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MAJOR FIGHT WITH OGIE
Ogie mentioned in a separate interview that he and Regine had a major fight recently when he forgot about their fourth anniversary as a couple last November 11. Ogie instead shoot scenes for the movie Desperadas 2.
"Siya ba ang nagsabi no'n? E, gago pala siya, e! Minura talaga!" quips Regine when we asked about her reaction.
"Hindi ko naman inaway, bonggang-bonggang hindi ko lang pinansin! Hindi, kasi usapan namin, anniversary namin, dinner. Akalain mo, nag-shooting! Inis na inis ako! Pero okay na ‘yon, nakabawi naman na siya nang bonggang-bongga. Binigyan niya ako ng cash!" she says in jest.
Was she supposed to prepare anything, like cooking a meal for him?
"Yeah, pero nag-pancit pa rin kami!" Regine laughs. "Long life, pancit... Hindi ako nagluto kasi na-depress na ako, nag-pancit na lang kami... Hindi naman, nakabawi din naman siya. At saka ano naman ako, uto-uto. Madali naman akong mauto. Yun kasing talent fee niya sa movie niya, mapupunta sa akin ‘yon!"
Does she have any plan of doing a "Regine Sings Alcasid" album?
"I really would like to do that," she says. "Sharon [Cuneta] did it, and he was so honored. It would be nice if mabigyan din ako ng chance to sing his songs ‘cause he's got beautiful songs. And most of them are dedicated to me!"
What happened to the movie that she was supposed to do with Ogie?
"Hindi ko nga alam, e," says regine. "Kahi hindi na kami nagtagpu-tagpo sa schedule. Kasi nung time na puwede ako, siya naman yung hindi puwede. Nung puwede na siya, gumawa na ako ng soap [Ako Si Kim Samsoon]. Hindi na kami nagkita-kita.
"But I talked to Boss Vic [del Rosario, Viva Films top honcho], he still wants to do it. Hindi lang kasi nagtutugma yung schedule namin ngayon, e. Next year, I'll have a lot of out-of-the-country shows, so hindi nagtatagpo. Pero maganda naman kasi he's [Ogie] now doing his own thing. He has a movie [Desperadas 2] na girl siya, nakakatawa... Uy, may kissing scene din siya ha! Sa lalake! Boy din! I'm excited for him.
"Hopefully magawa namin. Kasi maganda talaga yung story no'n, sobra! Ang cute-cute nung story no'n. Tsaka parang bagay talaga sa amin. Kasi romantic-comedy, e. But in the meantime, gagawa muna ako ng Totoy Bato. Ako yung ‘bato'!" jokes Regine about her next soap in GMA-7.
REGINE'S NEW LEADING MAN
Before the start of the presscon proper, the music video of "Tell Me That You Love Me," Regine's first single in Low Key, was shown. In the music video, Regine was paired with half-Brazilian, half-Japanese model Akihiro Sato, who is one of the Top 10 Cosmopolitan bachelors this year.
What can she say about her leading man?
"Ang cute-cute niya," Regine says with a smile. "He's such a nice ‘boy.' No, he's such a nice guy. I hope something happens to him. Gusto niyang mag-artista. Nag-aaral managalog. He's very handsome. And I really, really hope that something really good will happen to him. Kasi he's only 25, and I think he's got potential.
"Pero ang cute niya, he's a gentleman. The whole time, medyo nanginginig siya, pero game siya. Kasi nga, he's not naman from here. I think he's been here for like six months lang, so hindi niya ako kilala. Naririnig na niya yung mga kuwento about me, ganun-ganun. So parang, ‘My God, I'm so honored.' Di lang niya alam, pinagsamantalahan ko na siya!" laughs Regine.
Regine also had some kissing scenes with Akihiro in their music video. Does Ogie knows about this?
"Sanay na siya, e," says Regine. "Hindi ko na nga pinapaalam. Nakikita na lang niya. Sabi niya [Regine makes a face], ‘A, may ganyan pala.' Parang yung movie namin ni Piolo [Pascual] yata, akala niya isa lang. Kasi normally sa last lang... Parang binibilang niya, ‘Ba't ang dami na?' Parang kumota na raw ako. Pero ganun lang naman ‘yon."
She then added, "Pero siya bawal siyang makipag-kissing scene. Unfair, ano? Basta ‘yon. Yun ang rules and regulations!"
PEP: Regine sings 'Low Key'in first album with Universal
Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez faced the entertainment press, including PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), once again at the launching of her first album with Universal Records (UR) titled Low Key. The launch was held at the 9th floor of Universal Tower in Quezon Avenue yesterday, November 14.
