Air Supply: It's the '80s once more

Air Supply is coming to town again. I know the famous duo from Australia, has been here so many times before. Truth to tell, I have a feeling that Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock have themselves lost count of how many times they have visited the Philippines since they started out some 30 years ago. So do we want these guys back here again?

Well, they have plenty of hits and Pinoys do love the soaring sound of the music of Air Supply. In fact, I do not think a day passes by out here when you will not hear an Air Supply song. And that means not only from the radio but also down to even from the small karaoke joints.

Among their biggest hits are Every Woman In The World, All Out Of Love, One That You Love, I Can’t Let Go, Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You), Come What May, Even The Nights Are Better, Two Less Lonely People In The World, Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, I Can Wait Forever, Just As I Am, Power Of Love (You Are My Lady), Lonely Is The Night, Someone Who Believes In You, Without You, Goodbye, Way I Feel, Now And Forever, Strong Strong Wind and there must be others I don’t recall off-hand.

For another, there seems to be some sort of ’80s fever going on around the world nowadays. Must be because fans have not really gotten over the loss of Michael Jackson and MJ was at his biggest in the ’80s. Maybe because the kids in the TV series Glee are singing the hits of Madonna or perhaps because Iron Man is flying around with a soundtrack of AC/DC hits, most of them from the ’80s.

The mood is not much different out here. There was the big success of the Tears for Fears concert at the Big Dome, while P.M. Dawn and SWS were also here for a big concert at Mall of Asia. When you get down to it, what can be more ’80s sounding than the songs of Air Supply? Their very first big seller, Lost In Love, happened exactly in 1980.

So this looks like a good time for Air Supply to renew ties with Filipino fans. Besides, unlike their previous visits, Graham and Russell, also one of the most durable duos in pop music history, will do three shows, one in Metro Manila and one each in Visayas and Mindanao. The first will be at SMX Mall of Asia on June 25. There will be another one in Zamboanga City on June 26 and the third will be in Tacloban City on June 28.

Side A is a band that also started out in the ’80s. Its first hit, Hold On was released in 1985. Like Air Supply, Side A continues to delight music lovers with its large treasure trove of hits. This week, the group will observe Philippine Independence Day by performing original Filipino songs.

 The show is Independence Date… with Side A at the Quezon City Circle Covered Court on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. This is for the benefit of the Novaliches Pastoral Outreach for the Welfare and Resources of Persons with Disabilities (NPOWRD).

Side A is made up of Joey Generoso on lead vocals; Naldy Gonzales, keyboards; Ernie Severino, drums; Lee Von Cailao, guitars; and Ned Esguerra, bass. They promise to perform, their big hits like, Forevermore, So Many Questions, Set You Free, Think It Over and Hold On, cuts from their latest CD Only One, which is available worldwide on itunes, plus their famous OPM covers like Tell Me, Tuloy Pa Rin, You, Aking Awitin, Don’t Know What To Say Don’t Know What To Do and others.

Independence Date… is presented by the 4th of January Productions and Mossimo Music with Dizitab, Tuseran Forte and minor sponsors Conzace, Motorola, MisterCool, Nature’s Spring, Gingerbon Voice Candy, Droste Chocolate Pastilles and Magnolia Powdered Fruit and Tea Drinks. Tickets are priced at P500 and P275 and available at Ticketworld (with tel. no. 891-9999) or at www.ticketworld.ph.