’70s music by the best artists: Once more, with feeling

Despite problems with the economy, peace and order and a world lying in wait for war, the local concert scene is very much alive and I must say, even flourishing to the delight of music lovers. It has also become quite common for these shows to be recorded live and released on CDs or even better VCDs, which allow viewers to re-experience the shows.

One of these albums is the two-disc edition of 70’s 2Day. This was the concert held at the Music Museum last September that marked the reunion of six big-name singers of the period: Eugene Villaluz, Louie Reyes and Ding Mercado of The New Minstrels and Hajji Alejandro, Pat Castillo and Tillie Moreno of the Circus Band.

The Minstrels and the Circus Band were sort of rivals during the ’70s. Made up of young, talented performers just out of school, they dominated the entertainment row, which was then located in the former Dewey Boulevard. Evenings usually found the moneyed younger set grooving to the American Top 40 music that these groups usually performed.

As time went by though, changes started to happen. The Minstrels started a new trend by singing old Filipino songs with new pop arrangements like Buhat and Balut. Circus Band on the other hand saw more and more of its members taking the solo route. It became known as the spawning ground for hot young talents like Hajji, Pat and Tillie with their hits Tag-Araw, Aso’t Pusa and Saan Ako Nagkamali. Eventually Eugene, Louie and Ding also followed suit with songs like Gulong ng Palad, Nothing I Want More and See You There.

Despite these and other successes they reaped here and abroad, what most of their fans remember best are those evenings they sang the big hits from the US of A in ways sometimes better than the originals. These were the songs they performed in the 70’s 2Day show and these are the songs included in the new album.

So if you want to do some reminiscing and if you wanted to find out what great singing by Pinoy artists sounds like, get a copy of 70’s 2Day, the album. Included here are Oye Como Va, One Note Samba, Watch What Happens, Like a Lover, Best of My Love, The Way We Planned It, Somebody Waiting, Didn’t We, The Harder I Try, Wildflower, Sing a Song, Make It Easy on Yourself, The Right Thing to Do and many others.

The music from the ’70s once more casts its spell at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Roxas Boulevard, last night with the enlarged production of 70’s 2Day. This features more sensational numbers by Eugene, Louie, Ding, Hajji, Tillie and Pat. The grooving continues on its last performance tonight. Catch the show and recapture what is considered one of the greatest eras in popular music.

70’s 2Day is presented by the CCP in cooperation with The Nerve of ERV Entertainment Inc. It is sponsored by the PCSO, Philippine Airlines, Goto King, Crossover 105.1, Joey Rhythms 92.3, Yupangco Music Corporation and Viva Records. Wardrobe is by Lito Perez of Camp Suki and Frederick Peralta.

Hit list

The easy charm of Passenger’s Seat by the group Stephen Speaks has captured the hearts of music-loving Filipinos and it is now the most popular song in Metro Manila. Other foreign songs in the local hit list are Mesmerize by Ja Rule and Ashanti; All I Have by Jennifer Lopez; Heaven by DJ Sammy; Bring Me to Life by Eva Nesson; I’m with You by Avril Lavigne; Through the Rain by Mariah Carey; Beautiful by Christina Aguilera; Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word by Blue featuring the composer and original singer of the song, Elton John and Unbreakable by Westlife.

Jealous, the breakthrough single by Nina is the top-seller in the original Filipino recording list. Contrary to what some of you may think, Nina is not at all foreign. She is pretty, talented and very Pinoy. Others in the local hit list are Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by Bituin Escalante; Kailangan Kita by Piolo Pascual; Walang Kapalit by Dingdong Avanzado; Paano by Freestyle; This Guy is in Love with You Pare by Parokya ni Edgar; Sana Mama by the Masculados; Everything I Own by Aiza Seguerra; Kailan Ba by Geneva Cruz and Mahal Kita, Walang Iba by Zsa Zsa Padilla.