Ogie Alcasid grateful to Gen Z artists for popularizing his old hits
Ogie Alcasid couldn’t be happier that his 36-year-old song Nandito Ako is making waves again, climbing the charts and going viral on TikTok.
It all started after Gen Z artist Rob Deniel performed Nandito Ako and Ikaw Sana live during a Wish event in July, which also paid tribute to Ogie and other OPM icons. His heartfelt interpretation struck a chord with his young crowd.
“A few months after, nag-viral yung performance niya ng Nandito Ako and Ikaw Sana. His audience started recognizing the song and wala naman siyang recording dun, so they went to my Spotify. Then, I started noticing wow, from 500,000, to 600,000, to 3.3 million (monthly listeners), by God’s grace,” Ogie shared during an interview.
He added with a laugh, “It’s only now that they started listening to my music because they have no choice. It’s either pakinggan nila yung live ni Rob or kung gusto nila Spotify, pakinggan nila yung song ko. Thankfully, they liked it, too.
“It just came at a time when I was trying to grow my listenership. I had a lot of help from the younger audience through the likes of Rob Deniel.”
Now, Nandito Ako has become the No. 1 song on his Spotify. “I’m so happy. Ang galing kasi sa Spotify. ‘Pag meron kang nagustuhang kanta, biglang papakinggan mo na lahat. That adds to people discovering and appreciating your music anew.”
Asked about possible collaborations with Rob, he shared that the Viva recording artist was his special guest during his 58th birthday celebration late August on his noontime program, “It’s Showtime,” where they sang his 2001 composition Ikaw Sana together.
That’s now Rob’s new single, Ogie revealed.
“Kinuwento sa akin ni Boss Vic (del Rosario of Viva). They sent me his version, which is great! I think he’s a better singer than me, and I’m so happy that someone as influential to the younger people as him appreciates the music that we used to do,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, listening to his old recordings again has also been a trip down memory lane.
“Now, I get to hear my young, 20-year-old voice again. It’s a little different now — may vibrato ako before for (the part) ‘mayroon akong’… I sing with more air now, whereas before, I had a very carefree voice,” he said.
“Kaya yung mga netizens, sinasabi nila kay Rob daw, it’s more yearning, and mine is assurance. For them to call it both assurance and yearning, I’m being educated.”
His other decades-old ballads and love songs, which he wrote, like Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, have experienced viral treatment thanks to duet performances with other Gen Z artists like Kai Montinola and Belle Mariano.
He recalled his recent encounters with more young artists like Maki and Angela Ken. “Three weeks ago, kausap ko si Maki and Angela. Sabi ni Angela, ‘Sir Ogie, I’m so happy for your music.’ At first, I didn’t understand why. Then she said, ‘There’s a resurgence of your music again,’ and that’s when I learned about ‘yearning and assurance.’ Apparently, the younger people now are also very emo. They like emo songs.”
For Ogie, the newfound interest from Gen Z has been both surprising and inspiring. “Sobra akong appreciative and at the same time, I’m very happy and shocked. Iniisip ko kung paano ko gagawin, tinulungan pala ako ng mga kabataan ngayon,” he further said.
“Where will it go? I don’t know. But I’m encouraged to keep writing and lure more younger people into discovering my music. As a musician who’s been doing this for 36 years, I’m very much encouraged and happy. Nakakatawa kasi yung mga songs na sinulat mo 36 years ago, buhay ulit.”
Still, Ogie clarified that contrary to popular belief, Nandito Ako — which formed part of his 1989 eponymous debut album — wasn’t written by him.
“That’s Aaron Paul del Rosario. I wanna give him full credit because he was the one who gave me that song. And to this day, whenever I’m asked what song defines me best, it’s always Nandito Ako,” he stressed.
“It’s been sung by so many people around the world, including Thalia, David Archuleta, Hugh Jackman… so it was really magical, and it continues to be the song that defines me.”
Ogie narrated how the song first landed on his lap 36 years ago. “I remember vividly I was recording two songs, Nandito Ako and Sa Kanya (that time). My producer back then was Bob Guzman. Aaron left the demo in a cassette.
“This is his story: At that time, the love team of Janno (Gibbs) and Manilyn (Reynes) ended because Janno got married and Manilyn was being linked to Keempee (de Leon).
“Since Mani and I were both with Octo(Arts), it was like they were building us up, with Mother Lily doing a film Feel na Feel. Aaron said, ‘It’s like Ogie is a third party or third wheel (in the film), maybe I should make a song about that.’ I remember him saying that to me. So he made (Nandito Ako) as a song of Ogie to Manilyn,” he laughed.
After Ogie recorded it, he already sensed its potential. “I remember thinking to myself, maghi-hit ito.” And it did — eventually getting declared Song of the Year, though with a comedic twist.
Back in 1990, Nandito Ako was up for Song of the Year at Magic 89.9. Ogie tuned in eagerly on New Year’s Eve, only for a brownout to hit just as the winner was about to be announced.
“Pagkatapos ng putukan (fireworks), I went to the radio station. Walang tao! It turned out na recorded pala yun. May guard na natutulog dun. Sabi ko, ‘Kuya, sino nag-Song of the Year?’ Sabi niya, ‘Di ko alam, nag-brownout, abangan mo na lang bukas.’ Finally, they aired it the next day. Di ko na-record. But I remember tuwang-tuwa ako kahit naudlot (at first).”
Since then, the song has become like a hallmark of his career.
“It was my first Gold Record. Every concert that I do, I end it with that song,” explained Ogie.
“But it has also taken on a new meaning in my life because Nandito Ako can be a song of God to us: ‘Nandito ako, umiibig sayo kahit nagdurugo ang puso ko. Kung sakaling iwanan ka niya’ — whatever it is, (whether) an obsession or corruption — ‘nandito ako.’”
Did Ogie ever wish he had written it himself?
“I would be lying if I said no, but I guess that’s the magic of it,” he said.
“I’ve always been known as a songwriter, but with Nandito Ako, I was the singer. (Because of that song) you can call me a singer. I wish I did (write it). But no, it was Aaron. He’s now in San Diego. Thank you, Aaron, I love you, wherever you are.”
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