Jim Brickman writes song on RP

MANILA, Philippines - He may have traveled the world to share his original songs, the most well-loved of which include, Valentine, The Gift and Love of My Life. But Jim Brickman still can’t help but ooh and aah whenever he goes to the Philippines and comes face to face with Filipino artists.

Brickman, who arrived in the country the other day from the US, said, “I was in A.S.A.P.’09 and the host knew Valentine. She’s amazing!”

Amazing, too, he adds, is the fact that “everybody in the Philippines can sing. Everybody has talent.”

Brickman is back in the country to perform tonight at Eastwood Mall Open Car Park, Eastwood City, Quezon City.

Part of his repertoire, aside from his hits, of course, is a song he composed specifically for the Philippines. Brickman wrote the song Noche Pacifica (Peaceful Night) on board a cruise ship.

The song shows his admiration of the country, where he enjoyed visiting such tourist destinations as Boracay and Palawan.

Brickman has been coming and going in the country, his last visit being five years ago, when he staged a show at the PICC. He has also shared the stage with Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Erik Santos and Ariel Rivera.

After seeing and hearing Regine Velasquez sing, Brickman is raring to perform with Asia’s Songbird the next time around. That is, if he — or Regine — can squeeze in time in-between their busy schedules to get together.

Brickman is promoting his new PBS concert, Beautiful World (via a 75-city concert tour that covers 50 cities in the fall of 2009 and 25 in Spring 2010. It shows breathtaking views of the falls and sees Jim performing with Jon Secada, American Idol Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle, former member of Celtic Woman Orla Fallon and others.

Beautiful World is also the title of Jim’s new CD, with 21 tracks made up of the songwriter’s original compositions.

“I’m more of a songwriter than a pianist,” says Brickman, who counts Burt Bacharach and Aaron Copland as his greatest musical influences.

The music, however, is Brickman’s very own — coming as it does “from within.”

And how does he explain its continuing popularity (six Gold and Platinum-selling albums and 26 adult radio hits)?

“One of the reasons could be because I want to share my music with all the people,” he explains.

Brickman emerged as the top choice of Eastwood City shoppers when they were asked in a survey who they would like to perform in the mall.

Brickman himself is looking forward to the show. “I’m so thrilled!” he relates.

He is so elated Brickman doesn’t have to turn to happy songs the way he does whenever he feels depressed.

“When I’m sad,” he relates, “I turn up the music and listen to something happy like Abba. I don’t listen to depressing music.”

Neither does he like being told what to do and what not to do. That’s why his favorite among his compositions is Free to Fly.

“The message of the song is you should be able to find your own path to life. You should make your own choices in life,” he states.

Brickman has made his choice. And he — and the people he touches with his music — can’t be any happier.