Raymond Lauchengco: He never said ‘Goodbye’
August 28, 2005 | 12:00am
Raymond and I go back a long way. We sang a duet "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You" at a concert at the Folk Arts Theater. He was also one of my special guests at my first concert at the Araneta Coliseum, we sang "Taxi Dancing." He was also a constant guest at Germspesyal, the noontime show where I was one of the hosts. His song "I Need You Back" was one of my favorites.
Years after, we had the chance to work again – this time co-hosting GMA Supershow. It was during this time that I had a better chance of getting to know him. Noong una, tatahi-tahimik lang. While we, his female co-hosts, were having lunch, Raymond, would just be walking around, eating Mentos.I would ask him if that was all he was having for lunch. He gains weight easily, he would explain.
He was always early, in fact, always one of the first ones to arrive. When all of us got closer to one another, I found out he was also playful. He and Richard Reynoso would hide our shoes and hang them here and there. You would see us running after him begging for our shoes.
Every time Raymond had a show, all of us, his former co-hosts, would be present screaming our lungs out.
Raymond is such a gifted singer and performer yet very humble. That’s one of the things I like about him, and I believe, is one of the reasons why God has blessed him so much all these years.
When Raymond discovered his other passion – photography – I had him take my pictures. For my projects, I always looked for him because he could capture the real me.
After our last shoot, I didn’t see Raymond for a while. He got married to this beautiful lady, Mia Rocha, who I met and helped me in our last shoot.
Recently, he invited me to his show at the Calesa Bar. I wasn’t able to make it, but I was so happy he was singing again. He did four shows in August and two in February. Early this month, I got a text message again from him inviting me to attend his album launch at The Podium. I was thrilled. The last album he recorded was in 1995. My manager, Bibsy, and I attended along with many others. I knew he was nervous, but I also knew he would be happy to see so many of us there letting him know we were so happy he was out with a new album.
He sang his hits like "I Need You Back", "Shadow Of Time" and "Saan Darating Ang Umaga?" He also performed the carrier single of his album "Save Me A Dream," a Paul Williams original and "Somos Novios,"a Spanish song he dedicated to his mom.
His recent album launch proved that Raymond had gotten better with time. All his experiences which have enriched him throughout these years were evident in his songs. I saw and heard a man who was back to his first love – singing. A man who was thankful and felt blessed with all the good things that have come his way. A man in love with his wife Mia and a man who was sharing himself, his heart to us that night. God has truly been good to him.
Bibsy and I bought our copies and had him autograph them. Here are excerpts of my interview with him.
JBD: What made you decide to sing again?
RL: I just missed it. Plus it was a great opportunity to work with Vicor (Music) again for their 40th anniversary.
JBD: How did you keep your voice in such good shape even when you weren’t singing?
RL: To tell you the truth, I don’t take care of my voice the way I should but God has been astoundingly good to me. I can only surmise that He, too, wanted me to sing, and like I said in the album, He made me realize that the joy of music is not so much in the singing but in the people for whom you sing.
JBD: You are my favorite photographer. Are you still going to continue this?
RL: Of course, but I need to get my priorities straight. I am a singer who can direct and photograph, but a singer first.
JBD: Why did you and Alwyn Cruz (album producer) choose "Save Me A Dream" to be the carrier single of your album.
RL: It’s very easy listening. We both felt it’s the kind of song that grows on you because it’s so simple. It’s not the kind of song that imposes "Hey you gotta listen to me." It has a very soothing quality to it.
JBD: Did you plan on working with Vicor for this album since you started with them?
RL:No, I didn’t plan on anything, which makes it even more special. I honestly feel God opened all the doors for this album to happen and it makes it more special that I did it with the very same company that first launched me as a singer some 20 years ago. It’s like coming full circle.
JBD: When others revived your songs, how did that make you feel?
RL: It’s a thrill when other singers think my music is good enough to remake.
JBD: You wrote the music for Dreamboy, the title of your second album. Are you going to do that again.
RL: Who knows what lies ahead?
JBD: You wrote in your album that Mia is your reason for singing forever. How has she changed your life?
RL: To feel so grounded, so secure and so confident of another person’s love for you is enough to give any man wings to fly and a reason to sing forever.
