Aaron Carter ‘live’ at the Big Dome Nov. 9

Two years ago, Funfare did a one-on-one with Aaron Carter in Singapore where he promoted his second album, Aaron’s Party (Come Get It). Asked if he wanted to do a concert in the Philippines, the bubbly little brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter exclaimed with undisguised enthusiasm, "I’d love to – very soon, I hope!"

The good news is that Viva Concerts is bringing The Little Prince of Pop to local shores for a concert on Nov. 9 at the Araneta Coliseum, entitled Rock, Rap & Retro Tour, with Tribe of Levi and Kyla as front acts.

I saw Aaron perform at a showcase in Singapore and he’s a livewire, spicing up his singing with his own cute dance steps. He is a delight to watch "live" and his fans will have their own chance when he performs at The Big Dome.

Five years into his career, Aaron is showing the world how much he has grown.

At 13, Aaron is one of just a few kids his age to attain the level of success that he has thus far. Astonishingly, in his first few years of performing, he set a record for being the youngest artist to garner four consecutive top 40 singles in the UK. Soon after, his fan base grew to numbers beyond the thousands and stretched into the millions. Aaron’s energetic performance and charming persona began to whip kids into an excitable frenzy.

His Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) album debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart its first week out and is nearly "double platinum." The single of the same name went to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart and is certified "platinum." This chart success lead to two sold-out tours of his own in the US as well as a home video, Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) The Videos which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Music Home Video Charts and is certified "platinum."

Aaron’s free spirit and endless affinity for fun take his fans on an exciting musical ride. It is on his third album, Oh Aaron, that his party continues with fun-filled songs that are sure to make heads bounce.

Aaron’s newest album, Another Earthquake! (released last month by Universal Records), is doing good at the stores. Its carrier single, Summertime, featuring Aaron with the Baha Men, is currently on high rotation on MTV and Myx and is getting good airplay on the radio.

What local artists should know

During my recent trip to New York, I sat down for dinner as usual with dear friends Raoul Tidalgo and Martinez couple Alice and Red who have been producing concerts in New York topbilling artists "imported" from the Philippines, including Pops Fernandez whose concerts for Alice and Red (and a recent one in L.A., among other states) have been consistent hits.

Alice’s counterparts and business buddies are Millie Gurfinkel (in L.A.), wife of STAR columnist and "US immigration specialist" Michael Gurfinkel, and Baby Navarette (in Chicago).

As usual, our conversation revolved around Pinoy-topbilled concerts in the US and how some producers are starting to feel the pinch because of the increasing cost of mounting those concerts. The producer pays the star (most of them, anyway) quite a sum (yes, in dollars!) and is also asked to shoulder the airfare and hotel accommodation of the star’s entourage (oftentimes consisting of not less than a dozen).

One time, even the laundry service of a singer in Chicago was charged by the manager to a producer’s account, would you believe!?! So it’s sort of a miracle if a US producer makes even a little profit. In short, Pinoy artists are themselves killing their "sideline" abroad by overpricing themselves and burdening the producer(s) with all sorts of extra expenses.

Also, local artists are fond of pumping their repertoire with foreign songs (Broadway hits, etc.) when, in fact, what US audiences hunger for are Tagalog songs, used as they are to English and Broadway music. That’s why when the artists launch into a Tagalog song, everybody in the audience can’t help turning teary-eyed.

"They are homesick for things Filipino," said Alice, "and artists performing in the US should take note of it."

A food for thought, isn’t it?

Guardian promo tilt

Here now is the second set of two questions (for episode 14) in the Funfare-Hallmark joint promo for The Guardian, telecast at 11 p.m. Sundays on the Hallmark Channel:

1. Why was Jeremy expelled from boarding school?

2. Who stole some personal items from Burton’s office?

Contest period for this episode is between Oct. 6 and 13.

To join, simply watch The Guardian and send your entries to: Watch & Win The Guardian Contest, P.O. Box 3802, MCPO, Makati City. Or e-mail to [email protected]. Deadline for this episode is Oct. 12.

The first 25 winners per week will each receive a Hallmark Channel goodie bags containing one Hallmark The Guardian coaster, one Hallmark prestige notebook, one Hallmark blue-light pen and one The Guardian poster.

Winners will be notified with a letter or by e-mail. They can claim their prizes from Buensalido & Associates, Suite 701, Seventh Floor, Greenbelt Mansion, 106 Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Bring a valid ID and your letter of notification.