Yes, America is in the heart

Four decades after they broke into the music scene, the English-American folk-rock band America continues to fascinate their fans (most of whom are now grandparents) including current generation of music-lovers nourished on hip-hop and some new sounds, thanks to their enduring songs like I Need You, A Horse With No Name, Ventura Highway, Tin Man, You Can Do Magic, California Dreamin’, Sandman and All My Life (my personal favorite).

Once more (with more feeling), America will lead fans down memory lane with those songs — and more — during the duo’s series of concerts (on Oct. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Oct. 19 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City and on Oct. 21 at University of Baguio, produced by Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions).

Performing with America is Kalapana, the contemporary Hawaiian group behind such classics as Naturally and The Hurt, which is celebrating its 39th anniversary.

A few days ago, America’s Gerry Beckley (the other half is Dewey Bunnell) granted Funfare an exclusive phone interview.

Excerpts:

America has changed members through the decades, with you and Dewey as the remaining original members. How did you survive the change in membership and other trials along the way?

“We owe it to the fans and to the fact that people everywhere love songs that are easy to listen to. I’m glad that Dewey and I are able to sustain the well-loved America sound.”

Of course, people love all your songs, especially A Horse With No Name, Ventura Highway and Tin Man.

“We’re performing all three songs. A Horse With No Name was originally titled Desert Song and it was our first No. 1 record. Ventura Highway was the first single from our second album. It’s very much a California song. And Tin Man featured cryptic lyrics along the Wizard of Oz theme.”

Most of your songs start with the letter “H” (Holiday, Hideaway, Harbor, Hourglass, Human Nature, Highway: 30 Years of America, History: America’s Greatest Hits and Horizontal Fall, the duo’s solo album released in 2006). What’s so significant about that letter?

“It started by accident. The titles of our first three albums started with an ‘H’ and it worked, so we kept on coming up with titles that start with an ‘H.’ That’s all there is to it.”

Do you have any personal favorite among America songs?

“Yes, I Need You. It’s one of the first songs that I ever wrote. It’s a very successful song. I was only 16 when I wrote that.”

Do you listen to the music of the present crop of singers?

“I do. I listen a lot to them and there’s a lot that I like.”

What songs are on your player right now?

“I think I have Miles Davis on my iPod. It’s not so new but still I’m a big fan of it.”

You’ve performed a few times in the Philippines. What do you remember from those visits?

“Yes, we’ve been there many times. We love the people. You are one of the greatest audiences we’ve ever performed for. The Philippines has several talented singers and musicians, including the one (Arnel Pineda) with Journey.”

If you were to serenade a lady with an America song, what would it be?

“Hmmmm, I don’t know. Oh yes, maybe All My Life.” (You know, all my life, without a doubt I’ll give you all my life; now and forever ‘till the day I die…)

By the way, how do you preserve your voice?

“By not talking too much during the day if we have a concert. I do interviews but I don’t talk too much all day long.”

(America with Kalapana 2012 Philippine Tour is produced by Ovation Productions in association with Philippine Airlines, etc, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Talk TV, History Channel and Edsa Shangri-La Manila. It is also supported by, among others, The Philippine STAR. Tickets to the Smart Araneta Coliseum concert on Oct. 17 are priced at P4,000, P3,500, P3,000, P2,500, P1,500 and P700. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555. Tickets to the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino show on Oct. 19 cost P4,000, P3,000, P2,000, P1,200, P1,000 and P600. For details, call 232-6888 or 0917-6228705. Ticket prices for the University of the Baguio concert on Oct. 21 are P3,750, P3,250, P2,650, P2,150, P1,250 and P750 with tel. nos. 074-4423071, 0917-4476403 or 0922-550123.)  

Anna Maria arriving today ahead of the Jonases

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle with her Philippine passport, personally facilitated by Maryjo Aragon, outgoing LA consul general

Fil-Am star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle will be using her newly-acquired Philippine passport when she arrives today for her special guest appearance at the Asian concert of her fellow Disney alumni, the Jonas Brothers who are coming next week yet.

The 21-year-old granddaughter of the legendary Sylvia La Torre was recently granted dual citizenship at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.

Nope, she’s not worried that her being a “genuine” Filipino-American will be scrutinized while in the Philippines. She simply availed of her right to be recognized as a dual citizen, being a child born to Filipino parents. 

Anna Maria’s application was personally facilitated by outgoing LA Consul General Maryjo Aragon. She was welcomed by the officers and staff of the Consulate who were thrilled to see the newly-minted Broadway baby who is said to be one of the frontrunners for the film adaptation of the smash Broadway musical Miss Saigon.

The Jonas Brothers’ Asian concert will bring them to the Mall Of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City on Oct. 19, and Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu on Oct. 20, and later at Canning Park in Singapore on Oct. 22, and Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 24.

Anna Maria, who will be accompanied by her parents, Artie and Evelyn Perez de Tagle, said she just can’t wait to see the Philippines in her first homecoming in 12 years.

She’s been getting a lot of tweets from Philippine-based fans of Hannah Montana and Camp Rock who are expressing excitement to see her up close and requesting that she mount a “Meet & Greet” event before the Manila and Cebu concert. 

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)