Music to my ears?

All these foreign singing artists coming to our shores has its downside as well as its upside. For the last couple of months, in rapid succession, a host of top caliber names and emerging artists did their Asian rounds with Manila as a required stopover. Unfortunately, their gigs also showed up the kind of disparity that exists in terms of how we treat these artists vis-à-vis the homegrown ones; who, for my money, often pack as much talent.

One of the more established local concert performers gritted his teeth, thinking of the lavish sums these foreign artists would garner in sponsorship packages! "If only these corporations would be ready to spend that kind of money on our shows! You’d be amazed with the quality of concepts we can then execute. One of the reasons our productions pale in comparison is a function of limited money from sponsors, promoters are constrained from giving us more lassitude in production values."

For example, I have nothing against the F4, but I still cannot understand how they’ve become such hits in this country for their singing as well, with thousands ready to "karaoke" along to their Canto Pop lyrics. Caught the ABS 50th Concert and I have to say, for sheer showmanship, for voice quality, I can name a number of local artists who’d leave the two F4 members green with envy. And yet, we’ll push our artists to find, on their lonesome, recognition and acclaim abroad, staying lukewarm to their talent, until they come back in triumph from abroad. Billy Jo Crawford being a case in point.

When these foreign acts were far and few, a host of acoustic artists took the local limelight by storm. Their genuine raw musicality came through and a broad cross section of the listening public took notice. Already, I fear that the interest these artists generate is on the wane. While some of the blame can fall on how regularly they gig all over town (and who can blame them striking while the iron is hot), the higher end audience they garnered have reverted to form, awaiting the foreign acts, imbued with the vestiges of our ingrained colonial mentality.

What really frustrates me is how acts like F4 can be so welcome (time and time again, and in varying permutations, 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 4 of 4) and our own talents can only gain sporadic footholds in other Asian markets. So much sheer talent to offer, and I’m trying to second guess what sort of push or formula is required to bring recognition for our performers. I wish our promoters and producers would take heed of how aggressively marketed here the F4 was, and convince their counterparts in other countries to reciprocate for the Filipino artists.

In the meanwhile, don’t look now, but the "second thought" syndrome has already begun to germinate among these foreign acts. Ashanti and Brian McKnight are no longer coming this month (although he may be coming in February); and an unfortunate accident and security concerns have made Limp Bizkit cancel part of their Asian tour. Me, I just hope that doesn’t mean we’ll once again be left with only the likes of David Pomeranz (for the umpteenth time) doing concerts here. Less frequent, but top caliber "now" names – that would be my dream formula. It would allow local artists to shine, make corporate sponsors maintain a healthy attitude for these homegrown talents, and yet allow us the pleasure of viewing quality foreign acts every now and then.

And when I say quality, I mean "real" concerts! With our sabik na sabik attitude, we are so guilty of not going beyond the marquee value of the headliner enticing us to part with our P5,000 to P10,000. Ten songs? Not more than an hour on stage? Whatever happened to those legendary three-and-a-half hour concerts of Bruce Springsteen or the way Martin Nievera guarantees us value for money. I’d rather have the option to step out for a bit, get some refreshments, and get a respite from the aural and visual feast. Better than excusing myself as the show starts, rushing to the toilets, only to find the concert over by the time I get back to my seat!

Green-Belting Out The Tunes

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the higher-end Makati malls had so far resisted the inexorable pull of the karaoke phenomenon. For Makati residents to indulge, it was dinky dives on shady streets and the one IO on Jupiter St. But that’s no longer the case, as Redbox has officially opened on the third floor of Greenbelt 3. As could be expected, it’s K with a facelift and righteous scrubbing, as befitting its high street location.

One of the owners, Walden Chu (who also has interests in Banana Leaf and Coffee Bean), was proud to report that besides the standard rooms, there are rooms with billiard tables on the side, and there’s one larger-sized room (number 86) that has a balcony overlooking the Greenbelt fountain area. Nothing has been spared to make the ambiance one that’s family-friendly, and downplaying the traditional penumbra that this sort of business generates. In other words, if you’re in for some hanky-panky, you deserve every peering eye gazing and gossipy mouth wagging, for doing it in Greenbelt full view. This may be Karaoke, but it’s with a Disney GP rating; or at least, that’s the intention.

Just to show you how mainstream the whole thing has become, a big "palabas" hosted by Pia Guanio and KC Montero, with musical guests Kyla and Jimmy Bondoc, kicked off the festivities at the Greenbelt 3 courtyard area. Hundreds then trooped upstairs to try out the rooms, and warble or screech to their hearts’ delight.

On the other side of town, it was sing along to live music as that old "friend" Friends moved from St. Francis Square to El Pueblo, taking over the aerie that formerly housed Strumm’s. For those in the know, Friends is where artists like Paolo Santos honed their craft. While his being a household name transpired over the last year and a half, Paolo has been performing at Friends for longer than he can remember what Moonlight Over Paris looks like. This is one of the establishments where it all started for Paolo, and a righteous rollicking party ushered in their move a block down.

(E-mail me at peopleasia@qinet.net)