Gary sings movies

Given his success as a singer, it is not at all surprising that most people forget that Gary Valenciano has also acted in the movies and even starred in some box-office hits at that. This is what comes to mind upon getting hold of the album Gary V at the Movies. It is actually made up of songs that Gary performed as themes for various films during these past 20 years. These range from Ang Aking Munting Bituin from the recent release Magnifico to Reaching Out from Hot Shots, which was made in 1984. Several of them also starred Gary V. and so the realization, "artista rin pala siya."

Hot Shots, a music video driven teen musical so much ahead of its time was directed by Jeric Soriano and also starred Aga Muhlach, Raymund Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista and Eula Valdez. It marked Gary V.’s first screen outing. From this he moved on to Kung Tapos Na ang Kailan Man, Natutulog Pa ang Diyos, Kaputol ng Isang Awit, Hataw Na and other films that showed his growth as a versatile actor, who can sing, dance and do drama and comedy scenes. Then just as people were beginning to think that they had found a male Sharon Cuneta, the acting was relegated to the backseat as Gary chose to concentrate on his music.

That did not mean though that he had also totally given up on the movies. He may be picky as far as roles are concerned but he will surely lend his voice to do themes for selected films. In fact, his latest big seller, the inspirational I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman from Gary’s Revive album, owes much of its success to its use as the theme of the picture Nine Mornings. And that is no isolated case for these past months saw Gary singing one theme for one movie after another.

Aside from I Will Be Here, he also did Kailangan Kita, a new original composed by Ogie Alcasid for the movie of the same title, Ako’t Ikaw, the theme from the award-winning drama Mano Po and Ang Aking Munting Bituin from the acclaimed Magnifico. A year or two ago, he also did his own version of the Freddie Aguilar pop classic Anak for the Vilma Santos starrer also titled Anak. I believe that that was the film, which sent out the message that Gary will not mind singing theme songs as long as these are as special as Anak or Kailangan Kita.

These songs are all included in Gary V at the Movies. Fans will be glad to know that they now have Kailangan Kita and I Will Be Here in one album! The real gems here though are the oldies, which have also been compiled in a single album for the first time. The only beef I have with the collection is that Sana Maulit Muli, the most enduring Gary V. composition, is presented as a duet with Kayla. I have nothing against Kayla and I agree that the duet version gave a new spin to the old favorite but this is Gary V at the Movies and I would have preferred to get the now classic original rendition of Sana Maulit Muli, from Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos solo by Gary V.

The other movie songs included in the album are Narito from Kung Tapos Na ang Kailan Man, Natutulog Pa ang Diyos, from Natutulog Pa ang Diyos, Each Passing Night, from Pangako Sa ‘Yo, Sa Tuwing Naaalala Ka, a duet with Sharon Cuneta from Kaputol ng Isang Awit, Di Bale Na Lang, Eto Na Naman, from Rock-A-Bye Baby, Tatlo ang Daddy and Hataw Na.

The local charts

Now a look at the local hit charts. Love songs of an assorted lot, a number of them from movie soundtracks, remain the top favorites among Pinoy listeners. The ones they have been listening to the most this past week are the following: If You’re Not the One by Daniel Bedingfield, which incidentally was used in Maid in Manhattan; Passenger’s Seat by Stephen Speaks; To Love You More by Sarah Geronimo; Somewhere I Belong, by Linkin Park; Heaven by DJ Sammy, Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka by Regine Velasquez; I’m With You by Avril Lavigne; Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by Bituin Escalante; Foolish Heart by Nina; and The Remedy by Jason Mraz.