Daniel more confident in next concert

If two double platinum record awards and one hit concert are enough basis for someone to be rightfully called a singer, then no doubt Daniel Padilla falls under that category. According to album producer Rox Santos of Star Records, Daniel has reached the double platinum status for the record sales of his debut eponymous album and his sophomore outing titled DJP. The third album is set to be released this month.

And who among his supporters could ever forget his birthday concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last year? It lasted for three hours with teenaged, mostly female, fans tirelessly screaming and shrieking in adulation.

But Daniel is not one to claim any title his supporters have bestowed on him like The Concert Prince. “Never did I dream about being called a concert artist or Concert Prince. I sing because those who support me want me to do this thing. Between acting and singing, I prefer to do the former but as I’ve said I’m doing this (singing) for the fans.”

Speaking of fans, some teenaged girls from as far away as Catanduanes trooped to the 14th floor of ELJ Building in the ABS-CBN compound last Thursday afternoon to see Daniel up close and personal. They expressed excitement over the fact that their idol is releasing another album and performing on the concert stage once more. A 14-year-old fan from Taguig assured the young actor that she will purchase five copies of the album as soon as it reaches record stores.  

This made Daniel all the more feel the need to work hard in harnessing his vocal skills especially now that he is set to perform on April 30 for another major concert titled DOS: The Daniel Padilla Birthday Concert at the Big Dome. Guests include Kathryn Bernardo, Rico Blanco, Khalil Ramos, Daniel’s own band Parking 5 and The Reo Brothers, a band composed of four siblings from Tacloban who survived the wrath of Typhoon Yolanda.

“I will do everything to make this concert worth-watching. This early, I’m already feeling the (pressure of the) concert; sa rehearsals may nerbyos na.”

He admits feeling butterflies in his stomach every time his idol Rico comes during rehearsals. “My armpits are always wet whenever he’s around; nagkakamali-mali ako syempre kasi legend na si Rico kaya kabado pero ang sarap kasi tinuturuan n’ya ko.”

Still, Daniel tries to perfect every song included in the show line-up by spending hours with a vocal coach who shares some techniques to hit the notes.

He, too, is aware that perfect timing is a must “because I had experienced in my first concert some things that fell short in timing. Now I know the things that I should and should not do. So during rehearsals now, I really am trying my best to sing the lyrics correctly; memorize ko na dapat kung saan papasok at hindi.”

Expect Daniel to perform old songs the way he did in his debut concert. The only difference lies in the tones — no more high notes — which he describes as “swabe lang.” Among the selection of new and old school rock songs are One Way or Another by Blondie; Something, The Beatles; and You Really Got Me, Van Halen.

Asked if he now feels more comfortable doing a concert, the 19-year-old actor jokingly replies, “Compared to before, mas makapal mukha ko ngayon.”

Kidding aside, Daniel says that he feels more confident doing a concert this time, given the number of occasions he has graced in the past. And though he is aware that his vocal quality cannot be compared to today’s popular singers, “I still need to prepare vocally for my fans.”  

What song would best describe him?

“It’s Hard to Handle by the American band Black Rose but I’m not saying that I’m hard to handle, I just like its lyrics. Locally, my favorite among Rico Blanco’s songs are Liwanag Sa Dilim and Umaaraw Umuulan.”

(Tickets to DOS: The Daniel Padilla Birthday Concert are available at Ticketnet outlets and Araneta Coliseum ticket sales office.)