A surfeit of Paolo Santos

Thankfully, 2003 will not go down pop music history as the year dominated by Chinese pop idols and the novelty tunes by the likes of Parokya ni Edgar and the Sexbomb girls. This is also the year when unadulterated music classified as "acoustic" garnered unprecedented popularity and brought to prominence a group of talented but surprisingly low-key artists by local showbiz standards. That means they do not emcee variety shows and do not provide juicy fodder for tabloid columnists. And as I am sure all of you will instantly agree, the leader of the pack is none other than Paolo Santos.

Singer, songwriter, musician and of course, one of today’s hottest performers, Paolo, despite his slight frame and quiet ways, is literally dominating entertainment row. If you will take a look around town in search of something musical to watch, it is most likely that you will find a show headlined by Paolo nearly every night. Browse the radio stations and you will definitely come across songs by Paolo. Check out the music channels on TV and you will find lots of Paolo again. The web has not been spared. Browse and you will find reviews about his shows, references to his music and even personal journals talking about Paolo’s effect on the writers. Would you believe there are now Paolo Santos Moments, as in Kodak Moments, but these ones are filled with longing sadness?

Of course, while he started out as a guitar-strumming troubador in small music joints, Paolo is also availabe in the music stores and even appears in several albums that were all released within this year. There he sings Close, the newest jingle for the toothpaste Close-Up. He is leading a choice line-up of Filipino artists with his version of Moonlight Over Paris in the hit collection Tunog Acoustic. In the tribute to the National Artists Lagi Kitang Mamahalin album, he plays the guitar for Sharon Cuneta’s rendition of Kahit Konting Pagtingin. And he also stars in some that are his very own.

Playlist focuses on Paolo as singer and songwriter. There are 12 cuts and all of them save for one, Stevie Wonder’s Overjoyed, are his compositions. These are simple melodies that effortlessly lend themselves to guitar accompaniment and Paolo’s laidback singing style. Most impressive is the language used in the lyrics. It is that of today’s upwardly mobile generation. Confused, sad, romantic, resigned, moneyed, coffee addicted and never overly dramatic. Twisted creatures crazy for the night/ in the darkness can’t get you out of my sight he sings in Play with Me. I am making a fool of myself right now/ to convince you girl that we can work this out somehow goes Fool.

A taste of a live gig starring Paolo is what the buyers get from Paolo Santos Acoustic Night Out. The live-recorded VCD album has 30 cuts, more than enough to satisfy the Paolo fan who follows him from gig to gig around town and with a front row seat every time. This is the album for the Paolo follower to make up for Paolo-less evenings. It is also just the thing for those who have been wondering what this guy from La Salle has that keeps people wanting to get more of him.

The songs included are a diverse lot but Paolo does them all equally well. There are standards like The Way You Look Tonight, Someone to Watch Over Me, Through the Fire and Loving You, acoustic favorites like Overjoyed, Big Yellow Taxi and You’re the Best Thing, current favorites like Sleep All Day and Your Body is a Wonderland and the Paolo Santos originals Coffee Cup and Close. Added treats are duets with Barbie of Barbie’s Cradle Don’t Know Why, Nina Power of Two, Pido Her Town Too, Ryan Regine Don’t Dream It’s Over and Shower the People.

Rocking Evening

Check this out for a rocking evening. Roadmap Productions in cooperation with Red Horse, presents The Parental Guidance Tour at the Marikina Riverbank Amphitheater at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Tickets are priced reasonably at only P100 each but rock music buffs will get a star-studded show featuring some of the biggest bands in the country in return. These are Slapshock, Razorback, Greyhoundz, Sugar Free, Chico Sci, Sandwich, Urban Dub, Fuseboxx and The Late Isabel.