Martin Nievera’s kryptonite

CEBU, Philippines - Three decades have passed since Martin Nievera first crooned his way into Filipinos’ hearts with his passionate, timeless ballads. This was one apple that did not fall far from the tree, his father Bert Nievera being a former balladeer himself.

The U.S.-bred performer was an incredible hit. He was crowned the country’s Concert King (with the industry still hard-pressed to anoint a genuine heir), ruled the late night talk fest circuit, enamored the public with the magic surrounding his romance with Pops Fernandez and is considered still, one of the highest selling OPM artists.

But in a culture more fascinated with youth and the next fresh talent, yesterday’s sensations become today’s has-beens — a harsh branding someone of Martin’s stature and affable wit has not been immune to. Suddenly, he’s dispensable on his long-running Sunday musical program, has to beg for a late-night talk show, his antics called ‘tired and old’ by a new generation of viewers and is eclipsed by young ones  in achieving that international fame he has long dreamed of.

Difficult it may be, Martin is trying his hardest to “grasp reality” and stay true to himself despite vastly changing times.

These days (after licking the wounds of his ABS-CBN late-night talk show’s short-lived comeback), he’s still on the promo trail for his newest album “Martin Nievera 3D: Tatlong Dekada” under PolyEast Records and is gearing up for a grand 30th anniversary concert this September.  

Martin talked up a storm during this interview before a show at the Ayala Activity Center with his twin sister Vicky and upcoming singer TJ Monterde. Like a push button, it only took one short question to get him going — holding us enraptured as the proud Papa (of Robin, Ram and six-year-old Santino who just graduated from kindergarten, plus his adopted sons from X-Factor Philippines) yakked away about career, haters, fear of commitment and fatherhood.

Tell us about your most recent album.

This album is something I’m very proud of because it has 11 original songs. If you’ve been following my career, I’ve been doing a lot of covers and remakes. On my 30th anniversary, PolyEast asked me what I wanted to do that I haven’t done in a long time or haven’t done before. I’ve never bungee-jumped (laughs), so I chose to do something I haven’t done in a long time which was to record original songs, some of which I wrote, the others I co-wrote, and the rest written by people I’ve never worked with before. One of the songs titled “Take Off” is a dance track written by the same producer who has worked with Beyonce, Brandy and all of these great mainstream artists from the United States. It’s a sound you would not expect from me. I’m not gonna explain any further; you just have to listen to it. It’s so different that I don’t even sing it in mall shows because it’s not appreciated as much as if you were out in a club.

Does this album define your past 30 years as a singer?

If I were to define my 30 years in a CD, it would be remakes of songs that describe the different chapters in my life – the happy days, the sad days, the challenges, the victories and the defeats. And all of that has been reflected in my songs the past 30 years. I’d like to think this new CD defines my next 30 years. They wanted to do the same thing, which was a compilation of my hits. I said, you know what, let’s not keep on looking back. Let’s move forward instead.

How does being in the business for three decades and counting make you feel?

I don’t go to that direction of ‘been there, done that.’ I try to veer away from that feeling because there are a lot of things I could still be doing. I’m not stuck in just one mold. I can do upbeat songs and ballads. I want to do a little bit of everything. I think a singer like myself still has a lot to learn. If you listen to these young brats, you also learn from them. I feel blessed in many ways because I can’t believe that people are still buying my albums and looking at my face in the CD cover. That’s why in most of my videos, there’s always a pretty girl or some interaction between two people and I’m just a background because do you still want to see this face after 31 years? There’s so much more we can do as singers from back in the 80s. One is to listen, second is to learn, and third is to grasp reality. That last one is one of the things I have a hard time doing even at my age.  I’m still very unsatisfied, very impatient and very impulsive, very loud and very pikon. Being unsatisfied is great though, because the moment you are satisfied, that’s the worst thing you can do.

People not used to your humor often mistake it for arrogance, and there are those who give you flak for your twang even after many years of living in the Philippines. Do criticisms like these still affect you?

I thank God for Twitter because I can react. Back in the day, I’d have to talk to a press person. Now there’s Twitter and I won’t stop until that person understands me. If they’re just bashing me, I don’t have time for that. This is the new age of being real. If you want a yes man, that’s not me. I’m not bastos to people, but if you’re bastos to me, I’ll be bastos right back. And believe me, I’ll be more bastos. Not because I’m arrogant, but because I’m human. Arrogance is bragging about one’s self and believing only in one’s self. But if you read my tweets, I believe in everybody else. I’m in love with everybody. I want them to shine, not me. And then you come up to me and say, how come you don’t speak Tagalog? ‘Well, you’re speaking to me in English.  How come you don’t bash me in Tagalog then?’ You know, own up or shut up. And how many people came to watch Vin Diesel in Glorietta all the way to the streets? If you’re going to support an English movie, you don’t tell me that Filipinos should only speak Tagalog. Filipinos can speak English, maybe not well, but we understand every word just like I understand Tagalog. I may not speak it fluently, but I understand every word. How do these criticisms affect me? Not anymore.

