Remembering the icons of the '80s

MANILA, Philippines - If there is anything the concert EightyToEightyNine (80289): 80s Music to the Max! at the Music Museum proved, it was that Filipinos will still turn out in droves to support their homegrown singers. If there is anything it continues to validate, it is that the music of the past, here or abroad, is still superior to what we are hearing today. Why do you think there are so many revival concerts mostly from Viva?

We have watched Men of the 80s (Gino Padilla, Louie Heredia, Randy Santiago and Raymond Lauchengco); Golden Divas (Carmen Soriano, Pilita Corrales and Carmen Pateña); Ugat, Legends of Pinoy Folk Rock (Pepe Smith, Heber, Lolita Carbon, Mike Hanopol, Gary Granada and Sampaguita); In the CompanY of Side A (The CompanY and SideA); All for One (Martin Nievera and Side A); and the grand daddy of them all the Hitmakers (Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Rey Valera, Marco Sison and Nonoy Zuñiga).

The icons are ready to sing their signature songs

As one whose music appreciation started with Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, the Jackson 5, Freddie Aguilar, Wolfgang and Razorback, Jose Mari Chan, Sampaguita, Ric Segreto, Imelda Papin, we have seen the music industry decline as fast as the movie industry, the economy, the quality of education, the country’s standing in the world community. Was it the total triumph of commerce that has brought about this condition? Thanks to the democratization of opinion through the Internet, we are able to cull through surveys what the greater population is thinking. Blogger BB and Anonymous are just two with the same opinion among hundreds. “It’s all about money, not quality these days” and “Artists are signed up for their marketability, not necessarily their talent.”

We are often reminded that when one has reached rock bottom there is no way to go but up. Hopefully, the little indications of rebirth in the quality of life will bring us back to our senses.

The six artists brought together by husband-wife team of musical director wizard Toto Gentica and rocker wife Lou Bonnevie brought in a full house that was again inspiring as it was sad. All this confirmed was that today’s music cannot compare with that of yesterday. The EightyToEightyNine (80289) concert had Juan Miguel Salvador, Gino, Chad Borja, Lou, Jamie Rivera and Ella May Saizon working on their various specialties, willingly trying out songs beyond their expertise, giving their best and their all. One couldn’t have asked for more.

EightyToEightyNine (80289) is Toto’s brainchild. “I’ve been promising ChiChit (wife of Gino) that I would produce an ’80s show since maybe eight years ago, “ shares Lou. “We refreshed the idea this year because Toto was more available to work on it and regained his inspiration… The creative and producers of the show have poured hard work in the production. My co-artists are oozing with great talents and are amazing people. The production is ready! We’re all ready for the world!”

Actually, the name Toto Gentica is enough to convince anyone to join whatever project he has in mind. We remember meeting him and Lou way back 1997 during auditions for the history-making rock opera Lapu-Lapu at the CCP. This was when Canadian-Filipino Miguel Vasquez, a friend of Ariel Rivera arrived, eager to try his luck. We brought Miguel to the auditions. He got cast in the ensemble of this neo-classic ethno-rock opera. As luck would have it, the lead actor left the production and Miguel was taken in as replacement.   

Toto is a master of all. He wrote jingles, did movie theme songs, composed and produced CDs, created concept shows for tourism and the environment. Everyone respected his genius and wanted to work with him. There wasn’t much of a problem when EightyToEightyNine (80289) started recruiting its cast. Because the group had been around in the business from the early ’80s, had accumulated songs, accolades, frustrations and regrets, bringing them together is a rare chance one gets to somewhat espy the person underneath the performer. 

We asked the cast why they accepted the offer. Most said they wanted to be with friends and bond. Having been away for a long time due to thyroid cancer, Chad especially welcomed the chance “to be active in the industry once more.”

Juan Miguel was even more vivid in his reasons for participation. He wanted to explore other avenues and felt he could contribute by playing the keyboard. “In general, I was the rocker amongst the male singers as Lou Bonnevie was amongst the female singers. What a pleasure it was for me to share the stage with a female rocker, a pop idol, a top balladeer, an inspirational diva and a soul queen. How much more diverse can it get.”

