Get intimate with Duncan

Barely Breathing established Duncan Sheik’s reputation as an exceptionally talented singer and songwriter. A rare example of quiet intimacy in a world steeped in hard-driving R&B and angst-driven rock, the song made Sheik one of the leading purveyors of the now very popular acoustic sort of pop music. This acquired reinforcement with the success of his subsequent releases like Wishful Thinking, Half Life and On A High.

These songs plus several others have been compiled in his latest release Daylight in the Duncan Sheik Daylight Limited Tour Edition album. Daylight is worth every cent you can spend on it. The word intimate is the best word I can think of to describe it. And you would be surprised that this is not intimate in a Frank Sinatra sort of way. Duncan rocks but his sound is in truth mellow and never loud nor abrasive. Best of the lot are Genius, On Her Mind, For You, Such Reveries, Shine Inside and Half Life. This one comes in two versions, one as the original track from the album and the other a live acoustic version which is even better.

As for the other songs, Barely Breathing, Reasons for Living, Bite Your Tongue, and On a High, they still sound as fresh as when they first came out. Given the prevailing trends some eight years ago when he released Barely Breathing, Sheik must have been a really adventurous soul who chose to go his own way. It was quite a risk but as is now very evident, his individualism withstood the dictates of the market and a lot of artists are now doing what Duncan introduced. They are making smooth, intelligent, deeply introspective but also very romantic music.

Duncan Sheik is currently in town for a couple of shows. You can catch him tonight, July 18 and tomorrow, July 19 at the Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard. Given Duncan Sheik’s new-found popularity here and the Pinoy’s current obsession with acoustic sounds, you can bet that tickets have probably sold out by now. But there’s no harm in trying. Besides, audiences will not only get Duncan Sheik, who I must add is also quite a looker, in those two shows. Joining him will be Rockwell Ryan and Dain Samuelson on Stephen Speaks, the group responsible for the biggie Passenger’s Seat plus our very own Paolo Santos.

And speaking of Paolo, I admit that there is nothing like listening to him with his guitar performing his kind of soft, romantic music live. But reality says that only those with fat pocketbooks and unlimited time can afford to watch his every performance. Here is good news for those who can’t but would really love to hear him again and again. A VCD edition of his recent Acoustic Night Out show is now available from Viva Records.

Paolo’s much-talked about version of Stevie Wonder’s Lately is not in the line-up of songs but Overjoyed, also from Stevie is included as well as some of his originals and timeless favorites. In fact, there is little more to be desired in the repertoire by followers of this young man, who has become the toast of the local coffee house circuit. There are 30 numbers recorded live in the VCD and several of these are the prime staples and most requested tunes in his every performance.

Topping the list are his originals like Play with Me, Coffee Cup, Close and Mapansin. He also goes through a wide range of moving love songs that includes oldies like Someone to Watch Over Me and The Way You Look Tonight to modern classics like Big Yellow Taxi, Through the Fire and Season of Love, from the Broadway musical Rent.

His guests soul siren Nina and Barbie of Barbie’s Cradle, do solos of Foolish Heart and All I Need. They then duet with Paolo in Power of Two and Don’t Know Why. Paolo also performs Her Town Too with Pido and Shower the People and Don’t Dream It’s Over with Ryan Regine.

Paolo’s quiet charm, soulful voice and virtuoso fingers on his guitar provide a refreshing respite from the R&B driven music that Pinoys usually get these days and this album is the best proof there is that he has now become a star, albeit, a reluctant one.