Mitoy makes album debut

Ageism reigns rampant in local show business. Boys and girls who are young and pretty are the most admired and are considered the most bankable. That is even if they cannot sing, cannot dance and cannot act. The prevalent expectation is that they can grow into the acting, singing and dancing parts anyway. And who cares, if they don’t, there is never a shortage of newcomers anyway, also young and pretty and ready to take over.

So all this time has been rough sailing for anybody over 21 who was still dreaming of stardom in this country and a lot of them, sadly disillusioned had already lost heart and left the race. But then the talent show The Voice came along and suddenly there is hope. Contestants there are judged only on the voice. That is why the coaches decide on the choices for their teams with their backs to the singers. Looks and age, or being fat, short, etc. have suddenly become of no import(ance).

Then as though to stress this very important change, Mitoy Yonting with help from coach Lea Salonga was hailed as the champ of the first season of The Voice. Mitoy is no longer young. Truth to tell, he already looks weather-beaten by too many late nights as a part-time comedian and frontman of the band named The Draybers. I am sure that he had already given up on his dream of becoming a singing star before he joined the contest. But Mitoy’s magnificent voice was not finished with him yet.

This was clear from the moment when Mitoy’s vocals first resounded out of the TV screens to the homes of music loving Pinoys everywhere. How nice to find out that the guy still has what it takes. They loved him. Why not, in this youth infested world of ours, Mitoy made for a most refreshing sight and sound.

A year later, here is Mitoy, now all aglow from media exposure in concerts, TV shows, interviews, pictorials and all those trappings of stardom. He has brought with him the crowning glory of every singer’s dream, the first album. His is titled Hanggang Wakas and it is every bit Mitoy’s with songs he composed, meaningful oldies, crowd favorites during his shows and that all important first single. It looks like Mitoy also scored a winner in this department with Pinaikot-ikot, a catchy new composition by hitmaker Vehnee Saturno.

There are several standouts that make listening to the album quite a pleasure. There is a divine duet of Somewhere from West Side Story with Lea. They sound great together. I also love it that he included Clod Delfino and Ruben Vega’s old boogie woogie tune Hahabol-habol. Originally sung by Bobby Gonzales, this was the first rock ’n roll song ever recorded in the Philippines and it was introduced in the movie Low Waist Gang that starred Fernando Poe Jr. and Zaldy Zshornack. And then, there is Florante’s Handog because its message echoes his incredible journey. It is clear that Mitoy remembers the hard knocks from the past and now wants to say his thanks.

Mitoy is also an adept and versatile songwriter doing ballads Ikaw Hanggang Wakas and also reggae and rap in Kaibigan and Magulang featuring Bassilyo. He has another new original Pangakong Tapat by Aster Adriano and a good cover of Minahal Kita by Michael Pascual. As for those Mitoy fans who have sat through many a night listening to his wide-ranged, plaintive voice sing soaring melodic love songs, backed by his Draybers, here are his gifts to you: Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You; Neil Sedaka’s Solitaire; and a medley of three hits by Air Supply, Every Woman In The World, I Can’t Wait Forever and Here I Am.

From the MYX, here is last week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown. Take note of those three music videos in the list by comeback girl Kyla. There are two cuts from her new album, Dito Na Lang and Kunwa-kunwari Lang, and the third one is Salbabida, the Grand Prize winner in the recent Philpop Music Festival. Here goes the video hit list:

This Love Is Like by Toni Gonzaga; +63 by Sponge Cola featuring Yeng Constantino; Dito Na Lang by Kyla; Sa ‘yo by Silent Sanctuary; Kapiling Kita by Karylle; Kunwa-kunwari Lang also by Kyla; Asintado by Gloc-9 feat. Lirah Bermudez; Right Where You Belong by Julie Anne San Jose; Salbabida again by Kyla; Qrush On You by Jay-R, Elmo Magalona and Q-York; Babalikan Mo Rin Ako by Nikki Gil; Pag Napagod Na Ang Puso by Erik Santos; PML by Smugglaz; Habulan by The Dawn; NGSB by Luigi D’Avola; Into Your Arms Again by Luigi; We Can’t Be by Crissy; Till I Met You by Angeline Quinto; Out Of Control by Pupil; and Torpe by Kris Lawrence.