Zsa Zsa respects children’s musicality

MANILA, Philippines — Mother knows best; sometimes she has to step back for her children to grow.

Zsa Zsa Padilla has done the same way for her “performer children” (as she put it) Karylle and Zia Quizon. Consequently, the siblings have found their own musical identity (Karylle is identified with pop, soul and R&B, while Zia is into pop, acoustic), stepping out of the Divine Diva’s shadow.

“I have really given them so much freedom to develop their own,” said Zsa Zsa as a recording artist-mom to Karylle and Zia in a recent media call for her intimate concert titled Zsa Zsa Padilla: The Best Day of My Life on May 11, 8 p.m. at the Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater.

“If ever there are pieces of advice I have given them, they are more on the business side, practical (advice) like please don’t ever be late. You have to be stickler for time,” she added.

For Zia, who along with sister Karylle will grace The Best Day of My Life, she has learned more than her mom could have ever known.

“In life, I’ve learned a lot from her by seeing how she does it like through example. So I’ve learned a lot as a singer in the same way, too. It’s interesting,” shared Zia adding that these lessons are “very detailed, specific.”

“When I started in A.S.A.P., ini-explain niya yung stage, ito ang tawag dyan, eto si ganyan.”

But one lesson that really stands out is about finding Zia’s own voice as a singer.

“I guess it’s to be myself,” she said. “It’s cliche, pero yun lang, there’s only one you and be that… I’ve learned how to be myself. I’m constantly learning from her.” Zia has taken that to heart. Proof is her PolyEast Records album, Zia: A Little Bit of Lovin’, of 10 well-crafted ditties, showcasing her contralto, smooth, jazzy, blues voice. This is different from Zsa Zsa’s Palagi… Noon, Ngayon, Bukas, Kailanman, also under PolyEast Records.

As a mom, Zsa Zsa said that she has to respect where her children’s heart is and after all, “music is an expression.”

Once they have found their style, Zsa Zsa simply believes in Zia and Karylle’s musicality.

If there’s one important lesson that Zsa Zsa hopes her children have imbibed, it is “to respect the ones before you. They have paved the way for you.” Zia and Karylle have never been found wanting in this department.

Karylle (right) and Zia Quizon join Mom Zsa Zsa in the show

Asked what it’s like sharing the stage with an Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon mom, Zia had this to say: “Well, I think (it’s) nerve-wracking… I think not a lot of people get the chance to work with their parents, not a lot of singers get to sing with their parents. I’d like to consider myself lucky and it’s an interesting experience.”

As for Zsa Zsa, she shared this tidbit: “Recently, I’ve heard K saying that it’s nerve-wracking performing with me... medyo nakaka-conscious siguro sa anak na nanduon ang magulang. Probably, that’s how she feels. We always hold hands so that, you know, we’re comfortable.”

The Divine Diva admitted that singing with Karylle is sometimes challenging. “Sometimes, it’s hard when we sing together… who's doing what... I can’t distinguish who’s singing, (our voices) are just so similar. With Zia, she has a very unique alto voice, contralto voice, so there’s distinction. But it’s always fun, it’s always fun. It is just that, that’s a revelation for me that K gets nervous when she sings with me on stage.” She understood Karylle’s predicament because children usually look for their parents’ approval. “I am very proud of my girls,” she said.

The Best Day of Our Life is a follow-up to Zsa Zsa’s successful Cebu concert and celebrates her 35th year in show business. A combination of songs will feature Zsa Zsa, Zia and Karylle. Perhaps they will be seen in solo, duo or trio spots. What she can promise all is they will watch “something that is not exposed yet.” Paolo Valenciano is the stage director, while Homer Flores is the musical director.

“I think I should have done more, especially with OPM (songs),” Zsa Zsa said of her recording career, marked with more than a dozen albums. In them, many have seen Zsa Zsa as a storyteller more than a singer of personal narratives in the songs.

“It’s because of the way we were trained,” she said. “First note, kailangan alam ng tao sa radyo na ikaw yun. No. 2, the text (lyrics) you are telling should be very clear, especially with George Canseco. He (was) very strict with the Tagalog. Sabihin niya, ‘Hindi ganyan ang pagbigkas niyan, hindi mo pwedeng putulin...kailangan mong sabihin ng tama…’ binabali mo kasi yun ang binibigay ng music. These were the things we were taught.”

Hands-down, Zsa Zsa’s tale is one for the books. She never fails to acknowledge the contributions of those people who have worked with her through the years by saying, “No man is an island. We are backed up by so many people.”

(Zsa Zsa Padilla: The Best Day of My Life is presented by RWN with Ultimate Shows, Inc. Tickets are available at the RWN Box Office and all TicketWorld outlets. For details, visit www.rwmanila.com.)