Concert Review: Martin Nievera Sings All His Hits in His 33 Year Career

Because during my time the media played up the rivalry between Gary Valenciano and Marin Nievera, subliminally, Gary fans like me, tended to avoid watching and supporting Martin's gigs - which on hindsight - was really childish and stupid. But that's just how it is. It's happening right now with the JaDine's and the KathNiel fans. New generation, new stars, same stupid marketing ploy.

Why don't we just support all OPM artists? They're all great anyway!

And Martin sounded divine last night! He has really protected and preserved his voice even though I know he's older than me! To sound and look like that when you're in your 50s is quite an achievement!

This show was perfect for me because he only sang a few songs which were not his. In other words, it was a Martin Nievera greatest hits concert and I felt lucky I was part of it, because sa first four songs palang niya, a deluge of high school memories agad ang nangyari, as each of the songs played very crucial parts from when I was in Grade 7 to 4th year high school.

His guests were just as fantastic, and it included his son Robin, whom I've seen perform live na rin before, and KZ as well. Sana KZ would do what she did in this show in her own concert. I found her show before a bit stiff and staid when she's really a free-flowing performer kind of girl! She really gained a lot of new fans last night, especially from my age group.

Morissette is another revelation to me as well. This girl just needs one great song and she'll reach a lot of new fans! Make an album please.

I was really amazed at Martin's pipes since he sang for well over 2 hours and many of the songs were difficult!! There were many standards and Broadway songs as well. And he showed his versatility by singing the hit du jour, Shut Up and Dance.

He truly deserved the standing ovation he got in the end! One of the few local performers who can give foreign acts a run for their money!

Re-Encountered Martin Nievera's Hosting Skill Prowess

Since he's such a great singer, I've sometimes overlooked how great a host Martin Nievera can be!

While I was watching his show last night, I was reminded again of how witty he is and how fast he can come with ad libs and funny and very risque lines.

It's like watching Vice Ganda, but this time for an English-speaking crowd. But the jokes are the same, very risque, double-entendre and if he weren't funny, would really fall flat on his face!

Sayang the networks aren't using his hosting skills for a talk show all his own.

Moonstar88 Tops My OPM Countdown for the First Time

I have only learned now that Moonstar88 has been making music since 2001!  That's what I get for not listening to OPM for so long!  I've lost out on so much good music!  Anyway, better late than never, as they say.  Finally, this week, the band gets their very first #1 hit in my OPM countdown as Sembreak goes to #1.

Here are my ten favorite OPM songs for the week ending January 31, 2014.

#1 Moonstar88 - Sembreak (#2)

#2 Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus - Crooked Faces (#3)

#3 Ang Bagong Ako - Greyhoundz feat. Loonie and Biboy Garcia (#4)

#4 D-Coy - Tagay Mo 'To (#5)

#5 Jonalyn Viray - Help Me Get Over You (#6)

#6 Martin Nievera - Ipadarama (#7)

#7 Save Me Hollywood - Changes (#8)

#8 Abra feat. Jacq Dionisio - Midas (NEW)

#9 Chris Cayzer - Why Don't You (#10)

#10 Kiss Jane - Kay Sarap (NEW)

My OPM Top 10 January 31, 2014: #6 Martin Nievera - Ipadarama

Martin Nievera's fifth top 10 hit in My OPM Top 10, Ipadarama, moves this week from #7 to #6.

Jensen Gomez Tops My OPM Countdown for the Second Time

Jensen Gomez gets his second #1 hit in my OPM countdown this week as Could Have Been moves to top spot.  This is his follow up to Umpisa.

