Rachelle: You can’t please everyone

In February next year, Rachelle Ann Go will celebrate her 10th anniversary in showbiz. How fast time flies  it doesn’t seem all that long since Rachelle emerged champion of a now-defunct singing search and launched her solo career.

At a recent gathering with the entertainment press to announce her latest project — as female lead role in Viva and Atlantis’ joint production of Tarzan — Rachelle was asked what she has learned about herself and about showbiz in the 10 years that she’s been in it. Rachelle took a few minutes to reflect and replied: “A lot. I’ve learned a lot.”

One of those, she said, was in singing. Before, she would only consider herself a good singer if she was technically perfect, meaning, not one wrong note, no sharps, no flats. One note out of place and she would already become depressed and distracted. “Before I was very technical,” admits Rachelle. “I want it perfect. If (the note is) flat, sharp, may piyok, if I make a mistake, I’d be devastated. ‘Pag pangit ang performance, the whole week, wala ako sa sarili ko.”

Now, things are different. She puts more importance on the emotions she pours into a song and whether she is able to establish a connection between the audience, the song and herself as the singer. “Ngayon, ang natutunan ko, puso lang talaga, wala akong pakialam. Basta naparamdam ko sa audience ‘yung puso, ‘yung emosyon sa kanta, ‘yon ang importante sa akin ngayon.”

Rachelle has also become more appreciative of the little things and the people who work with her. When she produced a show last year, she realized how important every person’s input is in putting a concert together. It’s not just about her as the star onstage — a concert is all the little things done by the little people who make up the production. Additionally, the last 10 years she’s spent in the business have taught her how to deal with intrigue and heartbreak. She copes by focusing on God, on trying to honor Him in everything that she does, whether it’s through a song, an album, a show or a concert. “Before, I feel like I took it (showbiz) for granted. But now, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things, the people around me, the hard work put in by those helping me behind the scenes. Yung mga intriga naman, n’ung bata pa ako, magaling na ako mag-wall, ‘yung hindi ko pinapakita na nasasaktan ako. Although of course, deep inside, it hurts and before, I couldn’t help but feel affected. But I learned that I shouldn’t try to please everyone because it’s tiring. At the end of the day, you should please God, yourself and your family, and of course, all those supporting you.”

The heartbreaks were not as easy to deal with, especially because by nature, heartbreaks are private, and being a celebrity, she was forced to live those heartbreaks out on a public stage. But what she went through taught her a lot about how immature she was back then. Now happily single, she has learned to look at love differently. “I’ve learned that it’s not about kilig, it’s not about finding someone to make you feel loved or happy. Since I was immature before, I easily got carried away. Naniwala ako sa kilig. Maybe, it wasn’t the right guy or the right time. Now, I believe that God changed my heart. I’m happy to be single. You don’t need someone to make you feel happy and complete.”

“Siguro, mararamdaman mo ‘pag nandiyan na, at tama ‘yung panahon,” reflects the singer-actress. “Right now, what’s more important is I know where I should place my focus.”

For now, she’s focusing on her career. Although Party Pilipinas has bowed out, there are many blessings and opportunities coming her way, the Tarzan production being just one of them. In Tarzan, Rachelle stars opposite Broadway and Hollywood actor Dan Domenech, who describes her singing voice as “gorgeous.” This is only Rachelle’s second time onstage; the first was when she played Ariel in Little Mermaid. In terms of costume, she says Tarzan (which premieres on June 14 at the Meralco Theater) is easier because she doesn’t have to wear a heavy mermaid tail. But she does have a lot of speaking lines, and that’s something she had to adjust to. “In Mermaid, Ariel loses her voice, right? That’s why in the second act, I no longer had speaking lines. Here, in Tarzan, I have a lot!”

Still, she’s looking forward to the show and is grateful for the opportunity to pursue something she loves. Rachelle is part of a growing number of mainstream pop singers who have found their way to theater. It’s a community that’s getting larger and larger, and Rachelle is happy to be a part of it.