Regine pays tribute to songwriters

You know it’s Christmas from the cold breeze you feel even in imperial Manila. And the concert scene is nervy with local and foreign acts vying against each other at the ticket booths of the biggest concert venues in the country. Beyoncé Knowles just conquered the Pinoy concert scene. Months before we saw how Josh Groban swept Pinoys with his enthralling music. Then, Babyface made us fall in love again with an endearing repertoire. Ai-Ai de las Alas is scheduled to do her own performance at the Araneta Coliseum tonight. Erik Santos filled up the Big Dome to the rafters. And over at the Aliw Theater, Regine Velasquez entertains crowd with a concert billed Ang Ating Musika which opened last Nov. 9.

Choosing the repertoire of her latest show Ang Ating Musika proved to be so complicated that Regine decided to mount two concerts-in-one. Since the concert series are on all Fridays (Nov. 16, 23) and Saturdays (Nov. 17, 24) of the month, she will sing a different set of songs for two nights.

It’s because the concert series is conceptualized as a tribute to the country’s best songwriters and composers, she points out. “I don’t want to miss out on any song or songwriter that’s why I thought of doing two concerts-in-one.”

When Regine and her creative team in Aria Productions were gathering materials for the concert, they initially came up with over 80 titles. “Narrowing it down to only 19 proved difficult, if not impossible,” Regine recalls.

Regine had 50 songs in her wish list before trimming it down to 42-plus songs that eventually made the final cut for the shows. Regine wanted to pay homage not only to the songwriters and composers she had worked with, but also to those she has yet to collaborate with.

“All of them are the artists who have made a mark in the music industry,” she says. Among the artists that she is honoring in the shows are Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Vehnee Saturno, Louie Ocampo and the late George Canseco and Yoyoy Villame.

“I asked my manager (sister Cacai Velasquez) to invite the (living) composers. That will make those six nights extra special. I’m really excited about this series of concerts,” she says.

She also has a Pinoy rock number to represent the “new breed of musicmakers,” as well as special medleys of hits popularized by OPM icons Sharon Cuneta and Basil Valdez.

A highlight is her showdown with the Pinoy Pop Superstar female champs Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia and April de los Santos.

Regine is also sharing the spotlight with fellow Kapuso and S.O.P. co-host Kyla.

Quite naturally, she is also singing a composition by boyfriend Ogie Alcasid. “It’s a beautiful love song originally recorded by Jaya. It’s titled Ako’y sa Iyo. It’s the theme song of my new movie with Ogie, Love is Blind and Deaf, under GMA and Viva Films.”

The UP Singing Ambassadors’ Two Songs of the Season

After its guesting stint in Josh Groban’s concert in Manila, the UP Singing Ambassadors will launch two CDs titled Two Songs of the Season CD 1 and 2. The CD launch will coincide with the group’s concert on Nov. 28 at the Philamlife Auditorium. The albums will showcase the best of UP Singing Ambassadors’  Christmas repertoire in the last 27 years.

Songs of the Season CD1 includes Filipino selections like Pasko Na Sinta Ko, Noche Buena, Kumukutikutitap, Simbang Gabi, Diwa Ng Pasko, Payapang Daigdig; English selections like A Christmas Carol, Do You Hear What I Hear, An Evening in December, Christmas Is The Season of the Heart, as well as the traditional Christmas carols like Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful), Angels We have Heard On High, Carol of the Bells. Songs of the Season 1 also includes the bonus track This is The Moment.

Songs of the Season CD 2 includes Pasko Na Naman, Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit, Anong Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko; English favorites like Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, O Holy Night, One Small Child, Jingle Bells, The Very Best Time of the Year, Et Misericordia, Hallelujah, Joyful Joyful, Stille naccht (Silent Night), Nacio, Nacio Pastores, Il est ne le divin enfant and Tu scendi dalle stelle. A medley of Michel Legrand songs is also featured.

The UP Singing Ambassadors is the 2002 Aliw Awards awardee for Best University Choir and the only Asian choir that won the 2001 Grand Prize in the Guido d’Arezzo Competitions in Italy and was the Philippine entry to the UNESCO International Music Prize in Paris in 2005.

For details, call 924-9378, 0915-7135274 or 0919-3742793.