Compared to her previous albums, Low Key has Regine singing mellow songs—all covers. Some of the tracks include Terri Gibbs's "Tell Me That You Love Me"; Don McLean's "And I Love You So"; Rita Cooldige's "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In love"; Katie Irving's "I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me"; Orsa Lia's "No Walls, No Ceilings, No Floors"; Cat Steven's "How Can I Tell You"; Dennis Lambert's "Of All the Things"; Dan Fogelberg's "Longer"; Janis Japlin's "At Seventeen"; Christopher Cross's "Never Be the Same"; Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever," among others.
Noticeably, Regine's rendition of the songs are more restrained, a far cry from the usual belting that she does in most of her albums.
"Yeah, that's why it's called Low Key, cause it's more relaxed, more laidback," she agrees. "Hindi naman talagang pinigil, ‘no, but the songs are mellow din kasi, e. So, ang hirap namang magtititili ako na... It doesn't really call for it."
Who chose the tracks in the album?
"UR, of course, helped with the selection of the songs," says the Asia's Songbird. "Pero pinili ko talaga yung mga songs na I'm very familiar with. And most of these songs talaga are my favorites, the songs that you hear on the radio... Pag nag-iisip ka ng kantang favorite mo, parang kinakalimutan mo na. But when you hear it, you'll just say na parang, ‘Oo nga, alam ko ang kanta na ‘to.' And you sing along with it, di ba?"
PEP asked Regine why she decided to do an all-covers album again, just like her last album with Viva Records, Covers 2.
"Kasi uso na naman siya ngayon, e," she replies. "Hindi pa ako nauubusan ng kantang ire-revive, e. I would really love to record naman an all-original album, kasi I haven't done that in a while.
"Yung panahon din ngayon, people like to hear something that they are already familiar with. So, sa akin, okay lang din naman to give our audience what they want. Plus, I happen to like naman all the songs. It's an opportunity for me to do this also kase these are the songs I used to listen to the radio, and wishing that one day, I'll be able to have my own version. It has come true na.
"Pero like I said, I also would like to record original songs. Anyway, kapag gumagawa naman ako ng pelikula, gumagawa rin ako ng soundtrack. I'm able naman to do that, e. Like the theme songs, usually ginagawa nang original. Kung hindi man yung theme song, may ginagawang kanta especially just for the movie. So, nagagawa ko pa rin naman ‘yon," explains Regine.
Regine also reveals that she has songs in the album dedicated to her parents, Gerry and Tessie Velasquez. For her father, Regine recorded Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band" while she picked Billy Joel's "She's Always A Woman To Me" for her mom.
What about a song for her special someone, Ogie Alcasid?
"Actually, if you listen to the whole album, halatang in love ako!" laughs Regine. "Halata talaga, kasi sabi nga ni Ms. Kathleen Dy ng Universal, very emotional yung album. So ‘yon, yun lang ang maiko-comment ko diyan."
High marks for Regine’s ‘Low Key’
SHARON Cuneta did it for Rupert Holmes’ “Terminal.” So did Nina for Michael Johnson’s “I’ll Always Love You.” And now, in her latest album of covers, “Low Key,” Regine Velasquez is doing the same for a number of standards and pop favorites. Surely, the popularity or instant recall of an old hit song makes it easier for singers to sell an album, but only intelligent performers have the ability to “resurrect” a conventional tune with worn-out melodies or dated lyrics and give it a fresh spin.
For instance, how do you revive Anne Murray’s “You Needed Me” and Debbie Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” without aping the schmaltz-fueled sensibility of their original versions? But, a performer’s interpretive ability makes a lot of difference. After all, turning sap into substance is no easy feat—it requires more than just bravura singing.
Aggressive belting
In Regine’s 18-track collection, you’ll hardly hear the relentlessly aggressive belting that catapulted her to the top of the local music industry’s hierarchy via her show-stopping renditions of “Narito Ako,” “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going),” “You Are My Song” and “Love Me Again,” her first single.
This time, she is no longer driven by the motivation to show-off—and her high notes are delivered like a gentle kiss or a soothing caress. The only time she displays her famous vocal bravado is in the bonus track, Jim Brickman’s “Christmas Is.”
In the liner notes, Asia’s Songbird describes the new direction as part of her “personal and musical evolution.” She explains: “I discover new things about myself and use them in my songs. I realized that the voice doesn’t have to be loud to be forceful, and that a performer can convey a wide range of emotions even in soft or gentle singing.”
Regine accomplishes just that in “Low Key”: Her heartfelt renditions of Terri Gibbs’ “Tell Me That You Love Me,” Orsa Lia’s “No Walls, No Ceilings, No Floors,” Rita Coolidge’s “I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love” or Mary Macgregor’s “Good Friend” will convince listeners to think beyond cloying sentimentality and over-indulgent schmaltz.
Personal journey
Through her songs, Regine takes us on a personal journey—not just hers, but ours, as well. Take Don McLean’s “And I Love You So.” Her exquisitely sung version of the hit classic reminds us of growing up in Davao listening to our dear father humming the song during long family trips to the city. In our childhood years, the tune may not have mattered much, but its lyrical beauty resonates with us now more than ever. Such is the power of great music.
Magnificent too are Regine’s revivals of the Rah Band’s “Clouds Across the Moon,” Manhattan Transfer’s “Walk in Love,” The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer,” which she sang in a previous album as a hidden track, as part of a medley that also included Wet Wet Wet’s “Love is All Around.”
Maturity has truly brought perspective and depth to Regine’s musicality. She no longer shrieks and shouts as much as she used to, and she has realized that there’s more to beautiful singing than belting!
Kris Aquino’s musical tribute to her mom
Like her or dislike her, Kris Aquino has always been newsworthy. But, there’s good reason why “The Greatest Love,” her latest “album,” especially deserves to be heard. No, the 37-year-old actress-TV host doesn’t sing in it. Instead, she gathers a playlist of beautiful songs and heartfelt prayers to pay tribute to her mom, former President Corazon C. Aquino, who’s been diagnosed with colon cancer.
In the album, Kris paints an intimate portrait of her mother as a private person. This time around, her famed candor doesn’t dispense self-indulgent ramblings about how she figures in the bigger scheme of things, but instead offers heartwarming nuggets of revelatory information about her illustrious family and how they’re coping during this difficult time.
Inspirational duet
In the album, before Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha render their smashing cover of the inspirational Whitney Houston-Mariah Carey duet, “When You Believe,” Kris tells her mother: “Dear Mom, I hope and pray that when you’re reading this, you’re okay. We didn’t want to add to your burden by showing you how torn up we all were when we found out about your cancer.
“When Viel told me (about it), I felt the world crashing down, and all the weight was centered on my heart and stomach. I cried uncontrollably, I threw up so much, wanting to purge myself of the worst possible news. Memories came rushing back, and I wanted to share them with you, just so you’d know how much being your baby has meant to me.”
As Kris looks back, she coats her memories with 13 well-chosen tracks, performed by some of the music industry’s most beautiful voices, among them Martin Nievera (“The Greatest Love of All”), Gary Valenciano (“Isn’t She Lovely?”), Ogie Alcasid (“Ugoy ng Duyan”) and Piolo Pascual, who sings Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s “No Matter What.”
Also notable are Billy Crawford’s reworked version of James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is,” Jay-R’s soothing “A Song for Mama,” Mcoy Fundales’ “Bless the Beast and the Children,” and Ronnie Liang’s inspired remake of Carol Banawa’s hit ballad, “Iingatan Ka.”
Vivid recollections
Understandably, these beautiful tunes take the back seat when Kris begins sharing her touchingly vivid recollections: When she lost in a declamation contest in second grade; how Cory gathered Kris and her siblings to pray the Rosary after getting a call from a foreign news agency and learning about Ninoy’s assassination; Cory and Kris’ brother, Noynoy, literally dragging her after a bomb exploded outside her bedroom window in Arlegui, etc.
But, the most touching part of Kris’ “open letter” is an earnest apologia: “When the doctors during colonoscopy asked when your last operation was, you told them it was while giving birth to me via Caesarian section—when your blood pressure went to zero and you hemorrhaged because of placenta previa. That was just a preview of the stress, suffering and heartaches that were to come, courtesy of me.
“I’m sorry, Mom, for all the times I wasn’t the daughter you deserved. The best thing I ever heard said about me during my last birthday was that I was a loving daughter. I know I am, because having you as a mom makes my job easy. I may have stumbled, fumbled and grumbled—and yet, you never stopped believing that I’d eventually find my way.”
The best of Ogie in ‘20/20’
MANILA, Philippines—Ogie Alcasid’s 20th anniversary concert at the Big Dome had the right mix of fun and sentimentality. He exactly knows the kiliti of his audience.
