’80s ‘senti’ tunes in Secret Affair soundtrack

Some weeks ago, Nina, the famous Soul Siren said she wanted to record Don’t Say Goodbye. That was the song popularized by Pops Fernandez way back in the ’80s. It was composed by Louie Ocampo with words by Martin Nievera who was at that time happily married to Pops. If you will listen to the original recording, you can even hear Martin singing background to Pops. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking song, which if I remember right was covered only once before, by Gino Padilla.

Nina was supposed to sing the theme for the upcoming romantic drama A Secret Affair. The song still had to be chosen but when the idea of Nina singing Don’t Say Goodbye came up, the Viva CEO Vic del Rosario himself asked, “Why don’t we use Don’t Say Goodbye as the theme song?” Nina agreed. So did the film’s director, Nuel Crisostomo Naval and the screenwriter, Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario. Not only that, Mel’s husband, former DJ and record man Ricky del Rosario put together a soundtrack of songs, which like Don’t Say Goodbye, are all sentimental love songs from the ’80s.

And that was how The Official Soundtrack to A Secret Affair from Viva Records was born. With Nina’s Don’t Say Goodbye, leading the line-up, the CD became a proud showcase of some of the best and most enduring works by Filipino composers. And take note, all of these songs were big sellers popularized by local artists from 30 years ago. Who needs foreign hits? The album now has also made available digitally remastered editions of the originals or I should say, first recordings of the following songs.

You by Basil Valdez, composed by Gerry Paraiso; One More Try by Kuh Ledesma composed by Cecile Azarcon; Till My Heartaches End by Ella May Saison composed by Vehnee Saturno with words by Tito Cayamanda; Special Memory by Iwi Laurel, also written by Azarcon; I Need You Back by Raymond Lauchengco, composed by Odette Quesada; Hold On by Side A composed by Dingdong Eduque; Give Me A Chance by Ric Segreto, also written by Quesada; Even If by Jam Morales, again by Azarcon; Before I Let You Go by Freestyle composed by Totop Suzara; You Won’t See Me Crying by Passage, also written by Paraiso; and Till I Met You, also by Ledesma and again by Quesada.

 Listen to them and bring back your own flood of romantic experiences. I know that some might be sad and would be better left undisturbed but then again, those happened so long ago. It is now time to get a good laugh or maybe a smile or two out of them. The songs are so beautiful, you can now listen and enjoy the memories. Besides, once A Secret Affair comes out, you will be hearing these songs and you will instead be thinking about the movie.

A Secret Affair brings back that love theme that made a huge success out of the blockbuster No Other Woman from last year, Box-office Queen and King Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay. They figure in a love triangle with Andi Eigenmann. Anne and Derek are engaged to be married, but during a problematic period in their relationship, he starts an affair with Anne’s friend Andi. Anne and Derek later got their problems fixed but Andi had by then fallen deeply in love with Derek and refuses to leave.

A simple plot really but the resulting product is a Filipino moviegoer’s dream come true. It has a great looking, glamorous cast. Jackielou Blanco, Jaclyn Jose, Joel Torre and Johnny Revilla are also in the picture. Trendy, luxurious settings and wardrobes; hot love scenes; crisp dialogue; exciting confrontations; and most of all, there are those beautiful songs in the soundtrack. A Secret Affair opens Oct. 24. Enjoy.

As for Nina, I am sure you recall her many hits. Someday, Heaven, Foolish Heart, that monster Love Moves In Mysterious Ways and many others. Expect to add Don’t Say Goodbye to the list soon. The song marks the beginning of her new contract with Viva. It will also be one of the cuts in the new album she is now recording. Like Don’t Say Goodbye, her new songs will be by Filipino songwriters.