Say hello to the young once

MANILA, Philippines — There’s something about being young once that leaves a lump in the throat. You remember the joys of high school friendships, the adrenaline rush of first love, the pain of losing someone dear. You remember pouring your heart out about in a song or two.

That’s why oldies but goodies songs never lose their magic. Young singers give them a new twist for their generation. And its original interpreters bask in the glow of a song young people love to sing over and over.

This is the reason why Net 25 launched Young Once (Upon a Time) last Aug. 26. The throwback show, hosted by veteran singers Anthony Castelo, Eva Vivar and Darius Razon,  airs every Sunday at  8 p.m.

“We want to introduce millennials to the good music of the past,” says Net 25 executive Rowena dela  Fuente, president of Eagle Broadcasting Corporation.

She notes that “songs during the golden years of OPM have a heart.”

Eva, whom millennials have seen as the grandmother of Coco Martin and John Lloyd Cruz in the Argentina Corned Beef and Biogesic TVCs, respectively, understandably goes for vintage songs as well.

The ‘70s teen idol, dubbed the “Connie Francis of the Philippines” thanks to classic hits like Mr. Love, Nobody’s Child, Among My Souvenirs and others, says that artists during her time sang with more raw emotion. Workshops teaching singers how to interpret melodies were unheard-of. She and her colleagues didn’t have to strain their voices reaching the highest note the way some of today’s singers do.

Darius agrees. The former “Mr. Debonair” and the voice behind the hits Everybody Knows, And I Love You So,  Carmelita, Perhaps, Perhaps and Ibigay Mo Na states that yesterday’s songs hit you right at the heart. The audience, he explains, feel the music in their bones. Technique is but secondary.

Anthony, Eva and Darius’ colleague, and the voice behind immortal songs Balatkayo, Nang Dahil sa Pag-ibig, Ibig Kong Ibigin Ka and Hahanapin Ko, on the other hand, is more sympathetic. 

The “King of Love Songs” thinks hip-hop and other modern genres are  the young singers’ way of expressing themselves. They’re as patriotic as their elders, but they show their feelings differently — by hitting the highest note (read: birit), shouting the lyrics and interpreting songs in a way that shock older singers.

“We were more relaxed back,” notes Anthony. “Today’s singers have to shout out (their emotions) because society isn’t listening. There’s so much social injustice.”

He explains that society requires the young to own and use many gadgets they can’t afford. Widespread poverty exists. The former councilor’s heart goes out to children he has seen attend classes without money for food.

But he and the other two music icons agree on one thing. Music bridges  generations. Anthony thinks love songs, in particular, can link the young and old since they speak from the heart.

Eva, for her part, is all for enriching the universal language of OPM, which she describes as a “gift from God.” Composers, she adds, must keep making music.   The future of OPM depends on this.

Young Once director Elson Montalbo is glad to note that his millennial audience in the studio is excited. By listening to their elder’s songs, millennials want to find out what made their elders tick. Just as important, they want to leave a musical legacy to Generation Z.

This — hands down — could  be one of the best things that could happen to OPM.