Even in such a huge venue, it seemed like an up-close and personal encounter. Ogie has a way of reaching out to every single person watching him. His sincerity cuts through each song. His spontaneity makes you feel instantly at home so you don’t notice time passing by. The Alcasid charisma puts you on a daze.
I particularly enjoyed Ogie’s number with Janno Gibbs. The “Small Brothers” reminisced about their friendship and partnership in crime through their wacky yet heartwarming version of Apo’s “Awit ng Barkada.”
Rufa Mae Quinto, Michael V and Ogie brought the house down with their ’80s medley as they impersonated Madonna, Prince, Wham, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson. Pandemonium broke loose when Piolo Pascual sang. He thanked Ogie for being his vocal coach and mentor in singing.
Highlighting the night was Ogie’s song for his parents which he composed and his touching rendition of “I Will Be Here” for his daughters. The eldest, Sarah, joined him onstage but his bunso Leila was too shy to do so. Ogie’s ex Michelle Van Eimeren couldn’t hold back her tears while Ogie was serenading their kids.
“Thank you, Michelle, for being there when I’m not,” he said. They are living proof that there can be friendship after marriage.
Ogie also thanked Michelle’s BF Mark Murrow who was with her. “You’re now tabloid material, Mark,” Ogie ribbed. He introduced Regine Velasquez as his leading lady for life. She had no dramatic message for Ogie. Their sweet photos flashed onstage already said everything she could not say.
If only all celeb ex-couples could be like Ogie and Michelle, then show biz would be a more peaceful place. Even non-show biz couples could learn a thing or two from them about the art of letting go.
I congratulated Ogie after his concert via text. His reply: “It’s the happiest day of my life! I’m thankful to God for making everything fall into place.”
He will set aside time to bond with his kids before they fly back to Australia.
Ogie has truly lived LOVE to the fullest. It shows in his songs. His “20/20” sold-out concert made my heart have 20/20 vision.
Concert repeat
Some good things are worth repeating. Just like premier classical balladeer Bo Cerrudo’s “Love … Around the World,” which will be staged once again at the Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Oriental on Oct. 3 and 4 (750-8888 loc. 2446). His special guest is Sen. Chiz Escudero’s lovely wife Christine.
Together with the rhythm ensemble of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, they will perform well-loved songs from different countries. Let Bo take your heart on a trip. Fasten your heartstrings!
"Main Event." A Big Triumph for Regine and Lani
by Vic Perez
After a long drought of good shows, Starmedia Entertainment mounted an unforgettable concert that has left LA concertgoers enthralled and astounded.
Main Event, the concert that converged three of the brightest stars of the Philippine music industry - Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera-proved to be a commercial and critical sucess.The venue was filled to rafters , filling up three thousand seating capacity.
The two Divas reigned supreme during that night, both providing great vocal prowess and versatility while the Concert king gave an excellent complement .The chemistry of the three singers was brilliant,fllawless and exceptional.This concert was ,indeed, a casting coup .Their performance was simply unforgettable.
Regine Velasquez performed with her marked scintillating and clear vocie, bringing the audiences to greater heights. She sang favorite pop songs and OPM hits, so much intensity and flair.Top of the list is her much adored Maybe its You, the intimate OPM Dadalhin and her showstopper Mariah Carey hits.
Lani Misalucha was a big revelation for many who have not experienced her singing style.
She performed with bravura and versatility, contrasting the elegant Conti Partiron with the rock opera version of Laklak. She gave a fantastic renditon of Whitney Houston hits that has kept everybody stunned and speechless.
Their solo spots gave them the opportunity to showcase their craft but Main Event provided the vehicle for these two divas to present that they can play beautiful music together.Forget the great divide of the fans of both queens who have kept comparing the two premiere artists. In this concert, they were pitting talents but they both came out victorious as they did play music harmoniously.Their spiels were natural amd comedic but both spoke and sang like they were doing a sister act.
The opening act was pure energy and fun with Broadway’s favorite Dreamgirls medley which segued to Mama Mia. Later they did a sexy Beautiful Liar, of Shakira and Beyonce but the crowd hooted to the more popular Aegis Medley.
The most applauded number was the back to back to back OPM hits which showed their strong connection to the people because these romantic ballad songs kind of brought the audience back home .
The finale was the biggest showstopper when they both pay homage to the artists they both adore -Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
When they ended the show, the audience clamored for more and they gave in with the most lifting duet of Barbra Streisand ‘s Piece of Sky. The performance was simply magnificent!
This show is the most splendid and fantastic concert ever. You should never miss it in your lifetime.It is an imperative for any music lover. A “must see’ with all the superlatives!
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