Your eldest son Robin had put out albums. How is that coming along for him?

He has two albums, one with PolyEast Records. I’m the old-school guy. I go to shopping malls and sign CDs. But these kids, they know what to do to get themselves out there. They don’t really need recording companies, but they also see the value of being in one. Robin puts his music on the internet and YouTube. I told him, ‘Son, Filipinos like to see the actual thing and have these signed.’ Some people buy three of my CDs because it’s the only way they can get close to me by asking for another autograph. Maybe my time is done, but I think it’s working for me to not experiment too much of the little that’s left of my career. There are so many new faces out there, younger, better-looking and more talented. What do I have to offer to the industry? Hopefully, it’s my staying power and the humility that wants them to keep working with me. I want my son to enjoy it the way I have. I want him to realize how you have to embrace the press, because these people can make or break you. You have to embrace your worse critics and not fight it. You have to respect your elders…you know, father stuff. It’s hard to talk to kids nowadays. I think Robin is trying to do his own thing and not be too associated with his mom and dad. He wants to be his own guy.

You’re proud, of course, that he doesn’t want to capitalize on his parents’ fame?

Extremely! If there’s anything I’m more proud about him, it’s that. You don’t see him on “ASAP.” He’d rather go to the other noontime show. Not because he doesn’t like or love me.  He doesn’t want any of you to say ‘Ay, nakiki-ride lang sa fame ng mga magulang.’ When he tried out to for the MYX VJ Search, he didn’t even tell us. We only found out when he got accepted.

Do you remain in touch with your X-Factor Philippines protégés?

If there was a Season 2, I will never fall in love with these children again. It’s the nicest, most rewarding thing that has ever happened to me. As a singer, a performer and a dreamer, to see these kids and hear their stories…and one of them is Kedebon [Colim] from Cebu. I’m really proud to have been an X-Factor judge and mentor. I took it one step further by housing them. I didn’t like where they were staying so I offered my place and bought them beds. I just fell in love with them. That’s one of my weaknesses. If Superman’s is kryptonite, mine is falling in love with people to the point that I would give my own bed for someone. And I don’t say that just to promote myself. That’s really me. People like me don’t belong in this business. We’re supposed to be very hard and not care for other people’s problems. But I got involved with them and to this day, they’re still with me. Their problems are mine. Sometimes I put them on a show and I give them a little talent fee because I want them to learn the value of what they’re doing – that although they’re having a good time, it is still work. They’re living better, taking care of themselves, may konting pride, but walang yabang. In my house, arrogance is not allowed.

How has fatherhood changed you?

I’ve become so soft. I’m falling in love with people now, not just women (laughs). Little kids and their stories and their humility and their po and opo…I’m not used to that. I’m still very jaded when it comes to marriage and commitment. I’m so scared of that. When a girl wants more than what I’ve been giving, I’m usually, ‘Gotta go.’ If you like what I’m giving you then stay with me. It’s sad because I’m 51 and I don’t want to die alone. But I also don’t want to have a ring and a commitment which I’m not good at. I’m worried about my children and whether I’ll live long enough to see them realize their dreams.

Are you ready to have grandkids?

No please, no. I hope not. But if I did, I would be so happy. I would tell my kids not to go into a relationship or marriage if they don’t know what they’re doing. If she looks different without make-up and that bothers you, find out early. Don’t find out later. If my kids were gay, I would love them just the same. That’s usually the follow-up question. I’m telling you how I’ve become. I wasn’t like that before. I’d probably beat them up a little bit. But I’ve realized that everything I’m getting now is a gift. It’s no longer about expecting or demanding something that I should have. Whatever you give me, I’m happy to have whether that be a TV show. My late-night talk show was back and I was so flattened – not flattered – when they told me they’re bringing it back. Only to be flattened again when they told me only 13 weeks.

What would you advise young dads?

Embrace every moment with your kids. They grow faster these days with all the things and technology that are available to them. The kids of today are the young adults of my time, so whatever time you can grab, don’t take it for granted. Hold them tight and watch them grow. (FREEMAN)