Top & Jinky, Pinoy pop’s favorite loveteam

They packed the place and fans so enjoyed the show that doing a repeat was never a question. This is why Top Suzara and Jinky Vidal who starred in the concert Reunited held at the Music Museum last Aug. 30 will be performing together again. The repeat titled Reunited Once More, also from Viva Live, will also be held at the same venue in Greenhills on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.

 Most people are already familiar with the story of these two extraordinary singers by now. They were both members of the band Freestyle that Viva Records discovered in Davao City way back in 1998. They were doing gigs around the city and were quite popular with the hip local set. Jinky was the lead singer. Top was the other vocalist and he also wrote songs. In fact, the band came to Viva with a complete album of new originals.

Released in 1999, that first Freestyle album had songs like So Slow, Not That Easy, Bakit Iniwan Na?, Wanna Be The One and Before I Let You Go, which turned out to be a phenomenal seller. That song made Freestyle the biggest band of the time and spearheaded interest in other groups from the South doing the same sort of pop jazz music. It also gave birth to a pair of singing sweethearts, Top and Jinky.

Top and Jinky comprised a rarity in show business. They were singing sweethearts who looked good and sounded even better together although they were not and are still not romantically involved. They were friends and bandmates but they seemed to be so emotionally in tune that although they were good, singing solo, they were greater when together. But even the most harmonious relationships can come into a rough patch here and there and Top and Jinky came across a really big one.

I do not know the cause for his departure but Top left Freestyle to go solo in 2002. Jinky stayed for a while and even did tours and another album, her third, with Freestyle. But then she also followed suit two years later. She also went solo. Throughout all these time with their solo gigs, recordings and other stint, Top and Jinky were not on speaking terms. That is until one day, two years ago when they decided to be friends and co-workers once again.

And they still sounded great as a duet. A stint or two here and there saw audiences go wild over their Freestyle songs. And that was how the idea to do Reunited, the concert was born. The show was a runaway hit and thus, they are having a repeat. Then though busy with their solo careers, they also found time to record a new album together also titled Reunited for Viva Records.

Top and Jinky Reunited the CD, is divided into three parts, duets and then solos by Top and Jinky. The title track Reunited, a duet of the oIdie by Peaches & Herb is a very apt choice, because these guys are indeed reunited. The solos by Top are, I Want To Give It All by Air Supply and Ikaw Lamang, and Pangarap, new originals that he composed himself. Jinky’s solos are Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, Even Now, and Goodbye which Top wrote expressly for her. And then the duets are Don’t Wanna Lose You by Gloria Estefan, plus Hindi Na Ba Pwede and Right Here With You, both of which were also written by Top.

I sense a big hit in the bright and happy Right Here With You, which should have a video and heavy rotation airplay as soon as possible. On the other hand though, Pangarap also sounds like a big seller, or maybe Jinky’s Goodbye. But I believe that more important than the possibility of these becoming big hits, is the fact that Top has composed these songs. He is writing songs again. And very good ones at that. In these hit-strapped times for original Filipino music, the knowledge that one of the most successful composers of recent times has not lost his touch with creating songs is very heartening.

Tickets to Reunited Once Again are now available at the Music Museum, at Ticketnet 911-5555 and Viva Concerts 687-7236. Tickets are priced at Gold P2,500; Silver P2,000; and Bronze P1,000.

Speaking of returning performers, you might want to check out Sarah Geronimo in Perfect 10, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Nov. 15 and then also at the Mall of Asia Arena in Parañaque on Nov. 30. This is the first time that the Pop Princess is hitting the stage after two years. Her last was the phenomenal 24 SG that also sparked a return engagement at the Big Dome. This is also the first time that a Filipino artist will be holding the same show in two different venues. The better to bring the show closer to her fans from opposite places of Metro Manila. Expect singing, dancing and other fireworks.

Get your Perfect 10 tickets now at Ticketnet 911-5555; SM Tickets 470-2222; and Viva Concerts at 687-7236.