This show didn’t miss a second late – the clock ticked 7:30 pm and the headliners were on stage – Joey Albert and The CompanY (Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Oj Mariano and Diohanna Sweet Plantado Tiongson) What better way to start – dishing out all original pinoy music “songs that reflect who we are, our values and our identity.” Their rendition of the Apo Hiking Society’s greatest hits smooothly brought back sweet memories – especially to us Toronto immigrants.
It doesn’t matter how many times some melodies or tunes have been ingrained in your memory over the years, nothing implants them more firmly in your DNA than experiencing them live. Talk about pulse of excitement racing through a sold-out crowd. “Where were you when this song was no. 1?” the famous line reverbed in my thoughts as I vividly recalled the sounds of the Circus Band, the New Minstrels, the Ambivalent Crowd among others. (I was then part of a promo team that had marketed Basil Valdez, Rico J, Hajji, etc. “Boss VIC” or Vic del Rosario, now of VIVA Films and partner Orly Ilacad had asked me to monitor the Roxas Boulevard areas where they sang – I needed to observe and hear the patronage as I sat on premiere seats.)
The Company’s a cappella medley which includes the 41 year history of OPM starting the timeline from the year when Ryan Cayabyab wrote the song “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika” held the jampacked crowd into a passionate quiet spell but as the chords got more familiar, everyone was singing in harmony – a great singalong!
What shook the rafters was the duet of OJ and Sweet who are actually part of the famous ongoing play in Pinas, Rak of Aegis. “Ang HALIK mo, na-mi-miss ko, Bakit iniwan mo ako” – the adulators unanimously rose in a single wave of BIRITness. Like the high notes, the claps reached a certain intensifying quake.
And now, the DIVA. Back on stage, Joey chose to change her garb into red – attractive in a seemingly fiery confident mode raised to an upper level, all prepared to earn plaudits from the beholders. Naaah, not as a foe but just re-streaming her vocal chords from familiar grounds. “Today I heard them play the song again, an old familiar strain from way back when ev’ry note and ev’ry line, It’s always been a fav’rite song of mine…” How could we not swoon with her choice of “I Remember the Boy.” As she took us along the memory lane, a series of silver screen gods and godesses flashed. Sampaguita Pictures, LVN Studios – when movies were movies. Indeed, touches of a post Valentine celebration. FPJ with SUSAN. Nida, Gloria, Amalia.
Joey tapped into the many hits that have made her career so loved and long-lived (don’t forget they are associated with big movie hits and teleseryes) : Ikaw Lamang ang Mamahalin, It’s over now, Iisa Pa Lamang, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Sa ‘Yo Lamang. And the topnotch, Tell Me. “Tell me, where did I go wrong, What did I do to make you change your mind completely?” As she has often said, Tell Me is the best she has recorded. “its endurance and longevity (three decades now and young people still sing it) is amazing, and more importantly because of how deeply I have touched and remained in people’s hearts.”
She teared up as she expressed her gratitude to everyone at the venue, it seemed like she added extra emotion to each hit, like she was singing it for the very first time and freshly processing the lyrical pain. I looked at my watch – OMG, almost 2 hours of pure joy?
The quick shift to a faster tempo warned us of a near conclusion? Oh noooooo!!! More, more, more please. The CompanY came back discoing and Joey with her staying alive moves. The crowd was on its feet – “Awitin mo, at isasayaw ko!”
The curtains were ready to close but not yet. First-timers in Toronto, the CompanY yelled, “We will come back!” Miss Canadian herself, our all tiime favorite Joey of Vancouver sent flying kisses.
ENCORE!!! Please…
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Before this live performance at the Korean Cultural Centre, we had the pleasure of their company at a private dinner hosted by Republika ResoBar and Grill.
Here’s our interview with Moy Ortiz the Company’s musical director (and guess what, we found out he’s the nephew of our good friend, the late Eugene Villaruz of the Minstrels.)
How has your music evolved since you first began playing beautiful music together?
Moy: The CompanY started out as an exclusive jazz and A cappella vocal group. Through the years we’ve expanded our sonic and musical palette to cater and appeal to different audiences and demographics. It is better for us not to be pigeon holed musically and artistically.
What has been your biggest challenge as a group? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Moy: The biggest challenges always come when we lose a member (s). It feels like a death in our family. You have to look for your replacement and new member. You have to make sure that it’s a good fit musically and personally. You have to teach that new member from scratch. You have to adjust the group dynamic once again. It has happened many many times these last 35 years due to changes in personnel.
What/who inspires you to perform?
Moy: Our audience inspires us to push ourselves and do better. The affirmation and validation we get from a successful concert, album and project gives us the impetus to keep on moving forward and strive for the best version of our group. Great artists with integrity and vision and staying power also Inspire us. We have many musical and stage heroes that Inspire us individually and collectively.
So far your favorite venues for your concerts and why?
Moy: The Theatre at Solaire – 30th anniversary. We were the first act to have an SRO audience (sold out ) in the venue; The Main Theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, our 20th anniversary concert. The thunderous standing ovations of our audience brought us to tears;
1998 – Recycledeluxe Live at The Music Museum was an artistic and commercial triumph.
Your favorite music/songs; favorite singers
Moy: Our favourite music acts employ a lot of harmony as well. We love the legendary Manhattan Transfer. We’ve performed with them three times already in Manila. Their versatility and staying power inspires us no end.
We also love the purity and simplicity of The Carpenters. No theatrics. No gimmicks. Just pure and earnest beautiful music.
If you’re not a musician/singer, what would you have been?
Moy: If CompanY wouldn’t have worked , I am certain I would have entered the cut throat world of advertising
Your advice to new singers
Moy: Before being preoccupied by your likes or followers or social media content – work on your craft first. Music is your art. Make your art as good as you can. Don’t be distracted by all the noise. Just find your own, unique voice in this saturated music and entertainment industries. Be an eternal student. Don’t stop learning.
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We’d like to mention here that our gifted local talents completed the front act for Joey: Celine Grey, JDL Divas (Melissa Manaig, Alyssa Escueta, Katrina Llarena), Keeana Cerezo and Gian Carlo Bobila. Thanks too to the terpishcorean prowess of “On The Spot Dancers” Chollo Lagdameo and Katharine Reyes.
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Our throwback pic here was taken in the Summer of 1981 at Washington, DC during a Filipino community show. You can see me with Nora Aunor and Pilita Corrales. Little did we know that these two singing greats would be “BALAES”. LOTLOT, the daughter of Nora and Ramon Christopher, son of Pilita were to get married. It is sad to say though that they have separated.
See you next ish!