OPM superstar Sarah Geronimo is receiving mixed reactions online after performing a cover of Chappell Roan’s sapphic hit “Good Luck, Babe” on the Sunday variety show ASAP.
While many praised Geronimo’s vocal prowess, some criticized the decision to alter the song’s lyrics, “erasing” its original queer themes to fit a “heteronormative” narrative.
Roan’s track, celebrated for its unapologetic representation of queer relationships, features lyrics that openly address women. However, Geronimo’s version modified these lines, with one notable change replacing “you can kiss a hundred girls in bars” with “you can kiss a hundred boys in bars.”
The lyric changes drew ire from some netizens, with many questioning the decision to perform the song if its original intent would be altered.
“So she changed the lyrics from ‘you can kiss a hundred boys in bars’ to ‘you can kiss a hundred girls in bars’ 💀,” one netizen pointed out on X, which gained over 15,000 likes on the platform.
Another user criticized the perceived lack of respect for the song’s queer message, writing, “Edi sana ‘di ka na lang nagcover ng kanta ng isang lesbian singer kung di mo irerepesto ‘yung lyrics 😭 napaka-ironic.”
“The lyric change just doesn’t make sense, changing a lesbian/LGBTQ+ song lyrics to fit into a heteronormative narrative is just distasteful idc,” commented another.
“She can’t even be bisexual for 3 minutes,” one online user remarked in an X post criticizing the exclusion of LGBTQ+ representation in the trending performance. The post has since exceeded 7,000 likes on the platform.
Others expressed concern about the implications of such changes for queer representation in the Philippines.
A local fan page for Roan posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Ay may tibo censorship e :/ kung ‘kanta lang ‘yan’ para sa inyo, ba’t takot na takot sa original lyrics & message which made it one of the best songs of the year, conservative o homophobic? chor,”
“Paano kung may queer Filipina struggling with sexuality, who heard GLB for the first time sa mainstream platform niyo? And they missed the significance of it? How can they feel they’ve been heard & represented kung ine-erase ang original meaning? Di pa naman ganun kalaki ang queer women’s visibility sa Pinas.”
Others, on the other hand, suggested that mainstream platforms in the Philippines may still be navigating how to present LGBTQ+ themes without alienating traditional audiences.
“I understand why some feel uncomfortable about the lyric change—representation is so important, especially for the LGBTQ+ community,” one X user shared. “But maybe Sarah G. adjusted the lyrics to make it fit her own perspective and that’s valid, too. Goodluck Babe resonates with many experiences and while its queer context is significant, I think the song’s universal themes of love and rejection make it relatable to everyone.”
On the other hand, Sarah has not commented on the reactions, as of writing.
