Claire duets with David Soul

As Funfare reported a few issues ago, Claire dela Fuente has scored another “coup” in her career by nailing a recording deal with David Soul, the star of the ’70s hit US TV series Starsky & Hutch (as Hutch, with co-star Paul Michael Glaser as Starsky) and the voice behind the hit song Don’t Give Up On Us (which Piolo Pascual sings as theme song of his starrer of the same title with Judy Ann Santos).

The song is none other than the Ogie Alcasid composition Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang. Through the wonder of technology, the duet will be recorded with Claire and David thousands of miles apart, the same way Natalie Cole recorded a duet of Unforgettable with her late father Nat King Cole. Claire will do it here and David in London on July 1.

Produced by Christian de Walden and mixed/mastered by Luca Vittori, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang is included in Claire dela Fuente Timeless, her third album for Viva Records. It is in Taglish, with the English lyrics by Grammy-nominated lyricist Pamela Phillips-Oland who also wrote Something In Your Eyes, the Richard Carpenter song Claire recorded for her second Viva album.

“David is very nice,” Claire told Funfare. “We have talked on the phone several times. When I called him ‘Mr. Soul,’ he would remind me to just call him David. He’s very humble. He usually ends his e-mail with a ‘Love.’ Parang matagal na kaming magkakilala.”

David is coming for a concert (titled Timeless Hitmakers) with Claire and Rico J. Puno on Aug. 13 at the PICC Plenary Hall and Aug. 14 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

“My album is 75 percent done (processed in the US),” said Claire. “It will be ready in time for our August concert.”

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It was bonding for Dr. Vicki Belo and her children Quark and Cristalle in Europe no less, far from the intrigues and the mind-blowing controversies back home.

During the first week, the threesome shot episodes for Vicki’s show, Belo 101, for The Filipino Channel, in Paris and Rome. And then, for one whole week, they proceeded to Vienna, Versailles, Prague and London before going back to Paris.

Throughout the trip, not a word was said about “you-know-what” and “you-know-who.”

“It was real bonding talaga,” said “Lady Secret” who was on the first week of the junket. “It was something Vicki had long been wanting to do but didn’t have the time to. All they did was enjoy the sights.”

They came home a few days ago, recharged and refreshed but not unshackled from the very recent painful/traumatic past.

Back to harsh reality.

Wrestling fans waiting for idols

Reacting to Funfare’s recent Body Talk features on Mark Henry (said to be The Strongest Man in the World) and CM Punk (good-looking hunk), wrestling fans are eagerly waiting for the heavyweights’ SmackDown & ECW Live Tour at the Araneta Coliseum on July 10.

Watching them live in action is definitely far more breath-taking than just watching them on TV’s World Wrestling Entertainment WWE).

Aside from Mark Henry and CM Punk, also coming are the half-Filipino Batista, Jeff Hardy, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Kane, The Great Khali, John Morrison, Christian, Jack Swagger, Shelton Benjamin, Melina, Gail Kim, Michelle McCool and many others.

Said fan Martin Sanchez, “I can’t wait to see all my favorite superstars live in Manila once more. It’s been years!”

Patrick Santos: “I always see them on TV. I have to see the action live!”

Nathan dela Cruz: “It’s simply the best! The extravaganza has been around for years. It’s already an institution. It’s definitely a must-see!”

(Note: For tickets, call SM TicketNet outlets at 374-9999 or 911-5555.)

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