JBD: You wanted to record "Saan Darating Ang Umaga?" again because when you recorded it before, you only had 30 minutes to do it. How different was it this time?
RL: I sang it with wisdom. That came from years of figuring out what the song was about. I had 30 minutes before, this time I had 20 years and a few more takes.
JBD: It is so heartwarming that you’ve dedicated a song to your mom. Tell me more about her and why she is so special.
RL: Since my father lives in the States, my mom has been a major force and influence in my life. She’s always been proud of my work no matter what I was doing, for as long as I was doing it the best I could. She always gave me a love for the arts. Her keen sense of aesthetics were the standards I applied to my work as a photographer. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the best mother in the world. The least I could do was dedicate to her a song in my album.
JBD: Any upcoming shows?
RL: I just finished a show at Metro Gaisano Mall in Cebu recently. Then I’m having a concert at The Venue in Davao on Sept. 4 with Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez and Goya Malijan. It’s entitled One Step Beyond.
Raymond’s album is very personal. In most of his songs, he has written how he feels, which makes it even more special.
Here are a few excerpts:
This I found so cute. He says "I Need You Back" was his first major hit. The first time he heard it, he was coming home from rehearsals. It suddenly played on the radio. He rolled down the windows of his car and started shouting, "That’s my song, that’s my song!" This made my heart melt. About the song, "The First Time I Saw You," he says, "I had a hard time recording this one. Not for anything, I just felt the lyrics were a bit youngish. (I obviously haven’t been a teenager in a while). After a few frustrating takes, I decided to try something to make the song come to life. I closed my eyes, and thought of my wife – how beautiful she was walking down the aisle. How excited I was to share a home with her. How nervous I was during our first date, and how I love her a little more each day. Then singing it became easy."
In the end, he thanks his Heavenly Father for surrounding him with all the wonderful people in his life, for granting the desires of his heart and for showing him that the joy of music is not found in the singing but in the people for whom you sing.
To you Raymond, thank you for singing again. Thank you for singing for us.
For the song "As If We Never Said Goodbye," you wrote, "The only thing that truly defines me is also the same thing I always come back to – singing. It’s been a while since I’ve done a recording, which is why this song is very personal to me. It’s been a long time, and I hope it will seem as if I never said goodbye."
Raymond, after hearing you sing and listening to your album – you never said goodbye, dear friend, never!
Years after, we had the chance to work again – this time co-hosting GMA Supershow. It was during this time that I had a better chance of getting to know him. Noong una, tatahi-tahimik lang. While we, his female co-hosts, were having lunch, Raymond, would just be walking around, eating Mentos.I would ask him if that was all he was having for lunch. He gains weight easily, he would explain.
He was always early, in fact, always one of the first ones to arrive. When all of us got closer to one another, I found out he was also playful. He and Richard Reynoso would hide our shoes and hang them here and there. You would see us running after him begging for our shoes.
Every time Raymond had a show, all of us, his former co-hosts, would be present screaming our lungs out.
Raymond is such a gifted singer and performer yet very humble. That’s one of the things I like about him, and I believe, is one of the reasons why God has blessed him so much all these years.
When Raymond discovered his other passion – photography – I had him take my pictures. For my projects, I always looked for him because he could capture the real me.
After our last shoot, I didn’t see Raymond for a while. He got married to this beautiful lady, Mia Rocha, who I met and helped me in our last shoot.
Recently, he invited me to his show at the Calesa Bar. I wasn’t able to make it, but I was so happy he was singing again. He did four shows in August and two in February. Early this month, I got a text message again from him inviting me to attend his album launch at The Podium. I was thrilled. The last album he recorded was in 1995. My manager, Bibsy, and I attended along with many others. I knew he was nervous, but I also knew he would be happy to see so many of us there letting him know we were so happy he was out with a new album.
He sang his hits like "I Need You Back", "Shadow Of Time" and "Saan Darating Ang Umaga?" He also performed the carrier single of his album "Save Me A Dream," a Paul Williams original and "Somos Novios,"a Spanish song he dedicated to his mom.
His recent album launch proved that Raymond had gotten better with time. All his experiences which have enriched him throughout these years were evident in his songs. I saw and heard a man who was back to his first love – singing. A man who was thankful and felt blessed with all the good things that have come his way. A man in love with his wife Mia and a man who was sharing himself, his heart to us that night. God has truly been good to him.