Here are my ten favorite OPM songs for the week ending January 24, 2014 -

#1 Jensen Gomez - Could Have Been (#2)

#2 Moonstar88 - Sembreak (#3)

#3 Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus - Crooked Faces (#4)

#4 Greyhoundz feat. Loonie and Biboy Garcia - Ang Bagong Ako (#5)

#5 D-Coy - Tagay Mo 'To (#6)

#6 Jonalyn Viray - Help Me Get Over You (#7)

#7 Martin Nievera -Ipadarama (#8)

#8 Save Me Hollywood - Changes (#9)

#9 Vice Ganda - Manhid Ka (#10)

#10 Chris Cayzer - Why Don't You (NEW)

Zelle Tops My OPM Countdown for the Third Time

It's surprising that Zelle's album Search for Warmth is still quietly putting #1 songs into My OPM Top 10 countdown.  This week, Coffee Break, moves from #2 to #1, making it Zelle's third #1 song in my OPM countdown.

Here are my ten favorite songs for the week ending January 17, 2014 -

#1 Zelle - Coffee Break (#2)

#2 Jensen Gomez - Could Have Been (#3)

#3 Moonstar88 - Sem Break (#6)

#4 Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus (#7)

#5 Greyhoundz feat. Biboy Garcia and Loonie (#8)

#6 D-Coy - Tagay Mo 'To (#9)

#7 Jonalyn Viray - Help Me Get Over You (#10)

#8 Martin Nievera - Ipadarama (NEW)

#9 Save Me Hollywood - Changes (NEW)

#10 Vice Ganda - Manhid Ka (NEW)

Martin Nievera

Martin Nievera has six top ten hits in My OPM Top 10.  Four of them went all the way to #1.

1985 - Be My Lady (#3)
1986 - Each Day With You (#1)
1986 - Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin (#1)
1986 - Pain (#1)
1989 - Please Don't Throw My Love Away (#1)
2014 - Ipadarama (#6)

Robin Nievera's Gig at B-Side

I dragged Mahtab to watch some bands' gig in Makati last night and we caught up with Robin Nievera after his set.  To our generation, Robin's parents are like local pop royalty - I mean, I can name many girls in my batch who just love Martin (I was more into Gary V.) and well, my sister was a big Pops Fernandez fan.  Well, Robin's music is a far cry from his parents.  His and his band's guitar playing last night was fierce and their melodies,  truly original but may not be particularly radio-friendly. I liked them though!  I mean, who would want to sound like their parents?  Maybe just Natalie Cole.......

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Robin Nievera: Finally An Album

With genes like his, it is not surprising to see Robin Nievera, choose a career in music.  It is actually with interest that I listened to the first single from his album, Overwait, entitled, In 3's.  It doesn't sound remotely close to anything his Dad, Martin or Mom, Pops Fernandez, ever did in their careers.  In a way, it is refreshing to discover that he has decided to forge a sound that is truly his.  Interestingly, earlier this year, I listened to Pops, Silver album, and out of it came a #1 song in my personal Top 10 - a duet - of Robin and Pops!  However, Robin's new single is a far cry from that pop-inspired ballad.  A rocker coming out of his shell is certainly waiting in the wings.  Can't wait to hear more from this guy!

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Album Review: Pops Fernandez's 'Silver' Is A Diamond!

Pops Fernandez celebrates her 25th year in the local music industry with the release of her new album entitled Silver.  I bought a copy of the CD a few weekends ago and just popped it into my player three days ago.  It's a wonderful album and Pops sounds so cool and classy here!  Her vocal style and range is reminiscent of my other favorite vocalist, Vanessa Williams - it's lush and very expressive!

Well, she has some very good songs in this CD, three in fact - which her recording company should've pushed!  The first song, By Heart is a good first choice since it shows her at her most luscious vocals!  It took me sometime to warm up to Still In Love but it's another gem waiting to be discovered.  Finally, her duet with son Robin, is my most favorite of all!  Robin may not have the vocal range of his Dad, Martin Nievera, but he sounds so cute here!

Watch out for any of the three songs to enter my personal top 10 this coming Friday!

If you are my age and grew up when Pops Fernandez was the Concert Queen - I suggest you get a copy of this CD since it's good, solid work from the Queen herself.  It's really great to still hear her sound so good and fresh and cool - after all these years!

