More on Bublé

True. Crooner Michael Bublé is back in town only four months after his first visit to the Philippines. He performs tonight, Jan. 30, at the Plenary Hall of the PICC. He is next set to do the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu tomorrow, Jan. 31. Last Wednesday, he performed at the by invitation only event hosted by Smart at the Meralco Theater. Then last night he was at Joey Jives Five, at the NBC Tent, another invitational gig. This one celebrated the fifth anniversary of Nation Broadcasting Corp.’s radio station Joey 92.3.

True. He found the first bootleg copy of his album Michael Bublé in the Philippines. Bootleg is what they call unauthorized copies in other countries. Hereabouts those are pirated discs. It’s sad because piracy affects the music industry in a bad way. Ironically though, it has become a mark of success and one way of saying that an album is a flop is to say that even the pirates ignored it. They do not ignore Bublé.

True. Bublé is a success. This is obvious in the way he says, "I was just talking to Tony Bennett….," and "Paul was saying…" That is Paul Anka who executive produced his debut album. One more evidence is the fact that his Kissing a Fool is currently number four in the hit charts of Japan, one of the biggest markets in the world. His album is due for release next in Germany, another huge market.

Not true. He is not recording Barbra Streisand’s People, at any time soon or ever. Neither is he planning to record other types of music. "I spent 11 years trying to make it with the music I like. I am not about to change that now." I am pleased to hear this. I cannot imagine his producer David Foster putting People in Bublé’s album.

Not true. That there is anything between him and actress Kristine Hermosa. "I blurted out her name during the interview at the airport and I am sorry I did. It was only after that I realized it was a mistake." Too late for regrets now. He should resign himself to the fact that he will now be asked about Hermosa everywhere he goes.

True. It is not Kristine but there is a girl named Jenny Santi. "If I am going to tell you about every girl I ever dated, it will take us a very long time."

Not true. Although his name sounds French, he is not French-Canadian. He does not even speak French. " I am actually Italian-American." There is a place in Italy where my name can be found, but it is spelled Bubli. Maybe one of my ancestors who came to Canada decided to change the spelling so it will sound more French or Canadian.

True. He has put on weight since we last saw him in September, 2003. He’d better get on a diet and put in some gym time soon as a great part of his appeal is the sight of this young man singing like the swingers of old.

Not true. That he is scheduled to be an American Idol judge soon. Had this been true, it would have been an admission that Bublé has reached Paula Abdul territory at a time when he is just beginning to climb the charts. American Idol is a great promo tool. "I’d probably sell a lot of records. Can you get me in there?" But it is early days yet to be a judge for somebody with so much promise like Bublé.

True. There are no plans for a second album yet. "We’ve just started releasing in other countries." But there is a DVD coming out soon where he will be seen and heard doing songs from the first album plus some bonus tracks. "I am not saying what those are."

True. Bublé is now also an actor. He is one of the leads in the movie Totally Blonde, which also stars Baywatch Hawaii beauty Krista Allen. The picture is expected to hit the local screens within the next few months.

Not true. That Totally Bublé is his second album. "This is most unfortunate because I recorded those songs only for the soundtrack of the movie. We are very concerned because we are very careful about the quality of my recordings." Those were not supposed to be released. Then I saw Totally Bublé at the mall here."

True. He likes the Philippines. "You can check every interview I’ve done during the past four months and there will be me saying how much I like coming to the Philippines. In fact, I am seriously thinking of getting a place here."