Bibsy and I bought our copies and had him autograph them. Here are excerpts of my interview with him.
JBD: What made you decide to sing again?
RL: I just missed it. Plus it was a great opportunity to work with Vicor (Music) again for their 40th anniversary.
JBD: How did you keep your voice in such good shape even when you weren’t singing?
RL: To tell you the truth, I don’t take care of my voice the way I should but God has been astoundingly good to me. I can only surmise that He, too, wanted me to sing, and like I said in the album, He made me realize that the joy of music is not so much in the singing but in the people for whom you sing.
JBD: You are my favorite photographer. Are you still going to continue this?
RL: Of course, but I need to get my priorities straight. I am a singer who can direct and photograph, but a singer first.
JBD: Why did you and Alwyn Cruz (album producer) choose "Save Me A Dream" to be the carrier single of your album.
RL: It’s very easy listening. We both felt it’s the kind of song that grows on you because it’s so simple. It’s not the kind of song that imposes "Hey you gotta listen to me." It has a very soothing quality to it.
JBD: Did you plan on working with Vicor for this album since you started with them?
RL:No, I didn’t plan on anything, which makes it even more special. I honestly feel God opened all the doors for this album to happen and it makes it more special that I did it with the very same company that first launched me as a singer some 20 years ago. It’s like coming full circle.
JBD: When others revived your songs, how did that make you feel?
RL: It’s a thrill when other singers think my music is good enough to remake.
JBD: You wrote the music for Dreamboy, the title of your second album. Are you going to do that again.
RL: Who knows what lies ahead?
JBD: You wrote in your album that Mia is your reason for singing forever. How has she changed your life?
RL: To feel so grounded, so secure and so confident of another person’s love for you is enough to give any man wings to fly and a reason to sing forever.
JBD: You wanted to record "Saan Darating Ang Umaga?" again because when you recorded it before, you only had 30 minutes to do it. How different was it this time?
RL: I sang it with wisdom. That came from years of figuring out what the song was about. I had 30 minutes before, this time I had 20 years and a few more takes.
JBD: It is so heartwarming that you’ve dedicated a song to your mom. Tell me more about her and why she is so special.
RL: Since my father lives in the States, my mom has been a major force and influence in my life. She’s always been proud of my work no matter what I was doing, for as long as I was doing it the best I could. She always gave me a love for the arts. Her keen sense of aesthetics were the standards I applied to my work as a photographer. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the best mother in the world. The least I could do was dedicate to her a song in my album.
JBD: Any upcoming shows?
RL: I just finished a show at Metro Gaisano Mall in Cebu recently. Then I’m having a concert at The Venue in Davao on Sept. 4 with Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez and Goya Malijan. It’s entitled One Step Beyond.
Raymond’s album is very personal. In most of his songs, he has written how he feels, which makes it even more special.
Here are a few excerpts:
This I found so cute. He says "I Need You Back" was his first major hit. The first time he heard it, he was coming home from rehearsals. It suddenly played on the radio. He rolled down the windows of his car and started shouting, "That’s my song, that’s my song!" This made my heart melt. About the song, "The First Time I Saw You," he says, "I had a hard time recording this one. Not for anything, I just felt the lyrics were a bit youngish. (I obviously haven’t been a teenager in a while). After a few frustrating takes, I decided to try something to make the song come to life. I closed my eyes, and thought of my wife – how beautiful she was walking down the aisle. How excited I was to share a home with her. How nervous I was during our first date, and how I love her a little more each day. Then singing it became easy."
In the end, he thanks his Heavenly Father for surrounding him with all the wonderful people in his life, for granting the desires of his heart and for showing him that the joy of music is not found in the singing but in the people for whom you sing.
To you Raymond, thank you for singing again. Thank you for singing for us.
For the song "As If We Never Said Goodbye," you wrote, "The only thing that truly defines me is also the same thing I always come back to – singing. It’s been a while since I’ve done a recording, which is why this song is very personal to me. It’s been a long time, and I hope it will seem as if I never said goodbye."
Raymond, after hearing you sing and listening to your album – you never said goodbye, dear friend, never!
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