Willie & Nonoy together for 1st time

Set for July 27 at the Theatre at Solaire, Music and Laughter is distinct from what Nonoy and Willie have done individually — and with other artists.

“Laughter is music to the heart,” as the cliché goes. However, having a good laugh is just half of what Nonoy Zuñiga and Willie Nepomuceno’s Music and Laughter promises audiences come July 27, 8 p.m. at the Theatre at Solaire. Listening to good music completes the entire one-of-a-kind entertainment equation. You know, the singer meets the impersonator.

Given their body of work — Nonoy’s trove of signature Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits and Willie’s menagerie of high-profile characters — the two artists simply live up to the title of their Grand Leisure Corporation-produced show. 

“It’s my first time to work with him,” said Nonoy of his musical collaboration with Willie in a recent media call. “That’s why I’m excited that we’re going to perform (together). Marami kaming pwedeng gawin actually.” 

As for Willie, he finds Nonoy a natural humorist or good laugh, adding that “(even) in our private moments when we would exchange jokes, pati sarili niya napagtatawanan niya, pagkapilay niya. He is good-natured.”

Music and Laughter is distinct from what Nonoy and Willie have done individually — and with other artists.  

“It’s different because we’re all singers and soloists and (then) we are grouped,” said Nonoy comparing his latest show to such concerts as The Legends of OPM. “This time, (I’m working with) a comedian who impersonates a lot of people, a lot of things (like) instruments, and sounds, marami (siyang) alam.”

Since the working relationship and rapport is new — and exciting — for the OPM hitmaker and the Man with Many Faces and Voices, Nonoy implied that adjustment is inevitable. “Meron,” said he, also emphasizing Willie’s virtuosity in impersonating human voices and looks. By using one’s imagination, images showing Nonoy singing and Willie providing the musical accompaniment, let’s say, of trombone, saxophone and flute, come to mind.

This could not only be the surprise or the highlight of the night. There are more surprises up their sleeve.

“That’s where I started and the intention of my life,” said Willie of his interest in singing and acting back in his school days. “Nag-train talaga ako (sa) theater.”

At the University of the Philippines Diliman, Willie, the then Fine Arts student was involved in university productions that saw him working behind the scenes instead of essaying varied, meaty roles in front of audiences. His creativity, immersed in the visual arts and stage productions, had eventually brought him to the art of impersonation.

“I had singing groups back in high school and college. Mga sikat na singer ang ginaya ko,” he recalled. “I got stuck to it... Hindi ako makakanta ng ibang boses, mag-iiba ang boses ko. Hindi ko makanta ang boses ko.”

As a visual artist, Willie is a naturalist and indulges in portraits and cartoons. If given the chance, Willie would like to pursue acting and singing because his love for them is unrequited. “(I think) I can do both.” Again, Music and Laughter is perhaps that platform Willie has been waiting for — to give singing another chance. It is also Nonoy’s opportunity to show his talent in impersonating voices. He can do Anthony Castelo and Hajji Alejandro.

More than the entertainment, Music and Laughter pays tribute to Pinoy talents Nonoy and Willie represent. According to Nonoy, he will go down memory lane with his tunes and mixed them with the music of Don McLean and James Taylor and the contemporary sounds of Ed Sheeran. There’s also the possibility to see him playing the guitar. “There will be duets. May gagayahin siya, at may gagayahin ako,” he said. But Willie won’t do his usual political  impersonations or political satire. One thing is for sure though: He will present a new take on his uber entertaining talent.   

“Mas nakakatawa ang totoong nangyayari,” said Willie of comedy and why Pinoys seem to better understand social issues through this genre. “Self-deprecating, tayo lang Filipinos halos ang may ganun. Pinagtatawanan natin ang sarili natin. Na-a-accept natin na ganun, parang fact of life.” 

For Nonoy, he wishes to see more Filipino talents singing in their dialects. It is an area of OPM that artists like Pilita Corrales have trodden before. Nonoy has digitally released the VisPop song Pero Atik Ra, a duet with Jolianne Salvado. 

With that, OPM should not just be about songs written, recorded and performed in Filipino and English. Tunes in other dialects should also claim their space. Along this line is the constant reminder about the beauty of Filipino pop music and the names (like Juan Dela Cruz Band, Hotdogs, Rico Puno, Hajji Alejandro) that have laid the groundwork. Nonoy is part of the second wind of OPM with Marco Sison and Ric Sigreto. Artists like Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Randy Santiago, Ogie Alcasid and Dingdong Avanzado, he shared, have carried on the tradition.

“Kailangan ang support talaga,” said Nonoy, “and we need new songs, hindi lang Tagalog, English. It’s about time (to) open (it) up to other dialects.”

Meantime, let’s experience again how laughter becomes music to the heart and how music brings laughter (happiness) to life, and the possibilities music and laughter bring. 

(For tickets, log on to Ticketworld or call 891-9999.)