Jukebox idols release new albums

Victor Wood is right. We cannot have new jukebox idols because there are no jukeboxes anymore. Thanks to piped-in-music and sing-along machines, this once important piece of entertainment furniture is now consigned to nostalgia-themed diners and to the salons of antique collectors. But thanks to those who enjoy listening to melodrama set to a catchy tune, jukebox music is alive and well and there is a constant stream of albums of the genre. Here now are some new releases from our certified jukebox idols.

Imelda Papin, the one and only Jukebox Queen has already wept oceans of tears since those heady days when she was singing George Canseco's Bakit with the defunct Emerald Records. A former beauty pageant contestant from Bicol, she built a lucrative career out of songs that dwell on unrequited love, love triangles, martyr lovers and other similar characters and situations. And because she used to cry buckets whenever she performs, she was bestowed the tag of Asia's Sentimental Songstress.

In a way, those tears paved the way for the success of her songs in jukeboxes all over the country. Back then, the most common way of drowning one's sorrows was to sit and weep while drinking one bottle of beer after another with an Imelda Papin song playing in the background. There were so many jukeboxes then that in no time at all, she was outselling Nora Aunor and eager aspirants to her throne like Didith Reyes and Eva Eugenio emerged to go off in hot pursuit of jukebox fame.

Imelda has parlayed her success as an entertainer into a career in politics. She is now the vice-governor of Camarines Sur, but she still remains devoted to her music. When her time permits, she can be counted on to come up with her trademark lachrymal performances as well as don a well-packed mini skirt if the occasion calls for it. Fans are also glad to know that the themes of her songs are as sentimental as ever and that her singing is as intensely emotional as before. Some pop music buffs remain unconvinced of her drawing power, but they too share the opinion that after Imelda, there can never be another jukebox queen.

Imelda's latest in the stores is titled Dahil Minamahal Kita from a composition by Sunny Ilacad. The carrier single is Alex Catedrilla's Umaga Na Wala Ka Pa, which is expected to be another big seller along the lines of one of her most popular songs, Mon del Rosario's Isang Linggong Pag-ibig. Other cuts in the album are Makayanan Ko Kaya, Ikaw ang Mahal, Ewan Ko Ba, Ako Ba o Siya? Your Love, Bakit Ka Nagtatanong, Nagsisikip ang Puso and Till Death Do Us Part.

Fred Panopio and Victor Wood are also certified jukebox idols. Way back in the '60s, a local singing cowboy rejected the offer of composer Tony Maiquez for him to sing the theme for a film starring the fast-rising action star Fernando Poe, Jr., because he didn't want to sing in Tagalog. The musical director gave the song titled Pitong Gatang to the newcomer named Fred Panopio and what happened next is now one of the brightest parts of local music history. Panopio's recording broke all existing sales records of the time and he would later come up with more hits like Tatlong Baraha, Kawawang Cowboy and others.

Victor Wood was an anachronism in Filipino films during the '70s. The aspiring actor had light brown hair and eyes and was almost six-feet tall and directors had difficulty finding roles for him alongside Nora Aunor, Eddie Peregrina, Edgar Mortiz and Esperanza Fabon. To measure up to his peers, Victor took up singing because all of the other young stars of the '70s were also recording artists. Little did he know that he would attain unprecedented success as the Jukebox King of the time. Victor made hits out of oldies like Eternally, In Despair and Innamorata and new works like I'm Sorry My Love and Malupit Na Pag-ibig.

Recently, Victor came up with the idea of collaborating on an album with Fred and the result of their efforts is the aptly titled Certified Jukebox Kings. The jukebox may have already gone the way of the typewriter and the box camera but these two can still sing up a storm. Enjoy their distinctive jukebox sound with Salamat Sa Iyo (To All the Girls I Loved Before), Lumuha Man ang Puso Ko (Crying Time), Sa Isip Ko'y Ikaw Pa Rin (To Love Somebody), Inday ng Buhay Ko and many more.