This seemed to be precisely the tack of Toto, to stretch his cast’s capabilities to the limit; to prove to one and all that these great performers of the ’80s were not only the best during their era, but are just as good today in whatever form or genre. They all shared a love for their vocation that went beyond commerce.

In the show’s virtual history of the ’80s that brought a generous 50-song repertoire, it is quite obvious production had to banner the Top 40s hits to bring in the audience. The show gave each of their performers a moment to shine in the opening suite with songs that best showed off their individual strengths. There was White Wedding, Wake Me Up Before You Go, 99 Luft Balloons, Gold, What’s Love Gotta do with it, Telephone and everyone singing Rhythm of the Night.

What followed were suites like the Billboard No. 1 song suite, ’80s movie themes, TV shows, OPM, artists’ favorites, ending in the dance hits. At the same time, the program also gave the cast numbers they would never have sung to test their versatility. Ella May says the concept suggested that “we not limit ourselves to just singing or stick to our kind of music. It made a great impact not just on the audience but on us.”

We asked each of them what song was most alien to them. For Jamie, it was the duet of Listen to Your Heart/ What About Love with Ella May with its little bit of rock. “I was surprised it turned out really well.” 9 to 5, where Lou and Ella May had a duet came across as a really fun number. Lou says “There’s nothin’ like an old-school type Dolly Parton song  with matching cowboy outfit!”  For Gino, “The song I Would Do Anything for Love was the most alien to my taste. But I enjoyed doing it.” He agreed that Toto’s experiment “was successful to widen the scope and range of the performers.”

Chad picked Blaze of Glory, theme song of Young Guns by Bon Jovi as far from his usual line-up. “I like challenges in singing, so the tougher the better.” Juan Miguel had never kept secret his discomfort in singing Tagalog songs. In the OPM suite, he had to sing Growing Up, Di Bale Na lang and Bababaero. He would rather stay away from jazz, R&B or rap, he confesses.

What could have improved the show? We felt Franco Laurel as host was under-used. Jamie and Lou looked for improved choreography and more sophisticated sound system. Chad suggested  less scripted spiels and more humor to connect with the audience. Juan Miguel prefers less use of dancers so as not to take focus away from main performers, and once they have the budget Lazer  lights, Black lights, Neon lights, Effects like Dry-Ice creeping on the floor, even pyrotechnics. Nothing wrong with dreaming. While we’re at it, a larger venue, of course.

The celebrities in the full audience, Ruby Rodriguez, John Lapuz and Kristine Hermosa acknowledged the crowd. Dina Bonnevie sang a few bars of her hit song Bakit Ba Ganyan with the audience singing along. Obviously, everyone was having fun. 

Jamie gets out of her inspirational diva image

The artists shared with us their most unforgettable experiences abroad. For Ella, it was performing in front of former South African Pres. Nelson Mandela, and singing Star Spangled Banner at the Countrywide Classic/ATP US Open Series at the UCLA. Her biggest dream remains to penetrate the foreign market. Doing Miss Saigon will always be Jamie’s most prized memory. Lou picks out the opportunity to work with Pete Escovedo (father of Shiela E., the famed percussionist of Prince)… wearing an “Ilocano” blanket blazer and singing her song “Rockin the Beat.” Gino cites performing with Sarah Geronimo in Japan, the concert tours of Men of the 80s, and of course, the unforgettable duet with Tina Turner. 

Chad recalls joining winning $20,000 at a singing contest in Guam for the song Be My Lady of Martin Nievera. “But I never got the money. Somebody ran away with the cash,” he laughs. Juan Miguel has an even crazier experience of performing back-to-back with a Korean male-pop superstar in the mid ’80s. “It was 15 degrees below zero and I literally had to keep wearing and removing my gloves while playing my keyboard parts. My fingers refused to move. It was the most hilarious thing that could happen to any musician.”

We are told the three-night concert brought inquiries for repeats outside Metro Manila and even in California and Las Vegas. Clearly the group is making waves. Writer is Henry Tejero, choreography by Mario Esperanza, lights by Martin  Esteva and photos by Patrick Sugui. Sponsors include PLDT Telerewards, Petron, PAGCOR, Ducati, Vitress and Hygienix, Bright Maritime, We Design We Shoot studio, Aldrain Marketing, Bonne Vivant and Dimitri Productions.

(E-mail me at [email protected].)