OPM band Cup of Joe has expressed dismay after an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted rock cover of their song ‘Pahina’ soared to the top of Spotify Philippines’ Viral Songs chart.
The song, titled ‘Pahina (Rock Cover)’ and credited to an artist called Renegade Stories, reached the No. 1 spot on the viral chart on October 15, and fans were quick to raise their brows.
The cover was reportedly produced using AI tools, though its creators claimed it was not entirely AI-generated, saying they recorded the vocals and arranged the melodies themselves.
“For the record, Yes we used [AI] tools to cover songs but not 100%, which I myself, Recording voice to blend and enhance it to the way the listener feels the song emotion which is wala sa ibang gumagaya at nag rerelease ng ibang rock covers (sic),” the artist wrote in a now taken down Facebook post.
Upon learning about the cover’s chart performance, Cup of Joe members also reacted on social media.
Vocalist Gian Bernardino posted, “Who tf?” on X (formerly Twitter), quoting a post that shared the cover’s supposed milestone, while the band’s guitarists, CJ and Gabriel Fernandez, quoted a series of question marks on the same post.
who tf? 🤨 https://t.co/zAq8jsMy3X
— gian (@gianbernardino_) October 15, 2025
Fans quickly rallied behind the band, criticizing the AI-assisted track for allegedly profiting from the original song without proper acknowledgement.
“[L]iving off someone else’s hard work is evil [and] even more so when you claim their consent for it. [Y]ou didn’t live through the moments that made that song what it is. [T]hat AI remix is s**t disguised as creativity,” an X user said.
living off someone else’s hard work is evil & even more so when you claim their consent for it. you didn’t live through the moments that made that song what it is. that ai remix is shit disguised as creativity 🥴 @Viva_Ent hello??? https://t.co/xp8lG68vI2
— ًces (@hanniegcfs) October 15, 2025
Other fans questioned how such work could surpass the original track in popularity, with the majority calling the cover “soulless” and “unauthorized.”
Renegade Stories claimed that the cover had been cleared for digital release via DistroKid, but the involvement of AI intensified criticism. The song was taken down from Spotify on the same day it topped the viral chart, though reports differ on whether it was voluntarily taken down or removed by the platform after the complaints.
Meanwhile, ‘Pahina’ reached the 9th spot in the Spotify PH charts on the same day, and in what seemed to be a swipe at the rock cover, Cup of Joe’s official account reposted the post with the caption, “The only version you need to stream, fr.”
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