What KZ thinks of Janine comparison

CEBU, Philippines —  By now almost everyone knows who Janine Berdin is. After debuting as a strong contender in It’s Showtime’s singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan, the 16-year-old Cebuana ultimately bagged the championship at the recent Huling Tapatan.

She was an instant standout not only because of her age – the youngest among 12 contenders – but also for her sound.

Janine had a full, raspy voice which she used as hauntingly or as powerfully as she like, often rocking out to OPM songs such as her finals medley of Bamboo’s “Tatsulok,” “Hallelujah” and “Noypi.”

The petite girl, who has appeared in episodes of “Wansapanataym” and “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” also presented memorable renditions of Yano’s “Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo,” “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga, “With A Smile” by Eraserheads, and Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper,” among others.

She not only became a notable performer for her voice, but was a favorite because of her ability to give her own spin to beloved tracks.

Unpredictable to say the least, Janine, with the help of musical arrangers, was able to reinvent songs, transforming rock pieces into ballads and giving them new meaning.

It’s for that versatility that Janine was compared to fellow singer KZ Tandingan, which wouldn’t be a surprise since Janine has dropped KZ’s name among her major influences.

KZ is well-known for her energy and ingenuity in her singing. Christened as a Soul Supreme, KZ, who won the first season of “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012, keeps listeners on the edge of their seats because, despite not being a belter, is able to powerfully relay a story, transform a song as her own to an almost unrecognizable scale while also paying respect to the original.

Asked about the comparison, KZ says she is thrilled and is excited for Janine, but stresses that despite the honor of being considered a major influence, she and Janine are their own artists.

“Sobrang happy ako kasi ang galing-galing naman nung bata. Pero magkaiba kaming artist. Siguro kaya lang nakikita ako ng mga tao sa kanya kasi we fall in the same category na iba kami doon sa mga singers na napapanood ng mga tao,” KZ says in a Pep.ph interview.

She says she and Janine fall into a category that is novel, where they sound and feel differently from other singers, where you never know what they’re going to sing or how they’re going to do it.

KZ, who went viral when she wowed the international crowd during her stint at the China-based competition “Singer 2018,” adds that the affinity between her and Janine might also be because they are both Visayans: Janine hails from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, while KZ is from Digos, Davao del Sur.

“I’m just really proud of her. Hindi kami pwedeng pagkumparahin dahil magkaiba kami ng strengths. Pero I’m really thankful na itinuturing niya akong influence niya. I’m really flattered na kumbaga kasama ako doon sa influence niya sa pagiging magaling niyang artist,” she shares. “At saka pareho kaming Bisaya.”

As for being accused of “copying” KZ, Janine, who was dubbed by TNT judge Yeng Constantino as the “new sound of OPM” clarified during an interview on “Tonight with Boy Abunda”: “Pero not in the way na ginagaya ko po iyong style niya. In the way na ginagaya ko po iyong drive niya, iyong passion niya po na hindi susuko. At iyong pagka-atake niyang iba, gaya po ng ate KZ, iba rin po iyong atake ko.”

Both singers believe that one need not reach the high notes to become a storyteller and to succeed in the music industry, as evidenced by the reception that KZ is met with every performance. Janine herself managed to make “It’s Showtime” host Vice Ganda and TNT judge Ogie Alcasid tear up with her singing.

Even before her TNT win, KZ kept tabs on Janine since seeing her on TV. KZ was impressed with Janine’s version of Kamikaze’s “Narda” which the latter performed during the competition’s weeklong semi-finals.

“Napanood ko siya na kinanta niya yung ‘Narda.’ Sabi ko, ‘Cool!’ Nakita ko sa kanya yung sarili ko dati na parang hindi mo mahuhulaan kung ano yung kakantahin mo at kung paano mo kakantahin.”

“Pero pag kinanta niya na parang bagong version nung kanta, na parang original niya, nakakabilib. So nung napanood ko sa kanya yung ‘Narda,’ hindi ko naisip na magiging ganun kaganda yung ‘Narda’ pag ginawa mo siyang ballad. So ang masasabi ko sa kanya, hindi siya yung normal na masasabi mong kontesera. Iba siya,” says KZ.

“Makikita mo iyon sa buka pa lang ng bibig niya, galaw ng katawan niya, kamay niya, paglabas ng dynamics niya. She is very special as a singer. I really hope to meet her very soon and sana we get to sing together,” she adds.

“Stay who you are. Never listen to people telling you what to follow, kung ano yung normal, para lang makapasok ka dito sa industry na ito. Kasi people will not remember you kung may ginagaya ka. People will remember you for who you are.”