Sila nAPO muna

After having gone their own ways in an unofficial, unplanned break-up they themselves never took seriously, Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo were also unofficially reunited as The Apo Hiking Society nearly two years ago. The reason was the market’s revived interest in the trio thanks to the success of the album Kami nAPO Muna. The tribute production featured artists performing songs the Apo popularized during the Manila Sound era of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Suddenly pop classics like Doobidoo-bidoo, recorded by Kamikazee and Yakap Sa Dilim by Orange & Lemons were hits again and The Apo music was again everywhere. Retirement plans, if any, were relegated further and further into the future. The only thing they still need do is come up with an album of new materials but otherwise, they have been very busy with assorted bookings since late 2006.

Now, although Jim, Danny and Buboy are again very much around, the trio still has to appear in an Apo concert of their own. All they have been doing were guestings with other artists. These were invariably easy proofs that these guys have not lost their touch. They never failed to bring down the house in those performances, usually followed by inquiries on when the real, big Apo concert will happen.

The wait is over and your date with the Apo is finally here. The famous trio will celebrate its 38 glorious years in the entertainment industry with a concert at the Plenary Hall of Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday, Aug. 10. Titled Mga Kwento ng APO: 38 Years of Music & Friendship, it will be an evening of music, laughter and oodles of memories.

If you remember how much you enjoyed watching a new group named the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society sing Otis Elevator, this show is for you. If you are among those wondering how a song like Doobidoo Bidoo could be indeed old or at least 30 years old, you shouldn’t miss this concert.

Tickets are priced at P3,000, P2,000, P1,200 and P500 and are available at selected National Book Store branches, selected Robinsons Department Stores, Music One in Makati and Alabang, Ayala Malls Greenbelt 1 and Glorietta 1, and at Ticketworld office and website. Call Ticketworld 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph for reservations and inquiries.

From the mail

Correction please from DJ Danee Samonte, better known these days as concert promoter Steve O’Neal. He wrote: “In the past two years, I have been entrusted by several artists like Chad & Jeremy, The Cascades, Colin Blunstone, etc., to release their new albums under my production outfit Steve O’Neal Music.

“I would like to point out that Miles Away is a Colin Blunstone original. He recorded the song in the mid-’80s and did the new version last year together with How We Were Before as bonus for the Greatest Hits Plus album.

“Chad & Jeremy’s latest album Acoustic Tapestry contains 15 acoustic versions of their hits including a Tagalog version of their monster smash A Summer Song. Tagalog lyrics by Joey de Leon.”

Thanks for writing Danee and sorry for the error. And to STAR readers, in case you missed my piece about the new Blunstone album, I mistakenly mentioned that his Miles Away is a cover when it actually is a new version of his original.

Top 20 hits

From MYX, where they play videos with your kind of music, the list of the Top 20 in the MYX Hit Chart for the week. On top is Alam ng Ating Mga Puso, the new single from Rachelle Ann Go’s Obsession album. Here is the list:

Alam ng Ating Mga Puso by Rachelle Ann; Pasan by Callalily; Upside Down by 6Cyclemind; Break Na Tayo by Rocksteddy; Only Reminds Me of You by M.Y.M.P.; Catch Me I’m Fallin’ by Toni Gonzaga; Teenagers by My Chemical Romance; Radio by Amber Davis; Stolen by Dashboard Confessional; Ang Katulad Mong Walang Katulad by Orange & Lemons.

Seksi Seksi by Kamikazee; Chicosci Vampire Social Club by Chicosci; Ale by The Bloomfields; Pilit by Hilera; Shooting Star by Hale; Tuloy Pa Rin by Sponge Cola; Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5; Umbrella by Rihanna; You’re the Inspiration by Dianne Elise and Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie.