Lani says goodbye to Higa Diva ‘title’

Curtain-raiser:

• Universal Records will give Gary Valenciano a "double platinum" award (more than 80,000 copies sold) for his album Revive on Saturday, April 6, on GMA’s Eat, Bulaga! The album carries a new, repackaged edition (with VCD) of Gary’s hit song I Will Be Here and The Warrior is a Child which Gary is singing today at the last rites for Rico Yan (to be buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City after the 9 a.m. Mass at the La Salle Greenhills). Gary sang the same song on Talk TV last Tuesday in a tribute to Rico.

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When Lani Misalucha stages her Crossover Special at Onstage (April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27), you won’t see any sofa as a prop which was familiar in her past shows at the Araneta Coliseum (in September last year) and at the CCP (October also last year).

You guessed it: Lani won’t be doing any song while flat on her back (never mind if she’s wearing a beautiful gown), an act which has earned her the unique "title" as the Higa (Reclining) Diva and at the same time making discerning music lovers frown. (One critic wrote that, with her vocal range, Lani doesn’t have to resort to such gimmicks.)

Now, does Lani have any new "trick" up her sleeve?

"None," smiled Lani. "Nothing."

Which means that Lani will be doing all her songs on her two feet. Her repertoire includes songs from the ’80s ("When I really enjoyed singing because there were so many great songs then"), songs by Basia and Natalie Cole, a Samba medley (including Shaker Song and Promises), a Michel Legrand medley and, as expected, songs by Barbra Streisand (Lani’s all-time favorite).

Her guest performers are Radha and Jed Maddela (vocalist of the Dye Vest Band), both of whom are, like Lani, managed by Ronnie and Ida Henares of Primeline, Inc. The concert is presented by the same team that mounted Lani’s Crossover Live Tour Concert at the Big Dome, with Louie Ocampo as musical director, Rowell Santiago as stage director and Noel Ferrer as scriptwriter.

How does Lani prepare for such a grueling and vocally-challenging concert?

"I get enough sleep, at least six hours a night of deep sleep, ’yung talagang rested ako. After our US shows (with Martin Nievera in Atlantic City and other West Coast cities; and Freestyle and Ai Ai delas Alas in the West Coast), I got sick due to exhaustion. I brought along my husband (Noli) and our children (Louven, 11 and Lian, 8), so medyo napagod din kami sa pamamasyal.

"How else do I prepare for this kind of concert? Well, as much as possible, I refrain from talking and talking because I am the type who is pausin (gets hoarse easily). Talking can strain the vocal chords more than singing can. Sabi nila, even whispering can strain the muscles around the vocal chords, so keeping quiet is the best to give your vocal chords a rest.

"I also take the Chinese syrup Fei Pak Koa. It’s a good thing that I don’t drink, which is also bawal sa religion namin (Mormon) and I don’t smoke."

(Lani On Stage: A Crossover Special is presented by 105.1 Crossover with Shell Diesoline Ultra, BayFresh Fresh-On Fabric Freshener, New Sunsilk Crystal, Lactum, Sustagen Premium and PS Bank as co-presentors. Major sponsors are Advil, Rado, Cafe Puro Jade Blend, First Guarantee Life Assurance, Whisper, Secret Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant, Wendy’s Hamburgers and Mossimo. Minor sponsors are Rustan’s, Mitsubishi Motors, Astring-O-Sol Ice, Globe Telecom Business Centers, Bonamine Squibb Vitamin E, Tambuli Beach Resort and Philippine Airlines. Tickets, priced at P1,200, 900 and 600, are available at all major National Bookstore branches, Tower Records Makati and Alabang, Music Museum at 721-0635 or 721-6726, Primeline, Inc. at 897-6170 or 897-6172, and Ticketworld at 891-5610. For 24-hour ticket reservations and delivery, call 844-2947 or 844-8159.)

Cheers for Hair Asia

Funfare cheers Hair Asia publisher Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz for the success of Hair Asia’s 11th National Open Championship held recently at the World Trade Center (Roxas Boulevard, Manila). Declared over-all winner in two categories (a Louise Brookes-inspired bob for the Commercial Hair and Make-Up and an androgynous shag for the Men’s Creative Color/Haircutting/Blow Dry) was Junar Santos who competed with dozens of other hair artists. Santos gets as prize an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas, venue of the World Hair Olympics.

Other winners were: Teddy Mendoza (for a Eula Valdez-inspired creation), Kolours-sponsored Ladies Creative Color/Haircutting/Blow Dry segment (runners-up are Bobby Fernandez, second, and Anthony Erlano, third); Ben dela Cuesta (first runner-up) and Benjie Guevarra (second runner-up) in the L’Oreal-sponsored Commercial Hair and Make-Up category; Rhea Angeles (first runner-up) and Allan Abad (second runner-up) in the Wella-sponsored Men’s Creative Color, Haircutting and Blow-dry segment; and Joebert Camit, sole winner in the L’Oreal-sponsored Bridal Make-Up category.

Special guest at the event was Hong Kong’s Duncan Lai.

"See you at the next Hair Asia event in November," said Evelyn who’s flying to Europe next week.