EVERYBODY IS EXCITED for the much-awaited showdown musical event nina Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano na As 1 sa SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on September 19. Kahit naging rivals sila noon, hindi ito naging hadlang para maging best of friends ang dalawa. Ngayon, magkasama nilang kakantahin ang mga sikat nilang awitin sa naiibang version.
“As much as possible, gusto namin almost lahat duet, even ‘pag dumating sa solo ni Gary, nand’yan pa rin ako sa stage nagba-back-up sa kanya. Nagso-solo ako, nand’yan rin siya sa stage. There are times na kailangang mag-costume change para mag-ready for the next number. Hindi tulad ng back-to-back na ginagawa nilang seven songs tapos, duet seven songs. You see us together on stage more than apart,” say ni Martin.
What is your contribution for the show? “Well, I’m more of a songwriter. We wrote one song together for the CD As 1. Sa script ng show, sa mga line-up sequence ng show na ako ang nagsulat, still the final decision is the group,”dugtong pa niya.
Number of songs together? “ Everything is even, some songs are in the medley form, so, siguro there will be about 27 years of work of music on both our part, that’s a lot.”
Special someone? “Everybody, walang special someone. Father and son number, it’s a different concept. Instead of doing a family, family–father and son, I have three sons but only 2 can sing right now,”diretsong sabi ni Martin.
Song for Gary V ? “Warrior Is A Child because this child is a warrior. Gary, is a warrior, so, I will learn that song and sing it. That’s the song I will use to describe Gary V.
“I slept in his house one time. You know, it’s Martin-Pops break-up, many crying moment. That’s one thing about this friendship between Gary and me. We’re both two guys not afraid to cry in front of each other. Not afraid to hug each other, “I love you bro”, “I love you, too, bro. If there’s one thing that Gary taught me, it is to be vocal about life. My feeling, walang ano…… dahil lalaki kami, macho –wala hindi porke lalaki kami .We’re very sensitive when it’s come to each other’s feeling. He knows when I’m not well… he looks at me. “Are you okay?” He knows if I’m not feeling well. I also ask the same thing thing from him,” Bro, are you okay?” We have this concern to each other like brothers talaga although we have separate mothers,” kuwento ni Martin.
Ano nga ba ang dapat asahan ng mga fans ninyo ni Martin dito sa concert na ito ? “It’s all heart, elements of two guys who really looking at each other, respect each other, love each other and taking each other for who they are. That’s how best friends are, kahit alam mo may pagkukulang ‘yung isa at may strength din ‘yung isa, you take the person as is. That’s what the whole concert is really all about. Understanding as one. Two totally different people to totally different background standing as one. Magkaibang style, magkaibang ano, sige, ibigay natin sa tao, ipakita natin sa kanila kung ano ang maaaring mangyari,” paliwanag naman ni Gary V.
Number 1 ngayon ang album na As 1nina Martin at Gary V sa lahat ng music bars at nag-gold record na agad ang CD nila for just one week. Worth it naman talaga. Napakaganda ng line-up of songs, matindi ang pagkakakanta nina Martin at Gary V., uulit-ulitin mo pakingga. Winner talaga!
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