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The Sweet Energy of Gary Valenciano

 

“Teach me to trust in you with all of my heart, to lean not on my own understanding, cause I just forget, you won’t give me what I can’t bear, take me out of the dark, my lord, I don’t want to be there, ooh, ooh my lord.”  Such was the sweet and inspirational lines that served as a “lullaby song” for me during one night of the 80s.  I was alone in the darkness of my room, and as if, a certain electrical powers run through my veins as I was virtually touched by the message of the song.  I didn’t know the singer, but I really felt that he performed the song from the very core of his heart.  In fact , I could sense that the song, mirrored or reflected something about this man’s past life.  Because of my curiosity, I came to know that the man behind the song is no other than Gary Valenciano, Mr. Pure Energy, or Gary V. as he is fondly called.  Born on August 6,1964, to a bicolano father and to a Puerto Rican mother of Italian descent, the boy was christened Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano.(1)  Gary’s mother used to sang opera in manila during 1960s.  It is given that Gary inherited his beautiful voice from his mother.  He attended his primary and secondary schooling at the La Salle Greenhills.  That is why he can be seen sometimes at the gallery of “Animo La Salle” fans during the UAAP basketball games.  The fact that music and singing are very much in his veins and blood, and coupled with gifts of dancing and energy, Gary V, made his debut in the music industry and later, as an actor.  Early on in his career, lady luck already smiled on him by reaping accolades, recognition, and praises not only from the music industry, but also from the movie industry.  Without doubt, Teenagers, young adults, and even the “oldies” idolize Gary’s voice and his signature movements and dance.  The songs, ‘eto na naman (here comes again), ‘di bale na lang (just don’t give a piece of mind),’ were welcomed with so much enthusiasm and fervor.  Imagine Gary V. singing the tunes together with ala Michael Jackson moves, surely, the viewers cannot but be struck in awe and amazements.  I once saw unbelievable energy when he performed at the SM North Edsa, sometime in the 80s.  I was really petrified by his dazzling moves and indefatigable energy.  We have many singers cum dancers here in the Philippines, but, no one magnetize me so much to his mini or major concerts than, Mr. Pure Energy.  He is really enjoyable and inspiring to behold once he performs in any show.  The audience don’t get tired of watching him because they, too, are electrified by his energy.  However, in all of those seemingly “superman” activities of Mr. Gary V, we can also hear some sad, dramatic events, and trials that somehow just exposes the human side of Mr. Pure Energy.  In his 23 year career, one can hardly see that he has a “sweet cross” that he carries with sweetness and serenity---Gary V. is a diabetic.  When Angeli Pangilinan married him, she knew that Gary’ zest and fervor cannot be hindered by this trial.  So, she decided to manage her husband’s affairs so that she could moderate and take care of his health.  The couple even have three kids who are all energetic just like their father.  Another trial that crossed his career was the famous rivalry with Martin Nievera, his contemporary.  Martin is also well-loved by his generations, and in fact, even to the present, Martin’s style is a crowd drawer.  Actually, he is dubbed as the concert king of the Philippines.  With this kind of rivalry, where Gary V. somehow felt the “underdog,” he drifted into a false sense of insecurity.  He pitied himself.  He thought that his career would come to an end.  But God, has other plans for Gary.  He doesn’t want that Mr. Pure Energy’s talents be put into waste.  Hence, Mr. Gary V. reflected again on his composition: “teach me to trust in you with all of my heart, to lean not on my own understanding, cause I just forget you won’t give me what I can’t bear, take me out of the dark my lord, I don’t want to be there.”  Gary V. became a changed man and a singer.  He accepted other’s god-given talents and recognized his own and weaknesses.  He turned to the Lord and offer his talents for god’s greater glory.  Later, Martin and Gary V. became friends and they consolidated their friendship by staging a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum.  Dubbed as “As 1”, they really performed their hearts out to the delight and amusements of their fans.  Indeed, the warrior in Gary V’s person is a child.  A child, because he humbled himself like a little one, so as to be helped and taken out from the darkness of insecurities in life.  The sweetness of his perseverance and his ever enduring courage and energy will actually rub on to his fans and admirers.

Footnotes:

1.    WikiPilipinas

      

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