EDM, Celtic and Filipino folk, industrial, and progressive rock elements. The song is accompanied by strong bass beats in its production, with a range of low and high-note vocals throughout the record.
The lyrics reflect upon one's inner struggles and discuss the idea of "staying true to one's values and principles" when fulfilling one's drive for ambition and purpose despite encountering challenges and sacrifices along the way, alluding to the band's experiences throughout their career. In the lyrics, the song questions how to surpass one's peak: "Paano ba higitan ang sagad na?" (lit. 'How does one exceed the limit?'), conveying that someone at its peak should work around exceeding one's limit. The other lyrics also discuss taking accountability for one pursuing their ambition: "Kasalanan ko lahat ng 'to / 'Lang humpay sa paggusto" (lit. 'This is all my fault / Never ending desire'), and asks the question, "Ano'ng pakiramdam?" (lit. 'What is the feeling?'), implying that there is always a feeling of struggle to achieve success.

## Commercial performance

"Dam" has been a commercial success. A day after its release, the single recorded one million streams in a single day on Spotify. On the week of March 15, 2025, it debuted atop Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, marking their second entry and first number-one song on the chart; it made them the first Filipino artist to top the chart. In the Philippines, "Dam" entered two Billboard Philippines charts, debuting at number 4 on the Philippines Hot 100 and number 3 on the Top Philippine Songs, marking their first entry to both. The single also entered IFPI's Official Philippines Chart, debuting at number 5.
Elsewhere, "Dam" debuted at number 12 on the chart for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; the single also entered the charts in the United Arab Emirates, debuting at number 7, and in Saudi Arabia, debuting at number 17. Across the Commonwealth countries, the track entered the UK's Singles Downloads and Singles Sales chart, debuting at number 4 on both, and New Zealand's Hot Singles chart, at number 21.

## Promotion

Alanshiii directed the music video for "Dam", which was released on February 28, 2025, on YouTube, the same day as the song's release. Inspired by Greek mythology, the video was set in a dark, medieval, fantasy world that depicts SB19 as mythical creatures and warriors. They came together to save a tree of life by sacrificing themselves by turning into stone, which made the tree bear fruit. The band collaborated with 1032 Lab for its conceptualization and production, which utilizes computer-generated imagery. Following its release, the video received praise for its visuals and production quality, and its theme drew comparisons to the productions Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and The Lord of the Rings (2011–2013). The music video has gained over four million views in its first 24 hours since its release, which made it the second most-viewed music video by a Filipino artist in a single day. The group performed the song first on television on the variety show, All-Out Sundays, on March 2, 2025. They later reprised their performance on It's Showtime on March 8.

## Track listing

Digital download and streaming
* "Dam" – 3:29
* "Dam" (Extended Version) – 3:54

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Daily Tribune and the song's music video.
* SB19 – vocals
* John Paulo Nase – songwriter, producer
* Joshua Daniel Nase – producer
* Simon Servida – producer
* Heo Chan-goo – mixing, mastering
* Lee Oh-won – mixing assistance, mastering assistance

## Charts

Weekly peak chart positions for "Dam" :
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
| MENA (IFPI) | 12 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) | 21 |
| Philippines (IFPI) | 5 |
| Philippines (Philippines Hot 100) | 4 |
| Philippines (Top Philippine Songs) | 3 |
| Saudi Arabia (IFPI) | 17 |
| United Arab Emirates (IFPI) | 7 |
| UK Singles Downloads (OCC) | 4 |
| UK Singles Sales (OCC) | 4 |
| US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 1 |