Piolo's song for KC

CEBU, Philippines - Piolo Pascual’s newest album,  which he co-produced with Star Records, has just been released. Titled “Decades: The Greatest Songs of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s,” the official album launch will be held on ASAP 09 this coming Sunday featuring his carrier single “Babe.”

Likewise, a music video will be witnessed by the end of the year on Myx and will be seen more often as he is the Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of January. His official website www.mypiolo.com will also be introduced.

This is Piolo’s 6th album under Star Records which showcases his new singing venture as a crooner. “You’ll see me very unusual in this album. If you were accustomed to hearing me sing pop songs, this time I am singing standards,” Piolo shared at the media launch held at ABS-CBN last Wednesday where the handsome actor did several songs from his album. He was only supposed to do two songs but the press people kept asking for more.

“I actually didn’t know I could sing standard songs. But Star Records and Tita Malou (Santos) saw the potential that’s why they planned an album with such concept.”

His much awaited album comes in a classic-inspired packaging which contains 12 of his must-keep photos, lyrics of his featured songs and a calendar. It features the exciting decades of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s with four tracks each. The selections include (from the 50’s) I’ll Be Seeing You, Beyond The Sea, True Love, Are You Lonesome Tonight; (from the 60’s) Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling, If I Fell, Strangers in the Night; (from the 70’s) Just The Way You Are, Your Song, Terminal and Babe.

“We selected the songs very from a long list and I can say that with the line-up we have, hindi mo ito itatapon. And since this is my sixth album, I wanted to come up with something new, which most of you have not heard me sing. Masaya po ako na nakagawa ako nito kasi this is the first time I am singing standards in an album. Ngayon ko lang kinanta ang mga kanta ng tatay ko and I was able to give justice to these songs,” explained Piolo.

The actor-singer said his late father was also a singer and his mom always wanted someone in the family to be a singer. That’s why Piolo is also dedicating this album to his mother. Besides, he liked the concept of “Decades” because it features easy listening music.

“We wanted an album of easy listening music. When I was on my way to Cavite last Sunday, I played four songs straight (True Love, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Strangers in the Night and another one. It was like listening to a lullabye. My personal favorite among the songs in the album is True Love. I didn’t want to record it because I thought it was too boring but when the song was given a different flavor by Jonathan Manalo (my record producer), it became my favorite. Everytime I listen to it, I feel relaxed,” Piolo related.

How is he going to spend the Holidays? “I am going to the States before Christmas but I am going back home to spend Christmas and the New Year here. Iba kasi mamasyal dito. Siguro dito lang ako mamasyal. My mom and my son are in the States but I will be spending time with my family here, plus kung sino ang available na sumama sa akin, siya ang isasama ko, kung nandito po siya,” Piolo said with a chuckle.

How would he feel if he is compared with Richard Poon, who is more known as a crooner?

“Richard is a very good friend of mine. We go the same church. We go to the same small group and he’s my Kuya, in the sense that he knows more about music than me. I asked him what I could do and how I could improve my singing so I don’t see any point of competing with him. In fact, he’s even helped me in some ways when I was doing this album,” said the lead actor of ABS-CBN’s “Lovers in Paris” which ends tonight.

If there’s a song in the album that he would dedicate to KC Concepcion, his co-star in Lovers in Paris, what song would that be?

“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” was Piolo’s quick answer. “Dati pa po akong name-mesmerized sa kagandahan niya. She grew up right before our very eyes and it was a big honor for me when I get to know her. I attended her 18th birthday and I sang in her party. Then she left for Paris. I was glad that ABS-CBN fulfilled their promise that I’d be given the opportunity to work with KC in ‘Lovers in Paris.’ There were times na napapatingin lang ako sa kanya kasi ang ganda-ganda niyang babae. I’d love to sing that song to her.”